Zelda

I am reading Zelda Fitzgerald's biography. I have never known much about her, but she is from Montgomery and that is hubby's hometown, so I decided to learn about her. I am only half way though the book and she is already diagnosed with all sorts of mental disorders and has proven to be brilliant, though also insane, selfish, vane and a drunk. One day, I want to have an interesting bio written about my life as a writer... Please, God, don't let it be quite as interesting as Zelda's.

Unless

I love Carol Shields. Have I told you that before? A few years ago, one of my girls (my mini-me, Sara) had to read The Stone Diaries for a class. Knowing what a reader I am, she passed the novel onto me, when she was finished. I fell in love. Recently, I snagged a copy of Carol's first novel, Small Ceremonies. I liked it even more than Stone Diaries. So, at the library, I found her second novel, The Box Garden. This one was also brilliant. Finally, thanks to a lovely Bookmooch user in Korea, I was able to get a copy of the last novel Carol published before her death.

Unless.

I loved this book. From the writing style, which was classic Shields all the way, to the plot of a daughter dropping out of school to beg on a street corner holding a sign that says, simply, "goodness." Seeing the reactions of this family to their child's plight was wonderfully insightful. The reasons we can dream up for why other people behave the way they do, generally, have more to do with why we behave the way WE do, than anything that they might think or feel. We project our own values and issues onto others everyday. This book showed that so clearly, that now I am wondering how often I could avoid misunderstandings with my husband and family if I quit assuming they think and feel and I think and feel.

Unless.

Everything hinges on this word, unless. It is the answer to the terrible "if." Example...

If Bob were to lose his job, they could not pay their mortgage, UNLESS Jan was able to sale her first novel and use the advance to pay bills.

Unless can save us. Unless is spiritual. Sin entered into the world through man and woman in the garden of Eden and all humanity is sentenced to death, UNLESS God does something to save us...

and He did.

I loved this novel and cannot wait to get my hands on more by Carol Shields.

Heather

Remnants: Blog Tour

Remnants is the first book written by Marisa Gary and published by Strongtower Media & Entertainment. Here is a quick interview with the lovely author herself...

What is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is out on my lanai in the fall with the fan on, my laptop and a cup of coffee. However, I now use a desktop and have my own office in the house, so that’s a good second. I have to be alone when I write. My thoughts come so fast most of the time that I have to concentrate very hard or I will lose where I am going, and that makes me very frustrated. :)

Do you prefer to hand write or to type?

I have to type. I type 10x faster than I write and I can, of course, edit on the fly. The funny thing is, I can’t bring my computer with me to Haiti so I will have to hand write everything. That is going to be a huge challenge.

Do you have a favorite pen or pencil brand/style?

Yes! I love glass blown pens. If there is one thing I would collect, it would be those. I have a few and I love to write with them.

What is your favorite writing memory?

That’s an interesting question, because I haven’t been writing all that long. What I can say though is that when I am done writing, I go back and read what I’ve written for the first time. When I read my devotions, it’s like I’ve never seen them before and I am reading someone else’s work. It’s truly amazing to me. Not only does God give me the words, but He also lets me experience them.

Can we expect future books?

Yes! As a matter of fact, I've started writing my second book already. I hope to call it, "Here I am Lord, Send Me." It will be a devotion for missionaries. I am headed to Haiti in just a few months on a mission trip and am looking forward to see what God has planned for me to write about getting ready, about going and about serving. I'm so excited!

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets

My friend, Meredith, let me borrow her copy of The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice. She said it is one of her favorite books. And, since we both seem to love the same type of books (books that simply tell stories) I wanted to read this. I LOVED it. My first impression was "Anne Tyler meets London." Add in a touch of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (which is never a bad thing, in my opinion) and I was sold. I found myself falling absolutely in love with every character I was introduced to. I wanted to go play with these girls in this big house, even in the cold and the snow (and if you know me, you know I hate the cold and the snow).

I give this book 5 million stars.

