Reading and Me

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

2012-01-29T12:13:00.000-05:00

I don’t remember reading books like this when I was 10-15. If I would have, I am not sure that I would have understood and appreciated them as much. The lessons in this story are so deep. I can see and understand an adolescent reading Harry Potter or Percy Jackson but Ender’s Game is so heavy, dark and based on the manipulation of Child Soldiers. This is a great book for discussions on “what will we do in order to survive”. Is survival the one common of the Human Species? As a whole do we just want to live? The story addresses the struggles of an unwanted child, but it is based on many social, political and ethical ideas of society. This is a great book overall and the author concentrates on the sacrifices and difficulties of war.

The story takes place in c. 2300AD; Earth is at peace following a devastating nuclear war against an alien race called "buggers". Ender is the third child of a family at a time when having more than two children was not acceptable. Ender was genetically engineered to have superior physical and mental capabilities and at six years old he has been chosen as Earth's final hope against the next war with the buggers.

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

2012-01-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

This is the second book in the series of The Heroes of Olympus. Percy is back in action and we finally know what happened to him, this time he is at Camp Jupiter. Percy has a wicked case of amnesia and doesn’t understand why everyone keeps calling him the son of Neptune. He befriends Hazel, who is back from the dead and Frank, who doesn’t know who his Godly father is. The three embark on a dangerous quest to Alaska to free “Thanatos” (Death).

The book is exciting and full of adventure. As always Rick weaves life lessons, historical studies and geographical information as he keeps you glued to the story. Now I am learning about the Roman Gods.

These can be found on Rick Riordan’s web page.

Gods

Greek Roman

Zeus Jupiter God of the Sky

Hera Juno Goddess of Marriage, Mothers and Families

Poseidon Neptune God of the Sea

Ares Mars God of War

Athena Minerva Goddess of Wisdom, War and Useful Arts

Apollo Apollo God of Archery, Music, Poetry, Prophecy, Medicine and later on the god of the sun

Hades Pluto God of the Underworld

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

2012-01-02T14:01:00.001-05:00

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Katniss Everdeen has left a lasting impression on me. Every once in a while you read a book that twist your insides, a fiction that rings and corresponds too closely to the real world. This is a story that forces you to accept the cruelty of the world around you, and pushes you to make an individual choice of how you will live your life. Will you succumb to it and become as cruel in order to survive. Or will you rise above it and build the best life possible without sacrificing your integrity. Will you let the circumstances around you dictate who you become or will you use those circumstances as lessons to help you become the individual that you want to be?

Book I –“The Hunger Games” focuses on an event that happens once a year; a barbaric game where two adolescents and/or teenagers, a girl and a boy are chosen from every district to partake in The Hunger Games. Think of the TV show “Survivors” with kids and played to the death. The games are a reminder to the districts of what the last revolution cost them, a punishment to subdue the districts and remind them of the Capitols power. There are 12 districts (the 13th was destroyed); reminds me of the 13 US colonies. The districts are separated and never allowed to communicate with each other, the Capitol’s idea of divide and conquer.

The Hunger Games depicts a cruel and horrible world run by the “Capitol”. The Capitol has an iron grip on the districts, using cameras to watch their every move and have “The Peacekeepers” who punish and kill for any disobedience. While the districts suffer, lacking the basic needs of clean water, a place to live and the people die of hunger, the people of the Capitol want for nothing. Their children never have to join the hunger games and they have such an abundance of everything that they are able to spend their free time leisurely, partying and dining; spending an enormous amount of money on their appearance. The most exciting event is watching the Hunger Games each year; watching children kill each other.

Book II –“Catching Fire” begins with less violence but just as menacing as book I. Katniss’ (the protagonist) survival and defiance angers the Capitol. There is unrest in the districts and. President Snow is out for revenge and no one is safe, not her family or even the previous winners of the Games.
Katniss describes the abundance the people of the capital have. How they take it for granted and do not realize that people in other districts are dying every day from lack of food, clean water and other essentials for life. It truly makes me look at myself and all that I have. Running hot and cold water every day, A home to come to, family and friends and so much food that I’m always on a diet.

The love triangle is so potent and gut-wrenching that it makes Twilight look like kids giggling and holding hands.

I do not like Katniss but that’s because I like my heroine in a neat package. The author made her too angry and suspicious even for her surroundings. Everyone around her is going through the same thing and even worse but she takes it too far. I know she wasn’t named after a cat but that’s what she reminds me of.

The books are real page turners. Even thought the story offers a reality that’s a bit too rough, awful and mean for me (I know plenty of it exist in real life, I don’t want it in my recreation). I couldn’t stop reading and I really wanted to see how the story would develop. Her coming of age, but I think the authenticity of her character is what appealed to me.

Mockingjay
Katniss is convinced to become "Mockingjay": the symbol of the rebellion. The ending of the story is sobering and calm; all of your trials and tribulations, where will they lead you? In the end, Will it be Worth It?

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

2011-11-25T11:08:00.002-05:00

I’ve only read three of the seven book series and so far I find it enjoyable but better suited for a junior high school audience. I don’t find them very intriguing or fantastic fairy tales. The movies bring the books to life in a way that the stories do not. The stories are very two dimensional, where as the movies are much more vivid and vibrant. CS Lewis wrote these stories to bring Christianity to children and the philosophy is woven in all the books. The stories are easy to follow and allow a child to use his or her imagination to discover the world of Narnia.

The Magician's Nephew was actually the sixth book written in the series even though it depicts how Narnia was created by Aslan.

Digory and Polly were forced to use the magic rings made by his uncle to travel to different worlds. In one of their travels they meet Jadis (The White Witch who wants to destroy the world) in a world called Charn. The book is a fun way to introduce children to God and the story of creation. The story moved at a very slow pace and not very exciting.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The story of four ordinary children: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. They discover a wardrobe in Professor Digory Kirke's house that leads to the magical land of Narnia. The children help Aslan, a talking lion, save Narnia from the evil White Witch, who kept Narnia in the winter season for a century. The children become kings and queens of Narnia.

The Horse and His Boy

The Horse and His Boy takes place during the reign of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy in Narnia. The story is about Bree, a talking horse, and a young boy named Shasta. They were both slaves in Calormen and after a chance meeting plan their escape to return to Narnia and to be free. Along the way they meet Aravis and her talking horse Hwin who are also escaping to Narnia.

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

2011-10-28T21:12:00.000-04:00

This is the second book in The Kane Chronicles, which concentrates on the Egyptian Gods and Egyptian mythology. I am learning so much about the Egyptian Gods; their names, what they stood for and what roles they played in the society. Reading Riordan, is a great and fun way to learn about these cultures, but I don’t like the Heroine (Sadie) and her brother the hero (Carter) that much. I enjoy the author’s style of weaving the Ancient World and Modern Society together. It’s great the way they travel to the underworld and Ancient Egypt through the Duat. The “Brooklyn House” is the Magical House where the Kane House of Life resides and where they prepare and practice the magic that will save the world from Apophis, the god of Chaos.

There are always great lessons to learn; Carter reflects “that all we can do is keep trying and keep believing that we could salvage something from a disaster”.

for ages 10 and up

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

2011-08-26T21:31:00.000-04:00

A Game of Thrones is the first in Martin’s fantasy novel series. I did not get to finish the book because there are 800 readers on hold for it at the library. What I’ve read so far is a story that is detailed, complex, and very dark and bloody. The monarchy of old England is strongly represented with the Stark and Lannister families. Even though I’ve only read a quarter of the book, I’ve encountered many characters and story lines. You have to like this genre in order to enjoy this series because it takes a lot of patience and focus to make it through one of these books. You can’t just read this type of book; you must become a part of its world as the story unfolds in such detail, it feels like the author is building the world around you as you read.

The story starts with a mysterious killing by what seems to be a ghost of some sort but that’s all you get and then moves suddenly to the present at the castle of Winterfell. We are introduced to the noble house of Eddard (Ned) Stark, ruler of the North and one of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros; the direwolf, the symbol of the house; and the death of Jon Arryn, the Hand of King Robert Baratheon. Eddard and Robert were once as close as brothers, but Eddard is soon to learn that the man he once new has changed in many ways. Love, hatred, betrayal are at the center of the story. This story has a bit of everything; politics, family tragedies, brother sister conflict, incest and all kinds of rivalries.

2011-08-07T11:44:00.000-04:00

I read the book in the mornings on my way to work; it takes me about twenty minutes on the train. The book would bring a calm sadness over me. The voice was steady, monotone and would flow continuously from chapter to chapter. I never felt invigorated or happy after reading (not recommended if you need a pick me up). I didn’t like any of the characters, but felt sorry for the life they experienced. The writing is well done and easy to read. I can almost hear the narrator speaking in my head. It is obvious Engel is a very good writer and very talented but the tone and the story itself is extremely morbid. She is able to pull you into the life of her characters with few words and though I did not like the book I was mesmerized by the haunted voice of the main character Sabina.

Sabina, born of Colombian immigrants and raised in New Jersey, tells you the story of her life (Vida). Sabina takes you through the events of her life in a slow non-chronological pace. She tells you of her family in the US and Colombia, her boy friends and friends. What was missing for me is I didn’t get a clear sense of what Sabina has learned and where her life is right now.

