This book is one of the most brilliant I have ever read. This is David Wroblewski first novel and I pray there are more to come. My heart is pounding and my mind racing at the conclusion of this novel, wishing desperately for more of the book, yet knowing that if there were more, it would somehow spoil the thing.
The characters are complex and unpredictable. You sit captivated by the book simply waiting for what happens next because you'll never guess it. This book has easily made it into the top 5 books I love including: The Five People You Meet in Heaven, To Say Nothing of the Dog, The Secret Life of Bees, and The Giver.
At page 210 (of 566) this book became a riveting one that I struggled to put down. The last 25% of the book did have some swearing, but it didn't detract from the book. Amazing. Beautiful. Perfect.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Dreams
Beck woke with a start in his crib. His cries grew stronger as I tried fruitlessly to ignore him and read my book. When it was obvious that he wouldn't settle himself, I stood, shut off most of the lights in the living room, kitchen and hall and walked into the dark.
His door opened with a pop and I couldn't tell if he cried harder because comfort was so close or if his cries just seemed louder now that I was in the room with him. He was sitting up in bed, a thing I couldn't see as my eyes adjusted to the dark. Instead, I felt his contour lines--like a blind person--making sure he hadn't stuffed his leg in between the crib slats, before I picked him up.
His sobbing quieted as I cradled him. I reached back into the crib for Bob--his blanket--only to realize Beck already had him by a corner. Beck laid his head on my shoulder and I rocked back and forth in the air, longing for a rocking chair upstairs. I thought briefly of crossing the house and going down the stairs where we have 3 rocking chairs, but the light was still on in the entry way and the TV was on downstairs and all that walking would further rouse Beck rather than settle him.
I remember a couple of nights ago calming another night terror by bringing Beck to bed with me for a few minutes. He'd laid next to me, head on my chest, sucking his two middle fingers on his left hand and stroking my face with his right. His chubby fingers had explored my face, periodically sticking them in my mouth or up my nose, but most caressing my cheek and chin.
I crept out of his room where the light from the entry way made him blink even though it was so far away. I quickly entered my room and sat at the edge of the bed and rocked back and forth. I wiped the tears off his cheeks and listened to his breathing relax. He was asleep again in moments, sucking on his fingers and allowing me to play with his soft, chubby right hand.
He huffed as I stood. I was reluctant to put him back in bed--to let go of him at all--but I also knew that the sooner he was in bed the better he would sleep. I could have sat and held him forever. Reason prevailed and I walked sideways past my dresser, not knowing in the dark how close I was. If I were to accidentally bump it, I wanted my back and not Beck's head to come in contact with a hard, sharp surface. I opened my door with one finger, but the movement woke Beck a little and he lifted his head. By the time we crossed the faint light in the hallway and reentered the darkness of his room, I'd coaxed Beck's head onto my shoulder.
Carefully, I laid him in the crib making sure his blanket didn't drape on his face and frighten him all over again. He looked at me and I felt his arm with a single stroke, silently wishing him better dreams and a good night's sleep.
Ah, my baby. It wrenches my heart to know that there will be only so many more moments like this. He's growing so quickly. I must cherish every one.
His door opened with a pop and I couldn't tell if he cried harder because comfort was so close or if his cries just seemed louder now that I was in the room with him. He was sitting up in bed, a thing I couldn't see as my eyes adjusted to the dark. Instead, I felt his contour lines--like a blind person--making sure he hadn't stuffed his leg in between the crib slats, before I picked him up.
His sobbing quieted as I cradled him. I reached back into the crib for Bob--his blanket--only to realize Beck already had him by a corner. Beck laid his head on my shoulder and I rocked back and forth in the air, longing for a rocking chair upstairs. I thought briefly of crossing the house and going down the stairs where we have 3 rocking chairs, but the light was still on in the entry way and the TV was on downstairs and all that walking would further rouse Beck rather than settle him.
I remember a couple of nights ago calming another night terror by bringing Beck to bed with me for a few minutes. He'd laid next to me, head on my chest, sucking his two middle fingers on his left hand and stroking my face with his right. His chubby fingers had explored my face, periodically sticking them in my mouth or up my nose, but most caressing my cheek and chin.
