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Sloucheroo

"Slouching Toward Adulthood" is a book that tells the story of what the children of helicopter parents are becoming/will become. Sally Koslow extensively interviewed families and recounts their stories of drifting young adults who often end up returning home after university.

Part of the "damage" helicopters parents create is the "I'm Special" generation. " Every decision parents make on their kids' behalf becomes a tiny Lego block whose ultimate destination is creating a monument of self-esteem with a big brain, sports mastery and suberb social skills. The destiny of each child, parents have grown to believe, is to realize and maximize their own brand of dinstinction" (p. 32). Koslow quotes a Harvard lecturer " We have a discomfort with discomfort. By the time they are teenagers, kids have no experience with hardship. Civilization is about adapting to less than perfect situations, yet parents often often have this instantaneous reaction to unpleasantness which is " I can fix this" (p. 32). I totally relate to this and am aware of letting my own children experience discomfort, After a recent birthday party, one of my kids got quite upset when their balloon popped. Part of me wanted to rush out to the store and replace the balloon but I realized the value in learning the lesson that balloons pop, and managing feelings of disappointment. Cha ching!

More gold... " It is up to us as parents to let our adult children determine their fates. This means being the gemeration that acts more like tough but tenderhesrted athletic coaches than fairy godparents with limitless credit cards and an indefatigable ability to solve problems" "If you want to raise children to be problem solvers and decision makers, you allow them to make reasonable choices and expect them to be responsible for their outcome. If you step back, they'll be able to step forward." (P254.)

Apocalypse Now

I am a huge fan of zombie movies, so it is about time I read a zombie book! After waiting for months on the library's wait list, I finally got my hands on "World War Z". I was lucky enough to get the large print text edition which made it faster to read! I couldn't put this one down, and finished it in two days. I was bracing myself for vivid zombie dreams but they have not happened...yet.

I was first turned on to this book after seeing the trailer for the upcoming movie of the same name due out in June. The story is written in interview format, years after the "Great Panic" when a zombie uprising affected the entire world. Fascinating recounts from all over the globe are included, from Canada's arctic to life aboard a Chinese submarine ( zombies in this war can survive under water).

I am next going to read this book's prequel, "Zombie Survival Guide". A great read! Enjoy it zombie fans!

Keepin it real

I first saw "On the Outside Looking Indian" at Chapters last summer. It struck my eye and I jotted down the title to read at a later date. I am glad that I finally got around to reading it!

This witty book is a memoir in which the author recounts her childhood growing up in Ontario in a fairly strict Indian family. She felt like she missed out on many "typical" childhood experiences, and so she sets out to fulfill those missed out opportunities in adulthood. My favourite part of the book was the numerous mentions of eighties pop culture, from food to tv shows. Each Chapter is named after an 80s sitcom! You will enjoy the author's sense of humour as you read about her learning to swim, visiting Disneyland and attending her first summer camp. Happy Reading!

Pack it up pack it in...

Well, I found a readable book after quite a break from this blog! In the past few weeks I have opened and closed several books without being able to finish them. I also lost much time to random ipad cruising, but I am back!

I just finished " Gone Girl" and my head is spinning. A whodonnit page turner, this book literally left me in shock! Crazy crazy crazy is all I can say. This book reads easily and turns out to be a thriller genre, although I did not realize that going in, You will not easily forget the characters in this bookl Reserve it at the library now!!

Kitchen House

"The Kitchen House" is set on a southern plantation in the time of slavery. It is told from the point of view of Lavinia who is an Irish child taken as a sort of slave, and Belle the kitchen house slave to whom she is assigned. The story takes place over many years and recounts the terrible practice of slavery and gives insight into how a plantation was run and the roles of the master, overseer etc. The characters are fascinating and as a reader, I really wanted to know what would happen to them. In the book notes at the end of my copy, the author indicated that she may write a sequel...I sure hope she does.