1st to Die by James Patterson

2011-07-22T18:57:00.000-04:00

1^st to Die is about a serial killer whose victims are newlyweds. Lindsay Boxer, a homicide inspector, forms “The Women’s Murder Club” which includes herself, a reporter, assistant DA and medical examiner. I don’t think they are very good at solving crimes because they get it wrong so many times. The story provides plenty of suspense and action but I didn’t enjoy the story. This is your typical cat and mouse thriller.

I thought the story was very depressing and I couldn’t wait to be done with the book. That said; Patterson fans gave the book an average of four out of five stars and most readers found the book exciting. 1^st to Die was also a TV miniseries which is now available on DVD.

The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho

2011-07-07T20:15:00.001-04:00

This is very different from any of his previous books. A psychological thriller based at the Cannes Film Festival, Paulo seems to hate everyone and everything about the festival. He doesn’t say anything positive about any of the characters and they are utterly pathetic. The book was so depressing, not inspiring, with no silver lining at the end. “Vanity all is Vanity”

Igor is a psychotic Russian executive who has everything and comes to the Cannes film festival in pursuit of his ex-wife, Ewa, who ran off with Hamid, an Arab clothes designer. Igor kills a few people and sends messages to Ewa on her cell phone, believing she will understand that he will do anything to get her back. The story is supposed to show us the emptiness of pursuing fame and fortune at all cost.

I did not like this book; not because it wasn’t well written but because I think the message got lost in all the negativity, hatred and anger that were the focus of the characters. His disdain for the rich (The Superclass), the media, film producers and super models is overwhelming. Paulo Coelho is a member of The Superclass, how does he separate himself from what he describes in the book.

I was interested to see how the book would end but overall not my idea of entertainment/good read.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

2011-07-02T21:26:00.001-04:00

Gladwell looks into the different reasons why some ideas spread like viruses. He discusses that it is not easy to pin point why some messages spread like wildfire while others don’t. This book is very informative and raises your awareness of how powerfully you are influenced by your surroundings. His examples are simple and clear. I like the way he connects ideas to things that people are exposed to in everyday life.

He explains three things that can bring about fast changes in society:

1) The Law of the Few (a few exceptional people can spread the word)

2) The Stickiness Factor (There are specific ways of making a message memorable)

3) The Power of Context (Human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment that they may seem) p.29

Tackling the small problems is as important as going after the big ones

We should think about preconceptions of what character is

“Character, then, isn’t what we think it is or, rather, what we want it to be. I isn’t a stable, easily identifiable set of closely related traits …”p.163

You never know what you will do in different situations

The rule of 150 – It’s easier to have a close united group when the number of people is 150 or less. When that number rises close to 200 the people tend to become disconnected and begin to create their own groups.

The scary questions are: Can we control the outcome of people/society? Can people/society be manipulated? How important are peer groups and environment when growing up?

Blink -The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

2011-06-06T19:17:00.000-04:00

Gladwell wants us to think and understand “the strengths and weaknesses of human judgment” and our responsibility to act wisely in different situations. I enjoyed this book a lot and as well as “Outliers” it is a mind opener. He points out how important it is to realize that what you are thinking about before an exam can make a big difference in how you perform.

He describes a study on page 56 that when African Americans were asked to identify their race before a test they did significantly worse than the ones that we not asked. On page 71 psychologist Joshua Aronson says that his study shows “that people are ignorant of the things that affect their actions, yet they rarely feel ignorant”.

Blink forces me to think of the things that maybe influencing my decisions and that with practice and awareness I can make better decisions. I can trust my first impressions more when I understand where they may be coming from.

Into the Land of Nede by J. Gilchrist

2011-05-11T13:28:00.000-04:00

The author gets an A for effort for publishing her first book. It is an interesting idea and I would recommend it for a Christian family who wants to expose children Ages 8-12 to the story in Genesis of Adam and Eve. It is fun and full of adventure as Lincoln discovers a new world and learns some important lessons about family. I also think the illustrations add a nice quality to the story.

I did not like the book- 1) I do not think it captures the true voice of a ten year old; 2) The story does not flow, it jumps too quickly from one idea to next; 3) I really do not like the idea of a “white boy” as the hero necessary to save an Indian Tribe.

I particularly did not like this paragraph: “This is your land. You have gained access to it. You are the ruler of this Land of Nede. We are your people. What do you command of us?” page 89.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

2011-05-05T18:56:00.000-04:00

This is one of those books that moves you to the core and changes the way you think about life. You are not only touched by the story being told but by the author as well. Rebecca Skloot was brave, determined and loving over the 10 years it took her to complete this book. There is intriguing scientific data as well as personal information about the Lacks family that draws you in and keeps you wanting to know more until the last page. This book is a must read.

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, and more. Henrietta’s cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t afford health insurance. From: http://rebeccaskloot.com/the-immortal-life/

Percy Jackson & the Olympians The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan

2011-04-30T08:41:00.001-04:00

Demigod Files is a collection of three short stories, interviews and pictures of the main characters. Riordan markets this as a must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It has a crossword puzzle, a word search and a chart of the Olympians. The stories are fun and exciting to read and fans of the series will enjoy this quick read.

Ages 9-12

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

2011-04-17T16:25:00.000-04:00

Do the hard working poor have a chance?

Barbara Ehrenreich decided to try and find out. She moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking jobs as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson paying $6 to $7 and hour. It was impossible to pay for housing and eat on this salary. Let’s do the math $7x40hrs=$280 a week, which equals $1,120 a month before taxes.

Nickel and Dimed reveals the difficult lifestyle of the people who struggle constantly in order to have the basic need of food and shelter, the blindness and the arrogance of those of us who have not experienced it and the continuing growth of our socioeconomic divide.

This book is a real eye opener.

The Mediterranean Diet

2011-03-30T21:11:00.001-04:00

Diet - The usual food and drink consumed by a person

There are 16 countries that surround this region but the idea came from Dr. Ancel Keys when he published his study in 1970 of seven countries, analyzing the impact of diet on heart disease.

All three books agree on these characteristics of the diet

1- plenty of fruits, vegetables and legumes

2- moderate intake of fish

3- low to moderate intake of poultry, dairy (mostly soft cheese and yogurt)

4- hardly any processed foods or red meat (maybe a few times a month)

5- healthy unsaturated fats from mostly nuts, olives and olive oil

Check out the Mediterranean Food Pyramid online, it is very interesting and very different form the American Food Pyramid.

I preferred the Miami Mediterranean Diet book because it has a very easy to follow 14-Day Menu Plan with easy recipes.

The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan

2011-03-27T17:17:00.000-04:00

When we are young we accept out parents’ values as our own. When, if ever, do we start questioning them? When do they become our own choices of values and not just the blind acceptance of the values passed down to us?

Jebel is the thin scrawny son of the well respected executioner of the land. He decides to go on a quest to regain his honor after he is disgraced in public by his father. Legends have it that if a quester makes it to the mountain to Tubaygat and sacrifices a willing slave to the fire god, he will be granted powers of strength and invincibility.

Jebel and his slave, Tel Hesani, set off on a quest where they will face many horrible obstacles (hatred, bigotry, slavery) and suffer a great deal.

Half Way To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2011-03-18T19:40:00.000-04:00

This is your typical Vampire Chick Lit. I enjoyed it for what it was. The love scenes are, how should I say it, Engaging. It’s for the vampire fans for sure. It is the first in a nine book series (only five are written so far). To give you an idea, here are the other titles.

Book 2 – One Foot in the Grave

Book 3 – At Grave’s End

Book 4 – Destined for an Early Grave

Book 5- This Side of the Grave

Yes, they sell very well. Even though the book has piqued my interest, I’m not sure I’ll be reading the series.

no second chance by Harlan Coben

2011-03-18T19:20:00.000-04:00

The book is OK. I mostly enjoyed the last few chapters. I do not like the writing style. It has way too much detail. Coben tells you every minute detail about a scene, and his transitions are not smooth. The story itself is all over the place with too many plots within plots.

Marc Seidman wakes up in the ICU and learns that he’s been there for twelve days, his wife is dead and his six-month-old daughter is missing.

I always learn something from the books: This one talks about women trafficking and baby selling (adoption schemes). This phrase stays with me; “You shouldn’t do the wrong thing for the right reason”.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

2011-03-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

I picked up the book thinking I was going to learn how extra-ordinary some people are but only to understand that it takes a lot more. We must look at family, birth place, birth date, generation, culture, class, hard work, talent, and yes luck. It brings the saying “timing is everything” to new light.

It seems to take at least ten thousand hours of practice in order to become a master or world-class expert at anything.

“Who we are cannot be separated from where we’re from” p.221 – Cultural legacies matter –

Jamaica

has a very large Chinese population that since the nineteenth century has dominated the commercial life of the island. p. 275

The book is truly enlightening. I highly recommend it. I will be reading the “Tipping Point” and “Blink” soon.

A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown

2011-02-21T16:48:00.000-05:00

A piece of Cake is Ms. Brown’s memoir. It is a sad story of hopelessness, despair, and finally success.

The story begins with an eleven year old girl’s life after her mother dies from an epileptic seizure at the age of thirty-four. The first time she meets her real father is in court asking for custody because he thinks he will get the life insurance. Her life is never the same and becomes horrible once she and her brother are introduced to the Foster Care system. She has to fend for herself and survive on her own in any way that she can. At the age of 11 she is raped, introduced to prostitution, drugs, and alcohol. This is only the beginning; yes it gets much worse.

This book really opened my eyes. I never realized how horrible The Foster Care system can be. It is really awful because the system is so overwhelmed with children they turn a blind eye to the abuse. The things that Ms. Brown endured as a young woman are heartbreaking and devastating. It was very difficult for me to finish this book.

