OK. So. I read two more books. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, I'm up to 17 books in 4 months. I'm really halfway behind my pace, so thank God I get summer. I'll have to read a LOT of books this summer. That being said, suggest some super good ones. I have 18 and 19 lined up right now. I'm hoping to have at least one of those done this week as well. We'll see.
16. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham- This book was good. It was pretty short, a little over 200 pages. It was also about a football player, so not super relative to me, but it took place in Italy and it was an underdog/finding yourself-type story. It was simple and to the point. I liked it and it was easy to read. Nothing crazy. No "You can't handle the truth," moments, but still good. :) I think this was especially good for guys who aren't super huge readers.
17. Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky- This chick has gotten a LOT of my time/money this year. I like Babs (I hope she knows we're on a nickname basis now) and she writes somewhat controversial stuff, like Jodi Picoult. [I need to review House Rules because I never did it earlier.] This book is about a pregnancy pact. Anyone who knows me well realizes that, for me, this was like a beacon shining down from heaven onto this book as a matter of Divine Providence that I should read it. That kind of juicy stuff just speaks to me. Disturbing, yes. Anyway, I loooooved this book. It was super good with examining how this feels from all angles. I was really worried that the teenagers were going to stay idiots who promised to get pregnant together...but they don't. I really liked how Babs made it a story about the whole family and, honestly, wish I could give it to teenage girls. I don't know any girls romanticizing teen pregnancy, but even so, it shows all angles of the situation and how much a baby can change things. That's easy to see at 25...not so much at 17. Also, the mom (of the pregnant teenager) in the story is a really awesome character and the principal of a high school. I really felt like she was relate-able(sp?) because her position made sense.
It's actually funny because so much of this book was large-scale humiliation: media involvement, letters to the editor, school board hearings, but I could completely relate. There was a crisis and, as always, someone has to be blamed, publicly at least. I felt like there was a spotlight shining on me every time I went in public after my divorce, particularly if I was entering a situation (ie: church, work, family events) for the first time alone. It was a completely different issue in the book, but I got where she was coming from...and was even happier that it was a completely different issue. Something about the thought of a teen daughter making a pact to get pregnant makes me want to rip my hair out.
Anyhow, I have another book by Babs and another book by JG (John Grisham) lined up as my next two books to read.
So back to House Rules... the book was THEBOMB.COM. No seriously, it was amazing. Not gonna lie, the ending was rough for me. I have a theory, but only once you've read the book. That said, it was about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome. I'm a little obsessed with information about the autism spectrum ever since my nephew was diagnosed with Developmental Delays at age 3 (which he has outgrown and he is a TOTAL rock star). This book was incredible...and also made me wonder if I really do have OCD. Holy crap I could completely identify with this kid. One thing I *super* love about Jodi Picoult is her unfailing ability to make these characters real. Not only do they feel like real people, but her description of the characters/disorders/situations is absolutely realistic. For this book she met with no less than 9 families that had children affected by Asperger's. It was incredible. She is really a phenomenal writer and does her subjects justice. You should check her out. Every single book. I have them all if you need them. :)
Also...THIRTY SIX DAYS LEFT WITH MY KIDS. I literally got emotional typing that. I adore my children. I am going to miss them like CRAZY. I'm gonna need some prayers because I'm going to be a hot mess.
Thanks for reading. :) xo.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
On to 20!
I'm on my way to 20 books! I've read books 14 and 15 FINALLY. For those books I chose a new author, Kristin Hannah, and the books True Colors and Firefly Lane.
14. Firefly Lane- I loved this book. Loved it. L-O-V-E kind of love. At first, I wasn't so sure. I feel like it maybe started a little slow but, come to find out, you needed all that build-up. The book was largely about the shared history between two best friends and how it brought them to adulthood. It was kinda bros-before-hoes...but with girls. However, it was A MILLION times better than that too. TullyandKate (they're referred to as such in the book) were best friends FOREVER...I'm talking age 14-grown up life. They have an amazing story, a familiar friendship to many many girls, and a super-strong love for each other. Some crazy good (and bad) stuff happens during the book and toward the end...no, not toward the end...the last 100+ pages I literally read in tears. I'm not talking I'm-Jessica-and-I-tear-up-because-I-hate-being-emotional tears. I'm talking HUGE SOBBING tears. I literally needed my hand held to finish the book because I couldn't do it. I stopped two pages from the end to cry into my arm and wipe the snot off my face...and take deep breaths...before I could finish it. Ridiculous? Yeah. But that shows you how *awesome* it was. :)
15. True Colors- This was a super fast read for me. I finished Firefly Lane Saturday night and had finished True Colors by Tuesday. It's about 3 sisters and the small town where they grow up. It actually took unexpected turns for me. Some things I predicted, but life is like that. If it was all unpredictable and crazy then it wouldn't be realistic. She had a teenage boy in this story that was the son of one of the sisters and I thought his character/her writing from his perspective was awesome and spot. on. I really enjoyed this book and, while I didn't get emotional, felt like it was a beautiful story with some *super* realistic writing. It's also beautifully picturesque. Makes me want to visit the West Coast.
Now I'm finally finishing those two John Grisham books. Hopefully both done by Sunday.
So now onto real life. I have 40 days left with my kids. Whether we do cool activities or just chill, I'm determined to make those the best days ever for them. I want them to leave the school year knowing that they have me in their corner if they ever need a thing. I want them to know I believe they can succeed in 2nd grade...or 1st grade again. Success isn't measured by Ss and Ps and Us. Success is measured by the person that you are and that you will be. My kids will be AMAZING people. A lot of them have really great parents who care about them and I hope they know that, while we are a *very* transient district, I will be there and they can contact me forever & ever. I could literally write something amazing about each one of them...but I won't. Yet.
