DriveThru Books

The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama

2008-10-15T12:51:00.002-07:00

I'm not far in this book, but I still thought it worth a post. It will take me a while because I can't blow through nonfiction in quite the same way I can with fiction. All the same, I am finding it an extremely insightful book. The very title of the book is so thought-provoking. Because it is almost unheard of to have "hope" in the political arena -- really a very audacious idea. But I have often found myself chiding people for being negative about politics because they do not agree with everything about a particular person or program. I think politics is a great place to try looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty.

Austenland, by Shannon Hale

2008-10-13T19:20:00.004-07:00

Well, Kristen recommended this book, but since she hasn't gotten around to posting about it and probably has read four other books since she recommended it to me, I'll go ahead and do a short blurb on it.

This is a fun read for the Austen fan. Unfortunately, I thought it was fairly predictable (which perhaps tells you how much of an Austen fan I am) but still very enjoyable. I read it between 10am and 5pm the same day, so it was a pretty quick and easy read.

The dedicatory page is what had me laughing out loud:

For Colin Firth

You're a really great guy, but I'm married,

so I think we should just be friends.

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

2008-09-28T14:31:00.002-07:00

It took me a few chapters to really get into These is My Words, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I had put myself on mandatory 24-hour bedrest due to some hard contractions anyway, so I figured I could use this book to pass the time.

I thought the book very cleverly written in journal form and I was impressed with the tidbits of history and personality Turner injects into every page. I'm not a big history buff and still I find myself wanted to know more about the settling of the Arizona Territory after reading this.

And then of course, there is the love-story that swept me off my feet. I keep re-reading some of the more mushy excerpts and I can't help but tear up every single time. I don't know if I dare read the second book - I liked the first one SO much.

I'm not leaving any quotes on this one. It's one I'd rather have to re-read to find those parts I liked best.

The Peacegiver

2008-09-15T19:44:00.003-07:00

This is a small book written by James L. Ferrell available through Deseret Book. It's really more of a short story than a book, but it is bound, so I'm counting it. Plus, I wanted to type up my favorite quotes so that I remember them.

I confess that this is my second time reading this book. I feel like I keep saying that I don't normally read books more than once, so I guess it's not true after-all. This is an excellent book on the need to cleanse our hearts from all bitterness, resentment and pride. The story itself centers on a married couple, but the principles apply to all areas and relationships we have. It reminded me a lot of Tuesdays with Morrie in that it focuses on the importance of our attitude.

I strongly recommend the read and would happily loan out my copy to anyone who promises to return it within a year. Yes, I am already planning on reading it again.

****************************

Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us.

What’s false is the idea that you or I deserve that love or devotion – that we are somehow entitled to it. The truth is that there is only one thing we truly deserve, and that is to be sent to hell. (96)

Relative righteousness means nothing. Whether Jonah was better or worse than Nineveh isn’t the question at all… … Some laborers work longer, the Savior told us in one of his parables, and others shorter. Each person’s payment at the end of the day has nothing whatsoever to do with the work of others. We are each working out our own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord. And that gift will come to us only if we know in our hearts that we deserve it no more than anyone else. (98-99)

Mere Christianity

2008-09-06T09:16:00.002-07:00

I don't know why it took me so long to get through C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity this time. I checked it out from the library and have had to renew it twice. Perhaps it was too much philosophy for me to wrap my brain around while pregnant. (lame excuse, I know) But, as always, I enjoy Lewis' insights and intelligent approach while not always agreeing with him doctrinally. I do wish he would use more scriptural references to back up his claims. I find myself thinking where is the scripture that specifically talks about that, I know it sounds so familiar... Of course, this just tells me that I need to be making scripture study more of a priority. The interesting thing is that many of the scriptures that come to mind as he delves into the different topics are in the Book of Mormon.

The book itself is a collection of content that Lewis first discussed on air. It is divided into four books: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, What Christians Believe, Christian Behaviour, and Beyond Personality: Or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity. If you were only to read a few pages out of this book, you really should read two chapters within Christian Behaviour. The first is entitled THE GREAT SIN and the second is HOPE. These discussions of Pride and Hope are very practically and sensibly approached and have had me pondering specific points all night. I won't go into it, it's just a few pages, you should just read them.

