Like a turtle

I'm still reading, just slowly... I'm in Kentucky and getting over the jetlag. I'll get back on track soon!

M

59/101

I've had soooo much going on lately that I haven't as much time to read or update, but I did get through Bill Clinton's book, and although it was a little repetitive (stories of other do-gooders, what you can do, what he did, what Hillary did, etc.), overall I found it very inspirational and saved a lot of the websites and other resources that he shared in the book.

I start school this week, so I'm not going to start another book just yet... I'll update soon.

Still Around

I'm reading President Clinton's book now... I especially love the following quote:

"I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life giving my time, money, and skills to worthwhile endeavors where I could make a difference. I didn't know exactly what I would do, but I wanted to help save lives, solve important problems, and give more young people the chance to live their dreams. I felt obligated to do it because of the wonderful, improbable life I've been given..."

I haven't been making very much time for reading, but I don't have much planned for the long weekend, so I should finish this book and start my next then...

Happy Labor Day!

Next Up

I'm going to read Bill Clinton's book (#59), Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World.

From The Washington Post's Book World, Reviewed by Peter Baker

58/101

I'm back with a vengeance! I read Adriana Trigiani's The Queen of the Big Time from cover to cover today (and it's only 3 pm). It was sooo good (but be forewarned, the story is a tear jerker, at least it was for me!), but sadly, it is the last Adriana Trigiani book. I'm not sure what I'll read next. It's always so hard for me to find something to follow up Trigiani's books because I like them so much... I do have the following books from the library:

1) The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall

2) Giving by Bill Clinton

3) Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir

I'm going to take a little snack break now and then figure out what I'll read next... Will update soon!

Ohhh and I almost forgot to mention my big news - I'm going back to school! I'm going to the University of Illinois at Chicago for a certificate in Nonprofit Management. I'll have to dig out a few of my grad school nonprofit books and read through them before classes start in September. More on that to come too...

Ciao!

Too many distractions!

I started a new knitting project this week (out of the blue I saw some yarn in my closet and decided I needed a skinny scarf) and got a new laptop... Hubby got seasons 1-6 of the tv show, 24, and it's his birthday on Saturday... So there has been a lot going on this week (on top of unpacking and adjusting to being off the cruise ship and back in the real world), and I haven't even started my book yet. Hubby leaves for a work trip on Sunday, so I'm sure I will get plenty of reading finished while he's away... Goodnight!



M

Trifecta

#55 The Story of a Marriage, by Andrew Sean Greer, was not what I was expecting. I found it through a recommendation in O Magazine, and I thought it would be a light, summer read. It was the opposite, but still a good and unique story. I have not read anything like it before, as it introduced me to life in the 1950s told by an African American woman married to a soldier. It definitely changed my "Stepford Wives" image of the era. For me, this book was a page turner. I found the story fascinating and unpredictable.

#56 James Patterson's Sundays at Tiffany's was an easy read for me. I read the entire book in an afternoon sitting on the deck of our cruise ship sailing from Greece to Croatia. Again, I found this another unique story about a girl and her imaginary friend. I was not sure what to make of this book while I was reading, but by the end, I was in tears and completely attached to the characters. I think I will read more James Patterson. I was looking at the list of all of the books he has written (I think we have Kiss the Girls somewhere in our stacks of books), and I am impressed by his range and depth. I want to try out something different by him.

#57 For One More Day, by Mitch Albom, was an okay book. I might have read this before, but I'm not sure... The story itself was probably good, but just not my style. I remember reading Tuesdays with Morrie in college and not being crazy about it either. Guess I'm just not a big Mitch Albom fan.

Next Up: Something fun!!! I'm reading Beth Harbison's Secrets of a Shoe Addict.

greetings from venice!

i read two great books and countless magazines on our cruise, and i will have the third finished (and probably most of the fourth) before we get home late tomorrow night. will write more about them next week when i am home, unpacked, and settled. ciao bellas!

p.s. on a sad note, i heard that randy pausch, the author of the last book that i wrote about, passed away. my condolences go out to his family. i was very sorry to hear about his death.

54/101

I just finished Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture, a collection of 61 short stories, pieces of advice, lessons learned, etc. from his life. The book is based on a "last lecture" series given at Carnegie Mellon, but Pausch was actually battling cancer and giving his last lecture. You can read more about Pausch, his life, dreams, and trials on his Wiki page HERE.

From page 149... Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.

Honestly, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would... And I was reading it at the same time I watched the movie, P.S. I Love You, which I also enjoyed more than I thought I would. Maybe I am just getting older and am able to deal with illness and loss better, but these are both stories I would have shyed away from in the past and found depressing. Now I find them heartwarming and inspiring. I would recommend both the book and the movie I mentioned.

It's 12:30 am, and I have a long day of packing ahead tomorrow. We leave on Friday for 10 days in Italy, Greece, and Croatia! Bon Voyage! Will update tomorrow with all the books I am taking on my trip! Goodnight!

53/101

This book was a quick read with just enough history and a good range of restaurants and sites to see. Too bad we're only going to be in Athens for one day on our cruise, but I will definitely be taking this book with me to use as a guide.

