Author Archives: Kara

What I’m Reading: The Color of Our Sky

Posted in Book Review, Books, What I'm Reading by

From the book jacket:

A sweeping, emotional journey of two childhood friends—one struggling to survive the human slave trade and the other on a mission to save her—two girls whose lives converge only to change one fateful night in 1993.

India, 1986: Mukta, a ten-year-old girl from the lower caste Yellamma cult of temple prostitutes has come of age to fulfill her destiny of becoming a temple prostitute. In an attempt to escape this legacy that binds her, Mukta is transported to a foster family in Bombay. There she discovers a friend in the high spirited eight-year-old Tara, the tomboyish daughter of the family, who helps her recover from the wounds of her past. Tara introduces Mukta to a different world—ice cream and sweets, poems and stories, and a friendship the likes of which she has never experienced before. As time goes by, their bond grows to be as strong as that between sisters. In 1993, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara’s room.

Eleven years later, Tara who blames herself for what happened, embarks on an emotional journey to search for the kidnapped Mukta only to uncover long buried secrets in her own family.

Moving from a remote village in India to the bustling metropolis of Bombay, to Los Angeles and back again, amidst the brutal world of human trafficking, this is a heartbreaking and beautiful portrait of an unlikely friendship—a story of love, betrayal, and redemption—which ultimately withstands the true test of time.

My review:

I understand the importance behind the subject matter of this novel, as it deals with real-life issues that are still important today, but the writing itself fell short of my expectations.

It was pretty easy to figure out early on how the story would end, and I think that was the first clue that The Color of Our Sky wouldn’t live up to my expectations. The remaining chapters dragged on for too long and I felt that the only reason why I kept reading was because I thought something “big” was going to happen. Everything was a bit anticlimactic, IMO.

This isn’t to say that it didn’t tug at my heartstrings at all. Reading the parts of Mukta’s childhood was difficult – even more so knowing this is something that happens in real life. It just needed a bit more to really pull me in.

Overall, I didn’t love The Color of Our Sky, but I didn’t dislike it either. I just feel it needed a bit more polishing and the storyline could’ve been a bit better.

My rating: ★★★/5

August Recap

Posted in Recap, Summer by

And just like that, summer is done and school is back in session! We had a pretty decent August – the warm weather finally decided to show up and we were able to enjoy the heat!

At the beginning of the month Kyle, the girls, and I went with some friends to Atlantis Waterslides in Vernon and the kids had a blast! We spent practically the whole day there and were completely exhausted by the end of it, but it was definitely worth it.

We also were able to take full advantage of the pool at Kyle’s mom’s – the girls have both come a long way with their swimming skills over the summer! Lessons over the fall/winter should be a breeze for both of them with the amount of practice they had!

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Over the BC Day long weekend we went to the local marina/beach for a day and the girls had the best time ever! It was our first time going and I was pleasantly surprised! The beach was so wonderful and sandy, and while the water was busy with boats, the swimming area was great and well-marked so the boats didn’t cross over. There’s even a little restaurant/ice cream shop, so the girls were treated by grandpa to cones.

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Isla had the amazing opportunity to audition to perform onstage with the Moscow Ballet in November when they come to town with The Great Russian Nutcracker, but in order for her to audition she had to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels. (Call it a lesson in discipline, if you will.) It took a couple afternoons and evenings of trying, but eventually she figured it out and can now ride fairly confidently on two wheels!

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That being said, she earned Kyle and I’s approval to audition for the ballet and was successful in earning a spot on stage! We’re pretty proud of her and she’s super excited to be a part of a real ballet!

Mid-August the girls went for a sleepover at my mom’s and Kyle and I went out to the Little Shuswap Lake to visit with friends who were visiting from Calgary! It was a beautiful day and it was lovely to have a little kid-free getaway. ( I only felt slightly guilty that they missed out, but good times were coming their way anyway!)

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The girls and I headed over to Vernon to visit with my dad for a couple of nights and help celebrate his birthday with him! While it rained almost all day our first day there, there was a short break in the afternoon so we were able to head over to Davison Orchards to check out the animals and all the fun stuff they have there! The ducky races were probably the highlight of that excursion!

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During our second day there we headed over to Winfield to visit Kangaroo Creek Farm! It’s such an amazing little hidden gem and the girls always have the most amazing time while they’re there! This year they were able to hold parrots on their shoulders, which went way better than I had anticipated. (They are super laid back birds and very well socialized!)

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After the kangaroo farm we headed back into Vernon for lunch and then did a quick wardrobe change for the beach! The weather was perfect and the girls spent all afternoon playing in the water and sand. I’m certain they’d spend an entire day there if I let them.

Oh, and what started out as mermaid tales turned into me just completely burying both Isla and Norah in the sand! They thought it was hilarious and thank goodness my dad had brought this umbrella or their faces would’ve fried in the sun!

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That was about the end of our family adventures for August! The girls did go on a camping trip this past weekend and Kyle and I went out and bought 125lbs of tomatoes for canning, so you can guess what our future holds for us!

Isla had her first (partial) day at school today and her first full day will be today! Norah doesn’t start preschool until next week, but she’s extremely excited and can’t wait to go!

How was August for you?!

What I’m Reading: Where the Crawdads Sing

Posted in Book Review, Books, What I'm Reading by

From the book jacket:

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

My review:

I was easily skeptical of all the hype behind this book, so it took me a while to finally give in and see what all the fuss was about. Even after I finally bought it, I was unsure for the first couple of chapters but something finally reeled me in and I was hooked. (Fishing puns definitely not intended.)

Where the Crawdads Sing is quietly powerful, and I couldn’t help but feel heartache for Kya as she desperately longed to feel simply accepted for who she was, and frustration towards those who didn’t understand her.

I believe the author did a fantastic job using detailed description throughout the book without making it too long-winded; it was almost poetic, in some ways, and every detail had a purpose.

I don’t regret my decision to finally pick up Where the Crawdads Sing, and I think it certainly lived up to its hype.

My rating: ★★★★★/5