Book Review: The SNow Child by Eowyn Ivey

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very rarely does a book transport me so far say that I forget where I really am. The Snow Child pulls you into an enchanting and icy world filled with hardship, heartbreak and hope.

The characters are so well developed that you feel like you know them. I became so invested with Mabel and Jack and the difficulties they faced.

This book is simply breathtaking and will have you addicted by the second page. I look forward to reading future novels from this debut writer.

In a nutshell:
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.


View all my reviews

Are you an Instagrammer?

I am. Instagram is certainly one of my favourite iPhone apps. I love the filters, the community love and all those wondrous sunset and sunrise pics.

You can follow me: Dianev_r

If you're an Intagrammer let me know as I'd love to take a look at your Grams.

Getting into the Garden

The last few days have been warm, warm enough to wear shorts and tees outdoors and warm enough to start dreaming about the summer veggie garden.

But I know we've still got a few frosty mornings ahead so it is pointless doing too much. I want to spend the next few weeks clearing the veggie patch, prepping the soil and planning the layout.

I've learnt a lot the last two years and here's hoping for our best crop yet.

Celebrating...

...the half-way point to 7!

We love celebrating and we love chocolate cake. We especially love it when our 6,5 year-old makes and decorates the cake!

Future-proof Your Child: Parenting the Wired Generation by Nikki Bush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Future-proof Your Child" is essential reading for today's parents.

Did you know that our children will be still working in the year 2070! Did you know that many of today's professions won't exist then? It's a daunting thought!

As parents there is a lot we can do to equip our children for the journey ahead. "Future-proof Your Child" discusses the skills and talents required for success and gives practical, forward-thinking advice to parents of the wired generation.

Thought-provoking stuff!

Publisher's summary:

'Stop the world, I want to get off!' is the regular refrain of many of today's time-pressured parents. 'Give me an experience and I'll promise you a relationship,' is the mantra of their children. The world has changed. The future has changed. Childhood is changing. Raising children has never been more challenging – or potentially rewarding. It is increasingly obvious that the world into which our young children will enter as adults, somewhere between 2020 and 2030, will be nothing like the world their parents grew up in, or even the world we currently inhabit. We need a better understanding of the world of the future in order to prepare our children and to 'future-proof' them. Future-proof your Child is a very different kind of parenting book. While it contains many useful practical hints and tips, it also focuses on the context for parenting and child development today. It convinces 21st-century parents of the need to change their approach to parenting future generations. This title will help you to create a framework for your parenting experience as you embark on the highly personal adventure of raising children who will thrive in the future. It is relevant, accessible, practical and inspirational. It will take you back in time and forward into the future to help you make the best choices for your children now! Future-proof your Child highlights the critical importance of making choices, having conversations, and consciously connecting with tomorrow’s children today.

View all my reviews

Merry Christmas

A Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I can't believe another year has flown past so fast! It feels just like yesterday that I was posting the children's 2010 Christmas portraits.

The end-of-year-rush was as chaotic as usual. I.must.plan.better.next.year. The family and I are taking it easy today. We did the big feast yesterday so today we're picking on leftovers and staying in our pjs.

Enjoy the love and the tinsel!

Love Di



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Book Review: The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I  L.O.V.E.D this book and so has every one in my book club. Not only is it a book about one of my favourite animals (the ellie) but it is set in a part of the world closest to my heart, the South African bush.

The book is beautiful and heartwarming and leaves you filled with wonder for our natural world. I learned so much about elephants and their intricate communication systems and sixth sense. Add a lesson in conservation and life in the bush and it left me wanting more.

I certainly hope Lawrence Anthony puts pen to paper again, and very very soon.

Summary:

When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of 'rogue' elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in South Africa, his commonsense told him to refuse. But he was the herd's last chance of survival - notorious escape artists, they would all be killed if Lawrence wouldn't take them. He agreed, but before arrangements for the move could be completed the animals broke out again and the matriarch and her baby were shot. The remaining elephants were traumatised, dangerous, and very angry. As soon as they arrived at Thula Thula they started planning their escape...As Lawrence battled to create a bond with the elephants and save them from execution, he came to realise that they had a lot to teach him about life, loyalty and freedom. Set against the background of life on the reserve, with unforgettable characters and exotic wildlife, this is a delightful book that will appeal to animal lovers everywhere.

View all my reviews