Contest!

Splat Designs is having a contest for a custom blogger template. I want to win so bad...I'm tired of this stock template that I've been using!

Madam President?

Earlier this year I read Barack Obama's book The Audacity of Hope. I really enjoyed reading more about his vision for America and trying in some small way to learn more about a man running for President. With that same goal I recently picked up Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta JR. I chose this particular biography of Hillary because I heard the authors interviewed on Fresh Air on NPR and thought their take sounded interesting.

I think Hillary Clinton is an interesting figure. How is it that she has been in the public eye for so long and yet, still, it seems like we don't really know her? Why do 51% of Independents say that they would never vote for her, under any circumstance? What is it about her that inspires such strong feelings? Nearly everyone I have ever talked to about her either loves her or hates her. Why?!?!

Often when I talk to people about Hillary they make the comment that she seems too "ambitious." Americans seem to want their Presidential candidates to want the job only a little...if a candidate shows too much desire to be President we automatically seem to be turned off by the candidate. This has been true throughout history. There was a time when Presidential candidates did not campaign, at least not publicly. They did not attend their party's nominating conventions, for fear of seeming too eager. They waited at their homes for a representative to come ask them to run for President. Even today when our candidates publicly campaign, they cannot seem to eager. I wonder why that is.

In reality every Presidential candidate could be called ambitious and every candidate wants the job. Of course they want the job! Would we really want a President who didn't really want to be President? I don't think so. So, Hillary wants to be President and apparently she's wanted to be President for many years. So, she and Bill worked out a plan for him to be President and then for her to be President. What couple doesn't make big goals at the beginning of their lives together? I guess I don't find these revelations to be quite as shocking as some people seem to find them.

It does seem like we don't know Hillary very well and, somehow, that will probably have to be fixed. Hillary does seem a bit cold and aloof sometimes but, really, are we electing a President or a best friend? It is interesting that Hillary's biggest obstacle right now seems to be who she is rather than what she believes. And, after 20 years of having either a Bush or a Clinton in office do we really want another Clinton? I think this is the question that candidates like Barack Obama are most interested in....Obama paints himself as a newcomer, someone to shake things up. Clinton plays up her experience and knowledge but I think she should be talking about what makes her different too. After all, she's interested in becoming the first woman President and that's something a little different, isn't it?

I'm a long way from deciding who I'll vote for in the next Presidential election. Who knows, my candidate may not even be in the race yet. Still, I'm keeping my mind open about Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't mind being the first generation to acknowledge Madam President.

A Family Affair

What would you do if one of your children seriously hurt one of their siblings? How could you show your forgiveness for the offending child while dealing with your genuine grief over what had happened to your other child? What would you do if one of your children accused your spouse of hurting them? How would you reconcile your conflicting feelings...sure that your spouse would never do what he is being accused of but, at the same time, sure that your child would never create such a horrific tale?

Family History by Dani Shapiro delves into these questions. Told mainly from the point of view of Rachel Jensen, mother of a 16 year old girl and 2 year old boy, the novel is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful. It was a quick read and a nice character study. I enjoyed it.

This is the end, my only friend, the end

I don't think it is possible to write about this book without including some spoilers. So, if you haven't read the book, be warned. I'll try to be careful in what I say but I am making no promises!


My mom says that there is only one story, the Redemption story, just many different versions. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with its fight to the finish between good and evil, definitely fits that description. Deathly Hallows could have ended in a different way and been a good book. The way it ended, however, makes it (and the series that precedes it) a great book, in my opinion.

I was prepared for some losses in the book but I was a bit surprised at the losses that hit me the hardest. I didn't expect to be so torn up over the death of Dobby the house-elf. Really, though, his death was the first pure sacrifice. Dobby chose to help Harry and his friends, people who hadn't always been super nice to him, and that choice ended in his death. As Harry reflects in the end, it was only in death that Dobby was truly free.

I think Harry is somewhat more sympathetic in this book than he had been in the last two. He seems genuinely lost in much of the book but is also seeking to do the right thing. I think he is sometimes too solitary but, eventually, he seems to realize that the fight against Voldemort isn't just his fight. That's when things get really good.

