Review: Bonobo Handshake

Summary: In 2005, Vanessa Woods accepted a marriage proposal from a man she barely knew and agreed to join him on a research trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country reeling from a brutal decade-long war that had claimed the lives of millions. Settling in at a bonobo sanctuary in Congo's capital, Vanessa and her fiancé entered the world of a rare ape with whom we share 98.7 percent of our DNA. She soon discovered that many of the inhabitants of the sanctuary-ape and human alike-are refugees from unspeakable violence, yet bonobos live in a peaceful society in which females are in charge, war is nonexistent, and sex is as common and friendly as a handshake.

A fascinating memoir of hope and adventure, Bonobo Handshake traces Vanessa's self-discovery as she finds herself falling deeply in love with her husband, the apes, and her new surroundings while probing life's greatest question: What ultimately makes us human? Courageous and extraordinary, this true story of revelation and transformation in a fragile corner of Africa is about looking past the differences between animals and ourselves, and finding in them the same extraordinary courage and will to survive. For Vanessa, it is about finding her own path as a writer and scientist, falling in love, and finding a home. -- Gotham Books

Like many of you, I love a good memoir. But I admit that the attraction of BONOBO HANDSHAKE: A MEMOIR OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE IN THE CONGO by Vanessa Woods wasn't really Ms. Woods' story at all. For me, it was all about the bonobos!

If you aren't familiar with the word bonobo (Microsoft Word doesn't even recognize it), a bonobo is ananthropoid ape of north-central Congo (formerly Zaire), having black hair and more arboreal habits than the common chimpanze. A bonobo is as closely related to humans as a chimpanzee (we share 98.7 % of our DNA), yet they are less aggressive than a chimpanzee. They are, however, much more sexual. I wasn't even familiar with the term before reading Sara Gruen's APE HOUSE a few weeks ago, but now I'm hooked on learning more about bonobos!

This is probably something you don't know about me, but I'm fascinated with primates; and I have been for as long as I can remember. I really recognized my interest when I was a freshman in college and took an intro Anthropology class. After my father told me he wasn't going to pay for me to learn about monkeys, I turned to a more practical Finance major. However, I still fed my interest in apes by reading books and visiting the Ape House at the National Zoo is Washington, DC.

I thoroughly enjoyed BONOBO HANDSHAKE and it did teach me more about bonobos. I admit that I did have a little bit of a difficult time getting into the book, but about a third of the way through, the book really took off for me. I think part of my issue might have been that I wanted to learn more about the bonobos' interactions with each other and with humans. I realize that this book is really Vanessa Woods' memoir (and not one for the bonobos), but I definitely enjoyed it more when she went into the details about the apes. Having said that, I do not think this will be the case with most readers!

I did enjoy learning about Ms. Woods and her adventures -- she is one brave woman. While I love learning about apes, I know my limitations. There is no way I have the courage, guts, craziness, etc. to head to Africa to study bonobos -- I won't even go camping! So I definitely give her kudos for giving up the comfort and stability of her life to work on a sanctuary in the Congo. Believe me when I say this couldn't have been an easy decision for her.

I also give Ms. Woods a lot of credit for her candor and honesty about her life and her relationships. I definitely felt more of an affinity with her as the book went along, and I even myself crying with her over some of the difficulties she encountered (especially as they related to the health of the bonobos.) I enjoyed seeing how Ms. Woods matured throughout this book too. When the book began, Ms. Woods' was a pretty normal young woman -- she was pretty content in the comfort of her life and she was also a bit immature when it came to relationship with her fiance/husband. Throughout her experiences in the Congo, she began to appreciate how fortunate she was in so many ways. She delved into learning about the the country's troubled history while at the same time truly sacrificing herself to save the lives of baby bonobos. This memoir really was an example of a touching coming-of-age story.

