The Five Love Languages *****

At Christmas I always get a little stressed trying to come up with the perfect gift for parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. I don't worry too much about my own kids, though I do try to get Ethan something awesome (usually to no avail).

I am the type of person who really values making something for someone else. This year I did not make one single thing for anyone and it was a surprising relief. Those last minute moments of trying to finish crocheting something, tying the last few stitches in a quilt, or painting the finishing touches on a painting always gets me a little worked-up, but I love that feeling when someone opens a gift that I have put not only my time into, but also a little piece of myself.

I think the reason I feel this way is that my "love language" is quality time. To me, giving my time is the same as giving myself and vice versa. This year, although I felt the last minute relief...I felt a disturbing indifference about Christmas and the gifts I was giving. I'm sure that this was in large part to the fact that I wasn't giving something that told them (in my language) that I love them.

The funny part about it is that some of the gifts I gave were better received than any year's past. Ethan and I were analyzing the reason for this and discovered that the love language of the receiver was probably just different from mine, so the homemade gifts in the past weren't seen as gifts of love, but perhaps... cheap? I racked my brain this year to come up with something satisfactory for some people and in the end came up with something they really appreciated and will use. Success!! I hope that in finding that perfect gift they feel that love I put into their gift even though it wasn't spoken in a language I really understand.

If you have never read The Five Love Language by Gary Chapman, I highly recommend it. It discusses the fact that everyone has a primary love language and argues that there are 5 basic languages with many dialects within each. The 5 are: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Personal Touch. While no one speaks exclusively in one language, they understand and speak one with the most comprehension. I have come to the conclusion that when looking for the perfect gift for the people I love, I have to consider what language they speak, if I'm speaking German and they speak French it won't go over too well, but if I get a French/German Dictionary and make an effort, they will probably get the message.

Book Club

If any of you have ever been to a real book club meeting, you know that lots is talked about that is unrelated to the book, or even books in general. I have been wanting to have a place to talk about everyday things that aren't really for my family blog, so I have decided to use this venue. Check back here if you're OK with posts that aren't all about the kids or what we're doing as a family. I probably won't be doing a whole lot of pictures, so if thats what you're interested in the family blog is the one for you, but if you want to hear whats going on in the mind of a semi-sane mom and what she's reading, join me here anytime. Thanks!

Mommy Tag

1. How long have you been a Mom? Four years, 9 months

2. How many kids call you mommy? 3-although, Bryant and Jonas usually say, "mom" and Levi just yells, "Ma"

3. When you were pregnant did you know what you were having? With Bryant we had the ultrasound and were told it was probably a boy, but to have it double checked...I got checked again and they said it was probably a girl...so we waited to find out til he was born (which is what I wanted to do anyway). We found out with both Jonas and Levi.

4. How old were you when you became a mom? 21 years 10 months

5. How long were you in labor? Bryant 13 hours, Jonas 2 hours of good hard labor (I was on pitocin for about 4 hours before anything big happened...I went from 3-10 in about 90 minutes), Levi 14 hours.

6. What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? The hugs and the "I love you lots mom!"

7. What’s your least favorite thing? All the yelling and noise (from me and the kids)

8. Do you want more kids? Definitely

9. Have you ever taken your kid(s) on a trip?Yup, many trips between Utah and Oregon, Bryant went to Nauvoo and Tennessee with us when he was a babe, several camping trips, and one cross country adventure (although, it wasn't really us that took them0-Thanks mom and dad!)

10. How many times have you been peed on? Maybe once per child...just takes that one refresher to remind me to be prepared.

11. How many times have you been barfed on? Way too many to want to remember...or share.

12. Are your kids named after someone? First names are not really-though we found a common link...prophets and/or their dads. Middle names are for family

13. When is the last time you had a sitter? Dec. 10

14. When your kid gets in trouble, who is the bad guy? If Ethan is home he gets to have the honor, but generally I am.

15. What is the longest you have been away from your kid(s)? Let's see how long was our road trip? Five days I think...HEAVEN!

16. Are your toes painted? Nope

17. Last movie you saw in theater? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Last book you read? The Mormon Way of Doing Business (OK, I've read lots of kids books since I finished that one, but its the last one I finished for myself...I'm currently reading A Mormon in the White House?)

