My Favorite Christmas Book

I love Christmas picture books. It was hard for me to decide on a favorite because I have lots. I decided to pick this one because it was one of the first Christmas picture books I fell in love with. It's called The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski. First of all, the art work is absolutely beautiful. It is a visually gorgeous book, but the story is equally lovely if not more so. It is about a widow and her son who ask the local carpenter to make them a new Nativity for Christmas. The carpenter, Jonathan Toomey, is a sad and bitter widower, but his heart is opened again as he carves each piece of the Nativity. It is a sweet story about the healing and peace that comes as we open our hearts to the love that was born on Christmas night.

Women who changed the world, Ros Horton & Sally Simmons

“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” Joan of Arc

“I believe in hard work. It keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.” Helena Rubinstein

“Her spirit will endure as long as man can read and stories can be told of the woman who showed the world there are no boundaries to courage and faith.” Senator Lister Hill of Alabama, speaking about Helen Keller

“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do.” Mother Teresa

“Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” Anne Frank

This book features 50 women who “are outstanding individuals who achieved exceptional things in the major fields of human endeavour—politics, literature, art, science, music, social reform, entertainment, sport, and adventure.” Each woman’s life story is told in a 3-page mini-biography. I enjoyed this format and even made a list of people, movies, and songs I want to look up now that I’ve read a small introduction. Some of the women I found interesting to learn about include Cleopatra, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Margaret Bourke-White, Katharine Hepburn, Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, and surprisingly, Madonna.

Other well-known women featured in this book:
Amelia Earhart
Benazir Bhutto
Billie Holiday
Dian Fossey
Diana, Princess of Wales
Eleanor Roosevelt
Elizabeth I
Eva Peron
Florence Nightingale
Isabella I of Spain
Jane Austen
Margaret Thatcher
Marie Curie
Marilyn Monroe
Susan B. Anthony
Virginia Woolf

Little Women/Good Wives

Did you know that the movie Little Women is actually taken from two of Louisa May Alcott's books? Yep! I found out because when I borrowed the book Little Women from the library, I was distressed the closer I got to the end. Why? Because it wasn't the end of the story. So I thought I had gotten ripped off by the British for only getting half of the book. But now I know there were actually two different books to begin with. Yesterday I just finished the second half, Good Wives. And let me tell you that it was so adorable! Now, I've read a lot of books. But I would say that Little Women (parts 1 & 2) is now on my top 10 list. That's saying a lot! So for anyone looking for a wholesome read that offers great advice & sweet love stories, Little Women & Good Wives are the books for you!

Has anyone read the sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys?

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

I chose to read this book this month. I've been wanting to read it for a while now, and it seemed like the appropriate time. I really enjoyed this book, though it was slow going at times. The book is about one family's attempt to become more connected to their food by eating local for one year. They own farm land, so they grow, harvest and preserve most of the food they eat (including meat). It's interesting to think about eating more locally and eating food when it's in season. This book is not for everyone, but if you're looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, save money, or become more self sufficient it's a good resource.

October Discussion

The Wednesday Letters

by Jason Wright

I absolutely loved this book! I enjoyed how realistic the relationships were. Even though Jack had some flaws, I thought he was a great example of a wonderful husband and father.

Here are some questions to ponder/answer. Hope you enjoyed the book too!

1. A&P adopts the nickname that others had given to mock her, telling herself, “nicknames mean you matter” (p. 5). Have you ever had a nickname you didn’t like? How might you have turned it around to give it a positive meaning?

2. Joe is finally able to give up alcohol because the girl he nearly killed forgave him—even visiting him and frequently writing him letters while he was in prison. What is the novel saying about the relationship between forgiveness and self-acceptance? Where else are these themes worked through the novel?

3. Does The Wednesday Letters inspire you to start any traditions of your own?

Book for October

The Wednesday Letters

by Jason F. Wright

This is one I've been wanting to read for about a year now. My good friend recommended it to me but the Manchester library doesn't have it. So I bought it as my "plane book" for my flight home from Utah. But I didn't get a chance to even open it because I was busying watching in-flight movies/t.v. and sleeping. This book is also a New York Times Bestseller. I hope you like it too!

September Discussion

Where did September go?! Hopefully we're back in the swing of things, recovering from a fun summer, and ready to start reading again!


Here are some questions for Emma and 1776.


Emma:
1. Did you like the movie or book better? Why?
2. How would you rate this book in comparison to Jane Austen's other books/movies you've read/seen?
3. Did you or did you not like the character, Emma? Why?



