The Vanishers: A Novel by Heidi Julavits

This book is very weird, ferocious, passionate, funny and heart wrenching, all these adjectives and more come to mind while reading "The Vanishers." Heidi Julavits's strange novel manages to be a surrealistic psychic noir mystery, a satire of academia and modern medicine, while simultaneously exploring female relationships -- mother to daughter, teacher to student, friend to friend, enemy to enemy -- with an intensity that humor can only mask for so long. As odd as all this sounds, it is also eminently readable.

As the book opens, the narrator, Julia Severn is a student of the psychic sciences at the Institute of Paranormal Psychology, also known as The Workshop. Her mentor, the powerful Madame Ackermann, hired Julia to transcribe her regression travels, but has been unable to produce results. While Madame Ackermann sleeps Julia has, without her employer's knowledge, tried to cover for her by making up transcripts of their sessions. Madame Ackermann tumbles to the trick and in retribution launches a psychic attack on Julia that ruins her health and forces her to leave the workshop. After retreating to New York and a mindless job, Julia is approached by a pair of researchers who are seeking a once famous artist and offer Julia treatment in return for using her psychic powers to their advantage. Julia hopes the quest will lead her closer to her mother who committed suicide when she was a month old. As expected, nothing turns out to be what Julia expects.

Who is attacking whom? Who is seeking whom? Where is the border between sanity and insanity? The twists and turns of the plot are complicated by characters who refuse to remain anchored in time and space, life or death and will leave you gasping at the imagination that dreamed up this manic chase. Despite the frenetic forward movement of the story, at its heart, "The Vanishers" is a bildungsroman about dealing with grief and loss, especially when the void is created by suicide or disappearance.

If you get to the end and are left with questions, don't worry, that is Julavits' point. Ambiguity is an essential component of the human condition and learning to live means learning to live with seemingly contradictory impulses governing our relationships.

It is a book worth reading and, in my opinion, rereading.

The Value of a Woman

 

When I was born..!!
A Great Woman was there To hold me.. My Mother..!!

When I grew as a child..!!
A Woman was there to Care for Me & play with me.. My Sister.. !!

... When I went to School..!!
A Woman was there To help me learn.. My Teacher.. !!

When I became depressed & whenever I lost..!!
A Woman was there to offer a shoulder.. My Friend.. !!

When I needed company, compatability & love..!!
A great woman was there for Me.. My Wife.. !!

When I became tough..!!
A Woman was there To melt me.. My Daughter.. !!

And.. When I Die..
A Woman is there to absorb me In My Motherland.. !!

If you are a Man Value Every Woman.. !!

And..

If you are a Woman.. Be proud to be the One.. ! :)

POEM

April is the National Month of Poetry. This reminds me of a very beautiful poem which I read years ago, it came in the newspaper and I kept the cutting of this poem in my Precious Gems binder. This poem was written by African Child and was nominated for the best poem of that year. I'm typing this poem as it is and hope u'll like it as much as I did when I read it the first time.

When I born, I black.
When I grow up, I black.
When I go in sun, I black.
When I cold, I black.
When I scared, I black.
When I sick, I black.
And when I die, I still black.
You white folks...
When you born, you pink.
When you grow up, you white.
When you go in sun, you red.
When you cold, you blue.
When you scared, you yellow.
When you sick, you green.
When you bruised, you purple.
And when you die, you gray.
So who YOU callin' C O L O R E D ??

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox (IMM) is weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren It’s a chance for people to tell others about the books they received that week.

Today I received my first book from Ethan, who hosted a Giveaway n I won. THE SNOW CHILD by Eowyn Ivey

Goodreads Review :

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees. This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

I'm most looking forward to read The Snow Child and give my own review. What bookish things have you guys received/bought lately?

FATHER-IN-LAW

I knew what you were going through
But I didn't knew what to say
I knew how you were feeling
But I just knew how to pray
I wish I knew more better way to help you than what I did to
relieve your tremendous pain

I wish I had a magic wand
and take away your pain
There isn't much
that I could do but pray which I did
But all my prayers were unanswered
There again I was left with another WHY? of life

You were the second chance given to me by Almighty,

YOU as a FATHER in my life, but I failed even this time to save you
Oh father-in-law of mine

I've seen the joy on your face
When your grandson took his first walk
Seen the worry and anxiety
When things just aren't going your way
We needed your guidance, skill, and wisdom
A better man will never be found
Your son wishes he were half the man
That you were

I agree, and desperately hope
That my children will be like you, some
I wish that I could give you something
For all that you've given us
Your knowledge, love, and your youngest son

Tears rolls down the cheeks, knowing that your not physically present here,

But as a legacy, your words of wisdom, your smile, your guidance will always remain

Feels happy to know that you are in a much better place and in much safer hands

You will always be missed

May you RIP, Papa  

Tuesdays With Morrie

When I was waiting at the airport lounge for my flights depature from Amsterdam, I dropped into the airport bookstore before boarding the flight. As I looked through the latest bestsellers, a small book with a simple cover caught my attention. Its title read "Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson". The title of the book forced me to purchase that book.

