Book Review: The Simple Things

From Goodreads: When Stephen and his parents arrive at Aunty Lola's home, he discovers that his aunt is not only really, really old, but also grumpy and scary. He wants to turn around and go home but his mum says they have to stay until Lola's birthday - three whole weeks away! Will Stephen be able to last that long? Will Aunty Lola?
A book for readers young and old.

Thoughts: This is the second of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Younger Readers books. Like Two Wolves, it's an exploration of family and it's importance, but from a very different situation. Stephen is very unsure of Aunty Lola, but over time a bound develops that is good for both of them.

For me, this book raised a very good question. Is it ok for older people to be rude? There is much talk of a sense of entitlement from the younger generation, but I see it frequently from the older generation as well. They complain (and Aunty Lola does this) of people being rude and having no respect while displaying these traits as well. The book could lend itself to some wonderful discussion around this, plus our need to make sure we continue to include and think about those members of our family who are older as our own lives become crowded and busy.

This is a lovely book, beautifully written with much to offer.

The Simple Things gets 3 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

A Straight Line To My Heart

Title: A Straight Line to My Heart
Author: Bill Condon
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library

From Goodreads: A funny, poignant, realistic story of Tiffany's first love and first job, and the inevitability of change in the first summer out of school School is over, not just for the year, but forever. Tiff and Kayla are free, which is what they've always wanted, but now summer is nearly at an end and that means life decisions. Tiff is hoping her job at the local paper will lead to something more, but "The Shark" soon puts her straight on what it takes to become a hard-nosed reporter like him. At home, Reggie—the only grandad she's ever known—has quit smoking and diagnosed himself as a cactus, and then Kayla hits her with some big news. And into all this stumbles Davey, who plays rugby but quotes Truman Capote, and is the first boy who has ever really wanted to know her. Tiff is smart with words and rarely does tears, but in one short week she discovers that words don't always get you there; they don't let you say all the stuff from deep in your heart.


What I thought: This is the fifth book from the The Children's Book Council of Australia Older Reader's Short list.

This was an enjoyable read, with clear likeable characters. The feeling of a small country town was well captured, but for some reason this book just didn’t grab me. I can’t even really put my finger on why, there’s is nothing I can point at and say that’s the issue. Maybe if I had read it without the banner of CBC, or if it had been among the first I had read from the list I wouldn’t be so non committal about it, but put up against the other four books I have read so far, I don’t see it as a winner or a notable.

Challenges: Aussie Author Challenge