Ok. Now, I may be engaged, but I'm not going to get carried away. No way. I know some girls go mad, planning the biggest wedding in the universe and thinking about nothing else . . . but that's not going to happen to me. I'm not going to let this take over my life. I mean, let's get our priorities straight right here. The most important thing is not the dress, or the shoes, or what kind of flowers we have, is it? It's making the promise of lifelong commitment. It's pledging our troth to one another. (p.44)
This from Becky Bloomwood? Think again! Shopaholic Ties The Knot by Sophie Kinsella takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure of making wedding plans, dealing with family, and, of course, going shopping. Classic Shopaholic, Becky finds herself in many jams along the way: from wedding themes to wedding dresses to wedding planners to prenuptial agreements to mothers to ... Anyway, the laughter is non-stop and the champagne flows freely throughout this ridiculous story of how one woman tries to create the wedding of her dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others who enjoy the Shopaholic series.
Of course, it ends happily ever after. Why wouldn't it?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry
"...There are things you can't back down on, things you gotta take a stand on. But it's up to you to decide what them things are. You have to demand respect in this world, ain't nobody just gonna hand it to you. How you carry yourself, what you stand for --- that's how you gain respect. But, little one, ain't nobody's respect worth more than your own. You understand that?" (pp. 133-134)
In celebration of an author's birthday in September, I read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. This book was the 1977 winner of the Newbery Medal Award. The book tells the story of the Logan family and their struggles in the early 1930's while owning land, getting an education, and living in a very racially divided community in Mississippi. The story is narrated by Cassie, one of the four children in this very close knit family. The Logans are a well respected family in their community and they try to fight for what is right for all people, even when they know that they may be putting everyone's lives at stake.
"I know what I am!" I retaliated. "But I betcha you don't know what you are! And I could sure tell you, too, you ole ---"
Stacey jerked me forward, crushing my hand in the effort, and whispered angrily, "Shut up, Cassie!" His dark eyes flashed malevolently as he pushed me in front of him through the crowd.
As soon as we were outside, I whipped my hand from his. "What's the matter with you? You know he was wrong!"
Stacey swallowed to flush his anger, then said gruffly, "I know it and you know it, but he don't know it, and that's where the trouble is. Now come on 'fore you get us into a real mess. ..."(p.85)
And that is where so much of the trouble begins... from not knowing. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is one of the more disturbing books that I have ever read. The writing is very well done and it is obvious why this book is worthy of its award. But while reading it I found myself forgetting that it was fiction and soon became very involved with the characters and their stories. Fear, lack of knowledge, and history handed down through generations that teaches intolerance all fuel the tragic actions of those people who think they are better than others and feel they need to show others their place in society. However, the Logan family faces these prejudices and wrongful actions with dignity, respect, and a proactiveness that they hope will one day change the future for themselves and their community.
"Papa," I said, standing to join them, "we giving up too?"
Papa looked down at me and brought me closer, then waved his hand toward the drive. "You see that fig tree over yonder, Cassie? Them other trees all around . . . that oak and walnut, they're a lot bigger and they take up more room and give so much shade they almost overshadow that little ole fig. But that fig tree's got roots that run deep, and it belongs in that yard as much as that oak and walnut. It keeps on blooming, bearing good fruit year after year, knowing all the time it'll never get as big as them other trees. Just keeps on growing and doing what it gotta do. It don't give up. It give up, it'll die. There's a lesson to be learned from that little tree, Cassie girl, 'cause we're like it. We keep doing what we gotta, and we don't give up. We can't." (p. 156)
And they don't give up! A very powerful story, I highly recommend Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. It's a story you won't soon forget.
In celebration of an author's birthday in September, I read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. This book was the 1977 winner of the Newbery Medal Award. The book tells the story of the Logan family and their struggles in the early 1930's while owning land, getting an education, and living in a very racially divided community in Mississippi. The story is narrated by Cassie, one of the four children in this very close knit family. The Logans are a well respected family in their community and they try to fight for what is right for all people, even when they know that they may be putting everyone's lives at stake.
"I know what I am!" I retaliated. "But I betcha you don't know what you are! And I could sure tell you, too, you ole ---"
Stacey jerked me forward, crushing my hand in the effort, and whispered angrily, "Shut up, Cassie!" His dark eyes flashed malevolently as he pushed me in front of him through the crowd.
As soon as we were outside, I whipped my hand from his. "What's the matter with you? You know he was wrong!"
