Happy Holidays! And may your New Year be filled with books!

 

Book Christmas Trees!

Santa Mouse, a holiday favorite by Michael Brown.

This sweet Christmas picture book is a family favorite. I still own my copy from when I was little! With lovely illustrations and rhymes, this is a charming book to read with little ones during the holidays.

This is the story of a little mouse who has no name and lives a lonely but imagination filled life. One day, on Christmas eve, as he is getting ready for bed, he decides to give Santa a gift. How many people leave presents for Santa? His generous offering leads to a new name and a new life that is not lonely anymore.

Little ones will love this one!

Books. Books. Books.

 

My Sister's Keeper, a haunting novel by Jodi Picoult

This is the incredible story of two sisters, Anna and Kate. 

Kate, the eldest, was born with cancer. Anna was later born with the purpose of being a donor for Kate. 

Kate has been sick her entire life. Anna has given Kate everything she can her whole life, blood, plasma, anything she can. But when she is asked, at age 13, to donate one of her kidney, she hires an attorney and askes to be medically emancipated from her parents, who, while they love her, had had her genetically engineered for the purpose of giving her life as a constant donor for her sister. As much as she loves her sister, she feels like she cannot continue to donate her body at her own detriment for her sister.

As you can imagine, the upcoming trial engulfs the lives of the two sisters, who are very close, as well as her parents and brother.

What would you do to save your child from cancer?

With such an incredible moral and ethical dilemma, this book is amazing, and literally made me cry. 

Books. Books. Books.

 

Books. Books. Books.

 

Olivia, a sweet picture book by Ian Falconer

This is the story of an energetic and precocious little pig, her family, pets, and all of thing that she likes and does well... including wearing out her mother (and herself)!

Through the adorable illustrations, you can follower her to the beach, the museum and live in her shoes (and other fun outfits) through a day in the life of Olivia.

A charming little book for your little one! There are also other Olivia titles that followed. We are big fans of Olivia in my house!

Books. Books. Books.

 

Rebecca a suspenseful novel by Daphne du Maurier

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." The famous first line of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, first published in 1938, and still in print and considered a classic psychological thriller.

Rebecca is the story of a young woman, our heroine (who remains nameless throughout the entire novel), who works as a companion to Mrs. Van Hopper, an overbearing, gossiping wealthy woman who, along with her companion, travels from hotel to hotel to keep herself amused.  

One evening at dinner, Mrs. Van Hopper approaches Maxim de Winter, another guest at the hotel and the wealthy widower and owner of a fabulous estate with an immense home named "Manderley".  After he joins Mrs. Danvers and her companion for dinner, he befriends our heroine and they quickly form a romantic attachment.

She leaves her employment, marries Maxim, and returns with him to live in Manderley.
Manderley is a beautiful mansion surrounded by acres of gardens perched along the sea coast. But as beautiful a home it is, it is a gloomy gothic haunted place, with the ghost of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, seemingly around every corner. 

Our heroine, much younger than her new husband, is at a loss as to how to manage this giant estate, and is incredibly shy, so she leaves the management up to Mrs. Danvers, the somewhat sinister but ultra efficient housekeeper who was absolutely devoted to Rebecca.

Throughout the novel, the secrets of the life and sudden death of Rebecca by drowning and her love of Maxim torments our heroine but after a fabulous gala at Manderley, the truth of her secrets finally come to light and the possibility of descending into the darkness that haunts Manderley escalates.

Read. Read. Read.

 

The Cider House Rules, a remarkable novel by John Irving

This is one of the most incredible novels that I've read. 

Beginning pre world war II and set in an orphanage called St. Cloud in Maine, this is the story of Homer Wells. Homer is a young man who has grown up in this orphanage with Dr. Wilbur Larch, the head of the orphanage, a physician, obstetrician and abortionist. 

With just a few nurses to assist him, Wilbur runs the underfunded orphanage full of unwanted children, and secretly provides abortions to women to stop the flow of unwanted children in the world. Wilbur develops a special bond with Homer, seeing him much as a son, and trains him to be his predecessor. 

One day a young woman, Candy, and her fella, Wally, show up for an abortion and befriend young Homer who admires and longs for their carefree, worldly lifestyle. While Homer loves Wilbur and his fellow orphans, he decides to leave with them to discover the world on his own.

Having nowhere to go, Homer goes to work on Wally's family apple orchard and lives with the other migrant orchard workers in the "Cider House". 

Having become best friends with Wally and developed a crush on Candy, things change dramatically when Wally is called to enlist in the war. When Wally is shot down, Homer and Candy develop a romantic relationship, but when Wally is suddenly returned injured, everything changes again.  Both Candy and Homer care deeply for Wally so they know their relationship must end. 

After his love affair and friendships with Candy, Wally and his fellow workers, Homer has had enough of adventures and eventually returns to St. Cloud's to take his place as the next doctor and caretaker of the the orphanage and the many unwanted children. While he finds abortions distasteful and morally objectionable, he agrees to continue with Wilbur's work, believing that the many women with no where else to turn must receive the safe care that they need without fear in order to avoid so many more orphans and unwanted children in the world.

A remarkable story!