Heather

Are You Happy/Michal

I finished 2 books this week. The first was Are You Happy by Emily Fox Gordon. I found this book on the shelf of a dollar store back when we lived in Brandon, MS. So, it was at least 6 months ago. I am thinking, it was probably last summer. The cover caught my eye, and I don't always obey the cliche not to judge a book by its cover. At least, I sometimes pick books out based soley on the design. I will then read the book before making a judgment call, but I must admit to being attracted to pretty books.

Are You Happy is a memoir, and I enjoyed it very much. I like memoirs, because I like feeling as though I have made a new friend, while reading. Emily and I shared some experiences of teasing in school and bad decision making, etc... I like how she writes.

Finishing that, I picked up Michal by Jill Eileen Smith. I had read a fictional account of the life of Michal, years ago. That book was Queenmaker by India Edghill, and I wasn't in love with it. Queenmaker painted David as a womanizing ego-maniac and Michal as sheer virtuous perfection. This newer account of their life together is much more balanced. Sometimes, the story does seem to side more with one or the other, but mostly you can see a realistic idea of how their relationship might have played out. I like Biblical fiction, because it allows me to slip freely into the stories and think about the characters as real people.

Both books are worth reading.

Heather

Choosing Books After Lent

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams was "the chosen one" for my first novel after the no-books-for-Lent experience. I was hooked, pretty much instantly. First of all, it has my favorite kind of heroine - a little girl who uses books to escape her life. In this case, Kyra is trying to escape the compound where she lives, daughter to a man who has 3 wives. Kyra, herself, is betrothed to marry her 60-year-old uncle. Having not actually grown up in the polygamist life, myself, I cannot speak to the accuracy of this novel's account. I can, however, tell you that the author is a good writer. I was drawn into the story and kept waiting for what would happen next.

Moving on from that, I picked up How To Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson. The title intrigued me, so I requested it from the Amazon Vine program. The premise of the book is that the main character, Carley, has no "passion" in her life, at least, academically. And, her parents just can't have this, in their social class and private school mentality. Her father decides to hire an author to live in their house and write a book for/about Carley, in an effort to force her to love reading. I could not get into this book. They whiny rich kids annoyed me.

Heather

Complaint Free World

The first book that has tempted me since starting this pleasure reading fast came this morning, at my Disciple study. I am considering trying out the "plan" given by the book, even though I cannot read the book right now.

A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen

In the meantime (And the meantime is God-time, Beth Moore told me today) I am eating my Italian sub and chips without reading a book.

Heather

Giving Up Books for Lent

God hates me.

Okay, so no, He doesn't. God doesn't hate me. But, I am giving up pleasure reading for Lent. So, it FEELS like He is punishing me, right now.

Oddly enough, I joked to some of my friends about how Corey once asked me to give up reading for Lent, and we all laughed and laughed. I think God heard me. I think He also heard my husband's heart. And, as always, He hears mine. So, if He hears all that, I can trust Him.

The kicker, for me, was when I heard myself tell God, "But reading is the only thing that brings me real pleasure in a day." Ok, for one, that is a slight exaggeration. But, only a slight one. Second, shouldn't God and my family and about a billion other things be what brings me the most pleasure in a day? So, fine. God wins. Corey wins. I will give up reading for Lent.

I have spent the last hour arguing with God about this whole thing. Working out rules up front, so that there is less room to wiggle over the next 40 days. Here are a few "exceptions" to the no reading rule...

Studying... I am involved in a study on Esther, a Disciple group (that is Bible anyway) and a Creative Call study. Also, I am teaching Bad Girls of the Bible for the10th & 11th grade girls' small group. These things are fine, because they are set amounts of reading per week.

Book Group... I joined the church book group. We read one book per month. I have already read the book we will discuss in March, so that is not a problem, but I need to read the book for the first week of April. I believe it is a book by Barak Obama, so it isn't even something I would normally choose. I can read that book, because that group is important for other reasons, reading aside. It is a chance at fellowship with members of our church that I do not get to spend time with otherwise.

Audio Books... I listen to Magic Treehouse books with the boys, in the van. This is fine. Also, when traveling to my Mom's over Spring Break, I will use audio books on the drive. Again, fine. These are not taking time away from anything else and do not require me to sit and stare at a book.

This may be the scariest 40 days of my life.

