Book 38 of 2015- "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery

So, I have never read this series. I know Alyse was obsessed with it growing up, but the movies really bothered me. Anne was SO airy and fluffy, and I just couldn't get past that. But, I wanted to give it a shot this year, and it definitely exceeded my expectations!

I still thought that the first Anne was super airy. She just talks and talks and TALKS (which I'm sure Brandon feels like I do sometimes... I'm just kidding. Kind of.). I have to remind myself that she is only 11, and I had plenty of imaginary friends and talked a lot to myself at that age. But not quite to that extent.

But she is a funny person, and she really grows a lot during the book. People start to look past her oddness and really enjoy being around her. She is a hard worker, and goes from having barely any education to graduating top of her class during teaching school. She is incredibly stubborn, but admits that she can be wrong. She is really just trying to do her best.

I grew fond of Matthew during the book. I was so sad when he died at the end. But on the other hand, his death meant that Anne got to stay in Avonlea a little bit longer.

So overall, I found the book quite enjoyable! I ordered the next 2 to come to the library, so I will keep reading the series as long as it is that entertaining.

Book 37 of 2015- "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D.

So in an ironic twist, I checked this out 3 weeks or so ago "just in case". Cora was sleeping great, but I figured this would help us with the next baby.

Well, the last few weeks Cora has had a major sleep regression. My eyeballs are about to fall out. It has finally peaked in the last few days (I REALLY REALLY HOPE), in that she won't nap and wakes up every few hours at night. It's like when she was a newborn, except for the napping in the day part. So, this was good to refresh on.

Much of the book was about colicky babies, which fortunately Cora was not. But the majority of the book emphasized the Cuddle Cure, or the 5 S's: Swaddling, Side/Stomach, Shushing, Swinging, Sucking. If you do these in order and vigorously, it will help enable the baby's calming reflex.

Reading it, I realized that we might have transitioned Cora out of the swaddling too quickly. I never did well at it, because I was so afraid of breaking this teeny tiny baby that I never wrapped her super tightly and she was always able to break out within an hour or two. Perhaps that would help us. She wakes up in a frenzy, which is very unlike her. So perhaps something like a tight swaddle will help us again. She has already woken up twice tonight, so fingers crossed! If she wakes up again, I'm trying it.

(As a side note, they said increased head size can mean increased brain pressure. Soooo, I will keep that in the back of my mind for her next doctor's appointment when they measure her head again.)

Book 36 of 2015- "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

I figured I should read some substantial books once in a while.

I'm not going to lie, I didn't know if I would make it through this book for about the first half. It was SO sad! Francie is a girl growing up in a poor area of Brooklyn, and it talks about her growing up story. Her parents met and married when she was 17 and he was 19, and they got pregnant right away. Francie's dad couldn't handle the responsibility he had, so he got drunk and worked random nights as a singing waiter. Francie and her brother, Neeley, were always hungry and never really fit in with their peers. Their mom had to work hard and find ways to make ends meet. It really reminded me of a lot of people that we have met here, that don't have high levels of education and don't have much of a way to get out of their circumstances. The lowest point is when their dad dies on Christmas day of alcoholism and pneumonia. They have hardly any money and their mom is going to have another baby in May. Francie just turned 14, and so when she finishes grammar school she has to join the work force to help her mom out. Now, this seems like rock bottom, but this is when the story started to turn around for me.

Francie found a job that she needed to be 16 for, so she said she was 16. This paid her enough that her family was able to save again, and she eventually got promoted to $20 a week. This was in 1916, so that was huge. Their new baby thrived, and they were able to get out of that hole they were left in. Then, a police officer who had always liked Francie's mom (but both were married so he would never have done anything then) asked her to marry him. She did, and the book ends with them moving out of their neighborhood and into a nicer one. Francie also was able to get into college in Michigan and moved out that way.

I am SO glad I stuck with this book. I was sure Francie was going to die. When I found out the mom was pregnant I was sure the BABY was going to die. I couldn't have handled that.

I wish there was a way that everyone could get into college and get the education so that they can get out of poverty. Not even college, just some skill or level of education so that they don't have to work 3 jobs to make ends meet. This is loosely based on the author's life (from what I understand), and I hope that she helped enable her children to rise even above that.

Book 35 of 2015- "My Story" by Elizabeth Smart

This was just gut wrenching to read. I could only read a little bit at a time, then take a break and play with Cora or watch a funny show or something because it is just HEAVY.

I remember when she was kidnapped. It was during a string of highly publicized kidnappings, including one in Orange County. All those little girls were found dead within a few weeks. So when Elizabeth was found alive 9 months later, it was amazing. I had always been morbidly curious about what had happened in that black hole of time that she was gone.