18. One thing you will not give up just because you’re a mom: Hopefully, my sanity :)

19. One thing you did give up now that you’re a mom? Sleeping in

20. Favorite Cartoon: Cyberchase and Arthur (its pretty sad when I sit and watch them by myself)

21. Favorite Snack: Granola bars, fruit snacks, craisins, cheese sticks

22. When the kid(s) are napping, you are: Either napping, reading, or blogging..though Bryant doesn't nap he just has quiet time.

23. Where is/are your kid(s) now? Eating breakfast

24. If I could do it over, I’d do this differently: Have more fun

25. What is a lesson you’ve learned as a parent? Patience is a virtue, pride is a vice. Love is the best medicine for everything...hurt bodies or feelings.

I tag...if you want to do it, please do...I'd love to see what you have to say!

Grandpa Takes Me to the Moon

In honor of the shuttle launch that we have anxiously awaited (and continue to wait for) we checked out the book, Grandpa Takes Me to the Moon by Timothy R. Gaffney and illustrated by Barry Root. The boys really enjoy reading it over and over and then they get VERY excited to see the shuttle launch. It was supposed to take place on Thursday and they have tentatively planned it for each day since then, but yesterday they canceled without another date listed, so we're hoping it will still take place this week. The book is about a little boy whose grandpa went to the moon on an Apollo mission and whenever grandpa comes to visit he tells all about it. The little boy imagines that he is with his grandpa on the adventure. Its a fun and interesting book that your kids will probably want to read time and time again.

Children's Book

This week's book is S is for Sunshine A Florida Alphabet by Carol Crane and illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe. I absolutely love this book and want to buy it for our family library. It goes through the alphabet with things that are special to Florida like, "A is for Alligator..." "B is for Beaches..." "N is for NASA..." You get the idea. Each page has a little rhyme and a gorgeous illustration and on the side it goes into detail about the item for a paragraph or two.

The best part about this book is that there are several volumes. From B is for Beaver An Oregon Alphabet to A is for Arches a Utah Alphabet to P is for Potato An Idaho Alphabet. I really want to collect these from the states in which we have lived and will live. I just checked Amazon and it looks like they have all the states. It looks like they have counting books for the states as well. The books are by different authors, but all published by Sleeping Bear Press. Check it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

The Princess Bride Discussion *****

So...we've all seen the movie a hundred times...can quote most of it...now you've read the book (I hope!)...does the book hold the same appeal as the movie for you? Discuss amongst yourselves...

Goldman wrote the screenplay for the film version of The Princess Bride. There are many differences between the two. Identify as many as you can. Why do you think Goldman made these changes? With which of his choices do you agree? Disagree?

Why do you think that Goldman inserts himself as a character in his own novel? Did you feel he was portraying his actual self or a character with his name? What other books have you read where the author adopts this narrative strategy?

The Princess Bride can be thought of as two intertwining tales, one focusing on Westley and Buttercup, the other on the life of Goldman himself (or the fictional Goldman?). How do these two stories parallel and play off of each other?

When we first meet Inigo and Fezzik (my two personal favorite characters), they are working with Vizzini to kidnap Buttercup. Later, they become allies of Westley in his efforts to rescue her. What causes Inigo and Fezzik to change . . . or do they really change at all over the course of the novel?

Compare the relationships between men–such as Goldman and his father, Fezzik and Inigo, Inigo and Domingo, and Goldman and his son–and those between men and women, especially Westley and Buttercup. Which are presented more positively? Why do you think that is?

The "good parts" version is what Goldman remembers his father reading to him from an original S. Morgenstern. Did you ever doubt the validity of this claim? Or the truthfulness of his account of Florin? How would it affect your enjoyment of the novel if both devices were fictional?

Is Goldman laughing with his readers . . . or laughing at them?

Happy Thanksgiving! Children's Book Highlight

I am sorry that I didn't get this posted sooner, I was going to try to do it on Monday, but all 3 kids at the library and getting on the computer don't mix. Anyhow, the book for this week is One Tough Turkey A Thanksgiving Story by Steven Kroll, illustrated by John Wallner.

"Solomon is one tough turkey! And when the Pilgrims decide they must have turkey for their first Thanksgiving dinner, he's not about to let them succeed.

