The Dream-Web Diary of Gwenevere Stoker by Laura Stoddard

5 Stars

Gwenevere Stoker is a lonely young girl, haunted by an accident that changed her life two years before. Every night she escapes into her dreams, grateful for the break from her miserable reality. Until she discovers that someone is infiltrating her Dream-Web (the place where all her dreams reside) and stealing her Dream Orbs. She must find out who is wreaking havoc on her dreams, while learning to face her past.

This was an interesting read. The author is very imaginative, and her descriptions of the dreams have just the right balance of reality and bizarreness that they feel very much like real dreams. However, I found the book a little too graphic for younger readers (Gwen is supposed to be 12, so I assume the book is geared to that age-group; I think it would be too much for anyone younger than that), and not well-written enough to appeal to a much older audience. I also found it somewhat heavy-handed in the handling of some of the more mature themes, and was a little put off by the apparently unconsidered ramifications of the actions of a couple of characters. If you are interested in dreams as a topic, you will find it an intriguing read, but I wouldn't otherwise recommend it.

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

5 Stars

Summary: "Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library— a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That's where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White's stepmother's sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief." (taken from GoodReads)

Review: I liked this book well enough. I thought the premise was intriguing (who doesn't want to visit a library full of objects instead of books?!) but I wasn't really able to connect with the characters. It had potential but kind of fizzled out a bit. However, it kept me interested enough to finish it so it was worth one read I suppose.

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

6 Stars (-1 for VERY mild language, and suggestive material)

"Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity heartthrob Felix Callahan. A few hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later something has happened, though nothing has happened...It isn't sexual. It isn't even quite love. But soon Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what's hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends... Becky's loving and devoted husband, Mike, is mostly unconcerned. Her children roll their eyes. Her large extended family and neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special, something unusual, something that seems...completely impossible to sustain." (Taken from the inside cover.)

This was one of the strangest books I've ever read because it's interesting, it talks about some things that are deeply important, it made me laugh out loud, and it made me cry at the tender moments--and I still could not tell you if I really ENJOYED it. Madeleine L'Engle indicated (in "A Circle of Quiet") that art should teach us some things about ourselves and our world and help us to better understand. If that is the true test, then I could say that reading this book WAS beneficial. On the other hand, there were several places where the writing was less than stellar (not up to Hale's usual par), and also lots of moments that were downright uncomfortable to read. Her characters feel very real (perhaps that explains some of the situational discomfort), and I can relate to a lot of their experiences and apparent emotional reactions to those experiences. But it's still not a book I'd recommend to just anyone.

The Well-Worn Interior by Robin Forster and Tim Whittaker

First off, I just have to say--HOORAY, that other people have written! :D Thanks, guys. And, on to it...



7 Stars (-2 for Beginners)

This is a non-fiction read, that at first glance may look like a "how-to" for the Shabby Chic. I was very pleased to find that this wasn't what the book is at ALL. It is actually a very lovely look at past (think 1600s-1800s) home decor fashions and what these have deteriorated into. And, more importantly, why we should relish that decay rather than being so swift with the scrapers and paintbrushes. It was really a charming book. And it inspired me to find out more about my own (1940s circa) home and restore some of its roots a little. I gave it a minus 2 for the "beginner", because if you are not interested in home decor, or decrepit old buildings, it would probably be a pretty uninteresting read. And since all of the pictures are of grand old houses in various states of disrepair, their brand of beauty is not for all (though I LOVED many of them).

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

Expert Rating: 9 stars

Newcomer Rating: 5 stars

"It is the winter of Warren's ninth year. Outside in the yard, he and his little sister, Bertie, are playing in the snow. Warren is catching snowflakes. One at a time at first. Then he is scooping them up by handfuls. He starts to pack them into a ball. As the snowball grows bigger, he places it on the ground. Slowly it begins to roll. He gives it a push, and it picks up more snow. He pushes the snowball across the lawn, piling snow on snow. Soon he reaches the edge of the yard. After a moment of hesitation, he heads off, rolling the snowball through the neighborhood. And from there, Warren continues onward, casting his eye on a whole world full of snow." (Taken from page inside book prior to Table of Contents)

The Newcomer Rating is so low, not because the book wouldn't interest lots of different people, but because it is 838 pages long. At that length, you have to be pretty interested to pick up the book.

The expert rating is not a 10 because the last few chapters are almost entirely about Susie Buffett's battle with cancer. Those chapters were pretty long and drawn out. Some of the other chapters were more detailed than they needed to be but they didn't seem as drawn out as the last few.

Warren Buffett may be the only man to become a myth during his own lifetime. Even Elvis waited until he was dead. That is one of the reasons I love reading biographies. It is easy to forget how similar we all are as human beings. It is also easy to look at someone living a lifestyle like Warren Buffett's and forget the work (and craziness) it took to get to that point. Biographies give you a look into the thought process, the hidden actions, the overlooked details that make a person who they are.

This biography points out a lot of the small, cumulative, dedicated things that Buffett did that led to his success. The fascinating part of it, however, is looking into his personality. You get to see his relationships and how they affected him. It becomes apparent how Buffett became not only one of the wealthiest men in the world, but also one of the most respected. His extreme dedication to his pursuit of money caused him to hurt those closest to him without really meaning to. He spent many years recovering his relationship with Susie (his first wife) and their children. However, that same dedication made it so he built his life honestly and in such a way that no one could fault him for the incredible success he has had.

In the book he makes a comment about how he always read books about great people and tried to glean wisdom from their lives. He tried to learn from great men and women's lives so that he could be better. That is another reason I love biographies and one of the reasons I love this book. Warren Buffett's biography holds many little tidbits about life, business, money, relationships, dedication, and honesty. Some may read it and be motivated to pursue his ambitious goal of accumulating great wealth. Others will come out having learned lessons about "the business of life" and the things that really matter.

People of the Lie by: Morgan Scott Peck

5 stars

People of the Lie is a psychiatrist's attempt to fuse science and religion by explaining the phenomenon of evil people with psychiatry. In a sentence, it was an interesting read, but I believe he was ultimately wrong.

According to Peck, evil is basically a kind of disease: malignant narcissism. The evil person is one who refuses to submit one's will to a higher power, be it God or some other virtue or discipline. Believing they are right and refusing to accept otherwise, they force others to live according to their worldview. Because they believe they are right, they will lie to themselves and others in order to convince others of their virtue (hence the title of the book, People of the Lie).

While using psychiatry terms to describe evil can be useful, I think that equating evil with narcissism is a mistake. First and foremost, narcissism is sometimes a medical condition, and other times a choice. Evil doesn't work that way. Evil isn't a medical condition that afflicts people. Second, calling evil a disease possibly suggests a genetic element, which is just wrong. The dichotomy of good and evil isn't about one's genetic structure, nor should it be.

As I said before, People of the Lie was an interesting read, but he simply wasn't right. It was fairly well written. I feel that it did dip too far into the occult for a nonfiction book, but only occasionally.