Melting my Body. Growing my Mind

This last weekends ago, my father's work provided their employees with a wonderful opportunity....to die of heat stroke. Ok, that's not really it, but that's sure what it felt like. You see, every August they have a "picnic" which involves varying activities from year to year; this year was going to a Texas Rangers baseball game. My family doesn't go things like this very often, so with the inticement of free food and a Mercy Me concert, we obliged. Let's just say we had some difficulties..... Just to name a few, it was hot -- like 105 at 7:00p.m. hot-- which after a summer of 115 I can deal with but stuck in a crowd with no air flow...the food was hot... our seats were high and in the sun almost the whole game. But not that I'm whining or anything.

Watching the game itself was really cool. It has been a long time since I have been to a game and it was fun just to be in a huge group of people with one purpose (even if that purpose is to have a team win). It reminded me of the influence that mission-minded people can have.

Once the sun went down the real fun began; by that time we had gotten used the flow of the game (this is Texas, people, we like baseball but football...that's our sport) and it was significantly cooler (and by that i mean it was like 95.) It was a smelly car ride home (note to self: deodorant should be for more places than pits) but it was good family bonding experience, all in all.

  Preparing to be a Help Meet by Debi Pearl
What its about: Lots of girls think that once you get married you will become perfect and your husband will be perfect, and never have any problems. This book shows, in a Godly way, how, in essence, life isn't a bowl of cherries, but that there are some attitudes that can make relationships deadly and how to biblically approach the whole concept of finding a husband, and what it takes to make that work.
@: @@@ Now I'm not out to find a husband, but this book, though written more for a 19ish year old, has some good principles that aren't always explained well to young women, as well as wonderful reminders about how you can't just drop into the wonderful role that you think being a wife is, that it takes hard work, commitment a Godly foundation, ect.
Not so wonderful parts: First of all, I hate the phrase Help Meet/Mate.  A help mate is a golden retriver, a wife is something totally different. This book is written by a fairly legalistic lady who though doesn't make the point of the book 'All women should wear long skirts all the time' but it seeps in. Also in one story told courting is taken to a point where its more like an arranged marrige. Once again its written for the slightly older girls and some parts I feel like were little strange ( do I really need to know how to make yogurt?)
All in all: This a helpful book to use in looking to the future, as well as helpful ways to prepare your heart, but as with so many things, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Proper Life Skills from Regency England by Margret C. Sullivan
What its about: This is fun little book that has lovely helpful information such as How to Elope to Scotland.
@: This book isn't going to get a rating because its not really a proper book; its written in bullet points and doesn't really have full sentences.
All in all: This book is just a silly little book that I was interested because of ECD, however if I ever need to know how to elope in Scotland or how to get on an off a horse in proper regency garb Im all set! ;) 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
What its about: In the former North America, there are 12 districts. To show their control, the government takes one boy and one girl from each district and puts them in a huge arena to compete to survive, and only one can win.
@: @@@@ @/2 out of five.  although this book has a violent basis, its FAR less violent or descripive than book's like The Iliad. The main character takes her younger sister's place in the games,  and its the hunting and gathering skills she learned while providing for her famly that give her a chance of survival.
Not so great parts: This book is based on teens killing each other, and has a lot of kissing, though its not described any more than 'I kissed him and then...'
All in all: I love this book; it was written at a level slightly younger than the Harry Potter books, but (at least for me) it was written so well that I didn't even notice the writing!

 

I intend to live forever or die trying ~ Groucho Marx

I wish I was shopping for crayons...

