Summer Reading: Joy for Beginners

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!! My favorite this year :) It’s written by the same author as The School of Essential Ingredients, which I also loved.

I bought this book as the first installment of the Mother-Daughter Book Club for 2012! I love the women in this book, how they take on new challenges and care so deeply for their friends. The basic premise is that Kate, a recent cancer survivor, is challenged by her friends to go on a Grand Canyon River Rafting trip. She agrees on the condition that each of her friends complete the task she challenges them with.

I cannot encourage you enough to read this book in 2012 :)

Summer Reading: The Tenth Circle

This was a totally different style of Jodi Picoult novel…the story line was paralleled by a graphic novel at the end of each chapter. It was all about hidden pasts and secrets with some love stories and a lot of mystery.

Not one of my favorites, but it definitely made me think about the good and bad in people and how we try to hide parts of ourselves, but our true character always surfaces.

Summer Reading: The Help

Not gonna lie – I totally saw the movie before the book. Both are incredible.

If you haven’t seen or read The Help, put down what you’re doing and get to it! It’s one of those stories that will make you cry, laugh, and ponder society all at once. It has a resemblance to the style of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

Still reading? Stop and go find this book.

Around The Apartment…

For today’s Miscellany Monday, I just started looking around the apartment for things I felt needed to be shared. I hope you enjoy the randomness!

.NEBRASKA.

A letter came from Nebraska today – Keith is officially a licensed doctor! Since we’ll be in the Air Force for awhile longer, we decided to go for the state that is the most military friendly in applications and renewals. If you think he looks excited, you should see my face over this news!

.PEAR CIDER.

I loaded up on cider at Gilcrease Orchards last weekend. It’s so yummy. Tonight I’m having it warm with whipped cream, cinnamon, sea salt, and caramel. It just makes me happy!

.GRAND CANYON.

Awhile ago, Keith hung this picture we got in the Grand Canyon. I just love seeing it every day!

.CANDY CORN.

I have always hated candy corn. Always. They are fun and festive looking, but so gross. Until this year. I can’t get enough. I love them. Especially the caramel apple and/or the chocolate kind. It’s like I’m obsessed. And no, I’m not preggers. I just love me some candy corn. (P.S. Is it me, or does every one of my posts include food somehow or another?)

.CHRISTMAS YARN.

I’ve got these colors in mind for some new Christmas hats for the shop. I’m thinking some kinds of fun knit pattern! Any thoughts?

.PUGGLE.

Okay, I know I posted about him yesterday, but this dude has been my buddy all weekend. He’s an awesome snuggler :)

.HOUSE RULES.

I started this book Saturday and can’t put it down. I love it. It’s amazing. Go read it now.

.VISITORS.

These crazy people are coming to visit this weekend! I’m so excited – we haven’t seen anyone from back East since my sister was here in July!! It’s going to be a fun and relaxing weekend – the Nellis Air Show is this weekend – I’ll have my zoom lens to capture the Thunderbirds!

.BED.

That’s where I’m headed because I’m tired and burnt out. I’ve only got another two days with students, one day of professional development, and one family day. So, yea, I’m headed to bed because my kids are going to be pure chaos for the next two days.

…

It’s time to link up:

Summer Reading: Alicia: My Story

This is a beautiful, tragic story about Alicia Appleman-Jurman’s survival during the Holocaust in Poland. It’s hard to describe what is so moving about this book – it was definitely heavy and emotional, but I couldn’t put it down.

Publisher’s Weekly’s description is apt:

A young girl’s experience of the Nazi pogrom in her Polish hometown is related with an immediacy undimmed by time in her autobiography. In 1942, the author and her family undergo a brutal separation. Thirteen-year-old Alicia escapes her captors, fleeing through fields and woods, encountering fellow refugees and occasionally finding safe harbors. Although she sees her mother’s wanton murder and endures physical and mental deprivation, the teenager is supported by faith in family and in the goodness of people. Capable of rallying others, she eventually heads a group who settle in Palestine. In 1949, she marries an American in Haifa and moves to the United States. Long and on occasion rambling, her story contributes to an infamous history as a tale, not only of survival, but of active resistance to oppression.

I strongly recommend reading this book – it challenges you to be content with your own life and you can’t help but admire Appleman-Jurman’s ingenuity and determination.

Summer Reading: Handle With Care

This is another great one from Jodi Picoult.

It is about a young girl, Willow, with Osteogenesis Imperfecta – a genetic disease in which a person’s bones are so brittle they can break with the slightest force. The book is written from the perspective of each of the family members: father, daughter, sister, and mother who contemplates suing her obstetrician (and best friend) who never advised her about Willow’s condition when she could have aborted the pregnancy.

As with all Jodi Picoult novels, it is pretty heart wrenching. Not one of my top 3 Picoult books, but definitely a good one none-the-less.

Thin Within

My new book came today:

A friend recommended this book since it is all about refocusing your mind onto God’s perspective about food, eating, exercise, and health. I have been struggling a lot lately with my self-image, so I am really excited to start reading.

I’ve got a date after yoga with the pool and my book :)