Clare, Red Scarf Girl

#26 a book based on a true story

This book fits into sooooo many of the categorgies. If you are also participating in this challenge and need a #3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, or 26, I highly recommend this amazing book. Ji Li Jiang writes about her experiences as a child during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It's all told from her 12-14 year old perspective as things go from good to bad, from bad to worse, from worse to unbearable. It's the story of a girl who had to grow up too fast trying to help hold her family together and her head high.

I'd never read anything about the Chinese Cultural Revolution. I picked up this book because it reminded me of the girls I taught in China last year. But Ji Li lived in a very different China than I did. Ji Li lived in a scary China wear people disappeared and houses were ransacked looking for "evidence". It was a China where almost everyone was brainwashed by Chairman Mao's propaganda. I used Chinese currency for fifteen months. His face is forever burned into my memory, but I had no idea some of the evils that were done in his name. This book was fascinating, and it opened my eyes to things I never knew about China's history. I'm grateful to Ji Li for sharing her experiences, her life, and her strength.

Stats:

Angie: 4 books

Clare: 5 books

Total: 9 books

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns

Clare- The Great Divorce

# 12, a book with a lion, a witch, or a wardrobe

I cheated on this one. I was going to be snarky and read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Gryffindors are lions, too many witches to name, and the Vanishing Cabinet... oh yeah!), but if I read one HP book, I'd end up re-reading them all, lol. I decided instead, that I'd keep to the spirit of #12 and read some C.S. Lewis, but not Narnia based C.S. Lewis.

The Great Divorce was in a word, weird. It took me a long time to get into it. Like eight chapters!!! But when it got good, it got GOOD!!!

My cover said, "A fantastic bus ride from Hell to Heaven- a round trip for some, but not for others." I thought that was a weird description, but it is very accurate. The book is about exactly that. My favorite thing about this book was about how Heaven is described as rock hard to the ghosts because it is constant and unchangeable. The ghosts must change to be able to live there. It was an interesting conceptual ride, but I expect no less from Jack.

Stats:

Angie: 4 books

Clare: 4 books

Total: 8 books

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns

Clare- the Forbidden Experiment: The Story of the Wild Boy of Aveyron

#11 a book you started but never finished

This book is fascinating!!! (Ok, admittedly probably more fascinating for teachers and those interested in language development rather than just your average Joe.) On January 9, 1800 an eleven or twelve year old boy wandered out of the woods where he'd been living isolated under mysterious circumstances probably since the age of five. He had a human form but the mind and movements of a wild animal. He could not speak, but made sounds like an animal.

The scientists and psychologists of the day were bamboozled. Was he a missing link between humans and animals, a human in our most primitive state, an idiot, a deaf mute suffering from severe emotional trauma? Was he able to be educated and enter into society? This book follows the work of the men and women who tried to civilize "The Savage" as he was often called. (You know, before political correctness! #1800's) Twenty-five year old scientist Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard spent the most time working to educate the boy, whom he called Victor. He made amazing progress with Victor, and his educational efforts and methodologies were inspirational to Edouard Seguin, who founded some of the first schools for the mentally challenged in France and America (who were previously thought to be un-teachable) and Maria Montessori. I'm sure you've heard of the Montessori preschool movement. This is where it gets its roots. Also Helen Keller's famous teacher, Anne Sullivan, followed in Itard's revolutionary footsteps. The task of educating a "wild man" turning beast into a man was the Forbidden Experiment of human nature.

This book is technically heavy and wordy at times, but Roger Shattuck does a very good job of breaking everything down and explaining it to a modern audience. Excerpts of Itard's study notes from the 1800's are included, and I geeked out the whole time I was reading it. From an educational standpoint, it really is a fasinating book! (And a psychological... and a sociological... and a theological standpoint too!)

(So if it's so good, why didn't I finish it the first time I started reading it? Good question... I lost it in a move. As I was digging through my books looking for things to read for this challenge, there it was! I was so excited. I've been wondering for almost three years what happened to Victor!)

Amidst the technical jargon and teacher geekery, there are also some beautiful glimpses into the humanity of both Victor and Itard. I've taken a picture excerpt of one I found especially touching. Madame Guerin was Victor's caretaker for almost all of his "found" life. She took care of him until he died in 1828. (She is a largely unsung hero in this boy's life.)

