Back to back books to read!

I just finished two books that I liked so much I had to share. First, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

It is not the kind of book I typically pick up. It was recommended by a friend...in fact, he went and got it for me at the library so I didn't have much of a choice. Not that I wanted a choice, he hasn't steered me wrong on suggestions thus far.

However, when I started the book I was a tad skeptical as I saw the title of the first chapter and started reading. A few hours later I was wishing the book didn't have to end, all the while trying to rush to the end.

It's a book that will stay with me. I wanted to live next to Ove. I wanted to know him. It reminded me of my grandfather. It had me looking at life a little differently. It may be one of the best books I have read in many years.

I'm not going to tell you anything more about the book. Or about Ove. I just want you to read it. I will tell you that I had tears in my eyes at the end and that's a rare, rare experience for me when reading a book.

The second book was an impulse grab that I picked up at the same time Ove was put in my hands. I always grab 7 or 8 books at the library, Before the Fall by Noah Hawley was on an end cap and I grabbed it without reading the insert. I just liked the title and cover and needed one more book to finish out my stack.

It was also happenstance that I read it right after A Man Called Ove. The two could not be any more unlike the other in tone, story line or characters. Yet it dovetailed perfectly with Ove. It made me think, it was an affirmation of life, it was another book that had me looking at life and maybe some of the people in my life a little differently.

Before the Fall is a book about a plane crash, the lives of the people on the plane and all those who are touched. It was an interesting look at the intersections of lives, coincidences, while showing some interesting aspects of our current world. At times I wanted the author to go more in depth but then I found myself liking the way he made ME travel down the paths, let me come to my own conclusions.

Not telling you any more about that one either. You have to read it.

Love to hear back from you if you either or both.

Book Review: Other Places - A Family's World War II Experience in Germany and the US

Author Ria Veeren takes readers back to World War II and the struggles of one Dutch family in Other Places. The story is her story as she tells of her immigration to America in 1948 and also of the events which led to her immigration.

Of interest in the book are parts of her family's life in Holland and in Germany during World War II and her father's role in providing for his family during a time of war. Excerpts from her father's, Jack Veeren, diary will appeal to those who have an avid interest in history. The elder Veeren, a photographer, served as in interpreter for the Americans immediately after the war.

Those of who have never lived through a war or have the memories shared by the greatest generation will benefit from learning about the effects of a war on everyday people. Other Places is this experience for one family and worth reading.

Staff Report

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Book Review: defining Twilight; Enticing Teens to Learn

"Quick," I said to my teenager. "Define futilely." The eyes that bore back into mine were blank, almost oblivious to my question. "Are you woolgathering?"

"What is this?", asked the teenager who was now experiencing grave misgivings over the decision to walk in to the room with me as I sat reading.

So began my excursion into defining Twilight by Brian Leaf, a delightful book chock full of vocabulary words. What's the deal?

The Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer has been the latest rage among teens and young adults for a couple of years now. The movie is seen on a regular basis at my house as others descend in droves. The books are so popular that I've walked in and found the teens playing Twilight Trivia or reciting favorite lines of the movie. The books are kept close as a reference so the kids can be sure of their facts.

I admit I had seen the movie, but had not taken time to actually read the book. When asked to review defining Twilight, I knew I had to bite the bullet and jump head first into the land of chaste vampires. The Twilight book was fun to read, and it was full of wonderful words not commonly used by teens today. Do they understand the meanings?

Enter Leaf's defining Twilight, and it's a match made perfect for any student studying to take one of the college entrance exams. Leaf has provided an entertaining way to use the Twilight book as an aid to learning vocabulary. It's a great concept. Read the page in the book, and define the word. There are also quick exercises to use to complement learning the definitions.

It sure beats digging out the old Digests I had to use when I was studying for the SAT. Perhaps I would have scored better on the standardized tests of my day if someone had made learning the vocabulary more pertinent to the times.

Leaf will release his second book in the Defining series in October. I can't wait to see the words he defines and introduce them to my teen.

Staff Report