Stacey swallowed to flush his anger, then said gruffly, "I know it and you know it, but he don't know it, and that's where the trouble is. Now come on 'fore you get us into a real mess. ..."(p.85)
And that is where so much of the trouble begins... from not knowing. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is one of the more disturbing books that I have ever read. The writing is very well done and it is obvious why this book is worthy of its award. But while reading it I found myself forgetting that it was fiction and soon became very involved with the characters and their stories. Fear, lack of knowledge, and history handed down through generations that teaches intolerance all fuel the tragic actions of those people who think they are better than others and feel they need to show others their place in society. However, the Logan family faces these prejudices and wrongful actions with dignity, respect, and a proactiveness that they hope will one day change the future for themselves and their community.
"Papa," I said, standing to join them, "we giving up too?"
Papa looked down at me and brought me closer, then waved his hand toward the drive. "You see that fig tree over yonder, Cassie? Them other trees all around . . . that oak and walnut, they're a lot bigger and they take up more room and give so much shade they almost overshadow that little ole fig. But that fig tree's got roots that run deep, and it belongs in that yard as much as that oak and walnut. It keeps on blooming, bearing good fruit year after year, knowing all the time it'll never get as big as them other trees. Just keeps on growing and doing what it gotta do. It don't give up. It give up, it'll die. There's a lesson to be learned from that little tree, Cassie girl, 'cause we're like it. We keep doing what we gotta, and we don't give up. We can't." (p. 156)
And they don't give up! A very powerful story, I highly recommend Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. It's a story you won't soon forget.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Autumn Reading
Booking Through Thursday for 9/18/08:
Autumn is starting (here in the US, anyway), and kids are heading back to school–does the changing season change your reading habits? Less time? More? Are you just in the mood for different kinds of books than you were over the summer?
For me, autumn is probably my busiest season due to the fact that I am a mother of four and all of our schedules change because of school, sports, and other activities. My time for reading also changes drastically! I find myself reading more on the weekends in bigger blocks of time. During the week, my reading is more "on the go" and in smaller blocks of time. I try to read more at bedtime as well, but this tends to be hopeless during the week because I am just plain tired after a busy day! As the season progresses and the activities settle into a more routine-like schedule, my reading time eventually begins to increase and I look forward to a much needed escape into my books! I tend to put away the "vacation" and "beach" themed books and reach for the mysteries, dramas, and biographies.
So, yes, you could say my reading is seasonal!
Autumn is starting (here in the US, anyway), and kids are heading back to school–does the changing season change your reading habits? Less time? More? Are you just in the mood for different kinds of books than you were over the summer?
For me, autumn is probably my busiest season due to the fact that I am a mother of four and all of our schedules change because of school, sports, and other activities. My time for reading also changes drastically! I find myself reading more on the weekends in bigger blocks of time. During the week, my reading is more "on the go" and in smaller blocks of time. I try to read more at bedtime as well, but this tends to be hopeless during the week because I am just plain tired after a busy day! As the season progresses and the activities settle into a more routine-like schedule, my reading time eventually begins to increase and I look forward to a much needed escape into my books! I tend to put away the "vacation" and "beach" themed books and reach for the mysteries, dramas, and biographies.
So, yes, you could say my reading is seasonal!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Light & Tasty Annual Recipes
I am a big fan of the Taste of Home Cookbooks, whether they are the traditional Taste of Home books, the easy Quick Cooking books, or the healthy Light & Tasty books. This spring I decided I wanted to lose some weight as well as try to cook a bit healthier. What a great way to try the 2007 Light & Tasty Annual Recipes cookbook! However, I was a bit disappointed in my trial with it.
What I liked about this cookbook are the same things that I like about the Taste of Home's other cookbooks: easy to follow recipes, nutritional facts are listed, nice pictures to see what a recipe should look like, and recipes that have common, "found in my kitchen" ingredients.
What I did not like about this cookbook is that I just couldn't find many recipes that interest me. To enjoy a cookbook, in my opinion, the recipes and ingredients should pop out and say "Try me!" when I am thumbing through the book. This book just didn't have that kind of appeal for me. I also think it says something when I look back and realize that it's been four months since I opened the cookbook for this challenge and in that time I have only tried two recipes. The cookbook is not a bad one, just one that didn't catch my interest.
I tried the following recipes from this cookbook: Southwestern Beef Stew (p. 97) and Grilled Meat Loaves (p. 97). Both recipes were very good! I also have bookmarked to try Herb-Crusted Potatoes (p. 83) which is very similar to a recipe that I have tried from another Taste of Home cookbook.
