REVIEW: "Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother's Will to Survive" by Stephanie Land

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A story of resilience and perseverance, Stephanie Land was a homeless, single mother who was living paycheck to paycheck and on government assistance just trying to provide the best life for her young daughter, but still had big dreams that she wanted to pursue. This story not only addresses her life as a maid cleaning other people's houses, but also the faults in government programs and societal prejudices on those with low income. This audiobook promoted empathy, encouraged a change in perspective and ultimately, made me want to clean my house after hearing some of her cleaning horror stories.

For fans of inspirational memoirs, societal impact stories and even "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed.

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REVIEW: "The Last Romantics" by Tara Conklin

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a lot of feelings about "The Last Romantics" and to begin, I picked it up because it reminded me of "The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin. But beyond the leafy cover that binds the story of four siblings, that's pretty much where the similarities end.

Conklin constructs a beautifully poetic tale of the Skinner siblings that starts with the youngest, Fiona's, story behind her most famous poem at what is considered her final signing in 2079. The four siblings Joe, Renee, Caroline and Fiona have come to rely on each other in the youth as they survived their single mother's 'pause', which seems to be a medical issue that I analyzed as a deep depression (but assume it's much more than that). As they grow, they go their separate ways, until a tragedy strikes that challenges them to think about love, family, honesty and self-identity.

This book was a slow read because I wanted to indulge in it, especially while I was reading through hectic work schedule with little time for reading. And after meeting the author at a signing sponsored by the Carmel Clay Library Foundation, I wanted to give it justice. I didn't expect this book to put into words about how I feel about hopeless romanticism-- "We believe in love because we want to believe in it. Because really what else is there, amid all our glorious follies and urges and weaknesses and stumbles? The magic, the hope, the gorgeous idea of it." And for these words, I am all the more grateful.

If you're a fan of "The Interestings" by Meg Wolitzer, "The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin, family oriented literary fiction, or a hopeless romantic, you'll enjoy this one.

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"The Mountain Between Us" Book Review

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by this book because of the upcoming movie adaptation and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Basic premise: Ashley and Ben are two people who are rushing to get home (for their own separate reasons) and decide to take a charter plane to beat the incoming storm. Alas, due to unavoidable circumstances, the plane crashes and they are stranded in the snowy mountains. Facing injuries, hunger and forces of nature, these two form a relationship while trying to survive.

I want to break this story down into two pieces because readers of either of these two genres may find this book interesting:

-Romance: I didn't know that this book is marketed as Christian fiction. In fact, I wouldn't have even known unless I looked up the tags on Goodreads. With that being said, this is a story of how two people build a relationship... there are tons of instances of raw emotion and honest conversations, which if you think about it, are the basis for any relationship. It's also not a magical "oops, let's make them fall in love since they're the only two people in this plane crash", but rather a slow build on admiration of certain character traits that progress throughout the novel.

-Survival: I love a good survival story. And based on movie previews, I can already tell you that there will be changes to how much the characters were injured in the plane crash. Our character, Ben, happens to be a doctor coming back from a conference before taking the charter plane, and and explains in great detail how he attempts to take care of certain injuries, as well as measures he takes to ensure their survival. There are great details that help make this survival story believable, as well as practical.

Overall, it was a quick read and enjoyable break from the typical romantic fiction that sets readers' fantasies to unbelievable and potentially unachievable heights. Try it, you may like it!


I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion in this review.

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"The Flower Workshop: Lessons in Arranging Blooms, Branches, Fruits, and Foraged Materials" Book Review

The Flower Workshop: Lessons in Arranging Blooms, Branches, Fruits, and Foraged Materials by Ariella Chezar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I remember taking a flower arranging class during my undergrad and it being loads of fun, so I was excited to receive this book to review. Bottom line, this book is gorgeous (!!) with pages of pictures of various flower arrangements and color schemes that had my yearning to go out to the market to buy flowers to decorate my house with (which I am unashamed that I actually did a few times).

I accepted it long ago that I didn't need a loved one to buy me flowers... I just needed this book instead! One of the best things to do when receiving a instructional book to review is to actually complete one or two of the recipes that the book suggests and afterwards, flower arranging may become a new stress relieving hobby. Not only did I learn color schemes and which flowers suited for the best moods, but also seasons that flowers grew, the math that goes into planning an arrangement (and not just the budget, there's symmetry to be had when it comes to roses!) and how to manipulate flowers, fruit and even birds nests into works of art.

