January's Book Club: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

This month I went to a new book club that was just formed.  It is a combination of some of the people from the day book club I used to be in a long time ago, and the evening book club, which only met a few times, and then stopped for some reason.  We met back in November to discuss what we might want to read throughout the year.  One of the members suggested a book I had already listened to the audio version of, called "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple. This time I decided to read it digitally.

Our book group met around dinnertime, so we have decided to bring food.  The food suggested was to "bring our favorite Antarctic dish."  I brought blue and clear JELLO jigglers (recipe found on Pinterest) that looked like ice!  There was also iceberg salads, cold fruit soup, hot tomato soup, gummy penguins, along with many other great things.

"Where'd You Go, Bernadette" is focused mainly around five people, so absorbed in their own worlds, that they cannot really see what is going on around them.  There is Audrey, the nosy neighbor, who is a gossip and a trouble-maker.  Audrey's friend, Soo-Lin, who likes to complain much about her personal problems and thinks more of herself than anybody else.  There is Elgin/Elgie Branch (pronounced El-jin, or L.G. - as the audio book pronounced it), who is a Microsoft big-wig who is completely absorbed in his work.  Elgin's wife, Bernadette, an eccentric, artsy, fashionable woman, is at the center of everybody's drama. Finally, there is Bee, the overly-enthusiastic teenage daughter, who wants to go to Antarctica, after receiving the best grades she could get from her current school.

The book was a big hit in my book club.  The book's main setting is in Seattle, and the Greater Seattle area.  All of us live in the Greater Seattle area, so it made it more personal for us, than maybe someone who lives outside that.  I have heard reviews of the book both ways.  Some people really love the book, some don't like it at all.  I can see why on both sides. 

In my group, there were a couple of women who moved from California, and there are a couple of others who husbands work for Microsoft.  When asked if they could relate to the book, they definitely felt like they could.

Being originally outside the Greater Seattle area myself, I could relate to some of the issues as well.  Some reviews I read/watched thought the characters were "too over-the-top."  Part of the reason why I may have not loved this book as much some, may be because I felt some of the characters were almost too real.  I could relate to them too much, having known people in my lifetime who have acted much like the characters in the book do. 

Audrey drove me crazy.  She was the character I loved to hate.  The book would not have been entertaining without her.  One person in my book group said that she was her favorite character, and she had the best arc.  Which is true.  Of all the characters in the book, Audrey has the best arc.

Bee was my favorite character.  The book is told from her side, through a series of letters she reads throughout the book.  I liked the style, reading the compilation of letters, and faxes, and whatnot.  I felt the format really makes the reader feel a part of the story.  In some ways, the reader is Bee, looking through all the information to figure it all out.  As a group we agreed that it could not work from anyone else's viewpoint.

Some reviews felt the title was misleading.  They thought Bernadette did not leave till late in the book.  This isn't entirely true.  However, it doesn't necessarily mean "gone" as in physically gone, either.  I think some readers might have missed that part.

Some reviews thought a couple of characters sounded the same.  I think it helped that I heard the audio version first.  It helped me keep track of which character was who, and I felt the narrator did a great job.

Something I didn't understand, when I was reading it digitally, is some words in a couple of the letters being in bold for no apparent reason.  Did anyone else notice this?  Did I miss something?

I could go on about the other characters, but I really don't want to spoil anything.  All I know is that we had a ton of people at this book club, and everyone there seemed to really enjoy it.

My Book Report: The Books I Chose to Read In 2015

According to Goodreads, I read a total of 13 books last year.  That is 10 books less than the year previous.  The past year was an accomplishment, however, because I finally finished the 1,472 pages of the book, Gone with the Wind, which was a New Year's Resolution of mine for 2015.

Here is my review of it from Goodreads:

Book #1  Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell  My rating:  4 stars.

Wow. I cannot believe I finally finished this book! It is a long book, and I took my time to fully enjoy it.

I was not expecting to like this book much, because I saw the movie years ago, and found the movie to be boring back then. The first time I fully watched it, I had a really bad sinus infection, so that might be part of the reason. I remember renting it again, and still finding it boring. Now, that I have read the book, I feel like giving the movie a 3rd chance. I thought the main actors chosen in the movie were great for their parts, at least.

I started this book years ago when my book club suggested it. I knew I wouldn't finish in a month, but I started the book, hoping it to be more interesting than the movie was. It started off well (but so does the movie). I was frustrated that it didn't have the text-to-speech feature, though - of all the books not to have that! I then became very busy at work, got distracted with life, other books, etc. I wound up putting the book down for a few years, and picking it back up because I really did want to finish what I started.

The book could have easily been a series of 5 books, and is actually broken into 5 separate parts, which I found interesting. It follows the life of Scarlett O'Hara and all the trials she goes through. There is also Rhett Butler, who appears in different stages of the book. Each character seems to develop, and reveal more about themselves with each section.

There were some surprises I didn't see coming, and some things I should have seen coming, but didn't. Reading this book was almost like watching a soap opera, set in the 1800s. Some parts made me laugh (which I didn't expect at all), some parts shocked me, other parts angered me, and some parts frustrated me - so many emotions on one book!

