Book Journey

Newly married Patrick and Margaret decide to make a trip to Kenya.  Patrick a doctor, is busy with his practice and Margaret a photography novice, finds she has much idle time on her hands.  When her car breaks down, Margaret finds herself being helped by an English couple Arthur and Diana.  The couples quickly become friends and Arthur and Diana offer Patrick and Margaret a nice cottage to use on their property.  In short time it is discovered that Arthur and Diana are planning a trip up Mt Kenya and invite the other couple along.  Margaret is unsure, but Patrick is excited and encouraging so the trip is planned.

The trip turns out to be a big mistake in more ways than one and a tragic accident where Margaret plays a role, changes the dynamics of life for Patrick and Margaret forever. 

I have read and enjoyed Anita Shreve before.  Her book Testimony, blew me away.  However I have to say this story eked me in so many ways and does not rate more from me than an unfortunate rant, in which I apologize for before I even begin.

First off… I listened to this on audio and it seemed to take forever for the story to get moving.  I believe it was disc three before it became interesting and that was actually the highlight of the audio/ book… the actual climbing of Mt. Kenya and the moments before and after the big plot drop.  I actually loved that part and thought ok…. now we are going….

but…

shortly after the big happening the story dropped off for me again.  While more interesting than the beginning (as now there was the *happening* to deal with), it just overall fell flat.

Margaret was extremely unlikable.  And no I do not have to love all my main characters, but they do need to have something behind the unsuitableness and Margaret was just… bland.  She had no fire or spunk.  Se also had no sense of right and wrong, and no conscience (ok… maybe that’s the same thing…).  I also felt I really never knew Patrick.  Margaret mainly takes the center stage and Patrick pops in and out of the picture.  I never felt the urge to cheer him on or yell at him to wake up.  he was kind of “ehhh”.

With all that said, in the end it felt like the story line just stopped.  No big triumphant “ah ha” moment… just kind of end of the journey.  Period.  The End.  Roll Credits.  Thank the academy.

It was really a “meh” read.  Errr…. listen (audio).

I will certainly venture my way back to Anita Shreve as she touches on some powerful subjects ands gives me the feeling of a stronger personalitied Jodi Piccoult.  And of course, check out other opinions on this one.  I could certainly be in the minority here.  But my two cents are that Shreve has done better and I think if you were new to this author this would not be the one I suggest you start with. 

 In recap this book was an “ehhh”, “meh, “errrrr” read.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include A Change In Altitude

I picked this one up at my local library

Tina Fey’s book Bossypants is her own story of how she grew up in Pennsylvania (with an over protective dad who will do anything to save a buck), to the early days of saturday Night Live (when women could not have a leading role), her honeymoon cruise because her husband does not like to fly (very Poseidon Adventure and includes a fire on the ship), to her Sarah Palin impression that she did not have time nor want to do, to deciding if one child is enough…

All in all Tina Fey is as funny sharing her own life triumphs and tragedies as she is on TV in her many roles.

I knew when I seen this book was coming out I had to read it.  When I seen the audio was going to be narrated by Tina herself, I decided scratch the book, I now wanted to hear Tina tell her story.  I am so glad I did.

Call it a guilty pleasure but I do really like good funny quick-witted humor.  I love my “funny” to have intelligence with it and Tina Fey delivers all that in an audio that I will cherish as good laugh at yourself moments because what else are you going to do – and that is kind of the way I like to live my life too.  😛

I have enjoyed Tina Fey not so much on Saturday Night Live (mainly because I never really watched Saturday Night Live), but more for her movie roles.  I enjoyed her in both Date Night and Baby Mama.  Not only is Tina funny but she is also an advocate for women’s rights and strongly supports a program Autism Speaks.

So…. here is the visual of my listening to this audio book.  I had it downloaded on my IPOD.  I am mowing our 5 acres of yard on the riding mower… where once I would listen to music and frighten the neighbors with my singing… now instead I listen to audio.  For me that is three hours of non interrupted “book” time.  This particular audio however had me at times laughing out loud to the point I am sure the neighbors were ready to call the “crazies hot line”.

Yes, at times she can be a bit raunchy – and thankfully that is few and far between on this audio.  Over all it was a pleasurable audio that I would recommend over the book just for the reason that it is Tina Fey herself narrating and she has that matter of fact tone that just makes me smile. 

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

I have updated the WHERE Are You Reading Map to include Bossypants

I picked up this audio from audible.com

Jan Zabinski was the director of the Warsaw Zoo during WWII.  He, along with his wife Antonia, sheltered 300 Jews as well as Polish resisters in the home, in animal cages, and in sheds.  Using the names of the animals as code names for the people in hiding, they risked their own lives to save those of strangers.

This would be a remarkable fiction story….

what makes it even more remarkable is that it is not fiction.

Using Antonia’s diaries, author Diane Ackerman takes us to a point in history where people ran for their very lives, hiding their heritage, and not knowing if this day may be your last….

it is a hard life to imagine from the comforts of my own life and times…

Russian born Antonia, and Polish Catholic Jan were a rarity and an enigma.  They loved animals and would bring in any stray into their home.  It was not uncommon to have not only cats and dogs in the home, but also a rabbit, birds, otters, badgers, lynx and more.  All this while hiding people and ammunition within the zoo itself, as Europe crumbled all around.

This book was recommended to me by my friend Heidi over a year ago.  I am usually quite open to book suggestions and in short time had the book in possession and on my shelf.  Now – the trick was to find the time to read it.  A couple of weeks ago I found it at my library in audio format and knew that was what would push this story to the front line.

Deeply immersed in the language of the times and the history in the making, I at first found this audio heavy with facts.  As I became more aware of what was happening and how incredibly brave Jan and Antonina were as well as what they did for the Jewish

people – said to have saved over 300 people by hiding them in the zoo cages and in their home. 

In the end, as what happens many times to me when I discover a new vein of history I knew little to nothing about, I want to know more.  If you look on-line you will find many stories of the Warsaw Zoo and the Zabinski’s.

Today the Warsaw Zoo lives on and flourishes.  Check out their website here and be amazed that this incredible Zoo that started in March 1928, still remain open and carrying with it a bounty of history.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

I have updated WHERE Are You Reading Map to include The Zookeeper’s Wife

I borrowed this book on audio from my local library