With the help of his wife and his children, Solomon leads the hunters on a wild turkey chase. The results are disastrous...in this slapstick version of the first Thanksgiving." -From the inside cover

The kids have really enjoyed reading this one the past week or two, its silly and fun...just what we needed. It has old school illustrations with very few colors, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

Just FYI, I looked it up on Amazon and the lowest price is $40.00!!! It goes all the way up to $121.17. I'm not sure why that is, but I found it fascinating. Just for the record, I would not pay that much money for this book, but if you can get it from the library, its a fun one!

Children's Book Highlight

I've decided to highlight a children's book each week. It should be fun to try to find new books on a regular basis that we love and can highly recommend. The kids will be a big part of selecting the book that gets highlighted, so if you don't like it...you can take it up with them. ;)

The first book that will get this special honor is one of our very favorites by perhaps my very favorite children's author to date. We love all his book, they are interactive and educational. They are entertaining and most spectacular of all the illustrations are fabulous! I'm sure that you all are at least somewhat familiar with his work and some of you may be as big a fan as we are. Here's a pic of Bryant reading it to Jonas.



Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Eric Carle. I was first introduced to this book by friends (Jared and Lisa)in Sacrament Meeting. They had it for their son and of course our boys were right in their faces, so they let us look at it. I fell in love and decided we needed to get it. It is incredibly simple and stunning at the same time. The kids really enjoy knowing what comes next and it is a great vibrant book that teaches colors, we can also teach animals and their sounds as we read it. The reason this is the highlight book is that it was the beginning of Carle's "true career." For which I am so grateful.

Some of our other favorites of Carle's include:
From Head to Toe (the kids love acting out all the things they and the animals can do).
The Very Quiet Cricket (the last page is a special treat)
The Very Lonely Firefly (again the last page is great for the kids)
The Very Busy Spider
The Tiny Seed
Do You Want to Be My Friend?

Check out Eric Carle's webiste and the website for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. We love to read Eric Carle's book and we hope you do too!

Next Book...

Well, I guess if you're reading this, you've forgiven me for my slothfulness. Thank you. The next book we'll be discussing is a FABULOUS read! It should be great fun to discuss too. It is...The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman. Its a pretty long title, I know. This book was recommended to me by Amy in Oregon and I'm so glad that I found it (I needed a book to read while waiting for Ethan one day at work, we went to the DI and happened upon this beauty!) It is great, I don't think you'll be disappointed, but if you are, do tell!

Eclipse ***

OK, so we've been if Florida, what 5 days? I have already read all of Eclipse, that just proves that Utah is why I was basically illiterate ;) So I'm curious what those of you who read it think...

Those of you who haven't read it (or have no idea what it is) its the 3rd book in the Twilight series.

I liked it, I didn't love it. Probably my least favorite of the three, but I really liked the others a lot so I don't know what that means to any of you. :) I felt like it was a little forced...especially Jacob and he was driving me crazy (not in the good way).

It will be really interesting to see what she does with the 4th (and final?) book in the series. I hope if Bella does change that we get to see what she goes through. If we miss that, I will feel robbed...but then again, she may not change. What do you think will happen?

What did you think of the book? While Heather was reading it, she kept saying it was frustrating...I'd love to hear what was frustrating to you all.

What did you like about it?

I obviously need someone to bounce my editorial off of, so please let's get this party started!

To Kill A Mockinbird ****-

Utah has been very bad for my reading plans...in Oregon I read a book a week or close to it. Since I've been in Utah (more than 2 months people) I have not finished a book-and that includes To Kill a Mockingbird. For that reason I have no idea what questions to post for you all to discuss. However, so you have a place to comment about what you thought of the book, I am admitting my failure and posting this. I promise I will do better in the future, in the meantime...To Kill a Mockingbird.

Poetry

If you read our family blog, you've already heard about this, but since I'm a proud little sister I just wanted to invite you to my brother Sean's website.
He has been writing poetry for as long as I can remember and he is so good! Since I know you all enjoy a good book, I thought you might also enjoy some great poetry. It isn't down and depressing, but it can make you think (see In The Mansions of my Father).
I have enjoyed many of his poems for their wit (see Rubber-necker's Revenge or Jelly Beans) and if any of you know Sean you know he is as witty as they come!
This is the same Sean who has joined us for book club once or twice, he chose the books for this month and please don't let his critique of Twilight keep you from his poetry ;) he is incredibly talented. Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy his art as much as I do!

