Uglies Review & New Book of the Month

Welcome back to Book Club! I hope you had a chance to read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.

This one didn’t grab me right away, but about 1/4 or 1/3 of the way through it became a page-turner. Not that it wasn’t interesting at the beginning, but it was easy to put down.

This book takes place in a dystopian society where children are called “littlies” and adolescents are “uglies.” When uglies turn 16, they get an operation to turn them into “pretties.”

I get the premise, but what wasn’t immediately apparent was the reasoning behind it.

     “Right, and things were so great back when everyone was ugly. Or did you miss that day in school?”
     “Yeah, yeah, I know,” Shay recited. “Everyone judged everyone else based on their appearance. People who were taller got better jobs, and people even voted for some politicians just because they weren’t quite as ugly as everybody else. Blah, blah, blah.”
      “Yeah, and people killed one another over stuff like having different skin color.” Tally shook her head No matter how many times they repeated it at school, she’d never really quite believed that one. 

This philosophy becomes clearer and clearer as the book goes on, but I wish the author had just come out and said that in the beginning.

I know this is just a book, so I just have to accept the premise to enjoy the story, blah, blah, but I really didn’t think that an entire society undergoing plastic surgery seemed plausible. I mean, the sheer expense of it all seems outrageous. On top of that, mortality rates would skyrocket after full-body cosmetic surgery. I imagine plenty of people would die under the knife.

Again, what the author didn’t mention is that technology and medicine are far enough advanced that they can actually extend life with these operations.

Do you see a pattern here? I wish the author had better explained a lot of elements of the story as they came up.

Moving on, Tally (the main character) has dreamed of becoming a pretty her whole life. Her best friend, Peris, became a pretty 3 months before Tally was scheduled for the operation.

In a stunt to visit her new “pretty” friend, Tally meets Shay. Both of them have been left behind by friends who became pretty or ran away (more on that later). The date of the operation varies based on one’s birthday. It turns out that Tally and Shay have the same birthday, so they will become pretties together.

The two spend time together, pulling some of their best tricks (tricks are usually stunts or pranks that uglies pull). Shay isn’t looking forward to her pretty operation like Tally is, and before they both turn 16, Shay runs away to escape the society of pretties and uglies.

I’ll interject here that I didn’t really know why Shay didn’t want to become a pretty. Mostly because her friends ran away and she met David and kind of fell in love with him, I suppose. But it seems kind of juvenile. Or at least not nearly as compelling a reason as why David’s parents ran away—which begs the question: how did they convince people to run away in the first place?

Back to the story, on the day of her operation, Tally waits for hours. Eventually, she is taken to Special Circumstances—a scary department that most uglies and pretties alike think is just an urban legend. She is scared out of her wits and blackmailed into following Shay so the authorities can find her and the other runaways.

I’ll let you read the rest of the book to learn where the story goes from there.

As far as characters go, I felt like they could have been developed further. Tally’s character sometimes seemed shallow and naïve, but other times she demonstrates deep convictions. I wished I knew more about Peris, since he is Tally’s first best friend. Shay also seemed to lack depth. David was probably the best developed character, I think.

The story ends on an awful cliffhanger. If my copy didn’t have a few pages’ preview of the next book, I might have died.

I hope I like the rest of the series as much as I enjoyed Uglies (despite my critiques), because now I’m in it for the long haul. I can’t not read the other books.

If you're not busy reading Pretties by Scott Westerfeld (the next in the series), might I recommend my pick for November:

The Pioneer Woman
Black Heels to Tractor Wheels—A Love Story
by Ree Drummond

I wanted a change of pace, and I thought this was just the ticket. Instead of another novel, this is a real-life romance! (not much of a change after all...)

After trying The Pioneer Woman's recipe for Baked French Toast, I was hooked. I have been keeping up with the cooking section of her blog ever since. I love PW's wit, spunk, and recipes. It seemed an obvious choice to read her book.

From Amazon: "Wildly popular award-winning blogger, accidental ranch wife, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) tells the true story of her storybook romance that led her from the Los Angeles glitter to a cattle ranch in rural Oklahoma, and into the arms of her real-life Marlboro Man."

This one gets an average rating of 3.78 stars on Goodreads, 4.4 stars on Amazon, and 4 stars at Barnes & Noble. I hope I enjoy it as much! (and you, too)

See me next month for my review!

