CR Review #3: The Help

There is a short list of books that I've read over the years that have made me cry: Persuasion, A Heartbreaking Word of Staggering Genius, Cold Mountain...and recent addition One Day. Now tonight, I can add The Help to the list.

My book club read this last year, but I had a new baby and didn't have a chance to read it or go to the meeting and hear what people had to say about it. So it sat on my bedside table all year, collecting dust. Until Thursday night, when I picked it up on a whim.

For those who don't know, The Help takes place in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi and gives a fictionalized account of what life was like there during the early days of the civil rights movement. It tells the story of Aibileen and Minny, two black maids working for white families, and Skeeter, a white girl who wants to be a writer and gets the idea to interview the maids and their friends and turn their stories -- both the good and the bad -- into a book.


For those who have read it, what got me tearing up was the final scene between Aibileen and poor little Mae Mobely. Maybe I've gone soft since having kids, but I had a really hard time getting through those pages. Absolutely heartbreaking.

The Help is Kathryn Stockett's debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from her.

CR Review #2: A Weekend with Mr. Darcy

I got this book for Christmas from my aunt, who had bought it on a recent trip to London. I'm a big fan of Jane Austen, and sometimes like silly, throwaway reads by Brit authors like Sophie Kinsella or Anna Maxted. Ridiculous plots and characters? Yes. But often a fun way to pass a day (they rarely take longer than a few hours to get through).

This one was about a Jane Austen conference at a large Hampshire estate that takes place one weekend in October. Characters include an Oxford professor of Austen literature, a young Jane Austen fan who can't distinguish real life from fiction, and a Judi Dench-like actress who stars in lots of BBC Austen adaptations. And lots of references to a shirtless Colin Firth rising from the waters of Pemberly in the BBC Pride & Prejudice.

Nothing earth shattering here, but not complete trash either. A lot of historical references to the life of Jane Austen, and reading this definitely got me thinking about pulling out my copies of Persuasion, Emma, etc.

CR Review #1: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I know, I'm the last person in the world to be reading these. I've had this book on my Kindle for way over two years and am just getting around to reading it because its up next on my book club list.

I had read a lot about whether or not this book was pro-women or anti-women, with its descriptive violence against different young women in the book. I think my take on it was that it was pro-women, and anti-violence, but that's just my opinion.

I'd read a good about of Henning Mankel books (the Wallender series, in particular) that are of a similar style -- mysteries out in the wilds of Sweden. But what this book has that the Mankel books lack is Lisbeth Salander, who really made the book fly for me. Kurt Wallender is a great character, but like a John Rebus or a James Ellroy detective, he isn't really anyone that you would want to know more about in real life. A good cop with a screwed up life. But Salander was more interesting, and I look forward to finding out more about her in the next two stories.

I really liked the writing style and pace of the book. Will definitely be reading the two follow ups and am sorry that we will never have anything new from this talented writer.

However, I could have done without the endless descriptions of coffee and sandwiches. It just made me hungry.

The Cannonball Read

I just signed up for an online book reading challenge for charity. The premise -- read 52 books in a year and post reviews of each one. I'd like to think that I'm up for the challenge, but realistically? I'm guessing I might finish and review about 26. But I'm going to try and get through one book a week.

First up, for my book club, finally getting around to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Will report back later this week...
Wish me luck!

Ugh, another ear infection...

Your baby has had a cold and been stuffed up for a few days, and today you see her tugging at her ear. Your busy toddler won’t eat dinner and can’t fall asleep. He says he has a headache...Uh-oh. Looks like another ear infection!

The majority of children under age six--kids under two in particular--get an ear infection at some point (and many unfortunate kids seem to get them again and again). Ear infections are caused by a blockage in the ear tubes that does not allow any fluid in the ear canal to drain properly.

Clues that your child might have an ear infection might include:
Fever;
Loss of appetite;
Inability to fall asleep (or to stay asleep);
Ear pain (this is when you might see tugging on the ear);
Fluid draining from the ear; or
Trouble hearing.

More and more doctors are holding off on prescribing antibiotics for ear infections these days, as the majority of infections will clear themselves up over the course of a few days. However, its important to let your doctor know if you suspect your child may have an ear infection. You and the doctor can monitor your child’s progress and determine if and when treatment is needed.

Often, the infection will go away on its own over time. Doctors will likely recommend some of the following “home remedies” to help soothe your child:
Pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen, NOT aspirin);
Over-the-counter ear drops with benzocaine;
Sitting and sleeping in an upright position; or
Warm washcloth (or even a heating pad on low heat) over the ear.

If, over the next few days, your child’s infection does not seem to be improving, you and your doctor can re-asses the situation and if antibiotics are necessary. If your child is under six months of age, or if he or she seems to be getting worse, antibiotics will most likely be prescribed. If your child seems to frequently get ear infections, your doctor may recommend a visit with an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist), who can discuss options for the future with you (e.g., surgical insertion of ear tubes, removal of adenoids).

Natural History Museum

Took the two youngest to the Natural History Museum today. We had a great time looking at the dinosaurs and the stuffed mammals. C really liked roaming around the Oceans exhibit -- he loved the giant squid.

I had totally forgotten that on Tuesdays there is free admission to the butterfly hut on the second floor! So great. C loved checking each type of butterfly off of the list provided by the museum. And L really enjoyed herself too -- grabbing and pointing and laughing. So glad I was able to catch that today!

Harry Potter Crazy

We are well into the third Harry Potter book at our house and the kids are still happily obsessed. We are reading about a chapter a night, and then we watch the movies when we finish the book.

Their Harry & Hermione costumes are ready for Halloween (including the adorable round glasses for young Harry). Sorry to say that Harry will not be wearing a fake lightning bolt scar on his forehead. He's convinced that with the scar, he'll be able to do real magic!

Not sure yet what we are going to do when we finish the third book...I'm thinking the fourth book (and beyond) are a bit much for such young kids. Will definitely be something to think about.