This was my book club book for this month.
Love, love, LOVED it.
It was a real eye-opener to me about how different our society was even just fifty years ago and made me wonder how much more (good, bad, both) it will change in the next fifty years.
This book tells the tale of white women in 1960s Mississippi and thier African-American (see, now they were referred to as "black" throughout the book and that makes more sense as I said "white" women not Anglo-American but I feel that wouldn't be politically correct - I've been trained well - and wouldn't want to cause offense) household help.
The story line encompeses several maids and their employers but the stars of the show are Aibileen and Minny (as maids) and Skeeter and Hilly (white women). This novel take you through both the good and the bad of these interactions. Sometimes the situations were mutually benefial to both. More often, though, it was a difficult situation for the maids to be in. To take care of someone's home but not be able to eat at the same table or use the same bathroom. To raise someone's kids to the point the kids are now adults and are your employer, treating you with disdain.
I really enjoyed seeing how the characters grew and developed through their interactions and events. I also liked learning a bit more about that time in history through the real events Stockett included.
I could have done without some of the language and the naked man scene.
Over all, an excellent job for a first novel. Everyone in my book club liked it (well, I think one enjoyed it for the most part but not the end).
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
How to Read 100 Books in One Year - Guest Post by Demian Farnworth
**Post by guest blogger Demian Farnworth [link to http://www.fallenandflawed.com/]**
One hundred books in one year is a lot of books to read. Let's do the math.
One hundred divided by fifty-two [fifty-two is the number of weeks in the year for those who are curious and not too bright] equals 1.92307692 books a week.
Let's round that up to 2.
That means you have to read 2 books a week if you want to read 100 in a year. Or about one book every 3.5 days.
Up to the challenge?
Well, if you're like me--an incorrigible sucker for ridiculous challenges and a shameless book addict--then this is right up your alley.
But here's the deal: You're likely to fail. Like me.
Two months from now you and me will be hopelessly behind and wondering what in the world we were thinking.
We're likely to shove our little challenge under the bed and pretend it never happened.
I don't know about you, but I don't want that to happen. I WANT to read 100 books in a year--and I WANT to succeed.
So let's add a little twist to this challenge. Let's make this challenge a competition. You know, an old-fashioned, cut-throat rivalry.
Here's what I mean.
Choose someone you know who likes to read and invite them to join your challenge. Once you've got them nodding their head say, "By the way, let's keep score."
I'm telling you, when it comes to motivation--THIS WORKS.
For example, my wife and I are rabid readers. I tend to keep lists of books I want to read. She keeps lists of books she has read. And when I saw the list of books she had already read for 2010 [this was back in late February], I was floored.
I thought, "She's smoking me."
Since then I've streamlined my life as best as I could to make reading books my single and solitary focus. My goal is not to beat her necessarily. It's simply to read 100 books in a year [especially if she does, too!].
Granted, two months later I'm still hopelessly behind my wife who systematically rifles through hefty books at a blistering pace...but I've vowed to not give up.
I've vowed to read...and read...and read until I see the last word on the last page of the last book for the year.
And hopefully when I do that it will be December 31, 2010 and it'll be book number 100 that I'm closing.
One hundred books in one year is a lot of books to read. Let's do the math.
One hundred divided by fifty-two [fifty-two is the number of weeks in the year for those who are curious and not too bright] equals 1.92307692 books a week.
Let's round that up to 2.
That means you have to read 2 books a week if you want to read 100 in a year. Or about one book every 3.5 days.
Up to the challenge?
Well, if you're like me--an incorrigible sucker for ridiculous challenges and a shameless book addict--then this is right up your alley.
But here's the deal: You're likely to fail. Like me.
Two months from now you and me will be hopelessly behind and wondering what in the world we were thinking.
We're likely to shove our little challenge under the bed and pretend it never happened.
I don't know about you, but I don't want that to happen. I WANT to read 100 books in a year--and I WANT to succeed.