Costuming

Halloween is right around the corner! If you are doing the last minute scramble, don't fret. As long as you are willing to get creative, a great costume is at your fingertips.

First, consider what you already have. Quite a few of my costumes have been comprised of stuff I found in my apartment.

Example 1: I was a Greek Goddess three years running. (I move a lot: new place/new people...it's like it was a whole new costume.) I found a bed sheet in my room and paired it with a bit of leaf garland that was adorning my apartment.

Rad every time. 

Example 2: Some time ago, I got a hand-me-down green organza skirt. I knew I wanted to wear it in some capacity for Halloween. So I brainstormed. I came up with a few ideas, but I ended up going with Mother Nature. I wore the green floor-length skirt and wrapped myself in some leaf garland (leaf garland sure comes in handy). I topped off my look with green glamour eyes.

Not a flattering pic, but you get the idea.

Second, think about what you can borrow and who you can borrow from. My costume two years ago was made up of clothes I borrowed from someone else. Was it a bit awkward asking a boy if I could wear his pants? Yes. But sooo worth it. Didn't cost me a cent, and it turns out he was more than willing to loan me his clothes.

The result:

What you don't see is our awesome gum-wrapper grills. Can't touch this.

Here is another borrowed costume from years' past:

I know what you are thinking: Best. Costume. Ever.

Borrowing is boss.

Third, take a look at thrift stores. Thrift stores tend to have awesome finds for cheap. Don't be afraid to venture into sections you normally wouldn't. A male friend of mine found a purple blazer in the women's section that perfectly completed his rocker outfit. I also found a great 80s-style dress at a thrift store for the low low price of $8. I might even wear it to one of the Halloween shindigs I attend this year. What an investment.

We. Are. Hot. 

Fourth, make an impact with make-up and accessories. Last year I didn't really dress up, but I had fun make-up-ing. The right make-up can really enhance any look.

Happy Owl-o-ween!

Or sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right accessory. 

Found this lurking in my closet.

Add an eyepatch, and you've got a costume, matey. Honestly, you don't need an elaborate get-up to get your point across. A few key pieces (like a hat and eyepatch), and no one will ask the dreaded question: "What are you supposed to be?" 

If you are still coming up empty, get punny. Clever costumes are memorable. In high school, I dressed as a cereal (serial) killer for the annual Boo Ball. I glued plastic knives to mini boxes of cereal, then attached the boxes to myself. A little corny, but it was definitely unique.

My personal favorite:

The point is to have fun. Don't be too hard on yourself.  If all else fails, I suppose you can go buy a costume. But where's the fun in that?

Free Ebook

I just love the word "free."

I don't know how many of you out there are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka LDS church aka Mormon church), but I thought I'd share this little gem anyway:

Today through Monday (Oct 21) DEAR JEFF by J Washburn is available for free! It's a book about preparing to enter the temple.

If you would like to know more about the temple, this video can shed some light:


Here is the book description directly from Amazon:

You know, Jeff, even baptism can seem weird—someone dunking you while a bunch of people watch. 

That's what happens when you view an ordinance as an isolated act. It can seem weird. And a lot of people feel weirded out by their first temple experience—even people who've taken the official temple prep course. 

That's because people are afraid to talk about the temple because it's sacred. It's good to be cautious—I won't argue that. But sometimes our fear can lead to people being shocked and frustrated by the temple—and that's something that definitely shouldn't happen either.     

The antidote is simply understanding. This book reveals the deeper tradition and the host of symbols, demystifying the temple experience so that you don’t find yourself saying, “What is it you’re not telling me?” Because I don’t want you to feel that, I’ll explain as much as I can, as well as I can. 

I don’t expect this to be the last book on the temple you’ll ever read. Prophets have written on this topic, and if I were trying to rival them, I’d be doomed. Instead, I have—well, not the advantage, but simply—the vantage of being lowly: I’m just your brother. And not having the mantle of apostleship lets me speak less formally—and I won't be afraid to mention Star Wars or Indiana Jones. I’ll also echo what prophets have taught, and I’ll speak candidly—not in a watered-down way, but in a milk-before-meat sort of way, giving you easier access to one of the best things we mortals can have.

I had the opportunity to read this book before it was available for purchase. I've got to say, it is really good. I'm not the only one who thinks so, either. From reviews on Amazon:

"The style is very casual, as if it were a conversation with a younger brother or sister which is why the author wrote it. I have never read a book about the temple that covered every aspect of our Temple ceremonies as this book does. He is never inappropriate and quotes from prophets and scriptures."