Today, she is a well respected lawyer at a top California law firm and a motivational speaker.

Staked (Void City, Book 1) by J. F. Lewis

2011-02-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Eric is a vampire who owns a strip club. He loves the smell of pizza and has memory problems because he was embalmed. His girlfriend Tabitha wants to be turned into a vampire but her younger sister Rachel wants to satisfy all of his sexual desires. The story begins with Eric killing a werewolf in self-defense and that’s when his real problems begin.

Lewis changes the physiology of his vampires and werewolves. Not all vampires are equal, there is a cast system Drone, Soldier, Master, Vlad and Emperor. This is not your typical vampire story. It is a soft-porn erotica genre and a bit gory. I did not care for it because I like my vampires sensual. 32 out of 39 readers loved it on Amazon.

Walden Two by B.F. Skinner

2011-01-31T15:02:00.000-05:00

Walden Two is an experimental Utopian

community located in a rural area of the United States. Everyone get’s along, everyone is happy, productive and creative. The community works smoothly with plenty to eat, the people get plenty of rest and there is no stress at all. When there is a problem in the community, they design tests and experiments until they find a possible solution.

Skinner explains that he was very dissatisfied with the way America turned out and was trying to think of a solution that would spare us a miserable and catastrophic future.

The novel is very controversial and challenges the American way of life including democracy, capitalism and the nuclear family.

I enjoyed reading the book even though it was a bit difficult making sense of the science of Behavioral Psychology.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

2011-01-26T17:30:00.000-05:00

I really enjoyed the story because it was fun, interesting and I learned a lot about the connection between the two civilizations. This is a mixture of Roman and Greek mythology.

Aphrodite –Roman Form: Venus

Hephaestus –Roman Form: Vulcan

Zeus –Roman Form: Jupiter

Jason wakes up on a bus, sitting next to Piper and Leo, claiming to be his girlfriend and best friend. Jason is upset because he does not know who he is, or how he got on the bus. We are introduced to three new demigods; the son of Jupiter, the daughter of Aphrodite and the son of Hephaestus. The adventure is nonstop and I like the fact that he always includes strong female characters. Young audiences can enjoy the story and learn lessons of courage, friendship and perseverance.

Reading level ages 9-12

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

2011-01-22T15:28:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite lines in the book come from Hema as she is having a near death experience:

“As she bent over the child she realized that the tragedy of death had to do entirely with what was left unfulfilled. She was ashamed that such a simple insight should have eluded her all these years. Make something beautiful of your life.”p64

Sister Mary Joseph Praise dies giving birth to twin boys Marion and Shiva in Ethiopia at Missing, a hospital for the poor. The boys are raised by Hema and Gosh because the boys father Dr. Stone leaves and never returns. Cutting for Stone is a story of love and betrayal, political turmoil and the human will to live. The story takes place in India, Ethiopia and America (the Bronx) over many decades.

There are too many medical references sometimes it feels like the book was written for medical students. I liked the story but I did not love it.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

2010-12-30T22:30:00.000-05:00

I kept thinking nothing about this book is inspiring. Half way through the book and all I wanted to do was slit my wrist, but I thought maybe it will get better towards the end, instead all I wanted to do was slit both wrists.

I hate all the characters and wanted to stab them all, especially the protagonist Patty Berglund. I hate her husband Walter, their kids Jessica and Joey and Joey’s girlfriend Connie and Walter’s best friend Richard Katz.

Towards the end, I was afraid to read the book because I knew it would put a damper on my day. I wanted to read something inspiring for my last blog of 2010: You know “Hang in there”; “Life is worth it”; “There is a light at the end of the tunnel”, nope not this book. I do not understand why this is one of the best novels Oprah has ever read.

Frazen is a master of the English Language. The book is wonderfully written, witty, and funny. The story has a wealth of information but is so damn heavy and depressing. The book club members enjoyed the book. They saw it as a journey of life and people through the Berglund Family. It is very interesting how he presents “Freedom” and how he takes an in-depth look at people’s lives throughout the story.

Patty, Walter, Jessica and Joey Berglund are a Midwestern family from St. Paul. Patty is a basketball player turned housewife and Walter is a lawyer. Through their journey we see them slowly lose track of each other, themselves and their dreams. The story spans over 35 years and coincide with many important political issues. Frazen takes you through a detail look at how people live and become who they are.

Don't Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

2010-12-29T19:59:00.000-05:00

I read this book in 2 days, well actually 12 hours. It’s a fun fast paced easy to read detective story. Typical who done it action and suspense thriller.

Nick Daniels is conducting a once in a life time interview at a famous busy Steak House in NYC. Before he can begin an assassin walks in during the busy lunch hour and commits a gruesome murder at the table next to him. This is only the beginning of things to come for Nick Daniels.

Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge

2010-12-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

Captivating tries to touch women at their core. It illustrates all the difficulties women have and tries to show them how God is always there to listen and get them through their problems. The author Stasi and her husband John advise women not to be afraid of their desire to be loved and appreciated the way God wanted them to be. This is a self help book for Christian woman struggling with issues that are common to most women. The book teaches that you can always find solace and love if you turn to God. The Stasi and John give plenty of advice, encouragements and prayers to help you find the woman that God meant for you to be.

The book refers so much to the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and I am not sure I see “The Fall” in the same way. I did not like women portrayed as victims, broken, empty, and looking for someone to fill in the holes in their lives and always need to be rescued. Women were not represented as capable of taking care of themselves; but I think that is the point of the book, “you cannot take care of yourself, you need God with you all the time in order to make it”.

The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche

2010-12-15T12:12:00.000-05:00

My head is still swimming after reading this book.

Antichrist can also be translated as Anti-Christian.

Nietzsche asks if Pity is a Virtue. He denounces Christianity completely. As far as he was concerned Christianity was the greatest evil out to destroy man of his true form and identity. He was furious that Jesus’ practice and words were taken out of context.

Here are 2 sections I wanted to share.

Section 9

Upon this theological instinct I make war: I find the tracks of it everywhere. Whoever has theological blood in his veins is shifty and dishonourable in all things. The pathetic thing that grows out of this condition is called faith: in other words, closing one's eyes upon one's self once for all, to avoid suffering the sight of incurable falsehood. People erect a concept of morality, of virtue, of holiness upon this false view of all things; they ground good conscience upon faulty vision; they argue that no other sort of vision has value any more, once they have made theirs sacrosanct with the names of "God," "salvation" and "eternity."

Section 62

With this I come to a conclusion and pronounce my judgment. I condemn Christianity; I bring against the Christian church the most terrible of all the accusations that an accuser has ever had in his mouth. It is, to me, the greatest of all imaginable corruptions; it seeks to work the ultimate corruption, the worst possible corruption. The Christian church has left nothing untouched by its depravity; it has turned every value into worthlessness, and every truth into a lie, and every integrity into baseness of soul. Let any one dare to speak to me of its "humanitarian" blessings! Its deepest necessities range it against any effort to abolish distress; it lives by distress; it creates distress to make itself immortal. . . . For example, the worm of sin: it was the church that first enriched mankind with this misery!--The "equality of souls before God"--this fraud, this pretext for the rancunes of all the base-minded--this explosive concept, ending in revolution, the modern idea, and the notion of overthrowing the whole social order--this is Christian dynamite. . . . The "humanitarian" blessings of Christianity forsooth! To breed out of humanitas a self-contradiction, an art of self-pollution, a will to lie at any price, an aversion and contempt for all good and honest instincts! All this, to me, is the "humanitarianism" of Christianity!--Parasitism as the only practice of the church; with its anaemic and "holy" ideals, sucking all the blood, all the love, all the hope out of life; the beyond as the will to deny all reality; the cross as the distinguishing mark of the most subterranean conspiracy ever heard of,--against health, beauty, well-being, intellect, kindness of soul--against life itself. . . .

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire

2010-12-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

Son of a Witch, Maguire’s sequel to Wicked, focuses on Liir, the boy who saw Dorothy kill the witch with a pail of water at then end of Wicked. Liir thinks that The Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba and Fiyero are his parents, but no one seems to know for sure. He struggles with this and tries to find an answer throughout the story.

The story begins with Liir found on the road after being attacked by dragons. He is taken to a convent (the Cloister of Saint Glinda Mauntery) where he is cared for by Candle, a girl that was dropped off at the Mauntery by her uncle a few weeks before.

Liir’s tasks: to find Nor, help the Princess Nostoya, help the birds regain their freedom and to figure out who the hell he is.

The book, written for adults, received mostly positive reviews but I did not like it. There were a few parts that caught my attention but for the most part I found it wordy, it did not make sense and the story was all over the place.

A Confession by Leo Tolstoy

2010-11-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

At the age of 51, on the brink of suicide, Tolstoy went from the pursuit of fame and money towards religion and the meaning of life. A Confession details his search for God and what is truly important in life. Tolstoy says it is important to ask yourself “What am I doing and Why”, “How can I make my life worth living”. You should not live your life afraid of asking these questions and searching for an answer. This is an in-depth search for the meaning of his life.

As one gets closer to the end it is usually common to look back and ask “What have I done with my life”, “Is this all there is”. For Tolstoy faith in what Jesus said (not the religion) saved him.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

2010-11-13T09:27:00.000-05:00

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a fairy tale where the characters always learn a moral lesson from their journey. Albus Dumbledore tells you the meaning at the end of each story. It gets a little boring but it's still fun and worth it in the end. There are five stories in the whole book.

Beedle the Bard appears in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh novel of the series. The book is a popular collection of Wizarding children's fairy tales that Albus Dumbledore left to Hermione Granger in his will.

Introducing the Deathly Hallows. There is a symbol above the story "The Tale of the Three Brothers", which is the symbol of the Hallows. The Triangle represents the Invisibility Cloak, The Circle represents the Resurrection Stone, and The Vertical line represents the Elder Wand.

Rabble Rousers by Cheryl Harness

2010-10-30T12:09:00.000-04:00

20 Women Who Made A Difference
Ann Lee - Mother of the American Shakers
Frances Wright - Passionate Patriot
Emma Hart Willard - Equal Opportunity Educator
Sojourner Truth - The Abolition Movement
Mary Ann Shadd Cary - Abolitionist Activist
Elizabeth Cady Stanton - Revolutionary in Petticoats
Susan B. Anthony - Suffrage: The Women's Movement
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker - Civil War Heroine and Performer
Frances E. Willard - Temperance Activist
Mary E. Lease - Populist "Joan of Arc of Kansas"
Ida Bell Wells - Barnett - Anti-Lynching Campaigner
Jane Addams - Social Worker in the Mankind Business
Mary Harris Jones - The Labor Movement
Margaret Sanger - Birth-Control Activist
Alice Paul - Suffragist: The Last Push for the Vote
Eleanor Roosevelt - First Lady of the World
Fannie Lou Hamer - The Civil Rights Movement
Betty Friedman - Feminist
Dolores Huerta - Champion of Migrant Farmworkers
Doris Haddock - Champion of Government Reform

Hatshepsut - The Princess Who Became King - By Ellen Galford

2010-10-01T12:12:00.001-04:00

A.D. 1842-1845 Lepsiu's confirms that there was a female pharaoh - Hatshepsut.

Hatshepsut's tomb was excavated in 1893 by Henry Edouard Naville. She ruled for about 22 years. She made herself King after the death of her husband c.1501 B.C. After becoming King she rewrites the story of her birth to give herself divine lineage.

"Hatshepsut decorated the walls of her new temple at Deir el-Bahri with a rewritten life story, in which her birth was the result of a miraculous meeting between the divine Amen (Amon/Amun - sometimes called the Creator God) and her mother Ahmose".(p.49) This is B.C. (Before Christ) It's interesting how the story mirrors the Virgin Birth of Christ. The word "amen" is also used at the end of Christian prayers.

The New Atlantis by Sir Francis Bacon

2010-09-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

Picture from the Yale Library

Utopia is a name for an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was invented by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. (Wikipedia)

We all have individual ideas of Utopia. New Atlantis, published in 1626, is Bacon’s idea of a Utopian world. The island is called Bensalem where people of all races and religion live together in harmony but leaning much more towards Christianity. The people are honest, generous, pious, and enlightened. There is an ideal college “Solomon House” where they study pure and applied science. In Bensalem religion and science co-exist perfectly. Bacon coined the phrase “Knowledge is Power”.

It is theorized that Bacon was hoping that

America

would be a model of this utopian world. There are many controversial ideas in the novel but it’s amazing all the wonderful ideas that Bacon foresees. Towards the end of the novel he describes all the things they have discovered, here’s an example:

"We have also furnaces of great diversities, and that keep great diversity of heats; fierce and quick, strong and constant, soft and mild, blown, quiet, dry, moist, and the like. But above all we have heats, in imitation of the sun's and heavenly bodies' heats, that pass divers inequalities, and as it were orbs, progresses, and returns whereby we produce admirable effects… Instruments also which generate heat only by motion. And farther, places for strong insulations; and, again, places under the earth, which by nature or art yield heat. These divers heats we use as the nature of the operation which we intend requireth.”

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

2010-09-16T18:39:00.000-04:00

Reading these books make learning history so much fun. Rick (yeah we’re on a first name basis) takes us on another adventure, this time it’s the history of the Gods of Egypt. He stays true to his trademark with young hero Carter, 14 years old, and his sister Sadie, 12 years old, who team up with the Gods to save the world.

After their mother passed away six years ago under mysterious circumstances Carter and Sadie were separated. Carter traveled with his dad Egyptologist Julius Kane and Sadie lived in London with her grandparents. On Christmas Eve their father takes them for a private tour of the British Museum and the fun begins. I’m looking forward to the second book.

A few Egyptian Gods:

Amon - The creator

Anubis - God of mummification.

Isis – Diviner and the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus.

Osiris - Ruler of the underworld.

Horus – The Falcon/sky god. Son of Osiris and Isis.

Set - God of Chaos and enemy of Horus.

Sobek - The crocodile god.
Ra - The sun god.

From the UnMuseum

The Destruction of the Indies by Bartolomé de las Casas

2010-09-13T09:52:00.000-04:00

This is a very detailed account, from Bartolomé, of how the Indies was colonized. Friar Bartolomé de las Casas wrote to Prince Philip II in 1542 about the mistreatment of the Native Americans. The writing is repetitive and filled with examples over and over again of horrible cruelties the Natives had to endure. The Friar was not only horrified by the treatment of the natives, he was also concerned that Spain would come under God’s judgment for these evil acts. According to him the poor natives never had a chance to know the real Christian God because of the cruelties they witnessed they associate Christianity with the Devil. Bishop Bartolomé said he witnessed liquid gold being poured down a man’s throat, many of them burned alive or had their mouths and noses cut off.

What I tried to get my head around is the total number of natives killed. Is it 10 million, 20 million? I don’t know if I believe that the Prince had no idea of what was going on? Where is all the gold that was taken from the Natives? How sad that the Natives never recovered?

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

2010-08-31T21:34:00.000-04:00

This book slowly reels you in and you are not quite sure what the story is about because there are so many layers. The original title of the book is Men Who Hate Women. The story is gripping pulls you in with small details like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey/horse. Whatever, you know what I mean.

The best part to me is towards the end. Even after the mystery is solved there are still bigger mysteries to solve. I truly enjoy the challenge of thinking about and working through the dilemma the author poses at the end. How do you choose between two evils when your integrity is at stake and there are no clear winners? I enjoyed how everything about the story challenges the way I think about life and the culture we live in.

The story reminds you that you have no idea what the people who live near you or that you come in contact with everyday are doing behind closed doors. What deep secrets is the person sitting next to you or standing in front of you keeping? Are you being studied or watched by some crazy stalker, rapist or killer? Please don’t feel paranoid, I don’t but I do feel aware and alert to my surroundings. This was an intense wonderful read. Oh by the way it is extremely scary how easy it is to hack into your computer. I’m not trying to scare you – LOL!

The movie does a great job illustrating the violence in the book. I wonder if the American version will be as bold and forthright.

Larson lists a few facts about women and violence in

Sweden

. This is the saddest one to me: Ninety-two percent of women in Sweden who have been subjected to sexual assault have not reported the most recent violent incident to the police.

The Storyline - Harriet Vanger disappeared over 40 years ago. Her 80 year old uncle is still consumed with her disappearance and hires journalist Mikael Bloomkvist to investigate. Along the way Lisbeth Salander, a troubled young woman covered in tattoos, is hired to help him solve the puzzle. Together they uncover so much more than the disappearance of a teenage girl.

The Fat Smash Diet and extreme Fat Smash Diet by Ian K Smith, MD

2010-08-23T18:52:00.000-04:00

I really like these 2 books but I must say if you buy one you do not need the other. Dr. Ian Smith wrote an easy and practical diet book. The recipes are easy and the meals are for everyday regular people. Everything can be found in your local supermarket. The menu is easy to follow and easy to read.

But, yes there is a But, like any diet or healthy eating plan, the plan must be followed. The individual must have discipline and NO; you can’t eat all you want and still lose weight and be healthy.

The Fat Smash Diet is a 90-day program

extreme Fat Smash Diet is a 3-week program

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

2010-08-23T18:22:00.000-04:00

The character is based on the legend of the greatest Alchemist who owns the stone that changes all metals to gold, and can be used to make an elixir that makes the drinker immortal. In this series he is the protector of “the Book of Abraham the Mage”, the most powerful book on earth, which has the recipe for making the elixir of life, and many other powerful prophecies and magical knowledge.

The story has great historical facts about the Flamels and Dr. John Dee but I did not care for it and I am not moved to read the rest of the series. I felt it was choppy, forced and repetitive. The magical characters are not interesting and I don’t like the heroes: twins Sophie and Josh Newman who have the power to save the world. I must say young adult readers might disagree with me because the book is a New York Times best seller and has an average of 4 stars on Amazon.

A little history- The real Nicholas Flamel was born in

France

and lived in Paris around 1330-1418 and was married to Perenelle (an alchemist herself). He started out as a scriber and manuscript salesman but became known for his research as an alchemist devoted to finding the secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone. It is rumored that he discovered the secrets in an old copper-bound book he bought: “the Book of Abraham”. Flamel was extremely wealthy when he died in 1418. The house he lived in still stands in Paris at 51 rue de Montmorency, and is the oldest stone house in the city. There is a street named after him near the Louvre Museum.

Meditation -101 Essential Tips by Naomi Ozaniec

2010-08-23T11:04:00.000-04:00

This is a really clear and practical book for anyone interested in meditation. It’s an easy to follow step-by-step series. I’ve had this book for many years and it never gets old or out of date. It has great illustrations and just looking at the book makes you feel calm.

An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle

2010-07-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

I don’t remember what a wrinkle in time was about but I remember loving it as a kid. I have to re-read it because I’m not enjoying An Acceptable Time as much. I don’t think it’s because I’m older. It’s because the characters are not believable and don’t connect to each other which makes it impossible for me to connect to them. The story seems chopped up and doesn’t flow. I like religious fiction but this one was too preachy and predictable.

Young adult science fiction -

Polly takes some time from her large family and is spending the autumn with her grandparents. Zachary Gray comes to visit, a troubled college student whom Polly met in Greece and dated the year before. Then, while walking near her grandparents' Connecticut home, Polly travels through time, three thousand years ago, meeting druids Karralys and Anaral and a warrior named Tav.

The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien

2010-07-23T10:57:00.000-04:00

Húrin defies Morgoth and a curse is placed on his entire family. We see the life of Túrin, his son, on his journey through life in Middle Earth.

This is my first Tolkien read and that was a mistake. This is a very dark tale, too dark for me. I wasn’t expecting a happy ending but I was not prepared for the amount of despair present in this story. The writing style is very similar to The Lord of The Rings. It is recommended that one reads other Tolkien books like the Silmarillion before giving The Children of Húrin a try.

My favorite thing about the story was the fact that individual characters take on different names depending on what they were going through in life.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2010-07-12T17:53:00.000-04:00

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

I don’t know where to begin. This book is extraordinary. It touched me on so many levels. The story centers on deep rooted racism seen through the eyes of child, it is written in the voice of a very wise nine-year-old girl known as Scout. The story takes place around the 1930s in a small town in the Deep South and touches on the law, justice, the jury, racism and rape, how children see the world they live in and what they are taught by family and the people they come in contact with.

After reading this book, unfortunately I feel that things have not changed much when it comes to racism. I feel that no one group is hated and dehumanized more than the black man. In chapter 26, Scout makes an observation. How can it be that her teacher hates Hitler and what he is doing to the Jews, but see nothing wrong with the way they treat Negros in

America

40 Days to Power Living by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy

2010-06-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

Power Living is a 40 Day intense look at your self. It took me 80 days to finish the book because I had to spend 2 weeks on every chapter. I highly recommend 40 Days to everyone. The book helps you to think about your dreams, helps you focus and asks 3 important questions that I keep close to my heart. The book delivers what it states on the cover “Transform your Mind, Body & Spirit and Think, Eat & Live on Purpose”.

Teresa writes: “Power is not defined by how much control you have over others, but how much control you have over your self”.

Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust by John Henrik Clarke

2010-06-25T13:43:00.000-04:00

Afrikan Holocaust takes you on a historical journey. A real eye opener and a must read. There is a lot of information about Africa before slavery by the Europeans. It’s a different perspective then what my generation was taught in school.

Dr. Leonard Jeffries wrote: Professor Clarke’s analysis provides us with a perspective that lets us understand that slavery and genocide were institutionalized and systematized into a global system of domination, destruction and death which not only control land, labor and resources but colonialized information.

Un Monsieur Bien Mis - Jean Vautrin

2010-06-14T11:26:00.000-04:00

Une ville de banlieue avec sa gare de banlieue, ses barres de béton, ses éboueurs noirs dans leurs uniformes fluo, ses ahènepéistes et ses trois-huit, ses bandes de bric et de broc et ses crânes trop rasés.

Un monsieur bien sous tous rapports file un balayeur des rues jusque dans l'ascenseur de sa cité-dortoir. Montent avec eux un camionneur balèze, un couple en bisbille, un petit rouquin avec son jeu japonais, un électeur de Le Pen, une jeunesse maghrébine...

Panne entre deux étages. Un cadavre de nègre découvert un peu plus haut quand les portes se rouvrent... Qui a joué du couteau dans le noir de la cabine?

Translation

A suburban town with its railway station of the suburbs, its concrete bars, the black garbage collectors in their fluorescent uniforms, and the too many shaved skulls.

A man follows a sweeper of streets to the elevator of his dormitory suburb. A couple in tiff, a small redhead with his Japanese game, a voter of Pen, a teenage girl takes up a truck driver are also in the elevator.

The elevator breaks down between two floors. The body of a Negro is discovered when the doors open again... Who played the knife in the black of the cabin?

Une Héritière en danger - Debbi Rawlins

2010-06-09T17:09:00.000-04:00

An Heiress in danger - I haven’t touched a Harlequin Romance since I was 17 or 18, but I needed something easy to read in French. No matter what language, a Harlequin is a Harlequin. If you are learning a new language I recommend a Harlequin in that language. You will absolutely understand what they are talking about.

Strong gorgeous hunk saves beautiful damsel (albeit always dumb) in distress. During which they have sex (oh sorry make love), fall madly in love and live happily ever after.

He: Qu'est-ce que tu veux de moi? - What do you want of me?
She: Est-ce que tu m'aimes? - Do you love me?
He: Oui, répondit-il, incapable de lui mentir. - Yes, he answered, unable to lie to her.
She: C'est tout ce que je veux. - That’s all that I want.

We The Living by Ayn Rand

2010-06-02T16:13:00.000-04:00

Ayn Rand wrote “We The Living” to tell the story of Communist Russia- The Revolution. She wanted to show the rest of the world what was really happening in Russia.

The story is extremely depressing. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. She argues that under the extreme control of a government that tries to bring about the idealism of Marxism, a country and its people will die. Everybody loses the rich and the poor. The Marxist ideal of everyone living on equal ground can never come true. The Revolution never lived up to the fair and equal society it promised. Before the revolution only the poor were exploited, now both the poor and the rich were exploited.

Man has to want to help his fellow man. He cannot be forced into it. People want to give what they want to give, not what they are told to give.

As I mentioned earlier the story is really dark, I had a difficult time completing the book, but I wished Rand showed a lot more of life before the revolution.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

2010-05-22T22:20:00.000-04:00

This book did not leave me feeling warm and fuzzy for the Gods. Like all the other books The Last Olympian has many positive messages for its young audience. The one that stood out the most for me is Achilles’ advice to Percy (page 134) “no man may be completely invulnerable”. Lose sight of what makes you human and you will cease to exist.

I only have one bone to pick with the Rick; why does he write Annabeth so girly dumb when it comes to Percy.

Money Business, Playing the Market, Be Your Own Boss from Heinemann

2010-04-28T09:27:00.000-04:00

Reading level: grades 3-5

These books are great for anyone who wants to learn a little about economics.

Be Your Own Boss -Describes simple characteristics of small businesses and how to start and manage a small business.

Money Business - Focuses on the fundamental forces that drive the economy, as well as history and economic principles. It touches on the laws of supply and demand and a quick history of the first bankers.

Playing the Market -There is a brief definition of the economy, savings and investments and how companies raise money. It explains the differences between stocks and bonds, interest rates, the role of government and the Federal Reserve. The book ends with instructions for reading newspaper stock reports.

The Country Wife by William Wycherley

2010-04-27T12:15:00.000-04:00

The Country Wife is a controversial sexually explicit play written in 1675. It is complicated and difficult to read.

There are three plots in the play:

1. Horner pretends to be impotent in order to sleep with as many married women as possible. He spreads the rumor of his impotence, in order to convince married men that he can be trusted to socialize with their wives.

2. Pinchwife -a middle-aged man who marries a naive country girl hoping that he will not be cuckolded (a man being cuckolded is the last to know of his wife's infidelity). Until Horner gets a hold of her.

3. The love story of Harcourt and Alithea - Harcourt wins the hand of Alithea from the hands of the Upper-class town snob after she discovered he only loves her for her money.

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

2010-04-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

Percy does not get a break. Soon to be 15, Percy has girl problems and must save the world from the Titan lord Kronos. Annabeth is the leader of this quest with Percy, Grover and Rachel (a mortal). They must go through the Labyrinth to find Daedalus before Luke’s army storms Camp Half-blood. The Labyrinth is a confusing maze and they soon encounter gods and creatures, some friendly but most are out for blood.

Like the first three, this is fun, full of adventure and I enjoy how Riordan goes back and forth between reality and fantasy.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

2010-04-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

Is murder acceptable in pursuit of a higher purpose? Dostoyevsky presents this argument brilliantly. Taking us through Raskolnikov’s daily activities and thought pattern.

Raskolnikov thinks of himself as “extraordinary” and believes that extraordinary men have the right to commit a crime if it is for the good of humanity. He commits a murder, killing a despicable pawnbroker and her sister, to prove his point.

I remember thinking “he is so isolated and self absorbed” and completely out of touch with reality. I understood his anguish, he did everything right, he is extremely smart, good looking and hardworking. Why was he in this predicament; so poor that he couldn’t afford to eat or pay his rent? Why should an extraordinary man have to live this way while mean horrible awful people were allowed to have better lives and make the lives of decent people miserable? In his mind killing such horrible people is justifiable.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

2010-03-30T21:57:00.001-04:00

According to Greek mythology Atlas is being punished and is forced to hold up the sky. If Atlas were to let go, the sky would come crashing down on earth…well you get the picture.

This book is great, a bit over the top but a very interesting read. The book is heavy and discusses some very touchy subjects. I enjoyed the book so much that I literally tore the book in-half, so I could carry it around with me.

The first thing that came to my mind when I finished, was that it reminded me of the Bible; particularly the New Testament. The hero John Galt reminds me of Jesus. Two men, rather than give in to the norm or do what the authorities demand of them, are willing to be sacrificed for what they believe. Two men who are willing to do what they must to bring forth the world they believe in. They do not sellout nor sell themselves short.

Galt takes over the broadcasting stations and has his “Sermon on the Mount” of what he believes are values by which we should live. His philosophy (just a few): knowledge must be acquired through reasoning, he rejects faith and emotion as tools of acquiring knowledge, self-sacrifice is the code of death, never sacrifice your values, never compromise, and that complacency is one of man’s worse enemies. He defends laissez-faire capitalism; Galt absolutely opposes socialism, fascism and communism. He rejects the idea of God and says that man himself chooses between good and evil. Towards the end of the book Galt is able to create a paradise where people live by these philosophies.

The flaw in Atlas Shrugged as in the Bible is the core material that you are working with is “Man”. It does not matter what “Paradise/Utopia” you create- capitalism, socialism, Objectivism, living together in peace with each other and the animals. Everyone and I mean Everyone has to agree, not forced to agree, but willingly agree and believe that the system in place is the one to live by. If even one individual disagrees or want to change anything – the system will be flawed. It will be back to square one unless Everyone once again agrees with the new change/s.

Ayn Rand is a strong believer in individualism. In Atlas Shrugged, she defends independent thought and believes that our society would collapse without it. Atlas Shrugged is also her defense of capitalism.

This is a great site for a summary the book.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/Atlas-Shrugged-Book-Summary.id-7,pageNum-1.html

Hot Tamara by Mary Castillo

2010-03-29T12:46:00.000-04:00

I’m trying to be kind to this new author and want to give her kudos, but I did not like this book at all. Chic-lit is not my thing anyway. I didn’t even want to finish it but I did for the sake of my blog. Hot Tamara got 5 our 5 stars on amazon from 16 reviews. It goes to show you different strokes for different folks. Some people thought it was a fast, fun, cute and romantic read and to some people it was disappointing, underdeveloped and a waste of money.

I did enjoy Tamara’s spunk and the fact that she took control of her life and went completely against the norm. I did not like Tamara's mother at all, she’s a control freak, rude and horrible to her daughter. I absolutely give credit to Castillo for bringing the Latino culture and family to the reading public.

Tamara Contreras is a twenty-six year Latina with an extremely controlling mother, Tamara decides to pursue her dreams and go at it on her own. Even with her mother's threats, that she will no longer speak to her (you are no longer my daughter), Tamara moves out. She gets a part-time job at an art gallery and a tiny apartment in Los Angeles. There is of course the forbidden love, the handsome Will Benavides, with whom she went to kindergarten, and has always been attracted to.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

2010-03-29T10:15:00.000-04:00

I don’t remember if I read the Crucible in high school or college, but I do remember how angry I was. The story made me very angry because I was young and impressionable at that time. I believed in justice and the truth will always prevail and we are sensible logical creatures. Well any way here we are today…

The thing I find interesting is that no one was there but the 6 girls, but somehow with no evidence at all (ok well maybe a few theatrics) the other characters are able to make many accusations that became hard facts or evidence enough to condemn a man to death.

In 1957 Arthur Miller was convicted of contempt of Congress because he refused to give the names of the people at a meeting he attended. The House Un-American Activities Committee thought he was a member of the Communist Party. In “The Crucible” Miller wanted to send the message that people must be careful about how they react to situations.

The play is set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Reverend Parris caught his daughter in the woods, with Abigail, Mary Warren, Ruth Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Tituba, his slave, dancing and chanting. Betty fainted once she saw her father, and still lies in bed the next day. Other members of the town (including the Putnams, John Proctor, and Reverend Hale) arrive at their home and want to know more. The rumors begin that the girls were participating in witchcraft. Now, they think that the Devil is hanging around the town of Salem. The girls must admit and repent of their sins. The people of the town are now terrified that the Devil is among them and their good Christian ways will be compromised.

Night by Elie Wiesel

2010-03-25T21:29:00.000-04:00

“THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS NOT HATE, IT’S INDIFFERENCE. THE OPPOSITE OF ART IS NOT UGLINESS, IT’S INDIFFERENCE. THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH IS NOT HERESY, IT’S INDIFFERENCE. AND THE OPPOSITE OF LIFE IS NOT DEATH, IT’S INDIFFERENCE.” ---Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania.

I think it’s my third time reading Night. No matter how many times I read this book I will never comprehend how events like this could happen and continue to happen. In this short memoir Wiesel takes us through the horror and with few words paint a vivid picture of ‘life’ in the camp. The book is based on his experience as a young Jew, after he and his family were sent to Auschwitz and Buchenwald.

He took a ten-year vow of silence after which he wrote "Night". "The anger is in me—hate is not," he says.

Heart of a Buddha -The Amitabha Buddhist Society

2010-03-23T21:27:00.000-04:00

I don’t remember where I got this little book. I think it may have been Japan in 2002. It’s a free book given out by the Amitabha Buddhist Society. It has great short quotes.

Perfect wisdom,
Perfect tranquility,
Perfect compassion,
Arise from
Our love,
Our sincerity,
Our understanding.

Even if everyone else
Is not doing good,
I alone will.
Even if everyone else
is doing wrong,
I alone will not.

Sea of Monsters and Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

2010-03-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

The fun thing about these stories is that they make me want to know more about the legends of the Gods. How did Atlas end up with the world on his shoulders?

Sea of Monsters, the second book in the series, introduces Percy to his half brother Tyson, who happens to be a Cyclops. Percy, Annabeth and Tyson must save Grover (the satyr) and the camp from the Titan's attack by bringing the Golden Fleece to cure Thalia's pine tree that was poisoned by Luke.

The Titan’s Curse, the third in the series, has Percy and Grover teemed up with Zoë and Thalia (a Hunter and Zeus’ daughter) on a quest to save Annabeth and the Goddess Artemis both kidnapped by the General.

Illustrated Dictionary of RELIGION by Philip Wilkinson

2010-03-20T22:59:00.000-04:00

This dictionary has beautiful illustrations and covers all the religions. It has a rich context and gives the reader just enough information to understand the basics of that particular religion. This is great for a beginner who is interested in general knowledge of religions and their history. The book is enjoyable and easy to read. Quotes from the Dictionary:

A Religion is a set of beliefs and practices, often associated with a supernatural power that shapes or directs human life and death or a commitment to ideas that provide coherence for one's existence. It is a belief in a divine force as well as offering moral guidance for believers. Religions also bind people into communities with common goals and values. There are many religions in the world.

Religion help answer questions: How did the world begin? Can we explain good and evil? What happens when we die? Religion may have begun as one of the ways of answering some of these questions.

Religion influences nearly everything in our daily lives, from buildings, the foods we eat, and the customs of courtroom and government - it shapes our beliefs, moral codes, and national identities. Both individuals and nations describe themselves in religious terms - Hindu or Muslim, Shinto or Buddhist, Christian or Jew.

Here are two examples:

Zoroastrianism - An ancient Persian religion, named after its founder Zoroaster. The faith: life is a constant struggle between the gods of good and evil. It is still practiced today in

Iran

and

India

. Followers are called Parsis.
The Jain Religion started in

India

between the 7th and 4th century BCE. Jina or conqueror has cast off all worldly concerns and achieved the highest level of knowledge. Jinas show their followers how to achieve liberation from the cycle of reincarnation by attaining the three jewels - right knowledge, faith and conduct.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2010-02-28T22:41:00.000-05:00

These books are geared towards the adolescent crowd but I loved the first one. Well written, imaginative and quirky. I love the hero’s personality and spunk but I have to warm up to the heroine, so far she’s angry and a cry baby. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that her mother is the Goddess Athena.

I also enjoyed the movie even though it wasn’t an exact replica of the book. This is a really fun way to learn about the Greek Gods. The Gods are in America and Olympus is on top of the Empire State Building. This fantasy takes place in America, and headquarters are in Manhattan and Long Island. The young heroes face many trials and tribulations. I enjoy the theme of putting our future in the hands of adolescent girls and boys.

Percy Jackson son of Poseidon has been accused of steeling Zeus’ Lighting Bolt. He and his friends, Annabeth and Grover (a satyr), must find the Lighting Bolt and return it to Zeus before the angry Gods go to war which would destroy the humans caught in the middle.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

2010-02-28T21:54:00.000-05:00

The Fountainhead was my introduction to Objectivism and Ayn Rand. I couldn't put the book down. Throughout the book I didn’t know whether I hated or loved the main character Howard Roark and I had a very difficult time understanding the heroine Dominique Francon. Rand was definitely a genius and very controversial. She uses Roark to represent the struggle of individualism over collectivism. I can’t claim to be an Objectivist but I can absolutely relate to the idea of integrity and standing for what you believe in.

Architect Howard Roark whose entire life is a testimony to his unyielding integrity falls in love with Dominique Francon, who marries his worst enemy, Peter Keating. Roark explains to Dominique that she must not fear society and never let it undermine her integrity.

The book takes us through his battle against society and how others relate to him illustrates Rand’s view of human character. The relationships between Roark and the other characters, makes it possible for the novel to be a romantic drama and a philosophical work.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

2010-02-20T22:33:00.000-05:00

One of the many exciting things about this story is the many layers. Jane Austen brings to life the lives of these two sisters, their families, lovers and friends. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood represent sense and sensibility.

I enjoyed discussing the book with the 18th century book club, but I wished we had touched more on all of the relationships in the story. This was a real page turner for me I couldn’t wait to see how the story ends.

Austen gives us her perception and a quick look of upper and middle-class English society. After their father dies and leaves all his money to a brother from his first wife, the sisters and their mother are left with no home and very little income. The three sisters and their mother find a new home at Barton Park and begin to rebuild their lives and discover that they can be happy with less money in a new town. But the fun really begins when Elinor meets Colonel Brandon and Marianne is rescued by John Willoughby after she sprains her ankle.

The Secret by Michael Berg

2010-02-20T21:57:00.000-05:00

This is not the other secret. This is the Kabbalah secret.
The first story describes that sometimes your darkness hour has to come in order to get you out of your comfort zone so you can grow. Being content can be your worst enemy.

I really enjoyed reading The Secret because it reminds me to embrace every moment of life, to look for opportunities to grow and every obstacle in life is an opportunity to overcome.

Deltora Shadowlands by Emily Roda

2010-02-19T10:50:00.000-05:00

I have to start right off the back and say I really did not like this series. I would not want my child reading this book. It has lots of monsters but not very fun and exciting to read. The characters were flat and not very positive role models. Jasmine was always angry, looking for a fight and trusted no one.

Lief, Barda and Jasmine are on a quest to rescue thousands of the people of Deltora from the Shadow Lord in the Shadowlands. The only weapon powerful enough is the Pirran Pipe and they must go below the world to find it. They encounter many monsters, and adventures along the way.

Strength Training by Joan Pagano

2010-02-17T20:02:00.000-05:00

My bone density doctor lent me this book. This is a great practical training book. All of the exercises are easy to comprehend and each step is clearly explained. All the pictures are in color and easy to understand. It shows beginner, intermediate and advance levels of exercise.

Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen

2010-02-15T20:43:00.000-05:00

This is one from the book club - I think the author is taking us through the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic. We are inside the narrator’s thoughts and paranoia. What a ride – It’s hard to figure out what is real. At first I was annoyed and couldn’t grasp the story, but by the end of the book I really felt for the character. I can’t imagine what it feels like to think that everyone is trying to trick you, including yourself.

A 51-year-old psychiatrist named Leo, believes that his beautiful, much-younger wife, Rema, has been replaced by an exact copy.- a “doppelgänger,” a “simulacrum,” an “impostress,” an “ersatz” spouse.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

2010-02-15T20:42:00.000-05:00

Another book club choice, this story reminds me of an opera. It’s so far fetched that only as an opera does it make sense to me. I did not like this book. I couldn’t wait to finish the story but I enjoyed the writers writing style. The story centers on Roxane whose voice is so beautiful her listeners are captivated in a trance and seem to forget that they are terrorists and hostages. I’m glad we read this one because I would not have read this one on my own.

The most powerful electronics executive in Japan, Mr. Hosokawa, is invited to celebrate his birthday in a South American country. Midway through the extravagant party, terrorists take the guests hostage, including a very famous soprano Roxane Coss. Ms. Pachett creates an interesting subculture with this group with twists and turns the reader never sees coming.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

2010-02-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

It is so much fun to read fantasy books. The author can create any story because there are no rules, no law of gravity and nothing is impossible.

Edward Tulane is a china rabbit doll owned by a little girl who loved him very much. After she loses the doll, Edward takes you on a journey starting at the bottom of the ocean and shows you many miracles.

DiCamillo says “that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again”.

Greek Gods and Goddesses by Geraldine McCaughrean

2010-02-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

This gives you a quick idea of the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus. I know this a children’s book but I found it a bit scary and unsettling. Here are a few tidbits:

Zeus is the king of Olympian Gods

Hermes, 17 for all eternity, is the messenger of the Gods

Dionysus is the Wine God – Yes there is a Wine God – LOL

Athena –Zeus gave birth to Athena himself having swallowed her mother whole while she was still pregnant. I know it gets really crazy.

Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, and Apollo, thought of as the sun God and as powerful as Zeus his father. Artemis and Apollo were twins.

Galileo, The Genius Who Faced The Inquisition by Philip Steele

2010-01-27T18:45:00.000-05:00

I get uneasy every time I think of the Galileo story. The Catholic Church forced him to recant his scientific findings that the planets revolved around the sun because it was against the teachings of the church (which dated back to Aristotle, who died in 322 B.C. and Ptolemy who died in 170 A.D.).
How can we truly move forward when there is always someone with an agenda or special interest distorting the facts?
These children and young adult books are great finds. They can be read in an hour, have beautiful illustrations and facts about the world.

Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 and dies on January 8, 1642 at 77
Dialogue of the Two Principal Systems of the World was published in 1632
Galileo is found guilty of being a heretic and forced to reject the teachings of Copernicus
In 1992 Pope John Paul II closed the Church’s case against Galileo saying that mistakes had been made in the trial.

The Meaning of Life by Bradley Trevor Greive

2010-01-26T14:51:00.000-05:00

This is a fun inspiring book. Helps you to think, ask questions and put things into perspective.

On page 72 – There is a picture of a giant turtle with a little turtle on top of its head. The quote -A little voice –call it your conscience, your inner self, or your internal mother-in-law –will always tell you the truth if you are prepared to hear it.

On page 98 – There is a picture of a sad little monkey on a tree. The quote reads –Like everyone else, you will have some days that are better than others.

Scriptures and Meditations by Joel Osteen

2010-01-26T14:44:00.000-05:00

This is a great book for short uplifting scriptures and motivation. There are some nice pictures. It’s a picture book with thoughtful ideas.

Page 88 – Find Strength Through Adversity

Page 89 – God has a divine purpose for every challenge that comes into our lives. Trials test our character and help shape our faith.

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

2010-01-25T13:52:00.000-05:00

This book is so easy to read and so profound. It helped me to understand that the only reason why I could ever find myself “stuck” is because I am not thinking of my objective. My goal should be my only pursuit. The question is “What do I have to do to get there?” I love the idea of life being a maze and how to work your way through this maze. I think it’s a great book to have in the home.

From the author: - The book is a simple parable that reveals profound truths. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a “Maze” and look for “Cheese” to nourish them and make them happy.

Two are mice named Sniff and Scurry. And two are “little people” –beings the size of mice who look and act a lot like people. Their names are Hem and Haw.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2010-01-24T22:21:00.000-05:00

This book really taught me about the difference in social class. To be born in a high class social status, to have a lineage of a rich family is completely different then becoming rich. The high class society looks down on a poor man who had to work to make his money because he was not born into it. This is a complex and sad love story, considered to be Fitzgerald’s greatest novel.

The story takes place in the wealthy Long Island district of East Egg, inhabited by the old aristocracy and West Egg an area looked down upon by those in East Egg. People are judged by the amount in their bank account and their social connections.

Jay Gatsby, falls in love with Daisy, a woman from the social elite, but loses her due to their different social standing. He is a self made man and makes a lot of money trying to impress her and win her love. She instead, marries a man from her own social strata and has and affair with Gatsby.

Fitzgerald makes a strong statement that the possibility of social mobility in America is an illusion.

Tokyo fiancée by Amélie Nothomb

2010-01-22T10:47:00.000-05:00

This is a quick read with a lot of surprises. I did not like the main female character. I thought she was selfish and dishonest. It was originally written in French and I think it may have lost something in translation. I enjoyed this book mostly for its raw honesty and it took place in Japan and gave me little tidbits about the culture.

Like I have to find out what okonomiyaki tastes like. http://www.japan-guide.com/r/e100.html

Amélie a Belgian woman was born and raised in Japan. She returns in her early twenties, and tutors french to Rinri, her only student. She has relationship with this shy, young Japanese man and discovers that she doesn’t know how to explain her feelings for Rinri, who loves her deeply.

Amélie says, “Why must pleasure always have a price? And why must one always pay for sensual delight with the loss of original lightness?”

Socrates in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern

2010-01-14T21:08:00.001-05:00

Anaxagoras is believed to have been Socrates’ teacher.

In Greek Philosopher means lover of wisdom.

This book is a quick study of the Philosopher and gives you a lot of interesting information about him. It also shows you Socrates the person (how he spent his days).

Socrates was pronounced “the wisest of men” by a Delphic Oracle, his famous response; “I know nothing except the fact of my own ignorance”. He never wrote anything down. What we know of his philosophy was written by others especially Plato.

A lot of the ideas that we think are new (New Age) are old as dirt. Parmenides of Elea, from early 5th century BCE, believed the world as we know it is merely an illusion.

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

2010-01-12T18:44:00.000-05:00

There were so many twists and turns in this story. The book is part Sci-fi, part religion and confusing. It’s a great read, but slow in the beginning and it takes time to understand where the story is going. There are a lot of scientific and Vatican information in the story.

This was my second time hearing the word Illuminati. I think the first time was a Lara Croft movie :-). This was my first time hearing of the Switzerland European Nuclear Research Center. They succeeded in producing the first particles of antimatter.

Once again Professor Robert Langdon finds himself in The Vatican; someone/group is threatening to blow up The Vatican and is killing Cardinals one by one using ancient rituals.

DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

2010-01-12T18:19:00.000-05:00

This was a fun book to read. This is a quick page turner with a lot of fun historical facts. The DaVinci Code turned the Christian world on its head with the claim that Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife and they had children. That Jesus never rose from the dead.

There are many more controversies in this book.

Thinner by Stephen King

2010-01-11T19:14:00.000-05:00

This is my first Stephen King book and it scared the daylights out of me. I think this is one of his better books under the alter ego, Richard Bachman.

Billy Halleck, an over weight lawyer, accidentally kills an old gypsy woman with his car when his wife was giving him a … job. Either the woman’s mother or father puts a hex on Billy and his weight problem is gone forever -LOL.

Moll Flanders by Daniel Dedoe

2010-01-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

Fear and Poverty can make us do the unthinkable in order to survive. There is so much to say about this novel that I don’t know where to begin. Defoe speaks against the treatment of women and what they were forced to do in order to take care of themselves in a world where they were considered the possession of men.

Defoe’s Moll struggles to avoid the deadly poverty of 17/18th-century England. From a prison-birth to prosperity this is a saga of a notorious heroine. Her misdemeanors and delinquencies, her career as a prostitute, a charming and faithful wife, a thief, and a convict - till today is one of the most candid stories of a woman's progress ever told.

Moll's mother is a convict in Newgate Prison in London who is given a reprieve by "pleading her belly" (pregnant criminals were able to avoid execution). Her mother is eventually transported to America and Moll Flanders (not her real name) is raised by a good foster mother, then she becomes a household servant where she is loved by both sons. The elder son convinces her to "act like they were married" in bed, but is not willing to marry her but convinces Moll to marry the younger brother. She is widowed and remarries several times one of those marriages is accidentally to her brother. Yes this story covers all the bases.

The Stand By Stephen King

2009-12-23T22:32:00.000-05:00

The Stand really left an impression on me (because it can happen) about the end of the world and the behavior of humans. The idea of a deadly flu doesn’t play favorites. It’s anyone’s guess who will survive and who will die. Nothing can help you, not money, status, politics, good looks and so on.

After a plague (called Superflu or Captain Trips) is accidentally released upon the world, 99 percent of the world’s population dies. The first section of the novel charts the total breakdown and destruction of society in some very graphic scenes. The few survivors are divided between the forces of good and evil, as the two groups become aware of one another, they see the other as a threat to its survival. The Stand determines who will rebuild the world; the good or the evil.

The Shack

2009-12-23T22:29:00.000-05:00

This book was a very nice surprise. Very Christian oriented. The story was beautifully told.

A man’s youngest daughter is abducted and murdered in a shack in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later he gets a note inviting him back to the shack for a weekend. Oh yeah, the note is signed God.

He has some interesting conversations with God (The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit).

Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T16:41:00.000-05:00

I bought this book years ago and didn’t really care for it because it wasn’t a story. In hindsight, it’s because I wasn’t ready for it.

I really love this book because it is individual pages of positives reinforcements and affirmations.

“A Warrior of the Light knows that he has much to be grateful for.”
“A Warrior can distinguish between the transient and the enduring.”
“A Warrior of Light knows what he wants. And he has no need to waste time on explanations.”

The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Paulo’s first book is about his journey across Spain along the legendary road of San Tiago. “We must never stop Dreaming” seems to be the main theme.

He has specific rituals that he practiced along the way and how to perform them (they are a little scary to me). These adventures include a lot of mysticism and miracles which were difficult for me to believe.

I did not relate to this book as much as I have with many of his other books. This one is a little bit out of this world for me, but one can tell that it was important for Paulo to share this experience with the world.

The Zahir by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

Zahir, in Arabic, means visible, present, incapable of going unnoticed.

I don't understand how I could have forgotten this book. It's only after reading little pieces of it do I remember the lessons this book taught me. Why is it that we need to be constantly reminded of what is really important?

A famous novelist’s wife, a war correspondent, has disappeared along with a friend who may or may not be her lover. Was she kidnapped, murdered or did she simply escape a marriage that left her unfulfilled? In his attempt to find a lost love, he discovers something unexpected about himself.

By The River Piedra, I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T16:32:00.000-05:00

“True love is an act of total surrender”. (I don’t know what this means)

“To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God”. (This I understand a bit better)

The River Piedra is in a small village in the French Pyrenees. Pilar is writing her story on the bank of the river. Her hands are freezing, her legs are numb but she must write her story of love so she can toss it into the Piedra and be free of it.

The main focus of this book is the many conflicts we face in search for love. But there’s a lot of talk of Priests, Angels, God, Mother Theresa and so on.

Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T16:29:00.000-05:00

I took this book with me to Turks and Caicos to read by the beach. I had a little notebook and took 14 little notes. Here are a few:

In order to master the soul, one must also learn to master the body

She was no longer dependent on what happened in order to be happy

The greatest pleasure isn’t sex, but the passion with which it is practiced

“Good enough” is very different from “Best”

Maria, a young girl from

Brazil

decides love is a terrible thing after suffering her first heartache. She follows a talent scout to

Switzerland

, believing she will become a famous model, only to find that she is to become a night club dancer and a prostitute.

Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T16:24:00.000-05:00

This book like most of Paulo’s stories had a profound effect on me. Don’t judge a book by its cover (negatively or positively).

Veronika is 24 and seems to have everything – youth, beauty, boyfriends, a loving family and a fulfilling job. But one morning she takes a bunch of pills hoping to be done with it. Instead she wakes up in a mental hospital where she’s told she has only days to live.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2009-12-18T15:48:00.000-05:00

This was my first Paulo Coelho book. I find that people either like The Alchemist and get it or totally dislike it and ask “What’s the big deal?”

I truly enjoyed this book and have read it twice. It’s a soft gentle journey that teaches you to embrace the obstacles life throws your way and to trust yourself as you follow your dreams.

The story is about a young sheppard boy who travels from his homeland in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids.

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

2009-12-18T15:46:00.001-05:00

“Don’t sweat the small stuff”
“Do you control your thinking or does it control you?”- just two of the lessons that stayed with me after reading this book.

New Earth is easier to understand then the Power of Now. This book can really help you see and think about life differently. It’s great when Eckhart describes the ego and how to deal with it. It’s weird to think of your ego as a separate part of you with its own agenda.

The Power of NOW by Eckhart Tolle

2009-12-18T15:42:00.000-05:00

I’ve read the book twice and have lots of book marks that I can read when I need a reminder or a pick-up. It is a spiritual journey and Eckhart tries to teach you a new way of thinking and perceiving life. Nothing matters more than right NOW. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

It is written in the form of question and answer (questions that were asked of him over the years). It’s not always easy to understand, on a few occasions I had to put the book down and come back to it at a later time.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

2009-12-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

The book is separated in two parts and it felt like two different books and two different authors. I really loved the first half and didn’t like the second part at all. Our book club discussion thought maybe the author wanted it this way to show the difference between fantasy and reality.

The story is set in a private college in Vermont where an inner circle of five students are selected to study the mysteries of ancient Greek culture. Well of course somewhere along the line, reality and fantasy collide and the group commits a crime.

Roxana by Daniel Defoe

2009-12-18T15:36:00.000-05:00

I truly am enjoying the 18th century literature they make our Soap Operas look like child’s play. But authors of that time wrote to make a point or teach the audience a lesson. It is very important as you read the story to keep in mind the history of that time.

Roxana sells her virtue for survival, then for fame and fortune. She tells her story as a mistress of rich and powerful men. She hates marriage for what it stood for during that time. She says “that a woman gave herself entirely away from herself in marriage, and capitulated only to be at best an upper servant…”

Idiot's Guide to Total Nutrition by Joy Bauer

2009-12-18T15:33:00.000-05:00

This was really easy to read and had all the major recommendations on how to eat healthy. I used it like a school books (took notes). It’s not a diet book, the focus is healthy nutrition.

Atheist Spirituality by Andre Comte-Sponville

2009-12-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

Andre Comte-Sponville is one of France’s contemporary philosophers. He asks: Can we do without God? Is there Spirituality without God? Can we have ethics without God? Is there such a thing as Atheist Spirituality?

This is an interesting book for atheists and believers. He even questions if people who say they believe in God, really do believe in God as described in mainstream or the dictionary.

Aristotle: Pioneering Philosopher and founder of the Lyceum

2009-12-17T19:00:00.001-05:00

Socrates was the originator, Plato was his student, and then Aristotle was Plato’s student. These men loved knowledge and dedicated their lives to learn everything they could.

One of Socrates’ most famous quotes: The unexamined life isn’t worth living.
Two from Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do”; “Nature does nothing useless”

This book is part of an elementary school series but I think it’s great for any beginner. It is easy to read with great information and beautiful art.

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

2009-12-17T11:33:00.000-05:00

This is a great series. Absolutely one of the best coming of age stories ever written. The story is well written and wonderfully told in its magical setting. JK Rowling creates this dual world with lots of surprises. The Goblet of Fire and The Half-Blood Prince are my favorites. The movies (though they try and try hard) cannot do any justice to the books.

Harry is an 11 year old boy who learns that he is a wizard and the evil wizard who killed his parents is now after him. So not only does Harry have to deal with all the challenges of puberty but he is constantly dealing with death threats.

Universal Studios is working on a Harry Potter Theme Park scheduled to be open Spring 2010.

http://www.universalorlandoresort.com/harrypotter/

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

2009-12-17T11:30:00.000-05:00

A teenage love story except that he is a 100 year old vampire. The author truly captures the love between Edward and Bella. When she describes their feelings, passion and chemistry it truly touches the readers to the core. You are transported and may even be able to experience the lovers’ passion.

As a writer she is inexperienced and doesn’t write well but I couldn’t put the books down. I was up until 2am trying to finish Twilight.

Of the four books Twilight and Breaking Dawn are my favorites but if you like Jacob and the werewolves, you will probably prefer New Moon and Eclipse.

This picture will forever be ingrained in minds of teens and many adults too I’m sure.