Reading....I'm pretty Sure I'm not Middle Aged yet.

I just finished listening to the book,

Tex, by S.E. Hinton.

I will admit I totally enjoyed it.

Lately I have been trying to ramp myself up on the "classics".

I am curious as to how I missed (or avoided) all these 

books while I was personally in school.

I am very interested in what our kids are being fed, 

and reading these days.

I want to stay in the know and on top

of the good, and other possibilities that may 

come their way,

if for no other reason then to be able to have a 

half-way-decent 

conversation about what they are reading 

and doing in school.

I have always heard the book title, 

The Catcher in the Rye, 

thrown around by everyone, who has ever read anything,

of any consequence.

So I thought I may as well tackle that title first.

Plus I knew that E had read it last year.

Check mark. Done. 

Pretty easy read.

It was decent, Ethan said he didn't enjoy it at all.

That all the main character ever said in it, over and over, was how phony

everyone was.

Well, that was true.....

E tried to find his essay for me to read that he had written the 

previous year, I would have enjoyed reading that, 

but in the end

he couldn't locate it.

The main thing that I was surprised at was 

where the title had come from, 

and

what part it played in the book.

I really don't want to spoil it for you.....just in case you want to read it.

But I was like, huh.

That's interesting to.

The book was short, I laughed a bit, cried a bit, 

it kept my attention. 

I believe there was some value to take away.

Soon after

I tried to read one of Ethan's AP novels as well.

I was like, I'm going to read right along with you son.

You can't stop me.

He was in the middle of Moby Dick, and on his way 

toward One Hundred Years of Solitude......(yawnsville!)

Watt was the third on the list....I had some time. 

Not a terribly long book.

I felt pretty smug, (whatever that means, seems to fit here)

as I began to read.

E was like, mom, what are you doing?

You are not going to enjoy that book.

You are not going to finish it,

it will be way over your head.

Excuse me sir?

Um, you may be surprised dear boy.

I think I can muster my way though it hon.

The hours crawled by.

The pages were very slow to turn.

The writer never indented!!

There were no breaks in the page....just solid rectangles.

The drivel would never stop.

I am not one to get headaches, but this CRAP

was weighing me down.

I was not getting one ounce of anything out of reading this

garbage, (IMO).

I had to go  went to the kids school open houses last week.

I was interested in E's AP Literature teacher.

Who was this mad man?

By the end of his presentation I kinda liked him as a teacher,

and felt like Ethan will, in all actuality, benefit from being in his class.

I raised my hand at the end,

and asked if he would mind summarizing the

book Watt.....seems like a huge amount of crap to me,

and there was no way possible I was going to be able to 

wallow through it.

 Yet, I was still curious as to what the 

point of, and story line was for the book.

He got his copy out of his desk drawer and showed it.

It was marked, tagged, ragged, haggard, broken spine,

and barely hanging together.....

I was like, whoops, now I've insulted this guy about 

his favorite book of all times.

He said you know what I did the first time I tried reading

Watt?

no.

I threw it against the wall and broke the spine.

phew. redeemed.

Since that time he has read it numerous times and fallen in love with 

it, but it had been a rough start.

He never did summarize it.

Guess I will have to google at some point if I really want to know.

I guess E was right.

He said mom, don't bother, just read the books you enjoy.

I do love reading and learning.

I love to see our kids reading.

Why don't schools do READATHONS anymore?

Didn't you used to love those so much?

Sitting around with pillows and blankets in jammies,

eating and sharing all our favorite treats.

Those were the best of times.

I wish I could stay awake longer when I read.

Even with books I am very interested in....

I still need many 

walking, standing, resting my eyes breaks that I wish I didn't.

Kids are so lucky....but they don't know it until it is too late and 

they are looking back.

I know it is the same for all of us.

We can't tell them anything they don't already know.

Listen to me.

Am I middle aged?

Seriously, am I?

I have become the mother of three teenagers....

and one more on the way.

Here is the reason I felt like writing this post:

I just finished listening to the book Tex like I said before.

I love to listen while I fold clothes, clean the kitchen, cook, 

what not.....

as I was listening,

and feeling so involved in these two brothers lives,

I was listening to their story from their Mother's point of view.

!

They were seventeen and fourteen years of age.

I have one of each.

That was kind of surreal for me.

