Book Review: Chopsticks

This book stood out to me. I was visiting the library and noticed a book that was rather big on the shelf. This book stood twice the size of any other book sitting on the shelf. It was in the fiction section, so it instantly peaked my interest. 

This is a novel for visual people. A story told me photographs, postcards and IM messaging.

When you first look at the cover, what do you think it's going to be about? Well, for me I thought it was going to be your usual girl meets boy, yada, yada, yada. But Chopsticks is so much more than that. You see, depending on how you interpret the novel, it could actually tell two different stories. It could tell the simple contemporary story of sixteen-year-old Gloria "Glory" Fleming, a piano prodigy, who falls in love with Francisco Mendoza, a boy who becomes her escape from her stressful life. Sounds fluffy, right? Well, it can also tell the deep and dark story of a lonely, broken, child star pushed so hard to perform to perfection that she slowly loses her mind, causing you to question everything you see in the book or thought you saw. Do I have your attention yet?

Chopsticks is simply brilliant. The amount of time and skill it took to arrange the photos to tell this mind-bending story is commendable. The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" definitely fits the bill here because there are hardly any narrative text in the book, yet I felt a very strong connection to the characters. This book really doesn't need the extra words. Instead, the reader must follow the pictures of Francisco's drawings, Glory's concert programs, family photos, letters and images of household belongings. Chopsticks is very intimate in that way because it feels like you've been peeping into someone else's life for eighteen months in only 272 pages. It's the kind of book that you could zip through in thirty minutes, but by the ending it'll make you go back and re-read it more slowly. It's that easy to miss something.

There are a few pages that offers playlists of songs that the teens have arranged for each other. I went as far as playing the songs on their lists to really get into the vibe of this book. 

I went out on a limb with Chopsticks and I'm so happy I did. It took me on what I thought would be a simple fun read to an involved story that I couldn't stop thinking about after I finished. I know I could read again and still have a healthy appreciation for the complexity of the story. So, if you are a visual person like myself and you're looking for something totally different from your usual fair, Chopsticks may be the book you've been looking for.

Readers Are Leaders

There is nothing quite like cloudy November mornings and the library. There is something magical about when your babies start reading, and we are quickly learning that with not only Piper but also Maverick. It’s kind of like when they start walking, but better. they are opened up to a whole new world of imagination & creativity. || 📚

You really can make a huge difference! Parents are the most important educators in a child’s life – even more important than their teachers – and it’s never too early to start reading together.

Remember readers are leaders. 

-Reading aloud to your child, talking about the words and pictures, and sharing ideas about a book.

-Reading to yourself -- children who see adults reading and enjoying it - are more likely to want to read to themselves.

-Surrounding your children with books - you don't need hundreds of books at home, but going to the library, or bookshops regularly to borrow books, buy books, spend time together and make choices together -- helps reading become a habit. 

Simply learn to #SayYes to books. 

#WednesdayWisdom

Sometimes the most important things you do each day are never on your "to do" list.

I have spent the past week engrossed in motherhood. Don't get me wrong, every day of my life is spent being engrossed in motherhood . . . but I am talking about the dirty side of motherhood. The gritty battle against sickness that hits every year when November knocks on our door. We said hello to the stomach virus and marched directly into strep throat without any sort of break. Each kid battling their own symptoms, leaving me there to clean them up and bathe them in tender love and care. 

Somehow we managed to hit a few houses on Halloween night and that was by the grace of God because we have had no breaks for about seven days now. Both of my kids looked like they had lost the war against sickness -- their little eyes showing exhaustion and defeat. 

Motherhood brings as much joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else ever will make you as happy or as sad, as proud or as tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality especially while you struggle to keep your own.

I have always adored this quote. Perhaps it is because when someone else admits that Motherhood is hard, it allows us to both exhale in unison & nod in agreement. Yes, this love is heavy. Weighted in every corner. Certain seasons heavier than others. But all with the divine intention, to keep our hearts anchored first in our homes.

Yesterday we finally caught a break. Gratitude to the wonderful doctor for granting Piper a few days off from school. We spent the entire day unplugged -- or I spent the entire day unplugged. 

It's amazing to see the difference made in spirits when the cellphones stay on the charger. 

We didn't really crash -- it was more or less that we didn't ever move from our positions on the couch. Laying there -- with babies sprang -- cuddling -- watching Disney movie after Disney movie -- I realized how special these moments were. 

I never wish sickness on us -- but I don't mind the quiet moments where we are all together, laughing, and cuddled up. 

"If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is: "thank you", that would suffice."

  -Meister Eckhart

Goodbye October

For so many of us, when we look in the mirror, all we seem to see is tired eyes, age spots, lurking wrinkles, and extra pounds. And yet when we are wrapped up in our child's affection, we cannot help but feel the prettiest. Because their touch is nothing short of pure magic.

So Stop. Put down what you are doing. Pause & Notice. Because sometimes what lies in front of you is the real-life movie to your own everyday miracle.

#MomLife

We spent most of the yesterday at the doctors office. Piper has been sick on and off again for about a week now. Yesterday she found out she had strep throat. And somehow we managed to do a little bit of trick r treating. [We love Halloween just that much}

One kid was sick. The other kid was cranky and tired. Mom was mentally fried for the day. And somehow we managed to enjoy the night.

Happy Halloween Folks! And Goodbye October!