The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Once upon a time things were much different around here. I had one dog who liked to sleep all day, no job, a new husband who worked first shift and on this particular day a good book.  I woke up early to kiss my hard working husband goodbye, layed down on the couch ( we don’t have one of those anymore either) and started reading The Time Travelers Wife. Many hours later he got home from work and I was still laying on the couch saying “shhh don’t talk I only have a few pages left!” Ever since when ever this book comes up John tells about how he went to work with my reading it on the couch and how I was still there when he came home.  Which is clearly ridiculous, I’m sure I got up to eat and pee at least once while he was gone.

I just re-read this book and while circumstances have changed (two crazy dogs, three kids, husband on second shift and no couch) it took me two days to read this time and I still loved it.

Clara is sleeping on the chair downstairs tonight because the thunder keeps getting in her ears.

Would I recommend it? For certain. I know there is a movie out there. I’m never watching it. The book is perfect. Don’t see the movie, read the book.

First Day of School

Today was the big day- Ivy’s first day of Kindergarten!

After months of tears and worries Ivy woke up bubbling with excitement and practically skipped her way onto the bus.

Clara on the other hand had been woken up extra early by Ivy (not a parent sanctioned event) was tired and sad that her big sister was leaving her.  While I wouldn’t go so far as to accuse Ivy of being so prone to teasing and torturing her sister that I would say Clara’s tears at the end of the driveway caused Ivy to so happily depart on the bus I’m thinking that they didn’t hurt her mood either.

John,  a tearful Clara and I waved goodbye to Ivy and headed back inside where Clara discovered something.

Ivy was at school.

Ivy was not at home.

Released from the control of her older sister who rules like an evil but well loved dictator Clara had a new phrase:

“Ivy at school so I…

…sit in her chair.”

…use her paint.”

…pick out Dad’s shirt.”

…let out the chickens.”

…get the eggs.”

Clara’s sadness at being left at home lasted about an hour and then she had a great day being the biggest sister in the house!

Ivy came home full of stories about her first day and manically overtired.

They are both looking forward to tomorrow. Sounds like a successful first day to me!

I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child

Ivy has made a very slow transition to crying at the thought of going to school to hesitant excitement about her first day next week. I can’t give this book all the credit for the turn around but it certainly didn’t hurt.

The voice of Lola the little sister who is too small to go to school is so absolutely perfect nothing I say will do her justice. Unfortunately that means that Charlie, her older brother who is the brains of the outfit, gets second billing which is quite unfair, as he’s pretty fantastic too.

Lola has also helped start a few good conversations between Ivy and I about school. For instance tonight after we read about Lola’s invisible friend Soren Lorensen I found out that Ivy’s invisible friend Belle is also going to school next week.  Apparently Belle has been there lots before and knows lots of things already like reading and chemistry. Ivy thinks Belle will be good company on the bus on the way to school but when I asked if Belle could help her remember where her classroom was since she’s been in school before I got the look. The look that says “Uh Mom. Belle is pretend, why would I ask her things?” Which I find to be quite convenient because Belle has a tenancy to encourage Ivy to do all sorts of naughty things.  Ivy’s defense of “But Belle TOLD me to.” never crumbles to the “Uh Ivy. Belle is pretend why are you listening to her” look I give Ivy. Apparently I’ve got to work on my “looks.”

Would I recommend this? Absolutely! It makes it into the catagory of books I make my adult friends read even if there are no kids around because I think it is so great!

The Third Witch by Rebecca Reisert

This is a story set within Shakespeare’s Macbeth and while you don’t have to be all dorky like me and re-read the play before you read the book, (it’ll stand alone) I’m glad I did.

Would I recommend it?   I’d rate this book as intriguing but perhaps not for general consumption. It was good, but it was also hard to like the main character. I love the idea and how the plot is woven through Macbeth, but I’m not sure it would hold the same appeal if I hadn’t re-read the play and enjoyed Shakespeare to begin with. Yeah, I have no idea….

So how about you? Have you read Macbeth, does the book catch your eye like it did mine because of that? How do you feel about Shakespeare?

 

As for me I own The Yale Shakespeare, it’s so large that when I read anything out of it I end up laying on the floor- I love it!

Your Dog…

John: “Your dog.”

Me: (Thinking: Oh crap, what did he do? Kill a chicken? Chew on a chair? Steal breakfast off the table?)

John: “Your dog…”

Me (Thinking: Oh it was really bad… He killed all the ducks?  Ate a recliner?  Got into the office and pulled all the books off the shelf trying to get at the dove?)

John: “… has the manners of a goat.”

Me “What did he do?” (Thinking: Crap! John says goats have no manners.  My dog and I are in trouble – what did he do?!  He peed on John? He marked the inside of the house somewhere? He ate the cat?)

John: “Look at my car!”

Me: (Thinking: Is now the time to mention I once found him sitting on the desk with his butt on the keyboard? Probably not)

Sadly for Trip I couldn’t argue his case on this one.  With the  irrefutable evidence before me all I could do was agree…

My dog has the manners (and mannerisms of a goat).

Tonight my goat-dog was chewing on his tin can, I mean, peanut butter jar.