I love to read. I really, REALLY love to read. I belong to four different book clubs, so you know I'm seriously ill or just serious when I say that. However, I tend to read fairly quickly and when I'm done and onto the next book, sometimes I forget. So this is a spot for me to recollect my faves, share the new goodies I've encountered, and, quite frankly, . . . to remind myself what I've read. : ) If you have a fabulous find you've read recently, send me an email and I'll read it next!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Remembering Isaac by Ben Behunin

I read this one a little while ago, finishing it in a few days.  It was a refreshing read, following Jake's journey of self-discovery and learning.  It really made me want to learn how to throw pottery . . . maybe I'll take that night course someday!  We are actually having the author come to our book club to discuss his work, and he's bringing his pottery too!  Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you the info.

I just finished book two of this series, Discovering Isaac, and found it to be quite enjoyable as well.  While it took me a little longer to finish, I did find myself longing to return to Jake and Amy and their adventures in Niederbipp.  Their world is one I'd love to visit--too bad it's fictional!  I really enjoyed and appreciated the quotes, the scriptural references, and the truths Jake and Amy are discovering about themselves and each other.  I love their relationship--it's so grounded, so real.  I really want them to just tie the knot and start having kids so I can follow that story too, but I guess they have the tourism committee to run first . . . hahaha

****

--POSTSCRIPT:  I actually got up the gumption to visit Ben at his studio.  It was so fun to see his workshop, the pieces drying on the shelf, the finished ones for sale, . . . he was actually working on book 3 when I came to his door! : )  He came to our book club, and talk about the "story behind the story"--how he came to write the book, his relationship with the characters, his "discovering" of truths in writing . . . it was so powerful, and brought out many truths and insights that I hadn't noticed on my initial read.  We spent about two hours talking to him--it was fantastic!!!  Afterwards, I feel like I have an "insider's view" into the book, and am that much more anxious to read #3!  I volunteered to be an editor for him, or just a sounding board as book 3 is starting to take shape.  He laughed but I don't think he knows how serious I am . . . ; )  I am now also in the running for the title: "Largest Collection of Ben Behunin Pottery," currently held by world-title winner, Ben Behunin.

; )

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Laura Schlessinger

This was a VERY interesting book to read.  It saved more than one marriage in our book club!  I really appreciated Dr. Laura's advice on men, and the realistic approach to being a wife and what it entails to "take care" of your man.  I think it is good for women to recognize and remember what priorities men have that we don't, and be able to give credit to those priorities even when we might think they're crap.  It's like my favorite marriage counselor, Taylor Hartman (who wrote The Color Code) taught me.  Honor him and his feelings/priorities/desires, and he will jump over fences to honor yours.  I love that she went beyond "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" adage to some more real and finer points, and had many real-life examples.  This is a definite must-read for any wife (newly-wed or not!) along with The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  I wish Dr. Laura or Mr. Chapman would write one on kiddos . . . : )

*****

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

This was as creepy a book as I'll ever read--I'm REALLY not good at the horror or scary stuff, so I balked originally at the choosing of this book.  However, every October we read something stupid scary, so this was the choice our first year (2004).  It has a very intriguing plot line, and I enjoyed it even though it was totally creepy.  I have actually seen the movie for this one, and it confirmed my opinion about movies-made-from-books--disappointing!  I liked the book better, and the characters in my head better.  So creepiness aside, this was a good read.

***

The Girl With The Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

This was another book that appealed to my humanities major.  I loved comparing the characters to the paintings, and the setting was so foreign and yet very familiar from my studies.  I fell in love with the characters, and thought Chevalier did a fabulous job of bringing them to life in a very realistic and credible manner.  I haven't seen the movie yet--they usually spoil the book for me, but I've heard good reviews about it, so maybe someday . . . : )

*****

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

ALL. TIME. FAVORITE. BOOK.    EVER!  I read this book my sophomore year in high school and LOVED it.  We read it again in our book club and I loved it even more!  I made THE COOLEST poster ever to keep track of the characters and how they were related to and interacted with each other--wish I could post a picture of it, it was THAT cool!  I love the story, the revenge, the carefully thought out and perfectly enacted characters, the flaws, the strategy, of course the romance--it is simply my all-time favorite!

********************************** : )

The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown (and Angels & Demons)

Being a humanities major, the first time I read this I pulled out my art history books so I could refer to the same paintings at the same time.  I had studied all of them, and found most of what Brown pointed out, but not to the same extent obviously and not with clues in hand.  Despite the overbearing romance I really enjoyed the plot line, the racing suspense, and of course, the art!  After I finished this book, my first thought was, I am so grateful to know the truth!  Probably not Brown's intentions, but this one non-religious fiction strengthened my testimony! : )  I read Angels and Demons some time later, and while it was much more grotesque and not for the faint-of-heart, I managed to suspend my beliefs about crazy lunatics and square yards of fabrics and enjoyed the art again.  Another moment of gratitude for the truth that I have, enjoy, and know to be the whole truth, and a moment of wondering how many questions readers of this book (and the first) would have after finishing them.  Go missionaries! : )

***** for DaVinci Code
*** for Angels and Demons

Gettysburg, a Novel of the Civil War by Newt Gringrich & William R. Forstchen

Being a historical fiction fan, this one appealed to me.  It was a "what-if" scenario at the Battle of Gettysburg, with the South winning instead of the North.  In preparation for this discussion, I did a TON of research on what actually DID happen at Gettysburg, so when I read the novel I'd know what the turning points were.  (This was back in 2004, so please forgive me for not enumerating them here!)  I found it intriguing and so so grateful that the North did win, despite the immense number of casualties.  I went to Gettysburg when I was 12 with my family, and driving around with my dad was incredibly bored.  After reading this, I would LOVE to go back and bore my own children to death. : )

*****

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

This was the first book we read as a bookclub, and we loved it!  It was an easy read, but gave us some serious discussions about other views of the afterlife.  I really liked the idea of being able to "walk" back through your life with the ones waiting for you, and having everything described and explained.  Heaven knows (haha--no pun intended there!) that there are many times and experiences in my life when I looked up and said "why?" or "what the heck was that?" or something similar.  I didn't make it completely through Albom's first book, Tuesday's With Morrie, but maybe after this I will.

*****