My Happiness Project

Something hit me this summer, I'm not happy.

Not truly happy within myself.

I am happy about certain aspects of my life. But also extremely unhappy with others. I realized when given free time, all I wanted to do is sleep. I lack motivation, procrastinate worse than ever. I'm easily frustrated or upset, have low self-esteem, and feel that my relationships are suffering.

I want to be the best mom I can be. I want to have a successful, happy relationship with my love. I want to have a clean & organized house where I can feel calm and at peace. I want to have more energy and feel healthy. I want to enjoy my hobbies again without guilt or exhaustion.

Sounds easy, right? Well, I made a conscious decision a few weeks ago that I am going to focus on increasing my happiness! I have a huge library of books already, so I decided to just dig in to some happiness books that have just been sitting on my shelf for years.

My two main resources so far have been:
Stumbling on Happiness
and
The How of Happiness

But then I found another book on my bottom shelf, one that I really wanted to read, but just never started... The Happiness Project.  Wow, this one really got me excited! It is thanks to this book alone that I plan to embark on my own 'Happiness Project' so to speak!

The first steps are basically gathering information & designing a personalized program for myself.

-- First, create a list of 12 overall principles that I want to improve (focusing on one each month for a year).
-- Then, under each principle, create more specific and measurable resolutions.
-- Identify my Personal Commandments - overall principles to guide my behavior and choices.
-- Find a strategy to record progress and hold myself accountable.

My goal is to design a solid plan and be ready to officially start on September 1st!!

Everything She Thought She Wanted

Everything She Thought She Wanted

by Elizabeth Buchan

Published in 2006. 384 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction, Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The separate stories of two women--one a career-driven late-20th-century professional and the other a 1950s housewife--are displayed in this novel. Thirty-five-year-old Siena Grant enjoys a life that many women only dream of. A highly successful fashion consultant with her own business, a magazine column, a book deal and an American television show, Siena is also married to a loving, sensitive man. She and Charlie live in a trendy flat and enjoy intimate little suppers. What more could anybody want? For starters, Charlie is dreaming of a country home and children--not a life that appeals to the oh-so-chic Siena.

Meanwhile, in 1959, 42-year-old Barbara Beeching, a married mother of two grown children, lives with her pilot husband, Ryder, in a charming country home and hosts the most delightful little parties. Perfect partners, Barbara and Ryder survived the atrocities of war over England and now face the rest of their lives as Ryder thinks of retirement and Barbara thinks of... Alexander Liberty, a hunky psychiatry student whose passion for her takes her by surprise.

What I thought: Interesting storyline taken from two different yet similar women. I was curious how it would turn out but I never connected with either of the main characters. It felt slow moving to me and I honestly couldn't wait to be finished with this one.

Why I read it & where I got it: I got it at the Ocean City Library Used Book Sale last year and thought it would be a quick read to help me up my annual book count.

Date finished: June 10, 2009

Currently reading: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Dewey

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

by Vicki Myron

Published in 2008. 288 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Non-Fiction

My Overall Score: 3

What its about (taken from amazon.com): One frigid Midwestern winter night in 1988, a ginger kitten was shoved into the after-hours book-return slot at the public library in Spencer, Iowa. And in this tender story, Myron, the library director, tells of the impact the cat, named DeweyReadmore Books, had on the library and its patrons, and on Myron herself. Through her developing relationship with the feline, Myron recounts the economic and social history of Spencer as well as her own success story—despite an alcoholic husband, living on welfare, and health problems ranging from the difficult birth of her daughter, Jodi, to breast cancer. After her divorce, Myron graduated college (the first in her family) and stumbled into a library job. She quickly rose to become director, realizing early on that this was a job I could love for the rest of my life. Dewey, meanwhile, brings disabled children out of their shells, invites businessmen to pet him with one hand while holding the Wall Street Journal with the other, eats rubber bands and becomes a media darling. The book is not only a tribute to a cat—anthropomorphized to a degree that can strain credulity (Dewey plays hide and seek with Myron, can read her thoughts, is mortified by his hair balls)—it's a love letter to libraries.

What I thought: First of all, if you dont like cats or libraries, this is not the book for you. I thought it was cute and touching at times. Definitely a fast read and by the end, you do feel some love for little Dewey.