Your Book Lists (Again)

OK, I have this post at the very bottom of the blog, but I thought it deserved to be brought to the surface again. I want to know what you are reading and what you have been reading. Keeping track of your reads is a great thing for personal history, so use this as a means!

Love you all!

Ender's Game Discussion *****

Ender's Game...FINALLY!!! Did you read it? Did you like it? What did you or didn't you like? Let's get some good discussion going.

Explain the statement, "Sometimes lies were more dependable than the truth." After you explain it, tell whether you agree or disagree with the statement and give reasons to support your answer.

Competition and praising Ender's skills are meant to set him apart from the others. For what purpose is this being done and what are the possible types of consequences of these actions?

Explain the following quote in relation to this story and to your own life: "Individual human beings are all tools, that the others use to help us all survive."

Ender works hard to express his feelings in private and not show homesickness in front of any other person. Is it healthy for him or not? What is positive and what is negative about showing feelings? What is positive and what is negative about not showing feelings?

We learn in this chapter that there is a question of whether it is OK to sacrifice the well-being of a child in order to save the world. What exactly is Ender having to sacrifice? How do you think he is being trained to save the world?

How does Ender react to conflicts? What are his reactions? How would you react to the same events? Is what you would do different from what you would like to do?

My brother Richy added a couple of questions in his post, let's add them to the discussion:

What did Peter represent to Ender, and why was this important? Do we have "Peters" in are lives?

What were the pros and cons of Ender's leadership style? Compare his to Bonzo or Rose de Nose.

Thanks everybody, for your patience and for participating. It is really fun for me to talk about books with you all. Until next time, Happy Reading!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows *****

BIG THANKS to our friends the Schneiders for letting me borrow their copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!! I read it in between packing and cleaning (and cooking and kids) Wednesday and Thursday (here I am finishing it up, as you can see, I was really into it. Jonas kept handing me my helmet and was very adamant that I wear it-you know what I always say, "Safety First!") and it was excellent!

I won't be able to get my hands on Ender's Game until we're in Utah so I'll post questions around the middle of the month, for now let's talk about my and possibly your latest read...Harry Potter.

Have you read it yet? Did you like it? What did you predict correctly? What surprised you? What did you like or dislike?

If you haven't read it (or finished) yet, please don't read comments because they will be full of spoilers!

August's Book: Ender's Game

Well, the vote turn out was small and close, but it comes down to Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card for August. It will be a good one for summer and for me in particular since I've got a pretty busy August.



For those of you who want to know what you're getting into here is the set-up (mostly from Wikipedia)

The book takes place somewhere in the near-distant future of Earth. Mankind has made contact with an insectoid alien race known to humanity as the Formics, or colloquially as "Buggers." The buggers have attempted to invade earth twice, having been narrowly defeated the second time by a man named Mazer Rackham, and the threat of the third bugger invasion looms large over the earth.

Enter Ender Wiggin, a six-year-old boy and third son of his parents, an audacity under the population restriction laws, permitted only by special sanction by the government that is seeking the next brilliant military commander. Young Ender is approved by the government for training at the elite Battle School, a space station where children train in armies commanded by older children in mock 41-on-41 battles. Ender chooses to accept the government's offer, leaving behind his parents, his sister Valentine whom he deeply cares for, and his sadistic and manipulative older brother Peter.

The book is mostly about Ender's experience in Battle School and doesn't feel incredibly science fiction to me. In fact, also according to someone who posted on Wikipedia several schools around the world have adopted Ender's Game as required reading, some for its psychological aspects, others for its science fiction background. For example, The Marine Corps University at Quantico as a textbook for the psychology of leadership and Teachers College, Columbia University as an example of online learning

It is really a fascinating book and I think we'll all enjoy discussing it! Until then...Happy Reading!

Twilight *****

July is here and it is time to open our discussion of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I'm really excited to hear what you have to say and to see if you liked it as much as I did. Special thanks to my friend Terra for some great discussion questions. Let's get started!

What did you like about the book?

What didn't you like about it?

Were the characters believable? Was the portrayal of vampires realistic or too caricature?

Why do you think the author chose a high school setting for this grown up romance? How would the story have changed if these characters were adults?

As a first time author, how would you as a reader advise Ms. Meyer in future writing endeavors?

The story has been picked up for possible production into a movie, who would you love to see cast in the roles?

Argue for or against Bella becoming a Vampire.