It seems like just yesterday my biggest problem was if the crayon pack for the new school year came with a sharpener. Things  have changed. This post is at the end of my 2nd day of school and, well, let's just say naps shouldn't be just for preschoolers. I have quite a lot of homework, and maybe signing up to do a Westminster Confession (10-20 min) speech with only a week to prepare --wasn't the best idea, oh well. But this isn't one of those posts where people go on and on about how hard it is to grow up, nope this is not one of those. I do love school really, I love learning, and I love some of the benefits of growing up (lack of sleep isn't one of them, but that is mostly my fault.) One benefit is that I get to eat those lovely chips that you see above.  So its pretty darn good. This is getting really rambly and I now apologize. I just really felt the need to tell someone that I have way too much homework, but I love my life. So far school's going well though, my classes are cool, I like my teachers, and I love my fellow inmates (did I just say that out loud, I mean students.) In addition, I won't be reading as many books this year, so the ones I post will be mostly required reads like The Inferno, with maybe a few  personal books I can sneak in. I am running out of books from this summer  (it takes me a lot less time to write about a book than to read it.) Here is one last book.

Of Thee I Zing by Lauren Ingraham

What it is about: The current downgrade of American society told in a humorous and very conservative viewpoint.
@ rating: @@@ out of five. It is straight to the point and, along with the obvious social defects (if it doesn't fit don't wear it), it also has some other not so often mentioned social downfalls.
Not so wonderful aspects: The whole book is criticism of America, which can get tedious, and they are very much her opinions, so I wouldn't try to put them in a bill. The biggest downer for me is that she offered no solution to the endless problems our country seems to possess.
Overall: This book is worth the read, but take it with a grain of salt. ( I don't actually know what that phrase means but people seem to use it in this context.)

I hope you enjoyed this rambling post, and I will try my best not to use the internet as my personal shrink. Hope this makes your day a little bit better.
Cheese...Milk's leep toward immortality. ~ Clifton Fadiman

Well that worked out better than I planned....

   Hello dear world, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday. When I was planning this blog I wasn't going to do much writing on books because I honestly thought that no one would want to read it...apparently I was wrong. So I decided to continue sharing my thoughts on my summer reading list, and go a little more in depth into plot and stuff. I will also be linking under every book to where you can obtain the book off the internet as was suggested to me by one of my fellow bloggers. I was shocked at this idea and my first thought was 'I think my readers know how to use the library' but after some thorough consideration I decided I would try it.



And now your feature presentation...

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

What it is about: This is the fourth book (as seen above) of the Gallagher Girl series, which is features the character Cammie Moran as well as her friends and all the trials, tribulations, and adventures that come from attending an all girl school for spies. These cleverly named books are packed with adventure and lots of amusing side notes that would come from a spy's life such as having to designated language (such as French, Arabic, or Mandarin, which I thought was a kind of orange) at each meal.

Quippy Meter: @@@ out of five. I enjoy these books thoroughly, they are adventures without being gory, and glorify team work (even if you don’t really like your team). It also shows how our differences are what make our bonds stronger. (Much like the Church.)

Not so great parts: This is a chick book, and though the author doesn’t dote on shoes and lipstick, it is mentioned..a lot. It also has a lot of aspects of secular teenage books such as relationships, which isn’t bad but does the main character have to fall in love in every book?

All in all: This is a charming adventure that every 14 year old girl would love, though 18 year old boys Im not so sure.

http://www.amazon.com/Only-Good-Young-Gallagher-Girls/dp/B0046LUTVO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313960393&sr=1-1

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

What it's about: The two opposite lives of the young daughter of a rich banker and an old immigrant woman that works as a concierge at a French hotel. Both of these characters are hidden geniuses with a lack luster for life and strange self imposed theology.

@ Level: 0 out of five. That’s right; it doesn’t even get a rating, because I couldn’t even make it past the first 20 pages.

Why it stunk like old eggs in August:

1. wacked out theology that shouldn't even count as theology

2. The two main characters are a hateful old woman and a 12 year old that plans to murder her family and then kill herself on her 13th birthday

3. The purpose of words is to show as clearly as possible the thoughts, feelings, and ideas that humans posses. That is why instead of just good we have wonderful, benevolent, joyful, et. This book contains on every page words that my 2000 page dictionary doesn’t contain. Why write a book with words know one knows?