Why I read it & where I got it: My dad had told me about this book when it first came out (he is IN LOVE with cats, hence the recommendation!) so when I found it for 50% off at Borders I picked it up.

Date finished: May 31, 2009

Currently reading: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Body Surfing

Body Surfing
by Anita Shreve

Published in 2007. 298 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 3.5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The beach house in New Hampshire which figured in Anita Shreve's The Pilot's Wife, Fortune's Rocks, and Sea Glass is once again featured in Body Surfing. This time, it is the summer home of the Edwards family, Anna and Mark and daughter Julie. Mrs. Edwards has great hopes for Julie, who is "slow," so she hires Sydney to tutor her, in preparation for her senior year. There are two older brothers, Jeff and Ben, whose arrival changes the household dynamic considerably.
Once again, Shreve revisits the minefield of love and betrayal that she has explored so well in her best novels. Sydney is 29, twice married, once divorced, and once a widow. Mrs. Edwards dislikes her instantly, is dismissive, and treats her like a servant. Mr. Edwards befriends her, shows her his roses and talks to her about the history of the house, giving the reader a rundown of the role the house has played in prior novels.

What I thought: This was a decent read, definitely not top on my list, but worth the read I guess. It kept you wondering how it was going to end, but it turned out to be a bit silly and a bit anti-climatic.

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this off the sale rack at Atlantic Book store because I have enjoyed some of Shreve's prior novels and wanted to give this one a chance.

Date finished: May 28, 2009

Currently reading: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

The Middle Place

The Middle Place

by Kelly Corrigan

Published in 2008. 288 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Non-Fiction, Health Mind & Body

My Overall Score: 4.75/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Newspaper columnist Corrigan was a happily married mother of two young daughters when she discovered a cancerous lump in her breast. She was still undergoing treatment when she learned that her beloved father, who'd already survived prostate cancer, now had bladder cancer. Corrigan's story could have been unbearably depressing had she not made it clear from the start that she came from sturdy stock. Growing up, she loved hearing her father boom out his morning HELLO WORLD dialogue with the universe, so his kids would feel like the world wasn't just a safe place but was even rooting for you. As Corrigan reports on her cancer treatment—the chemo, the surgery, the radiation—she weaves in the story of how it felt growing up in a big, suburban Philadelphia family with her larger-than-life father and her steady-loving mother and brothers. She tells how she met her husband, how she gave birth to her daughters. All these stories lead up to where she is now, in that middle place, being someone's child, but also having children of her own. Those learning to accept their own adulthood might find strength—and humor—in Corrigan's feisty memoir

What I thought: This was definitely one of the most uplifting inspirational stories I have ever read. Well written. Encouraging. Engaging. I enjoyed reading about local spots in the Philadelphia area, including the King of Prussia mall. The relationship between Kelly and her father was extraordinary. Perhaps the most inspiring part was the essay at the end of the book, which Kelly wrote during her treatments entitled 'Transcending'. I wish I could find the text online, but trust me, it is beautiful!

You Tube video of author reading Transcending - CLICK HERE

A few passages I really enjoyed were:
p 215 "The way I see it, if you have four kids, you don't really have to do anything else, ever...Four kids gives you a pass for every forgotten birthday, overlooked appointment, and missing form....It's like having nonthreatening cancer, forever." - funny!!
p 216 talking about why she wants a big family: "...every kid I've ever met from a big family doesn't take himself too seriously and has learned things you cant teach...they make do. They roll with it." --Helped to put my mind at ease about having a large family

Why I read it & where I got it: Once again, I heard some wonderful things about this book so I ordered it on amazon.

Date finished: May 21, 2009

Currently reading: Body Surfing by Anita Shreve

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon

Published in 2004. 240 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 4.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Christopher Boone, the autistic 15-year-old narrator relaxes by groaning and doing math problems in his head, eats red-but not yellow or brown-foods and screams when he is touched. Strange as he may seem, other people are far more of a conundrum to him, for he lacks the intuitive "theory of mind" by which most of us sense what's going on in other people's heads. When his neighbor's poodle is killed and Christopher is falsely accused of the crime, he decides that he will take a page from Sherlock Holmes (one of his favorite characters) and track down the killer. As the mystery leads him to the secrets of his parents' broken marriage and then into an odyssey to find his place in the world, he must fall back on deductive logic to navigate the emotional complexities of a social world that remains a closed book to him. Christopher can only make sense of the chaos of stimuli by imposing arbitrary patterns. His literal-minded observations make for a kind of poetic sensibility and a poignant evocation of character. Though Christopher insists, "This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them," the novel brims with touching, ironic humor. The result is an eye-opening work in a unique and compelling literary voice.