In other real-life situations...I'm at a super weird place and it's super weird for me. Duh. Seriously though, I'm in a place where I'm really good for moving on. Not only am I ready, but pieces are falling into place, and things are moving forward. The worst part? Fear. Fear has taken a hold on me and it is not letting me go. I have things I want to share. I have things I want to tell people. Unfortunately, the last 2 yrs have made me super self-conscious and concerned about other people's thoughts/opinions. I don't want to broadcast decisions when I know people are going to be negative. Funny, I'm super negative. But still. So anyway, God and I are bargaining. That never works. I'll lose. But I'm really happy and I'm really grateful for it. I'll be even happier when I feel like I can shout happiness from the rooftops and be unconcerned about people second-guessing my decisions. I've spent a very long time doing second-guessing...frankly, it's too tiring. I get it. I get what I'm doing and where I'm going and what it looks like, at least for a little while.
And it's good. It's *so* *so* good. So I hope people will be ready for me...with support and love...when I'm ready. The end. :)
p.s. thanks Amazon for the pictures. Sorry if you thought you could actually "look inside". I'd be such a baller if I could figure out how to do that.
14. Firefly Lane- I loved this book. Loved it. L-O-V-E kind of love. At first, I wasn't so sure. I feel like it maybe started a little slow but, come to find out, you needed all that build-up. The book was largely about the shared history between two best friends and how it brought them to adulthood. It was kinda bros-before-hoes...but with girls. However, it was A MILLION times better than that too. TullyandKate (they're referred to as such in the book) were best friends FOREVER...I'm talking age 14-grown up life. They have an amazing story, a familiar friendship to many many girls, and a super-strong love for each other. Some crazy good (and bad) stuff happens during the book and toward the end...no, not toward the end...the last 100+ pages I literally read in tears. I'm not talking I'm-Jessica-and-I-tear-up-because-I-hate-being-emotional tears. I'm talking HUGE SOBBING tears. I literally needed my hand held to finish the book because I couldn't do it. I stopped two pages from the end to cry into my arm and wipe the snot off my face...and take deep breaths...before I could finish it. Ridiculous? Yeah. But that shows you how *awesome* it was. :)
15. True Colors- This was a super fast read for me. I finished Firefly Lane Saturday night and had finished True Colors by Tuesday. It's about 3 sisters and the small town where they grow up. It actually took unexpected turns for me. Some things I predicted, but life is like that. If it was all unpredictable and crazy then it wouldn't be realistic. She had a teenage boy in this story that was the son of one of the sisters and I thought his character/her writing from his perspective was awesome and spot. on. I really enjoyed this book and, while I didn't get emotional, felt like it was a beautiful story with some *super* realistic writing. It's also beautifully picturesque. Makes me want to visit the West Coast.
Now I'm finally finishing those two John Grisham books. Hopefully both done by Sunday.
So now onto real life. I have 40 days left with my kids. Whether we do cool activities or just chill, I'm determined to make those the best days ever for them. I want them to leave the school year knowing that they have me in their corner if they ever need a thing. I want them to know I believe they can succeed in 2nd grade...or 1st grade again. Success isn't measured by Ss and Ps and Us. Success is measured by the person that you are and that you will be. My kids will be AMAZING people. A lot of them have really great parents who care about them and I hope they know that, while we are a *very* transient district, I will be there and they can contact me forever & ever. I could literally write something amazing about each one of them...but I won't. Yet.
In other real-life situations...I'm at a super weird place and it's super weird for me. Duh. Seriously though, I'm in a place where I'm really good for moving on. Not only am I ready, but pieces are falling into place, and things are moving forward. The worst part? Fear. Fear has taken a hold on me and it is not letting me go. I have things I want to share. I have things I want to tell people. Unfortunately, the last 2 yrs have made me super self-conscious and concerned about other people's thoughts/opinions. I don't want to broadcast decisions when I know people are going to be negative. Funny, I'm super negative. But still. So anyway, God and I are bargaining. That never works. I'll lose. But I'm really happy and I'm really grateful for it. I'll be even happier when I feel like I can shout happiness from the rooftops and be unconcerned about people second-guessing my decisions. I've spent a very long time doing second-guessing...frankly, it's too tiring. I get it. I get what I'm doing and where I'm going and what it looks like, at least for a little while.
And it's good. It's *so* *so* good. So I hope people will be ready for me...with support and love...when I'm ready. The end. :)
p.s. thanks Amazon for the pictures. Sorry if you thought you could actually "look inside". I'd be such a baller if I could figure out how to do that.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
"but the children LOVE the books!"
...and I am still a child when it comes to books.
I finally finished book 13! By finally finished, I mean...started and continued reading a book from start to finish. I've been in a little rut because my first books of the year were so good that it was hard for me to want to continue when some weren't as enthralling as others.
However, after a trip to my new favorite place, Paperbacks, Ink., I decided to buy some used books and finally finished one.
13. The Secret Between Us- Barbara Delinksy
I read one of her books earlier in the year and loved it, so I tried this one. It's very good. A woman and her daughter are driving (her daughter is behind the wheel on her learner's permit) and they hit a man running on the side of the road. Anyway, it gets good.
So...now for spring break. I'm sure I'll post pictures of my progress on spring break AND my love of spring.
I went home this week for Easter and a few extra days (and new glasses! yeah!) and took some beautiful pictures of a place across the road from my grandparents' house. Hope you love spring. I sure do!
Thanks for reading!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)