I am usually the girlfriend, the wife, the friend, the hot neighbor, 

or the main character.

My position in life has shifted.....

maybe that is too dramatic, but dang if it did not surprise me.

I was proud of those brothers.

I was disappointed, worried, and very interested in their 

well being.

I'm excited to see the movie now.....it is Disney,

maybe it will be appropriate and enjoyable for the whole 

family.

I just put a hold on it at the library.

Ok, I think I know what Watt is about....

I believe the author is trying to get you to experience

what it is like to be inside an insane person's mind,

and follow their thought process.

Done-zo.

and still no thank yee.

This is my best guess.

See if you can handle it!!

ARE YOU SMART ENOUGH?

Do you have the gut, and grit to go in the mind of madness??

Are YOU a Mortal?

.........If so, this book may be for YOU!!

I loved this Book!

I picked it up as an after thought at the recent library sale.

I was thinking I would preview it for one of my sisters.

I recently committed to run my second marathon with Amy

coming up in 24 weeks in Park City, Utah.

I felt maybe I could use a little 

"Spark" 

to stoke my running fire.

I was very surprised at how motivating and 

basically thrilling this simple 

common sense plan book about running was.

It is really more than that.

It is a book about taking control of your life,

and LIVING it.

The man that wrote it, you might know him best as 

"The Penguin"

took up running at age 46.

He was quite over weight,

a smoker, drinker, bad eater....

He shares his experience.

Since that time, he has completed 

40 marathons.

plus a truck load of other wonderful

life living, loving adventures.

I wish everyone would read it,

even if you have never considered running a step in your life.

and ESPECIALLY if the thought has ever

crossed your mind,

if you've toyed with the idea,

if it is something you always wanted to try,

but never thought you could.

Please go get this book.

There are WAY too many favorite quotes to include in a single post,

but here is one for you to consider today:

"The Miracle Isn't that I finished.

The Miracle is that I had the Courage to Start."

....................................

PS - I want to send it to all my sisters....what do I do?  I want to loan it to friends,

and I also want to keep it.

HELP!!

Secrets don't make friends.....NEW BOOK!!

Tomorrow night I am to host book club.

Orphan Train is the book we will be reviewing....

it was pretty good,

based on a true story,

moved along pretty well, and so forth....

but it just didn't totally grab me, 

I could put it down.

I probably won't really remember it in a month...

to be honest, 

I may be hard pressed to remember much about

it for tomorrow,

good thing there are some pretty good talkers in our club : )

It won't matter what I recall, it will come back once we start discussing it.

It really was a pretty good book :)

The book I am 

DYING TO DISCUSS AND REVIEW

is 

Our bishop was over the other night, 

my copy was out on the table,

flipped upside down,

he picked it up, 

Oh!

 what's this?

a new book?

I was clamoring around.....trying to get to it and put it away,

hum hawing and feeling the urge to explain just the

title was a little silly, 

it's not really like it sounds.....

whatever.

I felt kind of lame.

anyway.....

I really, really enjoyed the Husbands Secret!!

I think I am giving it my first 5 star rating!

It wasn't smutty,  just a little sexy.

It was emotional,

It was thought provoking,

made me want to take a look at my own life.

My attitudes, and the way I interact in my personal relations....

and mainly with in my RELATIONSHIP.

I really, really like Liane Moriarty.

She is a great writer, and I enjoyed (and remember) the first

book I read that she authored...

Here is a short little video I found on YouTube of her discussing 

the Husband's Secret.....

take a look

(you can find out if you'd like to read it also).

She is very normal.

Her blog is nice,

written by a regular middle aged woman.

I like that she is hugely successful,

 and yet still just a bit insecure and the same as everyone else.

The book is exciting from the get go,

you are introduced to the main character, and you get into her story  

very fast, you think you are staying put,

you are ready to nestle down with pop corn,

but no, 

you branch off into two other story lines..... 

none are any less intriguing than the first (amazing!).

They eventually all wrap back around together.

Liane does such a good job developing the characters and 

the way they relate and treat one another,

how they justify their decisions.

I like being able to 

read their internal dialog, what they are really thinking,

or wanting to say, because that is exactly what we 

do in real life.

Don't we??

I sure do.

Much of it is relatable.

Sometimes it is sad seeing the time that is wasted because of pride,

ego, or misunderstanding.

