By Sam Kean
I have a weird fascination with books that instruct as well as entertain. I have many times been picked on for enjoying travel writing. This one intrigued me because it takes a look at the periodic table and tells all the interesting stories behind the elements. I will say there were times that I was a tad stumped as the last real science class I took was in high school (Elementary Education doesn't require those hard math and science courses), but then again, I'm not sure everyone grasps quantum mechanics on their first attempt. Not a fast read as you have to think more than when reading a book like, "Eat, Pray, Love", but one I would recommend as the information is presented in an interesting way. It leaves you looking at items like aluminum foil or the ingredients in your tums with a slightly different understanding.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Book # 22: The Notebook
by Nicholas Sparks
I absolutely loved the movie, so the book fell short of my expectations. The development of the characters was lacking, especially for how and why they fell in love. It was too much implied destiny for me. The overall concept was intriguing and classic, but I just expected more. It almost seemed like over the top romance for me. Maybe I would have enjoyed it in high school, but at this point in my life, I like to understand why people are in love, and just because they are destined to be doesn't cut it. The movie did a spectacular job building on why they worked as a couple, and a number of my favorite parts of the movie weren't in the book.
I'm going to try one more of Nicholas Spark's books, his newest one, because I will still admit that my disappointment might have been caused by enjoying the movie so much. I'll keep you posted.
I absolutely loved the movie, so the book fell short of my expectations. The development of the characters was lacking, especially for how and why they fell in love. It was too much implied destiny for me. The overall concept was intriguing and classic, but I just expected more. It almost seemed like over the top romance for me. Maybe I would have enjoyed it in high school, but at this point in my life, I like to understand why people are in love, and just because they are destined to be doesn't cut it. The movie did a spectacular job building on why they worked as a couple, and a number of my favorite parts of the movie weren't in the book.
I'm going to try one more of Nicholas Spark's books, his newest one, because I will still admit that my disappointment might have been caused by enjoying the movie so much. I'll keep you posted.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Book # 21: Committed
by Elizabeth Gilbert
I was disappointed. While I generally disagree with Liz's outlook on life and her values and political standings, etc., Eat, Pray, Love was at least a story about a woman visiting places and working through things. Even if I couldn't understand what she was working through or appreciate her struggles, I, at least, found her experiences while traveling intriguing. Committed is (as she admits towards the end) simply a book of Liz trying to find a way to get over her distaste of marriage, in order to get her Brazilian "lover" a permanent US Visa by marrying him. There were less travel stories, and mainly a series of Liz vents about how she felt about marriage and its past.
I really couldn't relate because I'm one of those people who Liz would find hard to relate to. I am married, glad to be, and wouldn't have it any other way. Never felt that not getting married was an option I wanted. Never felt that not having children was an option I wanted. And frankly believe that divorce is not an option either. Yes, I realize it takes two on the divorce aspect, but I believe that all the soul searching and premarital hoo-ha that Liz did before getting married this time happened before I got married the first time. So it's confusing because the 20ish year old that Liz describes before her first marriage was someone that frankly I never was. Not that I'm bragging; I'm not trying to. I'm just trying to say that it was extremely hard to relate to this book. And frankly, I will be more cautious about choosing to read her books in the future because at times it just left a horrible taste in my mouth.
I was disappointed. While I generally disagree with Liz's outlook on life and her values and political standings, etc., Eat, Pray, Love was at least a story about a woman visiting places and working through things. Even if I couldn't understand what she was working through or appreciate her struggles, I, at least, found her experiences while traveling intriguing. Committed is (as she admits towards the end) simply a book of Liz trying to find a way to get over her distaste of marriage, in order to get her Brazilian "lover" a permanent US Visa by marrying him. There were less travel stories, and mainly a series of Liz vents about how she felt about marriage and its past.
I really couldn't relate because I'm one of those people who Liz would find hard to relate to. I am married, glad to be, and wouldn't have it any other way. Never felt that not getting married was an option I wanted. Never felt that not having children was an option I wanted. And frankly believe that divorce is not an option either. Yes, I realize it takes two on the divorce aspect, but I believe that all the soul searching and premarital hoo-ha that Liz did before getting married this time happened before I got married the first time. So it's confusing because the 20ish year old that Liz describes before her first marriage was someone that frankly I never was. Not that I'm bragging; I'm not trying to. I'm just trying to say that it was extremely hard to relate to this book. And frankly, I will be more cautious about choosing to read her books in the future because at times it just left a horrible taste in my mouth.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
To Mommy Meg:
Don't feel like I'm beating you. You are actually giving me a run for my money. I have a few times been worried you were going to zoom past me as you have stayed so close to my numbers.
So I will say this: even if I don't end up winning, the competition has been effective in helping me keep reading as a priority in my life. And for that I'm thankful!
~Kelly
So I will say this: even if I don't end up winning, the competition has been effective in helping me keep reading as a priority in my life. And for that I'm thankful!
~Kelly
Book # 20: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
by Stephenie Meyer
This is a Twilight novella, which tells the story of a character briefly introduced in the novel Eclipse. It is not nearly as good as the Twilight series itself, but for those of us hooked on the world Stephenie created this book allows us another journey back into that realm. An easy read that I finished in two days as I basically read every second I could get. And I will say that if Stephanie decides to continue Fred's story (he was introduced in this book), I would be willing to read it.