The most memorable passage for me, however, is in the chapter following HOPE, which is entitled FAITH. I have heard this quoted many many times, but it never seems to lose it's appeal for me:

A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means - the only complete realist. (124-125)

*Note: I did not read the final book discussing the Trinity this time through. I have read it before and disagree with his conclusions and just didn't want to read it again. Maybe next time or a time when I am interested in studying more about the doctrine of the Godhead.

Breaking Dawn

2008-09-06T09:06:00.003-07:00

Stephenie Meyer's last installment in the Twilight series, in my opinion, was the best part of the entire story. I think after re-reading the first three, I was kind of sick of all the romance. I felt like Breaking Dawn had a lot more character development and characters in general. I did like the twist in the story line (which I wasn't expecting) although I really got excited for a big scene at the end and was more than a little disappointed. Of course what I wanted was more along the lines of blood and carnage everywhere...not exactly appropriate for this type of book.

I must confess that it's been over a month since I actually read the book, and since my memory is what it is, I've forgotten the majority of the details. But, since I don't plan on reading it again, I figured better late than never to write down my impressions. Oh, and I'm so sad for her and what happened with the manuscript for the new book, from Edward's point of view. You can read about it on her website if you want.

How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn

2008-08-05T19:42:00.001-07:00

I was on page 9 when I knew I would love this book. First of all, if I had to choose a time to live besides now, it would be the turn of the century. The last century. This story is told by an old man, whose home is about to be buried under a slag heap (coal waste). He recalls his life in that house, choosing sides, learning to love and losing those who are dear. It tore at my heart and made me proud to be a woman.

"Go on with you, boy," Bron said, pretending a frost of impatience, but a smile in the making behind her eyes, and watching people to see if Olwen was having more of the looks. If she had seen a man looking at her, she would have turned her nose to the skies and so put him in a bruise of blushes, but if she had seen him looking at Olwen, she would have been hurt, and wondering if she had a bit of soot on her nose or too many years.
A good, good laugh I had, to see them playing the game of Woman. A pretty game it is too, and men, having quite as much of the fun when they have the courage to use their eyes. Women love to be looked at, though they will deny it with an oath, and men, the fools, will look up, look down, and blind themselves and have humped backs with looking at the pavement, or have twists in the neck from looking at something on either side, only not to look, or be thought looking at a woman. There is senseless, there is stupid and there is dull.

This one really made me laugh all the way through...and cry...and pout...and think...

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse

2008-08-04T16:50:00.002-07:00

I NEEDED to re-read the first three books in the series (1) because I wanted to remember them before reading Breaking Dawn and (2) I had to confirm and solidify my position that I prefer Jacob to Edward.

Yes. You heard right. Team Jacob all the way.

I won't be reading Breaking Dawn for at least another week since I'll be visiting family and I don't want to be rude. I think Stephenie Meyer does a fabulous job with this series - especially for her target audience (teens). I like that she keeps things simple although some of my friends think that her foreshadowing is lame - I agree it's fairly transparent, but none of us are reading this for the mystery. We're all reading it for Edward. Yes, I know. I'm totally, 100% for Jacob and still, on the first read anyway, what kept me going was Edward.

Anxious to see how it ends. And can I just say that I really, really, hope it ends. Even if it's messy, I really, really, hope it is a definitive ending. None of this "make everybody happy crap." I want to see Bella make a concious choice, I want to see her character become strong - none of this weak, sissy, I can't make any decisions crap.

Tuesdays with Morrie

2008-07-15T18:46:00.002-07:00

I picked this one up from the library this morning after going to StoryTime with Ben. I didn't even have a chance to put it in my "Books Sara is Reading..." box. I'm finished. I'm filled. And yet I'm left wanting more. Or maybe just wanting to BE more.

I don't know if it's my journalism degree that makes me relate to the writing style (the author, Mitch Albom, is a journalist) but I feel that it is an easy, refreshing read for anyone. I found myself wanting to jot down quotes but there are too many fantastic lines to do it justice...and I just wanted to enjoy the reading. I did, immensely and I highly recommend this one.

I thought it interesting that without any prior planning I read it on a Tuesday. Maybe I'm a Tuesday person too.

The Silver Chair & The Last Battle

2008-07-06T16:27:00.003-07:00

Well, I've finally finished re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia. I'm obviously a person who likes to isolate certain passages and remember quotes, but even over-all, I just feel good reading these books. Pregnancy hormones came out and I did shed a few tears over each of them, but I had forgotten a passage from The Last Battle which struck me the last time I read it, as a teenager. The woman speaking is Aunt Polly, an "aunt" to the four original children from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and she is speaking of Susan. Susan does not appear in The Last Battle because she is no longer a "friend of Narnia" and this is the reason given: "She wasted all her school time wanting to be the age she is now, and she'll waste the rest of her life trying to stay that age."