Why is Edward so against Bella "changing" since he holds no animosity towards Carlisle for changing him?

Edward says he is a selfish being--how is keeping Bella human selfish?

And away we go...

The Devil in the White City **

Sorry it has taken me so long to post the questions for this one. I still haven't quite finished it yet, but decided to get these up in case anyone has something they are dying to say. I've decided to try a different format this time of posting all the questions in one post, that way all the comments regarding the book are in one spot. Hope it all works!

I really am enjoying this book. It is harder for me to read than most of the books I've read, but I think it is the first historical nonfiction book I have attempted. I am sure I will have more to say (I always do), but for now, here are the questions.
They are in sub-categories:

Building the Fair
*Given living conditions in Chicago, what do you think drew people to the city?

*What do you think about the choice to use classical architecture rather than looking toward modern architecture?

*What did you think about the partnership of with Burnham and Root?
Do you think it takes a creative side and people skills to be able to
run a good business?

*How do you think Root's death affected the work?

*If you had your own island at the World's Fair to design what would you do with it?

*Would you have chosen Chicago architects for the Fair or brought in the best the country had to offer?

Murder at the Fair
*What do you think drew Holmes to the women that he killed?

*Why, after all he did, would guards still care for this man?

*How could so many crimes be kept a secret?

*Holmes said there was a devil in him from the time he was born. Do you think that is possible? Are some people made to be that way?

Writing of the Fair
*Did it come off well as a story or was it more like a documentary?

*Would the book have worked better for you if it had followed only one of the two plots? Which one would you have preferred to read?

*Generally speaking what did you like about the book? What did you dislike about the book?

There is plenty to talk about, let's dig right in!

I Am a Mother! ***

This was a great book, last night I was pretty tired, so I didn't do a real review of the book. Today, having slept on it and considered things I am ready to tell you why it is a great book.

It starts as a Cheerleader for motherhood, which is good, but not what I wanted/needed. I, like many of you, have always wanted to be a mom. Even now, though I go crazy with my boys daily, I can hardly wait to have my next child and the next for however many nexts there will be.

It moves on after a couple chapters and here is where I really liked it. She refers to our willingness to submit our will to God's as being a pencil in the hands of God (she got this from Mother Theresa). I am just a pencil, He does the thinking, the writing, the pencil has to only allow itself to be used. As a mother I think this is extremely important. I have a hard time looking at the BIG picture and God in his perfectness sees it all the time, that is why I need to be a pencil in his hand.

She talks about how Satan is really trying to make us, as mothers, feel badly about ourselves and our role because if we quit, his job is a lot easier. Its always good for me to remember that he is always on the offensive, trying to beat me down. It validates that my feelings are real, but I have the power to crush his head!

Chapter 5 is entitled, "Can I Quit Now?" Her experiences have been difficult, making mine seem less than trivial, but to me my trials are real and daunting. I have often found myself on my knees saying, "I can not do this, I really, really need thy help. PLEASE, help me today!" In this chapter she debunks some myths that we too often buy into. I loved some of these, especially #1: You will be in control...you are the mother after all! She says that the real trick is to keep control over ourselves and our behaviors and reactions when everything is out of control, that is when we teach our children real, valuable lessons.

The last thing that left a deep impression on me is that we spend way too much time judging one another when we ought to just love and support each other. I find myself looking at others and comparing myself all too often. I also get my feelings hurt sometimes and begin to feel that some think themselves to be better than me. Its like I'm in junior high school! Walking in each others' shoes is important, our experiences are all different, just like we are all different. Love and support are what matter.

So, I confidently say to you all...I AM A MOTHER!

I am a Mother...and a daughter

I received and read I Am a Mother today. It was a great book that really made me think. The sociology major in me was fascinated by the societal judgments of mothering. Its interesting that those on the outside looking in and those that are in our same circumstances can have such strong opinions about the role of mothers. I found myself thinking about how I feel about myself as a mother. I don't think I'm particularly good at it (not that I'm terrible, either) but it made me question why do I feel that way about myself?

Well, I have an amazing mom, but I unfortunately have treated her unkindly too often. I have focused on the few negatives rather than the profuse positives, this has undoubtedly clouded my opinion of myself as a mother as well since as we judge we will be judged (even if its just judging ourselves). I have always loved and admired my mom, she just deserves much more respect. So, in an effort to change this I give you an homage to my mom.

