LuAnne Rice

What Matters Most

 

I always know that when I pick up a book written by Luanne Rice, I will be drawn into a wonderfully woven story. Last week I picked up a copy of What Matters Most, and I have once again found myself snuggled up with another fantastic book. The main character, Sister Bernadette Ignatius,  has returned to Ireland with her caretaker/friend Tom Kelly to search for the son they gave up many years ago.  Bernadette and Tom have a past filled with young love and desire, that came to a hault when Bernadette felt a calling to a vocation as Mother Superior at Star of the Sea Academy on the sea-tossed Connecticut shore. Her decision to give up their son and life as she knew it, also affected Tom. He wound up giving up his fortune and taking the job as caretaker at Star of the Sea, so that he could remain close to his beloved Bernie, knowing he could no longer have  herbut whom he never stopped loving. Bernie's calling may have changed the path of both of their lives, however, their journey together is far from over.

In Dublin, Ireland a young man named Seamus Sullivan is also dealing with finding his life's path and dreaming of being reunited with his own first love, the only “family” he’s ever known. They’d been inseparable growing up together at St. Augustine’s Children’s Home, until Kathleen Murphy’s parents claimed her and took her home to America. Years later, in a Newport mansion, Kathleen, now a grown woman, works as a maid and waits with a strong faith, for the miracle that will bring back the only boy she’s ever loved.

Miracles are in store for those who are brave enough to hope for what matters most...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-matters-most-luanne-rice/1100259870

http://www.amazon.com/What-Matters-Most-Luanne-Rice/dp/0553589709

Reading about the real "Downton Abbey"

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

The Countess of Carnarvon

Mud City by Deborah Ellis

Did Shauzia make it to Paris?

I have recently finished reading Parvana's Journey, the second book in The Breadwinner trilogy, to my fifth grade class. On Monday, I will begin to share the third book, Mud City.  I have shared this trilogy for the past six years and found that each time I do, my class becomes totally captivated with the story. What I really like about this series is the way the author, Deborah Ellis, provides both current and historical events with the a realistic story of family and friendship. Unfortunately, families and friendships have been ripped apart by the Taliban and their rule. At the conclusion of the first book, The Breadwinner, the reader was left wondering what would happen to Parvana, her father, and if Shauzia made it to France. Parvana and Shauzia made a pact to meet at the Eiffel Tower one day, which kept my students on edge wondering about the whereabouts of Shauzia. The second book, Parvana's Journey, followed Parvana on her journey to reunite her family. Throughout the second book, Parvana wrote journal entries to Shauzia and kept referring to the purple fields of France, hoping Shauzia reached her destination. The entries helped keep Shauzia a part of the story.

Mud City  continues the story of Shauzia. As the book opens, it becomes apparent that Shauzia has not made it to France. My students can't wait for me to begin reading this book to them, and they been making predictions ever since we finished reading Parvana's Journey.

I would really love to know if anyone else has shared this trilogy with their class. I will add a link to Barnes and Noble where you may order Mud City, as well as the other books from the Breadwinner trilogy.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mud-city-deborah-ellis/1102212817

Downton Abbey: You'll be hooked!

Have you heard about Downton Abbey?  

I always knew I enjoyed reading authors such as Jane Austen and Emily Bronte because of their traditional language and the charm of the English lifestyle of years gone by. A few weeks ago, I heard talk of a PBS series, Downton Abbey and became intrigued. While it is not a book, the show is well written. I've spent this past weekend watching the DVD's of seasons one and two so that I can enjoy the current season three.  Downton Abbey is actually the name of the house, which is an Edwardian mansion and park set in the North Yorkshire landscape. The story is set around the family of the Earl of Grantham and his family which includes his American wife and three daughters. His mother, the Dowager Countess of Grantham is the matriarch of the family and the resident know-it-all.

The setting is the early 1900's and begins with the sinking of the ship, the Titanic. This is an important element of the story because the Earl of Grantham is fearful that Downton Abbey will one day fall into the hands of a cousin he has never met due to a hierarchy. This cousin is said to have been a passenger on the Titanic and has drowned. The time period lends itself to high adventure, family drama, mystery, and romance.

The characters are intriguing and give insight to the sign of the times. The daughters, Mary, Edith, and Cybil, represent the different situations and problems that women found themselves in during the turn of the twentieth century. Women did not have the same rights as men, especially when it came to voting and position in society. The character of Mary is very risque as she has a moment in time with a Turkish male guest, who later winds up dying in a very inappropriate place. Edith is the daughter who is the "plain Jane" in the looks department. She longs to find the love of a man, and helps out in ways that only men usually would. Cybil is an original rebel for women's rights. The situations are thought provoking and make one want to learn more about the time period.

Period costumes, settings, issues, and family drama are just a few of the elements that make for such a captivating story. If you are a fan of English writers, or just love a rich, historical, family drama, check out Downton Abbey on your local PBS station.It is shown as a part of the Masterpiece Theater offerings (many times during the winter months Jane Austen's books are adapted for the screen on Masterpiece Theater).  I'd love to hear what others think about this continuing saga.

http://www.pbs.org

 http://www.itv.com/downtonabbey/

For Downton Abbey viewers, who is your favorite character or what is your favorite storyline?