For me it is a chilling reminder to not be stuck in the past or live for the future or to be so concerned with myself that all else ceases to matter/exist.

The Scarlet Letter

2008-07-03T15:02:00.002-07:00

Did anyone else have to read this in high school? It was much different for me this time around....

I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter over the past few days. Although the language is laborious at times, it's eloquence is quite captivating. I love Hawthorne's insight into the deepest feelings of guilt, sorrow and pain we experience as a result of sin. This edition included The Custom-House as an introduction to the novel itself, which I had not previously read. It was too long for my liking (I really just wanted to read the novel) but I did enjoy some of the character sketches he provides and the insights into his own struggles as an author.

Quote from The Custom-House:

His integrity was perfect; it was a law of nature with him rather than a choice or a principle. 21

Quote from The Scarlet Letter:

Let men tremble to win the hand of woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart. 165

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2008-07-01T17:18:00.005-07:00

After such a long break from posting to this blog, I probably should have read something really sophisticated to make up for the silence, but C.S. Lewis is one author that always appeals to me, no matter my mood.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has the most memorable C.S. Lewis passages for me. I reflect on this passage (told for a horrible little boy named Eustace's point of view) often, comparing it to times in my life when I have become a "dragon" and require the sometimes painful transformation only available through the atonement.

“The water was as clear as anything and I thought if I could get in there and bathe, it would ease the pain in my leg. But the lion told me I must undress first… I suddenly thought that dragons are snaky sort of things and snakes can cast their skins. Oh, of course, thought I, that’s what the lion means. So I started scratching myself and my scales began coming off all over the place. And then I scratched a little deeper, and instead of just scales coming off here and there, my whole skin started peeling off beautifully, like it does after an illness or as if I was a banana. In a minute or two I just stepped out of it. I could see it lying there beside me, looking rather nasty. It was a most lovely feeling. So I started to go down into the well for my bathe.

“But just as I was going to put my feet in the water I looked down and saw that they were all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as they had been before. Oh, that’s all right, said I, it only means I had another smaller suit on underneath the first one, and I’ll have to get out of it too. So I scratched and tore again and this underskin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bathe.

“Well, exactly the same thing happened again. And I thought to myself, oh dear, how ever man skins have I got to take off? For I was longing to bathe my leg. So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water I knew it had been no good.

“Then the lion said…‘You will have to let me undress you.’ I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.

“The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off…he peeled the beastly stuff right off…and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I’d turned into a boy again."

The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

2008-05-19T12:31:00.005-07:00

Of course I read The Host as soon as it came out. Hello, I was in line at 7:00 in the morning the day it came out to buy it as well as tickets to hear Stephenie Meyer speak at a book signing that happened last Friday. And the reason I haven't posted for so long is because I have been re-reading the Twilight Series and it is slightly embarrassing to be such a huge fan of something that is so big right now. But I am.
Anyway, on to The Host. I loved it. I'm really excited that S. Meyer published something outside of her signature series before finished the series because it will now be possible for her to continue even after she finishes with Twilight -- something J. K. Rowling may never be able to to after Harry Potter. It was also exciting to see that the magic of her writing doesn't end with vampires. She is an incredible storyteller, something made more obvious by the fact that she could write about a completely different world and make it a smashing success.
The story of The Host was really good. It was science fiction in a way science fiction never has been -- something I have actually really dreamed of trying to do. It made it humanistic. It really introduced readers to the characters and the lives and personalities. The story was beautiful. As with all of Meyers other works, there is good and evil in the story that could really be applied to everyday life. I love that about her writing -- it is completely entertaining, but it teaches lessons very subtly.
One spoiler for those who have not yet read it -- I cried at the end. It was a beautiful ending.

Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley

2008-04-12T09:21:00.002-07:00

If you're surprised that this is another retelling of an old fairy tale, you don't know me yet. I actually own books of all of Grimms' and Anderson's original fairy tales. I love old fairy tales. Anyway, this was loose version of Cinderella. I really enjoyed the story. It was an extremely creative rendering of Cinderella -- so different that you really wondered what was going to happen, but close enough that it was still the fairy tale. The writing style was interesting -- each chapter was told from the point of view of different players in the story. The only problem I had with it was that it wasn't really balanced. If I were to write in such a style, I probably would try to do something like have every other chapter be told by the main character(s), and then all the others told by other minor characters or something, whereas this was a little bit random. All in all, the randomness didn't detract that much from the story -- and for less critical readers it probably wouldn't detract at all. I really got into it, and that's all I ask from a book when I reading for enjoyment.

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

2008-04-01T19:35:00.002-07:00

I have to confess a weakness that I have for young adult fiction. Maybe it's because that was the period of my life when I truly fell in love with reading, but I truly love it. I especially love re-told fairy tales and classic tales (Robin McKinley and Gail Carson Levine are especially good at this type of book). This was the first novel I have read by said author (I think, although her name is familiar . . .), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was, of course, much lighter than anything I have read lately. But it had a good moral at the end of the story, and that was good enough for the mood I was in. This was a retelling of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, which is something I've always been curious about -- you know, a collection of tales that I know very little about. I actually feel more educated after reading it because it is something that my background has lacked. I think I'll go ahead and try some more books by the author.

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

2008-03-26T19:01:00.003-07:00

I continue my thread with this book in the Chronicles of Narnia - I LOVE C.S. LEWIS. I feel like a better person when I read his books. He always allows even the most likable of characters to make mistakes, redeem themselves and get on with life. I love how Lewis favors Lucy's character (she seems to be the most in-tune with Aslan) and yet, Lucy is not infallible either. She learns in this novel that sometimes you must walk alone when you decide to do the right thing - even if you are the youngest and are accustomed to following (or should we say "obeying") your older siblings.

Along the same train of thought, I really like how Lewis himself forgives his characters for their human weaknesses. After someone makes an unnecessary, nasty remark, there is always a disclaimer - something to the effect of...but of course after such a journey and not having eaten since breakfast one could understand the easy loss of temper...I don't say it half as well, but I really do love how he makes allowances for his characters. It makes me feel like I should be more aware of situations I find myself in. Rather than focus on the negative remark thrown in my direction, a quick glance at the whole situation makes it oh-so-forgiveable. And likewise, when I am losing it, taking that step back and being able to forgive myself and get on with life rather than beat myself up for a weak moment. Again, Lewis' writing just makes me want to be a better person.

And he's never short on wit. Just one excerpt from this one:

"That's the worst of girls," said Edmund to Peter and the Dwarf. "They never carry a map in their heads."

"That's because our heads have something inside them," said Lucy.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

2008-03-25T20:28:00.003-07:00

Okay, I have finished the book tonight. I broke one of my own personal by-laws (thou shalt never do anything relaxing and enjoyable in the evening until the dishes are done) to finish it. Don't worry, the dishes are now finished -- they provided the perfect opportunity for assembling my thoughts.
First -- the love story. Such a love story! I love how realistic it is -- there was no love at first sight, and nor did Elizabeth fall immediately in love when she received the letter that justified Mr. Darcy's actions on their points of contention. Instead, she slowly and steadily came to "esteem" him more and more, until she realized that she really did love him. I love his faithfulness, his constancy. Elizabeth is a fun and likable character -- Mr. Darcy is admirable and lovable.
Next -- the parents. This is the theme that struck me the most on this read. I found the book to be replete with veiled warnings to parents against neglect and over-indulgence -- which also amounts to neglect. Rather than attempt to work at instilling the virtues of knowledge and understanding in his daughters, Mr. Bennet is satisfied with simply enjoyed Elizabeth's natural tendency for it, and mocking his other daughters for their very normal lack thereof. Mrs. Bennet is a silly woman who indulges her daughters, but does not try to improve them through learning or education. She did not push music or art or even reading, which were really a woman's only preservations from complete ignorance and laziness at the time. I tend to be extremely annoyed with Mrs. Bennet only to realize that Mr. Bennet is perhaps more to blame because he saw the problems but chose to laugh at them rather than to fix them. Jane and Elizabeth only turned out well because they had the responsibilities that their parents ignored thrust upon them. It is no wonder that the youngest (and, not surprisingly, the most indulged) daughter was the one to "fall." Yes -- a warning against negligent parenting.
Third -- I can't help but want to compare Pride and Prejudice with Sense and Sensibility, which I just finished last week. S&S has a silly mother as well. However, she is adored and looked after by her daughters. I think that the mother in S&S is silly in a less selfish way. The villains in both novels begin with the letter "W" -- Wickham in P&P and Willoughby in S&S (hmmm . . . could there have been a "W" villain in Jane Austen's life?). Both novels are based upon the stories of two sisters. I must confess -- Jane and Elizabeth are certainly more likable characters than Elenor and Marianne.
I could keep going in this vein for much, much longer, but it probably won't ever get read if I become too long-winded. I will, therefore, end with my favorite quote from P&P: "We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing."
That is unfair, though. P&P also has my favorite Jane Austen quote -- the one that expresses the theme throughout all of her writing: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." That, along with Charles Dickens "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (A Tale of Two Cities) is, in my opinion, one of the two best opening paragraphs ever written in a novel of the English language.
Okay, I'm really done.