My mom is the most loving person I have ever met--truly. She loves everyone and you can not come into her home without feeling it.

My mom loves to serve. I haven't always supported her efforts, but she honestly loves to do things for those that she loves. My dad is one lucky guy, she takes care of him constantly.

My mom loves to laugh. She also loves to have others laugh. Making others happy is her ambition in life.

She can zone out of anything going on around her if she is watching a good TV show, especially Murder, She Wrote.

My mom doesn't like it when others are hurting. Whenever someone was being teased or "tricked" she just couldn't let it go on, much to the chagrin of some. :)

She is hands down the best cook I've come in contact with.

She really loves sports, but she gets really into it so she can't always watch. When we played soccer she would run along the side line kicking her foot out as if she were on the field.

She was and is incredibly supportive. She never missed anything that I did in school, be it a play, a concert, or a game. Not only that, but she enjoyed it. Even now, she has coerced my dad into being present for all of Bryant's birthdays.

She is an amazing seamstress. She has sewn me some magnificent gowns (including my wedding dress).

She is genuinely happy and it radiates from her.

She is a great storyteller.

My mom is one of my very best friends. She is a good listener (most of the time) and she gives good advice.

She is a fantastic teacher. She has so many talents and she is so willing to share her wealth with anyone willing to sit down beside her and learn.

She is very devoted and teaches me almost daily to be so.

My mom is the epitome of an optimist. She always wants to believe that the best will happen.

My mom can not hold a grudge. She forgives more readily than anyone I know. For this, I am very grateful.

My mom has a testimony of the gospel and she knows that the Savior lives and that He loves her. She has helped me to gain my testimony of these things.

I love my mom for these and many other reasons. She inspires me to be a better mom and a better person. She is incredible!

Which Harry Potter Book is Your Favorite?

OK, I haven't been able to read The Devil in the White City yet (waiting for the library) but I've been busy with my other books for the summer. I have read Harry Potter, books 1-3 so far. I have never read 1 or 2 before this and all the others I have listened to. They are the most entertaining audio books, Jim Dale does all the voices and he is amazing! (Trying not to use that word too lightly, he's really that good!) I have really enjoyed all of them. They are easy to read and so entertaining. I think thats one of the reasons I like to read Young Adult fiction so much, its written to get young people to love reading.

So which of the Harry Potter books is your favorite? Least fav? Why? What characters do you love, hate, etc? Did you like the movies? I'd love to hear your speculation for book 7 too!

Goose Girl Again *****

I started re-reading The Goose Girl finally and I am once again, loving it. It is only the 2nd novel that I have read more than once. I think re-reading books is great, I am picking up so much more. More details, more story, more magic. Its such a wonderful book. Here are a few things that I am enjoying,

I liked at the beginning when the queen whispered, "You are a princess, open your eyes" and nothing happened. With the people speaking gift, I imagine she thought that would be all she had to do. This could mean many different things, some theories: a)people speaking doesn't work on babies, b)suggests that Ani is stronger than she thought, or c)indicates that the word on Ani's tongue (nature speaking) was more powerful than the people speaking on her mother's.

The first time through I was completely confused by the handkerchief that the queen gave Ani and Ani's interpretation of it. This time through I kind of understood that Ani believed that a mother's love can be magical (ala Harry Potter?). This made so much more sense to me as to why she would believe such things. I can't believe I missed it the first time.

I am hearing so much more description and detail. I love this world they live in. Shannon Hale does a terrific job making things understandable.

I also am enjoying the social commentary. I just read the scene where the workers are discussing the "yellow princess" and all their judgments. I found it very interesting that Ani is honest enough with herself that she catches herself from agreeing too readily because she could very well have been the one they were discussing. It is so, so true to how we work in this society.

That's about it for now, I'm about 1/3 of the way through it.

edited because I finished the book today

WOW! I can't believe that I couldn't put it down again. It was great! I was excited, my heart was racing when Ani was being chased by Ungolad, I was sooooo eager for her to meet Talone. The end was just as rewarding for me this time through. More of my favorite things include:

When Ani is beginning to learn goose talk, she has to listen very carefully because geese talk over each other like "old men who can't hear." Very funny!

I love that Geric had to practice her name trying to memorize it. Though this could go in the romance thread, I'll say it here, I liked the interaction with him seeing her leg and not being embarrassed to say that it was a "very fine leg."