So I'm over the halfway mark with the number of books I am reading, and I'm not yet to the halfway mark for time, so I'm in good shape. Also, my post earlier today was the 101st which is kind of symbolic in my journey to 101 books in 1001 days!



Next Up: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Eyewitness Travel's The Greek Islands by Marc Dubin.

52/101

I just couldn't get into this book. Mole goes into way too much detail about everything, spends way too much time talking about drinking, and has a dry sense of humor (maybe it is British humor that I just didn't get?). I really struggled to get through this one, especially the parts about slaughtering birds and sheep. I am happy to be finished and moving on...


And I'll be even happier in just 6 days when we're setting sail on our cruise to the Greek Isles and Croatia!

Next Up: Lonely Planet's Best of Athens by Victoria Kyriakopoulos

Detour

I went to Dublin for the weekend and wanted a lighter airport read, so I traded the book I was reading for another Adriani Trigiani book. My #51 is Home to Big Stone Gap: A Novel by Trigiani... And with our Mediterranean cruise coming up in a little over a week, I am not going to go back to A Civilization of Love just yet. I'm currently reading (#52) John Mole's It's All Greek to Me: A Tale of a Mad Dog and an Englishman, Ruins, Retsina, and Real Greeks.

Next Up

I started this book earlier today, and with all the references to philosophy and history, I kind of feel like I'm back in college in a Poli Sci or Ethics class. I've been out of college almost five years now, so it's probably good to keep that part of the brain fed. Anyway, I don't have much else to say about it yet... Back in a few days!


Visit the website HERE for an author bio, more on the book, discussion boards, and more...

Spanish Vacation

Just in from Malaga, Spain, and I wanted to update on the two books I read and loved... In between seeing a Cirque du Soleil show, sightseeing, and going to the beach, I did manage to finish my two books and a few magazines. I read Milk Glass Moon (49) by Adriana Trigiani and Knitting Under the Influence (50) by Claire LaZebnik. I think, by know, I've made my feelings about Adriana Trigiani clear (and if I haven't, I thoroughly enjoy her books... see #s 41, 43, 46 and 47), and I really enjoyed LaZebnik's book too. It didn't shake up my life or move me to change the world, but it was full of loveable, fun characters (who I wish were my own friends!) and a fun, light beach read (although it did include a serious storyline about autism). I'm not sure what I'm going to read next... I do know it's 11 pm, and we had a long day of traveling across Europe, so I'm headed to bed. Will pick a new book and update tomorrow... Buenos Noches!

48/101

I usually don't read short stories... Actually, I don't think I've read them since high school English class, but I enjoyed these. I found each story a little fulfilling. They left me wanting more. I wanted the rest of the story. I think a collection of short stories was a good chance of pace, but I'm more of a novel girl. I need details and dialogue and at least three hundred pages of a story to feel fulfilled. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not a huge short story fan!

I went to the library and found my copy of Milk Glass Moon (49) by Adriana Trigiani, so I guess I did accidentally return it early. We're leaving for Spain tomorrow, and I am bringing Milk Glass Moon, Knitting Under the Influence (50) by Claire LaZebnik, and a stack of magazines I've been meaning to read (back issues of O and Conde Nast Traveler). I am looking forward to relaxing on the beach in the Costa del Sol, getting a tan, and reading for the next week!

Hasta luego, Amigos!
M

Change of Plans

I think I accidentally returned the wrong books to the library the other day, and it was closed today, so I couldn't call to find out. Anyway, my book is MIA, so I'm moving on until I can get to the library and see if the book is there. My new #48 is Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth. We're going out of town for the weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to get some reading time in, and I can finish this book before we leave for Spain on Wednesday. I'm going to find some fun, light beach reads for that trip!

TGIF!
M

47/101

I will admit, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others I have read by Trigiani, but I was still hooked from the start. I read the entire book yesterday, but I think I am starting to read faster because I was only up until 12:15 am finishing it, lol. Still, I feel like Ave Maria is my Appalachian Italian cousin who I am just getting to know... I can't wait to read the third book, Milk Glass Moon. I should be able to get started today...


I'm not sure how much I'll be able to read though. Bil comes tomorrow to visit for two weeks, and I need to get the house straightened up, the fridge stocked, and go for a run. #45 was really a motivator, I've been running everyday!

And on a different note, I got this email this morning from Oprah with her five books that everyone needs to read once. Visit Oprah's Book Club Website!

Continuing the Trilogy

The library had both Big Cherry Holler (#47) and Milk Glass Moon (#48) by Adriana Trigiani, so I checked them both out. I just started Big Cherry Holler, and I'm already over 100 pages into it. I think I'll have them both finished by the end of this weekend. I was so happy to see Ave Maria and Jack Mac and Theodore and all my favorite characters from Big Stone Gap back! I know I just finished the first book like 15 hours ago, but still, I missed them. I think Trigiani is moving up on my list of favorite fiction authors. Before I discovered her, I wasn't a huge fiction fan, but I really enjoy her books. I can't seem to get enough of them... Speaking of, I want to get back to my book. Ciao!