So let's add a little twist to this challenge. Let's make this challenge a competition. You know, an old-fashioned, cut-throat rivalry.
Here's what I mean.
Choose someone you know who likes to read and invite them to join your challenge. Once you've got them nodding their head say, "By the way, let's keep score."
I'm telling you, when it comes to motivation--THIS WORKS.
For example, my wife and I are rabid readers. I tend to keep lists of books I want to read. She keeps lists of books she has read. And when I saw the list of books she had already read for 2010 [this was back in late February], I was floored.
I thought, "She's smoking me."
Since then I've streamlined my life as best as I could to make reading books my single and solitary focus. My goal is not to beat her necessarily. It's simply to read 100 books in a year [especially if she does, too!].
Granted, two months later I'm still hopelessly behind my wife who systematically rifles through hefty books at a blistering pace...but I've vowed to not give up.
I've vowed to read...and read...and read until I see the last word on the last page of the last book for the year.
And hopefully when I do that it will be December 31, 2010 and it'll be book number 100 that I'm closing.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Honestly - Sheila Walsh
This book isn’t from my bookshelves either (I’m not doing so great on that challenge). But I saw Sheila Walsh speak back in March and just really connected to her message. She has been through the ringer and come out victorious in Jesus and her relationship with God. I could relate to so many things she said that I just wanted to read everything she’s written trying to find additional help for myself.
So I got this book from the library. It is basically her story from one of the lowest points of her life through healing and recovery into the amazing life she is living in God now.
Sheila was a talented Christian singer/songwriter with her own spot on The 700 Club. But what she showed to the world wasn’t who she truly was. She was empty inside, crying out for someone to see her pain and help her. When she took a step of faith that many discourage, she found true freedom.
Practical and applicable. Heart-touching and impacting.
I’ll leave you with a quote:
When the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change, you’ll change. –Sheila Walsh
So I got this book from the library. It is basically her story from one of the lowest points of her life through healing and recovery into the amazing life she is living in God now.
Sheila was a talented Christian singer/songwriter with her own spot on The 700 Club. But what she showed to the world wasn’t who she truly was. She was empty inside, crying out for someone to see her pain and help her. When she took a step of faith that many discourage, she found true freedom.
Practical and applicable. Heart-touching and impacting.
I’ll leave you with a quote:
When the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change, you’ll change. –Sheila Walsh
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski
This book is not one on my bookshelf. However, I read it on the sort-of recommendation of a friend. She had bought it and thought it might be too dark for her, so I said I’d give it a try. I found it interesting for the most part.
Edgar Sawtelle was born mute but with an uncanny ability to sign and communicate in his own way. He lived on a farm in remote Wisconsin helping his parents breed “Sawtelle dogs.” These dogs have amazing abilities in following commands and as companions.
Edgar’s life is all a boy can ask for until the day his father dies. His mother and he try to continue on with the dogs until his uncle (his father’s brother) steps into both the business and his mother’s arms. Edgar reacts and is forced to flee into the woods with three of the pups he’s been training. There he finds some of the strength he needs to return home.
This story was VERY well told. It was slow starting out but a few chapters in I was really engaged with the characters and the storyline.
As far as it being dark, the first half of the book wasn’t. But towards the middle, there were definitely some darker or more oppressive themes and scenes.
It’s a big book, but in my opinion, worth the read.
Edgar Sawtelle was born mute but with an uncanny ability to sign and communicate in his own way. He lived on a farm in remote Wisconsin helping his parents breed “Sawtelle dogs.” These dogs have amazing abilities in following commands and as companions.
Edgar’s life is all a boy can ask for until the day his father dies. His mother and he try to continue on with the dogs until his uncle (his father’s brother) steps into both the business and his mother’s arms. Edgar reacts and is forced to flee into the woods with three of the pups he’s been training. There he finds some of the strength he needs to return home.
