This is one of those books I am almost ashamed to say that has sat on my shelf for years.  I bought it right away as the buzz began on what a wonderful book it was, and then…. there it sat.  And actually there it still sits because I have yet to read the book.  Recently I had been at my library and seen it in audio format and with my recent travels by car, decided this was one way I could finally be a part of what is known as The Kite Runner.

The following is my thoughts…

Sheila

As the narration began (read by the author) I am brought into Afghanistan in the early 1970’s.  Amir is the son of a wealthy father, his mother having died during his birthing.  Amir always feels as thought he has to prove himself to his father and spends most of his childhood seeking for that forgiveness he feels he needs for his mother’s death.

And then we have Hassan, the son of Amir’s fathers servant.  The boys are inseparable, from morning to night they hang together, best friends, flying kites, running kites, and Amir reads to Hassan, who can not read but loves to hear Amir’s stories.

The Kite Runner, is their story.

I am sure this book has been reviewed thousands of times through the years, and yet here I am – writing a review and hoping I can bring something new to the table.  Or if not new, perhaps a memory to those who have read this book… and remember, because seriously, how could one ever forget?  So many words rush to my fingertips as I type this review.  I have actually struggled writing this as I feel there is no way I can do this audio, this story,  justice, and at the same time I know I have to try.

The words are powerful.  I learned about kite running, something I had not known about but found fascinating.  The story at times takes my breath away.  Author Khaled Hosseini is the perfect narrator not only because this is his story, but his voice, being born in Afghanistan himself, breathed life into the characters that I feel touched me even more than if I would have read the book.

Well written, highly emotional, at times I am driving with tears running down my face.  And as those of you who have read or listened to this book know, there is a moment where an anger builds in me so strongly, that I am still not sure even after, if I have completely forgiven the act.  (See spoiler button below if you want to talk about this more).

Even if you have read the book, I am highly recommending that you go through it again on the audio.  Even if you don’t do audio – do this one.  Put it in your cars cd player or the cd player in your home while you go about house tasks.  You wont regret it, because when an audio is done well like this one, it is a whole new way to do books.

I am passionate about this book.  Easily one of the best books I have had the pleasure of experiencing in 2010.  Read it.  Listen to it.  But don’t let this one pass you by.

“For you, a thousand time’s over”.

~ Hassan says to Amir

Brief Kite Runner Movie Review:

I purchased the movie over a year ago knowing I would not watch it until after I had experienced the book.  A few days ago I sat down and watched a movie that a few in my book club said they could never watch because of the books content.  I knew I had to see the movie, knowing it would be hard.  It was.  And I wept openly again just as I had done before because I experienced it again – that heart breaking, heart wrenching moment that defines this book.  I watched it with my 20-year-old son Justin, who had not read the book, but not feels that he must.

My Book Journey has been updated here to include Kite Runner

My Amazon review

Cover story:  It is very good, plain on the audio but I think I like it even more that the more modern cover of the two boys with kites.

I borrowed the Kite Runner audio from our local Library

I purchased the Kite Runner Movie

Here is the setting.  This is a true story of a friendship of eleven girls who grew up in Ames, Iowa.   Even though some of the women moved to other states as they grew up, they still maintained the friendships.  This book is about the ties that bind and friendships that hold true.

I do like a book on friendships.  I always have.  And I eagerly dove into this read to learn more.  Here is a little of their story:

Meet Karla, Kelly, Marilyn, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Cathy, Angela, Sally, Diana and Sheila.  Thay are The Girls From Ames.

This book is written differently then I had expected.  Jeffrey Zaslow writes in a reporter type style where he speaks of the girls, their lives, and even occasionally throws in some facts about friendships and the benefits.  At times the book is funny, and at other times it made me sad.  I was surprised to read that these girls were not necessarily liked back in their school years and were referred to as cliquey and stuck up, the popular girls.

While the book is filled with many facts on the friendships, I was more interested in the friendships themselves.  Having a strong group of friends in my life and knowing how important they are to me, causes me to be fascinated with books that contain such topics.  These girls had and have a friendship that I found admirable.

With 11 women in the book it is at times hard to keep track of who is who and I referred to the pictures of the ladies in the front of the book many times to get my bearings.

Overall, while It wasn’t the book I thought it would be, I did enjoy the book.

Where to go for Coffee when in Ames, Iowa?  Cafe Diem is where you would find me!