1776:
1. So what's the big deal about the year 1776 anyway? (aka, was it a good read?)
2. What major/minor role would you have played, if you lived during that time?
3. What did you learn?

Book for September

This month you have a choice to read 1776 or Emma. It seems like everyone has been busy for the summer and this month might be busy too. So if you happen to read anything else, please post a recommendation here.

I've already read Emma so I'll post some questions at the end of the month. Marcos has read 1776 so I'll get him to tell me some questions for that book as well.

Hope everyone had a lovely summer.

Midnight Sun Tragedy

Have you heard that someone leaked the first half of Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer??? Midnight Sun is the same story as Twilight, but from Edward's perspective. So since it was leaked, Stephenie was pretty upset (which was totally justified) and so she made a statement and then posted the first 12 chapters of Midnight Sun on her website (www.stepheniemeyer.com).

While Stephenie would prefer that her true fans didn't read it, she also knows that people will just look for it anyway. Well, there was NO WAY I was going to be able to not read it. So I did. And it was fabulous! Actually, it was my very favorite of the whole series (and this book isn't even finished).

Anyway, I am heart-broken that she has decided to put it on hold "indefinitely." But there are quite a few fan groups that are petitioning her to continue the work. Check out some of the links on the side of this blog for more details about that.

Has anyone else read Midnight Sun yet?

Discussion for Breaking Dawn

I realized after reading the book that I can't post the questions for discussion without spoilers, so I will leave the questions in the comments section.

This month we'll be reading and discussing Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. I'll put questions for discussion up soon, but with a warning: if you read the comments on the discussion before you finish the book, you may read something that will give the plot away!! I'd like to read people's opinions about the ending, etc (I haven't read it yet, so don't comment on this post), so I don't want everyone to have to tip-toe around the details.

So, on this post, leave comments that don't give everything away. On the next post, don't read the comments unless you're either done with the book, or don't mind give-aways. Consider yourselves warned. :)

The Kabul Beauty School

The Kabul Beauty School: The Art of Friendship and Freedom

by Deborah Rodriguez

I give this book 4/5 stars. This book is for anyone who liked The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns. It's also for anyone interested in learning more about life in Afghanistan. I think the hardest part about reading this book was knowing that all of these women's stories were true! I don't want to say too much because I think you'll like it if you don't have too high of expectations. Just read it!

Freebe--July

Ok, since I've been totally behind, and having stupid Internet issues, I've decided to not have anyone assigned for July. Summer can be really busy for most people anyway. So if you happen to read a book in July, please post comments here. We'll make this month one where we just recommend good books for each other.

Oops!

I've been so busy with work that I forgot to assign someone to choose a book for us to read for the next few months. So if you would like to be in charge of the book choosing and discussion for July, August, or September, please leave your comment here!

For more info on what to do when it's your turn to choose, see the little blurb to the left.

Book Discussion for June

Well, here are the discussion questions for The Princess and The Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison. I've never lead a book discussion before, so sorry if my questions are lame. Here we go:

1. Did you like it? Why or why not? I hope everyone enjoyed it, but I'm sorry if you didn't.

2. What do you think of the title of this book? Do you think it works or do you think it misleads the reader? Why do you think the author went with that title?

3. Many say this book is a twist on Beauty and the Beast. Do you see why they'd say that or do you disagree?

4. Were you surprised by the book's ending?

5. Do you have a favorite part?

Please feel free to add any other insights.

The Glass Castle Discussion Questions

1.  Did you like The Glass Castle?  Which scenes were the most shocking, the most inspiring, the funniest?

2.  What kind of man was Rex Walls?  What were his strengths and weaknesses, his flaws and contractions?

3.  What kind of woman was Rose Mary Walls?  What did you think about her description of herself as an "excitement addict?

4.  What is the "glass castle" and what does it signify to Jeanette and her father?

5.  Though it portrays a hard life, The Glass Castle is never depressing.  How did the author achieve this?

6.  Did you find it easy or difficult to be nonjudgmental toward Jeanette's parents?

Book of the Month for June

I've recently discovered how much I enjoy young adult fiction, particularly fantasy. That's one reason I chose "The Princess and the Hound" by Mette Ivie Harrison. Don't be mislead by the title. It is more about a prince and is written from his perspective. Also, keep in mind when you finish it that there is a sequel. Amazon recommended this book to me I think because I bought Twilight. I was interested in it not only for its story but for its reviews. There is a very complimentary review on the cover by Orson Scott Card. So, I gave it a try. It's an interesting story about a prince who has the animal magic, which is punishable by death. He is betrothed to a strange princess in a neighboring kingdom who has an unusual bond with her hound. They both have secrets they've kept from the world, and these secrets will either bring them together or keep them apart. I liked it very much, and I hope you will too.

Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf

I have a recommendation: "Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff" by Jennifer L. Holm. This is the most unique and creative book I have ever read. The story is not told the conventional way. It is literally told through stuff like the title says. Each page tells the story through various things like Ginni's (the main character) to-do-lists, shopping lists, school class schedules, report cards, English essays, notes from her mom, etc. It was such a fun way to get to know Ginni and her 7th grade year of middle school. I think all of us can sympathize in some ways with Ginni. Shannon Hale recommended the book on her website, and it got rave reviews on Amazon.com, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. It was a very fun read. With no interruptions, you could probably read it in an hour or so. I had a hard time putting it down because I was so drawn into the story and how it is told. It is a very clever book and very well done too. If you're interested in something light, fun, and interesting you should give this book a try.

Book discussion on Austenland

I'm glad to hear you all pretty much enjoyed this book. I think all of has a little bit of romance in ourselves and sometimes our books are an escape into that romance world. I, myself have fallen into all of the remakes and similar stories of Pride and Prejudice.
Just a couple of questions for you to answer or just think about.
Who did you think she would end up with, Martin or Mr. Nobley?
Did you have a hard time figuring out what was their play acting world and what was reality (especially in regards to their feelings)?
Please feel free to leave additional comments or ask any questions!

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking

by Malcolm Gladwell

"I believe . . . that the task of making sense of ourselves and our behavior requires that we acknowledge there can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis."

Are you interested in how the mind works? Do you ever wonder why people do what they do? Do you like reading short case studies of interesting historical events? Do you have to make quick decisions under pressure? Are you interested in music, art, politics, or psychology? If your answer is yes to any of the above, this book is for you!

This book was recommended to me by one of my professors in my MSW program. I have been wanting to read it since then and just barely picked it up from the library. Because I had high expectations, I was worried that I would be let down. I am happy to report that I was not!

This book is well organized as the author takes you through various case studies and research experiments. The logic was easy of me to follow and his style of writing kept me entertained. More than once I stopped in the middle of a chapter to write down a term, person, or website to look up online. This is a book I could enjoy reading over and over again. Indeed, for me to fully grasp the concepts, I plan to re-read it when I have more time to ponder the ideas and someone to discuss it with. This would make an excellent choice for a book club.

Another Great Fantasy Series

This fantasy series by Maria V. Snyder is fabulous; I finished the last book of three this weekend. The second book is called Magic Study and the third book is called Fire Study. For all those romantics out there, you will appreciate the romance. For all those adventure folks out there, you will appreciate the constant conflict and action. I liked Poison Study by far the best out of the three books and since I loved it so much I was compelled to quickly read the other two. The final book, Fire Study, was a little complicated and left a few questions...but maybe that means there will be a companion series in the future. I certainly hope so.

I tried to upload the other two books but it was taking too long. You can search for them on the web, however.

Book for May: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I have chosen The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls as the book for May. It is a memoir about growing up with eccentric parents which causes the family to be poverty stricken and homeless, at times. You will be surprised about how non-depressing her tale is. Enjoy!

Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely is a young adult fantasy written by Melissa Marr. It is about a human girl who can see the faires (faeries) who live in our world. I think Amazon recommended it to me because I bought the Twilight series. Anyway, this book was so fun to read! The end was a little predictable but with some unexpected twists. At first it was hard to get into because nothing is explained as unfamiliar terms are used. However, that seemed to keep me reading just because I wanted to figure it out. I found myself thinking about this book as I was ironing, doing dishes, and even falling asleep. I also found it amusing that the author was voted by her highschool classmates as the most likely to end up in jail.

March's Book Discussion

I hope you all had a good March and had a chance to read The Street Lawyer. I sure enjoy reading any of John Grisham's book. I like his, what I call, Lawyer's books the best since he used to be one. Of course the novels are fiction but he pretty much knows what he's talking about. Anyhow, here are some questions to think about.

What did you like about the story? Or if you liked the story?

Did you like the ending? How would you end the book?

Did any part of the book inspire you? Even a little bit?

Did the book change your opinion about lawyers? Would you ever be one?

Or just share your thoughts and feelings about the book or the author...

Good book to read

I just finished such a good book. It's called In search of Eden by Linda Nichols. It's about a girl who was forced to give her newborn up for adoption when she was 15. It tells the story of her searching for this baby and in turn learns something about herself. I was crying, laughing, and enjoying the whole way through. It is told by a very devout Christian (not LDS). So there is alot of prayers, scripture references, and overal amens but they definitely add to the story line. Enjoy.