Stats:

Angie: 4 books

Clare: 3 books

Total: 7 books

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns

Clare- Bruchko

#19 A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't

 Happy Spring! 

When I first read the 26 Book Challenge list, this item stopped me in my tracks. Ha! A book I didn't read in school, there is no such thing! Something you may not know about me, because being a laid back, hippie type I don't tend to flaunt it, is that I'm a really good student. (Example- I once took 30 credit hours in one semester and got straight A's.) When I say I read everything I was supposed to read in school, you can be confident I did.

So what was I to do? The answer came in an unexpected way. I've begun raising support for my two year move to Africa working with Pioneer Bible Translators, and last week, I spent four days on the campus of my alma mater, St. Louis Christian College, meeting with professors and staff to tell them about my mission and ask them to be a part of it. One of my favorite professors, Prof Lay, listened to my presentation with interest and excitement. At the end, we began to talk about missions in general, and he said he had a book for me to read... So my professor assigned me a book, lol. Five years after graduating SLCC, and my professors are still assigning me work. Probably because they know I'll do it, lol!!! Sooo, this is as close to #19 as I can get. Thanks Prof Lay for saving the day! (Side note- another favorite professor also gave me an assignment. He wants me to write a book about my experiences and period of growth in China. I'm beginning my outline!)

The book Prof Lay pulled from his shelf and handed me is Bruchko by Bruce Olson. It's a missionary autobiography that is truly fascinating!!! Bruce Olson moved to South America when he was nineteen with seventy dollars in his pocket. He didn't have a big mission organization backing him or any real connections. He just got on a plane and went. His faith is amazing. His utter reliance on God's protection and provision is beyond inspiring. He faced sickness and disillusionment. He wasn't often sure how God would use him, but he followed His leading, into the jungle alone. He was shot with arrows and bullets, but he remained faithful to God's calling. He lived with various indigenous tribes for six or seven years before there were any conversions. He worked within their culture and society to improve healthcare. He didn't try to set up "American" style hospitals, schools, or churchs. He worked with the witch doctors, teaching them about germs and disinfectant.

In a sentence- THIS BOOK WRENCHED MY HEART!!!

I truly believe that meeting people where they're at is the most effective way to minister to them. Wearing their clothes, eating their food, speaking their language, becoming part of their communities. This is what Bruce Olson is about. He left in the early 1960's, and as far as I know, He's still living among the Motilone Indians along the border of Venezuela and Colombia. He is an amazing example of what following God wholeheartedly looks like.

Here are two really powerful excerpts...

 

 

Stats:

Angie: 4 books

Clare: 2 book

Total: 6 books

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns

Angie: The James Miracle

#7 A book by an author you love

I fell in love with Jason F. Wright's writing after I read The Christmas Jars. It was a short book that I finished in an afternoon one Christmas Eve. Since then, I've tried to find as many of his books to read as I can. My favorite so far has been The Wednesday Letters. Loved it!! I found The James Miracle while perusing Amazon one day, and added it to my Wish List to be purchased later. This challenge prompted me to buy it. :) It's his debut novel. I think it was out of print for and was released again for the 10 year anniversary. It's just over 100 pages, and I finished it in one sitting. This book challenge has turned me into a power reading machine. I've always loved reading, but this whole experience has made me want to devour every single book I come across.

So naturally with the title having the word miracle in it, one would think the book is in fact about miracles. This is another relationship focused book. In case you haven't picked up on it yet, I'm an incurable romantic and a psychologist at heart so I love anything having to do with relationships. The story starts off with Sam. Sam  meets Holly. Sam courts Holly. Sam and Holly get married. Then along comes their bouncing baby boy, James. Inevitably, tragedy hits turning their lives upside down. This particular tragedy is one that I'm not sure anyone can fully recover from. I would classify Jason F. Wright as a faith based writer. I don't know if his books have been classified as Christian fiction, but they are centered around faith and God. This story is no exception. I chose this specific excerpt for two reasons. 1. It's the first page of the story and sets the tone for the entire book. 2. I loved the lines "He preached that miracles would come in a  thousand and one different packages. And some will feel better on your soul than others." I never really thought about miracles not feeling great on your soul. I mean essentially aren't miracles supposed to give you all the warm fuzzies and feels? The author definitely holds true to his statement of miracles coming in different packages. WARNING: If you get emotionally attached to books/characters, you may want to have some tissues near by. 

