Book Review: Girl In Translation

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Girl In Translation is an amazing, compelling book. The story of Kim, a girl trapped between two worlds--the staggering poverty and old-world customs of her home life and the new American manners, language and ideals she has to learn as she attends school and tries to fit in. Kim has only one talent--she is a wonderful student, always top in her class back in Hong-Kong, and she knows that if she tries hard enough she can save herself and her mother from the life they are forced to live here in their new country. But the road to salvation is a lonely path for a girl who cannot share her secrets with anyone, not her one American friend, not her mother, not the boy she comes to care for.

School becomes both a refuge and a burden, and as Kim continues to assist her mother at the factory as she finds herself becoming a shining star in school once again.

I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. I was so caught up in the story of that I ended up reading the entire book in one night. The contrasts between Kim's life at home, in a room without heat, where she & Ma make blankets & clothing from castoff fabric they find in the street and the opulence of her life at school, are simply heartbreaking. Kim is a remarkable young woman, compassionate, naive, and highly intelligent; her contrasts make her a powerful narrator. Seeing America through her immigrant eyes shows both sides of our country, without prejudice-- the appalling poverty and the incredible opportunity. Girl In Translation is a novel of hope.  


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Book Review: A Dirty Job

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm becoming a bigger fan of Christopher Moore with each of his books I read, and A Dirty job has only added to my love. I found myself laughing out loud in many places ("This is the toast of Death."), and reading parts aloud to my boyfriend just to make him laugh.


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Sleepy, Grumpy and....Hatey?

The last few weeks I've barely left the house, except at night, when I couldn't sleep, and I'd get up, and wander around outside for a bit. The dog is still mad a t me for not taking her along on my little jaunts, but  the last thing I needed was to have her knock me down again. I can see it now: me, sprawled across the darkened parking lot, in my jammies & hoodie, my keys lost over there, the dog run away, and no way to call Steven for help. How would the police figure out what happened to me when they found my lifeless body the next next morning (because surely I'd be run over by a car!). "Well, she has a leash in her hand, but there's no dog. It's another of those invisible dog murders, Captain!" I went out by myself, because it's peaceful alone at night, and since I wasn't sleeping anyway, I figured a little exercise wouldn't hurt me. I discovered that somebody in the trailer park across the street plays the clarinet late at night. The strains of Moon River floating through the night seemed especially appropriate. 


No, I haven't been sleeping much, and that's made me rather grumpy. But I have been reading a lot, and that makes me happy. I'm three out of six dwarfs. 
Of course, not sleeping has also caused some of my health issues to flare up: massive body aches, some in spots that have never hurt before, a constant headache, sore joints, and some other weird stuff. What it all boils down to is this: I feel like crap most of the time. 


Don't misunderstand: I love my life, but I hate a lot of things these days.

I hate that the only things I've really wanted to eat for the last two weeks have been sugary. That, coupled with my slug-like motion, means I've gained some weight. This, I hate in the extreme! 


I hate that all my friends are online, not in real life. Add to that, I hate that I know so much about Netflix. 

I hate popping pills. Since I was 16, I've been taking daily medication of some kind, and it seems as if each week now I get one more pill to take. I can barely keep them all straight, and trying to remember each day if I've taken them is sometimes more than I can do. 

I really hate living up to other people’s expectations of what being sick is. Just because I don't look sick doesn't mean I'm not. 

I hate never feeling good enough, quick enough, or just “enough”. There was a time in my life, not so long ago, when I was enough. When five days a week I got out of bed at 6 in the morning, showered & dressed & took the bus clear across town. Then I spent the day caring for & teaching & playing with an amazing group of preschoolers, and loved every minute of it. I'd take the bus home each night, and spend the evening making lesson plans, talking with my family, reading, doing church activities, or dating! Then I'd do it all again the next day. That was my life. And I miss that life on these days when just putting on real clothes takes so much effort that I want to cry! When the cat walking across my leg leaves behind a bruise that lasts for 2 weeks and causes so much pain I have to take a pill. When I fall down walking the dog, and realize I'll never be able to lead a classroom again. 




I'm crying just writing this, and that's another thing I hate. Crying about myself. Poor little me. Jeez. Don't cry for me, anybody. (Just send presents! Ha!) There was a time I'd have loved a great big pity party, but not anymore. Not when I see that my big sister has handled much worse than me with style & courage, and looks good while she's doing it. Becky rocks!  Not while my best friend is facing down cancer, and I want to be there to hold her hand & make her laugh & do the Copa dance, and can't be, Yet. Michele rocks! 
Not when I read about all the other people going through the same kind of things I am, who are dealing in a much better manner. They all rock. Here is a link to ButYouDontLookSick.com  where you can read about The Spoon Theory. 
These are my excuses for not posting, and why I'll be posting more! I'll be taking Michelle's advice to "Suck it up, Buttercup!" 

Book Review: Murder Your Darlings: Algonquin Round Table Mystery

Murder Your Darlings: Algonquin Round Table Mystery by J.J. Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I chose this novel because I am a fan of the Algonquin Round Table, especially Dorothy Parker, and was intrigued to see them involved in a murder mystery. Frankly, I expected to find a trite, average mystery, full of stock characters and am glad to say I was wrong. This is an old-fashioned mystery, for sure, with only one victim, and many suspects, but that only makes it more interesting.

Mrs. Parker is our main character, and together with Robert Benchley, and other members of the Round Table, she tries to discover the killer. The scattering of other famous characters throughout the book was, for me, simply delightful, as were the various literary references. (My one wish would have been for more of Mrs. Parker's poetry.) Among those famous personages we encounter is a young writer from Mississippi, Billy Faulkner, who Dottie takes a shine to; movie star Douglas Fairbanks;  boxing legend Jack Dempsey, and a host of others.

I won't give away the ending, because that would be no fun at all. But I will say I was surprised, and because of that, I'm happy to recommended Murder Your Darlings, and I will be looking for the next in the series!


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