I crept out of his room where the light from the entry way made him blink even though it was so far away. I quickly entered my room and sat at the edge of the bed and rocked back and forth. I wiped the tears off his cheeks and listened to his breathing relax. He was asleep again in moments, sucking on his fingers and allowing me to play with his soft, chubby right hand.
He huffed as I stood. I was reluctant to put him back in bed--to let go of him at all--but I also knew that the sooner he was in bed the better he would sleep. I could have sat and held him forever. Reason prevailed and I walked sideways past my dresser, not knowing in the dark how close I was. If I were to accidentally bump it, I wanted my back and not Beck's head to come in contact with a hard, sharp surface. I opened my door with one finger, but the movement woke Beck a little and he lifted his head. By the time we crossed the faint light in the hallway and reentered the darkness of his room, I'd coaxed Beck's head onto my shoulder.
Carefully, I laid him in the crib making sure his blanket didn't drape on his face and frighten him all over again. He looked at me and I felt his arm with a single stroke, silently wishing him better dreams and a good night's sleep.
Ah, my baby. It wrenches my heart to know that there will be only so many more moments like this. He's growing so quickly. I must cherish every one.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Random, Eclectic Post
I love Annika. In the ensuing month, Annika is totally and completely potty trained. It took me probably 3 months to get to this point with my other kids. Part of it is me. I'm older, wiser and better at potty training. But part is her and she is great. If things keep going as is, she'll be sleeping pull-up free by next month.
I did read a couple more books in the weeks since I've posted anything. I read Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou. It was very Maya. It's a collection of short stories from the author's life. All of them are interesting. Some of them are a bit lurid. Still, it's a good book. I can see why it's a best seller and I'd recommend it.
I also read Outliers: A Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell. This was a real page turner for me. It's a non-fiction book about how successful people have become successful and how to apply their stories of success to help create our own. Partly, it points out that there is no such thing as a "self-made man." For people who reach high levels of success, there is cultural heritage, parenting, community and all those who were willing to give chances or create breaks for people who eventually became wildly successful. If these people weren't given the chances to succeed by others' efforts, then it becomes probable that these successes might have failed.
One of my personal favorites in this book is the research showing the fallacy of connecting IQ with success. There is a point at which if you are "smart enough" having a baseline IQ of 130 or higher, your chance at success is the same. Having and IQ of 195 doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be a bigger success because all those community things also come into play. I could go on and on. I think every educator should read this book. I also think that if you have some kids who are naturally bright and others that struggle, this book is one to read.
I did read a couple more books in the weeks since I've posted anything. I read Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou. It was very Maya. It's a collection of short stories from the author's life. All of them are interesting. Some of them are a bit lurid. Still, it's a good book. I can see why it's a best seller and I'd recommend it.
I also read Outliers: A Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell. This was a real page turner for me. It's a non-fiction book about how successful people have become successful and how to apply their stories of success to help create our own. Partly, it points out that there is no such thing as a "self-made man." For people who reach high levels of success, there is cultural heritage, parenting, community and all those who were willing to give chances or create breaks for people who eventually became wildly successful. If these people weren't given the chances to succeed by others' efforts, then it becomes probable that these successes might have failed.
One of my personal favorites in this book is the research showing the fallacy of connecting IQ with success. There is a point at which if you are "smart enough" having a baseline IQ of 130 or higher, your chance at success is the same. Having and IQ of 195 doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be a bigger success because all those community things also come into play. I could go on and on. I think every educator should read this book. I also think that if you have some kids who are naturally bright and others that struggle, this book is one to read.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Beck
Beck is 15 months today...or was it yesterday? It's so hard to decide when your child's B-day is the 29th and there is no 29th of the month. (Weird side note... On the 26th of Feb I had to check Nathan out of school for a dentist appt that really deserves it's own post. But when I got to school the last half dozen or so parents had all written the date as Feb 29. This is especially weird since there is NO 29th until 2012!!!)
13. Hanging upside down is second only to hide and seek. Since he was 10 months or so we'd say, "Ready, set, GO!" He'll let out a giggle and flop backwards until he's upside down suspended only by his legs.