I loved the way some characters were developed. Neville Longbottom proved, like I always thought he would, that he was just as good a wizard as the friends who are constantly out-shining him. Luna Lovegood proved that being different isn't bad and she didn't change just because she made new friends. And Draco Malfoy proved that some people never change...no matter what opportunities they are given. I actually kind of appreciated that about the book.

In the end, it was a redemption story. Harry proved that he was willing to lay down his life for his friends. Along the way he learned that he doesn't have to do everything himself, that some things are worth dying for, and that no one, not even Albus Dumbledore, is perfect. A fantastic book, I'm only a little sad that it's over.

Am I lukewarm?

One of the wonderful things about our vacation is that we were able to attend church with my parents. My dad preached a fantastic sermon about emesis basins. Actually, the sermon was about Revelation 3:14-22, the letter to the church at Laodecia. The Laodecians were full of themselves. They didn't think they needed anything, not even God. Yet they called themselves Christians. So, because they were neither hot nor cold, God was about ready to throw them up. But He never wants to do that, He is always ready and waiting for us to come back to Him!

In many ways I see a little bit of myself in the church at Laodecia. I don't want to need anything, I want to be self-sufficient. I want to think of myself as smart enough, strong enough, good enough to do it on my own. I've always been like that and there will probably always be a part of me that way. Still, I don't want to be entirely self-reliant. I want to rely on God...I don't want to be lukewarm!

A Harry Potter Review

I have been avoiding Harry Potter reviews. I haven't made it down to the post office to pick up my book yet and I'm trying not to read any spoilers. I don't know why I decided to read this one from Christianity Today but I'm glad I did. It claims to have some spoilers but I don't feel like anything too significant was revealed. Still, if you don't want spoilers, don't read it. It's an interesting review though!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/julyweb-only/130-12.0.html

We're home!

We got home from vacation at about 8pm yesterday evening. Coming home from vacation is always bittersweet. On the one hand, it's nice to be back to real life and the usual routing. On the other hand, vacation is so nice; especially when you get to spend it with people you love and don't get to see often. Still, after an 8 hour car ride I was very glad to be home last night!

Our vacation was very nice. We spent the first few days at a lovely resort in Eastern Oregon, courtesy of my husband's employer. Chris's company has a manager's meeting every July and the spouses are always invited. The managers have meetings every morning and then get to do whatever the rest of the day. It's a nice combo of work and relaxation for my hubby. Kids are not invited (except for breastfeeding babies) so it's a nice getaway for most couples. Helen came with us this year and we had a nice time walking on the many trails in the resort and, of course, enjoying the kiddie pools.

The rest of our vacation was spent with my parents. It was wonderful. We went to the coast (unfortunately it was cold and rainy so we didn't get any beach time in), went shopping, played lots of cards and just enjoyed being together. I miss living close to my parents and we definitely don't get to see them often enough. I would post a picture of our time with them but I can't seem to find my camera. Mom, did I leave it there?

This morning Helen and I went out to check out the changes in the garden. It's amazing what one hot week will accomplish in a garden! Garrison Keillor talks about canning in the summer as a way of imposing Lutheran order on the unruly garden. He says that the overt fertility of a summer garden, vegetables making out with each other, obscene zucchini, the shocking fecundity of it all, makes us uncomfortable but we feel better once we put it all in sterile jars in our cupboards.

His monologue on the subject made me laugh when I first heard it and I thought about it again when I was touring the garden this morning....those vegetables really are making out with each other! It was very nice to come home to lovely ripe tomatoes and the green beans should be ready in a week or so too! Yum, I can't wait. My mom had a plum tree in her backyard and we picked a box full before we left. I'll make plum jelly sometime today or tomorrow...the first canning of the summer. Later I'll do green beans, peaches, pears, applesauce and if the tomato plants continue producing like they are now I'll put some tomato sauce up as well. Then this winter we'll get to taste the summer.

Well, piles of vacation laundry are calling my name. Plus, the post office will open soon and I need to go down to get my Harry Potter book...I guess it was too big to fit in our box on Saturday! I'm glad to be back to real life...but I miss my vacation life too.

Art and Mystery

I have been on vacation this past week and it hasn't really been a reading vacation...too many things to do/see and important people to visit! My mom loaned me one quick book about an artist that I didn't really know anything about. The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr is fascinating. It is a non-fiction mystery, set in archives, libraries, art museums and art history conferences. I loved it.

