L is for Lansens

If you are like me and are fortunate enough to have a sister, you know it's a unique relationship. A sister knows you like no one else does or can. She's been there your entire life and remembers what it was like when you were a goofy little kid. She loves you because of who you are and despite who you are. As children, sisters may fight, feud, pull hair, call each other names and tease each other mercilessly, but as adults, you find your best friend in your sister. Now imagine your sister being by your side every day, every minute, every second. No matter how much you love your sister, can you fathom being attached to her at the head? That is the story of Rose and Ruby in "The Girls" by Lori Lansens, my choice for my "L" book.

Ruby and Rose are born one night during a tornado. They are the daughters of a 15-year-old girl who runs away as soon as she sees them. Fortunately for "the girls," as they come to be known in their small Canadian town, they are adopted by the nurse who was there when they were born. Aunt Lovey, as they call her, and her Slovac husband Stash raise the girls in a dilapidated farm house where they can be as normal as possible. The novel is written in the girls own words. It is their autobiography as they face their 30th birthday and the possibility of being the oldest living craniopagus conjoined twins. It's a funny, touching story of the the love between sisters, overcoming daunting obstacles, living life and facing death.

Though forever joined at the head, the girls are as different as night and day. Rose is able to walk, but because of Ruby's shortened legs and club feet, must carry her sister all the time. Rose is a sports fan who loves to watch all the games with Uncle Stash. She dreams of being a writer some day and decides she needs to write the story of her life. She realizes that her autobiography must include her sister Ruby because they are after all inseparable. Ruby is the pretty one despite her short legs and the constant hold she has around her sister's neck. Ruby likes TV, but not sports. Ruby also is intrigued with the Native Neutral Indians who once lived on the land that is now their home. She collects artifacts for the local museum. Like other girls coming of age, Rose and Ruby want to know about boys and love. Their crush on a high school classmate opens that door for the girls, but with an outcome neither could have seen coming. We follow the girls into their adult years where they get jobs at the local library. They have their own duties and their own schedules. Yes, they both have to be there whenever either is scheduled, but they want to do things on their own.

"The Girls" is a wonderful story filled with lots of laughs and many tears as well. Lansens really shows the differences between the girls as she writes chapters from each girl's perspective. Rose, the writer, is effusive in her chapters, leaving nothing behind and trying to sound deep and philosophical. Ruby, on the other hand, is simple with the style of someone writing in their journal or diary. Their closeness creates a bond unlike any other while their differences make them learn and grow beyond anything anyone would have thought possible.

Read "The Girls" if you love your sister, but can't imagine being joined to her every second of the day. Read "The Girls" if you don't have a sister, but know the bond of best friends. Recommend "The Girls" to a teenage girl who is trying to fit in and maybe trying to hide all the things that make her unique and special. Read "The Girls" if you want to laugh and cry and consider just how truly blessed each and every one of us is.

K is for Kallos

I can't believe it's May already and I can't believe that I'm already up to K in my trek through the alphabet. I was surprised at the great selection of K books. As I looked through the titles, one jumped out at me, "Broken For You" by Stephanie Kallos. When we take communion, we often hear a part of I Corinthians 11:24, "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." While the novel has nothing to do with that scripture, I'm so thrilled that the title was strong enough to draw me in.

This is another first novel by an author. "Broken for You" took Kallos seven years to write. She truly put her life and heart and soul into this work. It is beautifully written and deeply moving. The novel brings to the reader those "what would you do if" questions that can bring better understanding of ourselves. At the heart of the story are two women, 76-year-old Margaret and 34-year-old Wanda. Margaret has just learned she has a brain tumor and must decide whether she wants treatment or not and if not, how to live what's left of her life. Wanda has just moved across the country following a man who left her. Their lives intersect through a roommate wanted ad. As Margaret tears down long-standing walls to free herself to live and die, Wanda puts together small pieces of glass to make art and build bridges.

"Broken for You" deals with the guilt one woman feels because of the sins of her father and the loss another feels over the desertion of hers. A wonderful cast of characters join Margaret and Wanda as they break china, drink champagne and learn to love themselves and others again. While Margaret and Wanda are the stars of this novel, don't overlook the charm of Wanda's handsome assistant Troy, the charming Scot Gus, the fantastic chef Bruce and Margaret's nurse Susan. They all bring their own personalities and stories to Margaret's house. There is also the side story of M.J. Striker and Holocaust survivor Irma Kosminsky. The story of M.J. and Irma is ever so important while it's soft, warm and funny.

Stephanie Kallos put seven long years into writing this novel and I took my time reading it. "Broken for You" is a beautifully written, deeply touching story. It's a wonderful read. I recommend "Broken for You" to all who have loved and lost, all who are facing tough decisions in life, all who want to laugh and cry and feel. Read "Broken for You" and go break a plate! You'll get that when you read it.