Heather

Same Kind of Different As Me

I picked up Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall, because we are discussing it for book group in March. March 2nd actually, so I am cutting my reading close. Not too close, I guess. I read it more quickly than I expected to. It wasn't just that it is a relatively short book, but also the writing is very easy to read. The two men tell their story, trading back and forth on who is doing the telling. It is very much like sitting down to talk with the two of them. Ok, maybe not quite as awesome as it would be to sit down and talk with them in person.

I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it was way better than whatever I thought the story would be about. Both authors are very honest, even when it does not paint them in the best light. Honesty is refreshing in Christians. I didn't even realize Christianity was a part of the story for a bit, but it certainly is. More importantly, God in all His daily-present reality is a part of the story.

I knew fairly quickly that someone had to die in this book. I had a feeling I knew who, and my heart seized up. But, I kept going, and I am glad I did. I thought a lot about losing Natalie and a lot about a woman who died just after we moved here, Renee. I thought of the faith of both of these women and the woman in the story. All three are real women who loved God and left earlier than any of us would have chosen for them (or for ourselves, for that matter). I have thought, since my friend Pat was killed at 19, that death is a sort of ministry. God uses our passing as well as our living... sometimes better.

Lots of deep thoughts and heavy convictions.

Heather

Inkspell

I finished Inkspell this week, and it was fabulous. I can't decide if I liked it as well as Inkheart or maybe better or maybe not. It was different. More adventure, if that is possible. A more grown up storyline, what with Meggie and Farid kissing here and there. The kissing was a wee bit disturbing, since they are only supposed to be 13. Well, Meggie is only 13. Right? But, my husband is a youth minister, so I know that isn't beyond believable or anything. I was 15 when I had my first kiss and it sucked. Seriously... awful. At least Meggie's was sweet. And with a storybook character... literally.

I will have to borrow Inkdeath from Rachel soon, but first I am reading Impulse and also reading Same Kind of Different As Me.

Heather

Impulse

Rachel lent me her copy of Impulse by Ellen Hopkins. It is a novel written entirely in poems. I love books like that. I started reading it this morning, and I am already hooked. The premise involves three teenagers who have nothing in common except their wish to die. The setting in an institution of sorts. Each teen has attempted suicide in some way (gun, knife, pills). It is disturbing and also a window into what is going on in the mind of a teen who cuts or becomes addicted to pain pills, etc...

I used to plan my suicide. I was a very unhappy teenager about 99% of the time. I never told people what I was thinking though. I worked out intricate plans that I never even came close to acting on.

Well, I came close only once, when I was 16. And still, it was years after the fact that I told anyone I'd had those feelings and thoughts. I wonder, would my teen years have been any better if I had asked someone for help. I think I should have asked for help. I should have asked my Dad for help, specifically. He knew about depression, and he would have known what to do.

Heather

Coraline

Coraline was a fabulously dark and perfect little read. Neil Gaiman can dance on that line of darkness without crossing over all of the way to horror. I don't enjoy horror. I do enjoy a teensy tiny taste of creepy. The button eyes did it for me. Can you picture that? Chilling.

I think I will skip out on letting the boys watch this one. I haven't decided for sure. They don't really scare easily. But it is a bit dark.

I can think of no one better suited to make a movie out of Coraline than Tim Burton. I will let you know how I feel it lines up to the book, as soon as I get to see it.

*grins wickedly*

Heather

Inkheart

I loved Inkheart. LOVED IT! I am about to put Inkspell on hold at the library, when I finish blogging. And, now I can go see the movie. Maybe I will take the boys to see it this weekend. Corey is going to Alabama on Saturday, so perhaps the boys and I can make a date of it. They can be my Valentines. :) I think they will adore this story just as much as I did. It has enough action and enough scary stuff to satisfy them. They will be amazed by Dustfinger's abilities with fire. As a matter of fact, I think going to the movies this weekend is the best idea I have had in ages.

I am completely flattered that Meggie reminded Dana of me. What cinched it for me was when Meggie admitted she wanted to be able to do what her father could do, when she read. I have to say, I would have been wishing the same thing. As dangerous as the ability obviously was, I can see myself curling up with a good book and trying to read out a favorite character. Or read myself into the pages. The possibilities here are endless, really.