You don't expect a description of the work of an art restorer to be pulse-racing material but in this case it was. At first I thought the restorer had ruined a priceless painting. Then I was enthralled by the detailed descriptions of exactly what the restorer does when he/she relines and cleans a painting. What interesting, painstaking work! I love it when an author can make work like that seem so sexy.

If you are interested in art, you'll love this book. If you love history, you'll love this book. If you are a mystery reader, you'll love this book. Now I'm going to do an image search so I can get a look at all the paintings described in the book!

We're heading home today. So, tomorrow when I run down to the post office I'll finally get my hands on the new Harry Potter book...I glanced at my sister's copy and I can't wait to get started!

Something About Me Challenge book 1

I just finished reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I picked this book from alisonwonderland's list for the Something About Me Reading Challenge. After I'd already decided to read it my sister in law, who is a high school English teacher, called me up and raved about it. So, I knew it was a must read.

Stargirl reminds me of all the worst parts about high school. I hated the constant worrying about what the cool kids were doing and trying to pretend like I didn't care. When I was in school nonconformity was cool so we were all busy imitating each other but trying to look like we were doing our own thing. It was exhausting. The main character of Stargirl, also named Stargirl, is just the kind of nonconformist that I always wanted to be...until her boyfriend encourages her to be more "normal."

What is normal, anyway? And what do we lose when we give up everything to attain normality? I like the message of this book. It's a quick read but Spinelli is a great storyteller and he captures your interest from the start. Thanks, alisonwonderland, for suggesting this book!

Hear me speak

In my opinion, Lisa See should give up writing thrillers and stick with novels about women in China. Like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love introduces the reader to Chinese culture in the seventeenth century. Like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love has its origin in historical fact. Like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love is captivating and heartbreaking. I loved it.

Peony in Love tells the story of a sixteen year old girl, Peony, preparing for her marriage. As part of the celebration of Peony's birthday, and in an attempt to curry favor with a government official, Peony's father commissions a home showing of the opera The Peony Pavilion. Peony, her mother, and the other women of the household are the first women to ever view the opera. On the first evening of the opera showing, Peony meets a man, despite all attempts to keep men and women separate. Peony falls in love with the man and begins to despair over her arranged marriage. She falls into lovesickness, which the doctor blames on an obsession with the opera, and eventually dies. Just before her death, however, she learns that the man she met was actually the man she was to marry, she just didn't know it.

The rest of the novel follows Peony through the many levels and protocols of the afterworld. She watches her family and is able to help shape their lives. She also helps the next two wives of her husband-to-be finish writing a commentary on The Peony Pavilion that she had started when she was alive. That commentary, The Three Wives' Commentary, is eventually published. In real life The Three Wives' Commentary, published in 1694, was the first book of its kind to be published anywhere in the world.

Peony in Love is a lovely novel. It is an introduction to the death traditions of another culture. It is a glimpse into the past. Mostly, though, it is an acknowledgement that no matter what our culture, we all just want to be heard.

Not what I was expecting

I loved Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. So, when I searched the library catalog and saw that we owned another of her novels I was excited and expected something similar. Flower Net, See's first novel published in 1997, is much different than Snow Flower but still very good.

Flower Net is a thriller about smuggling and China's growing capitalist economy. It opens in L.A. with an Assistant US Attorney investigating Chinese gangs. After a couple of prominent sons are murdered the investigation moves overseas to China. Many aspects of the novel, especially about life in present-day China were very interesting. The plot was gripping and I didn't figure out "who done it" until very close to the end.

If you're looking for something like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, this book will probably be a disappointment. Still, it's a good story about cross-cultural interactions and the desire to get ahead. I also checked out See's newest novel, Peony in Love, and will be reading it soon. I think it is supposed to be more like Snow Flower.

Laundry day

Today is my laundry day. This is a task that never ceases to amaze me. I mean, we are a relatively small household. There are only three of us. One of us weighs less than 20 pounds. One of us wears a uniform shirt 5 days a week that I don't have to launder. Still, we make enormous amounts of laundry. In a given week I wash 8 loads, not including diapers. Two loads of towels, two loads of jeans, one load of sheets, one load of whites, one load of light colors and one load of dark colors. I don't even want to know how many loads of diapers I do each week!

