Life of Pi written by Yann Martel.
Wow! I just finished reading this book and it is amazing. I loved it! It's smart, profound, witty, surprising. It's the kind of book you think about long after you've set it down. It's the kind of book that makes you want to re-read it immediately. It's the kind of book that turns your reading experience upside down. It's the kind of book that is open to many interpretations. It's the kind of book that makes you grateful for life & what you may have in life. It's the kind of book that makes you question everything.
Yes.........it's that good.
Please don't read anything about this book, if you are unfamiliar with it. I will try to reveal nothing in my write up. I think this one is best approached as a clean slate. Allow yourself to be placed on the journey by the author. The character's surprises will be your surprises. His grief, hardships, joy and experiences will be yours, too.
I will tell you as much as is written on the back cover. Pi Patel is a 16 year old boy who is the only survivor of a cargo ship sinking in the Pacific Ocean. He is on a lifeboat with a 450 pound Bengal tiger (his family owned a zoo in Ponticherry, India and were in the process of moving to Canada when the ship sank). That's all the information about the story I will give!
But I will tell you that Pi is an incredible narrator. He is genuine, warm and truthful. He is humble. His ordeal at sea is an engrossing read and you will feel that you are right there with him. I read my book on CD and the reader is also excellent. When Pi says he can't go on talking about another character, it's too hard for him, the narrator on the CD audibly tears up. I'm sure reading the paper version of the book is very satisfying, but I believe that listening to it on CD really enhanced the overall experience for me. Pi is right there in the room with you - I had to set my knitting down on several occasions to give him my full attention.
One thing I would like to mention is that there are a couple of disturbing scenes. So if you've got little ones, don't listen to the book on CD around them! As I knew nothing about the book going in, I was caught off guard by these scenes, but they are integral to the story.
What I've written here really doesn't do the novel justice. In fact, I've painted a picture of doom and gloom. But it's really the opposite - Pi is such a personable character who has a wonderful way of looking and things and describing things, you can't help but connect with him. To paraphrase one scene, he describes the sharks that regularly visit his raft as curmudgeonly old friends who wouldn't admit they liked him even though they always came around to visit. It's a real testament to Yann Martel's talent as a writer that I love Pi so much - he is truly alive, as if he's really the one telling the story. Martel is out of the scene all together.
There is one more thing I want to add & I hesitate to do so because it is really my only critique of the novel: it starts out slow. I have had my copy of the book from the library for 2 or 3 months now because I just couldn't get into the story. Give it time & stick with it. The beginning chapters are quite mundane (even though we are getting to know Pi and his life and views) but perhaps that's the point: just when things seem pretty boring in life, a tragic event can happen to turn our world upside down. And what we wouldn't give to be back in our normal houses and our normal lives, when we are lost at sea.
Cheryl
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Earth Hour
This evening, the Bachsters and I participated in Earth Hour, where you turn off all your lights for one hour to "take a stand against global climate change." We actually did it a couple of years back too & when I logged on to our computer this morning and saw that the annual event was tonight, well, we just had to participate!
We did ours a little early since I didn't want to put the kids to bed by candlelight. We lit tons of candles (with our creme brulee torch!) and sat by the candles & played & talked. It was really fun!
We also had fun-with-low-light-photography.....I told the Bachsters to move around & I would try to take a "ghost" shot. This picture was the girls' favorite - they couldn't stop laughing when they saw it. Rainbow Heads is what they called it - quite descriptive!
It's really amazing how one room lit only by candlelight brings everyone together in a dark house. And once everything is turned off (TVs, computers, phones...) we come together as a family & just enjoy each other's company. Along with the environmental aspects of it, Earth Hour should be an every day occurrence just for the fact that it makes for good family fun!
Cheryl
We did ours a little early since I didn't want to put the kids to bed by candlelight. We lit tons of candles (with our creme brulee torch!) and sat by the candles & played & talked. It was really fun!
We also had fun-with-low-light-photography.....I told the Bachsters to move around & I would try to take a "ghost" shot. This picture was the girls' favorite - they couldn't stop laughing when they saw it. Rainbow Heads is what they called it - quite descriptive!
It's really amazing how one room lit only by candlelight brings everyone together in a dark house. And once everything is turned off (TVs, computers, phones...) we come together as a family & just enjoy each other's company. Along with the environmental aspects of it, Earth Hour should be an every day occurrence just for the fact that it makes for good family fun!
Cheryl
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Search for salamanders
Last weekend, I went to a program at Stratford Ecological Center on vernal pools. Vernal pools are ponds that form in late Winter/early Spring from all the rainwater, snow melt & groundwater there is this time of year. They hold a wide variety of life & are very important habitats of amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. Since there are no fish, these creatures do quite well in the vernal pools. The program was organized by the Ohio Environmental Council, a really great organization that advocates for Ohio's environment. Thank you, OEC!