This story was VERY well told. It was slow starting out but a few chapters in I was really engaged with the characters and the storyline.
As far as it being dark, the first half of the book wasn’t. But towards the middle, there were definitely some darker or more oppressive themes and scenes.
It’s a big book, but in my opinion, worth the read.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore - Wayne Jacobson & Dave Coleman
An allegory of sorts that seems to have some autobiographical content from the authors.
The title alone drew me to this book about fictional character Jake Colson. Jake meets a mysterious man, John, who challenges his views of himself, God's love and acceptance, and his concept of the church body. This book chronicles many encounters as Jake walks through months and even years of coming to terms with his "need" to "earn" God's love, his craving for acceptance, and his disillusionment with the church "machine." He comes out the other side with his priority fully centered on connecting with Jesus and following Him every day and experiencing true fellowship with other believers outside the church walls and organization.
While I disagree with the premise of that can be assumed from the book - all churches are evil, we don't need them, don't go - I think that assumption is also wrong. I believe that John made it clear that true fellowship and focus on living with and following Christ and growing in that relationship *can* be found in a traditional church body. However, it often isn't because we all get so caught up in our programs and activities that we lose sight of Him...and each other. I know tht I have experienced that personally and even know struggle with the lack of authentic connection to other believers in my life...even though I regularly attend and am involved in the ministries at a church.
From the appendix in the back, one of the authors says that no where in the Bible does it say that you have to attend church. Which I guess is valid in and of itself if you view church as a certain way. But Hebrews 10:25 does state: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
In our culture that most likely means traditional church. But I understand that it doesn't have to. It is just the most likely way to meet people who are hungry and pushing after Jesus to join along with the journey.
A lot of the points in the book DID hit home with me, though, and echo some of my thoughts and feelings. So it has given me a lot of fodder to think and pray on. I will continue to attend church but with God's help my focus will shift more from the tasks and programs and to do lists and the superficial relationships to really delving into what Jesus has for me to do there and for the connections that He can make through the leading of the Spirit so that I can experience authentic fellowship and relationships that help me (and I can help others) along the path. Because, really, isn't that where it's suppose to be at anyway: focus fully on Jesus and doing what He is calling you to. And the church is purely a mechanism to help that process and to help others come to know Him and be on that journey as well.
The title alone drew me to this book about fictional character Jake Colson. Jake meets a mysterious man, John, who challenges his views of himself, God's love and acceptance, and his concept of the church body. This book chronicles many encounters as Jake walks through months and even years of coming to terms with his "need" to "earn" God's love, his craving for acceptance, and his disillusionment with the church "machine." He comes out the other side with his priority fully centered on connecting with Jesus and following Him every day and experiencing true fellowship with other believers outside the church walls and organization.
While I disagree with the premise of that can be assumed from the book - all churches are evil, we don't need them, don't go - I think that assumption is also wrong. I believe that John made it clear that true fellowship and focus on living with and following Christ and growing in that relationship *can* be found in a traditional church body. However, it often isn't because we all get so caught up in our programs and activities that we lose sight of Him...and each other. I know tht I have experienced that personally and even know struggle with the lack of authentic connection to other believers in my life...even though I regularly attend and am involved in the ministries at a church.
From the appendix in the back, one of the authors says that no where in the Bible does it say that you have to attend church. Which I guess is valid in and of itself if you view church as a certain way. But Hebrews 10:25 does state: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
In our culture that most likely means traditional church. But I understand that it doesn't have to. It is just the most likely way to meet people who are hungry and pushing after Jesus to join along with the journey.