My next cookbook for the Soup's On! Challenge will be JoAnna Lund's The Heart Smart Healthy Exchanges Cookbook. I have cooked from other versions of her Healthy Exchanges cookbooks in the past and just received this version from Paperback Swap today. I think it's now time to start experimenting with some heart healthy recipes!
What I liked about this cookbook are the same things that I like about the Taste of Home's other cookbooks: easy to follow recipes, nutritional facts are listed, nice pictures to see what a recipe should look like, and recipes that have common, "found in my kitchen" ingredients.
What I did not like about this cookbook is that I just couldn't find many recipes that interest me. To enjoy a cookbook, in my opinion, the recipes and ingredients should pop out and say "Try me!" when I am thumbing through the book. This book just didn't have that kind of appeal for me. I also think it says something when I look back and realize that it's been four months since I opened the cookbook for this challenge and in that time I have only tried two recipes. The cookbook is not a bad one, just one that didn't catch my interest.
I tried the following recipes from this cookbook: Southwestern Beef Stew (p. 97) and Grilled Meat Loaves (p. 97). Both recipes were very good! I also have bookmarked to try Herb-Crusted Potatoes (p. 83) which is very similar to a recipe that I have tried from another Taste of Home cookbook.
My next cookbook for the Soup's On! Challenge will be JoAnna Lund's The Heart Smart Healthy Exchanges Cookbook. I have cooked from other versions of her Healthy Exchanges cookbooks in the past and just received this version from Paperback Swap today. I think it's now time to start experimenting with some heart healthy recipes!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
What's In A Name? Challenge --- Completed
I have finished a very interesting reading challenge, the What's In A Name? Challenge. I found it interesting because of its guidelines and the books that I chose to read.
A book with a color in its title: The Grey King by Susan Cooper
A book with an animal in its title: Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana
A book with a first name in its title: The Book of Jane by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbuilt
A book with a place in its title: Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
A book with a weather event in its title: The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin
A book with a plant in its title: The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn
My favorite books were The Book of Jane and Between, Georgia.
My least favorite book was The Grey King.
Thanks Annie for hosting this fun challenge! I am looking forward to the new categories for next year's challenge!!
A book with a color in its title: The Grey King by Susan Cooper
A book with an animal in its title: Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana
A book with a first name in its title: The Book of Jane by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbuilt
A book with a place in its title: Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
A book with a weather event in its title: The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin
A book with a plant in its title: The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn
My favorite books were The Book of Jane and Between, Georgia.
My least favorite book was The Grey King.
Thanks Annie for hosting this fun challenge! I am looking forward to the new categories for next year's challenge!!
The Ivy Chronicles
"Please . . . I uh hope . . . no, I beg you to choose me for a radical makeover because I . . ." --- sad sigh --- "just got fired, my pet died, and I caught my husband taking a bath with another woman . . . and they were naked. Now, I'm gonna have to start dating again and look at me. Who would want . . . this?" I gestured dramatically at my lumpy, puffy body and the lifeless hair I'd sprayed with vegetable oil for a stringier presentation. "Plus, my mother died, I'm about to lose my home, I had to fire my nanny, my maid, and my kids' tutors. I have to color my own hair and do my own nails. My psychic says I'm gonna get hit by a bus. And have you ever seen a frown line this deep?" I pointed to the canyon that subdivided my forehead. "I need . . . no, I'm desperate for Botox." (p. 29)
Thus is the desperate situation and life of Ivy Ames in The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn. Ivy decides to turn her situation around by starting her own business as a private-school-admissions counselor. It's a cut throat job with the wealthiest clients in Manhattan and their preschool aged children who, along with their parents, have a wide variety of quirks. Ivy will go to any extreme to make it all work! But for how long and at what cost?
"It didn't used to be like this," I sighed. "what do you think I should do?"
"I don't know. What's more important to you? Self-respect or money? Hey, you just gave me an idea for my next book --- an expose of you and your crazy clients. We'll call it Telling Tales Out of School."
"Ha!" I said, throwing a pillow at him. "How about Telling Tales Out of Prison, because that's where I'll be when you write the book."
... "Ivy," Phillip said, "look at yourself. Since you started this business, you've lied to those admissions directors, that dead psychologist's son, the press. You capitalized on Cubby's murder. Now, you're talking about buying off a trustee so some rich woman's sniveling brat can get into a chichi school. And you're considering selling out one of your favorite clients for a million dollars. What's next?" (p. 180)
The characters and situations are funny... at least for a while. Then they just get plain ridiculous. Finally, the plot takes a sharp but expected turn that tries to redeem the story and gives Ivy a much needed second chance. The Ivy Chronicles was an ok, fun read. The book doesn't give a very favorable view of the rich in Manhattan or the elite private schools found there, but it does make for an easy reading escape that includes laughs and groans along the way.