Or to see how mean we can be.

......Only we don't recognize it as mean.......

our withholding for some reason.
Or not allowing the closeness that could have been, or could be.

Maybe we are trying to prove an important point.....

teach a lesson.

Whatever our reasons are,

sure seems like there's a better way....

I am guessing that all of us,

more than anything else,

 want deep meaningful relationships.

So why is it so easy to put up 

all those walls?

Play those miserable games.
Why do we even say play?.....it is no fun.

We keep parts of ourself pulled back just a little.

.... tucked away to keep us safe,

don't want to be too vulnerable, or exposed.

I wonder why it seems so difficult at times,

and other times it all comes easy.

I think that is why relationships are so fascinating and 

wonderful, and maddening and annoying at others.

They keep us on our toes.

Always out smarting us.

I am thankful for the ebb and flow.....

THANK GOODNESS for the ebb, or is it the flow?

Which is the good one?

At times 

We waste energy and effort on 

acquaintances that 

don't matter.

We fret, and plan, and put our best self forward for 

everybody else.....but not the very person (or people) that 

we desire to have closest to us.

The person we want 

to know and love us the best.

We let our egos guide our actions and words in the 

relationship that means the most to us.

Self protective pride.

I wish it was never invented.

I keep saying WE....

I guess I am assuming I am not alone

in these lame relationship blunders.

Sometimes I need a swift kick in the pants to 

get back to where I know I can be.

Humble my self, not get offended, not be critical,

or so dang serious.

Just shake it off woman!!

Go do some stretching for heavens sake.

Remember how to flirt.

Try to be a little funny now and then.

I would do well to lighten up.

Reminders are good.

Fresh perspective.....

I like my reminders in the form of a delicious novel.

Here are some things I will be paying closer attention to, 

especially pertaining to my mate:

Be quicker to compliment......I often think them in my mind....

I need to get them out in verbal format.

I like to hear when my man thinks I look Hot!

wouldn't he enjoy the same?

Express my gratitude.

Communicate what I am thinking or feeling.

Share more....

Invite more ...

Admit when I am wrong, say I am sorry....

if and when this (being wrong) ever happens I will definitely apologize.

Admit that I wish.....
I remember......

I love.....

I want....

A tangible Family Goal:

I will watch football with the family.

I will sit and watch a game without looking at a magazine, my phone, or planner.

I will use my eyes to focus on the plays.

I actually know that it will be a blast.....

but there just always seems to be something 

way more important for me to be doing when a game is on.

But I want the benefits that will come from being a part of these games

that are so enjoyed by certain other members of our family

......Those benefits are what I am after.

Plus I have always said,

 I can't wait to watch games together as a family,
and drink hot cocoa (Choffy) and eat tomato soup, and 

cheese toast wiches like we did when I was growing up.

I remember that good, fun, warm, exciting feeling watching BYU games together.

The Fridge, and Jim McMan....

I was into it!

I was into the atmosphere of it.

The bond of cheering together.

of being let down together.....

we'll get em next time!
 kind of stuff.

but,

 I'm embarrassed to say,

 I have not really taken advantage of this much yet with my own family.

Ethan will turn 17 in a few weeks....

I will loose my chance here very quickly.

................

It will always be easy to blame.

but truthfully,

it comes right down to being the kind of person you want to be married to.

Treat your partner the way you want to be treated.

Love how you want to be loved.

Open up to receive the same.

The Golden Rule.....is a terrific tool.

More Books full of Words.....

My friend Tina is on this big kick to read 52 weeks 

of Motivational books 

this year.

I benefit because she passes the titles on to me.

I am in her Downline for CHOFFY....

she is my "Mentor" you could say.

So,

I write them down in my planner.

I hear about them through her and read some of them.

This one you have probably read yourself.

If not,

you should.

I remember I had my own copy a long time ago,

 because I had heard that,

"this is a must read book".

but for some reason I remember not being able to really get into it.

Very strange, because this book is so small.

What couldn't I "get into".

The goodness started for me immediately this go round.

I am going to give you a quick gauge on the book here,

because I would like a short wrap up myself.

I need to get my own copy (again)....Tina wrote her name in the front of hers,

which tells me she definitely wants it back.

I want one that I can highlight the dickens out of.