A lot of the points in the book DID hit home with me, though, and echo some of my thoughts and feelings. So it has given me a lot of fodder to think and pray on. I will continue to attend church but with God's help my focus will shift more from the tasks and programs and to do lists and the superficial relationships to really delving into what Jesus has for me to do there and for the connections that He can make through the leading of the Spirit so that I can experience authentic fellowship and relationships that help me (and I can help others) along the path. Because, really, isn't that where it's suppose to be at anyway: focus fully on Jesus and doing what He is calling you to. And the church is purely a mechanism to help that process and to help others come to know Him and be on that journey as well.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson
Okay, so I will admit up front that I read the “Young Reader’s Edition.” I actually started out reading the regular old adult edition for my book club this month. But I kept getting bogged down in details and rabbit trails and having to look back because I confused the similar names of various mountains and various people – sometimes even across categories. I really wasn’t enjoying it…as much as I had hoped I would because I’m all about education.
I also knew there was no way I’d be able to finish the book before tomorrow night. So last yesterday I picked up the YA one and finished it tonight. Conveniently, the chapters are all named the same in both books. So it was easy to pick up where I had left off in the other version. And I enjoyed it a lot more this way.
Greg Mortenson is definitely a man cut from a different cloth. Adventurous, yes. A little lost and bouncing in his younger days, for sure. But all of those things ultimately led him to discover and pursue his passion. And I have to admire that. He was not afraid of hardship. He was not afraid of hard work or inconvenience. He lived like no other (in his car, in a stinky sublet apartment, etc.) so he could do what he could to make this world a better place. I like that.
While I don’t know that I can jump onto his education is the only way to solve terrorism bandwagon, I can acknowledge that it is a huge step in the right direction.
Definitely a worthwhile read…if you read the juvenile version.
I also knew there was no way I’d be able to finish the book before tomorrow night. So last yesterday I picked up the YA one and finished it tonight. Conveniently, the chapters are all named the same in both books. So it was easy to pick up where I had left off in the other version. And I enjoyed it a lot more this way.
Greg Mortenson is definitely a man cut from a different cloth. Adventurous, yes. A little lost and bouncing in his younger days, for sure. But all of those things ultimately led him to discover and pursue his passion. And I have to admire that. He was not afraid of hardship. He was not afraid of hard work or inconvenience. He lived like no other (in his car, in a stinky sublet apartment, etc.) so he could do what he could to make this world a better place. I like that.
While I don’t know that I can jump onto his education is the only way to solve terrorism bandwagon, I can acknowledge that it is a huge step in the right direction.
Definitely a worthwhile read…if you read the juvenile version.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Alibis in Arkansas
Three Romance Mysteries:
Death on a Deadline - Christine Lynxwiler
Drop Dead Diva - Jan Reynolds
Down Home and Deadly - Sandy Gaskin
I have typically found that these types of books are a bit hokey, shall we say. But I truly enjoyed each of these three stories.
Written by sisters themselves, they chronicle three separate murders that sisters Jenna Stafford and Carly Reece stumble upon. Actually, Jenna typically does the stumbling; Carly seems to be more along for the ride.
They are not heavy in the romance department even though the cover says “Three Romance Mysteries.” And I was great with that. There was just enough to be interesting but not drawn out or intense.
The mysteries themselves were also good. Either I haven’t read a mystery/suspense in a long time or I’m losing my edge. Because I was unable to figure out “who dunnit” in each one.
Quick, fun reads.
Death on a Deadline - Christine Lynxwiler
Drop Dead Diva - Jan Reynolds
Down Home and Deadly - Sandy Gaskin
I have typically found that these types of books are a bit hokey, shall we say. But I truly enjoyed each of these three stories.
Written by sisters themselves, they chronicle three separate murders that sisters Jenna Stafford and Carly Reece stumble upon. Actually, Jenna typically does the stumbling; Carly seems to be more along for the ride.
They are not heavy in the romance department even though the cover says “Three Romance Mysteries.” And I was great with that. There was just enough to be interesting but not drawn out or intense.
The mysteries themselves were also good. Either I haven’t read a mystery/suspense in a long time or I’m losing my edge. Because I was unable to figure out “who dunnit” in each one.
Quick, fun reads.
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