Reading Has Purpose

Giveaway Winner

2012-02-07T07:05:00.001-05:00

Winner of The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge is

Anonymous

Whoever the anonymous commenter is that left a comment on this giveaway Feb 2 @ 12:00 am, time to reveal yourself! You can send your mailing address to me at Shannon@readinghaspurpose.com.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2012-02-01T06:01:00.084-05:00

My January selection for The Versatile Reading Challenge had to be a book by a Nigerian author. I chose Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It is the first book I’ve read by a Nigerian author.

Purple Hibiscus is the story of Catholic family lead by a wealthy husband and father who rules with an iron fist. The story is told by Kambili, the younger of two siblings. Their life is centered around religion and any time not spent praying or attending worship services is dedicated to tasks from a schedule written by the father.

As the story progresses, Kambili and her brother are allowed to have an extended stay at the home of an aunt and her children. The aunt is a confident and well rounded woman who enjoys life. Her views on religion and the way she raises her children are very different from the way Kambili and her brother are raised by their parents.

The author uses this as an opportunity to show differences between children that fear their parents and children that respect their parents. Although the impact that this has on the personalities of the children can be interpreted many ways, it cannot be argued that a notable difference is present. This becomes even more evident as the more time Kambili spends being nurtured by the aunt, we see her personality change.

Being outside of her parents’ presence, also allows Kambili to becomes aware of things about herself that were unfamiliar to her. She realizes that she rarely smiles and that she doesn't know what her own laugh sounds like. It’s interesting how a change of environment shows you the most obvious thing about yourself.

While living with the aunt, Kambili find herself falling in love with a priest. Listening to Kambili describe falling in love in its purest form takes you to a place that you never want to leave. It was captivating.

Although Kambili is the main character, this book also has several other story lines are unfolding. If only this review weren't already 7 paragraphs long, I'd tell you about the political strife in the country, religious contention within the family, and domestic violence between Kambili's parents that leave you with such anticipation, you don't want to stop turning the pages.

Not only has Purple Hibiscus left me yearning for more reads by African authors, but it has convinced me to purchase another book by Adichie.

Are you participating in The Versatile Reading Challenge? Did you finish your book? Tell me about it!

Another Black History Month Giveaway!!!!

2012-02-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

I’m participating in a Black History Month giveaway as part of a Blog Hop. The giveaway had to be a book by a black author, about black characters, or regarding black history.

My giveaway is a book by a black author, Sybil Nelson.

I attempted to give this book away before but the winner did not contact me with their address. So lucky for you, its up for grabs again!

If you have or are around children that read leave a comment to win a copy of Priscilla the Great.

Giveaway entry closes on Feb 7. A winner will be announced the following Monday, Feb 13th.

GIVEAWAY: The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge!!!!

2012-01-29T21:44:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers one of you can win a copy of The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge.

To enter to win, just leave a comment

The winner will need to provide your address to me at Shannon@readinghaspurpose.com.

Your book will be shipped to you from Tyndale House Publishers. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

A winner will be announced on Monday February 6, 2012.

Winners of Journal and Black History Month Giveaway!!!

2012-01-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

Winner of Black Like Me

KRM

Winner of The Souls of Black Folk

Winner of the Journal

Joski Diesel

Send your mailing address to Shannon@readinghaspurpose.com and I’ll head to the post office asap!

The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker

2012-01-28T00:46:00.002-05:00

I was familiar with Tony Dungy as the coach of the Indianapolis Colts but only started to pay attention to him after his son’s death was publicized. Numerous people speak highly of Dungy and after watching him week after week on Football Night in America, I decided this book might be worth the read. I responded to the inquiry from Tyndale House Publishers for reviewers to read The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge.

This book is meant to be read daily and includes one devotion for each day of the year. Considering Dungy’s background, I expected the book to be filled with sports analogies. And it makes sense, playing competitive sports can encompass many lessons on how to deal with life.

co-author Nathan Whitaker

Turns out I was partially right. Each devotion begins with at least one Bible verse which is followed by a story about an experience, several of which are centered around sports. However, the references aren't sports analogies but actual situations that demonstrate the message being conveyed.

The devotions are not something you can breeze though before running out of the door, but I found that I could easily get through one before a morning or just after an evening shower.

I did not read every devotion and since this book is meant to be read over the course of a year, reading it over the course of a few weeks probably would not have allowed it to serve its purpose. You certainly don’t need to know any rules of the games to enjoy the book but this could be a thoughtful gift for a man in your life.

Thanks to Tyndale, one of you can win a copy of The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge. I will post the giveaway and rules for entry on Monday Jan 30. In the meantime, you can find out more about the Uncommon Life Challenge here.

* Updated Jan 28, 2012 to correct book title

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow

2012-01-22T20:04:00.002-05:00

I’m not sure if adorable is a word you use to describe a book but that’s the word I will use to describe this one. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is the story of Rachel, a biracial (black and white) girl who loses her immediate family due to jaw dropping decision made by her mother. After the incident, Rachel leaves Chicago to live with her father’s mother in Oregon.

Although Rachel’s grandmother lives in Oregon, she is from the South. People from the South are notoriously known for the way we speak. I could only laugh at Rachel’s observation that “there are special rules for how she [grandmother] says things since she’s from down South.”

Rachel struggles to understand why she’s treated differently just because she doesn’t look like most of the people around her. She's also conflicted about which part of herself to identify with. As Rachel’s grandmother fills in the parenting role, she is not able to appropriately address the conflicts that stem from being a biracial child.

While Rachel is adjusting to her new surroundings, a police investigation is ongoing to gather facts about the incident that caused her to lose her family and ultimately led to her departure. The only witness, who is a hindrance to the investigation, obtains information that he would promise to share with Rachel and he eventually leaves Chicago to find her.

This book touches on mental health issues, poverty, love, and racism in a way that’s not confrontational or depressing. We watch a young girl struggle with identity while trying to hold on to the valuable lessons her mother taught her. The author manages to balance all of these topics and still provide comic relief.

Even though this book is fiction and in many places funny and quite charming, it provides many opportunities for serious reflection. There is one line that I still think about:

“The ghetto looks different in different places but if you live there it makes you feel the same.”

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is the book has me falling for fiction again.

Black History Month Giveaways!

2012-01-22T20:03:00.000-05:00

In February, I will attempt to read a book a week in recognition of Black History Month.