Pride and Prejudice

2008-03-24T19:31:00.002-07:00

I know I can't really say very much that is original about any of Jane Austen's most popular works. However, I am enjoying Pride and Prejudice immensely. I remember the first time I read it -- I must have been in seventh grade -- I hated Mr. Bennett! I didn't understand any except the most blatant of the satire. Therefore, I thought the book to be extremely boring and actually rather annoying. I read it again a few years later and couldn't believe how different it was from what I remembered. Again I hated Mr. Bennett, but with more sympathy and more understanding. As I read it for the fifth or sixth (or so) time, I'm especially struck with how extremely witty Jane Austen is. I am amazed that a woman who was so young and truly so inexperienced could be so perceptive of human nature. She understands people so well, and exposes their vices to public view with her skillful satire. And yet the tone of her books is not negative. She manages to be honest without being depressing. I love her worldview and the outlook it gives to me.

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

2008-03-23T19:20:00.006-07:00

I don't know if it's my eagerness to post to this blog or my renewed interest in the written word, but I have reverted to an 11-year-old version of myself who would get in trouble for reading books underneath my covers with a flashlight way past my bedtime.

In short - between yesterday's post and now, I breezed through C.S. Lewis' The Horse and His Boy. I am always touched but the sensitive way in which he weaves the Savior into his narrative. Yes, I cried.

Here are four passages I most enjoyed, but I don't know if they are as enjoyable without having read the rest of the story. It's a quick read (obviously) and well worth it. Lewis is an engaging story teller, and occasionally brings a tear to my eye, or a smirk to my lips and even to vigorously nod in agreement at times.

****

“My good Horse,” (said the Hermit) “You’ve lost nothing but your self-conceit… …If you are really so humbled as you sounded a minute ago, you must learn to listen to sense. You’re not quite the great Horse you had come to think, from living among poor dumb horses. Of course you were braver and cleverer than them. You could hardly help being that. It doesn’t follow that you’ll be anyone very special in Narnia. But as long as you know you’re nobody special, you’ll be a very decent sort of Horse, on the whole…” (275)

(Aslan speaking) “…I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”
(Shasta speaking) “Then it was you who wounded Aravis?”
“It was I.”
“But what for?”
“Child,” said the Voice, “I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own.” (281)

“It was I who wounded you,” said Aslan. “I am the only lion you met in all your journeyings. Do you know why I tore you?”
(Aravis speaking) “No, sir.”
“The scratches on your back, tear for tear, throb for throb, blood for blood, were equal to the stripes laid on the back of your stepmother’s slave because of the drugged sleep you cast upon her. You needed to know what it felt like.”
“Yes, sir. Please – “
“Ask on, my dear,” said Aslan.
“Will any more harm come to her by what I did?”
“Child,” said the Lion, “I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.” (299)

“Aravis also had many quarrels (and, I’m afraid, even fights) with Cor, but they always made it up again: so that years later, when they were grown up, they were so used to quarrelling and making up again that they got married so as to go on doing it more conveniently.” (310)

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

2008-03-22T15:22:00.003-07:00

I've been re-writing this first sentence over and over because I don't know how to say that I just didn't like this book very much. I'm not a good critic. I would rather blame myself (I'm just an ignorant reader and can't appreciate a good book, etc) than the author, as I have never endeavored to write a novel and I have immense respect for people who do. I'd much prefer to ignore the bad and be content with the good, but I also want to be honest.

