Before and After

Talk about heartache. 

Lisa Wingate wrote a book called Before We Were Yours based on real life stories of children who survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society and a woman called Georgia Tann who stole and sold children back in the 30's, 40's, and 50's as orphans. When the stories of these children came to light, though after Tann died, it caused many adoption policies and legalities to change in the United States. But the heartache happened and all of the survivors will never get those years with their biological parents and siblings back. But back in the 90's the adoption records were unsealed and many of these adoptees were able to find their own records and their biological families--if not their parents, then cousins, full and half siblings. 

Lisa was bombarded by adoptees after Before We Were Yours came out and her book tours were flooded by survivors as well. They shared so many stories of hard or happy lives, abandonment issues, and the potential of finding or not finding their biological families.  She was offered the idea of doing a reunion of these children--now grandparents. So a reunion was initiated and many people went and shared their stories back in 2017. Their stories permeated the area and is now being shared all over by these books. 

This was a great, but sad read. I, obviously, had no idea that Georgia Tann even existed, let alone what she did to these kids and families. Getting parents, often single mothers who "made a mistake" and would be shunned from their communities and families, to sign away their babies or poor families from the rural south doing the same because they couldn't afford to take care of them. There were even stories of, because of corrupt hospital workers and politicians, babies being stolen from their families while their mothers were still recuperating in the hospital after just having given birth. My heart ached for all the people. Tann kidnapped (in one way or another) these children and sold them as if their were hats or boots and she became a very, very wealthy woman. It's disgusting. This is two such ads where she would sell the "pretty" children: 

The worst part for me though--because many of the children were able to be placed in good, happy homes--was that at the end of the book  when at the reunion they went to the memorial that was erected for the 19 known deaths of babies who were under Tann's care at the Tennessee Children's Home Society. But the horrendous moment for me was when it was reveled that there were actually more than 500 children/babies who died under that roof if the child wasn't "pretty" or already sick. One of the people who's story we were given very easily could have been one of those babies who died. It breaks my heart. 

The compilation of all of these stories was very well put together. This is one that I think many should read and all should be aware of so then things like this doesn't happen again. Hopefully things have changed, though kidnappings and child slaves have gone more underground, but it all needs to stop.  

I hope that these once children are able to find peace and the answer they are looking for. Because of Ancestry and other DNA places, many of these survivors have been able to find biological families, but there are still so many questions that have gone unanswered and as time passes, may never be fully answered. 

I am very interested in hearing the story Before We Were Yours for the sheer fact that it changed so many lives. 

 This marker reads: 

"The Tennessee Children's Home Society
An Infamous History. A Tragic Legacy.
September 17, 1923 -- December 10, 1949

"In Memory of the 19 children who finally 
Rest here unmarked if not unknown, 
And of all the hundreds who died under
The cold hard hand of the Tennessee 
Children's Home Society. Their final resting 
Place unknown. Their final peace a blessing. 

"The hard lesson of their fate changed
Adoption procedure and law nationwide."

May you rest in peace. 

Nineteen, Twenty-one

 This is a short completed manga with a short 21 chapters. 

It is about a girl named Yun-lee who got in an accident and can't remember the last two years. She is in college classes and feels very behind with no friends. She will soon be 21 and must be an adult, but she doesn't feel ready. One day on her lunch break she runs into a boy, named Ju Dong-hwi, who feeds stray cats which is something she also does with her lunch money. They have lunch and he tells her about all the other stray cats he takes care of. He is 19 and plans on working all summer, taking care of the cats, and to go on a trip before he has to become an adult and get a real job. 

Theirs is a cute little story. She finally finds a friend and is able to find a place where she feels it's okay to be. Their mutual love of cats and looking out for their wellbeing was sweet. It was also nice to see that the neighbor lady who originally didn't like having all the strays around changes her toon just because Yun-lee is kind and asks her if she needs help with her gardening. In small, simple ways she is able to make a difference in the community around her. 

I also really liked that it was short and complete. Sometimes it's nice to have a long drawn out story with a great plot and fascinating characters, but other times it's nice to have something short, simple and sweet. Still with good characters and arcs but completed. 

If you're looking for a light read, it was really sweet. 

