Wednesday, October 29, 2008
November book
I have been really slack with getting this book up here, I was debating between two books; Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez was the one I wanted to read but a lot of other reviews said it was too racy and had some vulgur language. I decided against that one and figured that one would be better read on my own to see if I liked it. I didn't want to offend anyone with that choice and figured go with a safer classic since we all seem to be so caught up with life here lately. So I decided on Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I love this book and haven't read it in about 9 years and would love the chance to reread this classic. I hope everyone approves and happy reading.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Five Love Languages
So Ladies, I hope you all enjoyed this book. I think it is an interesting one that allows me to look inward and see where I am meeting the needs of my family as well as where my needs are being met.
Did you agree with the author's idea of 5 main love languages?
I did. It's funny since I read this a few years ago, I had a lot of fun giving my impression of what my families love languages were and finding out what they thought. Most of the time, I was reading them as something they weren't so it was great to find their needs and ways to show them love in their language.
Was it easy to figure out your love language?
Mine was really obvious. I feel love through service and I give love through service. It felt like I am so far to the one side, that I need to learn to feel and give love in other ways as well. I have always thought that my mom was one to feel love through gifts, because that is how she shows love. I found out that her love language is quality time, but as a child her family showed love through gifts and so that's how she learned to show love. I think it is really interesting how family environment affects love language. It has made me much more aware of how I am raising my children. I want more than ever to make sure that I am loving them in their language.
Has this been a book that has helped or hindered you?
My friend read this book at the same time and we were discussing it. She was not a fan. She said it's a great book, but I feel so frustrated. My husband is not a reader and so it's tough to know we aren't speaking each other's love language and there is not chance that he will read the book and understand that! I on the other hand had some great discussions with my husband. We were able to discuss our differences and where our needs weren't being met. We also talked a lot about trying to show love in all the languages, and allowing the kids to really find the way that they responded on their own.
Feel free to share any other comments you might have. I loved how he said to imagine each of us with a love tank. When Morgan and I first read the book, we realized that the terrible two's were tough, yes, but that a lot of that was that we were not refilling our kids love tanks. They were acting out for attention of any kind. It really made me more aware of them and gave me a great visual to keep me thinking of what I could do to fill that tank!
Did you agree with the author's idea of 5 main love languages?
I did. It's funny since I read this a few years ago, I had a lot of fun giving my impression of what my families love languages were and finding out what they thought. Most of the time, I was reading them as something they weren't so it was great to find their needs and ways to show them love in their language.
Was it easy to figure out your love language?
Mine was really obvious. I feel love through service and I give love through service. It felt like I am so far to the one side, that I need to learn to feel and give love in other ways as well. I have always thought that my mom was one to feel love through gifts, because that is how she shows love. I found out that her love language is quality time, but as a child her family showed love through gifts and so that's how she learned to show love. I think it is really interesting how family environment affects love language. It has made me much more aware of how I am raising my children. I want more than ever to make sure that I am loving them in their language.
Has this been a book that has helped or hindered you?
My friend read this book at the same time and we were discussing it. She was not a fan. She said it's a great book, but I feel so frustrated. My husband is not a reader and so it's tough to know we aren't speaking each other's love language and there is not chance that he will read the book and understand that! I on the other hand had some great discussions with my husband. We were able to discuss our differences and where our needs weren't being met. We also talked a lot about trying to show love in all the languages, and allowing the kids to really find the way that they responded on their own.
Feel free to share any other comments you might have. I loved how he said to imagine each of us with a love tank. When Morgan and I first read the book, we realized that the terrible two's were tough, yes, but that a lot of that was that we were not refilling our kids love tanks. They were acting out for attention of any kind. It really made me more aware of them and gave me a great visual to keep me thinking of what I could do to fill that tank!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Practical Magic????
Anyone going to participate in the Practical Magic discussion? I guess I buried it by placing the Inkheart trailer above it, but it really is down there. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Melissa
Melissa
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Official Inkheart Movie trailer
Just found this today. I love this book! And the movie looks like it might be pretty good - who doesn't like Brendan Frasier and Helen Mirren? You can tell the plot is a little different from the book, but I'm excited anyway. Good story. Has anyone else read it? Cat, I think you have -right?
Practical Magic discussion
Hi Everyone! Sorry I'm posting so late, but at least it is still September. I've been out of town for a family funeral and life has been pretty crazy. I hope you all enjoyed "Practical Magic."
Questions
1.) What did you think of the book in comparison to the movie?
2.) Who was your favorite character?
3.) What did you think of Alice Hoffman's writing style? (And tell us if you've read any other books by her.)