For anyone who likes to dabble in home decorating or entertaining, or enjoys home and garden nonfiction :)"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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"Since You've Been Gone" Book Review

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sounds like a repeat of other teen summer fare, but this caught me off guard with the challenges encountered and lessons in bravery, love and authenticity learned by the characters. For fans of "Paper Towns", "The F It List" and "Let's Get Lost", this will definitely keep you interested til the last page.

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"Cats in Paris" A Magical Coloring Book Review

Cats in Paris: A Coloring Book of the Felines of Paris by Won-Sun Jang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

How does one properly rate a coloring book? I think that constructing a review was the most tedious part, in which I had to resort back to the book for its therapeutic purpose of relieving stress via coloring. SO, here's a review that will provide insight into the two biggest things that I think go into a coloring book...

1. Construction of the book- the pages are thick and heavy, which would be perfect for those who like to color with markers versus crayons or colored pencils. Personally, I dislike flimsy pages for fear that pressing down too hard will rip through the page. This did not happen at all, which made me a happy camper.

2. Coloring options- a coloring book needs to have some variety when it comes to choosing which pages to color. I thought that there were many different options, and since this was a cat themed coloring book, they all had felines in some shape or form. One thing that I shrugged at were how many similar pages there were (for example- multiple versions of cat stamps.... I got the hint with one or two, but there were a total of 6). I'm also not a cat person (SORRY!!), but I enjoyed the different scenes. Another thing that did bother me were the lack of Paris related scenes...

Overall, I received this book to review because I wanted to review a coloring book simply because I had not done so previously. I was pleased with this choice, but do think it could use some improvement in some areas, particularly in the balance of coloring options of both cats and of Paris.



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"The Perfect Egg" is the Perfect Cookbook

The Perfect Egg: A Fresh Take on Recipes for Morning, Noon, and Night by Teri Lyn Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have made the mistake that I think everyone has made in their lives... I've bought too many eggs. This cookbook rescued me and my fear of wasting food with classic and diverse dishes for every meal of the day that has reveling in amazement for the one and only incredible edible egg.

Authors (and chefs) Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park divide the book for times of day in which these meals would be ideal (Morning, Snacks, Afternoon, Night and Sweets), but my favorite part may have been the section explaining cooking techniques and various foundational elements that the egg plays a role in within the kitchen's concoctions. Doughs, sauces and breads all incorporate eggs, and even though little 'ol me would've just thrown it in in my past life, I now know how to officially "fold" an egg into the mix.

With this book, I made a few recipes (one from each section) just to try things out. Here's what the critics (roommate, friends and boyfriend) have to say:

Morning:
Quiche- a delicious reason why I have started hosting book club brunches. The book gives you a total of 8 filling options that have all had our mouths watering.

Snacks:
Sweet Potato Egg Shoap- or Indian inspired croquettes that are sweet, crunchy and great with a cool, creamy yogurt sauce.

Afternoon:
Avgolemono Soup- best way to describe this is a Greek lemony egg-drop soup that is light to the palate, and makes your senses think they are on vacation.

Dinner:
Beef Empanadas- I've made so many that my freezer is still stuffed with them. Great to thaw for a quick treat ti provide at parties for guests.

Sweets:
Quindim- Brazilian yellow custards that rival my favorite 5 star restaurant's creme brûlée (but no worries- creme brûlée has its own recipe!)

Have I made you hungry yet? If so, get this book and crack some eggs! You won't regret it.


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"Better Nate Than Ever" Book Review

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was adorable and definitely fits into the "follow your dreams" theme while still standing out for its own merit. Nate is a thirteen year old who is a self proclaimed theater kid, obsessed with musicals, stage dancing, and even costume planning, all of which are sufficient reasons for his constant bullying at school and negligence at home. So, what does a tween oppressed by his surroundings do to pursue his goal of starring in a Broadway musical?? Run away to New York of course!

Read by the author, this audiobook was witty, entertaining and touching all at the same time, "Better Nate Than Ever" comes at a good time in which LGBT themes are slowly becoming popular and needed to be read more. I can't wait to share this with students who can relate to Nate, especially the ones who sing, dance, and just enjoy being themselves.

