How many playbooks? How many assistant coaches? How many teams? How many stops along the way in a frustrating career that had now led him to a small town in northern Italy? He drank a beer at a sidewalk cafe and couldn't shake the lonely feeling that this was not where he was supposed to be. (p.69)
What happens to a third-string NFL quarterback when he blows the game in the final eleven minutes? Following an injury that left him hospitalized, Rick Dockery found himself heading to Parma, Italy in Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. American football in Italy has its own following. The Italians play for fun and no pay. Up to three Americans can be on the team, usually receiving a small salary and benefits. Some teams play on fields of 90 yards instead of 100. And the stands are seldom full. Rick will be this season's quarterback for the Panthers of Parma. His goal: to keep playing football against the wishes of his doctor, agent, and American fans. The team's goal: to win their first Super Bowl trophy by beating the Lions of Bergamo who have eight straight Super Bowl titles . What Rick finds when he gets to Italy is a unique team of football players that come from all walks of life, meals that last several courses, parking that is impossible, a new girlfriend that is actually not a cheerleader, and, finally, some contentment in his life.
I enjoyed Playing for Pizza. I found it to be a light read and an interesting look at one of America's favorite sports. The characters are diverse and amusing. And the descriptions of people, places, and food are fun. I recommend the book to others; however, I would suggest that the reader have an interest in football or at least some knowledge of the sport to fully enjoy the story.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Kabul Beauty School
Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriquez with Kristin Ohlson is a book that weaves together many stories which show strength, healing, and empowerment amongst women who have endured much in their past and present lives. Rodriquez is a beautician who worked for a program called Beauty Without Borders in Afghanistan and then eventually opened The Kabul Beauty School. The school and salon allowed her students a chance to gain experience in many skills that would give the women not only a boost in income but also a boost in self-esteem. She describes the country of Afghanistan and several of its customs that may seem quite extreme to most of us. She also tells several heart wrenching stories of the women in her school and what they have to endure during their daily lives. In the end she discovers that she not only helped her students in various ways but that she also learned much about herself through commitment and determination, growing in ways that she could never have imagined.
Kabul Beauty School is a beautifully narrated audio book that gave me a true experience in storytelling. I felt as if I were in the compound with the women while they shared their brief time together. I found "Crazy Debbie" nuts yet exciting. And I liked how Rodriquez shared the women's stories throughout her personal story of the beauty school. I very much enjoyed this audio book and highly recommend it to others.
Kabul Beauty School is a beautifully narrated audio book that gave me a true experience in storytelling. I felt as if I were in the compound with the women while they shared their brief time together. I found "Crazy Debbie" nuts yet exciting. And I liked how Rodriquez shared the women's stories throughout her personal story of the beauty school. I very much enjoyed this audio book and highly recommend it to others.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Meme - Bookworm
While checking out the book blogs, I happened over to Kristi's Passion for the Page where I read one of her posts which then tagged me for a meme. The meme asks you to grab the nearest book to you and share three to six lines from page 56, starting with the fifth sentence. Since I'm currently reading John Grisham's Playing for Pizza and it's been near me all day, I thought I would have some fun and participate.
Rick vaguely remembered entering his apartment around midnight, but from then on, nothing. He was on his sofa, which was too short for a man his size to comfortably sleep on, and as he listened to the mysterious buzzer, he tried to remember why he had chosen the den instead of the bedroom. He could not recall a good reason. "All right!" he yelled at the door when the knocking began. "I'm coming."
Ok, consider yourself tagged. Have some fun and participate in this meme!
Rick vaguely remembered entering his apartment around midnight, but from then on, nothing. He was on his sofa, which was too short for a man his size to comfortably sleep on, and as he listened to the mysterious buzzer, he tried to remember why he had chosen the den instead of the bedroom. He could not recall a good reason. "All right!" he yelled at the door when the knocking began. "I'm coming."
Ok, consider yourself tagged. Have some fun and participate in this meme!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunrise
Katy and Dayne had chosen this hour for their wedding, the hour that symbolized everything about their relationship. Sunrise. (p.293)
Because that was love, wasn't it? Waking up through the years and knowing with all your being that the depth of emotion and passion and connection that filled this moment wasn't something in the past but something new and fresh and alive. Morning after morning after morning. (p.299)
Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury continues the Baxter Family Drama with a "family's celebration of forever love and new beginnings." Several families and friends have now joined the series since its beginning with the Redemption Series and later with the Firstborn Series. And several new stories are now launched that continue to show the roots of this wonderful collection: faith, love, family, and new beginnings.
