September's Book

I don't know about you guys, but I am really looking forward to the fall. It could just be the ridiculous heat wave we've been having for the past two weeks, but I am ready for the crisp, cool air of autumn. I love it when it's cold enough that layers are a good idea if you are leaving the house, and I love it even more when it's a better idea to curl up by the fire with a good book. My children have been in school for two weeks now and we are in the "20 minutes a day" reading cycle. It's really got me thinking that we should be doing that, even as adults. Who can't find 20 minutes a day to read for pleasure and keep your brain active!

The start of a new school year has also got me thinking about some old favorites that I read when I was in school. And I thought it might be fun to revisit a classic. So with out further ado... this month's book is: 

Just kidding! Can you imagine? An interesting book, but probably not a good idea to read it when you already feel like you are living it every time you walk down to the play room to keep your children from killing each other over a lego or stuffed animal....

My real choice is:

I have a real love of pioneer and frontier stories. I like that it was a time when hard work and determination were valued and the adventure of building a life and a home where nothing but wilderness had been. I love Laura Ingalls Wilder, Janette Oke, and a new favorite I discovered this summer, Cathy Marie Hake. 

I can't remember if I read Mrs. Mike for the first time in Jr. High or High school, but I haven't read it since I've been married. I think it will be interesting to read it with a new perspective. If nothing else it should make us all very grateful for our modern conveniences. 

I also think it would be interesting to see what books you remember from your school days? Favorites? Stories you absolutely hated? Any that you gave up on and just did the Ciffs Notes to pass the test?

Way behind

I'm way behind on anything to do with blogs - but I DID get my bookmark like 4 months ago, and I DO love it! I wanted to share what I was given from Chrissy.

She said it reminded her of me because of the free spirit and plus it had a purple bead, so its perfect. I love 

I also love the bead at the end that I can play with while reading.

Thanks Chrissy!!

Way behind

I'm way behind on anything to do with blogs - but I DID get my bookmark like 4 months ago, and I DO love it! I wanted to share what I got from Chrissy.

She said it reminded her of me because of the free spirit. I love it! 

(and it went perfect with the book I was reading at the time too) 

I also love the bead at the end that I can play with while reading.

Thanks Chrissy!!

August's Book

I know we've fallen a bit behind on our first of the month announcement, but I hope this month's recommendation will spark some good discussion points to make up for it!

The book we've chosen is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

I'm sure many of us have already heard a lot about this book or the movie version that will be released on the 12th. I know I heard about it from several sources: Elena, two of my coworkers, movie trailers, and one very talkative patient. It reminded me of when Harry Potter first hit the shelves and everyone was getting worked up about it--and I decided I didn't want to read it for that very reason. By the time I finally broke down and read the first book I was kicking myself for not doing it sooner! It ended up being one of my favorites and I promised I wouldn't make such a stupid choice again.

The Help was meant to generate talk--and once you read it, you'll know why!

I picked it up on a whim two days ago and didn't put it down until I had finished it. At first I was sure I wouldn't like it. It struck me as too "book clubbish." The kind of thing they'd recommend on Oprah or make you read in a high school English class...the kind of book my mother adored, and therefore was probably going to be sooo depressing... I was mistaken.

These women's stories are so endearing and honest--achingly familiar even though I hardly have anything in common with them. I found it so surreal that these women's lives were considered the norm a scant 50 years ago...But I think what struck me most, was not the anger, fear, and frustration that you'd expect a book about the Civil Rights movement to contain: but the love in these women's lives. I never thought, until this book, that it was love, admiration, and a kinship that could not--would not--be denied that forged the path to Civil Rights.

People didn't suddenly get fed up with being mistreated. They'd been mistreated for years and withstood it. People could no longer accept being denied the ability to show their love, no matter who it was for.

I hope that if you choose to read this book that it will serve as your "secret story;" and that it will remind you to take the time to tell the ones you love that:

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

And the Winner Is...

IT'S A TIE!

Congratulations to Chrissy and Mary who each scored an impressive 4 out of 6 correct guesses! For those of you who are interested, the average was 2 out 6, and the correct answers are:

Cross Bones -- Tiffany

The BFG -- Mary

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society -- Elena

The Princess Bride -- Sarah

My Grandfather's Blessings -- Caitlin

The Elenium --Chrissy

I will send out the winners gift cards on Thursday. (I have to wait for payday to get the second card ;) but I want them to reach you in time for some weekend book shopping!)

I apologize for the suspense in waiting for this post. (I had a family gathering out in Tooele and didn't make it back to a computer until very late.) Thanks again to everyone for playing. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Time's Up!

All right all you literary detectives: Time is up!

Please email me (Caitlin) with your guesses in our book match-up game TODAY. I will announce the winner tomorrow! Remember: we have $20 in FREE book money on the line folks. Don't miss your chance!

Best of luck to you all!

Six figures! Wha-hoo!

I just wanted to take a minute and point out that our page tally has finally broken through to the six figure mark! (I am super excited by this.) I also want to give a great big shout out to Laura for jumping from 688 pages to a whopping 16,991! That's impressive. I wanted to highlight yet again that even if you've gotten behind on keeping track of your pages you can go back and add them at any time. So go figure out your pages ladies, one million is still quite a ways away. But we can do it!