46/101

Another great book by Adriana Trigiani. Every time I fall in love with the characters, and I am compelled to read and read. It's bittersweet though... I read fast because I want to know what happens, but then I get to the end and I'm sad that it's over. I stayed up until 1 am finishing this book last night... I look forward to reading the whole trilogy! I'm going to have to go and see what the library has today...


Next Up: I'm not sure... I had Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat checked out from the library and sitting on my desk to read next... But I don't think I'm in the food for it. I'm going to have to look through the bookshelves and see if anything jumps out at me. I'll update later...

Now Reading...

Last night I started reading (#46) Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani. I just started reading Trigiani this summer, but I really enjoy her stories... This is part of a trilogy with Big Cherry Holler and Milk Glass Moon, and I look forward to reading the whole series. You can see the Amazon page HERE. Also, you can visit the author's website at www.adrianatrigiani.com. Enjoy!

45/101

I didn't find very much new information in this book. I grew up playing soccer and other sports, so running wasn't completely new to me. I go to the gym (sometimes only semi) regularly, and I like to think I'm in pretty good shape... But this book did serve to give me direction. I started running yesterday, and I also ran today. I hope to run in a 10k this fall and the Nashville half-marathon in the spring (2009). I found this book helpful as a motivator, and I think I will use it as a resource when I start running more seriously and competitively and need the running plans... I'll post on my next book tomorrow. It's 11 pm, and hubby and I drank a bottle of wine while watching movies tonight. I'm off to bed. Goodnight and sweet dreams!

M

44/101

(I know the adorable picture doesn't really complement the serious subject matter, but my little Carter was just too cute not to share!)

Being a student of international relations and currently living in Europe, Islam, immigration, clans, civil wars... none of it was new to me, yet I found Ayann Hirsi Ali's story interesting and eye-opening. I think I was hesistant to embrace her story because she was questioning her faith, but in the end, I felt like I had grown in understanding and compassion for Muslim women, and also, grown deeper in my own Christian faith.

Next Up #45: Another change of pace (literally), I'll be reading (with the goal of starting a running program of my own) Dagny Scott Barrios' Runners World Complete Book of Women's Running.

Busy Bee

I have had a busy past week and a half, so I haven't had much time to read. I think I'm just 100 pages into my book. Hubby had a four day weekend, so he's been home (and is still home today). I'll have more time to get back to my book tomorrow when he goes back to work... but I just wanted to say I'm still here... still reading (even if it is very slowly!)... and I'm still not sure how I feel about the book. I'm still on her childhood in Africa and the Middle East, which has been interesting, but something about it... I just don't know how I feel yet! More to come soon... M

Time for a change

While I needed the last couple, lighter reads, I think it's time to go back to something more serious and relevant. I'll be reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel, which is the story of a Somali Muslim who went to the Netherlands to escape an arranged marriage... In the Netherlands, she went into politics and spoke out the rights of Muslim women and the reform of Islam. I haven't read it yet, so I don't know too many of the details yet, but my friend CRM recommended this book months ago, and I finally ordered it from Amazon. If you're interested, you can read more about it HERE.

43/101

I just finished reading Lucia, Lucia, by Adriana Trigiani, and I enjoyed it as much as the first book I read by Trigiani last weekend. It was a quick read about an Italian-American family in New York in the 1950s. My parents grew up as Italian-Americans in New York during that time, so I can really relate to the characters and the stories. I look forward to reading more from Trigiani.

Not sure what will be up next, but it's 12:35 am and I'm going to bed... I'll update in the morning! Ciao bellas!

Next Up

I forgot about my next book... I had a few things lined up to read, but when I stopped in the library today to talk to a friend today, another Adriana Trigiani book jumped out at me. After reading Rococo over the weekend and enjoying it, I decided to continue on with Trigiani and check out her book, Lucia, Lucia.

42/101

I flew through this book in less than two hours... I started this morning and read on and off between my errands. I thought it was an interesting read about a young girl during the Spanish Inquisition, and I found the appendix section about the history of Jews in Spain helpful.

Happy Anniversary!

As I was finishing up the last post, I noticed that today is the one year anniversary of when I started my 101 books project. I've read 41 books in one year (not that great, I know, but I've had a lot of distractions... a husband, two kittens, a family and friends an ocean away, one move, four trips back to the States, and many adventures in Europe), and over a year and a half to finish the remaining 60 books. It won't be easy, but it won't be hard either. As long as I stay on track and keep reading, I should be fine to reach my goal of 101 books by February 2010. I should hit 50 by the end of the summer, and maybe even be close to 70 by the end of the year... Stay tuned for updates! Ciao bellas!

41/101

This book was definitely what I was looking for, a fun and light read! I really enjoyed the main character and his family's Italian-ness, all of the Italian words, characteristics, and traditions. Made me think of my Italian roots and family... I can't wait to try some of the recipes, especially the cake and icing! Yummy! The book also made me want to go to church and redecorate my home, lol. I enjoyed it and would recommend this, especially as a good summer, beach read.



