Book Review - Ballet Shoes

Have you ever had to do something that you had no interest in doing? That is exactly how Petrova Fossil feels when she is enrolled in the Academy.

In Noel Streatfeild's novel Ballet Shoes, the three orphan girls, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy Fossil vow to "try and put our names in history books because it's our very own and nobody can say it's because of our grandfathers." Right away Pauline and Posy point their toes and lift their heads. They are the talk of the Academy and soon to be the town.

Although all three attend the Academy of Dancing, Petrova has her head in the clouds with her dream of flying an airplane.

The busy nanny has her hands full with this talented trio.

Book Review - Anthem

Anthem is an inspiring story of being yourself. An individual. Equality 7-2521 realized he was different. He wanted to be himself. He knew he did not have a debt to pay for his brothers. When Equality ran away and his love followed him, he found a secret place where he would unravel time's history and dream a dream for himself and the rest of humanity...

Ayn Rand is an inspirational writer. Her tale of the future is sure to put goosebumps on your arms.

Perfection.

Wars? Wars.

Do you agree we can fight violence with..violence? In the prime utopia of this earth, all wars would end. All fighting would cease. No more killing. No more murders of the innocent. Money would be saved. No more spending valuable dollars on weapons and soldiers' paychecks.

Starving? Starving.

No more hungry children thrashing through trash cans in an attempt to search for food. No more helpless babies being left to die in alleys because the single mother could not afford the food. Many countries have so much food to give, yet don't. If the surpluses could be distributed to third world countries, the swollen bellies of starving children would at last be satisfied.

Education.

As President Barack Obama stated: "...[we will] nourish starved bodies and feed the hungry minds." Many nations take a high education for granted, but so many people have the privelege to...learn. In a perfect world, education would be a top priority because so many are willing yet unable to learn.

Utopia? Yes.

Book Review - The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd's novel The Secret Life of Bees brought me to tears the first time I read it. A beaten, broken-hearted child, Lily Owens knows there is a better life with answers out there somewhere in South Carolina. Based in the time of Negroe racism, Lily has to save the life of her "stand-in mother" Rosaleen when she spits on the shoes of three white men. Running away to a place scribbled on the back of a picture was the only way to escape for Lily. Her alcoholic father tracks her down, but Lily has finally found a home where she is loved, and refuses to leave. Both Lily and Rosaleen find there is a lot you can learn from bees.

Book Review - Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild by Jack London was an emotionally uplifting story. Being sold into brutal owner's hands, Buck struggles to keep his hope and spirit alive. As one of the biggest dogs in the pack, he quickly rises to power over the weaker animals. Buck's endurance to beat the odds provided an on-the-edge feeling as his story unfolded. When Buck realizes who he is, and what he is meant to be, a wavering relief is felt as he finally feels at home. The Call of the Wild makes dogs even more humanistic than ever before.

Book Review - Antigone

Sophocles' Antigone hit me with the realization, standing up for what is right may not have good consequences. Antigone's character was so magnetic. Her thoughts and feelings drew me into the situation, pulling my own thoughts and beliefs from me. Her uncle, Creon, did not understand her. Antigone's dogmas did not incorporate with Creon's vision of his kingdom. When Antigone refuses to ignore her brother's death and not bury him with the holy sacraments, her death is prominent. Antigone's defensive position was eventually sought out, but it was too late. Sophocle's easy-to-understand writing is straightforward; an entrancing story.

Then You Stand

My uncle is an alcoholic. There. I said it. I have been told all my life, jokingly, "You are just like your uncle!" I was proud at first. He was athletic and a frim believer in God. Truthdaully, I admired him, until he started drinking. I witnessed his harshness with my cousins and aunt. When he got on to McLain, his oldest child, for something she did not do, I jumped to her defense.

"Do not yell at her," I said, calmly.

"Mason," he answered warningly.

"You cannot get on to me," I stated, matter-of-factly.


Right then and there, I realized I am not going to be like my uncle. I am not going to turn out like him. I will never drink, I promised myselp. Not long after that promise, my mom wanted me to taste the tiniest sip of Kahlua, a 'yummy liqueur' as she put it. I knew that sip would not do any real harm, but I stayed true to myself.

"No thank you," I said.

"It's a sip, Mas," Mom answered.

"Mom, you have always said I am just like my uncle. I may be ornery. I may be hard-headed, but I can promise I am NOT going to be a selfish alcoholic."


And that was that. She never said one more word abouth that tiny sip. I knew she was proud that I realized the ugly side of being just alike, and I was standing up against it.