Tuesday's QBR

I've been absent from the blog because I'm holding up the apartment this week. Hubby is out of country for a bit. Also, I've been feeling a bit bored with it, so I'm dreaming about how to change it up and make it more "me".  But, I've read a few books this week, so I want to review them. Some of the reviews are not as quick, just warning you. =)

1. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
I did a full review of this book on the FitG site. If you want to read it, click here.

2.  Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Goodreads Description:
Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly 20 years ago. Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Morrie visited Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live. This is a chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.


My Take: (this is the one that isn't so quick)
I'm not sure how to describe my thoughts on this one. I really liked it. I liked the way it was written, changing from simply memories to present and back to memories. One would think that it would be confusing writing it like that, but instead the time changes added more meaning to it. You end up falling in love Morrie. Not the romantic type love, but a love like a special mentor type person in your life.  
Spoiler Alert:
Loved some of his quotes and thoughts. For example, "We've got a form of brainwashing going on in our country," Morrie sighed. "Do you know how they brainwash people? They repeat something over and over.......More money is good. More property is good.....More is good. More is good....the average person is so fogged up by all this, he has no perspective on what's really important anymore."
This book was written before the recession, and look how true it is. We've gotten so absorbed in MORE that we've gotten ourselves in debt. Okay, I'll stop there, but you get the point.
Another one is this "embrace aging".  Who likes to age? I don't like the thought one bit. But, here we go again...We buy the right lotion, the right exercise machine, the right pills, etc to make us feel/look younger. How about embracing it?  With age comes wisdom, right? Who's with me? Okay, I'll probably sing a different tune when I see more wrinkles and gray hair. =)


3. I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis
Goodreads Description:
Ten-year-old George Calder can't believe his luck -- he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George's life changes forever.


My Take:
George is just so curious about everything. He seems to get into trouble because he is always thinking and wondering.  I love his character and believe that he stays true throughout the entire book. It is a great MG read, especially for young or struggling readers.  I believe that Tarshis presented this tragic accident in a way that kids in the upper elementary can understand and relate to, yet on a level that isn't overly graphic with details.  Perfect introduction to the history of the Titanic.
On a side note, my son has read some of the other books in the series and LOVES them! He can't wait to read this one.