I won't give you the story line, or even messages from every chapter, 

only a few of my favorite nuggets....

there are WAY to many to include, this will give you a taste of more

to come when you read it.

"I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal.  Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road.  Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak.  The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third.  Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence.  Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble.  So it will be with my efforts of today.
I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.
I will persist until I succeed.

I am nature's greatest miracle.

I am not on this earth by chance.  I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand.  Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.  I will practice, improve, and polish, to deliver with excellence.  I will concentrate my efforts on the challenge of the moment....

Today I will be master of my emotions. 

If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel incompetent I will remember past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
No longer will I judge a man on one meeting;  no longer will I fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today.  This day he will not buy gold chariots for a penny, yet tomorrow he would exchange his home for a tree.
Today I will be master of my emotions.

I will act now.  I will act now.  I will act now."

These are just a few gems from the Greatest Salesman.

Even though as the title states, it is a story of a salesman,

it is applicable to each of us.

..........................

I also just finished listening to -

This book helped me get A LOT done.

trust me when I say my kitchen has never looked better...

(not counting the floor)

I cleaned out drawers, wiped down cabinets, painted around the 

handles, dunged out the fridge.  

Plus I ironed all of Kev's shirts and my items as well.

Reorganized our closets.....

anything I could do within hearing distance to my kitchen 

cd player was happily accomplished.....

lots of baking and cooking as well.

With 26 disks!!!

I had quite a bit of project time.

(also did not mind my drive time in the slightest.)

oh dang.....

I just remembered I never got to my mother in laws scrapbook 

pages I have promised to send out to her.

hmmmmm.....

best get onto my next book.

No time to waste.

If you are familiar with Ayn Rand's style of writing.

This is along the same lines as Atlas Shrugged.

Really enjoyed them both.

Both are aimed at celebrating individualism.....

and the human spirit.

Rather than sinking and disappearing into the mush pot of collectivism.

Her books are the perfect description of our time, written in 1943.

I will never be able to make it sound interesting, 

but I enjoy her books very much.
They definitely get you thinking, contemplating.

They are so frustrating,

yet so rewarding.

Sad, upsetting, and then fantastically triumphant.

Maddening, and then understanding arrives in a nick of time.

GOOD Stuff.

The Fountain Head is based around architecture. 

What have you been reading?

What is your favorite book of all time??

Maybe you could describe Ayn Rands writing better than me....

would love to hear your take.

the FORGOTTEN GARDEN.....

Done.

I just finished my latest book club assignment.

the FORGOTTEN GARDEN

by: Kate Morton

Phew....

it has been a hot and heavy two day reading marathon.

Well, I was actually finished by 11:00 a.m. today.

So maybe just a full one day read-a-thon.

Don't get me wrong,

I have been reading it since the beginning of March,

but that is really only two weeks ago,

book club got bumped up this month due to spring break.

The first 200 pages were a bit slow for me.

This book has continuous switchbacks,

present, re-cent past, and past.

It took me a good bit of time just to get everyone straight.

I am a bit slow that way.

sooooooo....now I am set free again.

Kinda sad....fumbling around doing wash,

making food again for my family,

phone calls, etc.

Accidentally going to pick my book up when I have a few spare

minutes, only to remember I have already finished it.

Yesterday was a day much preferred.

5:00a.m.Wake up,

5:20 work out.

6:30 walk in door...begin reading.

7:00 arouse kids, nourish them, bike them to school.

7:15 get right to the business of reading.

9:00 hurry to school store, make a few sales, make deposit.

9:45 Choffy break.....walk around, limber up.

10:30 run 6 errands, bank, Walgreens, etc.

get caught up on Tina and Sonia's hair adventure through

pictures and text.

decline lunch date....musen't stray from my task.

11:30 Get home.

read.....tiny nap break.

up again, read more.

Choffy after lunch of some kind.

1:30 dying for something chocolate...

dig through house. 

nothing.

end up making muddy buddies with the rest of the Corn Chex.

ate those for the remainder of the day while reading.

.........

Book is getting good.

finally at page 313....there was a spark of "Romantic Tension"....

that always grabs my attention.

Book Highlights:

I love that "Tess of D'urbervilles was mentioned in the book on pg 352,

that is where McCauley's middle name came from.

"The Rub" was uttered on pg 402.....it is funny, V just said that the other day.

I like that phrase and plan on using it soon.

