The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister

Having seen this book on the list of possible books to review I was very excited. Being a lector at church, I thought this book would be very helpful for me in understanding the gospel a little better.

I began reading the book and quickly had flashbacks to my Ancient History course in College. I am very interested in history and learning about why certain days are named for certain Saints and what they did and why we celebrate certain holidays the way we did but something about this book made me feel as if a quiz was going to be handed out when I finished and I better take notes! The book reads like a textbook and when it isn't giving you pure, basic information, the author gives you some real life comparisons that really don't help. It took me quite a while to get through this book. I am still interested in all the aspects of the church and the liturgical year but I feel that this book did not help me answer the questions that I had. It is a great reference book for people who want to know what a particular event in the Catholic Year.

The Power of Respect

A lot of people today tend to forget about a little word called RESPECT. Be it for themselves, for those they know or even someone they do not know, people tend to forget that in order to receive respect you must give respect. Deborah Norville writes about the power respect can have on one's life and why it is so important to not only respect yourself but to respect those you encounter everyday. Everyone can point out a person they see during the day who does not respect themselves. Deborah shows why it is so important to respect everyone and everything around you. Just because you may become a high paying executive in a multi-million dollar company, that does not mean that you should not respect the person who sweeps your office every night. Every living thing on this planet deserves the same respect. We all came in this world the same way. No one is better than anyone else. Everyone should read this book because although many have been taught this their whole lives, I think we all need a little reminder every once in a while.

The Tallest of Smalls

In Max Lucado's new children's book, The Tallest of Smalls, a young boy name Ollie wants desperately to fit in with all the other people in the town of Stiltsville. The cool people of the town decide who can and who can not wear the stilts. One day he is finally chosen but soon finds out that it Is not what he expected it to be. When Ollie needs help, he finds that none of the cool people are there to help him. Ollie soon discovers what it is really like to be cool. It isn't until Jesus comes to him that he realizes he is perfect the way he is and that is he loved by those who matter most just the way he is.

More children's books need to be made and read to children with this message. Just because someone is in the cool crowd, it doesn't mean they are a good person. You really have to become a part of that group to find out that popularity does not make a person good. This is a wonderful book for parents to read to their children and keep reading to remind them of what it means to be loved. You are made the way you are and you shouldn't change it to fit in!

The Search for God and Guinness

Mostly everyone knows the name Guinness, the dark beer made in Ireland mostly drank on Saint Patrick's Day. But unless you have gone to Ireland or read about Arthur Guinness, the man who started the company, you would not know much else about this product. Returning from a trip to Ireland, relatives informed me of the nutritional value found within a Guinness. No one knew the spiritual and giving side that can be found inside each bottle. I had no idea the man who started a company brewing beer did such well for an entire country. You would never think someone who brews beer would care about the well being of a country and all the workers they employed. What amazed me more was the fact that as the years have gone on, the Guinness ancestors who took over the company kept on caring and doing all they could and more than what was already done to help the workers and families of this company. This book is great for anyone interested in both the wonderful company Guinness is and the amazing history of beer. Never would I have imagined it was around for so long. I chose to read this book because it was about Guinness, and being Irish you tend to have a special place in your heart for anything Ireland-related, but quickly found myself proud of the nation I came from and proud of the people it creates. Arthur Guinness was one of the few great business men of the late 18^th early 19^th century. He's the type of man who makes you proud to be Irish!

Kabul 24

In the book Kabul 24 by Henry O. Arnold and Ben Pearson, the story of Shelter Now International workers capture, trial and release from the Taliban is told in a profound way. The story goes further into detail than the news ever gave. How these individuals survived this event is unbelievable. To sum up the story, these individuals were set up by the Taliban and the people they thought they were helping. They were invited into these homes and used as game pieces in a well thought out game of strategy. These men KNEW what they were doing and actually thought out the best way to get the US!!! The capture of these workers happened just before 9/11 and it was planned to happen that way in order to attack the US. These amazing people dealt with the most uncivilized, disgusting people I have ever read about! The way these workers and some of their families describe what they went through actually made my heart beat in my throat at times. These workers used their belief in God to get through this unbelievable experience. All this took place because they THOUGHT these people were teaching Christianity and they weren't. No facts were checked, no investigations… It was almost like the Salem Witch Trials! No justice can take place when you are dealing with people like the Taliban. They don't care who you are, where you come from… they will kill you just for not being a Muslim. The charges these individuals faced were made up and in no way would they have stuck in the United States Judicial System. This is an AMAZING book… If you want to learn about how the Taliban and some people in Afghanistan treat foreigners you must read this book. I had no idea some of these people do the things they do to Americans. A movie based on this book will be coming out soon and I will be watching it! The authors did such a great job describing the pain these individuals went through. Although the book is about Christian missionaries, the majority of the book only discusses what they went through and doesn't make it all about the Christian faith so if you are concerned that this book will be filled with religious sentiment, I can honestly tell you it is not. Everyone should read this book… especially those who think the Taliban is not a real threat!