What I thought: I really liked this book! It was written from the perspective of a teenage boy with Aspergers (on the Autism spectrum) and was such an eye-opening reality check of what life can be like for these people. The chapters were numbered by prime numbers because thats what Christopher feels comfortable with. Although it is a work of fiction, it really feels like a true story - very real and true-to-life characters. I highly recommend this book - whether you go into it with zero knowledge about Aspergers or if you live/work with someone with the syndrome - either way, there is much to learn about this charming boy named Christopher!

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book from the library. Although I never heard of it before, when I read the back, I was instantly drawn because I am fascinated by this topic. And due to my line of work, I was eager to enter the mind of a boy with a similar disorder to what many of those kids live with every day.

Date finished: May 15, 2009

Currently reading: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Handle With Care

Handle With Care

by Jodi Picoult

Published in 2009. 496 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 4/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Picoult delivers another engrossing family drama, spiced with her trademark blend of medicine, law and love. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe's daughter, Willow, was born with brittle bone disease, a condition that requires Charlotte to act as full-time caregiver and has strained their emotional and financial limits. Willow's teenaged half-sister, Amelia, suffers as well, overshadowed by Willow's needs and lost in her own adolescent turmoil. When Charlotte decides to sue for wrongful birth in order to obtain a settlement to ensure Willow's future, the already strained family begins to implode. Not only is the defendant Charlotte's longtime friend, but the case requires Charlotte and Sean to claim that had they known of Willow's condition, they would have terminated the pregnancy, a statement that strikes at the core of their faith and family. Picoult individualizes the alternating voices of the narrators more believably than she has previously, and weaves in subplots to underscore the themes of hope, regret, identity and family, leading up to her signature closing twists.

What I thought: This was like an emotional roller coaster that did not end until the very last page - well the emotions continue even after you're finished reading. I like how Picoult tells the story from each character's perspective. Also included throughout the book are some of Charlotte's recipes (she's an award winning baker in the book) ... I'd like to try some of them out, they sound delicious!

A few quotes stuck with me from the book - two of which are:
page 262: Charlotte & Marin speaking about the difference between a dutiful mother and a good mother -- "A dutiful mother is someone who follows every step her child makes. A good mother is someone whose child wants to follow her."

page 445: Sean speaking in court to Charlotte -- paraphrased... "Maybe you expected marriage to be perfect, I guess that's where you and I are different. I thought it would be all about making mistakes, but doing it with someone who's there to remind you what you learned along the way. People always say that, when you love someone, nothing in the world matters. We know that when you love someone, everything in the world matters a little bit more."

Why I read it & where I got it: I like Picoult's novels and when I read about this one it definitely sounded interesting. I got it at Target just after it's release with a gift card from my good friend Jenn (thanks Jenn!)... and was chomping at the bit to read it!

Date finished: May 12, 2009

Currently reading: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

by J.K. Rowling

Published in 2004. 435 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction, Children's Lit, Fantasy

My Overall Score: 4/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The third book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series catapults into action when the young wizard "accidentally" causes the Dursleys' dreadful visitor Aunt Marge to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift up to the ceiling. Harry is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. It seems that Sirius Black--an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban--is on the loose. Not only that, but he's after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry's very heart when others are unaffected?

What I thought: I do enjoy the Harry Potter series so far. There are so many facets to each story and this book in particular, explained some of the history and introduced characters that will be important for future books. This is not one of my favorite genres though and I found myself getting sidetracked and losing interest at many points along the way. I do intend to read the rest of the series, but definitely not back-to-back. Plus, I'd like to see the movies up to this point, now that I've read the books. I'm interested to see how they compare. Also, if you want to read different perspectives about the book, check out the amazon link above and scroll down to reviews. Overall, this one got rave reviews!