She was taken from her home in the middle of the night. That is terrifying. He knew he wanted to take her 7 months before he actually did, and he took advantage of her parents' kindness and willingness to help him get employment by working on their house. I wonder if they have forgiven themselves for that. She had to endure more than anyone should have to endure, all by a man who used his facade as a prophet to take advantage of her and try to brainwash her. Her description of Mitchell and Barzee are so creepy. She says that he can turn off and on his "prophetic" phases at the drop of a hat, which means he is a master manipulator. He knew what he was doing, and he wasn't insane. He was just a pedophile who used that as an excuse to "take a wife".

What is really amazing is that she kept her wits about her. She always thought of her family, and hoped that they thought of her. After a while she assumed that they thought she was dead and had moved on, but she never stopped hoping that they at least thought of her from time to time.

She never lost her faith in God. THAT is amazing. She had some amazing experiences where she felt God's love so strongly, and she knew that she would make it out of this experience alive. I think that it was this faith that inspired her to manipulate Mitchell to go back to Utah (I never knew they were in San Diego for 6 months?!), and to hitchhike. They had to keep her face uncovered, which is what I'm sure helped her be discovered.

I couldn't help but get teary during her description of her reunion with her family. I can't imagine the anxiety of her parents. While reading it, I made Brandon swear he wouldn't hire random people off the street to work on their house. Now that we have a daughter, I couldn't imagine hearing that she had been violated every day for 9 months, and was forced to do unspeakable things. She leaves a lot of gaps in things she had to see and do (for good reason!), and I don't even want to know what that could have meant.

Her strength since being rescued is amazing. She graduated high school and college, I think I remember hearing she wanted to go to law school, she served a mission in Paris, and got married. That man who married her has to be a saint. There must be some sort of baggage there after that sort of ordeal. She has created and runs a foundation to help children who are victims of abduction and child abuse. What is amazing is that she was able to sit in the courtroom and testify against Mitchell and Barzee. She didn't flinch in describing her trauma, and was able to help put them away. I'm glad they were sentenced to life in prison.

What is ALSO amazing is that she was able to get past everything without professional counseling. How is that possible? She clarifies that she does not think that is the path for everyone, but that she was able to get past it without counseling. She is really a stronger person than I could possibly imagine, and as she said in the book I believe that God will make that time of trial up to her in the long run.

Book 34 of 2015- "Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" by Mindy Kaling

Yes, another female comedian's memoir. It was also pretty funny (but not as laugh-out-loud funny as Tina Fey's). I know who Mindy Kaling is from my favorite show of all time, the Office. She is the ditzy Kelly Kapoor, and has many funny one liners.
Mindy had a very normal childhood. She has always struggled with her weight, and was never a super popular girl at school. Overall, she was a very normal kind of person. She was recognized by show producers after she and her roommate made a 2 man play about Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. I also liked hearing about her time on the Office, and how she did have some diva moments as a writer (which is what you expect from Kelly Kapoor). I liked her candor about everything, and I will read her next book (whenever it gets here). 

Book 33 of 2015- "I am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai

So, I just discovered when I was almost done that I was reading the Young Reader's Edition. Hopefully that didn't affect the quality too much.

It is good to read a serious book amongst the fun ones. This was a very interesting look into what it was like in Pakistan just in the last 10 years. I can't believe that people actually live in fear like this. It's one thing to see on the news, but it is another to read from a first hand account. Just because a voice on the radio said so, a revolution started across the country. And not in a good way. I completely respect the Islamic culture of covering up (because we do something similar), but an extremist group saying that girls couldn't be out in public period? Too far.
Malala was raised by a dad who told her that she was capable of anything. That, coupled with a desire to continue her education and be the best, is what made her a strong leader for her fellow students. It is rare to hear about a man who wanted his daughter to get an education so badly. He even started a girls' school in Pakistan, when it was rare for girls to go to school past age 10 or 11.
All that she did was advocate for education amongst girls. There is nothing wrong with that, unless you are advocating for education against a group of extremists who have shown that they don't care who they target.
Seeing all the horrible sadness that has been happening in Syria and with their refugees while reading this book has made me think of how grateful I am to live in this country. Malala was a lucky one, and so was her family. They got out, and while it was because of an awful incident where a group of cowards targeted a girl, she has been making a recovery and the family has been unscathed otherwise. Many of the people in that part of the world have not been so lucky. The United States has been dealt a blessed hand, and even if this presidential election doesn't go well (ahem, Trump?), it would be prudent to remember that we have it so much better than much of the rest of the world.

