Choices of Steel Magnolias

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to writing about Kristin Hannah's THE NIGHTINGALE. I knew going in to the read that it is a book about WW2 and that it would be a difficult read. What I didn't know was just how INTENSE (thanks, mom) it would be. I have always found war stories (movies, in particular) difficult to read or watch. I have only recently made it all the way through SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and I only did that because my son wanted to watch it. I feel it is important for us as parents to watch such movies with our kids, so in spite of my own reservations, I "watched" it with him. (More like--was at least in the same room while the movie was on.) I made it through the movie, but it helped because my son and I talked about it periodically.

THE NIGHTINGALE is as intense--if not more so because, while it's definitely difficult enough to read and watch war stories about men, it is a true shock to the system to have a war story be about women. I don't want to lessen in any way the horrors of war in any regard for any individual. I am simply saying that we typically see and read war stories about men and/or through the perspective of men, so reading it about women through their perspectives is quite powerful and, well, Intense.

I thought an awful lot about STEEL MAGNOLIAS throughout my reading of THE NIGHTINGALE. Of how women are beautiful, sweet, gentle, lovely like Magnolia blossoms. But yet we have hearts and souls of steel. This story is a powerful representation of such women. I don't know which sister I love more: Isabelle or Vianne. Each fights this war in her own way and each proves to be a true NIGHTINGALE--a force to be reckoned with. When the soldier billeting with (that just means living with) Vianne is killed, because of the way he is killed, it is impossible to tell which sister actually gives the devastating, killing blow. That is a perfect example of how deeply intertwined these sisters are--their lives, their hearts--their very souls.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, be sure that you have a box of tissues when you read Kristin Hannah's THE NIGHTINGALE. In spite of the fact that it is an intense read that rips your heart out, it is well worth the read. It is important for us down throughout history to "see" the horrors of war--and not JUST through the eyes of men and certainly not just through the eyes of some textbook written by the so-called "winners." We tend to romanticize the horrors of war into some epic love story; there is NO romance to war--only HORROR.

And the CHOICES each sister makes--must make--for survival--not just for herself, but her family, friends, children, and loved ones. Choices. Impossible Choices. Unspeakable Choices. Choices removed but yet still leaving them with the horror of choosing. Choices.

"Peculiar" is a Great Way to Describe It

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs is one of the books we're getting this year for World Book Night, April 23, 2014.  In preparation for the arrival of the books, I figured I'd read it just in case anyone wants to know whether or not it's any good.

I don't know what to think, or say, about it, to be perfectly honest.  The book isn't at all what I thought it would be.  Well, it is, but it isn't.  I had NOT expected it to be set in the 1940s--and modern day.  I had NOT expected World War II to have anything to do with the story.  I had NOT expected it to be a supernatural story beyond their beyond there being "peculiar" children in the story.  Based on the cover, I thought that I was in for a story with kids similar to the x-men, but yet not really super-powers so much as just kids who are different and need to be watched over as a result.

That IS a part of the story, but not in the way I thought.  I can't say too much more without giving away more than I should for those who haven't read it.

It's definitely worth the read, but it might be better if you go into it without having too many expectations and just let the story unfold itself as you read.

Apparently, it's already being used in schools/classes with tweens.  I can understand why from a historical perspective, but I'm going to have to do some more digging and thinking to understand why the book is considered appropriate for tweens.  Like THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy, I think that this book is really a little above tween reading level, yet tweens who read a lot won't have any trouble with the story and will probably even enjoy it.  Tweens who don't read much might find it tedious and difficult to plod through.

I admit that I'm curious about what they think about it--and you, too......