Next Up: Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Next Up

I found my lighter read! I am reading Adriana Trigiani's Rococo... Amazon.com has this to share:

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Trigiani (Lucia, Lucia) offers Italian recipes, family dramas and oodles of decorating ideas (if little narrative tension) in her latest novel, a feel-good story about a New Jersey interior designer tackling his dream job. In Our Lady of Fatima, N.J., plucky narrator Bartolomeo di Crespi, aka B, reigns supreme: he can doll up an ottoman with kicky trim and sparkly crystals with the best of 'em, and he decorates all the area's best houses, including the manse belonging to the mother of his putative fiancée, Capri Mandelbaum. (Really they're just friends, but Aurelia, Capri's mother, is certain they'll marry.) When the local church comes due for a major renovation, B gets the commission, after Father Porporino is convinced (forcibly, it's later revealed) that a tony Philadelphia firm won't do. But can B come up with a timeless yet innovative design for the church he loves? He calls in the experts—all of them sexy—takes trips to London and Italy, and benefits from a minor miracle amid a cast of family and friends who fight, fall in love, have babies and come out of the closet. While overlong and undramatic, the book still manages to soothe, in part because of its cozy design talk and in part because of the likable, competent B. (June 28)

My review is forthcoming... I expect this to be a fairly quick and easy read!

40/101

Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary
by Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven
for the Anne Frank House

I didn't really learn anything new from this book, after reading Anne's diary, Miep Gies book, learning about Anne Frank in school, and visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, but it was still interesting. It makes a good addition to my collection!

I have got to read something happier next. I'll have to dig through my books and find something that's not about genocide to read... I need to lighten things up!

39/101

The book was an okay guide book. We followed the book's recommendation and tried an Indian restaurant called Kastoori for lunch. It was in the Montmartre area, and we had just come from the Sacre Coeur on Montmartre, so we thought it would be nice. The book said it was cheap and good, so we gave it a try. It wasn't all that great. The restaurant was teeny tiny, and there was a set lunch menu, so we didn't have much choice. The food was okay, but definitely not guide book worthy. Oh and the city and subway maps in the book were helpful, just wish the city map was a little smaller and the subway map was a pullout, so we could have it more handy... Overall, the book was decent and helped us during our long weekend in Paris!

38/101

I'm going to put #38, Catholic Traditions and Customs, on hold for now, and do a little rearranging with my numbers, since I finished #39 already. Gourevitch's We Wish to Inform you that Tomorrow We Will be Killed with our Families will move into #38, and Catholic Traditions and Customs will drop off the list for now. I actually have a new #39 already, and I'll be starting another new book tomorrow, but I'm not sure what yet... I'll write about those in a bit :)


As for the book, it is definitely different from other books I have read on the genocide in Rwanda. I really appreciated the history and explananions given by Gourevitch. It made me understand things in a new light. I did think the book was a little heavy on Gourevitch's personal opinions, but other than that, it was an excellent read. Should be required reading for anyone who was alive in the 1990s and doesn't know about the genocide that was taking place in Africa...

Still Around

I'm actually in the States visiting family and haven't had much time to blog. I'm still around and still reading. I actually just used a Borders gift card to order these books:

"Unaccustomed Earth"
Jhumpa Lahiri

"Child 44"
Tom Rob Smith

"Knitting Under the Influence"
Claire LaZebnik

"Sicilian Feasts"
Giovanna Bellia La Marca

"The Complete Novels (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)"
Jane Austen

As for my reading, I forgot #38 in Germany, but I have #39 with me and should finish it up this week. I have been such a slacker lately!

M

37/101

I just finished Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret? I read the entire book last night, and it was really cute! It's my first Kinsella book, and I think her writing is light and fun. I felt like Emma was my best friend, and I was going through everything with her: the boys, the clothes and shoes, the dates... While I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more from Kinsella, I do think it is time for something a little heavier. My next book (#38) will be Catholic Customs & Traditions, a Popular Guide, by Greg Dues and (#39) We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda, by Philip Gourevitch. I leave for a trip on Sunday, so hopefully I'll finish the first one by then and the second on the plane/in airports. I'm not sure what else I'll bring on my trip, but I'll update before I go!

P.S. Thanks to CJ for sending me the book! It was just what I needed after my Conference and before my trip - some good girl time!

Cookbooks galore!

I just came home from my conference today, and I had two packages waiting for me. A friend who had some duplicates sent me three brand new vegetarian cookbooks, and the other box contained a Rachel Ray 30 minute veggie book that I had ordered on Amazon. So now I've got my little post-it flags, and I'm going to flip through them and see which ones I want to try first. I'll post the titles later, and no, I haven't even opened the cover of the book I am reading next. I will start it this weekend...

36/101

I thought this was an eye-opening book about life in Pakistan during a troubled, tumultous time in the Middle East and an inspirational account of how one ordinary American man risked his life to bring education, vocational training, refugee assistance, and more to that part of the world... I am including the website to his foundation, as well as a few of my favorite quotes from the book.