After takeoff, I thought I would browse through the book for a few minutes before taking a much-needed nap. A few minutes slipped into a few hours and by the time we landed, I just finished the last page with tears in my eyes. The book is about a man who, after leaving university and building a career, rediscovers his favorite professor, Morrie, in the final months of the olders man's life. Every Tuesday, the former student then visits the dying teacher to learn another lesson about life from this man who lived so richly and completely.

A real-life account, the lessons Morrie offers during these moving Tuesday sessions include: how to avoid a life of regret, the value of family, the importance of forgivness and the meaning of death, where he makes the powerful remark, "Once you learn how to die, you will learn how to live." This beautiful little book will remind you of the importance of counting your blessing daily and having the wisdom to honor life's simplest pleasures no matter how busy your life becomes. One my legacies I will leave to my two children will be a library of books that have inspired and touched me. And "Tuesdays With Morrie" will be one that will sit out in front.

LIFE BETWEEN PAGES

What would I do without books in my life? This question and the answer to this question gives me goosebumps. Since childhood being the only female child in the family, I had a dream of studying higher and higher, but due to sudden and early demise of my parents I had to discontinue my studies. Everyday trying hard to understand Shakespeare's work, Sanskrit Poems and what not. The most painful moment was when I was watching those book falling from my hand n I knew I will never be able to pick those books again.

Time passed, got married, well settled but still something was missing. I knew what it was. Routine work of every day makes us monotonous. To break it I often look for interesting and exciting things to do. Books were the best way to divert attention side by side with work. There I was again with the books, but not for the same reason.

It is said that an empty mind is devil’s workshop. The moment we sit idle, devil starts instilling evil in our minds. So it is always better to do something constructive in our spare time. Any thing that we do in our spare time is called our hobby. It may or may not help us earn money or reputation. But it does give us pleasure, peace of mind and satisfaction.

But I think that book reading is far better than any other hobbies as it prepares us for life. It covers all the aspects of man’s life and provides both knowledge and pleasure. In this world of strife and struggle where every body is hankering after money, books are selfless friends. They never leave us in the lurch nor do they reap advantages in our distress. They are helpers to the helpless and friends to the friendless. They are the source of wisdom and pleasure. They teach us how to face and overcome difficulties. They advise us to be sober and dignified both in distress both in distress and happiness.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested. I have a small library in my house. I have collected a number of books on different topics.

I go to library every now-n-then, won lots of books giveaways, host Giveaway as well, give reviews. Recently stepped into writing a book. Hoping to go far with that. So, this way I kept myself,  my time, my passion for reading and my love for books alive in me. And will continue to do the same for my two wonderful gifted kids.

 "Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." ~Author Unknown

Monday Morning

For My Friend: Part 4, Day 3

In the morning of Monday,

Greeted by the sunshine so sunny,

A sweet smile curls to brighten up the day,

Fresh as morning glory, smiling sweetly,

Singing like a sun bird, so joyfully,

Wishing a day of no worry!

If I were ....

For My Friend: Part 3, Day 2

If I were the sponge,

I'd soak up your pain,

Squeeze it in the sun,

Let you smile again.

 

If I were the bird,

I'd sing you nice songs,

Which you never heard,

But you'd hum along.

 

If I were the breeze,

I'd gently sooth your soul,

Not a moment amiss,

Make you great and whole.

For My Friend Who Left Me: Part 2, Day 1

How would I know that
today is the last goodbye
between you and I?

Am so grief stricken
upon the sad news of you
leaving

Crystals of my eyes
drop so weakly one by one
wishing you would stay

Alas, I'm human
having not a single strength
to fight against fate

I watch silently
you go,
trying hard, so you could stay

My prayers for you
in my heart, your name engraved
Wish you could come back, my dear

"It gives me so much pain and sadness in writing this Haiku as a dedication to my beloved friend.

For My Friend Who Left Me: Part 1, Day 1

"Lord, give me the courage to change the things that can be changed, the serenity to accept things that cannot be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference."

What's The Best Book You've Read In One Day?

As a reviewer and writer, it's part of perfecting my craft. I once had a book blogger friend ask me how many books I've read in my lifetime. (Hey, I'm not that old!) I couldn't even begin to come up with a number. But I'll make a guesstimate. I usually read 4-5 books a month. For sure. But then it even depends on how fast I finish reading those books. Sometimes I even read 10 books each month.