Week of February 5^th Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

Week of February 12^th The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois

Week of February 19^th Tar Baby by Toni Morrison

Week of February 26^th Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

All of the books come from my list of The Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read.

I'm challenging you to read at least one book during February in recognition of Black History Month. And it just so happens that I have two copies of The Souls of Black Folk and Black Like Me! To give you a little incentive, I’m giving them away. They’re not new, but the pages turn just the same!

To enter to win, leave a comment letting me know which book you’d like.

February is fast approaching so entry is only open until Friday, Jan 27. A winner will be announced Monday, Jan 30^th. Your book should arrive in time for you to start reading on the first full week of February!

Journal Giveaway to Track Your Reading!

2012-01-22T20:02:00.000-05:00

How are you doing on your chosen reading challenge? If you didn’t choose a challenge yet, the year is still young. You can view the challenge list here.

If you need somewhere to track your reading, I received a free Oprah’s Lifeclass Journal that I won’t be using. It’s quite small to write about life but perfect to jot down notes about your books!

To enter to win it, leave a comment and let me know if you’ve started on your reading challenge book and which book you’ve chosen!

Since you’ll hopefully be putting this prize to use right away, entry is only open until Friday, Jan 27. A winner will be announced Monday, Jan 30^th.

Interview: Jacob Singer (author)

2012-01-17T20:27:00.000-05:00

Back in November, I wrote about The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles. After the post, the author contacted me to share some of the points I missed by not reading the second of two books contained in the novel. Below, you'll find more insight on the book along with personal experiences of Jacob Singer growing up in South Africa.

RHP: Much of the book is based on facts but I’m not sure how much is real. That’s one of the reasons I struggled with it. Why did you decide to write the book as a historical fiction novel instead of nonfiction?

JS: The characters in the book are based on a mixture of reality and fiction. I felt that if I did not include fiction, the identity of my two heroines would be obvious to all, and I did not want that to happen. So, I combined the true lives of a few people that I knew into one person.

'Marla' not her real name of course, is a young girl I truly knew and grew up with. Her mother 'Emma', also not her real name, I spent many hours talking to when I was a young boy. She told me more than she should have. As a young boy, and not questioning South Africa's apartheid laws, I did not understand what she told me. It was only years later, as a student in London, after I read the article about the Tomlinson report in the Readers Digest that I realized what she had told me, and the true horror of the apartheid system.

Returning to South Africa, the first thing I did was join the National Party, because I did not believe in direct confrontation. I was a constant thorn at any and all meetings, until I was asked to resign. However, I made a number of powerful friends in the government. They have since died, one of the reasons I can now write the book. Why fiction and not fact? Because in a way, my characters are fiction.

RHP: There is a lot of historical information in this book. How much research did you have to do before writing it?

JS: Much of the historical information is what I lived with in South Africa. I spent three years checking my facts, and then had a cousin, Dr. Jonathan Singer and a friend who does not wish to be named, check and verify my facts.

RHP: You brought to my attention several things that I missed out on by not reading Book 2 MARLA. What would you like everyone to know about Marla’s role in the fight against apartheid?

JS: Marla was the typical English speaking student in South Africa that attended the University of the Witwatersrand. The students continually protested all Government apartheid laws, and many were arrested and continually threatened by the Security Police. As was I when I refused to give them the names of the young kids I spoke to after they stoned their school. My dog, Gamboo was murdered by them as a warning to me. Years earlier, when I asked Louis le Grange who was Minster of Police and later Speaker of the House, how he could sleep as Minister of Police, he told me the following, and I will never forget his words. 'Less people are murdered.' What he said was a fact, because his predecessor had Steve Biko murdered. Steve Biko became the Che Gueverra of South Africa.

RHP: What do you remember most vividly about your own experience while living with apartheid in South Africa?

JS: Making a large number of enemies in the community I lived in, and thumbing my nose at them. Very few of the Afrikaaner Community in Potchefstroom liked me and supported my Pharmacy, but those few that did are still my friends today. It took a year for the Potchefstroom University of Higher Education to realize that I had stopped the monthly donation my father had been giving them. When they came to see me to question why I had stopped the donation, the questions they asked me were as follows.

'How many Professors from the University support you?'

'None,' I replied.

'How many of the lecturer’s support you,'

'None' I replied.

'How many students support you?'

'None' I replied.

He then stood up, and without excusing himself walked out of my Pharmacy.

I then made an open display of every brand of contraceptive available, and very soon had students from the university visiting my Pharmacy.

RHP: How did you choose to live in Canada after leaving South Africa?

JS: I wanted to move to Australia, but after I encouraged my children to emigrate, they followed their grandparents who had moved to Canada a few years earlier, to be with a daughter who years earlier had married a Canadian. Canada also encouraged immigration from South Africa, whereas Australia made it difficult, as did America.

RHP: What, if anything, do you miss about living in South Africa?

JS: The beauty and diversity of the country, as I tried to explain in the Introduction to the book. Johannesburg and Potchefstroom at 4000 feet approx. above sea level, has the most beautiful climate in the world.

RHP: Although you have your own fan base now, what authors are you a fan of?

JS: Anne Rand, Agatha Christie and Somerset Maughen. I have read and still do read a large number of books, which I download to my iPad. However, I find that in most books today, after the first chapter, I simply cannot read more. I read Anne Rand's books when I was 17 years old. Today I am reading them again, but I must say that I am most disappointed. She is not what I remembered. I did enjoy Stieg Larsson, and especially Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' which reminded me of life in South Africa.

RHP: What advice would you give to authors who want to self publish?

JS: Self publish as a last resort. You are restricted from entering many important book competitions. However, I have found that with the eBook, the entire industry is changing, so I could be wrong here.

RHP: What else would you like for us to know about you here at Reading Has Purpose?

JS: In today's world, the word 'apartheid' is thrown around with abandon. The true meaning and horror of the word and practice of 'apartheid' is not however fully understood. Today, I would use the word 'apartheid' as the discrimination by a large number of countries against the women, homosexuals and believers of other religions, that live in those countries. Whether it is religious based or otherwise, the enforcement by the laws of a country against a portion of its citizens is the practice of apartheid, and that is not acceptable.

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

2012-01-08T22:14:00.002-05:00

One of the several books I received last month was As a Man Thinketh. Since it’s a tiny book, barely bigger than a standard greeting card and only 78 pages, I decided I would breeze through it before 2011 ended. After reading 3 pages I realized two things: (1) I could not and should not breeze through this book and (2) I need to always keep this book within reach.