I went to this program hoping to learn more about salamanders. I really don't know much about them & I have never seen one in the wild. They are very shy, elusive critters that are nocturnal. Many types of salamanders only come out of their burrowing location in the Spring to mate. The night before the program was a big "migration" night for the salamanders. Traps were set that night & so we had a big bucket full of salamanders to greet us as we entered the meeting room:
It's hard to tell how many there were in the container, 40 or so maybe? They were constantly moving around & trying to climb up the sides, crawling all over each other. These are the spotted salamander, one of two types found at Stratford (the other being the small-mouthed salamander).
We learned all about the amphibians, invertebrates & plants that call vernal pools their home. The highlight of the day was a trip out to one of Stratford's vernal pools. Well before the group reached the vernal pool, you could hear the frogs! A loud chorus of spring peepers & wood frogs drowned out all the other sounds of nature. At the pond, sometimes I couldn't hear our guide because the frogs were being so loud! I didn't see any of the frogs, but another group at the vernal pool had more luck:
Look closely, you'll see two of them! It's amazing that something so tiny can make such a big noise (I recall my DH & I saying the same thing about our Bachsters when they were newborns)!
Our guide was able to catch a salamander that was hiding at the bottom of the vernal pool. He put it on a log so that we could all get a better look at it:
Unfortunately, I had the wrong lens for the job. But it was exciting to see a salamander in its natural surroundings. I learned so much about these little creatures & their habitats that day. Thanks OEC & Stratford! If you're ever in the Delaware, Ohio area, check out Stratford - they have lots of neat programs for families. I hope to go back with the Bachsters later this season, or maybe in the summer. Maybe we'll get lucky & even spot a salamander!
Cheryl
I went to this program hoping to learn more about salamanders. I really don't know much about them & I have never seen one in the wild. They are very shy, elusive critters that are nocturnal. Many types of salamanders only come out of their burrowing location in the Spring to mate. The night before the program was a big "migration" night for the salamanders. Traps were set that night & so we had a big bucket full of salamanders to greet us as we entered the meeting room:
It's hard to tell how many there were in the container, 40 or so maybe? They were constantly moving around & trying to climb up the sides, crawling all over each other. These are the spotted salamander, one of two types found at Stratford (the other being the small-mouthed salamander).
We learned all about the amphibians, invertebrates & plants that call vernal pools their home. The highlight of the day was a trip out to one of Stratford's vernal pools. Well before the group reached the vernal pool, you could hear the frogs! A loud chorus of spring peepers & wood frogs drowned out all the other sounds of nature. At the pond, sometimes I couldn't hear our guide because the frogs were being so loud! I didn't see any of the frogs, but another group at the vernal pool had more luck:
Look closely, you'll see two of them! It's amazing that something so tiny can make such a big noise (I recall my DH & I saying the same thing about our Bachsters when they were newborns)!
Our guide was able to catch a salamander that was hiding at the bottom of the vernal pool. He put it on a log so that we could all get a better look at it:
Unfortunately, I had the wrong lens for the job. But it was exciting to see a salamander in its natural surroundings. I learned so much about these little creatures & their habitats that day. Thanks OEC & Stratford! If you're ever in the Delaware, Ohio area, check out Stratford - they have lots of neat programs for families. I hope to go back with the Bachsters later this season, or maybe in the summer. Maybe we'll get lucky & even spot a salamander!
Cheryl
Monday, March 21, 2011
Book Nook - A Knitter's Home Companion
A Knitter's Home Companion: A Heartwarming Collection of Stories, Patterns and Recipes by Michelle Edwards is a little gem of a book. Each chapter (Motherhood, Home, Community, Legacy) has personal stories from the author that are knitting related. In Motherhood, one of the stories is how she purchased yarn on her honeymoon and saved it for just the right project, a baby blanket for her first child. In Home, one of the chapters deals with her and her husband's favorite chairs and how his needed mending. In Community, she tells the story of her challenge to figure out how a slipper from India was knit and how her knitting group helped. In Legacy, she tells us a story of how she purchased knit items from a vintage shop and the connection she felt with the original knitter. These are but a handful of the stories in the book, and each one of them is a sweet tale that lets us get to know the author a bit more, as well as giving us some insights into why we knit and how knitting affects those around us.
Interspersed among the stories are quotes (love that), recipes and knitting patterns. Sometimes, the recipes and patterns directly relate to one of the stories, sometimes they are just marginally related. But they are all easy to execute projects and recipes with their own little stories behind them. I love the updated ripple afghan & I think the lacy washcloths would make a nice gift. I really liked reading the story about the Indian slippers and then finding the pattern on the next page. Aunt Charlotte's jam sounds really yummy & very easy. The spinach & sun-dried tomato quiche sounds awesome.
There are also book recommendations that the author gives, as well as her own little illustrations here & there. Being a real book lover myself, I loved reading her recommendations & there are one or two that I might seek out next time I'm at the library. (Hint, hint, Book Nook readers.....I love book recommendations. Bring 'em on.....please!)