Why I read it & where I got it: This was sitting on my bookshelf for years... it is actually my little brother's book - my great friend Colleen talked me into reading these (she has read them all, multiple times I believe)!

Date finished: April 27, 2009

Currently reading: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Junie B. First Grader, Dumb Bunny

Junie B. First Grader, Dumb Bunny

by Barbara Parks

Published in 2009. 128 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Fiction, Children's Lit

My Overall Score: 4.75/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): It's an Easter Egg-stravaganza! Lucille is having an Easter Egg Hunt at her rich expensive mansion! And guess what? The winner gets a play date to swim in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool! Only, here is the problem. How did Junie B. get stuck wearing a big dumb bunny suit? And how can she possibly find eggs when she keeps tripping over her huge big rabbit feet? Being a dumb bunny is definitely not as easy as it looks. Will Junie B. end up with egg on her face? Or will the day deliver some very uneggspected results?

What I thought: The girls really liked this one - they love Junie B. anyway, but this book seemed to particularly catch their interest. Maybe because I read it just days before Easter, so they could really relate to the story. Maybe because Junie B. is growing up a bit (First grade now) and she is even better at explaining things with 'gusto'!

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book at Walmart when it first came out in paperback. We love Junie B. so I thought this would be a perfect Spring read with the girls.

Date finished: April 11, 2009

Currently reading: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

The Shack

The Shack

by William P. Young

Published in 2008. 256 pages.

Amazon link

Official SITE

Genre: Fiction, Spirituality

My Overall Score: 5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

What I thought: Fantastic! By far, the best book I have read this year! I devoured this book in one day! I am not into Godly books where they shove it down your throat preaching at you. If that's what you're looking for, this is NOT it. Instead, this book opened my mind and filled me with hope. I can see how it could be considered controversial, but if you go into it with an open mind, hopefully you will love it as much as I did!

Why I read it & where I got it: I asked around for book suggestions and many people gave me this title as THE book to read. It didn't sound like my type of book but I broke down and ordered it from amazon.com. (BTW, I'm soooo glad I did!) Thanks to all those who suggested it to me!

Date finished: March 29, 2009 - in one day!

Currently reading: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) by J.K. Rowling

Breaking Dawn

** Possible Spoilers **

Breaking Dawn
(The Twilight Saga Book 4)

by Stephenie Meyer

Published in 2008. 768 pages.

Amazon link

Click to read my reviews:
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Fantasy

My Overall Score: 2.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): In Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final installment in the series, Bella’s story plays out in some unexpected ways. The ongoing conflicts that made this series so compelling--a human girl in love with a vampire, a werewolf in love with a human girl, the generations-long feud between werewolves and vampires--resolve pretty quickly, apparently so that Meyer could focus on Bella’s latest opportunity for self-sacrifice: giving her life for someone she loves even more than Edward. It’s as if Meyer was afraid of hurting her characters too much, which is unfortunate, because the pain Bella suffered at losing Edward in New Moon, and the pain Jacob suffered at losing Bella again and again, are the fire and the heart that drive the whole series. Diehard fans will stick with Bella, Edward, and Jacob for as many twists and turns as possible, but after most of the characters get what they want with little sacrifice, some readers may have a harder time caring what happens next.

What I thought: This was definitely my least favorite book of this series. It had nearly zero 'spark'. I had to force myself to pick it up each time to read. The characters were blah. This story contained nearly no romance. Strange story lines. Way too many new characters introduced, none of whom I remotely cared about. Um, pedophilia? (OK that may seem like a stretch, but that's what it felt like to me). Breaking Dawn should have been cut in half, maybe then it could have redeemed itself? This book just had a completely different tone than the other three - some have even speculated that Meyer didn't actually write it? It left me feeling.... like I wish I had stopped reading after Eclipse...

Why I read it & where I got it: I ordered this from amazon.com and read it to complete the 4-book Twilight series.

Date finished: March 28, 2009

Currently reading: The Shack by William P. Young

Clementine's Letter

Clementine's Letter
by Sara Pennypacker

Published in 2009. 160 pages.