One of the things that I really appreciated about this book was how much I learned about the Congo's history. I think I'm hard-pressed to come up with a country whose people have suffered as much as those in the Congo. There have been more than five million people killed! What has happened to this country over the years is truly remarkable and incredibly unfortunate. While living there, Ms. Woods' became very caught up in the country's problems and I think she did a fabulous job of enlightening the reader to what has been going on over there. As I read this book, I was just so grateful that I was fortunate enough to be born in the United States.

Of course, some of my favorite parts of this book were about the bonobos. Bonobos only exist in the Congo and they are sadly almost extinct. Ms. Woods' gives details on Lola Ya Bonobo, a sanctuary for orphaned bonobos which I found fascinating -- thank goodness there are people who devote their live to saving these creatures. I was fascinated with how these animals behave (and sometimes shocked as well), but I couldn't help but fall in love with them.

I also really appreciated how Ms. Woods' explained her and her husband's studies of these animals. I find it incredibly interesting that by studying these animals' behaviors, scientists can learn about humans too. Bonobos are female-dominated and live in a peaceful environment where conflicts are resolved through sex. It was fascinating how different their minds seemed to work when compared to chimpanzees and humans. In fact, some of their behavior seemed more "human" than many of the humans I know!

If you are a fan of memoirs or love learning about apes like I do, then I recommend taking a look at BONOBO HANDSHAKE.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book.

Review: Love in a Time of Homeschooling

Summary: "I had always thought of homeschooling as a drastic measure. . . . But when my daughter decided that she would rather hide in a closet than complete her homework, I knew that it was time for me to become a schoolteacher, if only for a little while."

After years of watching her eldest daughter, Julia, struggle in a highly regimented public school system, Laura Brodie determined to teach her ten-year-old at home for a year. Although friends were skeptical and her husband predicted disaster—"You can't be serious"—Brodie had visions of one ideal year of learning. The monotony of fill-in-the-blank history and math worksheets would be replaced with studying dinosaurs and Mayan hieroglyphics, conversational French, violin lessons, and field trips to art museums, science fairs, bookstores, and concerts.

But can one year of homeschooling make a difference? And what happens to the love between mother and daughter when fractions and spelling enter the relationship?

Love in a Time of Homeschooling is a funny and inspiring story of human foibles and human potential, in which love, anger, and hope mingle with reading, math, and American history. As today's parents ponder their children's educations, wondering how to respond to everything from homework overload to bullying to the boredom of excessive test preparations, homeschooling has become a popular alternative embraced by millions. Short-term homeschooling is the latest trend in this growing movement.

Brodie gave her daughter a sabbatical to explore, learn, create, and grow—a year of independent research and writing to rejuvenate Julia's love of learning. The experiment brought out the best and worst in the pair, but they worked through their frustrations to forge an invaluable bond. Theirs is a wonderful story no parent should miss.-- Harper

Last year I read and reviewed THE WIDOW'S SEASON by Laura Brodie. It was a beautifully written novel about a woman whose husband has recently died. I loved how the book explored grief and loss, and I thought Ms. Brodie's writing was terrific. So when she contacted me about her new book LOVE IN A TIME OF HOMESCHOOLING: A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER'S UNCOMMON YEAR, I didn't even hesitate. Of course, I wanted to read it -- I loved Ms. Brodie's writing style.

So why was it when I sat down a few days ago to read LOVE IN A TIME OF HOMESCHOOLING, I wasn't exactly jumping up and down in excitement? Could it possibly have been the subject matter of the book? I have to admit that a book about homeschooling probably wouldn't be on the top of my list of books to read. I don't have any objections to those parents who go that route. It's just that homeschooling is so not something I would ever do (or could ever do.) In fact, anyone who knows me would laugh hysterically if I told them that I wanted to homeschool one of my kids!

I knew Ms. Brodie was a wonderful writer, but I had no idea how much I'd enjoy this book. I picked up the book and read it entirely in one evening -- in almost one sitting. I can't put my finger on how Ms. Brodie did it, but she hooked me on her story (and I didn't even know that I'd care.)

