Where Does It Go?

Time- it gets away from me before I even know it's happening!

I have recently read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Enjoyable story about a woman's quest to "find herself" through Italy, India, and Indonesia. Many parts were entertaining and educational; others were a strain to filter through the cultural references. Visit her site to read many other reviews.


I just began a book found on the bargain table at Waldenbooks. It claims to be an international bestseller and the title is familiar but I can't place where I've heard it. Interred With Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell Since I teach a unit of Shakespeare to my students, I think I'll enjoy the references.

Finally, I have to read the most recent book in the young adult series by James Patterson, Max

Any recommendations from my readers?

The Help

Kathryn Stockett has written a powerful first novel about the racial division between whites and blacks. My curiosity propelled me to read this 451 pg. book with fervor as I learned about a world so different from 2009. The setting is Jackson, Mississippi, around 1962. Ms. Skeeter is the cotton plantation owner's daughter with a college degree but no prospects for marriage. She moves back home to find her beloved maid, Constantine, gone with no one telling anything about her disappearance. Aibileen is a black maid, raising her 17th white child. She lost her own son to a foolish act of a white person and knows her heart is broken. Minny, Aibileen's best friend has the biggest mouth this side of the Mississippi and has lost plenty of jobs because of it.

These 3 women embark on an adventure destined to open the door to the many stories black maids have to tell about their white families. I was intrigued with the many details of a lifestyle such as this. It is different than a slave/master relationship because the help received a wage but segration was still there with separate bathrooms in white people houses.


The Help is addictively, compulsively readable. I couldn’t put it down. Stockett’s debut is well-written, and it is clear that she really understands Southern life and has made great efforts to understand what life was like for black women who served white families. She presents sad stories that leave a great glimmer of hope, and though she examines our differences and our mistakes, she highlights our humanity to wonderful effect. And while this is a serious book, it also has wonderfully lighthearted moments, humorous moments, and strikingly funny insights into women and their behavior.

I took this review from here.

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

You've probably heard the story...

Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, discovered he was dying of terminal cancer. He was asked to give a "Last Lecture" before most people knew of his condition. He used that opportunity to focus on achieving your childhood dreams, no matter the obstacles. He wanted to leave something of himself for his children who would never really know their father.

The story is short but poignant. It will make you cry and smile through the tears. It will make you hug your loved ones and thank God for another day.

Quotes I love from this book:
"Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think."

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."

On Deck

Hello, my loyal readers (even if there are only 2 of you)! Starting the school year has taken a toll on my blog updates. I've barely had time to keep up with my personal blog, let alone this one. However, I have been reading! I'm in the 2nd House of Night book called Betrayed. This is another vampire series, folks, and it's a good one! Oklahoma authors and lots of references to the Tulsa area make this one our teens will love!

The Scholastic Book Fair has been at my school this week and oh, how I drooled! I had a stack of choices a mile high before checking the pocketbook and did the responsible thing. I narrowed my choices based on the amount of cash I had and came away with 2 books. The first is an adult bestseller by Lori Lansens called The Girls. It's a story about 2 sisters who happen to be twins and who happen to be conjoined. The story is about their life. I can't wait to start it! My second purchase is a young adult novel that flew off the book fair shelves into the clamoring hands of eager junior high students wanting something cutting edge. I think they've found it. It's The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod- Eighth Grade Bytes by Heather Brewer. Critics called it "gruesome, heartwarming, spellbinding." My type of adjectives!

I did a booktalk over a book in my Top Ten- Silent to the Bone- to my classes last week. All 5 copies in the library were checked out by the end of the day and the waiting list multiplied. How I love the power of suggestion!

On Deck

I've been on a hiatus from reading the past couple of days. I don't know why; I guess I saturated my brain with other people's lives and needed a break. The last book I finished was Honeymoon by James Patterson. If you've ever read anything by him, you know it was intense.

Here's what I have on deck:
A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving
Seasons of Passions by Danielle Steel
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Karen Kingsbury

Today's post is about my introduction to Christian fiction. My mom had read a couple of Karen Kingsbury's books and recommended them to me. I wasn't so sure because I doubted they would have the racy plots that I enjoy. Then, Mom bought me 2 books for my birthday and I decided to give one a whirl. I read A Time To Dance first and am currently reading Above the Clouds. I immediately noticed the strong spiritual connections and the emphasis on prayer. A Time To Dance is a story of reconciliation between a man and wife who have had a fairytale marriage but time, children, and jobs have wedged between the 2 and now they are facing a divorce. The story sounds just like the life of someone I might know and it is comforting to read about how the power of prayer can save a marriage.

Review of Carl Hiassen

Don't be turned off by the title! Strip Tease by Carl Hiassen didn't live up to my expectation of "hilarious" like the back cover advertised. As a result, I didn't finish the book. That is a common practice for me if the plot just isn't my thing. I feel like I shouldn't waste valuable reading time on a book I don't really like. Like I said, don't let the title turn you away. It refers to the occupation of the main character, Erin, who is morally stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to making money and getting her daughter back from her loser/thief/druggie ex-husband. I think I'll try one of his young adult books like Flush or Hoot next.

Carl Hiassen

I have never read anything by this author, but I just picked up a book by him at the library. I am familiar with his young adult books, Flush and Hoot, and was surprised to find that he has several adult books as well. Based on his website, Carl Hiassen writes about environmental and political issues where his main character tackles a problem with great odds. With witty humor and clever plot, the story moves quickly. I think this is an author I will enjoy very much!

After searching his website, I'm curious about the book Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World.