15/101

I finished #15, The Ladies Auxiliary, which was about the small, Orthodox Jewish community in Memphis, Tennessee. I have a read a lot about the Holocaust, but that is really the only perspective I have read about Judaism. It was interesting to read a modern account of the faith, and it was unlike anything I have ever read. It wasn't the best book I have ever read, but it was definitely fascinating to read about their beliefs and customs. Growing up Catholic in Nashville, Tennessee, I could definitely relate to being a religious minority in the Protestant-dominated Bible belt, but it was also nice to see some of the Southern ways that I grew up with incorporated into the story. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars!

I really need to make more time for daily reading. Lately, I have been starting a book and then not picking up for a few weeks... and then when I do pick it back up, I spend a whole day or two and read it all the way through. It works okay, but I would rather spend 30-60 minutes at a time reading. I think it would help break up my day and also, be a nice way to relax in the evenings.

As lazy as this may sound, I haven't been reading before bed, because we don't have any lamps in our bedroom so we use the overhead light, and I don't like getting all warm and cozy in bed and then having to get back up to turn off the light after I finish reading. Yeah, I said it was lazy!

I'm not sure what I'm going to read next year. This evening, I have some homework to do for my German language class, and I want to work on my Religious Ed lesson plans for Sunday. Maybe later I'll check out my bookshelf and pick out my next book... By the way, HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Hope everyone has a fun, safe day!

Madelyn

My Bookshelf

I just received another order of books from Amazon today, and I thought I'd share the next couple of books on my bookshelf that I plan to read...

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life by Johnnette S. Benkovic

What is the What by Dave Eggers

The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Saint Teresa

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

As always, recommendations are welcome and greatly appreciated! I am always looking to add to add good books to our collection. Yesterday, I organized our bookshelves and even made room for more books, and I've made a lot of progress with the book I am currently reading. I should finish it up tonight or sometime tomorrow.

Conde Nast Traveller

I realize that it is a magazine and not a book, and I'm not counting it toward my 101 books. However, we are new subscribers, and both Jared and I have really enjoyed it so far. There isn't too much that we can enjoy reading as a couple, but this has been great for both of us and our relationship. With each issue, we have so much to talk about, and we have so many more travel destinations to add to our places-to-see list. I think it's really going to help make our next year and a half overseas, and even when we move back to the States and continue to travel the world, more interesting! If you haven't read it before, I would highly recommend checking an issue out... http://www.cntraveller.com/

Slacker

I know my last post assured everyone that I was on track and would meet my goal, which I will, but I really only wrote that blog to assure myself. I've been so busy lately with traveling and my volunteer positions that I haven't had as much time to read as I would like. Correction, I have had time, I just haven't made it a priority. So I leave tomorrow for a weeklong church retreat, and I am adding two books to my packing list. Since it is something that makes me happy and relaxed, I will find more time to read in my busy schedule.

Still on track

I just checked my progress, and I have 2 years, 4 1/2 months to read 87 books. That is an average of a little over 2 books per month, so I shouldn't have any problem meeting my goal to read 101 books in 1001 days!

Happy Columbus Day!

We're back from our Columbus Day weekend in Ireland, and it was wonderful!

Unfortunately, I did not find as much time to read as I would have liked... I did read two other books: #13 Irish History, by Seamas Mac Annaidh and #14 The Guide for Daisy Girl Scout Leaders. We picked up the book on Irish history at the Waterford Crystal Factory in Waterford, Ireland, and the other book is one I am reading in preparation for my first Daisy troop meeting on Thursday! I think the unplanned reads are sometimes the best!

Blog for the Environment

October 15, a week from today, is Blog Action Day, and the theme this year is the environment.

If you have a blog and want to join in, all you have to do is use that day to post something related to the environment, in whatever way, shape, or form you prefer. You can pick an environmental issue that has meaning for you and let us know why it's important. Organize a beach or neighborhood cleanup and tell us about it. If you're into fiction writing, give us a story with an environmental theme. Have a podcast, videoblog, or photoblog? Join the fun!

The idea here is to have a mass effect on public awareness by sharing as many ideas in as many ways as possible.If you're game for participating, go register your blog with the 7,000+ other blogs (with 5 million readers!) that are already signed up. Also, see the Blog Action Day blog for more on how bloggers can change the world.