LOVE IN THE TIME OF HOMESCHOOLING takes place during one year when Ms. Brodie decides to homeschool her fifth grade daughter Julia. Her daughter was pretty much miserable with school and homework, and Ms. Brodie felt as if she needed a little sabbatical. So she decided to take her out of the public school system and teach her from home for one year. She began talking to other parents and doing a huge amount of research, and she finally came up with some ideas for what would work best for herself and Julia.

Like Ms. Brodie, I am the mother of a fifth grade daughter who doesn't always love everything about school. Maybe that's one of the reasons that became so caught up in this story. I don't know that my daughter and Julia have a lot in common (past their toddler year stories) but I found myself totally relating to Ms. Brodie. I sure wasn't expecting to find that when I started reading this book (especially since I know I'm not homeschooling parent material.)

I'm pretty sure that Ms. Brodie wouldn't say this about herself, but I consider her to be a hero for homeschooling Julia. At the very least, she is a remarkable mom. She sacrificed her own desires for the benefit of her daughter, and she totally threw herself into being the best teacher she could be for Julia. She admits that it wasn't always easy, and I loved that the showed the challenges she faced on a daily basis.

I did find the parts of the book about homeschooling to be very interesting. And in so many ways, I do see the benefits of homeschooling your children (it's just not for me!) I enjoyed reading about the Brodies' day trips and field trips as well as their activities in the car. And I loved all of the creative approaches Ms. Brodie took to teaching Julia. I especially enjoyed seeing how Ms. Brodie realized what worked and what didn't work and how she adjusted her curriculum to best suit Julia's learning abilities.

But what I think I appreciated the most about LOVE IN A TIME OF HOMESCHOOLING was how Ms. Brodie showed the beautiful (yet often times trying) relationship between a mother and a daughter. This was where I could most relate to Ms. Brodie and the book as a whole. She shows the real side of parenting -- the fights over homework, the smart mouths, the nagging about practicing an instrument, etc. Yet she also shows the extent a mother is willing to go out for the love of her child. While there were definitely pluses and minuses to their year-long homeschooling experience, I think both mother and daughter would agree that they truly benefited from it. There is no doubt that they got to know and respect each other on a much deeper level.

I guess it's obvious by now that I highly recommend this book. Of course, it should be a must-read for any parent who is considering homeschooling their child. (Evidently there aren't an abundance of books out there that show this side of homeschooling.) But it is also a book that I think women are going to love because Ms. Brodie is extremely honest about the ups and downs of being a mom.

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of her book.

Review: Winging It

Summary: A hilarious and poignant cautionary tale about two very different types of creatures, thrown together by fate, who learn to make the best of a challenging situation -- feather by feather.

Like many new bird owners, Jenny and Scott Gardiner hoped for a smart, talkative, friendly companion. Instead, as they took on the unexpected task of raising a curmudgeonly wild African gray parrot and a newborn, they learned an important lesson: parrothood is way harder than parenthood.

A gift from Scott's brother who was living in Zaire, Graycie arrived scrawny, pissed-off, and missing a lot of her feathers -- definitely not the Polly-wants-a-cracker type the Gardiners anticipated. Every day became a constant game of chicken with a bird that would do anything to ruffle their feathers. The old adage about not biting the hand that feeds you -- literally -- never applied to Graycie.

But Jenny and Scott learned to adapt as the family grew to three children, a menagerie of dogs and cats, and, of course, Graycie. In this laugh-out-loud funny and touching memoir, Jenny vividly shares the many hazards of parrot ownership, from the endless avian latrine duty and the joyful day the bird learned to mimic the sound of the smoke detector, to the multiple ways a beak can pierce human flesh. Graycie is a court jester, a karaoke partner, an unusual audio record of their family history, and, at times, a nemesis. But most of all, she has taught the family volumes about tolerance, going with the flow, and realizing that you can no sooner make your child fit into a mold than you can turn a wild parrot into a docile house pet. Winging It is an utterly engrossing reminder of the importance of patience, loyalty, and humor when it comes to dealing with even the most unpleasant members of the family. -- Gallery Books