After reading the book, I decided to visit the website to learn more about Greg Mortenson and his book. 7% of the proceeds from the book are donated to the organization. Visit the book's website here: http://www.threecupsoftea.org/

You can also visit the Central Asia Institute's website to read more about the organization, their current projects, similar organizations and projects, and even make your own contribution to the CAI: http://www.ikat.org/. I challenge you to match (or exceed!) my donation of $25.00.



A few of my favorite quotes from the book...

"I used to assume that the direction of 'progress' was somehow inevitable, not to be questioned," she writes. "I passively accepted a new road through the middle of the park, a steel-and-glass bank where a 200-year-old church had stood... and the fact that life seemed to get harder and faster with each day. I do not anymore. In Ladakh I have learned that there is more than one path into the future and I have had the privilege to witness another, saner, way of life - a pattern of existance based on the coevolution between human beings and the earth." Helena Norberg-Hodge, p. 112

Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Mother Teresa, p. 225

"While most of us are trying to scale new peaks," Lowe told an audience of climbers, "Greg has quietly been moving even greater mountains on his own. What he has accomplished, with pure tenacity and determination, is incredible. His kind of climb is one we should all attempt." Alex Lowe, at the time perhaps the world's most respected alpinist, introducing Mortenson at a Montana fundraiser, p. 229

Monday, already?!?

I can't believe (well, in 20 minutes) that it is Monday already! I feel like the weekend flew by... We rented two movies, husband had a football game, and I had to teach Sunday school and go to church... and we had dinner with friends tonight. So it was a busy weekend, and I only finished a few chapters. I do plan on finishing my book by Saturday, because I'm leaving for a conference and won't be back for five days. I've got presentations and registration to do at the conference, and I know I won't get any reading done there. Well, other than conference-related reading. So, my goal is to finish my book this week... I'm off to bed. Goodnight!

35/101

After a Diet Mt. Dew and a Diet Dr. Pepper, I decided to finish up a book I started before my trip, Vegetarian Cooking for Dummies, by Suzanne Havala. I know I have been a vegetarian for fifteen years, and a Dummies series book seems kind of odd, but I haven't been cooking for that long! Since my husband isn't content eating cold green peas right out of the can and calling it dinner, I have been trying new recipes and learning to cook for the past four years or so. Anyway, this book was good. I found three recipes that I'd like to try, and I think I am going to try cooking tofu again. Every time I make it, it ends up mushy, but the book gave some techniques and pointers, so I'll give it a try! Overall, the book was okay... nothing gourmet, but a good refresher on a complete vegetarian diet.

Jetlagged

NASA says you need one day for every time zone crossed to get over jetlag. I crossed six, so I get six days. I'm currently on day four. My brain is mush. I can't focus enough to read, so I'm taking a break this week. I have read a few chapters here and there, but no major progress, and I'm not sure how much I actually retained, so I might have to re-read. Will make up for it next week :)

34/101

Another quick read... I finished The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs on Sunday. It was actually really good. I had put off reading it, because it didn't have the best reviews on Amazon, but I disagree! I ended up buying it at Penn Station to read on the train ride out to see my family, and I really got into the story and characters. It probably helps that I am a knitter and would like to join a knitting club when we move back to the States... I've even thought about someday opening my own yarn shop and tea cafe. So I liked it. I'm glad I didn't listen to the Amazon reviews... Actually, I think I'm going to head over there and post my own review...

Visit The Friday Night Knitting Club for more on the book! And they're making a movie based on the book with Julia Roberts... I think it's supposed to be out this summer.

Now Reading: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Next Up: Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

33/101

This was a quick read... I actually finished it over a week ago at the airport on my way to Virginia, but I haven't had a chance to post. I bookmarked so many places and got so many new trip ideas. It was a really cute book and had some good travel resources too.

I'm now reading The Friday Night Knitting Club. I should finish it in the next two days, as I will be traveling, once again, and should have plenty of free time in the airports.

I'm also kind of reading a Jane Austen bio, but it's pretty slow and boring. I'm not too crazy about it, but I'll keep going and write a little more in a few days when I get home.

100 Distractions

While I am thoroughly enjoying the book, I find it incredibly distracting! After nearly each place, I jump up and run to the computer to google the location and read more about it... So far, I am incorporating #21 Mercantour National Park in Southern France into a trip we are taking in June, and I am working on convincing my husband that we need to take a trip to #17 South African Game Reserve for Thanksgiving this year. I really would like to visit Zululand where the author of my book #19 Babylon's Ark runs a game reserve. Will keep you posted on the details!

M

32/101

This is probably in the top twenty-five books I have ever read, and I have read a lot of books. I have read a lot of books related to the Holocaust, both fiction and non-fiction. I have visited concentration camps in Poland and Germany. I find it terribly disturbing and incredibly fascinating at the same time. I cannot seem to get enough... I guess this carries over to Africa as well, where I have read many books about the genocides in Rwanda and the Sudan. After this book, I plan on visiting Sachsenhausen, which I didn't realize is fairly close to where we live in Germany, and I will plan another trip to Krakow. I think, after Italy, Poland is my favorite place in Europe, and I would like to go back before we move back to the States.

