Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love Story
Mr. Pusskins is back—and this time his complaints are legitimate. The small white kitten recently adopted by his owner Emily is nothing but a troublemaker, yet only Mr. Pusskins sees her true nature. Wrongfully accused of perpetrating the mischief, Mr. Pusskins is summarily banished from the house. Will Little Whiskers confess? If you’re looking for a book to introduce the concept of forgiveness to your child, this one should be quite effective. Or if you’re like me, you’ll just find it supremely entertaining and endearing. My favorite part—the priceless letter Mr. Pusskins writes objecting to the kitten’s very presence in the household.
This is one of those works that I really should have read in print rather than listened to while driving. The eclectic subject matter shifts very quickly, and I feel like I daydreamed a bit too much at times to catch everything. I’ve meant to read this author for ages now and am glad to have finally discovered her. If you’re a fan of nature; interested in mythology, history, and culture; and not opposed to poetic metaphors, this ethereal book is definitely worth considering. If you’ve read A Natural History of the Senses, please let me know what you thought of it. I’m also interested in which of her other books I should add to my list. Thanks!
I thought I would have lots of time to catch up on some reading during my maternity leave…. silly me. I have not picked up an adult book in months. Books have become a world I can share with my daughter as she sits on my lap with wide eyes and a big smile on her face. For now the books are interactive with their bright colors and different textures. Her favorite book is Pat The Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. She loves patting the soft fur of the bunny on the pages. I just found out there are two similar books written by the author’s daughter that I need to get for her. 
I’m a huge folktale fan, so I found this unusual picture book combining snippets of the popular fairy tale told in 17 different geographical regions to be very original and appealing. Gouache illustrations depicting the plot’s details as told in countries including Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, and Zimbabwe make one curious about other world cultures and why there are often so many similarities among myths and legends in places separated by great distances. Contrasting styles of dress and footwear, plus the foods eaten and daily chores performed, spice up the familiar storyline. I’d love to see more folktales worked in this way!
The entries in this book seem so honest and direct. But I suppose that was the point in using only six words. I expected a few memoirs to make me laugh. But I forgot just how heavy heartbreak can be. The pain and sadness was there even with so few words. I didn’t expect to want to know more about some of their stories. It’s a book worth checking out. Happy Valentines Day.
I tend to view books and articles about Arctic exploration to be dull, but I found The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish to be very interesting and suspenseful. This amazingly- and intricately-illustrated picture book written following extensive research is based on a true story and includes black and white photos of the Inupiat family involved and other survivors of the arduous expedition. If I were tagging this one, I’d add the following keywords: uncertainty, hope, warmth, and patience. I’d also likely toss in “snow goggles,” but that’s probably just me. (If you’ve never seen indigenous versions, try an image search adding “Inuit” for some beautiful examples.) One of the features I liked best is the author always clearly indicates when she is imagining something versus stating a fact. This book should definitely make you ponder that human urge to explore and inhabit even the most hostile environments on the planet.
While I’ve always thought it would be fun to design and conduct sociological experiments, it never occurred to me to undergo them myself. Each chapter of this book describes the process and results of the author’s assorted undertakings, including outsourcing his personal tasks to India, impersonating an absent Australian actor on the red carpet at the Oscars, and navigating the online dating scene while pretending to be an attractive woman. Fascinating stuff! Be sure to read the notes at the end of the book for some excellent bonus material. My husband read this one the same month and has generously provided the following quote: “I would recommend this book to men and for men to give to their wives. Any husband will look good compared to what A.J. puts his wife through.”
“The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” is the book by Michael Lewis that is the basis for the surprise smash hit film starring Sandra Bullock. At the center of both the book and the movie is the incredible true story of Michael Oher and his climb from desperate poverty, neglect and dysfunction to wealth, support and football stardom. In oddly similar ways the strengths and weaknesses of the book and the movie are due to a central character taking over and dominating the narrative. In the movie it is Leigh Anne Tuohy as portrayed by Sandra Bullock, a wealthy white christian lady whose indomitable will and good humor are made the central force in elevating the African-American Michael Oher out of poverty and educational failure to football success and college admission. There is no doubt the movie’s success both financially and as an entertainment rest on Ms. Bullock’s shoulders, but I find it somewhat obscures the man, 
This collection of interrelated short stories based to a seemingly-large degree on Margaret Atwood’s own experiences is by far my favorite of her works since 2000’s The Blind Assassin. If you asked me what the stories are about, the images that stick out in my mind include a frightening Halloween costume accessory, a runaway former school horse (this one reminded me a lot of my own beloved chestnut, Carrots), “the entities,” and a knitted layette. Atwood is not known for her predictability, and her talent for storytelling is truly exceptional.