Even though the book is fiction, it gives some insight of how some people may have really thought of things back then, and how they interacted with each other over certain situations. There were some parts of the book that seemed irrelevant, which I feel could have been cut, but for the most part, I really enjoyed reading it.

Now I am just curious how the movie version will compare.

I borrowed the movie, giving it a 3rd chance.  I actually liked the movie this time.  I felt it did a pretty good job with the book, of course it had to omit several parts, but I remember overall liking it.  It seemed like the book helped me get a better understanding of what was going on in the movie, too.


Book #2  The Giver  by Lois Lowry.  My rating:  3 stars.  If you read this book, you probably liked it better than I did.

I decided to read this book because a reviewer wrote that one of the books I really liked, called "Matched," was "a total rip-off of 'The Giver.'" So, I expected this book to be just as good or better than the Matched series, that I like so much.

I felt "The Giver" had some good concepts, but I felt the plot was weak. I also felt the characters were underdeveloped, and their dialect was not very believable for their age group. I do understand that it is supposed to be a more advanced society, but still. Also, some horrific things happen, which I found fairly predictable.

There is an addition of magic that really doesn't make sense with the story. I overlooked the magic part, because maybe advanced technology could possibly create something that seems like magic in our time, but even so, it did not really seem to fit in well with the rest of the story.

I actually liked the ending, because it can be viewed in more than one way. I did not realize that this book in the series was going to end the story however, and there were some things brought up that were never explained, so it seemed pointless to even bring them up in the first place.

Matched may have been influenced by this book, there a few things that are the same, but overall, Matched is totally different, and a much better book.


Book #3  These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901, Arizona Territories (Sarah Agnes Prine #1) by Nancy E. Turner. My rating:  5 stars.

I am so surprised how much I liked this book. I started to read it a long time ago for my book club, but never had time to get into it. It was just recently added to my library as an audio version, which makes it easier to get through, since I can listen while I work.

The first part of the audio version, the narrator, Amy Rubinate, sounded a bit stiff, and I was wondering if she was right for the reading of it, but later on, I felt like she did a really great job.

The book itself put me through many emotions. I was grossed out by some things so much, I almost decided to stop reading. I also wondered if it would be too much like "Follow the River," which was also a good book, but I really did not feel like reading something like that at this time.

Luckily, it has more going on than the "Follow the River" book had, and the plot is totally different, once you get through the first part.

"These Is My Words" has some really gross, graphic scenes, but it also has humor, sadness, frustration, romance, and more. It is a great read and/or listen.


Book #4  Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens  by Earl Hipp.  My rating:  5 stars.

This book was written for a younger audience than me, but I still thought it had some great tips, even for adults. I wish I read this when I was a teenager, it may have helped. The book is wonderfully illustrated, and gives readers tips on how to be more calm, positive, and goal oriented.


Book #5  The Perfect Scent:  A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York by Chandler Burr.  My rating:  4 stars.

I would have never picked up this book to read, except it was suggested for book club. I don't often wear fragrance because most female fragrances give me a terrible headache (which runs in my family, on my father's side).

I found this book to be fascinating. I really never thought about what makes a fragrance, or how it is made, but is explained as a piece of art that tells a story. After reading this book, it totally makes sense.

I wound up switching from the hardback book to the audio edition in order to get through the book faster. Mel Foster does the narration. His voice sounds smooth, and a bit clinical.

Foster's voice is a good match for the book, but I looked up Chandler Burr, who wrote the book, and wondered why he did not narrate it. Burr's voice is more animated, and I think he could have added more passion to his own story.

Nevertheless, I thought the book was interesting, and sometimes funny. I did zone out on some of the more technical aspects that were mentioned, however. I did not care to listen to the long list of compounds mentioned. I would have quickly skimmed the compound part if I were actually reading the words. The audio helped with the pronunciation of some of the words I did not know (there are a few words in French), and other complicated sounding brands such Hemès, which I was familiar.

It seems like it would be helpful to have an imagination while reading this book, because some scents described (like specific flowers), you may not necessarily know what they smell like. Some of the author's descriptions are downright hilarious, he doesn't sugar coat anything.

My favorite part of the book is Chandler's first meeting with Sarah Jessica Parker. She adds a cheerful lightness to the story, and I found her thoughts intriguing.

I wasn't sure I should go to Book Club, the week they had it on this book. The woman who suggested the book had a whole bunch of fragrances that she said we could smell and try on. I was worried about getting a bad headache.

I decided to go anyway, and found that most of the fragrances did not cause any problems. I really liked the "Lovely" fragrance. When upon hearing how much I liked it, the owner gave it to me as a gift to take home! I have even worn it a few times since then, I still really like it. It really smells lovely!

So whether you like fragrance, or are just curious about the process, this is a good book to listen to!

Book #6  The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.  My rating:  4 stars.

I really liked this book, but I felt like it had so much sexual reference, drugs and abuse, that it overshadowed the main really good parts of the book. Some of it was essential to the plot, but I just felt it was overdone. It also seemed to make light of things that really should be seen as more serious.