The Silver Chair

Book 6 in the Chronicles of Narnia follows Eustace and a school mate of his named Jill into Narnia in order to help find King Caspian X's son who has gone missing and has been missing or the last decade or so. 

Jill gets instructions from Aslan to help find Prince Rilian. But Jill and Eustace don't follow the instructions at times very well and are forced go about things in round about ways. They travel on owls backs, brave the cold, run from giants, and find themselves in the deep, dark hollows of the earth with the help of a new friend. 

It is an interesting story about how important it is to follow the instructions we are give. Aslan gave them specific instructions that they needed to remember--though sometimes forgot--and although they didn't often go down the path Aslan originally intended for them, other ways were provided to get their objectives accomplished. Just like God does for us. 

It isn't particularly my favorite book in the series, but it is a good read that expands the Narnian world with a good moral. 

Anne of Green Gables

 Anne of Green Gables is a series I've never read before, but a set of movies that I loved. 

Anne is an orphan who is sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Anne is known for her imagination, which throws the Cuthbert siblings for a loop. Always talking and getting lost in thought. Learning to live with this adventurous, airheaded, proud, red head has become they have ever had. 

It is a very simple and straightforward book. Not some grand adventure but the adventure of everyday life for a very imaginative girl. Dealing with school, friends, constant misunderstandings, and bitter rivals with boys are the plot of the book. 

The book is mostly about characters. Becoming friends with Diana, rivals with Gilbert, Matthew and Marilla. They are the moments she has with the people around her. 

This books a light and full of character. I very much love it. 

The "Anne of Green Gables" movie with Meagan Fallows is the best. They are the most accurate to the book. Meagan is a fantastic Anne who makes her endearing as well as accurate to the book. "Anne with an 'E'" is no such representation. I very much dislike that one and could only watch a few episodes before I very willingly put it down. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

 I've come to the conclusion that this is my favorite Narnia book so far. 

Edmund and Lucy are now living with their aunt, uncle, and cousin and not liking it at all. Eustace, their cousin, is an annoying know-it-all who believes science is everything and any form of imagination proves you are an idiot. So when they the three of them find themselves in Narnia on Prince Caspian X's ship, The Dawn Treader, Eustace's world is thrown to a loop. Talking mice are completely nonsensical. Caspian is on a mission to find seven lost Lords who were friends of his fathers who sailed passed the known islands and haven't been seen or heard from in many, many years. They have adventures with slavers, dragons, golden lakes, invisible people, islands covered in darkness, and a pursuit to the farthest reaches of the world. 

I think it is my favorite because I've liked all these characters best. Peter and Susan are alright, but Edmund, Lucy, and Caspian have been my favorites, bring in Eustace's change of character throughout the adventure and they have a good, fun set of people to read about while the strangest things happen around them. 

I also really enjoyed the adventures of the different islands in the book too. Great imagination was brought to all of these islands  and the adventures found on them. I liked that it also didn't feel rushed or have this great need for a "mighty battle" at the end. It wasn't about the battles (which the movie did add) it was about the Journey and the things that you learn on your way. 

I didn't like the things they did in the movie to change it. Adding green mist, finding swords, the ever present "my kingship was better than your kingship" is SO annoying. It's been present in the last two movie adaptations and I hate it. I'm okay with them being friends and not having this need to one up another when they are all kings and queens and that's okay. In the books, the children realized that they wouldn't be staying and Caspian would be the one in charge, and it was okay. Narnia isn't their world even though they ruled it for some time, but their turn has passed. In the movies, none of that is the case. I understand needing a turmoil for characters to "grow out of" or what not, but to have the same thing over and over again gets annoying. Edmund didn't feel he needed to "take Peter's place" in the book because he was a King himself. He didn't need to encroach on his brother's anything because he had his own. He was King of Narnia like Caspian is King of Narnia. That bickering is just stupid  and the fact they pulled up up again made it more annoying. 

The book, however, was fantastic. As I said, my favorite so far. 

1984

 I've heard more and more people mention this book and figured while I was trying to be productive, I could listen to it. 