For Jane Austen fans, What is your favorite Jane Austen novel and why?

 

Classroom pick: The Breadwinner  by Deborah Ellis

I recently began to read The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis to my fifth grade class. Each year I share this book, and the other books in the trilogy, with my class. When I consider the subject matter, I realize that the book deals with many difficult concepts. The unfair treatment of women and girls, as well as the severe treatment of the Taliban toward the people is written in a very realistic manner. I hope the following book review is helpful  I'd love to hear what others think of this book.

Review:

 

Author: Ellis, Deborah

The Breadwinner.

Illus. by Michael Solomon, c.2000, 170p

Description/Genre:

Chapter Book/Realistic/Young Adult Fiction

Summary: Twelve-year-old Parvana enjoyed going to school, living in a nice, loving home, and being a kid. That is until the Taliban--an extreme militia group that rules Afghanistan--took over the city of Kabul. Girls were forbidden to go to school and women from going to work. Women and girls are not even allowed out of the homes unless they are accompanied by a man. These days, Parvana only leaves her family's one room apartment to help her injured father get to the market, where she earns a small amount of money reading for those who cannot. When the Taliban bursts into their apartment one evening, Parvana's father is arrested. The family is unsure of how they will live without a man to earn money and go to the market with to get food. Then, they come up with an idea –now their survival depends on whether Parvana can convince the outside world that she is a boy.

Review:

I have been reading this book to my class for several years. The Breadwinner is a worthwhile, thought-provoking story that will inspire empathy for children like Parvana, who have grown up in the middle of a war. I am always amazed at the children’s reaction when I first introduce the book. They don’t seem too interested, and then after the first two chapters, the students don’t want me to stop reading. This book offers a great opportunity to write family stories, memories, and it also lends itself to a wonderful discussion about how lucky we are in to live in America.

Audience

- Intermediate grades

 

 

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Personal reading selection:

Now that it is the weekend, I can find some time to read for relaxation and a bit of escape. As I've previously blogged, my favorite current author is Adriana Trigiani. Her style of writing simply takes me away as I fall deeper into her beautifully woven stories. Currently, I am reading Ms. Trigiani's latest book, The Shoemaker's Wife. I had to force myself to put the book down long enough to share my thoughts on my blog. When I began to read this book, I soon realized I could not wait until I finished to share my thoughts.

From the opening paragraph, "The scalloped hem of Caterina Lazzari’s blue velvet coat grazed the fresh-fallen snow, leaving a pale pink path on the bricks as she walked across the empty piazza. The only sound was the soft, rhythmic sweep of her footsteps, like hands dusting flour across an old wooden cutting board." (Trigiani, Adriana (2012-04-03). The Shoemaker's Wife (p. 3). Harper Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.), my mind's eye immediately painted the description, and I was once again captivated by the richness of this author's written words. The similes and metaphor's used in the magic of Ms. Trigiani's writing continue as more characters are introduced. Ciro and Eduardo Lazzari are brothers and the sons of Caterina. Their story unfolds as the brothers soon find themselves left to live in a convent with nuns, the sister's of San Nicola. Ciro quickly becomes the main character, and the nun's add warmth to the novel as they gently scaffold the direction that the story soon takes. The Italian Alps set the stage for another enchanting novel.

I soon realized that, as is the magic of Ms. Trigiani, the story follows two families, the Lazzaro brothers, and the Ravenelli family. Marco Ravenelli enters the story simply as the cart driver who takes the grieving mother, Caterina, and her boys to the convent. After leaving her boys with the sisters of San Nicola, Marco carts Caterina away. The foreshadowing becomes apparent later in the novel as I went back to read the following description:

 "As she rode off, he saw the frame of her collar and the back of her neck, straight as the stem of a rose. Soon she became a blue blur in the distance as the cart turned toward the entrance road to the Passo Presolana." (Trigiani, Adriana (2012-04-03). The Shoemaker's Wife (p. 19). Harper Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.)

The scene describes Ciro watching as his mother continues on and leaves her sons.  As the story of the Ravenelli family unfolds, Enza, Marco's daughter, soon becomes an important character in the story as she and Ciro's paths cross. Family love and loss become the threads that weave their stories together.

A turning point in the story revolves around the priest, Don Raphael Gregorio and Ciro. As I read,  my thoughts went back to another book from many years ago, The Thornbirds a 1977 best-selling novel by Colleen McCullough, an Australian author. I don't want to go into too much detail about what occurs as I don't want to give away what I feel is a major turning point in the story. However, I would love to read what others are thinking as they enjoy this novel.

This leaves me to where I put the book down long enough to blog some of my thoughts. I am ready to begin part II of the novel. I will blog more as I get deeper into the story. I hope others that are reading this novel will leave comments and share their thoughts as they go on this magical reading journey. If you've not yet experienced the richness of Adirana Trigiani's writing, I highly recommend this book. If you are looking for a wonderful holiday gift for a reader on your list, this novel would be that gift! Here is the link for the author's official website:   http://www.adrianatrigiani.com/


Happy reading and I look forward to reading your comments!

What  book are you currently reading?