Back to the book... I fell in love with all of the characters. I cried when they died. I became frustrated when they didn't do what I thought they should. At the end, I felt myself wanting more... This book would definitely make a good movie. They are offering a book club for this book at our library, and I wish I could attend (I will be out of the country during the first two sessions). I would really enjoy discussing this book with others and answered all of the discussion questions found in the back of the book. I really, really liked this book!

Next Up: Another change of pace, I will be reading 100 Places Every Woman Should Go by Stephanie Elizondo Griest. It is kind of long, but looks like should be a quick read since it dedicates 2-3 pages for each of the 100 places suggested. I wonder how many of them I have already visited?!?

31/101

So the story ended up being a lot heavier than I picked up on in the first chapter. I feel like I could really relate to it though... dealing with the illness and death of a parent, loving and losing a cat that was a cherished part of the family, and discovering your parents are people too who made mistakes and weren't the perfect people you thought they were as a child. I like the way she wrote, and I was into the story from the beginning. Once I started, I didn't put it down for two days. I thought it was a pretty good book.

Next Up: The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff. I'm going to start it in the morning. It's 11:30 pm, and we're just getting in and settled from the Easter Vigil Mass. Time for bed. Goodnight and sweet dreams! Easter Blessings!

Next Up

I started this one tonight, and it's the reason I am up so late (it's almost 11 pm). It was so cute, I had to read all the way through the first chapter. After the last two serious, spiritual/philosophical books I read, I needed something different! I am not sure if this one is necessary lighter, because it deals with family issues, fear of loss, etc., but so far, it has been an easy read, and I've really gotten into it... Read what Amazon has to say about it HERE.

30/101

I received this book as part of my training to become a Eucharistic Minister, and I read it this week. I really enjoyed it. It was so easy to read, but so spiritual and relevant. Good book! I'm not sure what is up next... Will update shortly!

Waiting to be Read

Seriously, I don't think I am going to buy another book for the rest of the year. These are just a few from the top of my bookshelf/piled on the floor next to the bookshelf that are waiting to be read:

A Concise History of Italy (Duggan)
Catholic Customs and Traditions (Dues)
Conceived Without Sin (Macfarlane)
Fahrenheit 451 (Bradbury)
Great Fortune (Okrent)
House of Gold (MacFarlane)
In the Line of Fire (Musharraf)
Island of Hope, Island of Tears (Brownstone)
Pierced by a Sword (Macfarlane)
Take Command (Perdew)
That was Dachau (Zamecnik)
The Call of Service (Coles)
The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila (St. Teresa)
The Power of a Positive Wife (Ladd)
The Power of a Praying Wife (Omartian)
The Power of a Praying Woman (Omartian)
The Ultimate Volunteer Guidebook (Maxwell)
Three Cups of Tea (Mortenson/Relin)

I think I am going to take $10/month that would have gone toward books and donate them to a good reading/literacy-related nonprofit. Suggestions are welcome. I will make a $100 donation to a worthy book cause and not purchase any more books for the remainder of 2008.

29/101

As noted in my previous post, I did not like this book. I disagreed with much of what Tolle had to say, but in the end, I am glad I read it. It was something different. I tried it, and now it's time to move on...

Next Up: Being Holy Week, I think it is a good time to read a book about the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Christian Life, so I am reading The Joy of Being a Eucharistic Minister by Mitch Finley.

A New (Twisted) Earth

I started reading with an open mind and am trying to stay that way, but I am having a really hard time... I have concerns about Tolle's beliefs and interpretations of Jesus' words and actions, and I find myself disagreeing with most of the content. On top of that, I feel like I am in an intro Philosophy class with a cooky new age professor. I am going to keep reading because I started the book already and want to hear what else he has to say, but I will do so with caution.

A few other Catholic perspectives:
#1
#2

28/101

Seriously, if it weren't for my husband, I would be on a plane right now to India... or a train to Italy. Really, Italy is like six hours away. I want to be there, NOW! Not really feeling Indonesia, but heck, I'd go anywhere after reading this book. I just want to TRAVEL! Gilbert's experience was incredible, her writing style is so personal and real, and I loved this book! It's seriously the best book I've read in a while... Next Up: A New Earth (another Oprah book club book)

$$$

From msn.com:
5 Money Books to Change Your Life

27/101

Finished reading Ian Mcwan's Atonement tonight, and it was just okay. A friend recommended reading it before watching the movie, so not knowing much about the story, I bought the book and started reading... slowly at first, but things picked up after the first 100 pages or so. Just not my kind of book.




Next up: Eat, Pray Love by Gilbert.

P.S. I'm back home in Germany now.

Slacker

Nothing new to post about reading, but I did have a wonderful time in San Antonio and am now in Nashville visiting family and friends. Will try to incorporate some reading time each night before bed. Just because I'm not at home doesn't give me an excuse to be a slacker, or does it?!?

Oops

There were some good movies on the plane yesterday, and I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I had anticipated. Okay, I'll confess... I only read the first chapter of Atonement. The good news is that I made it to San Antonio, and so far, everything is going well. Meetings and all that fun stuff start tonight.