So last week, when I noticed the #1daybook hashtag on Twitter, I had to find out what all the fuss was about.

Looks like it started over at Reddit when someone posed the question: What's the best/most unusual/longest/most enthralling book you've read in a day?

It got me thinking. What's the best book I've read in a single day? What book has kidnapped me, held me for ransom, and refused to let go until I closed the back cover?

My answer: Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt. She had me on page one, and by the time I finished a few hours later, I was a blabbering book reader, tugged in multiple directions by conflicting emotions. I felt such a connection with Isabelle, the photography, the sense of place.

I think about that book often, pull it from the shelf and reread snippets - a snapshot of descriptions and characters - that beg to be read once again.

It takes a special book - and writer - to create that sense of empathy with readers. And Caroline's words and story formed that bond for me.

What's the best book you've read in a single day?

Mind In The Making

I read a lot of parenting books as well. To gain more knowledge on their development. We all know that when a child is born, a mother is born too. My huge family has always been there for me at any given time, but this is for my own learning. I wanted to do every little thing on my own self. My kids, their days, months, years, their growth, their brain development, and etc. These books have helped me a lot in my kids development. One such book is, "Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinksy."

What life skills do all children need to succeed in life? Ellen Galinksy has spent her life researching and understanding child development.  In this book, she pulls together this research showing why these skills are important and how you can help your children develop these abilities.

The first essential skill discussed is focus and self-control. She explains, “Take the words often used to describe the world: complicated, distracting. Or the words about time: 24x7, rushed, time starved, too much to do and not enough time to do it. To navigate this world, children need to focus, to determine what is important and to pay attention to this, amid many distractions. Focus is one of the essential skills we need to promote in our children.”

The other essential skills are

• Perspective taking
• Communication
• Making connections
• Critical thinking
• Taking on challenges
• Self-directed, engaged learning

She provides plenty of research and ideas for building these skills in children. Her suggestions allow you to have fun with your kids while growing their minds! Every mother should read this book once. Give it a go !!

This Months Reading Challenge

Every month I set this calendar for completing my reading challenges. Whether I review it or not on my blog, it's a different story. I try to read at least four books in a month. One book, each week. An average book I read is may be 250-300 pages. Some are larger and some are smaller. I break this down to 40 pages a day which I read early on so I can get it over with. It’s an easy, manageable goal, which doesn’t seem nearly so daunting as 52 books in a year. This is critical to managing your emotional state, making it feel like it’s totally reasonable. My reading time is set  late nights and morning hours when the kids r at school. I manage to read couple of chapters on the roads when my husband is driving, at doctor's office, or waiting for kids in the parking lot. As soon as I finish reading a book  I update my Goodreads and Shelfari challenges and try to give review on those books.

Reading has made me a much better, more complete, and happier person. All the world’s wisdom is contained in books– most of it is not on the internet or known by people in your social group, so this can really help you expand, if you let it. So start today.

My this months challenges are :

Completed and Reviewed on my blog.

Currently Reading

In a Book Shelf

In a Book Shelf



In a Book Shelf



In a Book Shelf

Will soon get back to you with the reviews on these.

Don't Interrupt !!

Do you ever find your kids interrupting you when you are having a conversation with someone else? Are you tired of telling them that they need to wait? 

I had the same problem. I solved my problem by teaching them  to put their hand on my hand when they wanted my attention and then to wait. 

When they would fall back into trying to verbally interrupt me, I'd remind them “That won’t work.” They soon learned that the only thing that did work was to put their hand on my hand and wait their turn. They were rewarded with my full attention when it was their turn.

This really worked for me. Now they know how to get my attention and m always there 24/7 to give mine, it's just they should learn and understand and put it into practise as to how to get attention without interrupting.

Book Cover

To me there is nuthing better than a cover of the book. One of my second favourite place in the world is Book Store. (Chapters Indigo ). First favourite place is Library. I know , I know, I said this a lot of times but plz stay with me. There is a huge book store very close to my house n library at next intersection. It's in my daily routine to go to these two places thrice a week. Two times library n once Chapters Indigo.

Well, not all can afford to buy all the new books that cums in the market. So I go to Chapters, browse around the whole store looking for the new releases, pen down their titles, read the review at the back, and then order it online from the library and when the item is available m notified. Cool Na !!

Sumtimes I just walk around for hours just looking at the cover of the books. I'm well aware of the saying that, "U can never judge a book by it's cover." but I don't believe it. !!

Without further ado, here is the cover of the book that caught my eye last evening in the store n it's "In Transit" status from the library for me.

Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block.

What this cover say to me:

Based on the cover alone, it looks so creepy!! The fact that the whole cover is in pink with those looks thrown in really makes it stand out. Can't wait to read this one and show it off !!

Review of this book at Amazon: Pink Smog

What cover took your breath away this week ?

