Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Kelly was an acquaintance in college. She was larger than life, gorgeous, a little older than me, and seemed like one of those natural, New England Irish beautiful girls to which life came fun and fast.
I think she hasn't changed much. Only, I know her much better now, even though I haven't seen her in 22 years. Her second book, Lift, was the one I learned of first, and read it, loving it. It is also reviewed in a past review. That being said, these are books for adults. Mainly because Kelly is very open in her books. She doesn't hold back- which is the source of charm in her writing, but maybe TMI for the kiddos. Maybe. Middle Place is the account of Kelly's relationship with her parents and her childhood juxtaposed with her adult life and diagnosis with breast cancer in her 30's. So far, so good, as she is still on this earth, raising her children and hopefully, writing. But still a close up account of this life. I find myself identifying so closely with Kelly, even though I have not been diagnosed with breast cancer- she is just so accessible. And inspiring. This is a great gift to yourself, or your adult girlfriends.
Loved It.

Somewhere Inside by Laura and Lisa Ling

I know I live in a news vacuum. I don't watch television news, don't read a paper and only sporadically hear anything on the radio. Since Paul Harvey died- a close friend since toddlerhood when if I was quiet during Paul Harvey I would be rewarded with a bologna sandwich- I have heard even less. Miss you Paul! And I completely missed the detention of Laura Ling. I was familiar with her sister Lisa, having seen her once or twice on The View back when the babies were small and I could do things like watch daytime television while nursing. So, the first I heard of this book, the story of the arrest and detention of journalist Laura Ling in North Korea in 2009, was on NPR just before leaving for China. The China/North Korea border is quite far from where we were travelling, as we were near the China/Myanmar, China/Laos borders, but I was still intrigued.
The book is written from Lisa's perspective, in California, juxtaposed with the perspective of Laura, in North Korea. The women are not "writers", they are journalists and the account ends up a little dry. But, for that, you start to understand the deep division between the two worlds. I couldn't help but be distressed by the difficulty of getting Laura and her also arrested collegue, Euna, out of North Korea. Especially considering sister Lisa, fighting tooth and nail for her only sibling, had "Al" (Gore) and "Oprah" on speed dial. Friends with politicians, media moguls, Hollywood stars, she had the ear of just about anyone with power in the US. And STILL it was nearly impossible. The "King of Pop" even offered his services, and that might have worked, Kim Jong Il being a big fan, except Michael died days after his offer. This book is maybe a must read for teens growing up in a time where the most secluded and insular nation in the world is testing nuclear weapons.
Now residing on Eldest's bedside table, will be at the top of her book queue. Both my girls have asked to read this one. I'm hoping they will.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I caught wind of this book from various sources, wanted to read it, but could never quite remember the name when I was at the library. So, I finally did a internet search with the words "Guernsey" and "Potato" because that is all I could remember. Lucky for me, the internet delivered. Handing me this complete gem of a book. War makes for a tender subject, often too depressing to really enjoy- especially WWII. Those darn Nazis were truly abominable. Guernsey, a little island in the English Channel, was occupied by the Germans for several years during the war. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society walks us through the occupation and beyond- all in letter form! Truly, I thought the entire book, composed of only correspondence, would drive me crazy. But I found I quickly forgot about the format, and just hungered to read the next letter! Who doesn't love getting a letter, anyway? There is love, death, forgiveness, compassion, friendship, generosity, adversity, twist and turns- all wrapped in great humor and depth and sent through the post. No sooner had I finished it then I tossed it on daughter #1's bed with a post it- "read me". She finished in a few days, and started mooning away, loving it too. It is now on daughter #2's bedside table.
READ ME.

Out to Canaan by Jan Karon

I'm wading through series currently, I suppose! This is #4 in the Jan Karon Mitford Series. I have blogged on this series before, but there are folks that may have missed my endorsement of this book series, and it would be a shame to overlook mentioning it again as it is really terrific. Karon is masterful in making adventures happen in a sleepy mountain town- with a greying preacher and his growing group of friends and loved ones. All, without making it gory or horrifying and keeping it exciting despite the seemingly ho-hum subject. I LOVE reading this series, and four books in have yet to be bored or disappointed, and no nightmares. They are a solid and fun choice for more advanced little readers, youth readers and me. Also, Grandma and even male persons.... the hero is an ol' preacher man. Goodgoodgoodgoodgood. Get the message?

Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

These are the final two books in the Hunger Games trilogy. They have attracted quite an audience of youth readers, and sucked me in right away as well. These are violent books. Okay, exclamation point! A cautionary tale of power in the wrong hands, and the bloody revolution that follows. It centers around Katniss Everdeen, a teenager forced to grow up before her time by a dysfunctional and twisted government. She is the tide that brings the wave of revolution to her country, and believe me, it is a pretty horrible life. So, why do I like the book? Triumph of good over evil? Hope? Optimism that it will come out okay in the end? Hunger to know what happens next in the string of horrible happenings? I don't know. Somehow I got plucked up and couldn't stop reading once I'd started. Most of the kids who had seen me reading the trilogy said the same thing; "I didn't like the last book as well as the first two." After reading the last one cover to cover in about a day, I'm not sure why. I thought it brilliant. After questioning one such young one (daughter #2) I think it may be that book 3 is more about the revolution as the whole, and the more central relationship and romance between Katniss and Peeta is pretty tanked (what with Peeta being tortured into lunacy and Katniss being the poster girl for the rebel forces). Still, this trilogy is a pretty exciting roller coaster ride....