I loved that Ani showed her stuff at the stables to those stable hands who thought she was going to be seriously injured. Seriously, what kind of guys are those? They really think this horse is dangerous and they just let her do what she wants.

Ani is seriously awesome! I was so proud of her this time through all the time Selia was trying to coax her to just admit she was lying. Her resolve to save Kildenree was extremely moving.

OK, enough of my rambling. Tell me what you liked and didn't like. Is this a book you would read again?

My summer reading plans...

So I have been trying to decide what to read this summer and I have decided on some books that I thought I'd share. First, I will be reading all the books for our book club, obviously. :) I am also planning on reading all the Harry Potter books before the grand finale debuts. Our ward will be having book club (the last one I can attend :( sadly)and I will be reading that book as well, if I can just remember what the title is.

I just purchased a couple books by LDS authors that sound very good, a little departure from my "normal" reads as they are both non-fiction. The first is "I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson. I am extremely excited to read this. She wrote it because she heard so often from LDS women describing their lives, "I'm just a mother." If I love it as much as I think I might, we may be reading it for discussion (sorry to all the guys in our club). I love the cover, so here is a copy of it for your viewing pleasure.



The other book I just bought is called, "The Mormon Way of Doing Business" I can't remember who wrote it, but he is LDS. It is about 7 or 8 top business executives that are LDS and their experiences with faith, family, and business.

I am looking forward to my summer of reading. Wish me luck! What are you reading? Have any of you read the books on my list? What did you think of them? Let me know!

The Goose Girl Discussion

Well, what did you think of the book? I have posted several questions below to help our discussion along. There is a comments link at the bottom of each post, just click it and add your thoughts, then you can click "other" and type your name in. If you have comments that don't fit with the questions or your own questions to add, post them in the comments at the end of this post. Don't be afraid to add your opinion, we're all friends here!

Royalty

*SPOILER WARNING*
The queen says that in order for a queen to succeed she must stay apart, "separation, elevation, and delegation." Do you agree? How did this affect Ani's abilities?

"Royalty is not a right, Captain. The willingness of the people to follow a ruler is what gives her power." (Selia, pg. 79). Do you agree? Is this action similar to those taken by others in history who wished to gain power over their own destinies? By the end, how does Ani fit Selia's definition of royalty?

How would you describe how one can succeed in royalty?

Family Ties

*SPOILER WARNING*
How would Ani's family react if they knew how she had saved their kingdom? Would they regret the way they treated her? How would her Aunt feel about all she had done? Whose approval would mean the most to Ani?

Love is in the air...

*SPOILER WARNING*
Does Ani's mom love her? Discuss the romance of Ani and Geric? How would he describe her? Why does their romance bloom and then wilt? Were you surprised at his true identity?

Setting

What details of the setting are your favorites? Why? Does it seem familiar or true to you?

Fairy Tales

Fairy tales often share common characteristics-use of the #3, magical elements, transformation, misleading appearances, and conquest of good over evil. Also the hero or heroine is often infallible. Which elements are incorporated in Goose Girl? Why do you think these were chosen and others omitted? How is a fairy tale different from other stories?

Goose Girl (The Movie)

If you were producing a movie of The Goose Girl, whom would you cast in each role?

Upcoming Books

Since not everyone will be reading each book and since I know there will be a waiting list at some libraries for some of our books, I will try to post books for the next few months.

For June we will be reading "The Devil in the White City", by Eric Larson as recommended by my good friend Kim V. Amazon.com says this about it,

"Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that The Devil in the White City is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. Burnham's challenge was immense...Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson's skillful writing."

July's book is a newfound personal favorite of mine, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. From Amazon.com,

" As Shakespeare knew, love burns high when thwarted by obstacles. In Twilight, an exquisite fantasy by Stephenie Meyer, readers discover a pair of lovers who are supremely star-crossed. Bella adores beautiful Edward, and he returns her love. But Edward is having a hard time controlling the blood lust she arouses in him, because--he's a vampire. At any moment, the intensity of their passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the danger. But, Bella would rather be dead than part from Edward, so she risks her life to stay near him, and the novel burns with the erotic tension of their dangerous and necessarily chaste relationship. Meyer has achieved quite a feat by making this scenario completely human and believable."