Amazon link

Authors Website

Genre: Fiction, Children's Lit

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Clementine can't believe her ears - her beloved teacher, Mr. D'Matz, might be leaving them for the rest of the year to go on a research trip to Egypt! No other teacher has ever understood her impulsiveness, her itch to draw constantly, or her need to play "Beat the Clock" when the day feels too long. And in his place, he's left a substitute with a whole new set of rules that Clementine just can't figure out. The only solution, she decides, is to hatch a plan to get Mr. D'Matz back. If it means ruining her teacher's once-in-a-lifetime chance -- well, it's worth it. Isn't it?

What I thought: I adore Clementine. This is the third Clementine book and Kaitlyn and I have read all of them. This was probably my least fave of the three, but it was still good. Clementine is in third grade and has an endearing personality. I love how Clementine comes to terms with her impulsivity. And there are some sweet, tender moments between she and her dad. Kaitlyn really enjoyed this story as well!

Why I read it & where I got it: Kaitlyn brought this home from the school library. We read it for a book report (she's in second grade). Here is the pic of her final project:

Date finished: March 13, 2009

Currently reading: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer ...Still...

The Guy Not Taken

The Guy Not Taken (Stories)
by Jennifer Weiner

Published in 2007. 320 pages.

Amazon link

Authors Website

Author's Blog

Genre: Fiction, Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Jennifer Weiner's talent shines like never before in this collection of short stories, following the tender, and often hilarious, progress of love and relationships over the course of a lifetime. From a teenager coming to terms with her father's disappearance to a widow accepting two young women into her home, Weiner's eleven stories explore those transformative moments in our every day.

We meet Marlie Davidow, home alone with her new baby late one Friday night, when she wanders onto her ex's online wedding registry and wonders what if she had wound up with the guy not taken. We stumble on Good in Bed's Bruce Guberman, liquored-up and ready for anything on the night of his best friend's bachelor party, until stealing his girlfriend's tiny rat terrier becomes more complicated than he'd planned. We find Jessica Norton listing her beloved New York City apartment in the hope of winning her broker's heart. And we follow an unlikely friendship between two very different new mothers, and the choices that bring them together -- and pull them apart.

What I thought: First of all, Weiner is from the Philadelphia area so it was interesting to read of local places I'm familiar with (including the King of Prussia mall!) This was the first book I've read by Weiner and I did enjoy her writing style. I am not generally a fan of short stories, however, these were well-written and conclusive enough for me to feel some closure by the end of each. There were maybe one or two which left me wanting more, but overall, when each story ended in the book, it ended in my mind. I suggest you don't buy this one, but if you happen across it in the library, I say go for it.

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book at the Annual Family Book Swap at our elementary school this past Fall. I had been curious to read one of Weiner's books for awhile, so I snatched it up when I saw it on the big table.

Date finished: March 3, 2009

Currently reading: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer (almost 800 pages - HOLY MOLY!!)

The Reader

The Reader
by Bernhard Schlink

Published in 1999. 224 pages.

Amazon link

Released as a movie January, 2009

Movie links HERE and HERE

Genre: Fiction/Literature

My Overall Score: 4/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The Reader is a brief tale about sex, love, reading, and shame in postwar Germany. Michael Berg is 15 when he begins a long, obsessive affair with Hanna, an enigmatic older woman. He never learns very much about her, and when she disappears one day, he expects never to see her again. But, to his horror, he does. Hanna is a defendant in a trial related to Germany's Nazi past, and it soon becomes clear that she is guilty of an unspeakable crime.
The Reader, which won the Boston Book Review's Fisk Fiction Prize, wrestles with many more demons in its few, remarkably lucid pages. Schlink's prose is clean and pared down, stripped of unnecessary imagery, dialogue, and excess in any form. What remains is an austerely beautiful narrative of the attempt to breach the gap between Germany's pre- and postwar generations, between the guilty and the innocent, and between words and silence.

What I thought: At first, this book was a bit strange. Even though I read the back and knew what it was about, when the love affair became reality, it still shocked me. But as the story progressed, it did suck me in and the storyline was both touching and thought-provoking. It was a bit dark at parts, which was necessary to get the point across. Decent book. I would like to see the movie now!