This is a Twilight novella, which tells the story of a character briefly introduced in the novel Eclipse. It is not nearly as good as the Twilight series itself, but for those of us hooked on the world Stephenie created this book allows us another journey back into that realm. An easy read that I finished in two days as I basically read every second I could get. And I will say that if Stephanie decides to continue Fred's story (he was introduced in this book), I would be willing to read it.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Book # 19: Eat, Pray, Love
by Elizabeth Gilbert
This was another book that I chose to read because of the movie coming out. Afterall, the movie has Julia Roberts, and most any movie with Julia Roberts will be one that I see. And as the books are often better than the movies, I had to read the book first. Elizabeth spends four months in three places: in Italy to eat, in India to pray, and in Indonesia to love. I was skeptical to be honest. And it was hard to relate with Elizabeth. Afterall, she is the one jumping out of marriage at age 30 to roam the world and pursue writing, while I am the one at 28 who jumped out of teaching and am home, married, and raising three kids. Very different perspectives and priorities. However, she is such a person (and she admits it in telling why she is a good traveler) who makes friends easily, and this came across in her book, thus making it easier to see her side. I don't agree with a lot of what she wrote about or a lot of what she necessarily decides to do. But I found a surprisingly large amount of truth in her prayer journey to India. As an Orthodox Christian I would not agree with the general principles of her found religion, but some of the practices that she found are truth, such as fasting, praying constantly, and even the description of heaven and hell that she finds. So it was intriguing to see where truth could be found. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough to be seeking out the sequel.
This was another book that I chose to read because of the movie coming out. Afterall, the movie has Julia Roberts, and most any movie with Julia Roberts will be one that I see. And as the books are often better than the movies, I had to read the book first. Elizabeth spends four months in three places: in Italy to eat, in India to pray, and in Indonesia to love. I was skeptical to be honest. And it was hard to relate with Elizabeth. Afterall, she is the one jumping out of marriage at age 30 to roam the world and pursue writing, while I am the one at 28 who jumped out of teaching and am home, married, and raising three kids. Very different perspectives and priorities. However, she is such a person (and she admits it in telling why she is a good traveler) who makes friends easily, and this came across in her book, thus making it easier to see her side. I don't agree with a lot of what she wrote about or a lot of what she necessarily decides to do. But I found a surprisingly large amount of truth in her prayer journey to India. As an Orthodox Christian I would not agree with the general principles of her found religion, but some of the practices that she found are truth, such as fasting, praying constantly, and even the description of heaven and hell that she finds. So it was intriguing to see where truth could be found. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough to be seeking out the sequel.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Book # 18: Perfect Circles: Redefining Perfection
by John Michael Stuart, MSW
I started this book not realizing that it was meant to be a self-help book. Therefore, it was a bit of a struggle to read as my expectations for it were different than what it turned out to be. John Stuart has cerebral palsy which he was born with due to being deprived of oxygen for four minutes. He is therefore physically disabled, and faces all of the challenges that come with this. Throughout the book he intersperses stories and events from his life with inspirational messages and ways of thinking. I got the book looking to read the stories, and discovered that the inspirational messages were a bigger part of the book. At first I was annoyed; and frankly, almost stopped reading it, but then I decided as I was already 45 pages in to give it a shot and keep going. And I'm glad I did. It is a good book! A lot of the things he recommends to help you learn to accept yourself, move on, and be happy in life are things that I've discovered since becoming an Orthodox Christian. Just two quick examples are: 1. the power of your mind over your body; 2. the power of forgiveness to move you toward reconciliation. In Orthodoxy we fast to help us overcome our fallen bodies which are weak, and we are expected to forgive constantly. To demonstrate the forgiveness aspect we begin each Lenten period before Pascha (our Easter) by attending a Forgiveness Vespers where after the service we all line up and ask every member of the parish including our families for forgiveness. In which they reply, "God forgives, and I forgive". I'm not sure of John Stuart's religious beliefs or if he even has any, but a number of the truths he brings about in his book are "perfectly" stated.
I started this book not realizing that it was meant to be a self-help book. Therefore, it was a bit of a struggle to read as my expectations for it were different than what it turned out to be. John Stuart has cerebral palsy which he was born with due to being deprived of oxygen for four minutes. He is therefore physically disabled, and faces all of the challenges that come with this. Throughout the book he intersperses stories and events from his life with inspirational messages and ways of thinking. I got the book looking to read the stories, and discovered that the inspirational messages were a bigger part of the book. At first I was annoyed; and frankly, almost stopped reading it, but then I decided as I was already 45 pages in to give it a shot and keep going. And I'm glad I did. It is a good book! A lot of the things he recommends to help you learn to accept yourself, move on, and be happy in life are things that I've discovered since becoming an Orthodox Christian. Just two quick examples are: 1. the power of your mind over your body; 2. the power of forgiveness to move you toward reconciliation. In Orthodoxy we fast to help us overcome our fallen bodies which are weak, and we are expected to forgive constantly. To demonstrate the forgiveness aspect we begin each Lenten period before Pascha (our Easter) by attending a Forgiveness Vespers where after the service we all line up and ask every member of the parish including our families for forgiveness. In which they reply, "God forgives, and I forgive". I'm not sure of John Stuart's religious beliefs or if he even has any, but a number of the truths he brings about in his book are "perfectly" stated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)