Skinnybones, by Barbara Park

This is a book I read "when I was young" and decided to revisit, via a birthday gift certificate to Borders from a friend. I'm interested in collecting and re-reading books that I read when I was younger for my own kids. I'm rather enjoying reviewing and refreshing my own memory. This is one I have fond memories of. It's listed under "Juvenile Fiction" which is very fitting. Written by Barbara Park, I remember laughing outloud at the sense of humor which she gave to the main character, a skinny little kid by the name of Alex Frankovich. He insists to the school bully, T.J. Stoner, that his bones aren't skinny - it's just that Stoner's bones are a little on the chubby side. (This, of course, results in the typical "bully sitting on the head of his victim" routine.) I read this book over and over again when I was about 12 years old.

Twelve years old is probably the best age to appreciate Park's humor. I'm pretty sure it stops fairly soon thereafter. However, I did get a chuckle or two out of it this time as well. At the same time, certain things about the book bothered me that I had never noticed before. For instance, Alex is a smart aleck. I can tolerate that in a character to a degree. I have my limits though and Alex crossed over them. He smarts off to his parents a little more than I would like. True, it's in an easy-going manner which makes it easier to swallow. Regardless, I'm not sure I'd appreciate if my son or daughter were quite as dramatic in their word usage as is Alex Frankovich. I felt like his parents let him get away with things a little too frequently, although they certainly did not ignore his behavior. They just adapted to it in a manner that I wouldn't. This causes me to debate whether or not I would let my own kids read this book. Barring objections from The Husband, I believe I would. Of course, they'd have to recognize the bad behavior which Alex does periodically exhibit.

As to the cuteness of the story - it is that. Cute. It's the story about a geeky kid who plays little league baseball on a team that hasn't won a game all season. He plays right field as a result of his coach's hope that he won't be a necessity to winning the game. Each and every year, at the end of baseball season, he receives the "Most Improved" award. He knows he stinks. He pokes fun of himself, but doesn't quite care when other people do the finger pointing. He's short and small and longs to be big and tall. He dreams big dreams about success and fame. In short (pardon the pun), he's a sensitive kid who covers his emotions with humor and sarcasm.

I can't recommend it, necessary, as a "harmless" story. However, if reading pre-teens are thinking people, I think they could enjoy the humor and dismiss some of the parental interaction and keep a proper perspective. And, quite possibly, achieve a few audible laughs.

Standing on the Promises, by Doug Wilson

This book is one of several family-focused writings by the Wilsons. When I lived in Idaho, I attended Doug Wilson's church and find his writing style to be identical to his speaking style. To read his writings is to hear him talk. You can almost see the twinkle in his eye that he gets when he knows he's said something clever. Several things that he said in this book I heard spoken from the pulpit so in some respects I glazed over portions of this book. Perhaps I've been over-Wilson-ized in some respects. I don't know. But refresher courses never hurt anyone...particularly when they are in a position to begin applying the things that they have previously heard written and spoken. Here's when the rubber hits the road, so to speak.

Wilson writes this book on child rearing and the blessing of obedience on the part of both parent and child as they explore their family "culture." Wilson, per usual, writes unabashedly that Christian parents have a duty and responsibility to 1. discipline their children and 2. to do so in a manner that is scripturally accurate. He says that there is no such thing is a good child. All are born wicked and sinful. It is not as if some parents are given wonderful children who are eternally obedient and enjoyable to be around, and some are given "bad kids." All are bad for all have fallen short of the glory of God. It is how parents respond to the sin that shapes the child's future. (Not getting into any arguments on how parents choose to discipline here...just stating "the facts" of this book.)

Wilson's position (and ours) is that Christian parents give birth to covenant children. No one can guarantee their child's salvation, but no covenant child should be treated as if s/he will not be saved. God's promises are to a thousand generations and He made a covenant with Abraham to "his children and his children's children." Parents who obey their covenant responsibility to discipline their children according to scripture can be comforted that their children will be saved and will experience the joy of eternal salvation. Wilson quotes Isaiah 65:22b-23:

"My elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them."

Neither Jonathan or myself intend to work in vain. I certainly do not intend to labor in vain. I cannot fathom the concept (as I've said before) of giving birth to a child without having some hope that s/he would know the saving grace of God. We agree with Wilson in stating that the young child should be treated like the old Christian and spoken to as if they can comprehend scriptural truths instead of watering it down.