Why I read it & where I got it: I got this book at the Ocean City Library Book Sale for 25 cents last year. It has been sitting on my bookshelf since then and when I was looking for a shorter book to read, this one caught my eye.

Date finished: February 22, 2009

Currently reading: The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner

Change of Heart

Change of Heart

by Jodi Picoult

Published in 2008. 464 pages.

Amazon link

Author's website

Genre: Fiction

My Overall Score: 4.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Freelance carpenter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart.

What I thought: This is a book that will definitely make you think. And keep you thinking well after you've finished reading. Which is exactly the kind of book I like. The main two components of the storyline were religion and the death penalty. Also a third thought-provoking topic was how far would you go to save your child's life. There were a few aspects of the story that were a bit distracting, but in the end it does all come together for the most part. I wish Picoult had built the characters of mother & daughter (June & Clair) more because I found it difficult to relate with them. Otherwise very nice character development.

One (of the many) quotes from the book that really touched me:
page 399 the Judge speaking:
"I am not a religious man. I have not attended a service for many years. But I do believe in God. My own practice of religion, you could say, is a nonpractice. I personally feel that it's just as worthy on a weekend to rake the lawn of an elderly neighbor or to climb a mountain and marvel at the beauty of this land we live in as it is to sing hosannas or go to Mass. In other words, I think every man finds his own church-and not all of them have four walls."
huh...

Why I read it & where I got it: I have been a Picoult fan for awhile now (my fave so far was My Sister's Keeper) & I got this book from my mom for Christmas.

Date finished: February 15, 2009

Currently reading: The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

Multiple Blessings

Multiple Blessings:
Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets

by Jon & Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson

Published in 2008. 208 pages.

Amazon Link

Genre: Nonfiction, Family/Parenting, Christian Life

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Infertility treatments, twins, more infertility treatments, followed by six beating hearts on an ultrasound screen. That sets up the Gosselins' memoir of the exhausting and joyous events surrounding the births of their now famous sextuplets. Those familiar with the TLC program Jon & Kate Plus 8 know how their household runs; now their story comes alive for readers as well. Details such as how they chose names; the sextuplets' birth day of May 10, 2004; and the babies' weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit are fascinating, as are stories of running a household that was perpetually full of volunteers, looked like "baby base camp" and required carefully sequenced nightly bath time. The Gosselins' life is a whirlwind, with their book reflecting the fast-paced, faith-filled approach they take to raising their twins and their miracle sextuplets.

What I thought: Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. First-the positives. It was very well written, no editorial mistakes, nice time line, very descriptive. Reading this story from Kate's perspective brought me back to my own memories of higher-order multiples (our first ultrasound showing all those beating hearts, a house full of volunteers, feeling isolated & overwhelmed, etc). The reader learns more details about this family and their situation than what is available on their hit TV show. Now, for the bad... Kate comes across as very ungrateful (irregardless of the fact that she goes 'overboard' to act grateful in this book). How many times does she have to say 'Because I am a nurse', 'I am a nurse...', over and over? Although I am sure she does have great faith in God, I thought she went a little overboard with all that this book. It just seemed to me that Kate had a mission in mind when writing this book and it was slightly irritating to me. In fact on page 167, she states 'I guess in a sense that is exactly why I decided to write this book.' and she goes on to explain her exact reason (ugh). If you enjoy their show, you will probably enjoy this book. If you already don't like Kate, you definitely wont like this book!

Why I read it & where I got it: I watch the show religiously and was intrigued when I heard about this book. This is my sister-in-law's book and she let me borrow it.

Date finished: January 31, 2009

Currently reading: Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Say When

Say When

by Elizabeth Berg

Published in 2004. 288 pages.

Amazon Link

Genre: Fiction,Women's Lit

My Overall Score: 3.5/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Popular author Berg will thrill her fans with this sweet, often humorous novel about loss and reconciliation. Staid, routine-loving Frank Griffin is dealt a horrific blow when Ellen, his wife of 10 years, tells him she has been having an affair and wants a divorce. Just so he will have somewhere to go on the nights she is not with her lover, he signs up to play Santa at the local shopping mall and meets Donna, an attractive photographer. He throws away his wedding ring and makes a halfhearted attempt to start up a relationship with her, but although she outwardly appears to have it all over his wife--Donna is a wealthy, talented, and classic beauty--he has to admit to himself that he has never met anyone who appealed to him more than Ellen. Berg keeps her story light and funny, shading in the particulars of their relationship with just the right kind of domestic detail.

