Lists

Some people read the newspaper every day. Personally, I find the newspaper utterly depressing, so I try to limit myself to once a week or so. Instead, I read people's blogs. This serves several purposes. First, if anything crazy important happens in the world and I'm managed to utterly isolate myself from society, I can find out about it from their page. Second, I love reading people's thoughts as they come out in really genuine ways. It's difficult to blog pretentiously. I mean, I suppose it could be done. But for the most part blogging comes out as a sneak peak into someone's brain and while I'm an introvert and don't always feel up to TALKING to people all the time, I'm pretty much always up for peaking inside someone's brain.

You know, that sounded less weird before I typed it.

Anyway, one of my favorite blogs is snowandmist.blogspot.com The woman who writes it is someone I went to college with and she's a teacher right now in Alaska, at the top of the world (are you hearing the Iceroad Truckers Announcer guy? "at the top of the world..." ahem. OKay. Moving on.). I love her thoughts on village life in Alaska, faith, and the frustrations of being a teacher. Not that being a teacher is ever frustrating.

Haha. Moving on again...

The post of hers I read today mentioned how much she loves making lists and I was nodding in agreement the whole time I read her thoughts on this. Making lists is awesome. I make them for several reasons.

1. Keep track of what I need to do.

2. Make myself feel better about what I've done. (This I call the retroactive list. I make a list of all the things I've done and then cross them all off like a retroactive to-do list. It's super satisfying.)

3. Figure out what's in my brain when it feels like mush.

4. Prioritize.

5. Brainstorm ideas for something.

It's interesting that I'm a list maker (in case you wanted a peak into my interesting brain here...) because I'm not that organized of a person. My desk at school is covered in several stacks of papers. I know what they all are, but I'm sure it looks like a nightmare to anyone who walks in the room. Even my seemingly organized file drawer is labeled with folders like "important info" that I can throw random stuff into without figuring out where else it could go.

How about you? Are you a list maker? An organizer?

I have no idea why it's so important that I express these list-making thoughts today. Maybe because I was in a rare organizational mood today? I cleaned my desk at home and hubby's desk too, and they look pretty good if I say so myself. However, there's now a huge pile of papers on the floor in my office nook that needs to be thrown in the trash. But we're out of trash bags because who can remember to buy those at the grocery store? So for now it sits on the floor. Do you think this counteracts the impressiveness of the fact that my desk has never looked better?

Hm. Something to ponder.

PS. Book reviews--several of them. Coming soon! Up next is Firethorn by Ronie Kendig. I read it months ago and no joke, it was so amazing I've been processing it this whole time because there's really no way words could convince you of how awesome this book is (oh the irony). So be excited. But I have to stop typing now or I'm going to steal my thunder.

Love Lifted Me

Jade Benson, the main character of Love Lifted Me, the third book in the Songbirds Series by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck, is just starting to grow strong enough to face the chaos and heartache she's endured in her life, especially in the last few years. Her husband, Max, is trying to prove himself to his wife--his faithfulness to her and his commitment to stay drug free and not return to using pain-pills to chase away his problems.

Readers who have read the other two books in the series know that Jade and Max have run a full gauntlet of struggles and challenges in their marriage. Drug use, infidelity, parent issues...The scene is already set when book three begins, and it's hard to imagine what trials the two of them will go through in this book.

This book is full of hope. There is still enough conflict to keep the reader interested and make her leave her dishes undone and dinner uncooked while she finds out what will happen to these people she's grown to care about, but the tone of this book is markedly different from the first.

The fragrance of grace permeates this story. It's not at all "preachy", but the message of God's love was clear in the lives of the characters. This was a story about losing fear and embracing trust. It was a story of redemption, perhaps the best possible theme a story can have. And it was about love. Love for others. Love for God. His love for us.

Evans and Hauck make a great writing team. The writing is very well done, the imagery and symbolism used colors the story in an even more vivid way. Nothing about this book left me disappointed and I very highly recommend it.

Kaleidoscope Book Review

Ever looked in a Kaleidoscope as a kid? There was one at a park my mom took me to often, and I loved to look inside and see all the colors and shapes. They were all part of one picture, but they were individual pictures themselves and I enjoyed examining them. Patsy Clairmont, in her book Kaleidoscope, compares the book of Proverbs to this. Her book discusses the wisdom found in Proverbs in individual chapters, thirty three of them in all, and the life lessons we can learn from them.