4.) Do you have a favorite scene from the book?
My answers:
1.) I read several reviews where people said this is the only book they've read where the movie was better. I hate to admit that about a book, but I do see their point. But to standby books, I think this story stands on it's own as a book and as a movie. They changed a few of the characters and plot for the movie, so you can enjoy both as unique. (The daughters are younger in the movie, they all live at the aunts house, etc..) However, I will say that I probably will only read the book once, but I could watch the movie multiple times.
2.) I wish we saw more of the aunts in the book! I really wanted to read more about them. The nieces got on my nerves, but I really liked the daughters. Especially the youngest - although I can't remember her name now.
3.) This is the only Alice Hoffman book I've read to date. I enjoy how she starts each chapter of Practical Magic with a little piece of magic folklore and then slowly weaves it into the storyline. I think it was effective in creating a place where magic feels like it could exist and still be a story in a modern day.
4.) I liked any time the youngest daughter (Was her name Callie?) notices weird things about the lilac bush - like seeing the dead guy under it, having the toad bring her the ring, or knowing he is the reason for the tension in her house.
Questions
1.) What did you think of the book in comparison to the movie?
2.) Who was your favorite character?
3.) What did you think of Alice Hoffman's writing style? (And tell us if you've read any other books by her.)
4.) Do you have a favorite scene from the book?
My answers:
1.) I read several reviews where people said this is the only book they've read where the movie was better. I hate to admit that about a book, but I do see their point. But to standby books, I think this story stands on it's own as a book and as a movie. They changed a few of the characters and plot for the movie, so you can enjoy both as unique. (The daughters are younger in the movie, they all live at the aunts house, etc..) However, I will say that I probably will only read the book once, but I could watch the movie multiple times.
2.) I wish we saw more of the aunts in the book! I really wanted to read more about them. The nieces got on my nerves, but I really liked the daughters. Especially the youngest - although I can't remember her name now.
3.) This is the only Alice Hoffman book I've read to date. I enjoy how she starts each chapter of Practical Magic with a little piece of magic folklore and then slowly weaves it into the storyline. I think it was effective in creating a place where magic feels like it could exist and still be a story in a modern day.
4.) I liked any time the youngest daughter (Was her name Callie?) notices weird things about the lilac bush - like seeing the dead guy under it, having the toad bring her the ring, or knowing he is the reason for the tension in her house.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Too Many Good Books!
The votes are in and our book for October is the Five Love Languages. We'll go with the adult one (there's one on children as well but once you read the first it's basically the same thing). There are so many good books out there. It's hard to choose just one, so thanks for your help ladies! Looking forward to the September discussion.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Practical Magic
Happy September! I chose a book that I guess should be done in October, but oh well. This month we'll read "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman. I've wanted to read it since I found that it was the inspiration for the movie with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Lisa previewed it for us and there are a few pages you might want to skip, but hopefully we will enjoy it otherwise.
If you are in Savannah, this is also the book we are doing for our on-site book club.
Book choice
I cannot remember which month is mine, I believe it is November? I am still trying to decide my choice, I have a number 1 choice and need to do more research to see if it is appropriate.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
quick vote
I have a few ideas for books for October and thought I would gather some opinions.
1: The Five Love Languages Chapman
2: The Secret Garden
3: To Kill a Mockingbird
4: Where the Red Fern Grows
5: A Good Earth
I know there are lots of good books out there, but these are a few on my list that I thought might make for a good read. Leave your vote~
1: The Five Love Languages Chapman
2: The Secret Garden
3: To Kill a Mockingbird
4: Where the Red Fern Grows
5: A Good Earth
I know there are lots of good books out there, but these are a few on my list that I thought might make for a good read. Leave your vote~
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Man of the Forest Discussion
This is a few days early, I know, but I will be a little busy in the next few days and didn't want to forget, so if you haven't finished yet, no worries.
I hope you all loved The Man of the Forest as much as I love it. I read it for the first time when I was ten, and even though I probably missed a lot, I was instantly drawn into this story. I loved that it was about sisters, romance, and good vs. evil, etc. Every time I read it, I get more from it. Here are my questions, and when you answer them, feel free to add one of your own :).
What was your most memorable or favorite scene from the book?
Even though there were so many great ones to choose from, I loved so many, but the scene where Al comes to get the girls in paradise Park and asks Bo about the cowboy "Las Vegas," was one of my favorites. I just loved how this strong cowboy was so shy and at a loss, and how funny the whole situation seemed to outsiders. In fact, I liked most every scene with this cowboy in it :).