Today Stacey said, "here's the kicker".....I wondered out loud

if that was the same as "the rub"....

nope,

"the kicker" is a good thing......kind of like a bonus, or the best part.

I love in the book how they refer to coffee, or tea as a "cuppa"

or a "nice drop of warm"....definitely adding those to my vocab for

Choffy reference.

Best word reminder....

dithering - 190 - Stop dithering around!  YES....winner!

The gist of this book was about a women desperately seeking

to pull the threads of her family history together.

Trust me when I say they were in a bit of a tangle.

It was amazing where it all started,

the in's and outs, the intertwining

and all that happened to get her where she was....

and ultimately WHO she was.

I would recommend this book.

 Here is a typical "perfect reading conditions" set up,

a sample pack of what I might have when I read.

I actually had TWO cherry pop tarts....

why are they so dang good??!!

We only have left over green milk from St. Patties day,

I used my Choffy mug from yesterday....if you can see brown

flecks in the cup, that is why.

Must haves: lipgloss, and tons of water.

This way I only have to get up to go to the bathroom, 

refill my water, or get Choffy.

Sweet!!

Thought it would be fun to dress the part for book club tonight....

Eliza was always sweeping in our out in a "white cotton" dress......

soooooo why not?

This book was inertangled with fairytales...and imagination,

it was fun to fancy up a bit and drag it out a few more hours.

The next book is my pick.

Kind of scary and a lot of pressure.

No one wants to pick a dud....or something inappropriate.

I really want something fast, fun, exciting, and where 

I don't have to think too hard about the characters.

(I plan on taking it to read over spring break).

Someone gave me this book at the gym and raved over it.

Then several people walking by sang its praises.

It got 4.5 stars on Amazon.

I went for it.....it looks a little irreverent, innuendoes galore,

but I thought what the heck.

Stephanie Plum has an entire series of these books...

this is the first.

Maybe it will be the last.

Book club is here on April 17th!

I invite you to join us and read One For the Money....

or you can wait a few weeks, I will test it out first,

(just to be safe)

then you can borrow my copy.

HB....you should just read it for fun!

Born To Run Book Review, etc.

 Man, I really wanted to love this book.  

I had read so many raving reviews.  I began it before running my first marathon in January, 
I fully expected to finish it quickly and implement all the amazing 

running nuggets into my run and be lighter than air, etc.  

I guess my expectations were set to high.  
I was enraptured with the first twenty five pages or so, 
but shortly there after it went into a huge drag out for me.  
The last twenty pages or so were again relatable, 
and I enjoyed the ending.....  
mostly because it was the ending.  
I guess I am just not a "running book" kind of person. 
BUT WAIT.....!!
 I am NOT giving up just yet though, 
a good friend gave me a fun surprise the other day, 
Run Like A Girl....
and it does indeed look amazing. 
Can't wait! 
I will soon find out, now that I have hurdled this guy. 

The next book I will be reading looks like a pleasant, enjoyable stroll in the park.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.

This will be the second book in a little book club I joined last month

with my friend Heather Hennessee,
(she chose this book).

She will be hosting at her house on the last Tuesday in Feb. the 28th.

Would you care to join us???

It would be super fun if you did!

Take a look at the book and its reviews,
(although they don't always mean much!).

See if you are even interested.

If not, maybe next months book.

What are you reading right now??

Any good?

EXODUS - my review

I really wanted to love this book.

I wanted to enjoy it like I enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, 

or Pillars of the Earth.

I consider both of these other titles deep reads,

books I won't soon forget.

Titles I took something away from.

They left me thinking and pondering about my own life,

my blessings, our society, etc.

EXODUS was in that same realm,

a historical fiction anyway, but I did not enjoy the journey

as I did the other two novels.

It was the story of the War of Liberation of the Jews.

It tells the story of the Jews coming back after centuries of 

abuse, torture, and murder to take back what was theirs

two thousand years before.

Israel.

ok, sounds good.

I knew nothing of this war.

I know that Tina is obsessed with the happenings in Israel, 

and follows it religiously.

She even went to a rallie of some sort recently that 

she said I would be dying to support after I read this book.

Nope.

That is not for me.

I felt I knew enough of the holocaust and Jews in general

through books like -

Sarah's Key, Number the Stars, 

and Anne Frank.

Exodus was so relentless in the hardships and fighting,

and wars and fighting.

