August 28, 2009

Back-to-School Fiction

I haven't been able to read as much lately as I'd like, but I have read a couple of fun books lately:


(from the publisher)- Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum , Tennessee , love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

I enjoyed this book. It was a light, fun read. I generally adore books about reading, and I want to learn to knit...so it was right up my alley. I may even go back to read the first book in this series.


Rose House (La Rosaleda Series #2) by Tina Ann Forkner:

(from the publisher) - A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope. Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms. She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

This was certainly not a light read. Lillian's pain is real and deep. I enjoy reading a romance surrounded by a little mystery, and Rose House was a good combination. (This is totally random, but for some strange reason I kept picturing Truman as Stanley Tucci.)

Because I haven't been able to read much lately, I haven't made it to this one yet...but it does look like fun.

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y’Barbo:

(from the publisher) - The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man. As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

Happy reading!




August 27, 2009

Hard Things

In fourth grade, I talked my parents into letting me take piano lessons. Two of my older cousins played beautifully, and I wanted to be like them. My parents rented a piano and found me a teacher. They even bought me a nifty book by Liberace that color-coded the keys (anyone else remember that one?). I was all set to achieve musical greatness.

Then I learned that to play well, I'd have to practice.

It was too much, too hard. Less than two years after I started lessons (and just a few months after my parents broke down and bought the piano), I quit. I didn't like the effort involved. It was easier to walk away than continue with something that didn't come easily.

It was the first of many times.

Now (much) older and (not so much) wiser, I realize that quitting is for...well, quitters. I don't want CJ to be a quitter. I want her to learn that life is full of hard things, that hard things aren't always bad things, and that the satisfaction of looking a hard thing in the eye and not flinching is priceless.

It's a tough battle, friends. But one that I can't quit. Because this time, quitting means I'd be teaching my girl to take the easy way out. She deserves more than that.

More to come...

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again - Proverbs 24:16 (NASB)






August 25, 2009

What's on My Nightstand

There's some good reading coming up in the Breath of Life household!

Currently Reading:

~Feeling For Bones. A novel about a teenage girl struggling with anorexia that's both insightful and alarming.

~A Young Woman's Guide to Making Right Choices: Your Life God's Way with CJ. She's starting middle school in two weeks. We need this!


What's in Store:

~The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for the 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub. I get the privilege of hosting this one, and I cannot wait. I love, LOVE, L.O.V.E. this book!

~William Henry is a Fine Name

~I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires

~First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner because the real football season starts in just a couple of weeks. Even though Kurt Warner doesn't play for my beloved Steelers, I respect and admire him. I'm itching to get into this one!

What about you? What are you reading these days? Click over to 5 Minutes for Books and let us know what's on your nightstand.