The Light Between Oceans by Stedman

Someone asked what my latest book recommendation was and I told her; it's The Light Between Oceans by Stedman. Then I leant her my copy, which is how I justify buying books these days, I'm going to lend it out, that's why I need a real copy.

So since she has my copy, I can't write the quotes out that were my favorites. And I won't waste your time with plot summary---just look on Amazon.

What I can say is that I liked the book, Stedman did a great job for a first novel, and there are some great passages about love and forgiveness that I've been thought rumbling. And it's made me ponder things like:

1. When we love someone to know well enough what their breaking point is, and we watch as they are pushed past it and then they break and act badly . . . well, we should have seen that coming and we better forgive them already.

2. In a perfect world no one grieves, mourns, gets depressed, or can't see clearly. Too bad we don't live there, we're stuck loving each other despite our imperfections.

3. (And this is what I've really been pondering a lot . . . ) My observation in real life is that people react to difficult experiences in one of two ways:

a) They either close themselves off to other people---no one else has suffering. No one else knows pain. No one else went through what they did, so no one else hurts.

or

 b) They grow in compassion for all people who suffer, even if their pain isn't exactly the same.

I'd say, try the book. Good prose. Good story. A little emotional manipulation and plot twist whiplash, but Stedman's new at this, so we should cut her some slack.

And the overall theme of the book: People hurt. Let's forgive. People make bad choices. Let's forgive. Stick it out, don't bail, and forgive, forgive, forgive.

Alexandria with Bettany Hughes

The baby is now two months old.

Here's what I do during the day: sit and feed the baby.

Here's what I do during the night: sit and feed the baby.

Makes Netflix Instant Queue really appealing. And there's only so many episodes of "What not To Wear" and "Yes to the Dress, Bridesmaids" that I can take.

So I decided to ping off the documentary list and watched Alexandria with Bettany Hughes, which chronicles the history of the great city Alexandria. Which I knew nothing about.

But 48 minutes interesting minutes later, I was entertained and educated about Alexandria and the influential female mathematician, Hypatia, who lived there.

If you have the slightly, littlest, most minuscule amount of interest in Alexandrea, Alexander the Great, Hypatia, or this time period, this is worth watching.

Would be great in a history class, home or public.

Genetics Book for Kids: Found One!

I asked a while back if anyone knew of any genetics books for kids, and the authors of one such book responded on my blog.

And so I bought the book. It seemed only fair.

It's called When Will Broccoli Taste Like Chocolate: Your Questions on Genetic Traits Answered by Stanford University Scientists by Bodian and Starr. It's is written deliberately in engaging prose and the authors try to tone down the academic speak.

So after I glanced at it, I handed it to the most reliable kid book critic I know: my kid. The one who had the questions about genetics in the first place. And it keeps being moved, and read, in different parts of the house. So I think we have a winner.

I have to say that I think most of concepts in this book are over his head. But he's 8. So the fact that it interests him at all is what impresses me. I think it's a great addition to our book shelf, and any home library bookshelf (homeschoolers and school kids alike) where the kids are interested in genetics.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

So if you're ever going to go into labor anytime soon, and you want something that will be a conversation starter on the table beside you while the medical staff come in and out, read at least part of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and take the book with you.

Or if you just want a good book, and you aren't going to have anything to do with labor any time soon, you can try it too.

The book is about the cells of the cancerous tumor of Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca Skloot is a fine writer and fine researcher and the book is well-written, interesting, and it clips along at a nice pace.

Seriously? A book about a woman's cells?

You'll be surprised. It's pretty good.

Because these cells became the basis for heaps of medical research and breakthroughs.

I think it could also go on that ever-evasive quest for something clean enough for a church book group.

But anyway, I had this out on my hospital table during my labor/pitocin/edidural waiting game, and I had one nurse, one doctor, and at least one researcher (all women) come through before the baby was born. And each saw the book there and said, "Hey! That's a great book!" or said, "Do you like it? That's on my list."

Which made me seem like an intelligent mommy patient and we could talk about something other than the obvious.

It's always nice to appear an intelligent, rational mommy before the labor pains really hit and I'm pushing the baby out and screaming like a banshee.

Portrait of a New Mom at Three Weeks Postpartum

So I had the baby. Insights and stories abound on being the mom of a baby again and of being the mom of four kids. We'll see what I can get written. But here's one to start . .

This morning before Eric went to work, he took the boys to school and my little lady to a playdate (May the heavens bless the women who let my daughter come play in the mornings so I can sleep!). When he came back to switch cars and leave me with the van, he found me in the dining room:

Wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt
Hair in a ponytail
Baby in the crook of my arm while I stood there, bouncing him to sleep
While I was eating oatmeal with my other hand, all the while bouncing the baby.

I laughed and said, "Hey Dear. Here you see the portrait of a new mom."

Yes, especially since the baby was Mr. Personality and Mr. Social from about 1 to 3:30. AM.

And that is how it is. Party on, Tired Mom.

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Go find a copy of Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson. Find it right now because you will like it. Think Jane Austen time period with a feisty, funny, intelligent heroine and a dashing, determined hero.

You will laugh and laugh, especially with the dairymaid song.

You may cry (I did) at the heroine's vulnerability and honesty.

And you will get your fix of the Regency period as you haven't done since PBS remade all the Jane Austens.

But one thing you won't do, but I did . . . is remember the courtship of the woman who recommended this book to you.

Because the woman who recommended this to me acted very similarly as the heroine acted towards the hero as he was trying to court her, when my recommendeder was being courted by her husband-to-be.

I liked the guy all along, and cheered for him all along.

So here's to the woman who recommended this book to me, and her husband who proposed once by writing a note to her and putting it on the library bulletin board, "(Name withheld) . . . will you marry me?"

Here's to me when I said, "I think he really likes you" and here's to her who said, "No, he's just kidding."

And here's to their marriage and the adorable children who followed.

Here's to women who are hard to woo. And the men who catch them in the end.

Here's to Donaldson for bringing it all back, for writing such a great debut book, and for not killing off her characters in the end---a common misstep of new writers.

And here's to you . . . find a copy and enjoy.

Maternity Leave Over

Does anyone see these gaps and think, "Oh, Deborah must be pregnant again"? Like Meg in Sheridan, my one fan :), do you get suspicious about that?

Because the same thing happens in my journal. I went to write in it and found the last entry was mid-May, which would have been about week six. Now it's early October, about week 26. 20 weeks out of commission, first trimester to third, that's about right.

Oh yes, I am expecting again. A boy this time, in January.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

I'll write more about the pregnancy in another post, but sufficieth to say: We are excited and I am large with child. All I want to do is just sit, sit, sit. And read, preferably, because my mind isn't blurry anymore from fatigue or morning sickness.

I'm starting with the complete works of Madeline L'Engle, for no particular reason. All that I can find. Anyone want to join me?

Anyone have any other suggestions? Putting my feet up (and reading) is, actually, exactly what the doctor orders as it turns out.

Perfect!