Thus is the desperate situation and life of Ivy Ames in The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn. Ivy decides to turn her situation around by starting her own business as a private-school-admissions counselor. It's a cut throat job with the wealthiest clients in Manhattan and their preschool aged children who, along with their parents, have a wide variety of quirks. Ivy will go to any extreme to make it all work! But for how long and at what cost?
"It didn't used to be like this," I sighed. "what do you think I should do?"
"I don't know. What's more important to you? Self-respect or money? Hey, you just gave me an idea for my next book --- an expose of you and your crazy clients. We'll call it Telling Tales Out of School."
"Ha!" I said, throwing a pillow at him. "How about Telling Tales Out of Prison, because that's where I'll be when you write the book."
... "Ivy," Phillip said, "look at yourself. Since you started this business, you've lied to those admissions directors, that dead psychologist's son, the press. You capitalized on Cubby's murder. Now, you're talking about buying off a trustee so some rich woman's sniveling brat can get into a chichi school. And you're considering selling out one of your favorite clients for a million dollars. What's next?" (p. 180)
The characters and situations are funny... at least for a while. Then they just get plain ridiculous. Finally, the plot takes a sharp but expected turn that tries to redeem the story and gives Ivy a much needed second chance. The Ivy Chronicles was an ok, fun read. The book doesn't give a very favorable view of the rich in Manhattan or the elite private schools found there, but it does make for an easy reading escape that includes laughs and groans along the way.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Secret Hour
He touched her cheeks so softly, drying her tears.
"He called it 'the secret hour,'" she'd gasped. "That's what he told Willa."
"No, Kate," John had said. "It was just nine o'clock. That's all it was. The secret hour is ours . . . by the brook. Remember? The beautiful brook in the orchard."
"The west-running brook," Kate had whispered, feeling her heart begin to calm. "Where we stood with the dogs."
"Do you know how glad I am to have you here?" he'd whispered. "How much I never want you to leave?" (p. 333)
The Secret Hour by Luanne Rice is the suspenseful romantic story of finding truth and healing. John O'Rourke is an attorney in the midst of a capital murder case that has his community in a rage. He is also the father of two children who are still grieving the death of their mother. One morning after a brick shatters the O'Rourke family's window, a woman unexpectedly walks into their lives and brings a new ray of hope to the family. Kate Harris is still grieving the disappearance of her younger sister Willa; but, on that day, she makes an instant connection with John and his children that will soon find them together at some unusual times and places. John's investigation, Kate's search, the community's unrest, and a recent murder eventually bring this couple together... a couple who needs and wants to rediscover love and trust once again.
I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a page turner. It had a different tone than the other Luanne Rice books that I have read in the past, one that I found to be very refreshing. I liked the mystery aspect of the story and I appreciated the unexpected turn events in the end that gave the plot a bit of a twist. The romantic ending seemed a bit rushed but it still put a smile on my face. I definitely recommend The Secret Hour to others who enjoy reading Luanne Rice.
"He called it 'the secret hour,'" she'd gasped. "That's what he told Willa."
"No, Kate," John had said. "It was just nine o'clock. That's all it was. The secret hour is ours . . . by the brook. Remember? The beautiful brook in the orchard."
"The west-running brook," Kate had whispered, feeling her heart begin to calm. "Where we stood with the dogs."
"Do you know how glad I am to have you here?" he'd whispered. "How much I never want you to leave?" (p. 333)
The Secret Hour by Luanne Rice is the suspenseful romantic story of finding truth and healing. John O'Rourke is an attorney in the midst of a capital murder case that has his community in a rage. He is also the father of two children who are still grieving the death of their mother. One morning after a brick shatters the O'Rourke family's window, a woman unexpectedly walks into their lives and brings a new ray of hope to the family. Kate Harris is still grieving the disappearance of her younger sister Willa; but, on that day, she makes an instant connection with John and his children that will soon find them together at some unusual times and places. John's investigation, Kate's search, the community's unrest, and a recent murder eventually bring this couple together... a couple who needs and wants to rediscover love and trust once again.
I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a page turner. It had a different tone than the other Luanne Rice books that I have read in the past, one that I found to be very refreshing. I liked the mystery aspect of the story and I appreciated the unexpected turn events in the end that gave the plot a bit of a twist. The romantic ending seemed a bit rushed but it still put a smile on my face. I definitely recommend The Secret Hour to others who enjoy reading Luanne Rice.
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