The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While there are certainly a few things about this book that I could pick apart and criticize, I’m slapping a huge 5 star review on it because it just sucked me in and made me enjoy it so gosh darn much.

David is a boy who’s life is in flux. Changes are happening in the world around him, both in his immediate family and the world at large. While World War II threatens on the horizon, David’s mother passes and he finds himself retreating in to books and fairy tales as a way to cope. Amidst these changes, David notices that the line between the fantasy world of his books and the “real” world becomes less and less clear. We are flung, with David, in to a world of legends and fairy stories where the choice to be honorable can be a matter of life or death.

I LOVE Connolly’s twisted fairy tale world. I love the empathy with which he treats his characters – the good ones and the bad ones. Connolly is clearly a master of storytelling who knows the power of restraint.

Augh, I want to tell you how it ends. But I won’t. I’ll just leave it at this: the prose is beautiful, the story is engaging, the characters are real. Go pick up this book as soon as you have the chance – and be prepared to be a little scared.

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So, while my bloggery here has been a bit spotty, I do want to keep in touch with you all to let you know what I’m up to, elsewhere.

If you jump over to our Music Video Blog, you can see the progress we’re making on our video and the Kickstarter campaign we’re gearing up for.

Stay classy, intarwebs.

Sunday marked a strange (and wonderful) transition time for me. There are changes afoot – a baby on the way. And even though I feel nauseated most of the time, the idea is still settling in that all of this rigamaroll is going to result in a new human being.

That is to say, I spent most of the day a little shocked when people wished me a Happy Mother’s Day.

And I tried to say something here all day, to express gratitude for my amazing mom, my grandma, the women I love… but for some reason, the words weren’t there. I’m deep down happy, but also a little scared to be joining those ranks.

More than that, I’m acutely aware that mother’s day can be a hard day for so many people. My heart is achey and thumpy for women who want to be mommies – for the men who are also moms – for children (of all ages) that missed their moms this weekend.

Because my own words are failing me, I’m leaning on a friend. Even though I don’t have a dance teacher, or education professors,  CheekyPinky‘s heartfelt words struck me as honest and true. They reminded me that I’m not joining ranks…I’m already in them.

So I’m sharing her words with you.

To my girl friends,

who have held me and loved me at my most unlovable,
some of whom are mothers themselves,
the kind of mothers I pray to God I might become someday;
to my girl friends who aren’t mothers,
but are sisters of my heart,
who keep me close
while my own sister is so far away.

To my education professors, to my pastor’s wife,
to the women in my church who take my breath away
with their faith and kindness;
to The Bloggess, to my dance teacher;
to all of the women who taught me that grace is better than anger
(even if I’m still Bad at That),
that it is Okay to be smart and funny and…

that God doesn’t just love women who are all doilies-and-teacups;
that it is Okay that I am not my mother’s Perfect Daughter.

Thank you.

I love you.

Happy Mother and Sisters’ Day.

Chameleons never announce themselves! – a girl I met at a party

Laughing at these monsters beside us makes them so much less terrifying. – The Bloggess

I’m a clarinetist. I never need trumpets. – Lexi Bond

Don’t ask who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he’s digested and I’ve been reading all my life. – Giorgos Seferis

Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books. – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

In this case, I’m the monster beside The Bloggess

Does anyone know what kind of flower this is?

A moment to myself with a book and a pup this weekend.