Book for April

Alright you closet Jane Austen fans, this is the book for you (and also the book I've chosen for April). It is called Austenland by Shannon Hall. A fun book that reflects a little bit of each of us. It's short and not too deep so it will allow you time to read other books of your choosing as well. Happy reading and we'll talk in April.

A Tribute to Frank McCourt

Browsing through the books on CD at the library one day a long time ago I came across a familiar title, Angela's Ashes. I hadn't seen the movie but figured since it was made into a movie it must be pretty good. As I began listening during my daily commute I realized this book isn't just 'pretty good' it is the best book I have ever read (or listened to). Angela's Ashes is Frank McCourt's recount of his life growing up in Ireland--"A miserable childhood" which he points out in his opening statement.

Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize winning story is read in his own voice, which makes listening to it a beautiful cultural experience. He even sings! If you decide to read this book based on this blog entry, please listen to it instead. Again, the story is so much better when hearing his voice and inflection.

Frank McCourt has written two additional memoirs: 'Tis and Teacher Man. Both are wonderful. There is a part in 'Tis where I laughed so hard tears came. If anyone has ever tried teaching teenagers they will be able to relate wholeheartedly to Teacher Man--I read it when I was attempting to teach life skills to criminal teens at an alternative high school. He has also written a children's book, about Christmas, Angela and The Baby Jesus.

Frank McCourt's reflection of his life has made such a difference in my life. Though I cannot relate to the degree of suffering he has experienced, I can very much relate to his emotional experience and reaction to the irony, humor, and humanity of of the world. I am so grateful I picked up his book that day...

You can learn more about Frank McCourt a this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_McCourt

Questions for Eragon

Just a few easy questions.

What was your favorite part of the book?
Would you read the next books in the series?
What do you think about the author being so young when he wrote it?

Hope you enjoyed it.

Book for March

Ok… when Ruth asked me if I would like to choose a book for March, I was supper honored and I thought of 15 different books that I had enjoyed reading. When I had to narrow it down, I could not decide between a classic, a novel or a history fiction. So, based on the books read previously on this blog, I decided to go with a fun read book that makes you think a little and makes you feel good by the time you are done. I hope you all enjoy this as I did. The book is Street Lawyer, by John Grisham. It is an older book and if most of you have already read this or prefer another type of book, let me know and I will choose another book. Have fun reading….

Breaking Dawn

For those of you who don't know, Breaking Dawn (4th book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer) will be available August 2nd!!! This announcement this week has me looking forward to August instead of dreading it (since I'll be turning 30! Agh!). As soon as I told my husband the news he said, "Great! That can be your birthday present!" Personally, I think he just wants me to read it so he can find out what happens to Bella. But really, who can blame him? I've told him the whole story & I don't think a week goes by that we don't discuss something from the book. He used to try to find the flaws with the fabulous world Stephenie created. But now I think he's resigned to the fact that I'll keep reading these books over and over again. Hey, at least I'm not as addicted to them as some people I know. . . :)

Jane Austen Quiz

Look who I am:

Take the Quiz here!

Book for February

I know that Fantasy is not everyones cup of tea but since it is my favorite genre I chose a fantasy book. The book is Eragon by Christopher Paolini. What is most amazing about this book is that the author wrote it when he was 16 years old. Funny but that actually made me love the book more because I was impressed with the level of writing skill from one so young. If you have already seen the movie do not be deterred from reading the book. There is alot more to the story then they could include in the movie. It may even explain a few things. Also if you have already read this book and liked it you may want to read the next books in the series, Eldest and Brisingr.

Happy reading.

Questions for discussion of the Alchemist

Here are some questions I found on-line that might help to guide the discussion of this month's book. Feel free to comment on some or all of them, or to comment on other aspects of the book not mentioned here. Also, check back after commenting to see if someone else has something to say about your opinion. Just like a regular book club, it's okay to make more than one comment.

1. At the start of his journey, when Santiago asks a Gypsy woman to interpret his dream about a treasure in the Egyptian pyramids, she asks for one-tenth of the treasure in return. When Santiago asks the old man to show him the path to the treasure, the old man requests one-tenth of his flock as "payment." Both payments represent a different price we have to pay to fulfill a dream; however, only one will yield a true result. Which payment represents false hope? Can you think of examples from your own life when you had to give up something to meet a goal and found the price too high?