The book is composed of very long complex-compound sentences. I had to read many of them numerous times but nearly every sentence is filled with substance. Between comprehending the sentences and digesting the content, I didn’t get through it in one sitting as expected.

I found myself highlight almost everything on each page. Much of the content is something you’ve probably already heard some variation of. But certain adages take on a new meaning when stated differently. A few of my favorite quotes are as follows:

"Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."

"Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge."

"He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it."

This was a great read leading into 2012. And I will be rereading it for many years to come.

What adages do you refer to when trying to maintain balanced thoughts?

2012 Reading Challenges! Join Me! YES YOU!

2012-01-01T23:49:00.000-05:00

NON BOOK BLOGGERS, I know you're out there!

It is my hope that these challenges will appeal to you and you will pick one and join me!

All challenges run from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012. You don't have to read every day. You just need to read, at some point during the year, the books that qualify for the challenge that you choose. The levels that I've chosen for each challenge are highlighted.

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visit challenge host

Diversify your reading throughout the year. Books will be selected by various ethnic authors, genres, topics or subject matters.

The challenge is divided into quarters: Jan.-March, April-Jun, July-Sept., Oct.-Dec. You will need to read one book each month.

January theme = Nigerian Author (My Choice: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie )

February theme = Nonfiction in recognition of Black History Month (My Choice will come from my Top Ten list)

March theme = Sisters (book must be about sisters, not sisters and brothers)

visit challenge host

Outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. I read 24 books in 2011.

Levels:

Getting my heart rate up: Read 1–5 more books

Out of breath: Read 6–10 more books

Breaking a sweat: Read 11–15 more books

I’m on fire!: Read 16+ more books

SOUTHERN LITERATURE CHALLENGE

Read a book(s) written by an author from the South and set mostly in the South.

The states that qualify include incude: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas, Florida

Levels:

1--C'mon in the house! Read 1 book.
2--Pull up a seat and stay a while! Read 2 books
3--Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey. Read 3 books
4--Y'all come back now, y'hear! Read 4 books

visit challenge host

Read books that you owned prior to Jan 1, 2012.

Levels:

1. Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
2. Trying – Choose 15 books to read
3. Making A Dent – Choose 30 books to read
4. On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
5. Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
6. Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
7. Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read

visit challenge host

Read books that you've already read.

Levels:

Trip Down Memory Lane: 1-3 re-reads
Reliving the Past: 4-8 re-reads (My rereads will include: Chazown, Ignore Everybody, Money What Financial Experts Will Never Tell You, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff and It's All Small Stuff, The 5 Love Languages)
Back To The Future: 9-12 re-reads
Groundhog Day Reader: 13-20 re-reads
You've Got a Serious Problem and Really Need to Go Book Shopping: 21+ re-reads

visit challenge host

Read books that fit the following definition: A record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation.

Levels:

Diarist: read 1-4 memoirs
Autobiographer: read 5-9 memoirs
Memoirist: read 10+ memoirs.

visit challenge host

Read nonfiction books that are not memoirs. Autobiographies are excluded.

Levels:
Elementary - 5 nonfiction books
Diploma - 10 nonfiction books
Bachelor's Degree - 15 nonfiction books
Master's Degree - 25 nonfiction books

So, are you in!? Which challenge and what level!?

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

2012-01-01T23:48:00.001-05:00

I’ve become a fan of Albom since reading Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. After reading this book, I realized why I do not follow authors; not every book will be a homerun.

This book tells the story of Chick Benetto who grew up in a home with a father who didn’t express his emotions and a mother who wore her heart on her sleeve. In an attempt to draw closer to his father, Chick often sided with him during his parents’ domestic disputes despite his father’s callous attitude toward Chick and his mother.

Through most of the chapters, nothing about this story was particularly compelling. It’s one long mood altering pity party as we read about Chick's parents' divorce, his divorce, his drinking addiction and his daughter's decision to distance herself from him. The twist comes when Chick attempts to commit suicide and after he regains consciousness, his dead mother appears. They spend time together revisiting events of the past and she reveals to him many of the struggles she went through while raising him. Considering this book is a true story, I’m not sure what to think about that.

Ultimately, a tragic turn of events and a walk down memory lane caused Chick to realize how he underappreciated the strength of his mother and the magnitude of her love. After realizing that if given another chance he would make different decisions, he does the next best thing and starts rebuilding relationships with those once in his life before himself dying shortly thereafter.

I had decided that I wanted to read all of Albom's books and even though this one didn't live up to my expectations, it didn't convince me to change my mind.

Guess Who Got Books!?

2011-12-27T23:21:00.001-05:00

Yours truly of course! Okay, so that was rather obvious but after posting my list of Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings, I managed to land 5 of them!

I received "The Christian Atheist" twice so I exchanged one of them for "The Alchemist". I received 6 books in all. What were the others you ask? "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky" by H Durrow, "As a Man Thinketh" by J Allen, "The Emperor of All Maladies" by Mukherjee, and "Conversations with Myself" by Nelson Mandela

I'm mesmerized by the "Conversations with Myself" cover. Its very striking when you see it in person.

Did you get books!?

Final 2011 Reading Challenge Update!

2011-12-27T23:11:00.007-05:00

I attempted to pick up the pace on my reading in the last few months of the year. But I started 4 books that I could not finish (they are not included in the list below) and found myself spiraling into a full blown reading slump. And then, I decided to read another Mitch Albom book, "For One More Day".

I have never been a reader that follows authors. I like good books; it doesn’t matter who wrote them. But after reading "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and "Tuesdays With Morrie" something, I’m not sure what, has drawn me to Albom’s books and I want to read all of them.

The four reading challenges that I signed up for at the beginning of 2011 are: Nonfiction, Off the Shelf (books that I owned prior to starting the challenge in Jan), Persons of Color (books by any author of color), and Outdo Yourself (goal is to read more books that the year before).