Chugging Along

For some reason, it took me forever to finish The Camel Bookmobile (#26). I don't think there was any particular cause. The story was good, although I am not a big fan of writing each chapter as told by a different main character. Maybe that was why I could never get into The Poisionwood Bible? I tried to read it twice and could never get past the first couple of chapters. Either way, The Camelbookmobile was a good book. I enjoy reading about Africa and hope to visit one day, and I work in the nonprofit sector, so that makes the book all the move relevant. It might have taken me a while, but it was worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I leave on a 2+ week trip on Wednesday, and I will be spending plenty of time on planes and in airports, so I've picked out three (lightweight so they don't take up too much room in my suitcase) books to take with me:

#27 Atonement (Ian McEwan)
#28 Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert)
#29 A New Earth (Eckhart Tolle)

I'm challenging myself to finish all three books by the time I return home on 3 March. Will update then!

M

Free money book!

Oprah.com is offering free download of Suze Orman's book in a PDF doc. The offer is only open until Thursday, 14 February 2008, evening, so check it out now. Click HERE!

A New Earth

Are You Ready to Be Awakened? I am. Count me in... I just ordered my copy from Amazon, so hopefully it will arrive in time for the first class on March 3.

For the first time ever, you can join Oprah and Eckhart Tolle, the best-selling author of The Power of Now, as they teach A New Earth in Oprah's worldwide classroom live Monday nights on Oprah.com.

By reserving your seat for this 10-week interactive webinar, you'll be able to:
Watch and participate in the live classroom webcasts
Ask Oprah and Eckhart Tolle questions before and during class
Connect with others who are seeking to become more aware of themselves—and the world around them.

Download and save your thoughts in an exclusive workbook
Access the classroom video archives…and more!
How to Reserve Your Seat:
You’ll need to be a member of Oprah.com and Oprah’s Book Club.

If you're not already a member of Oprah.com, you'll need to join now. During the registration process, you'll have the opportunity to become a part of Oprah's Book Club.

JOIN OPRAH.COM

Re: Book #23

Beah, who wrote about his time as a boy soldier, is having his story questioned. Beah defends his memories saying he wrote the book to the best of his recollection. He was only twelve years old when he became a soldier in Sierra Leone, Africa. Read about this HERE. Whatever happens with this, I think Beah was telling a story that needed to be told and drawing attention to a cause that should be at the center of the world's stage. How much longer can we pretend that the African continent is not enveloped in turmoil and despair?

#25

I thought it was definitely good preparation for this weekend's Super Bowl, but kind of bad planning on my part reading it at the end of the season. I might have to skim it again in the fall before the season starts back. In any case, I really learned a lot from this book. Robinson Peete writes clearly and answers many of the questions I have often had while watching football but did not feel comfortable asking my husband/dad/brother who was watching with me.

I am excited for Sunday's game so I can show off all my newfound football knowledge, especially the histories of the teams (I studied up on the Giants and Patriots), the history of the Super Bowl, and this past season's records and benchmarks (those weren't in the book, I googled some to find the current stats).

Guess it's time to get back to the bookmobile book, although I have a feeling it isn't going to be as entertaining as the football book. Review to come in the next couple of days... And I got four new books in the mail and another from the library today, so there should be plenty of reviews forthcoming.

Happy Catholic

http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/ is a blog that I visit regularly, and today, I noticed a link to her book blog that I thought I'd share: http://hcposts.blogspot.com/2008/01/read-in-2008.html. Enjoy!

On a side note, I took a short break from the book I was reading to read a book in preparation for the upcoming Superbowl. I've always been interested in football and followed whatever teams the men in my life like (hubby likes the Chiefs, dad likes the Giants, brother likes the Titans, etc.), but I thought it was time to take it to the next level. So this week, I'm reading Holly Robinson Peete's Get Your Own Damn Beer, I'm Watching the Game: A Woman's Guide to Loving Pro Football.

GO GIANTS!!!

Back Home in Germany

And Rome was awesome! Fortunately, I think we brought the nice weather back to Germany with us, because it is sunny and looks really nice outside today. Too bad I'll be in all day unpacking and doing laundry... I also plan on starting my new book since I finished the one I was reading on the plane this morning.

I was really into the book at the beginning and middle, but the end kind of left me hanging. It was a departure from my usual read, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. I have tried reading Jodi Picoult before, and I couldn't really get into it, but this book was good. I think I'll give her another chance!

Next I'm reading Masha Hamilton's, The Camel Bookmobile. It is about a young, female librarian from New York who goes to Africa to work with a bookmobile that brings books to Kenyan villages on camelback. See what Amazon has to say HERE.

Read about the actual Camel Book Drive and see how you can donate to Kenya's Mobile Library HERE. Here is a short excerpt from the website:

"Though The Camel Bookmobile (HarperCollins, April 2007) is a novel, the camel-borne library actually exists. It operates in Kenya’s isolated Northeastern Province near the unstable border with Somalia. It brings books to a semi-nomadic people who live with drought, famine and chronic poverty. The books are spread out on grass mats beneath an acacia tree, and the library patrons, often barefoot, sometimes joined by goats or donkeys, gather with great excitement to choose their books until the next visit. I visited the region and walked the bush with the camel library, and you can see pictures and a short video.