I wouldn't say it was a bad book, I just didn't get enthralled in it like I have recently done in the Twilight Series (oh dear, did I say that out loud?) and in Harry Potter. I was expecting something I would just thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in - just a story. Honestly, the story is really great, it is a well-written, juvenile fantasy fiction. Of course, a prominent theme within Inkheart is about being obsessed with books, so rather than getting luring me into it's story, it made me think of all the other books I haven't ever read or haven't read in a long time. The Princess Bride, Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, Great Expectations, The Neverending Story, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, etc. Each chapter contains a quotation from a novel, great quotes which made me eager to cast aside Inkheart and open another book. Of course that may be attributed to having recently started this blog more than the quality of the book itself.

I didn't put down the book half way through, which is more than I can say for the last book I opened (sorry Dr. Gray). Like I said, the story itself is neat and I wanted to finish it - but I think I finished it more to move on to another book than anything else. I have the second book in the series on my bookshelf, but I won't be picking it up anytime soon. My appetite for other novels is pretty intense right now. Spinning through my brain are the titles of great movies that have even better books behind them. I'll have to get through Easter and see what I decide to pick up next.

From Inkheart:

"Everything that had happened had begun between the pages of this book, and only the words of its author could save them now. Meggie stroked its binding as she always did before opening a book. She had seen Mo doing the same. Ever since she could remember she had known that movement - the way he would pick up a book, stroke the binding almost tenderly, then open it as if he were opening a box full to the brim with precious things. Of course, the marvels you hoped to find might not be waiting inside the covers, so then you closed the book, sorry that its promise had not been kept." Pages 501-502

More Becky Bailey: "Journey From Fear To Love"

2008-03-21T14:06:00.003-07:00

I love the section (p. 10-12 in the revised edition) where Dr. Bailey discusses turning your discipline methods from fear to love. She talks about how, historically, fear has usually been used in discipline. This fear took (and still takes) many forms. I never thought of myself as using intimidation tactics in my parenting, but I certainly recognize many of the statements and approaches that she discusses. I can see how each of these things qualify as fear -- read the book to find out exact statements, etc.

In this section I also love where she says "When we feel bad about ourselves we tend to criticize and judge others." She talks about how that affects our parenting a great deal. I can see how this can be a problem -- when I am stressed or extra-tired, I tend to disappoint myself in my parenting. Of course, then I feel worse about myself. This leads to worse parenting -- and so the downward spiral continues. I think I can even see why I am feeling right now (about seven months or so into being a mother of three) that I have less patience and charity for my children than I did before. The exhaustion, leading to the lack of patience, leading to the lower feelings of worth, leading to the worse parenting -- and so it would continue if I did not recognize and decide to change what is happening.

*** Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the book is also in this section. It refines and defines one of my life-themes. "Love looks for solutions as it accepts what is." So you have a puppy that you mistakenly bought? You can't change the fact that you bought this stupid animal. But you can choose to solve the problem. So your son just crushed a cracker and threw it on the floor? You can't change the fact that the floor is inches deep in cracker crumbs -- but you can solve that particular problem. You would be surprised by how much less anger you feel if you realize that you can change the present situation, but you can change the future in regards to that situation.

Easy To Love, Difficult To Discipline, by Becky Bailey

2008-03-20T13:27:00.002-07:00

I am reading this book for the second time. The first time I read it, I loved it. It made so much sense, and it was so helpful! The difference in my parenting before reading this book and after was perceptible. At the end it contains a program to help you institute the changes into your life. I was excited to begin -- but only days after I finished the book, I got sick and stayed sick for a couple of weeks. Then it was Olivia's turn, and then I had a series of family obligations. Once life returned to normal, I knew I was going to have to re-read the book in order to begin the program. Besides that, even though I couldn't remember everything from my first read, the things that I did remember helped a great deal. It just makes sense to read it again and try to make it, in a sense, a part of me.
Here are some quotes from the first chapter that introduce the theme that will be addressed throughout the book:
-- ". . . only by learning to discipline yourself will you be able to successfully guide your children's behavior."
-- "A wonderful woman who lived in a shoe/Had so many children,/And she knew exactly what to do./She held them,/She rocked them,/ She tucked them in bed,/ 'I love you, I love you'/ Is what she said." This remake of the old nursery rhyme particularly hit home with me. Ever since the birth of my third child, I have considered the original version of that rhyme the theme of my life (you know, and old woman who had so many children she didn't know what to do). It just made me feel like there was hope for me.
-- ". . . how we percieve a situation dictates the actions we will take."
-- "Self-control must be the first priority of all parents."
-- "This book is about parents teaching their children how to behave, not about parents controlling their children's behavior."
-- "It's not necessary to squelch every misdeed, so slow down, and enjoy the journey."

