Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

Bookworm! Part 3

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Bookworm! Part 3

Of the three books described in the opening of this Bookworm! series, this is the book that probably made you raise your eyebrows. Or as the author would describe it: cock your head to the side and perk up your ears in question. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is again a book I had in my hands, put down, and it appeared at Ruthan’s house. I borrowed it Wednesday after running 6 miles before work (i.e. REALLY tired that night so not lots of time to read) and finished crying in the Subway sandwich shop over my flatbread egg white sammich. I was reading it Wednesday night before meeting my winter Team in Training teammates to work on our fundraising. Turns out one girl is readying it for her book club this month and my friend Lauren has been reading it too! If you have (or have ever in your life had) a dog, you need to read this book. It is hilarious in points (monkey’s are inferior to dogs and Enzo, the dog, is indignant that the monkeys have opposable thumbs when he doesn’t); it is heart breaking in others (did you read about me crying in Subway?). No matter what you will not be wasting your time with this book. If you are a deep thinker (i.e. I am too good to read a book written from a dog’s perspective), be heartened—there were many parts that as I read them, I knew they held a deeper, more mystical message. I didn’t slow down to pick up those messages, I liked the part where Enzo was talking best. Makes me want to be a better Master to Maggie. (sorry Barton)

Oh, Kelly C—thanks for letting Ruthan borrow your book out to me. I took good care of it, didn’t drop it in the toilet or tub!

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Bookworm! Part 2

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Part 2 of 3 in a series about my nerdiness…

The next choice was UBER exciting b/c it was the first book I read on my NEW IPAD (yes, you have to scream it every time you type “NEW IPAD” for the first year—it’s in the EULA contract). This was a big leap for me—I love the feel of books (hardback and paperback), I love the smell of books (I don’t care if someone told me that smell is actually the pages decaying, I want a perfume that smells like it—better yet a cologne that smells like it that Paul can wear). I also love looking at the cover—why did the author choose that cover? That typesetting? Do they like the cover? What were they thinking when they had that PR headshot taken? I also love carrying a book around—makes me feel pretentious, “What? You don’t read World War II historical memoirs over your Panini at lunch? Loser…”

But I also love technology and my husband, and quite frankly, Paul was sick of lugging around my “do box” of books and magazines every time we took a car trip. This way I can store it all on my NEW IPAD and that fits into my purse! My sister has a Kindle and she loves it so I took the leap with a book that has been on my To Read list for over a year or so: Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand.

This is the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic distance runner who ended up a Pacific POW. Sounds really uplifting, right—you know how difficult running is for my and the Pacific POW camps make Gitmo sound like a resort. In a Pacific POW camp, they were probably begging to “only” be water boarded. I admit, I have always been fascinated by concentration camp stories. In 8th grade I entered a public speaking contest with a speech about concentration camps. I think the subtitle of Unbroken really sums it up well for me though: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I LOVE a good survival story. I LOVE the word RESILIENCE. Not in a Bear Gryllis sort of survival, but when your mental and emotional mettle is tested. What would I do in that situation? I like to think I am a pretty strong chick (beyond bench press), but could I withstand the boredom, physical exertion and starvation (not to mention the torture, of course). And if I could, would I be able to withstand the survivorship? Spoiler Alert: Louis does magnificently and is a new inspiration for me (not necessarily in timing a mile, but in overcoming obstacles).

The only word of caution I have about this book is not to read it when you are backpacking with children. Especially those that tend to be more dramatic than others. You will have no sympathy for a kid whining about walking uphill after you hear of someone’s fingernails being ripped out. No tears are shed for children who dropped s’mores chocolate once you read of a POW who was forced to lick feces from the commander’s boot or be kicked in the face repeatedly. A dramatized headache brings eye rolls when they are not brought on by a beating session where 200+ strikes in one’s face by other men’s fists, clubs, boots, and branches. Its hard to remember to live in the now when reading a book so mesmerizing. Paul plans to read it if I ever give him enough time on my NEW IPAD.

Standby for Part 3!

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Bookworm! Part 1

Friday, September 16th, 2011

September 9, 2011

In the past week or so I have read 3 fantastic books that I have to share w you. They are very different in some obvious ways:

1 fiction, 2 non-fiction
1 author is a dog, 2 are people
1 was on my NEW IPAD, other 2 were paperback
1 was borrowed, 2 were owned

But the one thing all three had in common was that they were all very uplifting, encouraging, happy books. Kind of a variation for me in some ways. I remember going to Barnes and Noble w my family once on vacation and Elli snorted as I came out of the Business section with a book on improving communication, “Why don’t you ever just read fun books?”

A book a read last year or so was We Need to Talk about Kevin, about a boy who is a sociopath and becomes a school shooter (movie debuted at Cannes this year). It was quite chilling and was hard to shake when I finished. Related to that was Room, which I posted about last year about this time.

