All Consuming : Kelly

A review of "Well Wished" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:11:09 GMT

by Franny Billingsley

I love, love, love this author! I think she only has 2 books out (this and The Folk Keeper), but I will be on the lookout for more from her in the future. The main character was so strong and wonderful, and it was such a magical story.

A review of "American Islam: Growing Up Muslim in America" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:50:34 GMT

American Islam: Growing Up Muslim in America

by Richard Wormser

Someone told me once that if you want a good introduction to a subject you know nothing about to read a kid’s nonfiction book on the subject. My book club will be reading No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan, so I wanted a good introduction to Islam before reading an “adult” book about it. This was an okay read. I was expecting more about how Muslim kids in America have to reconcile their religion with American culture. There was a little bit of that, but I wanted more. About half the book was spent on the history of the Nation of Islam and African-American Muslim culture, which was interesting but not what I expected either.

A review of "The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 23:42:25 GMT

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)

by Philip Pullman

This one seemed to drag in the middle, but once I got in the final 150 pages, it flew by. Good series!

A review of "Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 02:53:42 GMT

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health

by Toni Weschler

A thorough guide to charting and learning your cycle. This is a must-read for every woman!

A review of "Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 20:33:59 GMT

Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent

by Meredith Small

This was a fascinating read. The author relates the parenting practices of different cultures around the world and talks about how certain parenting styles are due to the biology of human babies. As a simple example, babies were designed to be breastfed, biologically speaking. But in Western cultures, we’ve decided to diverge from those biologically-based practices to gain more convenience and independence from the traditionally more intimate parent-infant relationship. I like how the author says that there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as we’re aware of the trade-offs of choosing that different path. Babies will continue to be just fine, as long as they’re not completely neglected. But for me, the book reaffirmed certain parenting choices we’ve already made:

Breastfeed on cue for at least one year (although the book convinced me to try for two years due to the biology of baby development)
Share the bed with our children for at least the first couple of years (co-sleeping has been shown to prevent SIDS, for example)
Respond to cries quickly (because crying doesn’t just indicate hunger or a full diaper but also the baby’s developmental need for touch)
Carry the baby as much as possible (to help with on-cue breastfeeding and responding to cries quickly)

These happen to be the choices my family has made so far, but I recognize that in some cases the trade-offs for the other side of each choice make sense for certain families. I think this book does an excellent job of giving you a full picture of each parenting choice so that you can make an informed decision. The book was a little slow-going for me at first, but once I got to the chapter comparing cultures, it really picked up and was very interesting.

A review of "Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 21:23:53 GMT

Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal

by Anthony Arnove

This slim book lays out eight reasons why the US should leave Iraq immediately:

The US military has no right to be in Iraq in the first place.
The US is not bringing democracy to Iraq.
The US is not making the world a safer place by occupying Iraq.
The US is not preventing civil war in Iraq.
The US is not confronting terrorism by staying in Iraq.
The US is not honoring those who died by continuing the conflict.
The US is not rebuilding Iraq.
The US is not fulfilling its obligation to the Iraqi people for the harm and suffering it has caused.

Admittedly, I already agreed with most of these assertions before reading the book. The one lingering doubt I did have about when we should stop the occupation was the 4th point. This book didn’t go into great detail on that point (it’s less than 120 pages), but it did give some examples of how the US authorities are actually pitting factions against each other in the formation of the Iraqi government - the ol’ divide and conquer approach. The book inspired me to go read more on the subject, and I am now convinced that our presence in Iraq alone is the source of most of the agitation. I am not naive - I don’t believe that as soon as we pull out, the violence will stop. But I do believe that by continuing to be an occupying presence and contributing to the culture of violence, we are only rubbing the wound raw.

Another key part of the book for me was a list of five factors that brought about an end to the Vietnam war:

Mass resistance of the Vietnamese people to US intervention
Resistance of US soldiers and veterans
Domestic opposition on a scale that forced elites in the US to recognize that they had lost the war at home
International protest and opposition that isolated the US politically
Growing economic consequences of the war, which led to inflation and deficits that undermined the position of the US economy

Holy crap, I thought after reading it for the first time. A lot of ridiculously big stuff has to happen to stop a war. But what gave me hope is knowing that we did stop an unjust war in our nation’s history, with citizen outcries being a major factor in doing so. And hey look ~~- we have a roadmap for doing it again! A roadmap with crazy zigzag roads criss-crossing every millimeter, making it unbelievably hard to get where you want to go -~~ but a roadmap nonetheless.

In the last 2 weeks, I’ve seen 2 movies that have inspired me to do more in my daily life to work against this war: The War Tapes and The US vs. John Lennon They were inspiring for very different reasons—one is raw and upsetting, the other hopeful and admiring.

These movies and this book made me realize that if I care deeply about something, I can’t just send an electronic pre-written letter to my representatives when I happen to get a reminder to do so. If you truly care about something, it should be part of your daily life. If you can devote a few minutes (or more) each day to surfing the web, watching TV, or generally just killing time, certainly you can devote a few minutes to writing a real letter or reading an article to learn more or sharing an article with friends and family or volunteering for your local anti-war group or any of the countless things you can do to contribute to the cause in your own way.