Katy and Dayne are now planning their wedding. Can they do it while maintaining their privacy from the tabloids and paparazzi and soon begin a new life together? Cody struggles with his alcoholism while the Flanigan family help him by giving him a second chance. Can he begin a new life without drinking and regain their trust? John is spending more time with Elaine and Ashley is trying to accept this with the help of Landon. Can John start another season in his life as he continues to heal from the loss of Elizabeth?
Sunrise is very appropriately named. Many series begin loosing their excitement and my interest as they continue. However, this is definitely not the case with Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family Drama. I was totally engrossed from page one of this book to the very end. And the last chapter is a dream come true. I have to remember that these characters are fictional and not real. I love this series and can't wait to continue with the next book!
Because that was love, wasn't it? Waking up through the years and knowing with all your being that the depth of emotion and passion and connection that filled this moment wasn't something in the past but something new and fresh and alive. Morning after morning after morning. (p.299)
Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury continues the Baxter Family Drama with a "family's celebration of forever love and new beginnings." Several families and friends have now joined the series since its beginning with the Redemption Series and later with the Firstborn Series. And several new stories are now launched that continue to show the roots of this wonderful collection: faith, love, family, and new beginnings.
Katy and Dayne are now planning their wedding. Can they do it while maintaining their privacy from the tabloids and paparazzi and soon begin a new life together? Cody struggles with his alcoholism while the Flanigan family help him by giving him a second chance. Can he begin a new life without drinking and regain their trust? John is spending more time with Elaine and Ashley is trying to accept this with the help of Landon. Can John start another season in his life as he continues to heal from the loss of Elizabeth?
Sunrise is very appropriately named. Many series begin loosing their excitement and my interest as they continue. However, this is definitely not the case with Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family Drama. I was totally engrossed from page one of this book to the very end. And the last chapter is a dream come true. I have to remember that these characters are fictional and not real. I love this series and can't wait to continue with the next book!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Sister Salty Sister Sweet
Maybe she didn't think she was as perfect as she pretended. Maybe, like our diaries, we were very different on the outside, but not all that different within. (p. 123)
Told by two sisters who are as different as night and day, Sister Salty Sister Sweet by Shannon Kring Biro and Natalie Kring is a memoir of the women's childhood in a small Midwestern rural town. They share various stories about their family, friends, boyfriends, and sibling rivalries. What starts out as a finger pointing book turns eventually into a revealing story of how two girls each viewed one another and the struggles they internally dealt with while growing up.
As she left, I continued to cry, ... about everything --- all I had lost, all I had gained, and all I hadn't realized was missing. (p. 194)
Shannon and Natalie alternate chapters and reveal their petty jealousies, bullying, and pranks while finding themselves envying one another as well. As they grow older they begin to slowly realize the missing component in their lives: sisterhood. This, however, was never role modeled in their family which was dysfunctional in its own unique way. The sisters eventually began looking at one another in a new light after they leave home and begin working on personal relationships with others in their new adult lives.
As I began the book, I found the story annoying as the girls blamed and bullied one another. But as I read on into their teen years the book took a sharp turn. The sisters began to share some personal demons that affected their young adult lives. Eventually the healing from these events helped them begin to reconcile some intense feelings toward themselves and others. What took a few days to get into the story then took only a few hours to finish the book. Overall, it was not the best memoir I have ever read but Sister Salty Sister Sweet was well worth the read. I recommend it to others who appreciate stories about sisterhood or sibling rivalries.
Told by two sisters who are as different as night and day, Sister Salty Sister Sweet by Shannon Kring Biro and Natalie Kring is a memoir of the women's childhood in a small Midwestern rural town. They share various stories about their family, friends, boyfriends, and sibling rivalries. What starts out as a finger pointing book turns eventually into a revealing story of how two girls each viewed one another and the struggles they internally dealt with while growing up.
As she left, I continued to cry, ... about everything --- all I had lost, all I had gained, and all I hadn't realized was missing. (p. 194)
Shannon and Natalie alternate chapters and reveal their petty jealousies, bullying, and pranks while finding themselves envying one another as well. As they grow older they begin to slowly realize the missing component in their lives: sisterhood. This, however, was never role modeled in their family which was dysfunctional in its own unique way. The sisters eventually began looking at one another in a new light after they leave home and begin working on personal relationships with others in their new adult lives.