*October – December 2011*
Books Read	Challenge
For One More Day	Nonfiction
Brothers (& me)	Nonfiction/Persons of Color
As a Man Thinketh	Nonfiction
The Christian Atheist	Nonfiction
July – September 2011
Books Read	Challenge
Decision Points	Nonfiction
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
A Lesson Before Dying	Persons of Color
The Measure of a Man	Nonfiction/ Persons of Color
April – June 2011
Books Read	Challenge
Left To Tell	Nonfiction/ Persons of Color
The Richest Man in Babylon	Nonfiction
The Rules of Management	Nonfiction
For Women Only	Nonfiction
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten	Nonfiction
Pronouns	Nonfiction/ Persons of Color
Riches in Niches	Nonfiction
January – March 2011
Books Read	Challenge
Tuesdays with Morrie	Nonfiction
The Five Love Languages	Nonfiction
The Laws of Thinking	Nonfiction/Off the Shelf/Persons of Color
The Life Ready Woman	Nonfiction
Life Beyond Measure	Nonfiction
The Difference	Nonfiction/Off the Shelf
dfree	Nonfiction/Persons of Color
Take the Risk	Nonfiction/Off the Shelf/Persons of Color
Love at Last Sight	Nonfiction

*Total Books Read in 2011 = 24* Nonfiction = 22 Persons of Color = 8 Off the Shelf (in Jan. I owned 31 books that I had not read) = 3 Outdo Yourself (this is the 1st year I’ve tracked my reading) = 23

Since I’ve been struggling to finish books I haven’t posted any reviews recently, but more reviews are on the way soon. I promise!

* Updated on Dec 30 to include "As A Man Thinketh"
** Updated on Dec 31 to include "The Christian Atheist"

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

2011-12-19T21:59:00.004-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Some of you may not participate in gift exchanges this time of year but I do! So in the spirit of the season, I decided to participate this week and list the Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings. I have over 70 books on a list of books to be purchased. Four of these books were randomly chosen, I've starred* the 6 that were not.

But just to be clear, anyone can bring me any of these books at anytime

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson*

If you look at my twitter timeline you will see that on Sept 1, 2011 I tweeted: I'm patiently waiting on Steve Jobs to write a book. Wonder if he has one in the works? On Oct 5, 2011, the world learned that he died. We found out shortly thereafter that he did have a book in the works. It was being written by Walter Isaacson.

Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.

Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee*

I was on the fence about this book until I heard the author speak at the National Book Festival in September. The book has been on my to be read list since that day.

A magnificent, profoundly humane “biography” of cancer—from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles in the twentieth century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence. Physician, researcher, and award-winning science writer, Siddhartha Mukherjee examines cancer with a cellular biologist’s precision, a historian’s perspective, and a biographer’s passion. The result is an astonishingly lucid and eloquent chronicle of a disease humans have lived with—and perished from—for more than five thousand years.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot*

I heard about her when I started my first job out of undergrad working in a cancer research lab. When I asked where the cancer cells came from, I was told, "From a lady that died a long time ago. " Little did I know…

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping. Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

As I diversify my genre selection, I also want to read books written by authors from other parts of the world. I've added Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to this list.

Fifteen-year-old Kambili's world is circumscribed by the high walls and frangipani trees of her family compound. Her wealthy Catholic father, under whose shadow Kambili lives, while generous and politically active in the community, is repressive and fanatically religious at home. When Nigeria begins to fall apart under a military coup, Kambili's father sends her and her brother away to stay with their aunt, a University professor, whose house is noisy and full of laughter. There, Kambili and her brother discover a life and love beyond the confines of their father's authority.

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

This book was recommended by Amazon. I think they may have gotten this one right!

"As a Man Thinketh" reveals how our thoughts determine reality. Whether or not we are conscious of it, our underlying beliefs shape our character, our health and appearance, our circumstances, and our destinies. Allen shows how we can master our thoughts to create the life we want.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho*

While at an event this summer hosted by Rosetta who blogs at The Happy Black Woman, I told Julia (she blogs at All About the Pretty) that I had only been reading nonfiction because of the learning aspect. She raved about this book and told me that it was as good as any nonfiction book in that regard. So here it is on my to be read list.

"The Alchemist" is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist. The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist by Craig Groeschel

After reading Chazown I wanted to know what else Groeschel had written. Something about this book struck a chord with me so I added it to my to be read list.

After over a decade of successful ministry, he had to make a painful self admission: although he believed in God, he was leading his church like God didn't exist. Christians and Christian Atheists everywhere will be nodding their heads as they are challenged to take their own honest moment and ask the question: am I putting my whole faith in God but still living as if everything was up to me?

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Christa of Mental Foodie: A Book and Food Lover commented on a recent post and suggested this book.

The author now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

Conversations with Myself by Nelson Mandela*

I feel like I should put myself on punishment for not having read a book written by Nelson Mandela. I've decided to make this one my first; many will follow.

After a lifetime of taking pen to paper to record thoughts and events, hardships and victories, he has bestowed his entire extant personal papers, which offer an unprecedented insight into his remarkable life. A singular international publishing event, Conversations with Myself draws on Mandela’s personal archive of never-before-seen materials to offer unique access to the private world of an incomparable world leader.

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill* (alternatively titled Someone Knows My Name)

Some of you know that I'm a sucker for a book with an attractive cover and a minority author. This book has both. And since it is also accompanied by numerous 5 star reviews, it was a no brainer. I added The Book of Negroes to my to be read list.

Kidnapped as a child from Africa, Aminata Diallo is enslaved in South Carolina but escapes during the chaos of the Revolutionary War. In Manhattan she becomes a scribe for the British, recording the names of blacks who have served the King and earned freedom in Nova Scotia. But the hardship and prejudice there prompt her to follow her heart back to Africa, then on to London, where she bears witness to the injustices of slavery and its toll on her life and a whole people. It is a story that no listener, and no reader, will ever forget.

What books should I add to this list? Have you read any of these?

And while I'm listing books, I have several books that I started but I did not finish. I plan to pick them up again, eventually:

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

I wrote a "Why I Didn't Finish...." post on this one and after reading your comments, this book has been recategorized. I will finish Infidel because after all, you guys know something about books too!

Raised in a strict Muslim family, Hirsi Ali survived civil war, female circumcision, brutal beatings, an adolescence as a devout believer, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, and life in four countries under dictatorships. She escaped from a forced marriage and sought asylum in the Netherlands, where she fought for the rights of Muslim women and the reform of Islam, earning her the enmity of reactionary Islamists and craven politicians.

Love Under the Kola Nut Tree by Esther Lamnyam

I purchased this book after hearing the author speak. I put it down over a year ago but always intended to finish it. It is a powerful book with compelling lessons that I still think about today. I want to finish it in 2012.

