There is a challenge that is going around the web: The 50 Book Challenge. I'm not sure who originated the idea, but David Harris talks about it in his Salon.com blog. The idea is to read 50 books in a year and keep a list. Actually you are supposed to blog the titles, but I am not going to blog about every single book I read! I counted today and I have read 15 books since the beginning of the year. I know it sounds like I don't do anything else, but I promise you that I do go outside and get fresh air once and a while ;-)
So what am I reading now? I just skimmed through Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen by Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle. I say skimmed, because she has lots of recipes in the book and I did not really read those! The author talks about the healthy lifestyle of the Japanese and how people can duplicate it at home. The recipes looks like they take more specialty ingredients, and I don't cook anyway, but she did give me some ideas about eating more healthy.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Blustery Day
We are having the strangest weather here! December we had a cold snap. That was the month that we got 3 snows. January is much warmer than usual. We have had 50-60 degree weather. EXCEPT for yesterday and today. EXTREMELY strong winds. And very cold too.
I know that I said I don't usually read award winners or "message books" as I call them, but I just finished A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, and it was EXCELLENT. In the late 1940s, in a small town in the south, a young African-American man is accused of murder and sentenced to death. He had gone to the local store with his friends when they decided to rob the store and murder the owner. Even though the young man, Jefferson, did not participate in the murder, he was there and the town wanted someone to be held accountable. Jefferson is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins is an African American man who grew up in the town, but left to go to college. He returned to teach in the plantation school. The his aunt and Jefferson's godmother ask him to go speak to Jefferson. It seems that in an attempt to save the life of Jefferson, his lawyer claimed that he was not smart enough to plan a robbery and murder. He was not man enough to do it. Now Jefferson refuses to eat. His godmother wants Grant to teach him how to be a man. To have pride in himself. Grant does not want the responsibility, but visits Jefferson anyway. Mostly just so he does not have the pressure from his aunt and Jefferson's godmother. And during these visits, not only does he teach Jefferson, but he learns a lesson himself.
I know that I said I don't usually read award winners or "message books" as I call them, but I just finished A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, and it was EXCELLENT. In the late 1940s, in a small town in the south, a young African-American man is accused of murder and sentenced to death. He had gone to the local store with his friends when they decided to rob the store and murder the owner. Even though the young man, Jefferson, did not participate in the murder, he was there and the town wanted someone to be held accountable. Jefferson is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins is an African American man who grew up in the town, but left to go to college. He returned to teach in the plantation school. The his aunt and Jefferson's godmother ask him to go speak to Jefferson. It seems that in an attempt to save the life of Jefferson, his lawyer claimed that he was not smart enough to plan a robbery and murder. He was not man enough to do it. Now Jefferson refuses to eat. His godmother wants Grant to teach him how to be a man. To have pride in himself. Grant does not want the responsibility, but visits Jefferson anyway. Mostly just so he does not have the pressure from his aunt and Jefferson's godmother. And during these visits, not only does he teach Jefferson, but he learns a lesson himself.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Nora Sinclair has it all. Men want her and women envy her. She's beautiful, wealthy, has a great apartment and a wonderful job as an interior designer. She even has two gorgeous, rich men who want to marry her. Now, the only question is...who should she kill first?
Enter FBI Special Agent John O'Hara. Nora's banking transactions to the Cayman Islands have attracted the attention of the government, and the FBI is starting to think that Nora might have killed her fiance, and possibly her first husband. O'Hara poses as an insurance investigator to trap Nora into revealing herself. He did not expect to fall for her. Now O'Hara has let his guard down and Nora is planning on taking advantage of it. The honeymoon is over.
I have to do a presentation in March recommending books and I thought about doing this one. This is my rough draft of my booktalk. Any recommendations? This book is a very fast read. Short, quick chapters that make you want to keep turning the pages.
What books have been absolute page-turners for you?
Enter FBI Special Agent John O'Hara. Nora's banking transactions to the Cayman Islands have attracted the attention of the government, and the FBI is starting to think that Nora might have killed her fiance, and possibly her first husband. O'Hara poses as an insurance investigator to trap Nora into revealing herself. He did not expect to fall for her. Now O'Hara has let his guard down and Nora is planning on taking advantage of it. The honeymoon is over.
I have to do a presentation in March recommending books and I thought about doing this one. This is my rough draft of my booktalk. Any recommendations? This book is a very fast read. Short, quick chapters that make you want to keep turning the pages.
What books have been absolute page-turners for you?
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to everyone! I have a feeling that 2006 is going to be so much better than 2005! I usually hate to make new years resolutions, since I am SO bad at keeping them, but a new year means a new start. Here's to a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