4. It’s a translation, originally written in French, it doesn’t always work out well so there are random phrases in French that I as an American, do not know.

5. I wanted to give a reason from every @ it didn’t get but do I really need to say any more on the awfulness of this piece of so called literature.

In case you don't believe me and want to see it for yourself http://www.amazon.com/Elegance-Hedgehog-Muriel-Barbery/dp/1933372605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313961283&sr=1-1

Mr.Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons

What it’s about: A Jewish man and his wife who immigrate to England from Germany at the start of WWII. Once they reach England the man is handed a pamphlet on how to be Englishmen, it hits a nerve with the man who from that point one’s life goal is to become an Englishman. After 15 years of living in London Mr.Rosenblum decides that to be truly English he must play golf. But due to his history no golfing group will accept him, so he makes a decision, to build his own golf course. He sells his house (with out even telling his wife) and moves them to a completely run down cottage with 40 acres on a hill, and begins the process of building a golf course himself.

@ Rating: @@ out of five. This is a touching story of hard work and placing goals. Through the process Mr.Rosenblum reunites with his wife (I've heard of mortal enemies that talked more than this couple in the beginning of the book), learns that memories are important, makes true friends, changes his name, and learns what it means to be a true Englishmen.

Not so fantastic parts: The main characters immigrate from Germany and German phrases are used. But this is where my personal bias comes in. My mother is fluent in German, and through my life I have learned enough to roughly understand these phrases. Also it has language, in the beginning of the book they are all in German but as the book progresses the author becomes more comfortable with bad words and the s-word (and I don’t mean stupid) is used often along with some British words that are bad but do not really count in America. The book dwells on the sadness of leaving ones family which can get very sad indeed. The activity that the couple enjoyed when they were newly married but don’t any more (not talking about hiking) is mentioned twice and once crosses the line in my view. I don’t know where your line is but they crossed mine. Some form of alcohol is consumed every other page.

All in all: This is a charming book though it doesn't really move anywhere and is not fighting for your' interest making it kind of a slow read. If you like nostalgia, don't care about language this is the book for you.

p.s this book doesn’t really have anything to do with dreams and is called Mr.Rosenblum's List in England.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Rosenblum-Dreams-English-Novel/dp/0316077593/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313963516&sr=1-1




House by Tedd Dekker and Frank Peretti

What it’s about: An astringed married couple through a series of unfortunate events gets stranded in the middle of no where and stumbles upon an empty and beautiful bed and breakfast. Soon they are trapped with another couple in this demented house and are forced to play the mind game of a serial killer who claims to have "killed God."

@ scale: @@@@ 1/2 out of five. This book was recommended to me by an awesome guy who writes an amazing blog ( http://dont-tread-on-this-guy.blogspot.com/?spref=fb) he writes mostly about politics and not books (but we wont hold that against him) however I find it fascinating. 

Back to the book, this is the most intense, scary, thriller book I have ever read! I could not put it down, the story never stops and neither does the suspense.

Not so wonderful aspects: This is "haunting" story, demons are all over the place, and God is said to have been killed (thought know one believes the killer who claims it.) Also the owners of the House (who later turn out to be demons) son (who is like 40) decides to that one of the girls is to be his bride, though he is portrait as having (though they never come right out and say it) some form of retardation and doesn’t fully understand the concept he still tortures her and later the other girl as well. Bad words are spoken of but not actually written.

All together: This is a haunting story but it shows the demons in a way that books a written about werewolves, scary but not half as evil/bad as they would be in real life. Also the main atheist character grows through the book to accept God and prays in desperation. Through the whole ordeal the main guy learns that he really does love his wife and that their problems can be worked out. This book is not a book to be read at 1 in the morning (which I did) but don’t break out the holy water either, its a fast paced scary adventure that just happens to feature the most un-demon like demons I have ever heard of.

http://www.amazon.com/House-Frank-Peretti-Ted-Dekker/dp/B001E9004W/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313963925&sr=1-2