Books You Remember June 10, 2009

My friend, Stephanie, had a post this week on her blog, Pointed Meanderings, that challenged people to list 15 books that you remember in 15 minutes or less.  I was surprised at what surfaced.

Write your list first and then read mine.

Here is my list:

1. Gone with the Wind
2. The Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
4. Mark of the Lion Series
5. Nancy Drew Series
6. Rascal
7. Happy Holisters Series
8. The Last Lecture
9. At Home in Mitford
10. Confessions of a Shopaholic
11. The Poisonwood Bible
12. The Giving Tree
13. Hope for the Flowers
14. Pippi Longstocking
15. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

This is like remembering old friends.  Try it.   It’s fun to bring back to mind these old friends.

I would love to see your lists.  15 minutes….15 books.

Best Books of 2008 January 2, 2009

Did you read much in 2008?  Are you hoping to read more in 2009?  Isn’t it hard to find a good book?  I am always on the lookout for one.  If I’m reading a good book, I’m concerned about my next book.  My reader friends and I regularly ask each other, “So…what are you reading?”

This is a link to the NY Times List of top selling books in 2008.  Have you read any of these?  I’ve only read 3 on these lists, but I have a few of them by my bed ready to read.  Sometimes I agree with these lists and sometimes I don’t.  I think friends are the best way to find a good book.

What do you think are the best books you’ve read in 2008?  Stephanie has a list of books on her blog Pointed Meanderings.  I am going to use her list to help me choose books this year.

Here are  some  I enjoyed in 2008:

• The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. I loved reading about the culture of Botswana.  I have never been  that interested in going to Africa until I read about the gentle, refined people in this book.  I have read several in this series and have downloaded some from iTunes so I can listen when I travel to meetings.

• A Woman in Charge by Carl Bernstein. I came to appreciate Hillary Clinton. I didn’t really like her until I read this book. I thought she might be the next president and wanted to know what we were in for.  I was drawn to it because of the author (Watergate) and because I had read that she was not happy with it. She thought it portrayed her in a negative light. I was impressed with her story.

• The New Testament in the Easy Reader Version. It seemed fresh in a version other than the NIV.

• A Year of Wonders was about the plague in England. It was a heavy, serious but beautiful book about strength and weakness of character.

• Sophie Kinsella – anything she writes….She is so fun. It’s junk food!

• Three Cups of Tea chronicled the adventures of an American man in the mountains of Pakistan.  He was so moved by the needs of the people that he built several schools for their children.  True story.   I don’t know if I really enjoyed this book as much as I was glad I had read it.  Not a great sales pitch, huh?

• I’m currently reading The Friday Night Knitting Club and have Scarpetta on my nightstand. (Thanks, Stephanie and Sam’s Club)

What did you read last year? Share it with the rest of us.  We all need help finding something good to read.

2009 Banished Words January 1, 2009

The 34th annual list of banished words came out Tuesday from Lake Superior State University in Michigan.

The 34th annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.

Lake Superior State’s 2009 list of banished words

-green

-carbon footprint or carbon offsetting

-maverick

-first dude

-bailout

-Wall Street/Main Street

-monkey

-icon or iconic

-game changer

-staycation

-desperate search

-not so much

-winner of five nominations

-it’s that time of year again

You can read the full article here.

How about…..

-take a chill pill

-like

-random

-I’m all about ______.

-rebate (just lower the price (AT&T), don’t send me a finicky pseudo gift card)

-”I’m here!”  In response to, “How are you?”

What about you?

First Post December 18, 2008

Hi, Friends!

I hope this blog can be a place where we can communicate with each other during the times when we are not here together.  I hope you have a wonderful break and travel safely while we are apart.

This week we are talking about our lives as wives and future wives.  The single most important thing in being a wife is being a christian woman who brings honor and glory to God in everything.  The second most important thing is choosing your husband wisely.

Any decision can be aided by pros and cons….lists of attributes….writing down what kind of a husband you want.  I did that before I was in a serious relationship.  Here is part of my list as I remember it:

1. loves God more than me
2. tall and blond
3. loves the outdoors
4. funny
5. kind
6. good to his mother
7. strong leader

What was or is on your list?  Add your comments.  Can’t wait to see how our lists are similar and different!

Have a great day!