I have to disclose that I am a really big fan of Jenny Gardiner. I've been following her since she was a contributor to the Debutante Ball, and I love reading her hilarious (and need I say insightful?) tweets. I thought her first novel SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER (my review) was a terrific, and I've been anxiously awaiting her next book for what seems like a long time. So I am happy to say that WINGING IT: A MEMOIR OF CARING FOR A VENGEFUL PARROT WHO'S DETERMINED TO KILL ME is now available, and it was well worth the wait!

For those of you who don't know Jenny Gardiner, she is a very funny woman. Her wit is sharp and quick, and I just knew a memoir about her spunky parrot would be full of laughs. And I have to say that WINGING IT was full of many cute (and some not-so-cute) stories about a wild animal. I did find myself laughing a lot at Graycie the parrot, although I think often times I was laughing more at Jenny and her reactions than the parrot.

I admit when I started this book I thought to myself how is the author going to be able to pull off a 250 page book about the antics of a parrot. Not that Graycie doesn't provide fabulous material for her owner, but I wasn't sure I wanted to read that much about a bird (I'm not a huge bird lover and I think I would be terrified to ever meet Graycie.) Although I admit that every once in awhile, I would just giggle over something Graycie would say or do; and I'd think to myself that she wasn't that bad. As a mom, I could kind of relate to Jenny and her relationship with Graycie. Sometimes, you just want to kill your kids (well, not really kill but you get my drift) and then they say or do the sweetest thing and all is forgotten!

As I read about Graycie and her behavior, I was absolutely amazed that the Gardiner family stuck with her. And it wasn't just Graycie, but the Gardiner family did have some interesting luck when it came to their other animals whether it be bad behavior or unique illnesses. I honestly can't say that my family would have been as dedicated and devoted to our pets, especially a bird who enjoyed taking bites out of people's bodies. And that's one of the things that I loved about this story -- seeing how loyal and committed the entire Gardiner family was to each other and their pets. Talk about a heartwarming story!

I was pleasantly surprised by WINGING IT, not because I didn't think it would be a cute story about a misbehaving parrot, but because it was so much more than that. I knew it would be funny and I was expecting it to be touching, but I was truly impressed with how insightful this book was about family life. Whether you understand the Gardiner family's devotion to Graycie or not, you have to respect that Graycie is an integral part of their family and they are as loyal to her as they would be anyone else.

I also found this book to be somewhat motivational, and I certainly wasn't expecting that when I picked it up. Jenny Gardiner is a successful mother, wife, and writer who totally seems to have it together; and I found that so admirable. Despite what "bad" things happen to her (from finding her house covered in bird poop, to losing a pet, to having a child with a serious illness), she deals with everything with a sense of humor. I am so incredibly envious of her and her ability to keep her entire life in perspective.

Check out the book trailer where Jenny Gardiner dishes on Graycie:



I highly recommend WINGING IT to pet lovers as well as anyone who appreciates a good story about family dynamics. It is a very funny, yet very touching book, about the love and perseverance of a close-knit family. Make sure you come back tomorrow because Jenny will be stopping by to answer a few of my questions!

Thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of WINGING IT!

Since Jenny is a Penn Stater (and so am I), this review counts as part of my Back-to-School Feature. Make sure you check out all of posts I have written about fellow Penn State writers, and feel free to add your links about any posts related to your favorite school. In fact, if you feature a book related to any school that you attended, root for or even live near, it can count -- it's all about school spirit.

