Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Almost every time that I go to Costco, I walk past all of the books and see what catches my eye. Even though I have a never ending stack of books on my night stand, I always want more. I am selfish like that with my books. A couple of months ago, I was on my regular walk by and I saw this book, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. This is one of my best finds and I would like to thank Costco for always providing me with books to read (and with good food to eat while I read the books...)

Rather than go into the plot from my perspective, mainly because I am still processing everything I read, this is a synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

Along with that synopsis, I just add my recommendation that it is a really great read. The story is fascinating and so well written. I don't know what it is lately, but I have really enjoyed the last several books that I have read. I hope the trend continues because I am loving these books.

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Have you ever read a fictional novel and when you turn the last page, you wished it was a true story? After finishing These Is My Words, I really wished it was a true story so that I could google the name of the character and learn more about her life. These Is My Words is a novel of journal entries from a feisty western woman named Sarah Agnes Prine. Sarah was 17 when the book begins and she and her family are traveling in a wagon train from the Territories to Texas. She has no formal education and only a rudimentary knowledge of the alphabet, but she taught herself to read and write. Sarah is nowhere near the polite and lady-like woman that others expect and some look down on her for her seriously awesome survival skills (which obviously baffles me considering the fact that I just called them seriously awesome).

The journal covers twenty years of Sarah's life and, believe me, there is enough in those twenty years to keep you turning the pages. Sarah is a very feisty and independent woman who fights to keep her family alive as they encounter tragedy after tragedy as they travel along the trail, including the loss of Sarah's father and little brother. The best news is that she and her remaining family end up in the Arizona Territory, familiar and not far from where they began their journey.

Life in the Territories is rough business and there isn't really a dull week in her life. These Is My Words is a fabulous book and I REALLY recommend it. I got so obsessed with her story that I really was disappointed that it was fiction because I wanted Sarah to be real so that I could find out everything about her.

To wrap it up, read the book, you will love it. If you don't, I am sorry.

Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I loved Tuesdays With Morrie but didn't really love The Five People You Meet In Heaven as much so I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Mitch Albom's new book but I ended up loving it as much as I did Tuesdays With Morrie.

Have A Little Faith is a true story about Mitch Albom being asked to give the eulogy at his childhood rabbi's funeral. He was shocked because he felt unworthy because he had gradually pulled away from his faith over the years and would not be the person to eulogize such a great spiritual leader, but he agreed. He spends several years getting to know the rabbi more personally than he had when he was younger and in the process, he finds faith again. During this time, he also meets a fascinating preacher in his hometown of Detroit who changes his attitude on judging people.

The story is inspiring and I really liked it. It gives a few tidbits to add to your life and reminds you of the importance of faith.

Story of my life...

I know that we started this blog with the intention of us being all critique-y and stuff, but seriously? Where does my life keep slipping away to? (AGH, English major, don't end a sentence with a preposition!!) Due to personal life getting in the way, my reading has gone RIGHT out the window.

That being said, I was talking to one of my teacher friends about reading and writing (yeah, teachers are that weird...We really talk about work ALL THE TIME), and it got my English heart all a-flutter. I can't wait to get reading again. Hopefully, next week with our 26-hour drive to Texas, I can squeeze a few hours in. Yes, you read that right...26 hours, two kiddos under 3, dead heat of summer. Crazy? Yes.

Here's the list of books in my future: (hopefully...It is my birthday on Monday, and all of my birthday money is allotted to building my library)

*Extraordinary Groups: How Ordinary Teams Achieve Amazing Results (don't ask)
*The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews (looks like a little brain candy)
*The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
*The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
*Private by James Patterson (I think Katie will love this)
*Her Fearful Symmetry by Audry Niffeneger (author of Time Traveler's Wife)
*Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
*In A Heartbeat by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (Think Blind Side)
*Foreign Influence by Brad Thor (another one with Katie in mind)
*The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

And, just for my own self, I'm totally buying the new Williams-Sonoma cookbook at Costco...Entertaining with the Seasons...Can't wait.