From Peanuts to the Pressbox

Eli Gold has been a sportscaster for over 25 years. He began his work as a young man, not even out of high school, on the radio and eventually landed on TV, doing commentary for NASCAR. Along the way he met many fellow sportscasters who would one day become well known to many, including Marv Albert and Bob Costas. Eli has covered a wide array of sporting events- from hockey to NASCAR. His dream began as a little boy listening to the radio before bed and even now has not diminished regardless of the success he has achieved as a renowned sportscaster.

Eli's book starts off telling the story of a young boy who dreamed of one day working on the radio, doing what he loved to do most- talking about sports. The book does not really go too deeply into Eli's life but it does describe the world of sports during the 1970's to today wonderfully. This book is wonderful for any sports enthusiast. Not being one myself, I still found myself pulled in to the many stories Eli tells about the world of sports and all the amazing people he got a chance to meet. A quick, great read!

Knockout Entrepreneur

In this book by Heavyweight Boxer George Foreman, the tools needed to succeed in life and business is given to you in an easy to understand manner. George Foreman gives you all the tools he used when building his business and tells you how to do it while showing you that if he didn't try he wouldn't be who he is. Along with the helpful tips given by George, he tells stories about what happened to him- during his boxing career, regarding the grill and much more. Not once while reading this book do you feel like you are reading a self help book. The way George tells stories about his life and how he made his business is comforting. The book makes you feel like you are talking to a close family friend, giving you advice when you are having a bad day and need a little boost. The advice given is things you may have heard all your life but they are very helpful. You never know what can happen to you if you try. There is always something better out there for you. George makes it seem like you can do everything you want as long as you believe in what you are trying to do. A wonderful book for everyone!

New Obsession????

A few weeks ago I saw online that the trailer for the new Tim Burton film was avaliable and clicked on to see. Little did I know that by watching that clip I would instantly be sucked into a new obsession.

The film, Alice in Wonderland, stars Johnny Depp (ahh I love him!), Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway (bleh) and others.

The movie looks amazing...I can't wait to see it.

Now that doesn't sound weird until you take a little look further into my brain. The reason I believe it is a new obsession is because I have watched the clip at least a dozen times, googled it more than that, started listening to the audio book of the Lewis Carroll novel, watched the Disney version, and even downloaded a song onto my iPod.

These are not normal events!!! I've been trying to figure out why I have become so fascinated by this movie and I think the reasons are (a) JOHNNY!!!! (b) JOHNNY AND TIM BURTON!!! and finally (c) a little part of me has always been obsessed with Alice in Wonderland.

My reason for explanation C is because when I was like 8 years old I used to watch one TV show before school every single day. It was called Adventures in Wonderland and I LOVED IT!!!!! I still miss it and look for it on DVD and iTunes. It was about a girl who would walk through her bedroom mirror and enter Wonderland and discover new things... My favorite episode was when she learned that Luden's Cherry Throat Drops were not candy; they were medicine and she should not eat them like candy... I know cheesy, but it's Disney!!! Oh and I also dressed as Alice for Halloween when I was I wanna say 6 and carried around my stuffed White Rabbit.

It was until a few weeks before the trailer came out that I had an unexplainable need to download the audio book of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll... partly because I got it for free, possibly because it is narrated by the same man who narrates Pushing Daisies, but I think I've always wanted to know what the book was like.

I still keep thinking about how my go-to movie is still Disney's Alice in Wonderland and how I watch it before I go to bed, which does give me weird dreams I have to say... I once dreamt I was dancing around a giant umbrella like the Walrus did

.... I know, I'm very strange....

Oh, did I mention my new love of croquet?!

I must stop and enjoy my new love of Alice in Wonderland for who knows how long it will last... It seems to have lasted 18 years.... who knows how much longer?!

What's He Really Thinking

What's He Really Thinking is a book written about the differences between men and woman and how to better understand them. Upon seeing the book I was really interested in reading it because I have wondered many times, "Why do men do what they do?" and "What are they thinking?". Paula Rinehart does go into some very good details about the history of men and women, all the way back to the biblical era.

Having such high expectations about this book, I was seriously disappointed . Within the first ten pages, I was lost. I had little interest in finishing, but did. I may be too young to understand all the details Paula gives regarding her thirty year marriage, but I felt like a lot of the things she said were just not relatable to a younger audience. I believe that if you are in your late 20’s maybe 30’s and you are still having a difficult time understanding the male psyche, then this is the perfect book for you. I appreciate the work she did and all the interesting facts she has given, but I think that if you are in your early twenties you should stick to books like He’s Just Not That Into You. I think a little part of every woman will always wonder about what men are thinking.

Rick and Bubba

Rick and Bubba's Guide to Marriage is described as a humorous look into marriage. The book is comprised of a bunch of stories from both Rick and Bubba about their marriages, their children, and the many different aspects of being married. It's a quick and easy read.