Then some more fighting,

then meetings, abuse, fighting.....

killing, murder, plunder, dying, 

fighting...

fighting...

I was so worn out from all the fighting and trying to 

keep track of the Arabs, and Egyptians, and British 

coming at the Jews constantly.

It was exhausting.

I have come to learn that I am a very selfish reader.

I want certain things from my books.

I felt exhausted, I didn't want to take it any more.

HA.

I couldn't take it any more!

Get that.

That is the sad truth.

I wanted happiness and some relief.

I want my books not to be broken.

This book was broken, and did not end in a happily ever after situation.

It still continues today.

 Some of the things I learned from the book:

No one in Israel worked for comfort in his own lifetime:

it was all for tomorrow,

for the children,

for the new immigrants coming in.

They worked for a new generation that was never to know

 humiliation for being a Jew.

They work and work and fight tooth and nail to scrape and 

hang on to what is theirs.

Always defending. 

Constantly on the alert for the next attack on them.

There was no luxury of sitting and thinking.

No time to enjoy their garden,

their family,

a book.

In the past I have always been a little put off by the Publix

ads that have a full page wasted on weird Jewish

food items for sale during certain times of the year...

Passover being one of them.

In the book I learned what some of those items symbolize for all Jews.

Matzos - the unleavened bread reminds them that the children of Israel

had to leave Egypt so quickly their bread was unleavened.

An Egg - to symbolize the freewill offering.

Nuts, diced apples, and maror (bitter herbs) - represent the mortar 

the Egyptians forced them to mix for brick building,

and the herbs recall the bitterness of bondage.

I have gained a greater respect for what the Jews

went through....

go through.

I have gained knowledge enough 

not to be annoyed or ignorantly disrespectful in regard 

to their traditions and beliefs.

I would love to go and eat a passover meal and have it all explained, 

and hear the story of their ancestor's
exodus from Egypt retold from the bible.

You know what?

I am almost 100% positive that there is a Jewish family living on 

our street. 

They are quite, keep to themselves....

pretty much everyone does on the street so that is not
a huge surprise.
I have spoken to the mother one time,
probably over a year ago,
they have two small children.
I have challenged myself to go and get to know them this week.
Make an attempt to reach out.
I will get to ask all of my questions,
and they will be sincere,
 I really want to know.

God loves all of his children.
He provides miracles not only for some,
but to all of his faithful.

I still don't understand so much...
I am still confused about many of the happenings.
I don't know how the Jews fit into the grand sceme of my beliefs of being in
the true church of Jesus Christ.
I don't know how it will all pan out.
Maybe I don't need to know.
I have no desire to ever re-read Exodus again,
but I am glad I persevered through one time.
Some good came of it I think.

Lastly.....I am going to watch the dvd with Paul Newman.
This will help clear up some sequencing, etc.
I hope.
Now this I think I can handle.
It is being held for me at the library....holler if you want to join me.

I am done with seriousness for a while.
After I read some Ensign articles, and my scriptures,
 I am going to start my new book.
I cannot wait!!!
It is sitting on my microwave just teasing me!!

How is it that I have such a life to be able to sit and read?
To enjoy.
To relax.
To think.
To ponder.
To choose.
To be free.
To live with out fear.
To love.
Do I recognize these luxuries enough?
Do you?

Room....

Hmmm, I just finished listening to Room on CD.

It came highly recommended from a lady 

whose running blog I read from time to time.

I was intrigued by the overview and decided to give it a go.

A quick summery:

It is from a 5 year olds point of view.

His mom was kid napped when she was 19 years old and 

held captive for seven years....in that time

Jack, this little boy, was born.

All he ever new was this room they lived in and his mom.

They eventually got out....

I won't spill the beans on that

just in case.

I found that I was really bothered and annoyed by a few

things in the story.

One being that Jack nursed through the entire book,

or as he called it, "having some".

He would just pluck up his moms shirt and drink from the left,

his favorite because it was the most creamy, or the right.

Man....this grated on my nerves.

The other thing was his long hair, and everyone thinking he was 

a girl when he was out.

The mom was so bent on him being able to keep it,

even though time and again he was called a cute little girl.

I just didn't get it.

Why I was so caught up in these two details from all of the book

is beyond me....

but I know this is how I will remember 

this dang book.