14. Bouncing on the bed. You could probably turn me into child services for this, but when Beck was about 4 months old, I dropped him on the bed from a short distance and got HUGE smiles. Soon he was giggling and he had an amazing way of keeping himself very compact. Now it's tons of fun. We drop him on the couch at church, the couch at home and on the bed.
15. Flips. He love to be flipped on the bed and off of laps, where he lands on his feet.
Ya-hoo! I did it 15 funny things about Beck. Tomorrow I'll try to find ya some pics of the little guy. For the record, these are Beck's 1 year pics which were taken Jan 26th. Afterward we cut his hair. Now he looks like a little man.
I'd love to wax poetic and say...here are 15 things I love about Beck, but it's 11:45 and I can't guarantee that I can get that many. Anyhoo...
1. Beck jumps on his bed. He's been doing this since he was 8-9 months old. It's awesome and hilarious.
2. Noises. Everything right now goes "vrrrooom" or "zzzoooom". And by everything I mean spoons, rubber ducks and orange cylinder blocks. Everything.
3. More noises. He also blows bubbles, raspberries and sticks his tongue in and out going "lad-el, lad-el".
4. He mews like a cat. It's high pitched and hard to hear, but it sounds just like Sneeze.
5. He throws books down the stairs. Wendell doesn't think it cute, but I think it's hilarious.
6. He LOVES garbage. He empties the recycle bin onto the kitchen floor several times a day.
7. He still sucks his two middle fingers.
8. He's named his blanket Bob. I think he was aiming for "baba" but it kept getting cut short to Bob and that's what we all call it now.
9. He says the names of most member of our family. Anson and Nathan he says best while shouting. At 12 months he could say Anson extraordinarily well. He'll also wander the house calling sweetly for "Aaaaa-ka." (Annika)
10. He LOVES peek-a-boo. Best game ever.
11. He love playing the piano both a little one my mom bought for Annika and the real one. Although, he's mostly only drawn to the real piano during practice time.
12. He dances. At the little plastic piano, he'll put on a song then hold on to the piano and bounce his knees up and down. So freakin' cute!!!
1. Beck jumps on his bed. He's been doing this since he was 8-9 months old. It's awesome and hilarious.
2. Noises. Everything right now goes "vrrrooom" or "zzzoooom". And by everything I mean spoons, rubber ducks and orange cylinder blocks. Everything.
3. More noises. He also blows bubbles, raspberries and sticks his tongue in and out going "lad-el, lad-el".
4. He mews like a cat. It's high pitched and hard to hear, but it sounds just like Sneeze.
5. He throws books down the stairs. Wendell doesn't think it cute, but I think it's hilarious.
6. He LOVES garbage. He empties the recycle bin onto the kitchen floor several times a day.
7. He still sucks his two middle fingers.
8. He's named his blanket Bob. I think he was aiming for "baba" but it kept getting cut short to Bob and that's what we all call it now.
9. He says the names of most member of our family. Anson and Nathan he says best while shouting. At 12 months he could say Anson extraordinarily well. He'll also wander the house calling sweetly for "Aaaaa-ka." (Annika)
10. He LOVES peek-a-boo. Best game ever.
11. He love playing the piano both a little one my mom bought for Annika and the real one. Although, he's mostly only drawn to the real piano during practice time.
12. He dances. At the little plastic piano, he'll put on a song then hold on to the piano and bounce his knees up and down. So freakin' cute!!!
13. Hanging upside down is second only to hide and seek. Since he was 10 months or so we'd say, "Ready, set, GO!" He'll let out a giggle and flop backwards until he's upside down suspended only by his legs.
14. Bouncing on the bed. You could probably turn me into child services for this, but when Beck was about 4 months old, I dropped him on the bed from a short distance and got HUGE smiles. Soon he was giggling and he had an amazing way of keeping himself very compact. Now it's tons of fun. We drop him on the couch at church, the couch at home and on the bed.
15. Flips. He love to be flipped on the bed and off of laps, where he lands on his feet.
Ya-hoo! I did it 15 funny things about Beck. Tomorrow I'll try to find ya some pics of the little guy. For the record, these are Beck's 1 year pics which were taken Jan 26th. Afterward we cut his hair. Now he looks like a little man.
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