A devastating accident brings to light a long-kept secret that now threatens to tear apart a family. When 5-year-old Micah Walker is hit by a car, the esteemed Dr. Morgan discovers that the boy’s father is not his biological parent. Find out how an act of infidelity opens onto a mystical path of spiritual awakening in a new, unconventional romance novel. After marital counseling fails, a visiting African queen begins to teach the Walkers and their friends also experiencing heart wrenching relationship drama laws and secrets of nature and ancient truths concerning men and women. These laws are constant, can’t be plea bargained, or manipulated. It is a journey that branches onto unexpected paths. This spiritual quest leads the queen to Dr. Morgan, who has a secret of his own that will restore the balance of power between men and women.

Medisin by Scott Whitaker and Jose Fleming

I found this book back in 2008 and made it just over half way through before stopping. I want to finish this one but at this point I think I will have to start from the beginning.

The causes and solutions to disease, malnutrition and the medical sins that are killing the world. Do you really know the effects of the chemicals in the foods that you're eating? Did you know that your lack of awareness about the connection between the pharmaceutical industry and those who govern Agribusiness are at the core of most common illnesses? Yes, this book uncovers the conspiracy of the Medical Industry, while at the same time guiding its readers back to a pathway of sound health

Maxed Out by James D Scurlock

I wrote a "Why I Didn't Finish...." post on this one as well. Shortly after that post, I received an email nudging me to finish it. I will try something new with this book and write a review that's strictly informational.

"Maxed Out" ventures beyond the mind-numbing statistics to expose a financial industry spinning wildly out of control. From the gilded master-planned communities of Northern Las Vegas to the shotgun shacks of the Deep South, the world's largest financial institutions are trolling for customers, hooking the nouveau riche and the poor alike with promises of cheap and easy credit.

Why I Didn't Finish 'Infidel' by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

2011-12-06T21:35:00.001-05:00

Why I bought it
The cover. I felt like she was looking directly at me! I passed this book several times before finally deciding to buy it on my third trip to the Borders going out of business sale.

Why I didn’t finish it

It wasn’t moving fast enough for me. It included too many details and read too much like a diary. After 1 ½ weeks, I was not even half way finished. Instead of spending another 2 or 3 weeks drudging through, I decided to call it quits.

One thing I enjoyed about the chapters in Part I: My Childhood is that Ali often speaks from her perspective as a child instead of as an adult looking back. It was impressive that she could retell these events without imposing her adult point of view.

Much of what Ali remembers from her upbringing is abuse and neglect from her mother and grandmother. She also spends a significant amount of time trying to understand the teachings of Islam. As her family moves from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia to Kenya, Ali observes the role religion and politics plays in each of these countries.

I did not make it to Part II: My Freedom.

Will I finish it?
No.

Have you read Infidel? What did you think?

*Update 12/7/2011* You may want to look below at the comments on this one. I didn't finish it but other avid readers have a different opinion! Join the conversation!

The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles by Jacob Singer

2011-11-21T21:30:00.005-05:00

One of my goals for the year was to read 3 fiction books (I think it was 3). I made it through two: The Five People You Meet in Heaven and A Lesson Before Dying. When I received the pitch for this book, I decided to request a review copy and make it the 3rd.

The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles is a book that contains two stories: Book 1 Emma, a young girl, finds that she is classified as a second class citizen because she is biracial (white and black). She rebels and decides to cross the colour barrier and enter the white European community with her fair skin allowing her to pass as white; Book 2 “Marla, Emma’s daughter, is raised as white and at the university she attends, becomes very active in opposing apartheid. She learns from Emma that her true grandmother is a Cape Coloured and is on her deathbed. Emma would like her mother to see a grandchild she never knew she had.”

As I read through Book 1, I could see that a lot of care went into this novel. It is filled with historical facts and vivid details of the characters. The author also includes content on cultural idiosyncrasies in some Cape Town communities. I was curious enough to circle several of these items and enjoyed the extra tidbits I picked up after doing additional research of my own.

I did not expect that I’d have to learn so many characters. A few times I thought everyone had been introduced only to see another unfamiliar name. Once I made it to Chapter 6, I didn’t want to meet anyone else! However, the author established a connection between all of these people and the main character, Emma.

Emma decides to leave home in order to assume a new identity and live as a white woman. She disguises anything about herself that would allow her to be identified as black in her quest to live an ‘unrestricted’ life. I'm not sure how to feel about this decision. The synopsis on the back cover of the book heralds her as an ‘unsung hero'. I wouldn't go that far. Is it heroic to live a life that denies part of who you are? Is it heroic to befriend people and have a romantic relationship with a man while intentionally hiding from them your true self? There’s so surprise in the irony that by denying she was black she was always fearful that someone would discover who she really was.

I decided not to read Book 2. I had read enough on this point of view addressing the rebellion against apartheid. Plus, disguising your identity and living as part of the privileged group doesn’t quite fit the definition of rebelling……or does it?

Although the book was written as a novel, the characters truly did exist. Singer notes the following, ‘I used a writer’s license to create their conversations and interactions with each other.’

Jacob Singer, who was born 1935 near Johannesburg, agreed to do an interview shortly after I received the book. Hopefully he’s still up to it. If so, are there any questions you’d like me to ask?

Click here to see my interview with the author.

Giveaway WINNER of The Economics of Ego Surplus

2011-11-21T21:28:00.000-05:00

The winner of The Economics of Ego Surplus by Paul McDonnald is

Christa @ Mental Foodie

Send your mailing address to Shannon@readinghaspurpose.com and feel free to come back and drop us comment about your thoughts on the book!

Top 10 Books I've Had the Longest and Never Read

2011-11-14T21:02:00.061-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

When I started looking through my books to see which ones to qualify for this post, I couldn’t believe some of the gems I’ve neglected to read! I’ve included 11 books instead of 10 but a couple were too close to call.

I started several of these books but didn’t finish. I’ll try to get through four* of them during Black History Month. Looks like you get a sneak peek at some of the reviews that may be coming!

In no particular order, here are The Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read:

Gonna Lay Down My Burdens by Mary Monroe

In the sweltering little town of Belle Helene, Alabama, Carmen Taylor keeps her weaknesses, her frustrations, and her sorrows to herself. She's too busy dealing with the dramas of troubled friends like Desiree Lucienne, the petite, pampered daughter of a doctor who tries to beat the wildness out of her. But that doesn't stop Desiree from trawling for men, and trying to drag Carmen along.

A Girl Called Boy by Belinda Hurmence

A pampered young African-American girl finds herself mysteriously transported back in time to the days of slavery.

*Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

John Howard Griffin, the author and main character of "Black Like Me", is a middle-aged white man living in Mansfield, Texas in 1959. Deeply committed to the cause of racial justice and frustrated by his inability as a white man to understand the black experience, Griffin decides to take a radical step: he decides to undergo medical treatment to change the color of his skin and temporarily become a black man.

*The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois

Drawn from many previously published essays, Du Bois' work reveals the way in which America was reconstructing and redefining itself as a country and culture in the wake of the Civil War forty years prior.

Roots by Alex Haley

It begins with a birth in an African village in 1750; it ends seven generations later at the Arkansas funeral of a black professor whose children are a teacher, a Navy architect, an assistant director of the U.S. Information Agency and an author.

*Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The narrator of the novel describes growing up in a black community in the South, attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of "the Brotherhood", and retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be.

*Tar Baby by Toni Morrison

Jadine Childs is a black fashion model with a white patron, a white boyfriend, and a coat made out of ninety perfect sealskins. Son is a black fugitive who embodies everything she loathes and desires. As Morrison follows their affair, which plays out from the Caribbean to Manhattan and the deep South, she charts all the nuances of obligation and betrayal between blacks and whites, masters and servants, and men and women.

Black Folktales by Julius Lester

Twelve remarkable folktales, culled from the black experience in Africa and America, are freshly retold in the thoroughly original voice of Julius Lester. Arranged by topic — Origins, Love, Heroes, and People — the tales combine universal themes and uncanny wisdom.Many of the stories were passed down by slaves.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

"The Purpose-Driven Life" is a manifesto for Christian living in the 21st century...a lifestyle based on eternal purposes, not cultural values. Using biblical stories and letting the Bible speak for itself, Warren clearly explains God’s five purposes for each of us.

The PACT by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt

They grew up on the streets of Newark, facing city life's temptations, pitfalls, even jail. But one day these three young men made a pact. They promised each other they would all become doctors, and stick it out together through the long, difficult journey to attain that dream. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt are not only friends to this day-they are all doctors.

Not A Day Goes By by E. Lynn Harris

John “Basil” Henderson has always played the field, both as a professional football player and as an equal opportunity lover. After retiring his jersey for a career as a sports agent, the dashing playboy is surprising everyone—including himself—by deciding to settle down and commit to his new love, Yancey Harrington Braxton.

As an aside, I’ve had several new additions within the past week or so. Here are the four that I received most recently:

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

This powerful and inspiring book shows how one person can make a difference, as Kidder tells the true story of a gifted man who is in love with the world and has set out to do all he can to cure it.

The End of Poverty by Jefferey D Sachs

This landmark exploration of prosperity and poverty distills the life work of an economist Time calls one of the world’s 100 most influential people. Sachs’s aim is nothing less than to deliver a big picture of how societies emerge from poverty. To do so he takes readers in his footsteps, explaining his work in Bolivia, Russia, India, China, and Africa, while offering an integrated set of solutions for the interwoven economic, political, environmental, and social problems that challenge the poorest countries.

I Didn’t Ask to Be Born: (But I'm Glad I Was) by Bill Cosby

In this hilarious new collection of observations, Cosby brings us more of his wonderful and wacky insights into the human condition that are sure to become classics. In the tradition of Fat Albert, Cosby introduces a host of new characters, including Peanut Armhouse and Old Mother Harold.

The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles by Jacob Singer

This book is divided into two parts. Book 1 is about Emily Kleintjies, born into a Cape Coloured family in Cape Town. She decides to jump the racial barrier of apartheid, and changes her name to Emma Kline. The second book is about her daughter, Marla O'Neil, who was raised as white. The book shows the tragedy of South Africa during the Verwoerd apartheid era, and the sadness that comes with jumping the racial barrier.

Have you read any of these? Would you suggest I move it closer to the top or bottom of my to be read list?

Are there any that you'd want to see a review on sooner rather than later?

Interview: Cendrine Marrouat (author)

2011-11-14T21:00:00.002-05:00

You all may remember Joseph Cook author of Heartbreak.Rebirth.Evolution. Thanks to one quick tweet from Joseph (@InkDrop_Theory), I'm able to bring to you Cendrine Marrouat. Cedrine has dropped by to talk about her book Five Years and Counting. A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry. Many of you know that I rarely, well, actually I never read poetry unless it's given to me. But for those you read it regularly, enjoy the interview!

RHP: Your book, Five Years and Counting. A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry, arranges your pieces according to life’s most important stages: birth, teenage years, adulthood, and elevation. How did you come up with this idea? And why 5 years?

CM: Five Years and Counting. A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry had always been in the back of my mind. But the book really started to take shape in 2010.

That year marked my fifth anniversary as a poet. And I really wanted to celebrate this milestone. So, I decided to reread my poetry from 2005 to 2009.

I realized that my style had really changed. Some poems came from a place of pain, while others were more assertive, peaceful and mature. And, there were also the pieces where the quest for deep meaning was obvious.

After translating the poems from my French book (Sortons des chemins battus. Poésie de l'âme) into English, I started regrouping what I considered my best poetry into specific themes.The stages came naturally afterwards.

Five Years and Counting contains more than 160 poems that will lead you through the labyrinth of life. Human beings start with the primal cry -- the need to be heard. Then, they reach adolescence and look for independence. The adults they become find answers to most of their questions and start learning how to cope with the pain of losing. Elevation occurs when we are no longer afraid of experiencing life beyond loss, and understand that there is beauty beyond death.

RHP: You describe the last stage, elevation, as representing man’s understanding and realization of the ultimate fulfillment in life. Have you reached the stage of elevation? If not, what does it take to get there?

CM: I do not really know if I have reached that stage. I still experience doubts and fears. However, I choose not to let them rule my life. I believe that elevation is within everybody's reach. It just takes two things: a healthy relationship with your inner child and a willingness to embrace whatever challenge comes your way.

RHP: This book of poetry sounds like a very personal collection. How do you decide what to share and what to withhold?

CM: I wrote Five Years and Counting with both myself and others in mind. It is a personal book because I am an artist; artists create art to fill a personal need -- they lie if they tell you otherwise. It is also a universal book because many of the pieces are really not about me. I use poetry to connect with the divine in all of us and deliver positive messages that demand of readers that they face their fears.

I have never had any problem with sharing my poetry, especially lately. I write more and more from a place of complete freedom.

