Currently Reading In Search of Eden By Linda Nichols see related

Lots of good reading so far this year! Karen sent me two books that I devoured quickly. My first impression of both of them was that they were dramatic and predictable. Neither one was. "me and Emma"  by Eliz. Flock was very dramatic but not at all predictable. I was totally suprised by what happened in the story. It's about abused young girls and their methods of survival. I believe we all have coping mechanisms and some resort to extremes when they are faced with extremes. "In Search of Eden" by Linda Nichols may lead you to believe you know what is happening as the story unfolds but there is a big twist at the end that will totally suprise you. This story is about a young teenage mother who gives her child up for adoption (against her wishes) and embarks on a journey to find the child. She finds out much more along the way. Kathy gave me the "Sunday Philosyphy Club" by the same author as the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Alexander Smith and it was a fun murder mystery set in Edinburg, Scotland.                                   

 "Water For Elephants"  by Sara Gruen was an excellent book which kept me captive the whole read. There are some yucky sex scenes in the beginning that made me think I wouldn't finish it if there were many more of them but thankfully there were't. The setting of the story is the depression era along the rails (train tracks) of the NE United States where carnival troupes travelled. Man, what a life they had... or lack of. I've never been one who would stop at carnival museums or want to go to the carnival but since reading this book I want to go to the carnival and go to the museums.

"Thunder Bay" by Kent Krueger was a book Gene and I listened to on our way to Louisville for Dad's funeral. It kept both our attentions and was filled with suspense. It's set in the boundary waters of Minnosota and aside from the murder mystery it has side themes of the Indians of that region and of teen pregancy. I think this is why it kept both Gene and I interested.

Now I am thinking I want to read something my Dad would read. He is the one who instilled a love of reading in me. And now he is gone and I miss him and I want to read something he would read. I wish I had his reading list. I will ask my brother Dean, he reads books that Dad liked.

Currently Reading Swimming Lessons (STP - Mira) By Mary Alice Monroe see related

Happy New Year 2008

Gene, Laurel and I just returned from 2 weeks in Costa Rica. It is such a delight to have time to lay on the beach and read. I picked this book as a sequel to one I read a few months ago "The Beach House" because it is set on the South Carolina coast where the loggerhead turtles nest. Reading about sea life while sitting "del Mar esta Costa Rica" just felt natural. The seas are different and the turtles on the pacific coast are leatherback and olive ridley turtles not loggerhead. Nonetheless, the amazing habitat and makeup of sea turtles is so interesting. The stories revolve around some families living and working near the beaches of south carolina. My favorite tales are of the "turtle team" a group who voluntarily protect the nest of the loggerheads. Of course their are love stories and tragic episodes as well but the reading is light and sweet and the author makes you fall in love with the sea and the characters she has chosen.

A very sad book I read recently was "Ten Thousand Splendid Suns"... a richly told story of 2 women from Afganistan and the tragic life they had. If it were not written so well I don't know if I could have read it all.. it is unbelievable what the women of that culture endure.

Among the best spiritual books I read in 2007 was a new one by Brian McClaren "Generous Orthodoxy" ... he calls himself a "pilgrim thinker" and so he is! I loved the book and highlighted something on nearly every page. Also, I bought about 10 copies to give to friends and family since I have to keep the marked up one for myself. It took me a long time to read it since it is bulging with food for thought.

I hope I get to read as many good books in 2008 as I did in 2007! My New Years Resolution is to learn Spanish!

Currently Reading My Sister's Keeper: A Novel By Jodi Picoult see related

With summer behind us I must proclaim that it was a great one for good reads if nothing else. The stress of selling Deer Park comsumed me as well as my Dad and Gene's Dad both falling and breaking their hips. Im thankful I had the time and the ability to read some awesome books. And I made a T-Shirt quilt for Gene.

To follow up on the half of a book report on Glass Castle I ended up enjoying the book sooo much! It reminded me a little of an employee we had who was in her mid thirties who lived a life totally rejecting any authoirty figures and laws of our society. I felt so sorry for her 5 yr. old son. Anyway, this book tells of a similar family who basically lived like gypsies disregarding things like paying your taxes or getting a job and paying rent. The children were survivors in their own sort of ways. You won't be able to put the book down once you get started on it.

Good Grief, was a beautiful story of a young womans challenge of dealing with the death of her husband. It was slow getting started because I kept comparing it to an Erma Bombeck tragicomedy but not too far into the pages it took flight. As a way of distracting her from the constant memory of her husband the main character decides to become a Big Sister and this relationship is amazing... she also opens a bakery which is mouthwatering to read about. If you need a feel good story with real relationships you will love this one.

While spending time in Louisville with my Dad this summer I visisted my dear ol' childhood friend, Laura McCrea Ferguson and she gave me this book , Memory Keepers Daughter. It's a little richer in detail than I prefer but it is written very well. It is based on a true story set in Lexington Kentucky in the 1960's about a doctor who is forced to deliver his own child do to a snow storm . It turns out to be two children and one has Down Syndrome. In a flash of haste he gives the child away to his nurse and tells his wife the girl twin died at birth. Women were sedated for deliveries back in those days... like my own Mom delivering Dean and I in 1957 she didn't even know who came first. I guess you can imagine the dynamics of living a life with a lie like that but it is worth the read to see how it all plays out. The doctor becomes an obcessive photographer, thus the title "memory keeper" and I won't say anymore except the daughter he gave away is delightful!  

Now, I have saved my favorite book of the summer to report on last. My Sisters Keeper  is a tragic story about  the struggles of a family living with a child who has a terminal not to mention chronic illness. It is not as predictable as you may think and it has an unexpected ending. I would have hated to be on the ethics committe of the hospital where this child spent half her life. There really were no easy answers but it's a book you won't be able to put down until you know the answers.

And last but not least I want to tell you about my ongoing book "snacks" in the assortment of "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books. They, each one, are delightful innocent reads set in Bostwana Africa about a lady detective and her adventures. I always come away from the small little books with some lessons learned and a smile on my face.

Happy Reading to You... until next time, God Bless You One and All.