What I thought: It was so interesting to read a book about marriage and divorce from the man's perspective (written by a woman). There were many parts that I could totally relate with and although some parts of the story line were a bit silly (the whole Santa thing didn't seem relevant), overall I enjoyed this book and it's characters.

Why I read it & where I got it: I wanted to read a shorter book after Eclipse and was interested in this storyline. I've had this book on my shelf for awhile - I got it for 25 cents at the Used Book Sale at the Ocean City Library last year. I've read other books by Elizabeth Berg & remember her being a good author.

Date finished: January 28, 2009

Currently reading: Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin

Eclipse

Eclipse
(The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

by Stephenie Meyer

Published in 2007. 640 pages.

Amazon Link

Read my review of Twilight HERE and
New Moon HERE

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Fantasy

My Overall Score: 4.75/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): The legions of readers who are hooked on the romantic struggles of Bella and the vampire Edward will ecstatically devour this third installment of the story begun in Twilight, but it's unlikely to win over any newcomers. Jake, the werewolf met in New Moon, pursues Bella with renewed vigilance. However, when repercussions from an episode in Twilight place Bella in the mortal danger that series fans have come to expect, Jake and Edward forge an uneasy alliance. The plot patterns have begun to show here, but Meyer's other strengths remain intact. The supernatural elements accentuate the ordinary human dramas of growing up. Jake and Edward's competition for Bella feels particularly authentic, especially in their apparent desire to best each other as much as to win Bella. Once again the author presents teenage love as an almost inhuman force.

What I thought: Once again, a winner in my book! (pardon the pun...) Eclipse has a nice combination of both Edward and Jacob and can be summed up to Bella feeling torn between the two. So far, I liked Twilight best, this one would be my second fave of the series, and then New Moon would be last. I have one more to read to complete the saga, however I have a few books I want to read before then! These 600-700 page books take so long for me, I need to throw a few shorter ones in there to break it up a bit!

Why I read it & where I got it: It is the 3rd book in the four-book series I'm currently reading and I got it from amazon.com.

Date finished: January 19, 2009

Currently reading: Say When by Elizabeth Berg

Favorite book for 2008??

Did you have a book (or two!) that you read in 2008 that really stands out ahead of the rest? A book that touched your heart or really made you think? Please post in the comments section - you may give others good ideas of books to read this year!

OK - so I set a goal for myself last January to read 50 books in 2008... well - I completed 44 books, which is pretty darn close if you ask me!! LOL
Here is the list of books I read this year including author, date completed & my score (didn't start giving a score till Book #13). Feel free to click all book reviews to read what I thought of each.

44. Why Do Men Have Nipples by Leyner & Goldberg 12.29.08 3/5
43. Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach 12.26.08 4.5/5
42. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks 12.22.08 3.5/5
41. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney 12.15.08 4.25/5
40. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer 12.12.08 4.5/5
39. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 11.22.08 5/5
38. The Talented Clementine by Pennypacker 11.13.08 4.75/5
37. The Secret Blog of Raisin Rodriguez by Goldschmidt 11.9.08 4.5/5
36. The Wednesday Letters by J.Wright 11.7.08 4/5
35. Time Traveler's Wife by Niffenegger 10.28.08 3.75/5
34. Second Chance by Jane Green 10.25.08 3/5
33. Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets 9.30.08 4/5
32. Harry Potter Sorcerer's Stone 9.3.08 4.75/5
31. The Last Summer by Ann Brashares 8.29.08 4/5
30. Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson 8.17.08 3.75/5
29. Promise the Moon by Elizabeth Joy Arnold 8.13.08 3.5/5
28. Marley & Me by John Grogan 8.5.08 4/5
27. Sandcastles by Luanne Rice 7.30.08 2/5
26. Unclutter Your Mind by Donna Smallin 7.25.08 4/5
25. The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller 7.23.08 2.5/5
24. Life's a Beach by Claire Cook 7.17.08 3/5
23. The Beach House by Jane Green 7.7.08 5/5
22. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson 7.6.08 3/5
21. For One More Day by Mitch Albom 6.30.08 3/5
20. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult 6.25.08 4.5/5
19. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 6.18.08 3.75/5
18. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 6.2.08 5/5
17. The Road by Cormac McCarthy 5.31.08 4/5
16. Sisterhood of Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares 5.19.08 4.75/5
15. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella 5.16.08 4.25/5
14. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri 5.7.08 2.75/5
13. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 5.5.08 4/5
12. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 4.22.08
11. Finding Peace by Paula Coxe 4.8.08
10. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand 4.4.08
9. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah 3.25.08
8. No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh 3.16.08
7. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker 3.15.08
6. Living a Life That Matters by Harold Kushner 3.12.08
5. Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers 3.9.08
4. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult 3.2.08
3. The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards 2.19.08
2. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks 2.8.08
1. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 1.26.08