As I began the book, I found the story annoying as the girls blamed and bullied one another. But as I read on into their teen years the book took a sharp turn. The sisters began to share some personal demons that affected their young adult lives. Eventually the healing from these events helped them begin to reconcile some intense feelings toward themselves and others. What took a few days to get into the story then took only a few hours to finish the book. Overall, it was not the best memoir I have ever read but Sister Salty Sister Sweet was well worth the read. I recommend it to others who appreciate stories about sisterhood or sibling rivalries.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Ultimate Muffin Book
One of my favorite things to bake is muffins. A good friend of mine even nick-named me the Muffin Woman after I helped supply muffins to a meeting that she had hosted a few years ago. I like substituting muffins for bread at any meal. And muffins are a quick pick-me-up for any time of day. So when I found The Ultimate Muffin Book: More Than 600 Recipes for Sweet and Savory Muffins by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough at my local library, I was very eager to give it a try and see what new creations I could whip up in my kitchen.
What I liked about this cookbook is major: the recipes are in alphabetical order; there are many variations offered for each recipe; and, the introduction by the author about the procedures and ingredients helps explain why the recipes are created in the manner that they are. Having the recipes in alphabetical order may seem petty to some, but to me it made this cookbook so much easier to use! The variations given for each "basic" recipe helped tailor the muffin to personal tastes. And the explanations by the author helped me understand things that I take for granted when baking. I also appreciated that the cookbook offered both sweet and savory muffins so that there are many opportunities other than breakfast and snack time to serve the final goodies.
What I did not like about this cookbook at first was that I needed to get a couple of ingredients that I did not stock in my kitchen: unsalted butter and buttermilk. However, I quickly found that butter goes on sale often and powdered buttermilk is an easy substitution. Both are now found in my kitchen. Also, the author does not recommend using a hand mixer. Yes some recipes do require a bit of arm muscle with a whisk or a wooden spoon, but the results are worth it! Other than those two minor details that eventually worked themselves out, there is not much to not like about this cookbook.
I tried the following recipes from this cookbook: Banana Muffins (p.28), Spiced Pumpkin Muffins (p.174), Cheddar Tomato Muffins (p.208), Corn Muffins (p.72), Gingerbread Muffins (p.92), Almond Joy Muffins (p.18), and Raisin Walnut Oatmeal Muffins (p.144). I loved them all and have other muffin recipes that I am still eager to try!
The Ultimate Muffin Book is definitely a keeper! In fact I plan on buying a copy to add to my cookbook collection after I return this copy to the library. (I've renewed it twice now and I think they will eventually want it back!) I have shared my baked goods with others and received many compliments. I highly recommend this cookbook to other bakers! (I have already recommended it to my sister and she found it at her local library. She has enjoyed Oatmeal Rainbow Muffins p.144; Lemonade Muffins p.106; and Cocoa Muffins p.64 so far!)
My next, and final, cookbook for the Soup's On! Challenge will be Mr. Food a little LIGHTER by Art Ginsburg. I discovered Mr. Food on TV several years ago and have tried his cookbooks in the past. I ordered this copy from PaperbackSwap a few months ago in attempt to find some "lighter" versions of meals that are simple to make. I'm looking forward to giving this cookbook a try!
What I liked about this cookbook is major: the recipes are in alphabetical order; there are many variations offered for each recipe; and, the introduction by the author about the procedures and ingredients helps explain why the recipes are created in the manner that they are. Having the recipes in alphabetical order may seem petty to some, but to me it made this cookbook so much easier to use! The variations given for each "basic" recipe helped tailor the muffin to personal tastes. And the explanations by the author helped me understand things that I take for granted when baking. I also appreciated that the cookbook offered both sweet and savory muffins so that there are many opportunities other than breakfast and snack time to serve the final goodies.
What I did not like about this cookbook at first was that I needed to get a couple of ingredients that I did not stock in my kitchen: unsalted butter and buttermilk. However, I quickly found that butter goes on sale often and powdered buttermilk is an easy substitution. Both are now found in my kitchen. Also, the author does not recommend using a hand mixer. Yes some recipes do require a bit of arm muscle with a whisk or a wooden spoon, but the results are worth it! Other than those two minor details that eventually worked themselves out, there is not much to not like about this cookbook.
