Books!!!

I literally copied and pasted this directly from my personal blog, because I just posted it today, which was so perfect since we were talking about books today. I get wordy, (duh) especially when discussing my favorite things in the world. I am always up for a suggestion, too! (Redeeming Love is next!). :)

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I LOVE being able to check out library books on my Kindle (and the Kindle App, which is free!).

A few years ago, I could not have imagined NOT owning the book and holding it and keeping it on a bookshelf. I love being surrounded by my friends/books and having them with me always. UNTIL I moved and left half of my stuff in storage and will be moving AGAIN in July...

So the Kindle is the way to go. Um, PLUS, I can download FREE book loans from the librarywithout even leaving my house. Win-win. ALL of the ones below were borrowed from the library on my Kindle app.

Without further ado...

Kelly from The Office! This book was awesome- funny, self-depreciating, interesting, genuine, smart, witty, etc... My only complaint is that I wish it were LONGER. It felt very short (I think I maybe read it in one night), and I would have been sad if I had paid $15 for it or something.

My favorite parts:

On how Amy Poehler (whom I also love) is "pals" with her husband, Will Arnett, and Mindy wants her future hubs to be her pal:

" 'Amy: Hey guys. Have you seen Arnett? I can't find him.'

I had never heard a woman call her husband by his last name, like she was a player on the same sports team Will was on. You could tell from that small moment that Will and Amy are totally pals.

Exactly. It was worth reading the book for that one part. Most people just think I'm weird that I call my husband, Hughes. Thanks for getting us, Mindy.

Same page:

"I want to hear that...one got the other hooked on Breaking Bad"

Have YOU watched Breaking Bad?? People, this is SERIOUS. Hughes DID in fact suggest/encourage/force/bully me into watching Breaking Bad, and I am so grateful to him not giving up on me. It looked so weird (a chemistry teacher learns he has terminal cancer, so he begins making and selling Meth to take care of his family) and so un-like me. It is. But, it is also addicting, powerful, entertaining, scary, bold, awesome... It's on NetFlix. Watch it.

Don't read it. It is awful. Gag. And, I usually like all books.

Loved the title and the cover picture. Haha. ("Don't judge a book by its cover" bothers me. Books are made to be sold. SELL me with your cover! Not judging people by their covers is good. Especially since I look homeless quite often). I was expecting more chick-lit style with funny stories about stupid boys and fashion mistakes. Instead, this is about a mature, smart writer trying to make it in New York. Funny, dry, sarcastic, subtle humor. It's a series of essays by an author who is my age, so I could relate to some of her stories (except she is single rich, travels the world, and is kinda weird in an almost hippie way or something). It IS pretty good, but I think this is a book on English major-y people will like. Nothing really happens in the book, so you have to REALLY like words. I read it a few weeks ago and have basically already forgotten everything about it, but I did enjoy it while it was happening.

She does write about Girl Talk:

"To its credit, Girl Talk was downright empowering compared to Mall Madness, a game of fiscal responsibility that encouraged girls to buy everything in sight until they found a boy to do it."

and

"For all its many flaws- and there were many- at Girl Talk's core was the single lesson that prepared me for truth-or-dare. Which prepared me for "I Never."

LOVED those games! I can still picture both of the boxes and boards. In retrospect, they are pretty terrible. But, as a middle schooler sitting on Anna's bed, they were magical and amazing. And the idea of the games building on each other and culminating in "I Never" is so true. Terrifyingly true.

It was fun, simple, light, easy. I liked it. It was full of things that are common sense but were backed with LOADS of research. It was nice to be reminded of a few keys to happiness: sleep, keep peace, cultivate friendships, don't be around unpleasant odors (seriously), cherish animals, watch less television, accomplish something every day, de-clutter, etc... The author even gives you little, realistic ways to practice each one. It is a perfect mix or practical, refreshing, and realistic.

It is always helpful to be reminded of a few keys to parenting. A few reminders I took away:

*She deserves my unconditional love and acceptance. (I read this in December when Lily's lack of sleep was threatening to do me in. It was good to remember that I have to love her for WHO she IS).

*Convey fair and clear expectations

*Set firm limits

*Listen to her with my full presence

*If Lily watched me all day long, what would she learn? (Oh. To be crazy? MUST tone it down)

*The best gift I can give her is my time

*Tailor my mothering to LILY. (So true. Kids are NOT one-size-fits-all)

*What 3 values do I want her to have above all else? Focus on these. (Not sure, yet...definitelycompassion, because I can cheat and assume that respect, gratitude, honesty, and kindness will come from it. Also assertiveness, I think. I don't want her bossy, but I want her to be strong, independent, confident. And...fun. Definitely fun).

It is all TOO much. Too sad. Too REAL. Too much to trudge through. It reminded me of The Book Thief (not nearly as good or nearly as sad, though). The narration (from the perspective of Oskar, a 9 year old boy) is believable and impacting. At times, especially for the first half, if is confusing and unconnected at parts. It was not a quick read for me (well, 5 days or so), because it drags at times. It IS beautifully written and is a book that will stay with me, but it was depressing. 9/11 really DID happen, and 9 year old boys really DID lose their dads. The style was the best- and the worst- part of the book, because it was just so REAL. Connected and sweet and tragic all at once. Worth reading.

Good. Worth reading, since it was a free Kindle library book. It kept my attention, and the writing, while not the most beautifully stylistic book ever, was poetic enough. I am partial to 1st person books, though. At the very beginning, you find out the main character (Ronnie, a 12 year old girl) had two little sisters murdered by a crazy man. So, there's that, which sucks. Obviously, the entire book is about life after the murders, and it IS depressing but also enlightening and even interesting. Happy things do occur, but I am already too much of a worrier and need to stay away from books like this one. It felt like a Jodi Picoult book, honestly: not a change-your-life book but definitely not a waste of time, either.

If you are still reading, then you are a nerd, too, so you will appreciate these books. I started aBook Journal a few years ago, mainly because I read so many books that I would find myself halfway through a book and realize I had ALREADY read it! It was usually with Grisham or a Young Adult novel. So, I started jotting down thoughts about each book after I finished it. I am about to start my 3rd one. I love them, because sometimes I write pages if a book really impacted me. Or, sometimes, I just write: "No thank you" or "Love". Sometimes I add in a magazine article about a book I read or something extra cool, like my WRISTBAND from one of the HARRY POTTER midnight waits. It is fun to go back and look at what I thought about a book or when/where/why I read it. It is depressing to see how MANY books I read pre-Lily and how few books I read in 2009 and 2010. I am trying to make up for lost time. I am just a happier person when I am reading a book.

haha. I flipped through my older Book Journal and saw part of my blurb about Twilight (from 7 years ago!) well before it was ever popular at all: The cover is definitely enticing- old adages aside; it DID make me interested in the book...It has all of the things I usually enjoy: well developed plot, attention to details (grilled cheese sandwiches), 1st person, creative, magic, etc... I DID enjoy this book, but I just don't know about it. I can't put my finger on it...something about the style (lack of?) or how quickly she fell in love...I don't know. It was just okayish to me. BUT, I will do a Book Talk with my kids on Monday. They will definitely want to read this one.

I know people LOVE Twilight, possibly even close to how I love my Harry, BUT the books just weren't that captivating to me. I see the appeal of it, I guess, but the series is just not my favorite thing, ever. Sorry.

I need new titles...send suggestions.

Melissa... I need to borrow your Unbroken, by the way.