Sure, nothing I do is going to stop the war tomorrow. Nothing will. You don’t beat back a war machine overnight. To do that requires constant and creative pressure from all types of people. So if writing a letter doesn’t seem useful to you, sit down and think about what does seem useful to you. Maybe working against in-school military recruitment is something you feel makes the most difference. Or maybe you want to learn more about the issue so you can make an effective argument with friends and family. Or maybe you have an idea for a new type of action against the war. Just do something, anything. And do it regularly. Ending this war will require more than just one-off efforts from everyone who’s against it. It will require us to weave our efforts into our daily lives. People are dying unnecessarily every day in this war. The least we could do is devote a tiny part of our days to honoring that in our own way.

As a wise man once said: “Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it.”—Mahatma Gandhi

A review of "Little Earthquakes" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 00:27:08 GMT

Little Earthquakes

by Jennifer Weiner

I was in the mood for candy, and this book fit the bill. It seemed like a realistic insight into what new motherhood must be like. I had a little trouble keeping track of all the different characters and their back stories, but it was still an enjoyable read. The perfectionist character (with my name, to boot) hit a little close to home—I’ll really need to keep that in check when we have a family so I don’t go crazy!

A review of "Do I Want to Be A Mom? : A Woman's Guide to the Decision of a Lifetime"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:40:41 GMT

Do I Want to Be A Mom? : A Woman's Guide to the Decision of a Lifetime

by Diana L. Dell

This book is mostly a collection of quotations from women with some text added around them to hold it all together. It’s organized into sections based on questions or statements like “What if I Don’t Want to Give up My Career?” and “Will I Feel out of Control?” Each section is 1-2 pages with a few paragraphs from the authors and then quotations from women about that topic.

Some of the topics were good to read about, but the brief coverage of them just left me wanting something more in-depth. In some cases, the authors’ “answers” were off base and close-minded, IMHO. For example, when talking about the costs surrounding the birth, they write: “For reasons not always related to cost, the appeal of at-home births is spreading. It’s a setting we don’t recommend. If a pregnant woman or her infant is in distress, the amount of time it takes to get her to the hospital can mean the difference between joy and tragedy.” Nevermind the fact that tragedy can strike just as easily in a hospital setting and that some would argue you’re actually at more risk for complications when you’re surrounded by doctors who want to control every aspect of the birthing process. And then in a list of parenting magazines, they didn’t even mention what I think is the best parenting magazine on the market: Mothering.

If you’re looking for an in-depth discussion of these types of issues, this isn’t the book for you. But if you want a quick overview of all the types of issues related to this decision, this book definitely provides that.

A review of "Thinking Pregnant: Conceiving Your New Life With a Baby" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 01:37:45 GMT

Thinking Pregnant: Conceiving Your New Life With a Baby

by Megan V. Steelman

This book is definitely geared towards the woman who has decided she wants to be a mother. It’s a good collection of important things to consider before you’re even pregnant and a good bit of things to consider after you are—developing healthy lifestyle habits, choosing a care provider, financial considerations, impact on your relationships, how to care for the baby and yourself, and what your partner’s experience might be like. We’re not at the point where all this is relevant right now, but I’ll definitely refer back to this when we are at that point.

A review of "The Birth of a Mother: How the Motherhood Experience Changes You Forever"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 22:26:19 GMT

The Birth of a Mother: How the Motherhood Experience Changes You Forever

by Daniel N. Stern

This book was a great insight into the process of becoming a mother. These tidbits are what I took away from the book:

It’s natural to have expectations of what your baby is going to be like and how your marriage and life will change once you’re a mother. But it’s also healthy to be aware of the implicit or explicit pressures you put on your child and to ask yourself if it’s fair to expect those things.
It’s important to surround yourself with a positive support network as you become a mother. You need supportive family and friends to encourage you to trust your instincts, not people to tell you exactly what to do and how to do it every moment they’re with you. A quote from the book: “Any signals that undermine your confidence while you are trying to do something you have never done before are upsetting and not to be borne.”
Though you might not think about it this way, basic survival tasks (feeding, playing, identifying with your baby) provide opportunities to forge a more intimate relationship with your baby, which only increases your love for her.
The kind of mother you will be is not determined only by your past (such as your relationship with your mother and how you were mothered yourself). The kind of mother you will be has more to do with the work you’ve done to understand your past and reflect upon it. A quote: “The more you can understand your relationship with your own mother and come to terms with it, the less likely you are to mindlessly repeat it.”
In spending time with your baby and being who you are, you are teaching your baby different ways to be with someone. For example, if you are someone who tends to get pensive and not always be in the moment with your baby, your baby will most likely learn to become more animated to draw you back into the present. These learned “ways of being with” someone can grow into personality traits and strengths later in life.
On work/family balance: “Most important, you must figure out what will make you happiest and most fulfilled, and strive to achieve that situation. Try hard not to let others tell you what you should do or feel. If you know yourself and what you can live with, you will find the best compromises for your set of circumstances. In the long run, the best solutions for you are very likely going to be the best solutions for the baby as well.”