I tried the following recipes from this cookbook: Banana Muffins (p.28), Spiced Pumpkin Muffins (p.174), Cheddar Tomato Muffins (p.208), Corn Muffins (p.72), Gingerbread Muffins (p.92), Almond Joy Muffins (p.18), and Raisin Walnut Oatmeal Muffins (p.144). I loved them all and have other muffin recipes that I am still eager to try!
The Ultimate Muffin Book is definitely a keeper! In fact I plan on buying a copy to add to my cookbook collection after I return this copy to the library. (I've renewed it twice now and I think they will eventually want it back!) I have shared my baked goods with others and received many compliments. I highly recommend this cookbook to other bakers! (I have already recommended it to my sister and she found it at her local library. She has enjoyed Oatmeal Rainbow Muffins p.144; Lemonade Muffins p.106; and Cocoa Muffins p.64 so far!)
My next, and final, cookbook for the Soup's On! Challenge will be Mr. Food a little LIGHTER by Art Ginsburg. I discovered Mr. Food on TV several years ago and have tried his cookbooks in the past. I ordered this copy from PaperbackSwap a few months ago in attempt to find some "lighter" versions of meals that are simple to make. I'm looking forward to giving this cookbook a try!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Goodnight Nobody
It looked, for a moment, like one of those children's games where you have to figure out what's missing in a picture. There was Carol Gwinnell, in her fringed poncho and hoop earrings, and Lexi Hagen-Holdt in her head-to-toe fleece and spandex Nike, and Sukie Sutherland in dark red lipstick and leather driving gloves, standing beside the [playground] bench where Kitty had customarily sat.
I made my way over slowly. The ladies were listening to Marybeth Coe run down the theories that were making their way through the town. Kitty Cavanaugh had been the victim of a gangland-style hit. Kitty Cavanaugh had been bludgeoned by terrorists. Kitty Cavanaugh had been strangled to death with her BabyBjorn and left stiffening on the kitchen floor. (pp. 132-133)
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner is a fun, light read of which this reader would compare reading the book to watching Desparate Housewives on tv. It is comical, mysterious, and enjoyable all at the same time.
Kate Klein discovers her neighbor Kitty Cavanaugh one afternoon in the kitchen with a knife in her chest. She also finds a note with her ex-boyfriend's name and number on Kitty's counter. What happens next brings more excitement to Kate's life than she has had in a very long time. Bored with her suburban life of which she doesn't quite "fit", Kate decides that she wants to find out who killed her neighbor and why. But as she works through her investigation, she finds out more about the neighborhood women than she had ever wanted to know. She also has to find out how Evan McKenna is involved even though her head tells her heart to stay away from him! This does not stop Kate and her best friend Janie Segal from trying out their theories and getting to the bottom of the many mysteries that they discover along the way.
Ridiculously funny, Goodnight Nobody is a very enjoyable read. I recommend it to others who just need a break from real life for a while.
I made my way over slowly. The ladies were listening to Marybeth Coe run down the theories that were making their way through the town. Kitty Cavanaugh had been the victim of a gangland-style hit. Kitty Cavanaugh had been bludgeoned by terrorists. Kitty Cavanaugh had been strangled to death with her BabyBjorn and left stiffening on the kitchen floor. (pp. 132-133)
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner is a fun, light read of which this reader would compare reading the book to watching Desparate Housewives on tv. It is comical, mysterious, and enjoyable all at the same time.
Kate Klein discovers her neighbor Kitty Cavanaugh one afternoon in the kitchen with a knife in her chest. She also finds a note with her ex-boyfriend's name and number on Kitty's counter. What happens next brings more excitement to Kate's life than she has had in a very long time. Bored with her suburban life of which she doesn't quite "fit", Kate decides that she wants to find out who killed her neighbor and why. But as she works through her investigation, she finds out more about the neighborhood women than she had ever wanted to know. She also has to find out how Evan McKenna is involved even though her head tells her heart to stay away from him! This does not stop Kate and her best friend Janie Segal from trying out their theories and getting to the bottom of the many mysteries that they discover along the way.