2. Paulo Coelho once said that alchemy is all about pursuing our spiritual quest in the physical world as it was given to us. It is the art of transmuting the reality into something sacred, of mixing the sacred and the profane. With this in mind, can you define your Personal Legend? At what time in your life were first able to act on it? What was your "beginner's luck"? Did anything prevent you from following it to conclusion? Having read "The Alchemist," do you know what inner resources you need to continue the journey?

3. One of the first major diversions from Santiago's journey was the theft of his money in Tangier, which forced him into taking a menial job with the crystal merchant. There, Santiago learned many lessons on everything from the art of business to the art of patience. Of all these, which lessons were the most crucial to the pursuit of his Personal Legend?
When he talked about the pilgrimage to Mecca, the crystal merchant argues that having a dream is more important than fulfilling it, which is what Santiago was trying to do. Do you agree with Santiago's rationale or the crystal merchant's?

4. The alchemist tells Santiago "you don't even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is to contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation." With this in mind, why do you think the alchemist chose to befriend Santiago, though he knew that the Englishman was the one looking at him? What is the meaning of two dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis? At one point the alchemist explains to Santiago the secret of successfully turning metal to gold. How does this process compare to finding a Personal Legend?

5. Why did Santiago have to go through the dangers of tribal wars on the outskirts of the oasis in order to reach the Pyramids? At the very end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it?

6. Earlier in the story, the alchemist told Santiago "when you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed." At the end of the story, how did this simple lesson save Santiago's life? How did it lead him back to the treasure he was looking for?

7. Are omens really out there and are they important? What are omens? Are they just illusions that we see to justify something we feel or want to do, or are they something more?

8. What was the point of finding the treasure close to where it was first dreamed about?
Was the journey or finding the treasure more important? What does this mean about life? What happens in life when one actually achieves their personal legend?

9. Does the simplistic and primitive style of this book add or detract from the main goal, what ever you think the main goal is?

10. What does it mean to say "the universe conspires to help you achieve what you want"?

Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry

For those of you who liked The Giver, this book is a must-read! It is advertised as the sequel to The Giver, but does not continue the story. Therefore, you can enjoy this book even without ever having read the first.

Lois Lowry explains that, "in the distant future, after the world we know has wrecked itself, . . . new kinds of societies will emerge." Gathering Blue is about a girl named Kira who lives in one such society. The story begins with Kira mourning her mother's death. She is left with nothing: no house, no money, no family (her father died before she was born). Kira's story is one of courage as she does what's "right" in the midst of danger.

Lowry's writing is so simple yet captivating that you will not be able to put the book down. With 215 pages and having been written for young adults, you can easily finish it in one day. The concepts portrayed are thought-provoking and applicable to our own lives, despite the sci-fi genre.

I highly recommend Gathering Blue and look forward to reading its own sequel, Messenger.

Twilight. . . again!

Okay, so I just wanted to admit how ridiculous I am. Today I bought a copy of Twilight again! Yes, I already have a copy. And yes, I already read it. But I read it before I got here to the UK. And then I left it in the storage unit in Ogden. And then I read New Moon. And then I read Eclipse. And then I got addicted. So now I had to buy another copy so that I can re-read the series. It's not like I could just re-read the other two without starting at the beginning of the story.

So if you still have not read this series, now is the perfect time! Why? Because the 4th book, Breaking Dawn, should be available sometime this year and the movie Twilight is scheduled for release Dec 12, 2008!

A Friend Like Henry, by Nuala Gardner

I just finished reading A Friend Like Henry today. It is a true story of an autistic boy Dale and how his dog Henry helps him. The author Nuala is the mother of Dale and tells a very detailed story of what it was like for her family to deal with Dale, his developmental issues, and health and educational professionals.

I enjoyed reading this book and was reminded of some of my former clients who also struggled with Autism. I was amazed at how much progress Dale made and all the hard times his parents went through to fight for him. As a social worker, I have been on the other side of the picture. But this gave me an opporunity to see how life was for this family with an autistic toddler. I worry that in the past I may have responded in similar ways as some of the professionals in the book did. This book gave me a new appreciation for families who deal with troubled children.

The story takes place in Scotland, and therefore it will also give you a chance to see what kind of English grammar I have to deal with here in the UK. Finally, I would not recommend this book to anyone who has recently given up a dog--it made me cry more than once for the loss of my own sweet puppy. (I really need to stop reading books about dogs! I recently finished another book about a lady who raises a guide dog and then had to give it away after a year. And let's not talk about my experience while watching I Am Legend!)