Nineteen of Grey's westerns are set in the twentieth century. He mixes contemporary events such as World War I, revolutions in Mexico, large-scale dam construction, and increasing automobile use with traditional frontier elements. He suggests not only that the frontier was intact in some places but also that it could be safely visited because heroes resided there to protect innocent travelers (ZGWS). Part of this, he does through his cowboys like Carmichael, who lived most of their life as gunslingers standing up to evil. (You especially see this in his book Nevada) Helen always seemed to have a problem with this violence, but do you think this type of action was necessary for the settlement of the West?
Granted, I didn't live during this time, but from all I have ever read about it, if there hadn't been those strong heroes who were willing to sacrifice everything to stand up for the right, then settling the West would have been much harder. And although I think it is sad it had to come to bloodshed, I feel it was necessary.
Zane Grey wrote fantastic descriptions of the West, and his descriptions of western landscapes rank among the most striking ever written and are still valued for their ability to capture the character of places. What did you think of his descriptions?
Every time I read a Zane Grey novel I find myself longing for my home in the West. I was born in Arizona, raised wandering the mountains and deserts of Nevada, and spent many years in Idaho and Utah. I feel like his descriptions are very authentic and remind me of times I have been out in the wilderness and really felt close to nature. I especially loved how close to nature they got in Paradise Park. Although I don't think I could have lived that lonely life, I can appreciate it.
That said, there are many times when I completely skim over the descriptions, because as good as they are, there are a lot of them. I do think his descriptions were perfect for the time when there was no TV, Internet, and limited travel, and so this was the only way most people would experience these places.
Bo and Helen adjusted to their new life in the West very differently. Which of them do think you would most be like and why? Do you think either of their actions was better than the other?
As much as I think I would probably be like Helen - I think too much - I wish I could be free like Bo. Although Bo got into trouble at times because of her quick adjustment into their new life, I love how easily she let herself become one with the lifestyle and the place. I think they both did their best, but I think sometimes Helen let her sensibilities get in the way of letting people do what needed to be done.
I hope you all loved The Man of the Forest as much as I love it. I read it for the first time when I was ten, and even though I probably missed a lot, I was instantly drawn into this story. I loved that it was about sisters, romance, and good vs. evil, etc. Every time I read it, I get more from it. Here are my questions, and when you answer them, feel free to add one of your own :).
What was your most memorable or favorite scene from the book?
Even though there were so many great ones to choose from, I loved so many, but the scene where Al comes to get the girls in paradise Park and asks Bo about the cowboy "Las Vegas," was one of my favorites. I just loved how this strong cowboy was so shy and at a loss, and how funny the whole situation seemed to outsiders. In fact, I liked most every scene with this cowboy in it :).
Nineteen of Grey's westerns are set in the twentieth century. He mixes contemporary events such as World War I, revolutions in Mexico, large-scale dam construction, and increasing automobile use with traditional frontier elements. He suggests not only that the frontier was intact in some places but also that it could be safely visited because heroes resided there to protect innocent travelers (ZGWS). Part of this, he does through his cowboys like Carmichael, who lived most of their life as gunslingers standing up to evil. (You especially see this in his book Nevada) Helen always seemed to have a problem with this violence, but do you think this type of action was necessary for the settlement of the West?
Granted, I didn't live during this time, but from all I have ever read about it, if there hadn't been those strong heroes who were willing to sacrifice everything to stand up for the right, then settling the West would have been much harder. And although I think it is sad it had to come to bloodshed, I feel it was necessary.
Zane Grey wrote fantastic descriptions of the West, and his descriptions of western landscapes rank among the most striking ever written and are still valued for their ability to capture the character of places. What did you think of his descriptions?
Every time I read a Zane Grey novel I find myself longing for my home in the West. I was born in Arizona, raised wandering the mountains and deserts of Nevada, and spent many years in Idaho and Utah. I feel like his descriptions are very authentic and remind me of times I have been out in the wilderness and really felt close to nature. I especially loved how close to nature they got in Paradise Park. Although I don't think I could have lived that lonely life, I can appreciate it.
That said, there are many times when I completely skim over the descriptions, because as good as they are, there are a lot of them. I do think his descriptions were perfect for the time when there was no TV, Internet, and limited travel, and so this was the only way most people would experience these places.
Bo and Helen adjusted to their new life in the West very differently. Which of them do think you would most be like and why? Do you think either of their actions was better than the other?
As much as I think I would probably be like Helen - I think too much - I wish I could be free like Bo. Although Bo got into trouble at times because of her quick adjustment into their new life, I love how easily she let herself become one with the lifestyle and the place. I think they both did their best, but I think sometimes Helen let her sensibilities get in the way of letting people do what needed to be done.
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