A semi-autobiographical story by Glenn Beck with many thought-provoking messages... deeper than I expected, and as I closed the book I found that I liA semi-autobiographical story by Glenn Beck with many thought-provoking messages... deeper than I expected, and as I closed the book I found that I liked it more than I thought I did as I was reading it. A good reminder at this time of the year... Quotes: "Most times we're so focused on what we think we want that we can't appreciate how happy we already are. It's only when we forget about our problems and help other forget theirs that we realize how good we really have it."
"You can either complain about how hard you life is, or you can realize that only you are responsible for it. You get to choose: Am I going to be happy or miserable?"
"Eddie, we can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. We are all meant to be happy...If you're not happy, it's not God's fault, it's not my fault, or anyone else's fault. It's your own."
"When you choose the path, you choose the destination." ...more
...a well thought out and researched story, and I learned a lot of things about the culture and circumstances surrounding the Savior's birth. It also ...a well thought out and researched story, and I learned a lot of things about the culture and circumstances surrounding the Savior's birth. It also helped me appreciate the amazing people that Mary and Joseph must have been. But, beyond that, it failed to move me the way I had hoped it would. I remember reading Two From Galilee years ago and was hoping this would have the same effect on me, but it didn't. Ironically, maybe I was just too busy with Christmas (sad commentary), but it really seemed to drag in some places.
I set a goal to read 100 books this year, and this was book 100... too bad it wasn't a book I really really loved!...more
It's been awhile since I visited Mma Ramotswe, and it was nice to see she still has plenty to say about the old Botswana values... This installment wasIt's been awhile since I visited Mma Ramotswe, and it was nice to see she still has plenty to say about the old Botswana values... This installment was enjoyable enough, but not one of my favorites......more
... it's so cool that there is a real camel bookmobile in Africa that takes books to remote villages. I hoped to learn more about that. This was a fic... it's so cool that there is a real camel bookmobile in Africa that takes books to remote villages. I hoped to learn more about that. This was a fictionalized story based on it. Although I enjoyed learning more about African culture and traditions, and the writer did have some beautifully written passages here and there, the story itself was just okay......more
I was disappointed in this book about small town life in Colorado. It was all so dark, with only one redeeming relationship in the entire book. I alsoI was disappointed in this book about small town life in Colorado. It was all so dark, with only one redeeming relationship in the entire book. I also was bogged down with the author's writing style. Sometimes it was so filled with irrelevant descriptions---I kept thinking,...and your point IS.....? Wouldn't recommend it....more
...a story set in WWII Italy loosely based on the author's parents sounded intriguing to me so I gave it a try. It was alright but didn't blow me away...a story set in WWII Italy loosely based on the author's parents sounded intriguing to me so I gave it a try. It was alright but didn't blow me away. Engaging characters but some aspects of the story I didn't care for. Enjoyable enough but nothing I'll remember for very long....more
I really wanted to love this book. The author has a real gift... her conversational, easy way of writing is so fabulous! But I didn't understand why sI really wanted to love this book. The author has a real gift... her conversational, easy way of writing is so fabulous! But I didn't understand why she had to throw in unnecessary profanity... I was just eating up her delicious language and then... *!@&... and I'm thinking, "What was THAT?" It just distracted me so much! I also felt that some of the plot lines were a little too far-fetched, and everything ended a bit too perfectly... I dunno, some parts of it were so great, but it had the potential to be so much greater......more
After hearing that this was a humorous memoir of growing up in a small mid-western town in the fifties, I was expecting "A Girl Named Zippy" from a maAfter hearing that this was a humorous memoir of growing up in a small mid-western town in the fifties, I was expecting "A Girl Named Zippy" from a male point of view. I had high hopes, and as I began the book I wasn't disappointed... It had a real "Leave-it-to-Beaver" feel... his writing was sweet and funny, and there were several times I couldn't keep from laughing out loud like I did with Zippy. Bryson has such an ability to find humor and absurdity in everyday situations, and some of his goofy characters and childhood pranks were wildly entertaining! Being a baby boomer myself (though not quite as old as he, I must add) I enjoyed remembering so many things I hadn't thought about for so long... things that make me realize what a wonderful and also uniquely odd time the 50's were. However, as he grew to pre-adolescence and older, his stories became increasingly bawdy and made me a little too uncomfortable. And that's what kept this from being a five-star trip down memory lane for me....more
I listened to this while driving... eh...it was o.k. Not really what I was expecting. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I were English, 'cause I listened to this while driving... eh...it was o.k. Not really what I was expecting. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I were English, 'cause their type of humor isn't necessarily "my cup of tea"......more
a lovely little book...part memoir, part history by one who loves books, book stores, and book selling. I particularly liked his references to book sta lovely little book...part memoir, part history by one who loves books, book stores, and book selling. I particularly liked his references to book stores in the Bay Area I used to shop at and some I'd like to go to the next time I'm in San Francisco......more
I can see why this won the Newbery award... it is a heartfelt portrayal of life in the Dust Bowl in the 1930's. I know if I had read this when I was yI can see why this won the Newbery award... it is a heartfelt portrayal of life in the Dust Bowl in the 1930's. I know if I had read this when I was young, it would have had a deep impact on me......more
I wanted to try this author and chose this book because it was set in an Amish community...something I know very little about. I liked it okay... I thoI wanted to try this author and chose this book because it was set in an Amish community...something I know very little about. I liked it okay... I thought it bogged down some, and did NOT like the "twist" to the ending, even though I had already guessed it! What I did enjoy was learning more about the Amish, and I understand and respect their dedication to their Christian beliefs more now....more
I heard about this book after reading the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie book and thought it sounded fun. It is a compilation of letters written over a 20 yI heard about this book after reading the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie book and thought it sounded fun. It is a compilation of letters written over a 20 year time span between 1949-1969 by a woman in the USA and an English bookseller. Here is a great description of the book: “She is a cranky Jewish New Yorker who writes TV scripts and lives in a messy apartment on East 95th Street. He is a determined courteous, middle class Englishman who sends her beautifully-bound and often obscure antiquarian books from the shop he manages in Charing Cross Road, in London. The letters written between them capture the period.” It's a delightful little book, especially for book lovers, that can be read in a couple of hours or less. I've heard there's a movie made of it starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins... that sounds perfectly cast! I'm going to try and find it......more
...this is one of those random books sitting on the library display shelf that caught my attention... about a man, blind since an accident at the age ...this is one of those random books sitting on the library display shelf that caught my attention... about a man, blind since an accident at the age of 3, who has an operation that restores his sight. Having more challenges than I would have imagined, he gave me new insight on what a gift vision is---something we all take for granted! I found his experience remarkable and fascinating!...more
This is by no means a light read... there are so many thought provoking messages, I had to just read a chapter or two at a time to let it seep in and This is by no means a light read... there are so many thought provoking messages, I had to just read a chapter or two at a time to let it seep in and digest for awhile before I went on. In the same way that Ferrell's first book gave new insights on the atonement, this books looks at the scriptures, the Sabbath, and the temple in a new way... I marked this book all over and definitely want to read it again to have it sink in a little more... and to try harder to live a life of holiness as he describes. The fictional aspect of the book is just a vehicle he uses to deliver the doctrinal concepts--- it's really secondary to what the book is all about, and is the one aspect of the book I wasn't crazy about... although, I guess it's similar to the Savior's teaching in parables......more
This is one I tried strictly from the cover. Eh... it was okay. There was some nice writing, but I thought the characters weren't very believable... ThThis is one I tried strictly from the cover. Eh... it was okay. There was some nice writing, but I thought the characters weren't very believable... The cover remains the best part of the book!...more