Everything on a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle, by Polly Horvath

A Newberry Honor Book, Everything on a Waffle has some interesting characters and moments that will keep you reading as you learn about human nature and believing in something so deep even without reason.

The title of the first chapter, as well as other chapter titles, is not very cryptic as to the contents of this story and how it starts. During a large storm in Coal Harbour, British Columbia, Primrose Squarp’s parents are lost at sea. The whole town pitches in to take care of her until her roaming Uncle Jack finally settles down to take in his estranged niece and at the same time try and turn Coal Harbour into a tourist hotspot. The school guidance counselor, Miss Honeycut, becomes worried when Primrose refuses to acknowledge that her parents are dead. She is convinced beyond a doubt that her parents are still alive somewhere and trying to get to her. Everyone looks down on her for this, especially Miss Honeycut, whose main concern is actually getting closer to Uncle Jack. Miss Honeycut tries to separate the pair and succeeds after Primrose loses a toe and part of her finger in two separate incidents. (I did not spoil the plot; just read the Table of Contents.) Primrose finds a friend in the cook Miss Bowzer at the local Coal Harbour restaurant, The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything you order is also served on a waffle. Even though there are consequences for refusing to believe what everyone tells her and having faith that her parents are alive, Primrose remains true to herself throughout.

Although I understand where the title of this novel comes from, I am a little confused as to why it was chosen for that purpose. I’ll admit that the title was something that drew me to read the book, as well as the cover illustration by Gina Freschet, but I believe it to be something cute without having really anything to do with the plot. However, much of the novel is food driven, adding a hint of originality and creativity on the part of the author. Each chapter ends with a recipe, collected by Primrose and put into a recipe notebook originally started by her mother before she disappeared. These recipes are from food Primrose has come across personally as well as from funny anecdotes, such as the neighbor who was so obsessed with boiling the perfect potatoes that she didn’t have time to look after her children. This creative feature is just one of the reasons this book was enjoyable. Each different character was truly unique and had something special to teach Primrose about people and what they do in certain situations in which they find themselves.

I would recommend this book to its intended younger audience, but would also recommend this novel to readers that love interesting characters to study or to any reader obsessed and driven by food. Some interesting arguments can be made about the people and events in this book, but I will leave it up to you to form them yourself.

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”
- Victor Hugo

The Funny Thing Is...

The Funny Thing Is…, by Ellen DeGeneres

I sat debating if not the greatest question ever asked, then certainly one what would cause the entire world to scratch its head. Do audio books count as books in respect to book reviews? Then I thought to myself, “Hey, this is my blog. I do what I want. You can't control me.” And with a sense of teenage rebellion, I stormed off and slammed my door behind me to write this review of Ellen DeGeneres’s audio book that I bought on iTunes.

I love this audio book. Each chapter is like a mini-stand-up routine that kept me laughing out loud the entire time. I had my headphones in during a car ride and my entire family was getting upset with my giggling. I think they were just jealous that they were not in on the joke. And since this audio book was read by the author, it’s like Ellen became my best friend and she just loves to tell me stories. “The Brunch Bunch” is a great opener when regulars Paula Abdul, Diane Sawyer, Gloria Steinem, Donatella Versace, Ed Begley Jr., and Eminem come over to Ellen’s for Sunday brunch, but some have to go to the kid’s table when Diane shows up with Siegfried or Roy, Ed brings Tara Lipinski, and Paula brings her drycleaner. One chapter has Ellen convincing you “why prison wouldn’t be so bad” while another gives tips on getting out of embarrassing situations (such as accidentally flicking off John Travolta). In this book Ellen meets God, talks to a butterfly about the meaning of life, and even tells you how to save money by turning old fruit into blush and lip gloss (beware of bees). She is simply hilarious.

Each chapter is simply a gem. And having Ellen talk directly to you is simply one of the best experiences. She is seriously one of the funniest people, and as it turns out, not a bad writer at all. Her insights are unique and there is a natural flow to her ideas that seems like a normal conversation of the most random topics possible.

I recommend this book and audio book to everyone. Unless you are the type of person who hates having a good time, cringes at the sound of laughter, and loathes anything to do with creating positive energy, then do not read this book. If you are a fun-loving human, go get this book or even better: the audio book.