Review: Marriage and Other Acts of Charity

Summary: In her award-winning memoir Here If You Need Me, Kate Braestrup won the hearts of readers across the country with her deeply moving and deftly humorous stories of faith, hope and family. Now, with her inimitable voice and generous spirit, she turns her attention to the subjects of love and commitment in MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY. As a minister, Kate Braestrup regularly performs weddings. She has also, at 44, been married twice and widowed once, and accordingly has much to say about life after the ceremony. -- Reagan Arthur

I'm going to preface this review by saying that MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY by Kate Braestrup is not a book that I'd normally pick up. I tend to read a lot of fiction; and even though I enjoy the occasional memoir, I'd rather read something about a celebrity (I know, I know... how terrible is that?) And that's one of the reasons that I am so glad that I joined the Reagan Arthur Books Challenge. It "forced" me to read a book that was totally out of my element. And guess what? I really, really liked it!

I am finding it difficult to articulate why I enjoyed this book so much. I have never read a non-fiction book on marriage, and I didn't pick up this book with any expectations that it would "fix" anything. (Oh my, that didn't sound right. I have a wonderful husband and a really good marriage so it's not like we need "fixing.") I'm not even sure if I had much in common with the author. All I know is that I just enjoyed reading about the author's life experiences and her wonderful insights into everyday life, love, and relationships.

Kate Braestrup is the chaplain for the Maine Warden Service. She is also a mother and wife. She has had life experiences that I can only begin to imagine including losing her husband when he was killed in a traffic accident while on duty as a state trooper. She was suddenly left all alone with four young children. I absolutely loved how she showed all aspects of their marriage -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. I also really liked how she allowed the reader to see her pain, her healing process, and finally her new love.

While I was definitely hooked on the author's story, I think my favorite parts of the book were her insights on everything from marriage, to love, to relationships, to parenting, to friendship, to religion, to God, etc. I rarely do this, but I found myself quoting bits of this book to my husband because so many of her thoughts just echoed either what I feel or what I want to feel. I was so surprised (in a very good way) by how much this book touched my heart and caused me to evaluate myself. MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY was extremely inspirational to me.

One thing that concerned me a little bit when I picked up this novel is how the author's voice would come across. I mean she is chaplain and I wouldn't have been surprised if the tone was a little preachy. I am so happy to say that this book was anything but preachy, and I was so impressed with the author's writing style. I thought this book was very well written (at times, her prose was beautiful and at the same time powerful), and I absolutely loved how she was constantly giving me something to think about.

I realize that MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY isn't for everyone, but I actually thought it wasn't for me either. I encourage you to take a chance on this book even if you don't think you'll appreciate it. You just might be pleasantly surprised by how much this book will affect you.

Thanks to Kathy (aka Bermuda Onion) for sending me a copy of this book.

Review: Home Is Where the Wine Is

Summary: Balding, Paunchy, Twice-Divorced, Unemployed Male Seeks Independently Wealthy Supermodel for No-Strings-Attached fun. Nonsmokers only.

She's Back, and edgier than ever. In her debut narrative, Drunk, Divorced, & Covered in Cat Hair, blogger extraordinaire Laurie Perry, aka 'Crazy Aunt Purl,' gave women everywhere a hilarious yet heartfelt glimpse into her misadventures as a recent divorcee with a herd of cats, a slight wine and Cheetos problem, and scores of unfinished and uneven knitting projects.

Now, in her second installment, she's no longer drunk-dialing her ex. She is well on her way to divorce recovery and has embraced a new-found philosophy: To make the best out of the 'extra odd bits'—both in knitting and in life. Discovering how she accomplishes this will make you laugh and cry as she navigates new territory, from dating in a weird, wired world to vacationing solo for the first time. On the cusp of the big four-O, she ventures to the most exotic, foreign locations—the gym, a therapist's office, a self-tanning emporium— on a search for enlightenment and happiness in— where else?—downtown Los Angeles.

• Island Beach Bag
• Lonely Hearts Personal Massager Cozy
• Wineglass Flip-Flop Coaster
• Quick Knit Date-Night Bag
• Brain Freeze Ice Cream Cozy
• Super-Easy Beret . . . and more!

Over a dozen knitting recipes included with photos! -- Health Communications, Inc.