So, I was thinking about how we manage to dirty so many clothes when I remembered our activities on Saturday. My husband wore 4 outfits that day! He got up in the morning and worked under the house for a while. Then he came in, took a shower and changed his clothes. Later he decided to mow the lawn so he changed his clothes because he didn't want to mow in shorts. When he finished he came in, took a shower and changed his clothes. Yep, that's four outfits...not even counting his jammies! So, now I know who to blame for our laundry pile ;).

Actually, this points out an important difference between my husband and I. Chris will not wear a pair of jeans more than once. Even if he put the jeans on for a short amount of time and did not get dirty. He just won't do it. I, on the other hand, have been known to wear the same pair of jeans for the better part of a week. In every way he is the neat freak and I am the messy in our relationship. Really, this isn't just about our clothes or housekeeping habits...my life is messier than his too. Plus, the way I look at the world is "messier"...he is very black and white where I only see shades of grey. How did such opposites end up together? But we are a perfect match and I'm so thankful to be married to him!

Isn't it wonderful how a regular laundry day can make you stop and appreciate your husband? Here's to praising God in the everyday!

A Secret History

I enjoyed Robert Alexander's The Kitchen Boy. It was an imagining of the final weeks of Tsar Nicholas Romanov and his family in the infamous "House of Special Purpose." Alexander is clearly familiar with the late Tsarist era of Russian history, his writing is full of historical fact and seemingly plausible fiction. Being a huge fan of Russian history, I greatly enjoyed his novel. Needless to say, I was excited when I came across Alexander's newest novel, Rasputin's Daughter.

Father Grigory Rasputin's relationship with the Tsar and Tsarina and his roll in the events leading to the revolution are probably some of the least understood parts of Russian history. All kinds of rumor and innuendo surround Rasputin, even now, nearly a century after his death. Robert Alexander chooses to imagine Rasputin's last days using his daughter as a witness to the events. Many of Alexander's characters are historical figures and he describes things using historical fact where it is available. The imagined part of Alexander's story is Maria's role in the events of her father's death.

I enjoyed the book. Rasputin is such a mystery and even the circumstances of his death are not well understood. Was he evil? Did he worm his way into the Tsar and Tsarina's confidence because he intended to bring them down? So many questions about Rasputin's life and death will never be answered. Robert Alexander's version is interesting and the book well worth reading.

Better than average

Linda Nichols seems to be all the rage at my library right now. I picked up In Search of Eden the other day so that I could be in the know about what my customers are reading. After I go into it I realized that I'd borrowed another of Nichols' novels, Not a Sparrow Falls, from my mother in law earlier this year or last. Nichols is a good writer and her stories are better than the average Christian fiction, in my opinion. They do have the too-pat endings that seem to be common in the Christian fiction market but, still, the characters are interesting and the stories well thought out. I'd definitely recommend Linda Nichols over Karen Kingsbury.

So, will he or won't he?

Today I read that JK Rowling sobbed while writing the end of the last Harry Potter book. Daniel Radcliffe (the boy who plays Harry in the movies) said he believes Harry will die in the last book. Experts (and regular folk, like me) are weighing in on their predictions for the finale of the series that has gripped us for a decade and soon our questions will all be answered.

So, I'm predicting that Neville will die, not Harry. It just seems like they made a big deal in the last book about Neville being the other person the prophecy could have applied to. We'll see. I know my guess is probably a long shot but I just don't think Harry will die. I have my book pre-ordered but will actually be on vacation when it arrives. So, I'll start my reading on Monday the 23rd. Please don't tell me the ending if you finish before me :).

Finishing the story

Flying Changes, Sara Gruen's sequel to Riding Lessons, is a good story. It finishes up the story of Annemarie and introduces her daughter Eva's own Olympic hopes. A lot of what was started in the first book is wrapped up in this second. It's a good story. I can't help thinking, though, that it could have all just been tacked on to Riding Lessons. I'm not sure a whole new book was a necessity. Still, Gruen is an excellent writer and I enjoyed the story.

Adolescense and culture

Rumspringa: To Be or Not To Be Amish by Tom Shachtman is a book inspired by the documentary The Devil's Playground. I've been wanting to see the documentary for some time now (and it is in my Netflix queue) so when I saw the book at the library the other day I decided to check it out. It is a very interesting book, full of interviews and insight into a culture I have long been fascinated with.