“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries.”
- Descartes

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney

A #1 New York Times Bestseller, I had to find out what this book was all about it. I had heard good things about it, but mainly all from the younger audience, and for good reason. Recently, I have been reviewing young adult novels that could be also enjoyed by someone older and/or has a more sophisticated taste for literature. This is not one of those books; kiddies, you can keep this one to yourselves. It is perfect for younger readers, but adults should be weary to expect too much. And since I assume no younger readers are checking out this book review blog, I can focus this review to you more "refined" readers.

Greg Heffley keeps a journal because it will make things easier for him when he is rich and famous. Instead of answering questions about his past from numerous reporters, all he will have to do is show them his journal and be on his way. Right from the start, Greg has dreams of becoming well known and popular. This may seem like a stretch since Greg figures himself to be 52nd or 53rd most popular and his best friend Rowley is “probably hovering right around the 150 mark.” Greg uses his diary to describe life in middle school, even though he has said, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear diary’ that.” Lucky for us, without Greg’s entries we wouldn’t know what was going on with his plans. From Halloween pranks to the school play to wrestling to safety patrol to the newspaper comic strip, Greg is constantly trying to put himself out there and move up in the rankings. However, when Rowley gets the job as the newspaper cartoonist and starts to become more popular, Greg is jealous and things fall apart. By the end of the novel, Greg must find a way to fix the friendship strained by the social pressures of middle school.

Described as “a novel in cartoons,” I would classify Jeff Kinney’s work as a very wordy graphic novel for children. Greg’s words are only made more entertaining by the number of cartoons and doodles he adds to his daily entries. Since this novel is taking place over an entire school year, there are several different short storylines going on, all of which are mildly entertaining, but only few work to weave together an actual novel. It seems more like a collection of short stories instead. The novel starts with a plan to become popular this school year, but this plot line does not resurface until towards the very end of the novel. It’s like Greg went through his school year and then finally remembered his plan when there was only a month left of school. Again, these shorter segments are mildly entertaining (with much credit due to the cartoons), but that is not enough to save the novel as a whole. It did not flow well enough to be given the title of a novel. I would rather have read Greg’s tales as individual stories than try to weave them together on my own. Jeff Kinney’s novel is very successful, but I believe it is because it is perfect for younger readers who need shorter segments in order to remember and comprehend what is going on.

My previous young adult novels, I believe, can be read by any age, but Diary of a Wimpy Kid may only be enjoyable by younger readers for its formatting and type of humor. I can see how they would enjoy this book, and I totally understand why it would become a bestseller, but I would never tell another adult to read this book without the purpose of being able to relate better to the younger generation. Some parts were interesting, but in all, this is overwhelmingly a novel for young readers only. With the content and its use of cartoons, this would be the perfect book for a younger reader unexcited by books and reading to slowly adjust to love them.

(Brief Summary: Kids- enjoy it! Adults- give it a try, but beware.)

“The greatest gift is a passion for reading.”
- Elizabeth Hardwick

The Cay

The Cay, by Theodore Taylor

Seeing how many issues and conflicts can be brought up in such a short number of pages, I understand why so many middle school teachers love this young adult novel. From war to racism to learning how to care for yourself, this book has it all.

Phillip Enright is a normal boy except for the fact that his father got transferred to Willemstad, which is on the island of Curacao off the coast of Venezuela. He adjusted fine, learning Dutch to go to the regular school with other students his age. It is not until World War II is brought to their shores in the form of German submarines that his mother becomes more intent on returning to the United States. While leaving his father behind, Phillip and his mother board the Hato to return to the States. The trip is interrupted, however, when the ship gets attacked and Phillip wakes up in a raft out at sea with a seventy-year-old black man named Timothy, a stray cat and a large bump on his head. Thanks to his mother’s influence, Phillip was brought up not to trust black people, but this is something he must get over when his recent head injury causes him to go blind. Unable to see, Phillip must depend on a man he was brought up to hate in order to survive. Finally reaching an island in the middle of nowhere, Phillip must learn how to co-exist with Timothy who is totally different from him, learn how to do things by himself while blind, as well as try to get rescued and survive a hurricane.

Taylor is able to weave a compact novel that seems adventurous without being overly so. The plot keeps readers engaged as well as asks them to think about social issues. His use of dialogue can be distracting with Timothy’s Caribbean vernacular, but I never got lost in what the character was saying. Phillip was able to show true growth through Taylor’s work and after reading this, I feel like maybe I could survive on an island, too.

This was a quick read, but a good read. It may not be for anyone who does not like LOST, Gillian’s Island, Cast Away or Survivor, but it could be great for those thrill seekers who want more than just action sequences. With this book, they will get that.

“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.”
- Joseph Brodsky