Never Mind, I'll Do It !!

As parents we can find ourselves frustrated by the lack of speed our children have in getting tasks done. When we are tired of waiting or really need something done right now, we may find ourselves saying “Never mind, I’ll do it!” It often takes less time and energy to simply do it ourselves. However, when we jump in and do something our children should be doing, we are stealing the opportunity for them to increase their self discipline and sense of responsibility.

What do our children think when they hear us say “Never mind, I’ll do it”? Perhaps thoughts like:

• I can get out of doing work if I simply delay long enough.
• Dad is mad at me but at least I don’t have to do it.
• I’m kind of lazy.

Since there are no positive messages being sent in this situation, it’s something to avoid doing.

One dad described being so frustrated with his 5-year-old’s slowness in getting dressed that he finally took over and dressed his son. In his anger he scolded his son saying he was acting like a baby and shouldn’t need help getting dressed. What thoughts was this boy probably having about himself in this situation? What thoughts was he having about his dad?

Another approach this dad could have taken was to give his son the choice of getting dressed at home or taking his clothes in a bag and getting dressed at school. Allowing our children to accomplish their own tasks in their own way is a gift which will help them grow.

About Me

Today I've plenty of reasons to play a game. This weekend is a long weekend here in Ontario. Tomorrow it's a provincial holiday (Family Day). Tomorrow it's my 12th Wedding Anniversary too. Ofcourse a successful one with two wonderful kids. Can't ask for more. Touchwood. This is a "fun post" . Let's play, share, n tag. Here r the rules:

RULES:


1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 RANDOM THINGS ABT ME:

1. First of all cums my family. I love my family, my husband, my kids, my in-laws. Their happiness means the world to me. They r happy, m happy. They r not m not. I live for them.
2. M addicted to books, libraries. If m lost from my family in the mall, they know where to find me....lol....If m not home, they know where I am.
3. Cooking, cleaning, music n driving a car r my other hobbies.
4. I CANNOT see anybody in pain.
5. I can't live without  tea, coke, coffee. ANYTIME.
6. It's not the clothes, not the hair, not the looks, not the eyes, n definately not the money that matters to me abt others but its the personality that attracts.
7. I don't party, I don't socialize, I don't shop much. But I don't think twice when it cums to kids.
8. My worst nightmare r lizards, cockroach, rats, little inscets crawling on the ground....eeewwww...yuck.
9. I find happiness in little things around me.
10. I love sunrise n sunsets.
11. I love my house. I can't saty out of it for a longer time.

QUESTIONS FROM ME:

1. Your favourite book ?
         Keeps changing. "Love in a Nutshell" cuz m reading this now n its kinda interesting.

2. Which internet site do u waste ur time on? ( Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
         Facebook..lol...games , status updates, ...trying to cut down on this ...

3.  Your Favourite holiday destination?
         Mauritius. I've been there but wanna visit again.

4.  Your Favourite movies?
         All Leonardo DiCaprio Movies.

5. The song on ur mind right now ?
         Cuando Me Enamoro by Enrique and Juan Luis Guerra.

6. What's sumthing u always have in ur fridge?
        Ice-creams

7. U miss being with ?
        My Parents.

8. The one thing u want in ur house?
        Pool Table.

9. Beach or the Mountains?
         Mountains.

10. Ur drink ?
          Coffee.

11. Define urself in one word ?
           Simple.

MY TAGS:

Book BagLady
Tantrums, Troubles, and Treasures
Lets book it
I'm a book shark
Kristina's world of books      
The Thinking Mother  
My life. One story at a time .

Want more TAGS lemme know....
             

Tribute to Whitney Houston

She had an effortless voice I've ever heard. May her soul RIP...:( ...These r some of my personal favourites and wud like to share.

I Will Always Love You

Could I Have This Kiss Forever

Rock With Somebody

I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Winning an Award

I'm Every Woman

And the list is endless......... R.I.P Whitney we're not just letting go of a beautiful woman but a voice that no one can even compare too she was beautiful inside and out no matter what mistakes she made she is a symbol and an icon of a generation of amazing music. Your gone but not soon forgotten. Love.  

Hardcover or Paperback

Actually it doesn't matter. I like both. There are places where u want to carry paperback. Like bus-stops, doctor's office or in the park. There r things I like abt Hardcover books, n things I hate. They're luxurious to hold, with thicker paper and smooth, sometimes deluxe-to-the-touch dust-jackets, but they weigh too much to cart around on the bus, park any where outside the house. There r some books which I really want them in my bookshelf at home in hardcovers. like Steve Jobs, Nora Roberts, Hugo Cabret, Fallen In Love, Peter Robinson, Harry Potter, Taken, Hunger Games, to name a few.

Which one do u prefer? Hardcover or Paperback? And Why ?