Gosh, have I missed anything? There's really a lot in this little book! Stories, illustrations, recipes, patterns, book recommendations, quotes - all in the celebration of knitting. Really, what's not to love?
Cheryl
Interspersed among the stories are quotes (love that), recipes and knitting patterns. Sometimes, the recipes and patterns directly relate to one of the stories, sometimes they are just marginally related. But they are all easy to execute projects and recipes with their own little stories behind them. I love the updated ripple afghan & I think the lacy washcloths would make a nice gift. I really liked reading the story about the Indian slippers and then finding the pattern on the next page. Aunt Charlotte's jam sounds really yummy & very easy. The spinach & sun-dried tomato quiche sounds awesome.
There are also book recommendations that the author gives, as well as her own little illustrations here & there. Being a real book lover myself, I loved reading her recommendations & there are one or two that I might seek out next time I'm at the library. (Hint, hint, Book Nook readers.....I love book recommendations. Bring 'em on.....please!)
Gosh, have I missed anything? There's really a lot in this little book! Stories, illustrations, recipes, patterns, book recommendations, quotes - all in the celebration of knitting. Really, what's not to love?
Cheryl
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Signs of Spring
And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"
Hope you're having a nice Spring-like day!
Cheryl
Monday, March 14, 2011
Book Nook - Charlotte's Web
Lately, our oldest DD, who is 7, has been complaining about our book selections. She seems to be getting at that stage where she is outgrowing picture books. So I've been getting her lots of beginning chapter books at the library, but I also thought it would be fun to read the Bachsters some lengthier children's novels as well. We started with this week's Book Nook, a children's classic that I remember reading when I was a kid.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is the story of a "Spring" pig named Wilbur who is befriended by a gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur learns from the other animals in the barn that he is going to be killed at Christmastime. Charlotte assures Wilbur that she will come up with a plan to prevent this. What she comes up with is "some" great idea!
I was a little worried to read this book to them because I thought the parts about the potential killing would be upsetting. But none of the Bachsters seemed at all disturbed by it. They really enjoyed the story and having me as their personal audiobook! Every night at bedtime, they would beg me to read just one more chapter, pleeeeeeaaaase! Music to this book-loving-Mama's ears!
Besides Wilbur and Charlotte, there are lots of other interesting characters in the story: Fern, Wilbur's original caretaker; Avery, Fern's overzealous brother; the geese, who repeat their words over and over; and Templeton, the rat who helps out, but only when he benefits as well. The pace of the novel moves along nicely & is just right for young readers/listeners.
When asked what she liked about Charlotte's Web, my 5-year-old responded, "everything." How's that for a recommendation!
Cheryl
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is the story of a "Spring" pig named Wilbur who is befriended by a gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur learns from the other animals in the barn that he is going to be killed at Christmastime. Charlotte assures Wilbur that she will come up with a plan to prevent this. What she comes up with is "some" great idea!
I was a little worried to read this book to them because I thought the parts about the potential killing would be upsetting. But none of the Bachsters seemed at all disturbed by it. They really enjoyed the story and having me as their personal audiobook! Every night at bedtime, they would beg me to read just one more chapter, pleeeeeeaaaase! Music to this book-loving-Mama's ears!
Besides Wilbur and Charlotte, there are lots of other interesting characters in the story: Fern, Wilbur's original caretaker; Avery, Fern's overzealous brother; the geese, who repeat their words over and over; and Templeton, the rat who helps out, but only when he benefits as well. The pace of the novel moves along nicely & is just right for young readers/listeners.
When asked what she liked about Charlotte's Web, my 5-year-old responded, "everything." How's that for a recommendation!
Cheryl
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Another FO!
You might think that I've been really busy knitting myself all sorts of goodies with all these posts about new Finished Objects! The truth is, I'm using very bulky yarn & needles and my scarf (from last week) & my new hat (featured below) just flew off the needles! Seriously, the hat took 2, maybe 3, hours to do! Love that!
Do you like it? It's a free pattern called Really Warm Hat by designer Melissa LaBarre. And it is really warm. I used the same Debbie Bliss Como as my scarf, so they sort of match. Click here for my project notes (ravelry users).
I was thrilled to have yet another snowy day just when I needed it for photoshoot purposes. It was just meant to be, I think!
And since I've been so shy about posting pics of myself, I thought I'd get over that & post one!
I could get used to all this instant-knitting-gratification - I might just start doing all my knitting with bulky yarn & huge needles.
Cheryl
Do you like it? It's a free pattern called Really Warm Hat by designer Melissa LaBarre. And it is really warm. I used the same Debbie Bliss Como as my scarf, so they sort of match. Click here for my project notes (ravelry users).
I was thrilled to have yet another snowy day just when I needed it for photoshoot purposes. It was just meant to be, I think!
And since I've been so shy about posting pics of myself, I thought I'd get over that & post one!
I could get used to all this instant-knitting-gratification - I might just start doing all my knitting with bulky yarn & huge needles.
Cheryl
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