Bummer.  

It was interesting,

 the mother was an excellent parent.

I could definitely learn a thing or two from her

meaningful interaction with her son....

but I can't get past the "getting some" every minute.

Shame on me....I feel like I am prejudice or something.

If you click on that link above you can go check out the Room....

it is pretty cool.

I am still trying to Slug my way through Exodus, by Leon Uris....

It is torture but I will be finished by the end of the week.

I have a problem quitting books that I start.

I have to finish them.

I can't believe how much I am not loving it though,

it is one of Tina's all time favorite books.

We have enjoyed several of the same books in the past

so I didn't hesitate picking this one up.

She has not steered me wrong....

until now. 

"Speak"

Melissa Christensen's review 

Apr 24, 11  ·  edit

status: Read from April 21 to 24, 2011

Ethan is in 8th grade at DeLaura Middle School this year. He came home earlier this week with a parental permission slip that needed to be signed in order for him to participate in the reading aloud of "Speak" in his Language Arts class. At first when I read the paper I said, No Way. If you need parental approval it is a definite no go. Nope. No ifs ands or buts. Ethan was like, mom, my teacher said no parent has ever said no. I don't want to sit in another room by myself and do some other assignment on my own. Please look into it. So Kevin and I did. I got online and looked up the parent reviews for this book. Read many. Every review I read was positive and in support of this book. Finally after holding a copy for myself at the library, and Kevin and I going over the contents of the book, and the "Red Flag" topics.... underage drinking, rape, premarital sex, abortion....now this all sounds extremely bad, but these are the topics that we discussed with Ethan that night before signing the paper. We talked about our beliefs and his understanding on what each topic actually meant. Rape = sex without permission. ok...I guess this has come up in school. 
I was anxious to get my book. I was highly skeptical. I was able to pick it up the next day and, have been racing through it. I just finished it this afternoon. I waffled on what rating to give it. This is one of the very few 5 stars I have given. This was a thought provoking book. It was sad and disappointing. This little girl went through so much, but as the book goes on she finally starts to come through the other side of this huge trial. I love the symbolism the author uses throughout the book. How she relates nature to life. This young lady was able to find the strength she had within herself and grow. I do recommend it.....especially for parents to read if your child has been assigned it. You will be able to discuss these issues and talk openly about them with your teen. It was a good opportunity for us to take advantage of. 

A few books...

Melissa Christensen's review 

Apr 21, 11  ·  edit

Shelly gave me this book. I really liked it. It was about a family that lived practically homeless their entire life.....and that was exactly how they (at least the parents) wanted it. The parents were dysfunctional on many levels. "The Glass Castle" is a memoir of one of the daughters, who is now a journalist. There were many moments where I was really hating the parents, and then in the next chapter, the dad steps up and does something pretty awesome. I thought the dad came up w/ some ingenious gifts....very creative and convincing man. I liked how the kids stuck together for the most part - they understood that they stood a better chance taking on the world together. They were always there for each other. I was constantly amazed at the situations they were in that they were not killed, assaulted, or worse....what could be worse? It is amazing the things we all take for granted on a daily basis....a bed, a toilet, food, shelter, this was eye opening. These kids were survivors no doubt. Yes, you should read it.

(Tina you can borrow my copy)

Melissa Christensen's review 

Apr 21, 11  ·  edit

My sister in law recommended this book to me. The first half is a pretty tough read, tough meaning sad and hard to swallow. This book revolves around the jewish round up in Paris France. I was really clueless about all of this part of history (most history). I know basically the "Anne Frank" story, that is about it. Through out the book I kept thinking, along with the girl Sarah, whom the book is about, she kept wondering what made her different from other children, she couldn't imagine why she and all of the other people with her had to be treated that way. WHO HAD DECIDED THIS? AND WHAT FOR? Because they were Jews. But I still don't get it. So what? So you are saying that because they were Jews....Jews that crucified Jesus Christ hundreds, and hundreds of years ago, they were being murdered and tortured? These are supposed believers in Christ doing all of this? It makes no sense. The book was good overall, I did learn a lot about that time period. I would recommend it.

I am starting this book today.

I am quite leery, last night Ethan pulled out a parental permission slip

that required a signature in order for the student to be able to 

read "Speak" along with the class.

RED FLAG.

I got it to read first.

I will report in a few days.