So that is what I am trying to do now—gather “fun” books that have positive messages. Although I am worried perhaps Paul would have preferred I spend more time in the communication/self-help section and being a step parent has made me NOT read scary-children type books. I’d love to hear what you are reading or what books are on your favorite-of-all-time-will-read-over-and-over list.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

This book was recommended to me by my friend/Wednesday morning running buddy Ruthan (also one of “The Favorites”). I had seen it several times, picked it up in Target more than once, but not taken the leap. I saw it in her house one Wednesday when I went to run and she said it was a sweet, but powerful book that I had to read. I bought it and it sat on the bookshelf for several weeks until she asked me if I
finished it yet. Two days later I had finished it.

Yes—it is that good. Just like the little boy in it imparts wisdom beyond his years after a trip to Heaven during surgery, this small book packs a powerful message in its fast-paced read. It asked and answered questions I have about Heaven and since it was the experience of a 4-year old boy, I understood much more. It did not feel preachy at all. Instead it really made me want to read more about this Heaven stuff.
In general it was a very positive, uplifting feel good book!

Stay tuned for installments # 2 and 3!

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PPPthththththhhhhhhh, cont’d

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Even my reading is unfocused lately. I think I have 4 books going at once and I am not really that into any of them. Which makes me want to pick up a variety of magazines that I got w frequent flyer miles that Delta decide they did not want me to have past the next 30 days. I am a literary schizophrenic. Literally. Let’s see what we have here….

Leading from the Front by Courtney Lynch and someone else I cannot remember

2 chick former marines talk about leadership issues that are specific to women. I think I am looking for a magic bullet answer to all interpersonal skills. The health care environment is very stressful with all of the upcoming changes to Medicare. Lots of tension. Still looking for the magic.

What are you doing with the rest of your life? (I forget the author)

Pretty self explanatory. If you feel  like you are going uphill all the time, something must not be right. Right?

Superfreakonomics

Have you read Freakonomics? If not, you need to. They talk about things like why sumo wrestlers are crooked,why is chemo so widely used when it so rarely works, forceps hoarding, and assassinating mosquitoes. What could go wrong?

How much you can you stand? Martha Beck

Great book that has like 7 things you need to do to bring joy into your life. You must master each step before moving on. Problem is that I cannot master Step 1. No, not admitting you are powerless over joy. Step 1 is, “Do nothing for 15 minutes each day.” Seriously. I cannot do it for more than 2 days in a row. I have been trying for about 3 months. I wonder if she has a remedial book. Maybe something about bringing adequate feelings into your life. That feels much easier than shooting straight for joy.

I also have 3 parenting books that are more like reference books that I dip into here and there:

  • Positive Discipline
  • 4 Love Languages of Children
  • Balance is a Crock, Sleep is for the Weak

Magazines

  • Entertainment Weekly
  • Time
  • Endurance Magazine
  • Money
  • Real Simple
  • Lucky
  • Oprah
  • Bicycling
  • Inc.
  • Men’s Fitness
  • Fast Company
  • Family Circle

What are you reading these days?

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I Have All The Good Books

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

I have been on the other end of Susan’s book slump lately. I recently finished reading “To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever: A Thoroughly Obsessive, Intermittently Uplifting, and Occasionally Unbiased Account of the Duke-North Carolina Basketball Rivalry”. It was a really good book. If any of you that don’t live in North Carolina want to know how we think about the rivalry this is the book. The author was funny and very accurate about how Carolina fans fell about Duke.

I am also almost finished reading Eric Clapton’s autobiography. This is also a really good book if you are a music fan. It is amazing that he is still alive with all the drugs and drinking he did. Once he got clean he opened a rehab center and in a effort to raise money for it he auctioned off a lot of his guitars. He got $959,500 for his famous “blackie” guitar and after hearing that Susan says that we are going to auction my guitars. I keep telling her that I am not famous and we will never get that much for them (not to mention I’m not getting rid of them) but she remains optimistic.

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Book slump

Monday, February 9th, 2009

I should not have bragged about the great book I had read. I have not had a hit since. I have a list of books I want to read, but the library has them all checked out. So I went to Amazon last time from the library’s computers and searched for the books I wanted. You know how Amazon then says, “People who liked THAT also liked THIS.” Well, I then searched the library system for THAT book. And so on until they actually had one. It is palatable, but not exciting. Bummer since we are driving forever to Myrtle this weekend. Elli sent me her book club list so I can search that at the ‘brary, not sure I will have time before the trip though. If you have any book suggestions I would love to hear them–although nothing with the words dark, death, evil, murder, etc in the title (I get scared easily). My friend Erin linked me to a website that recommends books and then you post what you are reading, but I cannot find the link now.

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