Ridiculously funny, Goodnight Nobody is a very enjoyable read. I recommend it to others who just need a break from real life for a while.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Tour de Life
He thinks he understands my confusion? That's impossible, because 'confusion' doesn't begin to encompass what I'm going though. My wonderful life has somehow become scrambled beyond repair. I can't imagine how I'll ever get it back. (p. 141)
In celebration of an author's birthday in January, I read Tour de Life: From Coma To Competition by Saul Raisin with Dave Shields. Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Yvonne and Jim Raisin had a funny feeling when their son Saul, an up and coming athlete in the cycling world, had not called following his race. Late that night they got the call of their fears: Saul had an accident and was in the hospital. Two days later they were flying to Angers, France to find their son in a coma. Saul's family, team, and friends were told that his chances were not good and if he did survive he would have a very limited life. But their strength, determination, and faith helped them survive the worst experience they could imagine. When Saul came out of his coma, he proved that miracles do exist, his dreams can be reached, and something good can result from the bad things that happen in our lives. A truly inspirational book, Tour de Life tells the story of Saul Raisin's rehabilitation following three weeks in a coma at CHU d'Angers and several months at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta that teaches him about disability, dreams, and life.
The first half of the book is told from the perspective of Yvonne and Jim Raisin. It describes their frustration in learning about their son's injuries and care due to the language and cultural barriers of being in a foreign country. It tells of their fears of losing their only child to injury. And it tells of their appreciation for those who helped them in their family's time of need. The second half of the book is told by Saul Raisin. It describes his struggle to understand the extent of his injuries and the numerous "rules" he must follow during his rehabilitation. It describes his frustrations and dreams while learning how to do even the simplest things in life, from learning to eat independently to his desire to get back on a bike. And it tells readers about the struggles and achievements of patients who are recovering from a traumatic brain injury.
Winning the most prestigious bicycle race in the world doesn't compere to the ride I took today. It's not even close. The Tour de France is just a race. I've returned to life. All the mental and physical work I've done to get back onto the bike has to be ten times harder than winning a grand tour. I know the pain and suffering in those events is enormous, but it can't compare to what I've gone through. With death as the competition, I just won my own personal Tour de Life. (p. 242)
I very much enjoyed the book Tour de Life. I enjoyed it on two levels: one, my son participates in the sport of cycling; and two, I work with TBI residents in a residential rehabilitation situation. I found Saul's words to be honest and inspirational. And I agree when he states that he has the best parents in the world. Their dedication to their son's well being is amazing. I definitely recommend this book to others.
In celebration of an author's birthday in January, I read Tour de Life: From Coma To Competition by Saul Raisin with Dave Shields. Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Yvonne and Jim Raisin had a funny feeling when their son Saul, an up and coming athlete in the cycling world, had not called following his race. Late that night they got the call of their fears: Saul had an accident and was in the hospital. Two days later they were flying to Angers, France to find their son in a coma. Saul's family, team, and friends were told that his chances were not good and if he did survive he would have a very limited life. But their strength, determination, and faith helped them survive the worst experience they could imagine. When Saul came out of his coma, he proved that miracles do exist, his dreams can be reached, and something good can result from the bad things that happen in our lives. A truly inspirational book, Tour de Life tells the story of Saul Raisin's rehabilitation following three weeks in a coma at CHU d'Angers and several months at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta that teaches him about disability, dreams, and life.
The first half of the book is told from the perspective of Yvonne and Jim Raisin. It describes their frustration in learning about their son's injuries and care due to the language and cultural barriers of being in a foreign country. It tells of their fears of losing their only child to injury. And it tells of their appreciation for those who helped them in their family's time of need. The second half of the book is told by Saul Raisin. It describes his struggle to understand the extent of his injuries and the numerous "rules" he must follow during his rehabilitation. It describes his frustrations and dreams while learning how to do even the simplest things in life, from learning to eat independently to his desire to get back on a bike. And it tells readers about the struggles and achievements of patients who are recovering from a traumatic brain injury.
Winning the most prestigious bicycle race in the world doesn't compere to the ride I took today. It's not even close. The Tour de France is just a race. I've returned to life. All the mental and physical work I've done to get back onto the bike has to be ten times harder than winning a grand tour. I know the pain and suffering in those events is enormous, but it can't compare to what I've gone through. With death as the competition, I just won my own personal Tour de Life. (p. 242)
I very much enjoyed the book Tour de Life. I enjoyed it on two levels: one, my son participates in the sport of cycling; and two, I work with TBI residents in a residential rehabilitation situation. I found Saul's words to be honest and inspirational. And I agree when he states that he has the best parents in the world. Their dedication to their son's well being is amazing. I definitely recommend this book to others.
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