I am very hesitant to pick up books like CRAZY AUNT PURL'S HOME IS WHERE THE WINE IS: Making the Most of What You've Got One Stitch (and Cocktail!) at a Time by Laurie Perry. While I enjoy reading memoirs and humorous essays, I find that (and this is going to sound terrible) I don't always like the author. Sometimes, I can't take the snarkiness or condescending attitude. Other times, I just don't think the writer is all that funny. However, that wasn't the case at all with HOME IS WHERE THE WINE IS. I really enjoyed the book and especially Laurie Perry's hilarious voice!

The real key to this book is Laurie Perry! Make no mistake, she is an absolutely hoot and you can't help but laugh when you read her descriptions of her life. But Ms. Perry is also honest (sometimes brutally so) and I have to respect her for being so open with her readers. While I don't have all that much in common with Ms. Perry, I still really liked her and related to her heartfelt confessions. The way she "talks" to the reader through this book seems just like a conversation between friends. However, I think what impressed me the most about Ms. Perry is her ability to laugh at herself!

HOME IS WHERE THE WINE IS details Ms. Perry's efforts to tackle her New Year's Resolutions. Each one of her resolutions is covered in a different chapter with titles like "Resolution #2: Take an Adventurous Trip - Passports, Pocketbooks, and Pants" and "Resolution #4: Go on a Real Live Date - Summer Lovin' Had Me a Blast" (they are a few addendum chapters to this one!) Ms. Perry describes taking a trip to Italy all by herself as well as some of her experiences of dating after her divorce. She also talks about expanding her basic knitting projects and beginning an exercise routine! I think basing the book on her attempts to complete her resolutions was a terrific (and very creative) approach to telling her story.

HOME IS WHERE THE WINE IS is Ms. Perry's second book -- her first is titled CRAZY AUNT PURL'S DRUNK, DIVORCED AND COVERED IN CAT HAIR. I haven't read this book, nor was I even familiar with Crazy Aunt Purl before reading HOME IS WHERE THE WINE IS. But since that I enjoyed this book so much, I have since started visiting her very funny blog. In fact, I wouldn't mind reading her first book now either.

One of my favorite parts of this book were all of the references to knitting and yarn. Since I absolutely loved the cute and easy patterns (with pictures) in the back of the book, I knew I just had to try one. I decided to make the crocheted flip flop wine coaster -- it can also work as a drink identifier. It only took a few minutes to whip up, and I think it turned out to be pretty cute. I can't wait to make an entire set!


Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing a review copy of this book. If you'd like more information about the book tour for HOME IS WHERE THE WINE IS, you can click here.

Just One More Challenge...The Memorable Memoir Challenge

I obviously can't say no...Not that I even want to for this challenge. Melissa from The Betty and Boo Chronicles is hosting The Memorable Memoir Challenge 2010!

Here are the details straight from the challenge post:

1. The Memorable Memoir Challenge will be hosted here on The Betty and Boo Chronicles.

2. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010. You're welcome to join anytime.

2. Memoirs, letters, diaries, and autobiographies count as reads for this challenge. (Basically, if you think it is the stuff of memoir, it counts.)

3. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed. Audiobooks and e-books are also allowed.

4. Participants are encouraged to read at least 4 memoirs/diaries/letters/autobiography books in 2010. Of course, more are fine!

5. You're not required to make a list, but if you'd like to do so, I'd love your ideas and suggestions! I'll do a separate post with some thoughts, and will compile yours too. (Just leave them in the comments.)

6. If you'd like to join, simply sign up by using MckLinky below. If you want to do a special sign-up post on your blog, feel free ... but just the url of your blog is fine.

7. Feel free to grab the button (and join me in thanking the lovely and talented Florinda of The 3Rs Blog for making this gorgeous button for this challenge!)

Since Melissa doesn't require a listing of my four books, I'm going to be very relaxed for this challenge and just see how it goes! I love memoirs but I don't seem read many of them. I think this challenge is exactly what I need to get started!