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Housekeeping: Faber Modern Classics
Housekeeping: Faber Modern Classics
Marilynne Robinson | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Haunting imagery, tremendous classic American literature
There was something deeply unsettling yet moving about this book exploring abandonment, solitude and loss over the span of three generations of women in a family.

Ruth, who is our main narrator, is speaking about her childhood in which her sister Lucille and her were continually abandoned by one family or another. Eventually they end up with their deeply eccentric aunt Sylvie, and she seems completely incapable in many ways of being a responsible parent, but rather a sister instead. She leads a transcient life, having deserted her husband, jumping on trains to get from place to place. She's a spirited wanderer, and sees Ruth as an ally and her own sister, Helen, who killed herself at the start of the book.

Their solitary life of never mixing, but staying in the great outdoors both seems idyllic and claustrophobic. There are images of the lake where the children's mother committed suicide, that seem to draw the women to this area. The metaphors are cold and quiet hence it feels unnerving.

It's a classic American tale about real women, which makes this different to the old books talking only about marriage and fidelity.
  
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Glaser is a wonderful book that's positively overflowing with charm. The Vanderbeeker children are hilarious, and I fell instantly in love with each one of them and with the happy chaos of their household of 5 children, one dog, one cat and one bunny.

The five Vanderbeeker children range from age 4-and-three-quarters to twelve; four girls and one boy. They also have a dog, a cat and a rabbit which all adds up to one bustling household. When they find out their lease will not be renewed for the new year, the kids all come up with their own ways to convince their landlord to let them stay.

Each of the kids are endearing in their own way, as are the the various neighbors who are such a big part of life as they know it. The Vanderbeekers face troubles, misunderstandings and heartaches, but in their lives there is also beauty, music, ingenuity, teamwork, and love.

I received this ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and HMH Books for Young Readers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
  
Think Big (The Live Big Series #3)
Think Big (The Live Big Series #3)
Kat Kronenberg | 2020 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love the way the pictures can tell a story. Think Big is adorable. It tells a story of helping each other out and along with believing in yourself. The way this story is told is just unique to anything I have seen in a children's book.

Children will love it. The big words around the page will have little one say them. I loved that it a fun way for some children to repeat them. The animals are relatable. I enjoyed the story. Each animal and living thing has to find their way to see how are the best that they can be.

Kat Kronenberg can does this though the animals need to learn to work together and help to survive. Will they do it. Will their hearts and minds connect and they Think Big to get what they need to grow and be the best they can be?

Parents and Grandparents will love reading this to their children and grandchildren. It makes me want to read and reread the book myself if I had children. It is adorable and cute. I hope to pick up the first to books of this series.