"This is the most Candid temple book I have ever read that was still reverent and respectful."

"I wish I'd had it before I went through the temple because it helps you know what to expect and, even more, you could start to see what it all means your first time through. I had so many questions afterwards, which I think I could have understood BEFORE going! I highly recommend this to anyone who'd like to understand the temple better."

"Excellent read for those preparing for the temple or people, like myself, who just want to understand it more! I sure wish I'd had this BEFORE I went, especially the first half. I think the book description is very accurate. It increased my understanding and my desire to seek after righteousness and understand things even more! I love the way it is written, too. It's a letter from a friend or older brother who sincerely wants to help the reader."

For a more comprehensive review, go here.

Really, I can't say enough about how wonderful this book is.

Go download it. You've got nothing to lose.

Download here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DWTY4JO/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Music I'm Listening To

For your listening pleasure:

"Arms" - Christina Perri

This one hits me just right every time.

"I Could've Been Your Girl" - She & Him

Zooey Deschanel gets me. Also, I love those outfits.

"Wide Awake" - Katy Perry
Probably my favorite song from the ever-popular Katy Perry.

"Stereo Hearts" - Gym Class Heros ft. Adam Levine
Turn it up when you feel low.

"Everything Has Changed" - Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran

"'Cause all I know is we said, 'Hello.' And your eyes look like coming home."

"Somebody Loves You" - Betty Who

Somebody loves Betty Who. She's so spunky!

"Wrecking Ball" - Eli Lieb

Song redeemed.

Enjoy!

Cracked Wheat Bread

This recipe is healthy-ish. I say -ish because it uses both cracked wheat (healthy!) and all-purpose flour (not so much). In any case, I really love this recipe. It is one of my favorites for wheat bread. The texture is great (due to the all-purpose flour), and the taste is spot-on. It has a light sweetness and hint of nuttiness from the wheat.

Cracked wheat is whole wheat that has been coarsely ground (similar to the texture of steel-cut oats). It is often cooked and eaten as a hot breakfast cereal (also like steel-cut oats). If you want to health-it-up a notch, you can substitute whole wheat flour for half of the flour amount. Your bread will be a bit denser, though.

Cracked Wheat Bread 
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

3 ½ cups water
1 cup cracked wheat
2 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter
½ cup honey
2 packages yeast
6-8 cups flour, divided
2 eggs

Add cracked wheat to water and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 8 minutes. Add salt, butter, and honey. Cool to 110 degrees.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine yeast and 3 cups of flour. Add cracked wheat mixture and eggs. Using the dough hook, mix for about 5 minutes on low speed. Gradually add more flour to form a dough that clings to the dough hook, but not the sides of the bowl. It can still stick to the bottom, though. Let the mixer knead the dough for a couple of minutes, then remove from the bowl and knead by hand.

Let rise in an oiled bowl covered with plastic wrap. When doubled in size, remove from bowl. Gently form into 2 loaves, and place in greased loaf pans. Let rise again.

Bake at 350º for 35-45 minutes.

Enjoy life by eating a warm slice with butter and jam. Repeat as necessary.

Ender's Game Review & Next Month's Pick

Welcome back, my friends! Book Club convenes once more. First on the agenda, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Here is my take:

At age 6, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin leaves his home and family for Battle School. A space station where he will be trained in military strategy.

It's really hard to remember that Ender starts the book at age six—every time the author mentions it, it seems like a surprise. Six years old, and he can set up security systems, master battle techniques, and outthink his commanding officer. Which he does throughout the entire book, I might add, despite his age at any given point.

Ender advances through the ranks with remarkable speed. He is promoted from his launch group (the other kids his age with whom he traveled to the space station) and assigned to an army when he is still 6. Most kids don't advance until age 8.

The purpose of the different armies is to fight mock battles and, in so doing, learn battle technique and strategy. The armies are all named after animals/bugs, e.g. Condor Army, Salamander Army, Rat Army, Scorpion Army, Centipede Army, and so on.

The first army to which Ender is assigned is Salamander Army. His commanding officer, Bonzo, didn't appreciate having the disadvantage of an unexperienced soldier. Bonzo's disdain for Ender continues throughout the book.