RHP: What is your favorite poem from this book and why?

CM: My favorite poem is "I Write Your Name." It is very special for two reasons: It is my first piece and I wrote it for someone who taught me a lot about love and patience.

RHP: If we read your poems separate from one another, how would we be able to identify all of them as belonging to you?

CM: There are two things I like to use in my poetry: chorus-like verses and repetitions. I also have a marked preference for short forms, including haiku, senryu and tanka. Further, all my poems contain an element of positive spirituality.

Many readers tell me that my style bears a strong resemblance to Rumi's. I can neither agree nor disagree, as I have never read any poem from him.

RHP:Hmmm, haiku, senryu and tanka. I won’t ask.

RHP: Who are a few of your favorite poets and what do you like about them?

CM: I will just mention two: Khalil Gibran and Alphonse de Lamartine. Their poetry is so spiritual that you can almost feel their words caress your mind. And their style is inimitable.

RHP: What is your creative process for writing your poetry? Do the poems just come to you or do you sit down and think about them?

CM: These days, I would say that my creative process is all over the place.

Usually, the only thing that I need to start writing is a title. Then, I go with the flow -- but I always have a dictionary next to me.

For the last couple of years, the ideas for most of my poems have come to me in the shower or while I am driving. Go figure!

RHP: I hate when that happens! I’ve lost a few ideas that way!

RHP: What else would you like for us to know about you here at Reading Has Purpose?

CM: First of all, thank you very much for featuring me on your blog. I enjoyed answering your questions. I would like to share a short poem from Five Years and Counting.

WHERE THE HEART GOES

Piercing through man’s stains,

A ray of hope shines up high.

They stand and ogle;

They listen and do not hear...

But His guiding hand

Strokes and soothes fear and gloom.

Sister Moonshine smiles

And Glory opens her arms

Wide to welcome you.

Where the heart goes matters not.

You need to let it wander.

For the soul needs space.

Where the heart goes matters not.

Five Years and Counting. A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry is available for purchase at www.fiveyearsandcounting.com, Amazon (book and eBook), Barnes & Noble NOOK Bookstore, and Lulu (book and eBook).

Poetry is only one of my many hats. I am also a freelance journalist, reviewer and blogger with a strong interest in social media.

Feel free to visit my website. And come and say ‘hi’ on Facebook, Google+ and/or Twitter.

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If you are a fan of poetry, in addition to Joseph, JoVonna Rodriguez has shared her work with us as well.

Interview: Paul McDonnald (author) and book GIVEAWAY

2011-11-08T19:10:00.001-05:00

I would like to introduce you all to Paul McDonnald. Below you will find my interview with the economics instructor who was willing to provide his thoughts on the current economic situation and tell us about his current novel on economic terrorism!

RHP: When you talk to people about economics, what are they generally most confused about?

PM: I think people who took just an introductory course in college have a hard time seeing the forest for the trees. They’ve been taught a few “trees” like supply and demand graphs, but don’t really have a good grasp of the “forest,” the overall economy. It seems to me intro courses ought to give students a better overview of the “forest” before teaching the “trees.” That’s what I try to do in the novel.

RHP: If you could only teach us 3 lessons about economics, what would they be?

PM: The value of entrepreneurialism would be one. That is the engine that drives a market economy. One of the problems I think we face is that with big corporations becoming so dominant over mom-and-pop type businesses (two!), people become entirely focused on finding jobs with companies or the government instead of going into business for themselves. The economy becomes sort of bureaucratized, and innovation suffers (three!). They say Greece used to be an extraordinarily entrepreneurial country. But an expensive public sector financed by government debt got the younger generation used to eating at the government trough, so to speak. Now it’s empty and they don’t know what to do but protest. Some people say you can’t give yourself a job, but in a society geared to entrepreneurialism you can do just that!

RHP: Although your book (The Economics of Ego Surplus) is fiction, it incorporates many topics that someone would learn in an economics course. Considering you were an economics instructor, you know that this isn’t a very glamorous topic for many people. Are you able to convince people that this novel makes economics exciting?

PM: It’s not easy but I seem to be making a little progress, one reader at a time!

RHP: Did you learn anything new about the topic while writing the book or was this pretty routine business for you?

PM: The economics is very basic, 101-level stuff. But the conclusion the protagonist, Kyle Linwood, comes to at the end is that all the different schools of thought in economics (Keynesian, Marxist, neoclassical, etc.) share a common flaw. This is an idea that came to me in the process of writing the novel.

RHP: Is it possible to create an economy that thrives consistently long term or will there always be ups and downs?

PM: I think the ups and downs of a market economy originate in people’s psychological tendency to get too excited when things are going well and too pessimistic when things are going poorly. I don’t see much that economists can do to end that. But maybe psychologists can figure something out!

RHP: What are your thoughts on the use of quantitative easing to stimulate the economy?

PM: When the Fed “eases” it basically increases liquidity in the financial system, which lowers interest rates. It can be helpful, but ultimately it only works if people respond by changing their behavior. All the easing in the world won’t make businesses expand and hire if they don’t feel confident enough to do it. That’s what the famous economist Keynes called “animal spirits.”

RHP: Would you propose any solutions for the current economic situation?

PM: I would like to see policies that promote smaller businesses. It seems like more and more we are faced with the choice of big government from the Democratic Party or big corporations from the Republican Party. I’d like to see a third way that focuses on markets, but favors small, entrepreneurial businesses at the expense of larger corporate ones.

RHP: What else would you like for us to know about you here at Reading Has Purpose?

PM: That the economics in the novel is pretty easy and painless. I tried to focus on keeping the story fun and engaging. I hope your readers will take a look. A sample of the novel can be downloaded at http://starvinganalyst.com/tees Thanks for having me!

Paul McDonnold is a writer whose work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, The Baltimore Sun, Texas Highways magazine and Glenn Beck’s Fusion magazine. He has taught economics courses at the University of North Texas, the University of Delaware and North Lake College in Irving, Texas. He lives in southwest Arkansas and can be contacted at paul@paulmcdonnold.com.

Thanks to Paul for providing a copy of his book for the giveaway!

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GIVEAWAY- The Economics of Ego Surplus

Rules for Entry

Just leave a comment

I will announce one random winner on Mon, Nov 21, 2011. The winner will need to send your mailing address to: Shannon@readinghaspurpose.com.

I have not read this book and I can not vouch for its contents.

Decision Points by George W. Bush

2011-10-31T23:03:00.004-04:00

No matter what you thought about him as our nation’s president, you have to acknowledge that George W. Bush wasn’t afraid to make decisions. Decision Points walks us through the most controversial decisions made during Bush’s presidency. Fluidity, candidness, and excellent narration contributed to my liking of this book which, I must say, is one of the best I’ve ever read. And with this book being nearly 500 pages, this review just barely scratches the surface!

One thing I didn’t expect were the numerous noteworthy leadership tips that can be picked up throughout the book. Bush describes some of the ways he established common ground with world leaders. He discusses hiring and firing decisions in his cabinet noting that ‘sometimes the best personnel moves are the ones you don’t make.’ We also see how important it is to leverage relationships.

Bush speaks candidly on all topics and I was delighted to find that he is an avid reader. He shares many of the books he read during his presidency including the book he read to start each day. He describes the worst moment of his presidency, his most thrilling trip, the most extraordinary meeting, his greatest disappointment, his most meaningful accomplishment, and one of his biggest regrets as president.

One thing I admire is that Bush made decisions while taking into account the cost of action versus the price of inaction. Sometimes we forget to consider what will happen when we do nothing. It was enlightening to learn what he thought was the price of inaction for the numerous controversial decisions that he made.

I was moved by the chapter on stem cells and I was impressed with the way he dealt with this topic. I got a little teary reading the chapter that followed addressing 9-11. It was shocking to find out that the intelligence agency dropped the ball on a huge tip just prior to the attacks.

Two chapters are devoted to elaborately spelling out his position on Iraq and Afghanistan. He speaks about the impact the death of the soldiers had on him. He also speaks about his interactions with soldiers and their families. Then comes the chapter dedicated to Katrina. Sighs…… I can’t cut him a break on this one. I just can’t.

Partially attributable to Katrina, a common criticism of Bush was that he was disconnected from the American people. Several of his comments left me inclined to believe this was true. I was particularly bothered by his conclusion that if children in third world countries can feel blessed then ‘those of us in comfortable places like America could learn a lesson.’ What's more disturbing is that this comment came during the time when the economy was tanking. It’s insensitive and irresponsible for the president of the United States to disregard or downplay what is happening in the United States because of what may be happening on another continent.

This is becoming a rather lengthy review. I will say in summation that this book may not change how you feel about the things that happened during Bush’s presidency but once you understand why he made those decisions, it might change how you feel about George W. Bush.

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J Gaines

2011-10-16T22:23:00.001-04:00

This novel has been on my bookshelf for nearly a decade. I’m not sure why I decided to pick it up but I didn’t want to put it down until I was finished. Many of you may have read this book many moons ago. If so let me refresh your memory……

Jefferson is a young man who finds himself in a situation which wrongly leads to his criminal conviction and ultimately his execution. Grant is a school teacher who is having an internal struggle with whether to stay or leave the state to pursue more opportunities and a better life. The plot unfolds around Jefferson’s godmother’s request which will require Grant to visit Jefferson regularly in prison.

Grant grapples with the enormity of the request that’s been made of him. His insecurities and the numerous disadvantages to being black in the Deep South are revealed. We also learn about the decisions he made that allowed his life to turn out differently from Jefferson’s.

During Jefferson’s encounters with Grant, we see Jefferson grow from being unresponsive and dejected to open and spirited. He begins writing his thoughts in a notebook and expresses many of the troubling things that he has carried since he was a child. Unfortunately as Jefferson is progressing, his impending execution is causing accelerated deterioration of his godmother’s health.

Through much of this novel we learn about the characters through their choices. Will Grant leave Louisiana or will he stay? Will he step up to the challenge of the request or will he walk away. I grew fond of Jefferson quickly and found myself cheering for him. I understood his frustrations and I empathized with his situation. He felt an obligation to make many of the decisions that he made. It would’ve been interesting to see how his life would’ve turned out had he felt he could choose more freely.

Jefferson is incarcerated through the entire novel however, the storyline surrounding him isn’t lacking. Watching his situation unfold was tough – really tough. One of the most powerful chapters in the book reveals the writings in Jefferson’s journal. We begin to understand what he thinks about himself and how that’s influenced by what he thinks other people think of him. It immediately made me think back to something I read elsewhere: No one is born with low self esteem*. And seeing the impact that this had on Jefferson is powerful.

This story had me reaching for the Kleenex. Even after putting the book down, I continued to think about Jefferson’s character. I had to keep telling myself, “Get a grip. This isn’t real!” But the sobering truth is that it could have been and for someone it may have been.

After sharing with someone that I was reading this book, she sent me a link. I clicked through to find an image along with the story of George Junius Stinney, Jr., the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th century. If you're sensitive to civil injustice, I would recommend you skip the link. But even if you're not, this is bound to make you feel some kind of way. Click here to view little George's story.

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* I first read this statement in The Power of Positive Criticism. You can find my reflection on that book here.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

2011-10-09T21:02:00.039-04:00

During one of my visits to the Borders going out of business sale, I came across The Five People You Meet in Heaven. After reading Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time, I figured it might be worthwhile to purchase this book written by the same author. So here it is, my first fiction review here at Reading Has Purpose!

It took me a few chapters to figure out that the book oscillates between the past, present, and future which is something that I haven’t seen from an author. But it didn’t take me long to realize that this book is a cliffhanger! Several times, I found myself peeking at the paragraphs below to see what was going to happen.

One of the people that Eddie, the main character, meets in heaven takes him back to his days on the battlefield during a war. Reading the vivid gory details is as close as I ever want to come to anything that was described. As I read this chapter intently I suddenly realized I was reacting to what I was reading by making faces. When I remembered that I was on the train, I paused and wondered if anyone happened to be paying attention to me. Sure enough, I looked up directly into the eyes of a stranger. We exchanged an awkward smile and I continued to read – with much less animation of course!

Each of the five people that Eddie meets in heaven is there to teach him a lesson. It may be a person he knows well, or a person that he's never met but they all wait for him in some place familiar to his past. I appreciate the way the author allows us to watch these interactions unfold.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven makes you think about people, places, and things. Things you’ve forgotten, people that you have not yet met, and places that you take for granted. It’s an excellent book for anyone struggling with the concept of purpose.

When I finished the last page, I wondered if we do meet five people in heaven who is there waiting for me? And that made me think about relationships. How would you treat people, including strangers, if it was possible that you might meet any one of them again when you get to heaven?