The ending was a good one. Not so happy as to be cheesy, but still a happy ending. I can't wait to see the movie and read the next book.

Heather

The Fantastical Challenge

Both Rachel and Dana have suggested I read Inkheart, so I picked it up at the library, yesterday. I finished reading Pretties, spent a few pages in Anna Karenina (because I WILL read that book) and started Inkheart just before bed. I am in love.

The timing of this book in my life is perfect, b/c it is time for The Fantastical Challenge over at The Nattie Challenge.

I had been lax in updating The Nattie Challenge blog, after the loss of my laptop and regular Internet access. But, she is back up and running. The challenge is explained if you click one of the links above. I have a whole list of Young Adult fantasy I have been meaning to read. I tend to prefer YA Fantasy for some reason. Feel free to hypothesize.

I found this printed at the start of one of Inkheart's chapters. I wonder if I could have it printed up on stickers to put inside my favorite books for when I lend them out. ;) This is from an apparently fictional monastery in San Pedro, Spain.

For him that Stealeth a Book from this Library,

Let it change into a Serpent in his hand & rend him.

Let him be struck with Palsy, & all his Members blasted.

Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy,

Let there be no Surcease to his Agony till he sink to Dissolution.

Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not,

When at last he goeth to his final Punishment,

Let the flames of hell consume him for ever & aye.

It makes me giggle. Corey called me last night, and I answered mid-chuckle. I tried to explain how this is funny, but I don't think he gets it. Do you?

Heather

Chunkster Challenge 2009 - Anna K

I joined the Chunkster Challenge and started reading my first big book of the year (I like big books, and I cannot lie...). I got about 1/4 of the way through. I am not giving up though. I just picked the wrong book to start with, I think. I also chose to start a giant of a book right as I went off of my ADHD medication. Can we say Return of the Short Attention Span?

I chose to read Anna Karenina.

I know, I know. But it was HUGE and calling to me from the shelves at B&N. Only $7 for this beautiful tome with the pretty pages. And what a beautiful name to say, "Karenina." It feels so pretty on my tongue.

I was sucked in pretty quickly, believe it or not. I quite enjoyed Part I of the book. Part II was harder to get into. Anna began to get on my nerves. I took a break to read my book group selection for the month (before finding out I wasn't going to Book Group). I picked Anna K back up and read for 2 hours at the doctor's office, Sunday. It isn't pulling me back in. I need to quit being annoyed with Anna. So, another break for me. I will read this whole book in 2009. It will just be in pieces.

Anyone already read it? Can you tell me if it gets good again? It was reminding me very much of a Russian version of Jane Austen for a while. Is anyone else completely annoyed by Anna herself? She seems shallow to me. I don't "see" this great love affair with Vronsky. It feels 2-dimensional. Go on. Gasp. I said 2-dimensional while speaking of the greatest novel ever written (according to some literary critics I have come upon).

I will not give up.

Heather

Home to Holly Springs

I finished reading Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon on January 31st. If you know me, you know I did not enjoy Mitford enough to move past the first book in the series. I certainly didn't plan to try Holly Springs, but it was the first selection of the year for the book group I joined at church. I am really excited about the group and the rest of the year's books, so I gave in and read this one.

I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't boring. I learned a lot about an actual Mississippi town called Holly Springs. The town is very near me, and I heard many familiar places and events mentioned. I always enjoy an author that takes the time to learn and write about a real place. I may even take a day trip to Holly Springs soon, because I love the feeling of being inside a book.

Towards the end, the story started to drag, and some loose ends got tied up so sweetly that it could have been annoying, if it weren't about a priest. God sometimes does tie ends up sweetly. Not always, but sometimes.

Heather

Here Goes Nothing

This may be the silliest thing I have done lately, but having a separate blog for books is one way I can organize my mind right now. I also need to revamp the Nattie Challange Blog. Watch for that.

Yes, I KNOW that I JUST deleted my book blog and moved ALL of the entries over to my regular blog. I am going to start fresh.

2009

The Year of Patience

Here goes nothing...

Heather