Shortly after Ender had been transferred to Salamander Army: “He could see Bonzo’s anger growing hot. Hot anger was bad. Ender’s anger was cold, and he could use it. Bonzo’s was hot, and so it used him.” Ender's calm thinking and strategy make him the best soldier the Battle School has ever seen.

Later on in the book, when Bonzo and company ganged up on Ender in the shower: “He refused to feel weak because he was wet and cold and unclothed. He stood strongly, facing them, his arms at his sides.” I admire Ender's courage. He refused to feel weak just because he was at a disadvantage.

Ender can be calculating, but he has a conscience. He doesn’t just hurt people because he likes the rush of power. He does what is necessary to keep himself safe. And he always feels bad afterwards because he doesn’t want to hurt others. As evidenced by his thoughts: “Everything they can do to beat me, thought Ender. Everything they can think of, change all the rules, they don’t care, just so they beat me. Well, I’m sick of the game. No game is worth Bonzo’s blood pinking the water on the bathroom floor. Ice me, send me home, I don’t want to play anymore.”

When Ender was given an army himself to command, his soldiers advanced quicker than any others. One such solder, Bean (also very young) became a commander as soon as Ender graduated from Battle School (at the ripe old age of 10). “[Bean] was a soldier, and if anyone had asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he wouldn’t have known what they meant.”

This is one element of the story that I find very sad: the Battle School robbed Ender (and those like him) of his childhood.

I don't want to introduce any spoilers, so I will just say this: I think it’s pretty sleazy the way the military deceived Ender. I understand the rationale, but it’s sleazy just the same.

The ending was just okay to me. I think it was supposed to be peaceful and profound and whatnot. Meh. Didn’t really resonate with me. I thought it was a bit weak. I’m glad Ender found a way to be happy-ish, I suppose. But mostly I thought he deserved more than that after all he went through.

Even so, I enjoyed it overall. Ender's Game is an interesting story that kept my attention.

Ready for next month? My pick for October is

Uglies
by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies was recommended to me by a friend studying children's literature. In just one semester, she had to read 25 books for her major. Uglies was one of the 25, and she said it was worth the read.

Uglies is both sci-fi and dystopian. I liked the last sci-fi book I read (see above), so I'll give the genre another chance. Dystopian novels (think Hunger Games or Divergent) seem to be in vogue now, too, so the time is ripe for reading this book.

According to Wikipedia, a movie adaptation is in the works. I always enjoy reading the books behind books-turned-movies. Uglies is the first in a series, so if I like this one, I'll stay busy reading the rest. Reading one book that leads me to others is always a plus.

From Goodreads: Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the Smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Uglies earns an average rating of 3.88 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 stars on Amazon, and 4.5 stars on Barnes & Noble. Not bad.

See me next month for my review!

YW Value Signs & Class Signs

For those of you who don't know, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes known as the Mormon Church).

In our church, we have a program for Young Women that starts when girls turn 12. Part of this program is an event called New Beginnings that usually takes place at either the beginning of the calendar year or the beginning of the school year. This event is intended to welcome new young women and introduce them to the Young Women's (YW) program.

This year, we had our New Beginnings in September. We decorated our Young Women's room with a colorful banner, and signs about Young Women. I had fun designing signs that represent the Young Women Values (Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice & Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, Virtue) and the YW classes (Beehives, Mia Maids, Laurels).

I would love to share my designs with you! Each sign is designed to fit a standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of paper or cardstock.

For the YW Values, I printed each one, then cut a 1-inch border on each of the sides (leaving me with a 6 1/2 x 9 inch paper). I then mounted each of these on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of colored cardstock. For the value of virtue, I found some really awesome sparkly gold poster board. We covered our bulletin board with it, and we happened to have a piece left over that measured 8 1/2 x 22 inches. I cut it in half, and voila! gold border for my Virtue sign. How serendipitous.

The background pattern extends to the edges of the page, if you would rather not cut and mount them. You could also cut or print these to be 8x10 and display them in picture frames.

Find the YW Value signs here (this is a link to a google doc, which you should be able to download).

I printed the YW class signs on white cardstock. There is no special background for them, and the text extends closer to the edge of the page than the YW Value signs. These also could be printed and displayed in 8x10 inch frames if you so choose.

For the YW Class signs, click here (also a google doc).

Even if you aren't having New Beginnings at this time, I hope these will be helpful to you for YW room decor. Our girls loved the new decorations and asked that we leave them up.