I loved the format of the book. The letters really draw the reader in, and makes you feel like a character in the book, yourself. I felt I understood Charlie, even though most of his actions are so different from how I would act. I still found him relatable, despite our differences.

Most books I either feel happy or relieved when I finish them. This one I felt a little sad about finishing. That is all I will say.


Book #7  Stones Into Schools:  Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson, Atossa Leoni.  My rating:  2 stars.

This was another book I started for book club a long time ago, but never finished. I just couldn't get into it.

When I saw it as an audio-book, recently, I decided to get through it that way. I liked the dialog parts, but only seemed to last about 25% of the entire story, in the center section. The narrator, Atossa Leoni, really added life to those parts. The rest of it made me zone in and out frequently. Every once in awhile I thought it would pick up, but then it didn't for me. It was mostly depressing, too. It was not a bad book, it just wasn't my cup of tea (pun intended).


Book #8  The Manga Japanese Cookbook:  Japanese Bento Boxes, Main Dishes and More!  (International Edition) The Manga University Culinary Institute, Chihiro Hattori (Illustrator).
My rating:  4 stars.

This is a very cute cookbook. I borrowed it from the library mainly because I wanted to know what dango had in it after watching Clannad. The book makes some references to other anime and manga between recipes.

The recipes look interesting and tasty. Maybe someday I will try them!

I was influenced by this book to put a bit of sugar in my omelets.  I think they taste so much better now!


Book #9  Lost Cat:  A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology by Caroline Paul, Wendy MacNaughton (Illustrations).  My rating:  5 stars.

This is a book about a woman obsessed with the goings on of her cat. It is humorous and entertaining, but it also made me cry. The illustrations are delightful! It makes a nice, quick-read for those who like cats.

Book #10  The Rules:  A Guide for People Owned by Cats by Max Thompson.  My rating:  3 stars.

This book was just okay for me. I guess my main problem, is that it felt inconsistent. Starting with the cover. I like the cover, it is a beautiful illustration. The illustrations inside really don't correspond. They seem amateurish compared to the cover. They could also be seen as quirky and fun, but the cover suggests otherwise.

The content is all very tongue-in-cheek. Is it supposed to be written (and illustrated) by a cat or a human? It seems to be one or the other at different times in the book. It has humor, but sometimes you wonder if the author is trying to convince you of things you should not do. Other times, it seems important that you should do what the author suggests.

There were some things that definitely made me laugh out loud, but overall, I was disappointed in this book.


Book #11  No More Bad Decisions by Sydney Finkelstein.  My rating:  3 stars.

This book made some good points, but I wished it was longer.

Book #12  The Mystery of the Green Cat by Phyllis A. Whitney.  My rating:  5 stars.

My 3rd grade teacher read this to our class, and I absolutely loved it then. This book, and a picture on the back cover of a little cat, inspired me to make a little ceramic cat in college that I still have.

I haven't probably read the book since 3rd grade, but I still found it intriguing today. Some things and phrases are quite dated, yet it still stands the test of time. I am surprised I could not borrow this book from the library. It is quite a classic.

(My Dad saw this book, sitting on my lamp table during the Christmas holiday.  He read it, and also really enjoyed it.  He thought it gave a great description of San Francisco.)


Book #13  Exploring Calvin and Hobbes:  An Exhibition Catalog by Bill Watterson.  
My rating:  5 stars.

I haven't even reviewed this book on Goodreads yet, but I absolutely loved this book!  When I read it, I felt like it was written just for me!  Of course, I knew it wasn't, but it was a very satisfying read.  In "Exploring Calvin and Hobbes...", there was a nice, long interview of Bill Watterson with smart questions about his cartooning, as well as some of his personal life.  He also included some favorite comics from other cartoonists, pointing out what he liked about them.  Watterson comes across as very intelligent and kind, which is probably explains why he doesn't want to hang around just anybody.  The artist showed off a little of his photography and painting as well.  He is obviously incredibly talented and continues to grow.  Most of his answers did not surprise me, except for the fact that he has a brother.  I guess I just figured he was an only child.  I wish he did answer the question of what the little gadget with holes in it was.  I have one of those, and I used it during cartooning class on one setting only.  I have no idea what it is called.  I guess if Bill Watterson doesn't know, it really doesn't matter.

A Long Time Ago, In a Villiage of Gingery Jedi and Sugary Storm Troopers...

Que music...

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you had a Merry Christmas, too, or whatever you celebrate at this time of year!  I have been up to quite a few things, but I haven't blogged in awhile.  I think it is about time I start sharing again!  Today my topic is on the gingerbread display at the Sheraton in Seattle. 

This year's Gingerbread Village theme was Star Wars (with everything Star Wars these days, could it be anything else? - No!).  I have enjoyed the gingerbread displays in the past, so I wanted to share some of my photos this year with you!  I wish I took a few shots with my good camera, but I was trying to stay out of the way of others looking last-minute with me at the exhibit.  Enjoy!

May the Force be with you!