Stats:

Angie: 4 books

Clare: 1 book

Total: 5 books

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns

Angie: Before I Go

# 5 A book published this year

 

When it came to this particular category, I immediately started doing research. My pin-a-holic self went straight to Pinterest to search for bloggers who have reviewed books to be released this year. There have been a lot of books released this year that have received rave reviews! I read several synopses and even made a list of books to check out at the book store. I was really concerned I wasn't going to be able to choose just one. I literally had a stack of ten books to pour over and choose from while monopolizing an over-sized comfy chair at Barnes and Noble. It was so hard to choose just 1 that I was secretly thinking of how the other books could fit into the challenge list. Ultimately I decided on "Before I Go" written by Colleen Oakley. "Before I Go" is her debut novel. The reason I chose this book was because the entire premise of the book intrigued me. It intrigued me in a way that I wasn't sure if I'd love it or hate it. That alone told me I had to read it to find out. 

This book is about Daisy and Jack. Daisy is 27 and has her entire future ahead of her. She's getting her degree to become a therapist and her husband Jack is about to graduate to become a veterinarian. Then Daisy becomes diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. It's a terminal diagnosis. All the doctors can do is prolong her life. So through Daisy's grieving process, she decides she needs to find Jack a wife for when she's gone.

Excuse me, what? You're going to do what now? I can't even fathom the thought of picking out a new wife for my husband if I knew I was dying. I was so curious as to how the writer was going to create and complete this story. I have to tell you Colleen Oakley has constructed a beautifully written story. I think I felt every emotion while reading all 309 pages. I laughed out loud at times and I even experienced the anger and grief right along with Daisy and Jack. Other times, I full on ugly cried into my pillow. I'm thankful I had the tissues on stand by. This book took me through the emotional ringer, but it was worth the read. 

Stats:

Angie: 3 books

Clare: 1 book

Total: 4 books 

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns

Clare-Kamikaze Kangaroos!

#10- A Book Set Somewhere You've Always Wanted to Visit

As a budding world traveler, I'm so glad this question wasn't phrased "the place you'd most like to visit." That's a question that leaves me incapable of thought formation or speech production. It just leads to a string of uhhhhh's and groaning sounds, lol. Luckily, I was spared that torturous selectively, and I went all the way back to where every American kid wants to go in third grade, because it's usually around then that we first learn about this country and all its crazy creatures. That's right Australia... Oz!!! In honor of this, I cracked open a book that's been on my kindle since my birthday, Kamikaze Kangaroos! By Tony James Slater.

This is my second foray into the crazy mind and life of Tony James Slater, and (spoilers) it probably won't be the last for this challenge. I've also read his first book That Bear Ate My Pants. Don't let the cuddly Beanie Baby on the cover mislead you, Tony is a funny, sarcastic, self proclaimed idiot. His books are riddled with terrible puns, very borderline "dad" jokes, dry British humor, and quite a bit of swearing. You've been warned. However, even though he's an idiot, he's a lovable idiot, and I love his style of writing. It's like sitting down across from someone in a dive bar and listening to their whole life story over a pint. Good fun!

Here's how Amazon describes this autobiography.

I really enjoyed this three year journey around Oz, Bali, and New Zeland. I didn't expect it to be such a long read, but with everything he, his sister, and his girlfriend did in those three years, it was understandable. (I am REALLY glad I finished it before Angie had a chance to post her third book, which she just finished tonight, lol. She is lapping me in this challenge already!) 

The two best things I learned reading this book are

1. The existence of banjo frogs- seriously look them up on YouTube, they make an amazing sound!!!
2. The existence of an underground opal mining town called Coober Pedy- I've developed a new dream/goal of living on every inhabited continent. (North America and Asia, check and check... I'm moving to Africa later this year, so that leaves South America, Europe and Australia.) If I am ever blessed with an opportunity to move to Australia, I'd like to live in Coober Pedy! It looks like an amazing place!!! 

And I'm officially on the board!!!! 

Stats:

Angie: 2 books

Clare: 1 book

Total: 3 books

#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns