The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.