Cliff Notes on Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo*

 My fifteen-year-old is reading The Count of Monte Cristo for English right now. Instead of reading the over one-thousand page novel, I read the Cliff Notes so I could engage in meaningful conversation about the book. The downside to reading Cliff Notes is not experiencing the author's craft, which is an aspect of reading I enjoy immensely. 

These Cliff Notes summarize the characters and their relationship to Edmond Dantes, summarize chunks of chapters at a time and offer comments. Essay question ideas are also included. 

Helpful hint-Characters abound and their connections to each other and Dantes can be confusing. I would recommend a character list or creating a chart how they are connected for quick reference while reading.

Warnings/points to discuss: theme of revenge, manipulation, extramarital affairs, murder, deception

I own these Cliff Notes.

*Highly recommend using this resource when child reading a long novel.

A Dog Named Doug by Karma Wilson illustrated by Matt Myers*

 Doug, the dog, loves to dig. Despite reprimands, he continues to dig. Adventure abounds! The rhyming make this a wonderful read-aloud.

I love the illustrations. My thirteen-year-old read this book and declared the pictures "clever". The layout is unique (& clever! 😉). 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Who Goes There? by Karma Wilson illustrated by Anna Currey*

 Lewis Mouse is prepared for winter and snug in his tree home. Yet something is missing. While the wind blows, he hears stritching, scratching, and tapping. Everytime he ventures out into the cold wind, the noise stops and no one is outside his door. A very sweet ending. 

 I love the allusions to C.S. Lewis. The illustrations are expressive and depict the mood well. The illustrator resides in England. . ..British picture book illustrators are distinct. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Agressively Happy by Joy Marie Clarkson*

 Weekly I listen to Joy Clarkson's mom's podcasts (Sally Clarkson). Reading a book written by her youngest daughter, Joy, brought . . .well, joy! Each chapter title is an imperative ("Befriend Sadness" , "Flounder Well", "Be Like Mr. Collins", "Believe in God" etc). Initially I was bothered that Ms. Clarkson did not acknowledge that God and a relationship with Him through Christ as being the foundation of joy. Without Christ, there is no hope, there is no joy, there is no point. She, however, accumulates with faith in God and the need for a Savior to have eternal joy, true joy. 

One of my favorite aspects of the book is her list of at the end of each chapter which includes books/poems to read, art/movies/TV shows to see, music to listen to, and thoughts to ponder.

 At times I felt like she was writing to a younger audience (and she is a lot younger than me!).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

I.Q. DVD*

 Rated: PG, 1994 Starring Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins, & Walter Matthau

I love this movie! We had not watched this movie since we had children in the home.  

Humor, likable characters, romance. We watched this movie as a family. My husband laughed until he had tears! He enjoys clever humor, which abounds in this movie. Some of the jokes and comments had sexual innuendeos, which went over our sons' heads. We loved Albert Einstein and his three friends the most. Their antics made us laugh!!

Ed Walters, an auto mechanic, falls for Albert Einstein's niece, Catherine Boyd. Two big problems--she is engaged to a British pyschologist, and Catherine, a brilliant mathematican, will not even consider an auto mechanic as a potential husband. Can Albert and his brilliant friends bring Catherine and Ed together?

*Highly recommend (for junior high and older)

Warning: sexual innuendos, some kissing

-We own this DVD.

Top Gun DVD

 Rated: PG (1980's PG- I find that PG movies from this time period have more inappropriate scenes/words in them than PG movies produced now!)

Before we watch the latest Top Gun movie, I thought we should watch the 1986 version, starring Tom Cruise & Kelly McGillis. Thankfully my husband had watched it recently and knew when to fast forward through some parts. We enjoyed it and marveled at the fighter pilots bravery.

Warning: A bedroom scene and some sexual talk

Not recommended for children.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Boy, the Bird & the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods

 Both Alberto, the town Allora's coffin maker, and Tito, a mysterious boy, have experienced loss. Together they learn to embrace life and the promising future.

Interesting characters and alluring setting. A nice mix of realism and fantasy. Tito runs from an abusive father. The author covers the horrors of it with lyrical writing, no details, and almost magical setting. Would kids who have experienced abuse be offended by this way of presenting it? The book mostly focuses on hope and that a good life can exist even though one has suffered.

-Borrowed from the library.