A review of "Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism (Turning Points in History)" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 15:07:01 GMT

Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism (Turning Points in History)

by Bob Edwards

My husband and I listened to the audio version of this book during a road trip to Colorado. I’d already seen Good Night and Good Luck, so I felt like I had an idea of what we’d be learning about Murrow in this book. I was wrong. This man led a full, rich, and amazing life. He achieved so many wonderful things, not the least of which was setting our expectations about what journalism could (and should) be. I think the one thing I took away from the book is that if I see good journalism, I should let the station know. Too often, I just send emails when I get all huffy about something and not when I see good, balanced reporting on issues important to the community and the country.

A review of "The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:40:25 GMT

The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)

by Philip Pullman

I’m anxious to read the third and final book in this series and find out what happens to the characters. The second book was just as good as the first, but I was disappointed that the main character Lyra didn’t seem as strong as she did in the first book—and her strength is precisely what I loved about her in the first place. She follows rather than leads in this book, and I’m uncomfortable with how she beats herself up about mistakes she’s made. The latter is common human behavior, but with so few strong female characters in children’s literature, it would have been nice to see her struggle with these feelings and accept what she’s done and move on. If her character did do this, I didn’t pick up on it myself. Here’s to hoping she regains her strength in the final book!

A review of "The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:07:31 GMT

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

by Philip Pullman

I can’t believe I haven’t read this trilogy before now. The world in the first book sucked me in right away. It’s definitely one of those “children’s books” that is just as enjoyable for adults, if not more so. One of the most intriguing elements for me was that in the world of the main character Lyra, everyone has a daemon—an animal manifestation of their soul. It has me wondering what form my daemon would take…

A review of "Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 12:34:58 GMT

Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans

by Jane Green

I was in the mood for a light read after reading Orwell’s 1984, and I certainly got what I was after. But unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly well written book. My biggest hangup was the continual switching between first and third person—I had a really hard time getting into the book because of that. I also didn’t quite believe some of the key elements of the plot (for example, the part with the guy in LA and what he’s truly after, for those of you who’ve read it). I have a very hard time not finishing a book once I’ve started it, but I did seriously consider it with this one.

A review of "1984: Centennial Edition" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 12:28:37 GMT

1984: Centennial Edition

by George Orwell

I’m glad I finally read this book. It was a bit of a depressing read because certain parts reminded me of our current political climate. But the concepts of doublethink, thoughtcrime, and so on are definitely food for thought. In the week or so since I finished reading it, I’ve found myself thinking about those concepts, in particular when I see an ad or something that says exactly the opposite of what it really is (the “Clear Skies Act” comes to mind right now).

A review of "There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 15:38:46 GMT

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom

by Louis Sachar

A friend of mine said this was one of her favorite books of all-time, and when I started reading it I was a little worried I wouldn’t like it. I always find it hard to get into books where I don’t like the main character right away, but Bradley Chalkers grew on me. This was a really sweet story about a boy who learns to believe in himself.

A review of "Because of Winn-Dixie" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:17:04 GMT

Because of Winn-Dixie

by Kate DiCamillo

This is a beautifully written novel. The mother of the main character, 10-year-old Opal, left her husband and daughter when Opal was three, and how Opal deals with that is a common thread throughout the novel. Here’s my favorite part: “Sometimes, it seemed like everybody in the world was lonely. I thought about my mama. Thinking about her was the same as the hole you keep on feeling with your tongue after you lose a tooth. Time after time, my mind kept going to that empty spot, the spot where I felt like she should be.”

A review of "George's Marvelous Medicine" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Tue, 30 May 2006 23:14:36 GMT

George's Marvelous Medicine

by Roald Dahl

Not my favorite Dahl book, but still a cute, quirky read.

A review of "Speak" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Tue, 30 May 2006 03:31:11 GMT

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

So, so good. This YA novel is told from the point of view of a girl who becomes an outcast the summer before she starts high school. She’s so bitter and withdrawn that it’s obvious she’s in pain for some reason—and not just because she’s lonely. I think any teenage girl (or boy, for that matter) would do well to read this book.

A review of "Godless" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Mon, 29 May 2006 18:14:22 GMT

Godless

by Pete Hautman

This was a good, quick read, but it didn’t really grab me in any special way. For a book called “Godless”, I was expecting much more questioning of religion in general. There was some, but it didn’t feel whole-hearted. It was an interesting premise with interesting characters, but I disagree with this review from Booklist, quoted on the back of the book: “Anyone who has questioned his or her religion, especially as a teenager, will respond to [the main character’s] struggles with belief.” I’m sure there are books out there where the main character has a more genuine, painful struggle. But if you haven’t struggled with religion, I can see how you might think this book would be good for people who have.

A review of "Martin's Mice" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kelly) — Sat, 27 May 2006 22:41:58 GMT

Martin's Mice

by Dick King-Smith

This would be a great book for reading aloud to kids—there’s a lot of witty bits to keep adults chuckling to themselves.