PLEASE don't let this premise keep you from this PHENOMENAL love story. Trust me, you will enjoy it!

I am so looking forward to reading and discussing these books with you. I hope you are too! Happy reading!

Your Book Lists

OK, so everyone knows what I have read. What have you read and do you recommend? I'm always looking for something good to read, I can't just choose something from the shelf, so here is where you help me (and one another). Feel free to list "hits" and "misses." Maybe try to include if it has any naughty stuff so people aren't shocked if they pick up one of your recommendations, if they have the information I'm sure they'll make a good choice for themselves. Thanks!

May's Book

The book I have chosen for May is...Drum roll please...The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. Booklist had this to say about it:

"A fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a satisfying conclusion. The engaging plot can certainly carry the tale, but Hale's likable, introspective heroine makes this also a book about courage and justice in the face of overwhelming odds. The richly rendered, medieval folkloric setting adds to the charm."

Its an EASY and fun book to read and I hope you will join me for our discussion. We will officially have our "meeting" on May 30, but add comments anytime before or after that.

I know some of you have already had this as a book club book, so it should be easy to add your thoughts here, we would all love to hear them.

Enjoy, The Goose Girl

My Book List

I am trying to keep track of all the books I have read since moving to Oregon. This is my list so far. I know...how do I find time to raise my kids? They are in alphabetical order by author. Some I loved, some I didn't even like, if you have any questions or comments on any them, just add a comment and I will try to get back to you. They are ranked on a 5 star scale, 1 being not good-5 being super! Kim

Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice *****

Dan Brown
Angels and Demons *****
The DaVinci Code ****

Olive Ann Burns Cold Sassy Tree *

Orson Scott Card
Ender’s Game *****
Speaker of the Dead ****
Xenocide **
Children of the Mind **
Ender’s Shadow ****
Shadow of the Hegemon *****
Shadow Puppets ***
Shadow of the Giant ***
Seventh Son ***
Red Prophet ***
Prentice Alvin ***
Alvin Journeyman ***
Heartfire ****
Crystal City ****
The Memory of Earth ****
The Call of Earth ***
The Ships of Earth ***
First Meetings in the Enderverse **
Stone Tables ****

Agatha Christie The Mousetrap and Other Plays ****

Caroline Cooney The Face in the Milk Carton***

Roald Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ***

Cornelia Funke
Inkheart ****
Inkspell (still reading)

John Grisham A Painted House ***

Shannon Hale
The Goose Girl *****
Enna Burning ***
River Secrets ****

Chris Heimerdinger Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites ***

Frank Herbert DUNE **

Dean Hughes
Hearts of the Children vol.1-5 ****
Midway to Heaven ****

Elizabeth Kostova The Historian ****

Jon Krakauer Into Thin Air *** (rated R for bad language)

C.S. Lewis
The Magician’s Nephew ***
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe *****
The Horse and His Boy *****
Prince Caspian ****
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader *****
Sliver Chair ***
The Last Battle ****

Gerald Lund
The Alliance ***
The Work and the Glory vol. 1-9 ****

Stephenie Meyer
Twilight *****
New Moon *****

L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables *****

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Beetles, Lightly Toasted **

Edith Nesbit The Enchanted Castle ****

Garth Nix Sabriel ***

Carol Lynn Pearson Goodbye, I Love You *

Stephen E. Robinson Believing Christ *****

J.K.Rowling Harry Potter vol.6 The Half-Blood Prince *****

Louis Sachar Holes ***

Virginia Sorensen Miracles on Maple Hill **

Chris Stewart
The Brothers ***
Where Angels Fall ***
The Second Sun ***

Can't Remember
Mr. Summer’s Story *
The Trial ***

Book Club 101

I have developed such a PASSION for reading that I thought it might be a fun way to keep in touch with my loved ones. I have created this blog to act as an online "book club" where we can discuss a variety of books.

The way I want to try it to begin with is to select a book each month or every other month and then discuss it through comments on this blog. We'll try it for a few months and see if this is the best format for our "club."

I ask that we refrain from comments that will belittle others and that may be offensive. I'm sure that will not be a problem! :)

When you post a comment, be sure to put your name. It might be nice if you include how you know me, since I will be the common thread among you all.

Hopefully this will be a fun venue to keep in touch and expand our literary horizons! Thanks for playing! ENJOY!

Kim