When Amish children reach the age of 16 they enter a period known as Rumspringa. It is a kind of freedom, a time for them to see some of what the world offers before deciding whether or not to be baptized and join the church. For many, probably most, Amish teens this period is spent going to singings in barns, playing volleyball and finding a mate. Some Amish teens, however, get caught up in more worldly pursuits: drugs, alcohol, fast cars and sex. It is surprising that a community that is so sheltered faces many of the same issues that all parents of teens face. It is also interesting that such a sheltered and strict community has such a high retention rate...more than 90% of Amish teens do eventually join the church.

It seems to me that most kids raised in mainstream households are exposed to things before they are really faced with making a choice about them. Parents talk to their kids about drugs and sex. Kids see their parents make responsible (hopefully) choices about driving. Hopefully these things have been addressed from the beginning of the child's life. To me, that is the most troubling thing about Rumpsringa. Amish children are raised in such a sheltered environment that they don't have a real "vaccination" against some of the things they are exposed to when they are given so much freedom. It seems like it would be frightening...both for the teen and for the parent!

I enjoyed the glimpse into Amish lifestyles that the book provided. It interests me that so many kids ultimately choose to join the church, even in the face of restrictions that seem too overbearing from my point of view. It's difficult for me to see what the draw is...although the idea of a simple life is very appealing. Some things about the Amish religion are impossible for me to reconcile. I don't understand giving so much authority to man-made rules. I don't understand only having access to the Bible and to preaching in a language I don't speak (Amish Bibles and church services are in high German...a language very few church members understand). I don't understand the practice of shunning, nor can I imagine an offense so grave as to warrant such a harsh punishment. It is definitely a lifestyle that I would not choose. Still, I'm glad I got a small glimpse of it through this book.

For the Love of Horses

Sara Gruen obviously loves animals. Last year I read her novel Water for Elephants. It tells the story of a man looking back on his life as a circus veterinarian. I loved it. So, I decided to pick up her earlier novels. I'm glad I did.

Riding Lessons is Gruen first novels. In some ways it is obviously a first novel. Some of the revelations are made too abruptly. The story seems to just suddenly wind up. Still, the characters are wonderful and the general story interesting. I enjoyed it and have already started reading its sequel, Flying Chances.

Riding Lessons tells the story of Annemarie, an Olympic-hopeful equestrian who has a terrible accident that kills her horse and nearly kills herself. Twenty years later, after losing her job and her husband, she returns to her family farm to find her father dying of ALS. She confronts the past and begins to get over her fear of riding and her grief over the loss of her horse. The horses are the best part about the book...they are written with such care. I'm guessing Gruen is a rider herself, she certainly writes like it. A good book, a perfect relaxing summer read.

The First Half of 2007 in Review

January: I started blogging again about halfway through January. So, I recorded reading 7 books but I'd guess that I read more than that. January's best book was The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

February: I read 9 books in February. I think that month's best book was Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy.

March: I read 18 books in March. That month's best book was definitely The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

April: I read 16 books in April. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides was top in that month.

May: I read 14 books in May. Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout still resonates from that month.

June: Last month I read 23 books...that number was definitely boosted by my re-reading the Harry Potter series! Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns was far and away that month's best book...actually, the best book I've read in ages.


So, my total so far this year is 87 books...which is actually less than I thought. I guess I'm not neglecting my family as much as I thought ;).

Books from my mother in law

We visited my husband's parents this past weekend. It was a nice time. They live about 6 hours away from us so we don't get to see them very often. It was about 20 degrees hotter at their place than it has been at ours...that was hard to get used to! As always, my mother in law had some books to loan me. She mainly reads Christian fiction and I always enjoy whatever she loans me.

The Dwelling Place by Elizabeth Musser was excellent. I thought her characters were well written and the story believable. The story was set in Atlanta and from her descriptions it seemed very clear that Musser loves Atlanta. The book is mainly the story of a family, the family's black sheep, and a realization that things aren't always as perfect as they seem.


Return and Rejoice by Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley are books three and four of a five book series. I had previously read books one and two. I like the series well enough. At times the books feel a little like advertisements for Gary Smalley's other books, particularly Love is a Decision. Overall, though, the stories are interesting. They are definitely Karen Kingsbury books and if you've been following this blog long you know how I feel about her...a little sitcom-ish but still decent "candy" reading.