But of course, the bush is hard on books and the traveling library needs more. The books they have are written in either English or Swahili, both of which are taught in school."

Tagged!

Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

I picked up my next read, The Camel Bookmobile, by Masha Hamilton. Turning to page 23, I find... "What happened with one another seemed to be a portent of what would happen with another. Scary Boy was right, though, Matani thought as he rubbed the ache in his stomach. It was clear that Matani was done."

I'm tagging the following five people:
Bethany
Rayann
Celeste
Amy
Nadine

Greetings from Rome!

We're having a great trip so far. The weather has been beautiful (until today), the food is great, and we are really enjoying our marriage retreat and sightseeing. We've made some new friends, done some shopping, and taken sooo many pictures that we can't wait to share! Hope everyone has a wonderful Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and YAY GIANTS!!! Really looking forward to the Super Bowl now!!!

I've made quite a bit of progress on my book so far, and I hope to finish it up at the airport and on the flight home. I don't normally read much fiction, as you can tell from my book list and reviews, but I am really getting into this book (Tenth Circle). More to come when we're back in Germany tomorrow.

M

Almost unbelievable

I believe his account of his life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, but Ismael Beah's story is almost unbelievable to someone who has never traveled to Africa or personally experienced war. Being married to a soldier myself, I know how war can transform a person, how hard it is for a soldier to talk about what he has seen or done in battle, and the many casualties of war, both civilian and soldier, on and off the battlefield. Beah's story opened my eyes so that I can only begin to imagine what he lived through. I think it took a lot of courage, on his part, to put his story into words and on paper. Beah wrote with such emotion and clarity, as if he had been keeping a diary through his entire experience. He wrote about painful memories, especially the loss of his family, his friends, and his childhood, and I really admire him.

Toward the end of the book (page 200), he is fifteen years old and returning from his first trip to New York where he spoke at the UN on his experiences as a rehabilitated child soldier, and he says, "Because if I was to get killed upon my return, I knew that a memory of my existence was alive somewhere in the world." Since then, Beah has done so much more than provide just a memory of his existence. Throughout the book, he ponders why he was the only person from his family to survive and why he was not killed during battle, and it is now clear that God had a bigger purpose for Ismael Beah. He was able to escape Sierra Leone and eventually make his way back to New York where he attended the United Nations International High School and then college. He spoke on the effects of war on children and works for children's rights. Beah is an inspiration and a source of hope for anyone who feels they are in an inescapable place or situation.

After such a graphic and heavy read, I thought it was time for a complete change of pace. Next, I will be reading a book by Jodi Picoult. I have heard so much (good stuff) about her, so we'll see if her writing lives up to her reputation. This is not a book I would normally read, but I got it off the freebie shelf outside the library, so we'll give it a try. My #24 book is The Tenth Circle, by Jodi Picoult.

#23/101

I received this book for Christmas, and I've been wanting to read it for a while. I am taking a class on Morality at church right now, and we've been talking about our responsibility to the human race, to the dignity of each person, and to acknowledge the suffering and pain going on in the world. I've made it one of my goals to pay more attention to what is happening in Africa, and this book will help me to learn more about what has happened in Africa and what is happening now... Here's my #23, A Long Way Gone, by Ismael Beah.

Happy New Year!

My Top Five Books of 2007

Some of these are from before I started this blog, and others are already on here and reviewed. Either way, these are my top five for the year (in no particular order):

1. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

2. Dreams from my Father, Barack Obama

3. Full of Grace, Johnette S. Benkovic

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini

5. The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri

I just watched the movie that is based on The Namesake, and it was pretty good. There was a lot of the story that was left out, and I thought that detracted from the story. I watched the movie with my husband who has not read the book, and I found myself constantly explaining what was going on to him based on what I remembered from the book. So the book is great, the movie is okay. If you're going to watch the movie, read the book first. I think it'll make it much more enjoyable!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, blessed New Year! I plan on reading more, and I've already started my first book of the New Year. #22 is The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You by Michael Dubruiel, and it's actually really interesting. I am learning a lot of things about Mass and the Catholic Church that I look forward to bringing into my Sunday school class this year. I teach fourth graders, and I think they'll have fun learning the origins of the word "mass" and more. Dubruiel combines fun facts with doctrine and his real life experiences to present information about the Mass in a new and interesting way. I can't wait to read the rest!

Prayer for the New Year:

Dear God,
Bless our family and all its members and friends;
Bind us together by your love.
Give us kindness and patience to support each other;
And wisdom in all we do.
Let the gift of your peace come into our hearts,
And remain with us.
May we rejoice in your blessings for all our days.
Amen.

Happy New Year!

Our company left yesterday after a wonderful two week visit full of great company, good food, and trips to Eastern and Southern Germany. Like I thought, I didn't get much reading accomplished while they were here, but it's a new year, our house is quiet again, and I plan on doing a lot of reading. I received several books for Christmas and will post soon when I decide what to read... I hope everyone has a happy, blessed New Year, and 2008 is filled with all the love and happiness you desire!

M