Book 32 of 2015- "Bossypants" by Tina Fey

I've always thought Tina Fey was funny. Once I found out that she was the one who wrote "Mean Girls", I KNEW she was funny. Her memoir is basically just a bunch of random stories about her life, which culminates in her writing for SNL, being in charge of 30 Rock, and balancing all of that. And imitating Sarah Palin on TV. There were many parts that made me laugh out loud and say, "Brandon listen to this!" Unfortunately, it is much like a SNL skit- too many uncomfortable moments for me to want to keep on my bookshelf. Anything that swears that often is not buyable. But still, overall quite entertaining.

Book 31 of 2015- "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Ah, my heart. 

Don't worry, Cora wasn't neglected while I powered through this book in a day and a half. Brandon was home, and thanks to a great napping schedule and starting to go to bed earlier (almost a decent baby time!!!), I have had time to myself and to hang out with Brandon.

So, this book is really dense. There is a LOT that happens in it, along with a lot of sadness. Harry just can't catch a break, everyone close to him seems to die. There was a rumor that Ron was supposed to die, which fortunately J.K. Rowling didn't go through with if that was her original intention. However, she did kill off Fred which was terrible. And why Lupin?! Ugh. He was such a good guy, despite his weakness in this book.

But I digress. The thing that was so interesting reading it this time around was seeing just how simple Harry's saving grace is. It was love. That's it. His mom loved him enough to sacrifice herself for him, and that is what protected him against the most evil wizard in the world. 

When you read that Harry is supposed to die and that Dumbledore basically raised him "like a lamb to the slaughter", as Snape said, you think Dumbledore's a big jerk. He was such a kind mentor, and he knew all along that Harry had to die? But, as you read further (after Harry does die and is in limbo talking to Dumbledore), you find out that Dumbledore had a feeling that even when Harry died he would be able to come back. Since Harry gave himself up to be killed, and wasn't hunted down or killed in a battle like what could have happened, he in turn gave that gift to everyone who he was sacrificing himself for. After he died, his friends couldn't be hurt. (Hint: He's not actually dead.)

That last scene in the book is much more amazing than in the movie. I remember thinking it was anticlimactic the first time that I saw it, but I couldn't remember why.

The other thing that gets me, is how Snape seems so awful through the last 2 books. You always kind of hate him, but I had forgotten just how MUCH I hated him. But then you get the memories from him before he dies, and you see that while he never particularly cared for Harry, he did everything he could to save him in order to help keep Lily's son alive. He loved Lily for his whole life.

It's such a great series. It was a huge part of my childhood, reading those books. I want to wait a few years to read them again, so it can be like it's brand new again like it was this time.

My big question is, what happened to Harry's grandparents?? You find out in this book that the Potters were only 21 when they died (way to represent on young parents though, Rowling!). So their parents were late 40's, early 50's. And yet there is no mention of a death. From the beginning it says that the Durleys were Harry's only relatives. So where did they go??
My other big question is why were the Horcruxes all in Britain? I mean, it isn't THAT big of a country. Was Voldemort that arrogant that he believed he could hide them in plain sight and people wouldn't be able to outsmart him? If Voldemort had spread them throughout the world, then they may not have been able to defeat him.

The end. I love this series so much. The movies don't do it justice.

Book 30 of 2015- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Yep, another one.

So, I don't like this book for one obvious reason: Dumbledore dies. In fact, I don't think I had read it more than the first time, because I was so mad. But I read it again, and I actually liked it a lot more. In this book, they learn a lot more about Voldemort's life, and what happens to make him who he is. It's obvious that he has always been a person with evil tendencies, but it was interesting to see how he started down that path.

Having read the 6 books in a row so far, I really don't like the way Dumbledore treats Harry. Initially it looks like he is just a kind mentor to Harry, but now it just looks like he doesn't trust Harry with the truth. He is constantly hiding the facts from him, and there is so much that he refuses to reveal. But Harry seems to believe in him still. I just wish they could have had one real open and honest conversation that would have cleared the air before he died.

I am 60% of the way to my reading goal for this year woohoo!

Book 29 of 2015- "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling

I was able to power through this one, thanks to Cora finally getting at least one solid nap in a day! Thank goodness for schedules regulating!

I haven't decided if I like this book the least (it's between this one and the second). While there are a lot of parts that I really enjoy, such as Fred and George making Professor Umbridge's life miserable, or the final conversation Harry has with Dumbledore after they come back from the Department of Mysteries, it is still so filled with Harry's teenage angst that it sometimes gets hard to read. He spends much of the book either yelling at people for leaving him out of things (which makes him sound like kind of a martyr) or he is freaking out about how he likes a girl.

Plus, I hate that my favorite character, Sirius Black, dies in this book. It was totally unnecessary. And so irritating, because it's all Harry's fault.
I am excited to read the last 2 books, because I don't remember much of either of them and want to read them as soon as possible.