Now, I do not think there are any guarantees. I DO believe parents are given clear direction on how to raise children in scripture. We are to speak with our children about the things of God and make a daily demonstration in our own lives (business practices, the things we say and the words with which we choose to say them, the friends we have, the events we attend, etc.) of what we believe. In effect, the first responsibility we have to our children is to live honestly ourselves.

Another point we agree with Wilson on is that discipline, once it has been delivered effectively, should bring about restitution. It should absolutely not result in the child becoming bitter or angry against you. Discipline should be concise and done with. Then the child or teen should be forgiven and restored to his/her happy position in the family. How that discipline should be meted out in the teenage years likely has to be decided for each individual family, but we do agree in a quick reconciliation between parent and child so that everyone can move forward in unity instead of dragging out a punishment past its prime. If God forgives swiftly, upon confession, then why shouldn't we? The example is glaring. (Again, not here to debate the method of discipline, just saying it should be effective and immediately followed with complete forgiveness and restoring of a relationship.)

Lastly, I shall comment on Wilson's view that children are capable of figuring out what is right and wrong from an early age. Oftentimes we've bumped into parents who have informed us that they "haven't started disciplining yet." This said, of course, when the child is above the age of 1. Amazing sinless children? I hardly think so. If the child is whining, Wilson says, s/he is doing so because s/he knows that it produced a certain effect. I.e., it gets them what they want. If they are cognizant of being able to whine for candy or a toy, they are capable of understanding the word "no" and "stop whining." They already have a working knowledge of cause and effect and therefore are capable of understanding you putting a stop to certain behaviors.

I know that any of my children will be very cute. I know that I will think everything they do is cute. I also know (in the back of my mind) that one day it won't be so cute. And I know that on that future "non-cute" day I'll wish I had been more consistent early on. So here we are! Embarking on the great adventure known as Parenting. We can't say what will happen or exactly what we'll be like as parents. We can't claim we'll discipline effectively, consistently or brilliantly. We can only say that by God's grace we'll carry on and do our best, day by day, hour by hour and, quite likely, minute by minute! But that's our calling. To stay alert. To teach our children the way in which they are to go. To pray for them. To nurture them. To love them.

Of Days Gone By....

Here's an interesting piece of news regarding Margaret Mitchell.

And here's an interesting piece of news regarding Tolkien.

Chick Lit

Here's an interesting article on the growing "Chick Lit" trend.

As for me, myself and I, we don't care much for Chick Lit. I wouldn't touch most of those books with a 10 foot pole. I think they are self absorbing and generally cause females to sigh in discontent more often than be purely entertained. Sure, its easy to relate to (SOME of) the characters but that doesn't necessarily make it healthy reading. It's sort of like the modern romance novel (labeled Christian or otherwise). I have an inner rant growing on the topic of romance novels (forthcoming) which shall burst forth sometime in the near future. Suffice it to say, I care not for books that warble emotions around so much that females can't think straight. We have a hard enough time as it is (ha!) without being manipulated by the love and romance tales of fictional characters.

Anyway, back to the article. I cracked up laughing at the following quote:

"I actually think it's quite a serious movement," Keyes said in a recent phone interview from her home in Dublin, Ireland. "It's articulating the concerns of this unique generation of women. I wasn't getting the answers I needed from magazines, so I started writing about people like me."

Because good heavens. If you can't find help in a magazine . . .(you finish the sentence).

Frasier: The Official Companion Book

This book remains noteless unless you, yourself, like the Frasier television series. We do. A lot. We find great humor in wine and opera jokes. This book was just a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the show. Now I know more than you do about it. Which could have most likely been said before I even read the book! ;)

Read Along With Us

We gals at Bookfest 2006 have recently selected all the books we intend to read together through the end of this year. The list has just been posted here.

Do take a look and, if you feel so inclined, a read with us. We'd love to hear your comments on any given story (after you've read it)!

Also, if anyone is interested in joining us in 2007 for continued reading, please let us know. We're thinking of scaling back and reading 1-2 books together a month instead of the 4 we're set at now.

Thanks! And Happy Reading!