I would highly recommend this book to any parent! I'll try to keep updating my progress. Feel free to join me in this read. There are a lot of books that I like, a lot that have influenced my life. This book, however, has changed my life -- and that is something that I can only say about a handful of books (most of them being official religious texts). It's truly remarkable.

How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have by John Gray

2008-03-17T19:27:00.002-07:00

I only made it half-way through this one – he lost me somewhere between giving my negative energy to plants and forcing myself to re-live bad experiences from my past.

I actually enjoyed a lot of what the author had to say. He is a little bit of a self-promoter, referencing Mars & Venus often - but in my eyes, it's forgivable. Good content, just a little too much self-improvement for me. Time for an entertaining book: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. But first, here are a few samples from Wanting What You Have (I didn't quite make it to the Getting What I Want part, oh well, story of my life)

*****************

In literature and in the movies, there are often stories of people who achieve success by selling their souls to the devil or to the “dark force.” Although theses stories are fictional there is actually a lot of truth to the metaphor. It is much easier to achieve outer success if you give up who you are… …When you deny the natural process of developing and expressing [human] qualities, you are selling out. Page 25

Unless the soul gets what it needs, it is powerless to direct and bring fulfillment to our lives... ...there are ten love needs, or love vitamins...

...Vitamin G1 - Love and support from God.

Vitamin P1 - Love and support from our parents.

Vitamin F - Love and support from family, friends, and having fun.

Vitamin P2 - Love and support from peers and others like us with similar goals.

Vitamin S - Love and support from ourselves.

Vitamin R - Love and support from intimate relationships, partnerships, and romance.

Vitamin D - Loving and supporting someone dependent on us.

Vitamin C - Giving back to our communities.

Vitamin W - Giving back to the world.

Vitamin G2 - Serving God. Pages 35-36

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

2008-03-09T09:31:00.003-07:00

Here are four things I loved the most about this read-thru of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:

1. (Mr. Beaver speaking) "They say Aslan is on the move - perhaps has already landed."

And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different... ...At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer. (Page 141)

2. "But where is the fourth?" asked Aslan.

"He has tried to betray them and joined the White Witch, O Aslan," said Mr. Beaver. And then something made Peter say,

"That was partly my fault, Aslan. I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong."

And Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him but merely stood looking at him with his great unchanging eyes. And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing to be said.

"Please - Aslan," said Lucy, "can anything be done to save Edmund?"(Page 169)

3. ...They saw Aslan and Edmund walking together in the dewy grass, apart from the rest of the court. There is no need to tell you (and no one ever heard) what Aslan was saying, but it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot. As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him.

"Here is your brother," he said, "and - there is no need to talk to him about what is past." (Page 174)

4. C.S. Lewis (Clive Staples) was known as "Jack" to his friends. I'm sure I've read that before, but I never really processed it in my brain, I guess. Jack Lewis. I like the name Jack.

The End and The Beginning

2008-03-02T07:54:00.002-07:00

I just finished Mars & Venus Together Forever. I really liked the end, which talks a lot about forgiveness. It's funny because when I think of "experiencing forgiveness," I mainly think of the times that people have extended forgiveness to me - not the times I have forgiven. Dr. Gray does a great job of laying out that practicing forgiveness in ALL of our relationships will eventually have a positive effect on the world.

Onward and upward. I have another Dr. Gray book on hold to pick-up at the library's drive thru, but I do realize that I need to take a break from psychology books or I'll burn out (the story of my life). So, this week's indulgence will be C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I am a major fan of C.S. Lewis. Among my favorites are Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters and of course, The Chronicles of Narnia. Now, it may seem odd to jump from psychology right into Christian literature, but C.S. Lewis' Christian references in The Chronicles of Narnia series are easily digested and could even be overlooked by Christian and non-Christian readers alike. In fact, the whole scare about the movie The Golden Compass (based on the novel, Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman) poisoning children's mind against religion was summed up by the following I heard on the news shortly after the movie came out: Watching The Golden Compass puts you in as much danger of becoming anti-religion as The Chronicles of Narnia has in making you a Christian. But that is neither here nor there. Someday, I do want to read Northern Lights and see what all the fuss is about.

For now, I will embark on my own Narnian adventure. I aim to read at least book one: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe this week - we'll see how far I get.