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"The Matheny Manifesto: A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life" Book Review

The Matheny Manifesto: A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life by Mike Matheny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Never have I read a book that has provided more insight into principles of coaching and becoming a better player. Providing insight into personal values, Christian beliefs and consistent motivation to become a better athlete, this is a book that truly gives inspiration to athletes, coaches, and competitors everywhere.

Mike Matheny, the current manager of the St. Louis Cardinals and a coach of a youth baseball team, explains his Manifesto, or a letter that he gives to parents at the beginning of the season that focuses on the values of leadership, character building, and what it truly means to be a team. What is true sportsmanship like? Matheny, along with co-author Jerry B. Jenkins, discusses that with dedication to the sport, and consistently trying to make oneself better by focusing on core values that would also make one a better person overall.

This book will not teach you how to improve your batting average or show you how to score more during the game. Nor will this book give you the tips and tricks on becoming a better coach and immediately uniting your team during every trial and test that you endure throughout your coaching experience. Instead, this book will talk about keys to success, or identifying traits of leadership, confidence, teamwork, faith, class, character and humility, all of which help develop the person's individuality to make them better overall, both in and out of the game.

I picked up this book because I like baseball--it's an amazing game that has many different dynamics that are incredible to watch. But what was really incredible was all of the lessons that Matheny shared from his career that I could take away into my own life and use in my own coaching experience with my own (non-baseball) team. There are versatile messages presented in this short book that can be applied anywhere and by anyone who is just willing to take the time to dedicate to reading and learning more.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest and unbiased review.

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Effects of the 2008 Icelandic Economic Recession on Libraries-- Article Review

In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.

--Ulysses S. Grant

As a current school librarian, managing a budget for my Media Center is both a blessing and a curse. I can manage money in the sense of spending it on the acquisition of materials that my students will enjoy, but then I worry about the accounting procedures. In the end, the biggest question is still and will forever be looming over my head--Will the library have enough money?

Iceland’s 2008 economic recession is quite similar to the one that also occurred in America and the results were just as catastrophic to budget spending, especially when it comes to libraries.

Between December, 2011 and April, 2012 the most noticed considerable cutbacks occurred in about a quarter of public libraries. Cuts differ between the anonymous libraries, but operational expenditures were the cause of strain on the budget. With the cost of keeping the library open rising, cuts had to be made within collection allocation and staffing. “45 percent of all the libraries show reductions of 30 percent or more. The highest level being over 70%” (Tryggvadottir, 2013).  

To better understand the effects that recessions have on libraries (because honestly, I’m unfortunately ignorant to the economics of such things), let’s take a look at two factors that would further explain what in the world is going on.

Employment

The participating libraries in this study recorded having a total of 225 employees in 2007. This number has a slight, yet steady decrease with having 218 employees in 2008, 216 in 2009, 209 in 2010, and 200 in 2011. Even though the math results in an average 11.111% decrease over the span of 4 years, the study does not mention what positions were eliminated, or how that affected overall productivity of the library. Wouldn’t this information be essential to how effective libraries were during this time frame?

Another aspect that I noticed while reading was that a large amount of changes were made in 2010, almost two years after the main events of the recession. Why did this occur? And again, wouldn’t this information be helpful in developing a more rounded idea of libraries’ effectiveness?

Materials

An obvious effect of the recession on a library would be the cuts made in collection allocation budgets. These budgets are evaluated yearly and reassessed so that libraries can maintain thorough collections that are relatable to their patrons. With budget cuts, collections run the risk of losing diversity, and being driven by popularity, which could become quickly out of date. Materials that also support local schools’ curriculums are also in dire need, but are often cut, thus resulting in a decrease in use by school age patrons. Lacking of school-age materials can also lead to a reduction of these patrons’ willingness to read, in turn resulting in negative effects on literacy. “Reading comprehension is generally decreasing among elementary school children...a clear connection has been shown between reading comprehension and students’ interest in reading books” (Tryggvadottir, 2013).

So, with these budget setbacks, and my previous experience with budgeting a school library, how are libraries in Iceland still able to fully serve their population of literary loving patrons?

To answer this, I will investigate the following:

-size of public library’s space, collection and staff

-annual budget for collection allocation

-programming sessions provided by the library

-role in the surrounding cultural community

The methods for investigating this will include tours of the facilities, interviews with staff members, and collection of statistics that will support analysis of searching goals.

Let the fun begin! :)

Works Cited

Tryggavadottir, E. (2013). Effects off economic recession on Icelandic libraries. Scandinavian Library Quarterly, 46(1).