Before reading this book, I noticed on Amazon.com that the similar book to this are written by people like Glenn Beck and being a fan of Glenn Beck I was excited to read this. I received the book and after about two chapters, completely lost interest in it. I really did not find them to have humorous stories; somewhat funny, if that, and many of the stories have been things men have been saying for years about their wives. I could be one of the few people who did not enjoy this book mainly because I am not married yet and do not know what it is like. I'm not quite sure. The expectation for this book was way too high for what I received. Next time I think something is going to be, let's say "Red-Neck" style funny, I'll just pop in one of my Blue Collar DVD's and listen to their views on marriage.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

In The Noticer by Andy Andrews, an old man named Jones, not Mr. Jones-just Jones, comes into the lives of the citizens of a small town in Alabama. He goes from person to person, some looking for advice, others just living their life unaware of the advice they are about to receive from this stranger. No matter the age, Jones gives each citizen a comforting word of advice; a special way of finding some perspective in the lives they are living. From young teenagers to elderly women, the advice Jones gives changes the lives of each of these members of this town. Although no one knows him, he knows all of them.
The Noticer is one of those books you read where you may find yourself agreeing with what is said or not agreeing with what is said. The one thing that is repeated throughout the book is the need for perspective. The different ways in which the main character explains to each of the supporting characters what they need to do in order to enjoy their lives, or put their life in order, stunned me. They may seem like simple, common things, but not many of us take the time we need to think about what we are doing, or what we need to do, in order to find peace within our lives.

Summer Reading List

My goal for this summer is to read all the books I have been piling up on my bookshelf for over a year.

Here's the list:

Always Looking Up by Michael J Fox

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Losing Mum and Pup by Christopher Buckley

The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

(I'm hoping it doesn't give me a headache like that last time I attempted to read it)
PS I Love You by Cecilia Ahearn
Jane Austen
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea? by Chelsea Handler

I also plan on listening to the 3 audio books I have collected over the year.

You'd think I'd be able to atleast listen to a book...

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

Alices Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

(Audiobook purchased because the narrator is the same guy that narrated Pushing Daisies... It's been 17 days, 9 hours, 54 minutes....)

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

So... If I actually accomplish my goal of reading all these books I will have like 2 books left and God knows I am not re-reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison again... Freshman Year- English 02- "Find the symbolism of the yellow flower growing in the cracks of the sidewalk." Um, okay, it's a dandelion, a weed, they grow, nothing else!!!! (Yeah that didn't go well...) I guess I'll have to start re-collecting... Have a great summer. READ A GOOD BOOK!!!

Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm

Over the weekend, I took a trip with my Aunt Jill, Mumsey and cousins to Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm. It only took about 2 hours from Rockville Centre,NY to arrive there. Luckily, I remembered to pack my portable DVD player with me for the ride and a few DVDs- Pee Wee Herman Season 1 and 2 and Enchanted and the power plug for the first time ever! I was also smart enough to pack my Garmin GPS with me, which without it we may have wound up in Maine, or Canada, but definitely not there. We arrived safely and had a little tail-gate in the street out of my aunt's trunk. My cousins enjoyed eating their fried chicken and Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes in the street. As we were walking to meet up with friends, the overwhelming smell of goats came upon us. Let's just say it's a good thing it wasn't hot! We walked around the farm for a little bit until my one cousin had to go inside of the goat pen. It wasn't SO bad, but a little stinky. I was fine until my sneakers got covered with, let's say mud, and I had to change into my rain boots which thankfully I packed. The goats were adorable!!

After spending some time with the goats, we walked around the beautiful property. We saw some men using the wool to create beautiful blankets and scarves.

After that we walked over the bridge to, lucky us, a Revolutionary War re-enact er. Thank goodness he was there; my cousin's were entertained for a few hours. As we were walking over the bridge, the wonderful smell of Lilac took over. Of course we swiped a little branch and brought it home with us. After spending a good 1/2 hour with the Revolutionary man, we walked back over the bridge to where the sheep were being sheered.

Having never seen a sheep being sheered, I was a little nervous as to how it was done. I don't know if amazed was my reaction, but I definitely was shocked at how quickly, painlessly and perfectly this man sheered these sheep. All the wool came off in one bunch and not a nic on the sheep!

Watching two sheep was enough for my cousins, that and the bees swarming overhead, so we went back to the revolutionary man, but not before visiting the gift shop and picking up a few goodies to take home. We spent what felt like forever with the man until it was time to venture back into the car; but not without another quick visit to the goat pen. If it was not for that last goat pen visit, we never would have seen the CHICKENS! Now, having had a chicken earlier in my life I knew that they sometimes were not the most approachable of animals, but these chickens could care less who came near them and how close they got.

All in all, it was a great day. Spending time there at the farm and looking around at the other visitors, my aunt reminded me of a certain episode of Gilmore Girls and I have to say she was right! Hope everyone else has some good weekend adventures!