320 Pages

Cover Story:  Very appealing.  The color of the book is eye catching and I like the photo of the girls on the front.

My Book Journey is updated here

Thank you to TLC book tours for a chance to review this book

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen’s story doesn’t end there.

In “Life, In Spite of Me” this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

♦          ♦           ♦          ♦          ♦

Kristen’s story was one that is horrifying, sad, hopeful, and triumphant, all rolled into one package.   From the early pages her sorrow and depression envelope you.  Close family losses and a devastating experience with what she thought was a friendship leaves her reeling – and what teenager wouldn’t be?

33 freight cars sever her legs during a suicide attempt, at a time she didn’t want anything more than to just die and feel nothing…. God stepped in. She didn’t lose her life as planned – but instead gained something that is sure to help others.   An inspiring story that I would encourage anyone who has doubts about what their future holds, or why they are here on this earth and this (fill in the blank ________________) situation.

I received my copy of this book from Litfuse

128 pages

Cover Story:  Love it!  So appropriate and love how the authors name goes over Anne Frank’s mouth.  That is censorship!

From the New Testament to The Diary of Anne Frank to current objections to the Harry Potter series–dubbed the most frequently challenged books of the 21st century by the American Library Association–the tradition of banning, censoring, and challenging books has been remarkably enduring.

Seriously… what is it about the word “forbidden” that makes you want to put a toe over the line? I almost have a sort of sick fascination with the books that are labeled as such. I have visions of women covered from head to toe in long shapeless black dresses and a bonnet and suit clad “bow tie too tight” men standing around a bonfire clucking away as as they toss the book in….

ok…

maybe that’s not fair.

The point being I get a little riled up when I see books in here that are near and dear to my heart.  I see Harry Potter once again being tossed to the wolves and I stand on the sidelines looking amazed as these are the very books that made my sons readers.  The series that kept my kids up past curfew… not because they were playing war video games, not because they were in awe of late night crappy TV shows….  no.  I had to ask them to shut their books and go to sleep.  (The equivalent of a Norman Rockwell moment.

And why?  Because the books are set in the supernatural world and therefore must be satanic.   Because kids who fly brooms and wave wands at teachers are surely going to cause our own kids to become broom riding thugs.

Seriously.  If that is the reasoning then for the life of me I don’t know why I am not running  for my car in the dead of night  at top speed and screaming like a banshee in fear of the flying monkeys that are present in the ever popular Wizard Of Oz.

And sure I have a certain soft spot for the Potter series so of course I will defend – but there are others.

Authors the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Margaret Atwood,  James Joyce, John Steinbeck, Anne Frank, Mark Twain…. oh and did I mention the New Testament?  Pearce Carefoote sticks to books that we are familiar with and leaves a good amount of information as to why the books have been challenged.

While the book is small and doesn’t even tap anywhere near into all the books that have been challenged, censored, and banned, what it does share is quite informative.

Pearce Carefoote even starts the book with a Primer On Censorship.

“Oh Harry, don’t you see”, Hermione breathed.  “If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person  in the school will read your interview, it was banning it.”

J K Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

And while book censorship continues to rear its ugly head… it also continues to be defeated… time and time again.  Page after page.

I borrowed this book from our local library

My first graphic read and I have Angie at By Book or by Crook to thank for putting this one in my sight.

I have been a little leery of graphic novels.  I have wanted to try one but when I would flip through them at the book stores they had a comic book look to them, many times being a large series that I didn’t want to start with.  When I seen this one on Angie’s blog it looked…. like a story.  And that is what it was…

This novel, told completely in pictures, is the story of an immigrant family.  It opens with the father leaving and prepping a place for his family to live in a new country. Through the pictures, Shaun Tan has shown how maps, and food, and even pets can look to someone who is unfamiliar with these things.

Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words.  From page one, through the graphics, and even the neutral colors of the pages, I felt a lump in my throat as the story unfolded.  Shaun Tan created an incredible work here that gave me eyes to see how someone from another country can possibly perceive a new life.  It is so hard to describe the book and all I feel I can tell you here is that emotion welled up inside of me, much like it would if you were in an art gallery and seen a particular piece of art that spoke to you.

This book, spoke to me, and in a way, has changed me and how I look at my world. While marketed for Young Adults, I think the some of the subtle could be missed by anyone not fully absorbing and appreciating what they are seeing.  Shaun Tan has created a master piece here and I am so glad I had the opportunity to experience it.

I picked up this book from my local Library