Wow, looking at this list kind of helps me relive this past year, as I always link a book to what's going on in my life at the time I read it. Which of course may also affect my opinion of the book!

My Top 8 books of 2008 are:
Twilight (my FAVORITE this year!!!)
The Secret Life of Bees
Eat, Pray, Love
The Beach House
Harry Potter Sorcerer's Stone
The Last Lecture
The Kite Runner
Marley & Me

Will I give myself another challenge for 2009, you may ask?? Of course! I will keep my goal set for 50 books since I didn't reach it this year. For anyone who actually reads my reviews - is there anything I should change? add? remove? from my reviews? I try to keep them fairly short & simple because I know many blog followers do not read my book reviews. But they are a big part of what makes me tick, so I will definitely continue posting them! :)

Oh and if any of you have read a book that I post about or have suggestions of books you think I should read - please post your thoughts in the comments!

Happy Reading!

Why Do Men Have Nipples?

Why Do Men Have Nipples?
Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini

by Mark Leyner & Billy Goldberg, M.D.

Published in 2005. 224 pages.

Amazon link

Genre: Nonfiction, Health & Fitness, Humor

My Overall Score: 3/5

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Urban legends and perennial wonders get a witty treatment in this lighthearted guide to largely inconsequential yet intriguing aspects of the human body. Leyner & Goldberg address food and the body (does coffee stunt your growth?), "body oddities" (what are goose bumps?), folk remedies (does breast milk cure warts?), drugs (does marijuana help glaucoma?), bathroom humor (why can you ignite a fart?), medical media (is the show ER accurate?), old wives tales (can lip balm be addictive?) and aging (why do old ladies grow beards?). Some of the authors' answers are unsatisfactory and, as a whole, this is much more of a humor book than a health one.

What I thought: Some foul language - definitely not intended for the younger crowd. Obviously, this book is to be taken lightly and provide comic relief more than anything else. Although the authors do include some interesting info and topics for discussion. Of the hundreds of questions, here are some that stood out for me:

Is it bad to crack your knuckles?
Why are yawns contagious?
Are canker sores contagious?
What are goose bumps?
What happens when my foot falls asleep?
Big hands/feet = Big penis?
Is it true that you can break your penis?
Is there really a G-spot?
Do Kegel exercises really work?
Does Cranberry juice cure Urinary Tract Infections?
Does Melatonin work for Jet Lag?
Is it dangerous to pop zits?
Does urinating on a jellyfish sting stop the burn?
What are hiccups and how do you get rid of them?
Does warm milk really help you sleep?
Can poppy seeds make you test positive for heroin?
Does drinking alcohol kill brain cells?
Why do you get all 'pruney' after a long bath?
Will you get hemorrhoids from sitting on the toilet too long?
Is it dangerous to hold it when you have to pee?
What causes the rumbling in your stomach when you have to go?
Why do you see stars when you are hit in the head?
Is it true that you have to wait a half hour after eating to go swimming?
Does wet or cold weather cause a cold?
Can lip balm be addictive?
Do microwaves cause cancer?
Is it dangerous to hold in a sneeze?
Can you swallow your tongue?
Why does hair turn gray?

Date finished: December 29, 2008

Currently reading: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Book 3 of the Twilight Series!)