Winston is living in what was once England in approximately the year 1984, but then again there is no real way to tell which year precisely. Oceania (in the past known as North and South America, the southern half of Africa, southern tip of India, and Australia with the surrounding islands) is ruled by Big Brother. The government that rules everything with a hard fist. He sees everything, hears everything, and is working on even knowing your thoughts. Oceania (much like Euroasia and Eastasia, the only other countries and governments in the world) is productive in resources but it's population is destitute, there aren't enough of anything to go around. War is constant. History is what the government says it was. Winston is one of those people who help change things in all media so then the things that Big Brother doesn't want you to see, remember, or think, you won't. No amount of research into people, places, events, or things exist unless Big Brother says it's okay. And any thought of rebellion against Big Brother can lead you to "thoughtcrimes" where you will be tortured while interrogated and then confessing to anything and every thing. You don't want to get caught in your rebelliousness or you will be interrogated and will eventually confess and then normally die. 

This was a very deep story. One I'm okay with only reading once. It was well written and got the horrible world where Winston lived. It was very well thought out and soooo depressing. It is not a light read in any sense of the word. Torture and heavy mental business was a lot. 

It was eye opening to how a potential could happen. While it might not be as bad, the knowledge that it was so well thought out and could at one point be done or has been done is rather scary. The idea that Big Brother is watching and listening to everything is rather real with so many computers, phones, and other gadgets with cameras, GPS, and mics, let alone the social media getting out thoughts down. Big Brother is here. Government officials not having our best interests at heart and only want power for power's sake is something I know many people worry about. And I know many who feel they can't believe news media in general let alone history books given to kids today. I even remember thinking back in high school how we never got to the present in history classes. We spent so much time studying the Romans and Greeks, the Revolutionary Wars (USA and others), the WW's, and they we would pretty much stop. We never got really into the Cold War and most definitely anything after. I understand the feeling of missing out on history. It raises the question of how much Big Brother is here already. 

It also reminded me very much of We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. A very similar book though that one was a little harder to read in that the narrator is an unreliable one. Though a book still interesting to compare the two books.  

I think it is a good idea for everyone to read though or listen too. Not for the story itself (though it was well written and informative) but for the thoughts about it. 

Prince Caspian

 Prince Caspian is the fourth chronological instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. 

The Pevensie's make a reappearence and magically find their way to Narnia again. But even though only a year passed while they were in England, more than 1200 years pass in Narnia. Everyone they knew is now gone and Cair Paravel is now in ruins. Many of the beasts don't talk anymore. They find that other human's have conquered Narnia and the imposter king in a horrid man who has tried to kill his nephew, the true heir to the thrown who has joined sides with the Narnians. Prince Caspian had heard of old Narnian stories from his nurse and from his Professor, and after an assassination attempt on his life he flees to the woods and finds the Narnian's he believed to have been extinct. In a desperate need of help, they blow Susan's old horn (which brings the children from England to Narnia) and are hoping Aslan will show up. 

I enjoyed this book. I liked the focus it had on Aslan and how he "doesn't do the same thing twice." So he's not going to be the one to bite Miraz  and kill him like he did the White Witch. He let them do it on their own even though he did end up waking the "resting" creatures at the end of the book. I like that it dove into the fact that only Lucy (who found Narnia in the first place) was able to see him, then the others --based on their faith in Aslan-- were able to see him later. There were many good discussion points for me and my son to talk about. It was great.

The characters could be filled out a little more, but we do still get the differences between each one. Nikabrik and Trumpkin are very different creatures. Same with all of the children. Each ahs their moment of growth, though some may seem very small. I enjoyed the subtle differences. 

I enjoyed it more than the movie in some ways while I liked the movie in others. I liked that there wasn't the bickering over "who's king" in the book. They are all Kings and Queens. In the book, they accept that and don't need fight or hazardously prove themselves to each other. They had more focus than they did in the movie. Though I did like how when they added the major difference between the book and movie (the siege on Miraz's castle) when they fight at the castle and do it on their own, Peter yells, "For Narnia!" and it fails miserably. But for the rest of the time, he relied on and fought "For Aslan!" and each time, they were victorious. That was also an interesting point to talk about with my son.  

 I found it a little sad that there seemed to be so little in the actual story. It went by so quickly and I wanted more. I'm glad there are more books.