What makes this book unique is Clairmont's informal writing style. Though her words are chosen wisely and carefully crafted together, the book still reads like a conversation with a friend (albeit a wise one) who is sitting down and sharing with you over a cup of coffee (or, as it's December, a Peppermint Mocha). It's a book to be lingered over, and enjoyed in small pieces, not all at once.

The issues discussed in and among the Proverbs, such as being careful with what we say, are issues that apply to any Christian, but especially to women. This book will be useful to women of all ages and at all point in their walks of faith. I especially appreciated how the chapters were broken up--first with Patsy Clairmont's insights, then with questions, then with a list of applicable Scriptures. Certainly this is a book that has a gem of wisdom for every woman, set in a personal look into a woman of faith's thoughts.

Your Next Book to Read!

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was told to "Beware the Ides of March", but I'm telling you that this year, March 15th is something you should be looking forward to. Why?

It's the release date for Catherine West's debut novel, Yesterday's Tomorrow! I read a reviewer copy of this book (thanks, Cathy!) and let me tell you, this is one you should put on a "to-be-read" list. Go ahead. Add it to your list. I'll wait.

Are you back?

In case you need some more details and my word that it's a great book isn't enough (hey, I understand), here's the review I'm posting on Amazon later on today. You get the first look. =)

Yesterday's Tomorrow
Written by Catherine West
Reviewed by Sarah Varland

It takes a talented author to stir a reader's emotions at a deep level, but Catherine West managed it with no problem in her debut novel Yesterday's Tomorrow. The story centers around Kristin Taylor, a twentysomething journalist who goes to Vietnam to continue her father's legacy of touching people's lives with the written word. She's unprepared for the gritty reality of war and the emotions--and sometimes lack of emotions--that go with it, but she's spunky and determined to stay in Vietnam and report the truth about the war. She traveled to the country without a visa or a press pass, but finds work with Time magazine shortly after arriving. A photographer, Luke Maddox, reluctantly introduces her to the cuontry and the media's way of life there. Kristin and Luke, along with Jonno, who is a soldier who, for medical reasons, spends most of his time chauffering Luke around, travel into the dese jungles and throughout the war ravaged country visiting men who are involved in the war and hearing and reporting their stories.

Kristin and Luke, who are still only reluctant acquaintances, are assigned by Time magazine to be partners. Kristin will write and Luke will take the pictures. As the two of them get to know each other while still trying to keep secrets, their witty dialogue and back-and-forth sarcastic comments keep the reader interested in their relationship and wondering if anything romantic could ever develop between two people with such distinct and strong personalities.

I laughed. I cried. I know it's completely cliche to say so, but I really did. The story made me feel every emotion along with the characters. Fear. Guilt. Hope. Finally--peace. It will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Romance fans, I think you'll enojoy the sparks that fly between these characters. Women's fiction and Karen Kingsbury fans? I can almost guarantee you'll love Catherine West's heart-tugging story telling.

Kudos to Cathy for crafting a story in such a controversial setting and making it about MORE than just Vietnam or the political climate. The story is well integrated in its setting but the characters and their journeys as people are the focus of the book. Very well done--this debut novel is only the first of many compelling stories I'm anticipating from Catherine West. She's definitely an author to watch.

Is it Spring Yet?

Don't get me wrong. I love winter. I do. I'm pretty sure it's my favorite season, but then again, I think that about most seasons. My sister and I finally came to the conclusion that maybe it's just the changing of the seasons that we like, and I think she's right. This is a little strange for me, since I'm not always the hugest fan of change, but there you go.

But the thing is, to get back to my point, I love winter because I love snow. And I live in a part of the country at the moment that doesn't get a whole lot of snow, if any. Which mans that at this point in the year winter is just a gray haze keeping me from spring and it's accompanying beach and hiking trips. So I'm pretty much ready. Is it here yet?

I heard that according to our famous groundhog, it won't be long. We'll see how that goes.

In other news, I read the most AMAZING book last weekend. Well, one of the most amazing anyway. Ronie Kendig is a new addition to my top list of favorite writers. Her book Digitalis, which is the one I read last weekend, definitely will hook you and refuse to let you go. Incredible story, character, and writing. I'm planning to tell you even more about why you for sure need to buy this book probably next week sometime. Monday or Tuesday-ish.

So even though it's not spring, I need to do some cleaning. We'll call it late winter cleaning, which is fine since spring cleaning is so cliche anyway, and as I writer, I'm supposed to be learning to avoid cliches, right? We're moving here in a couple weeks (not far, just to another nearby town) and right now I've packed...Uh...Well...I did buy some storage boxes? So that's on my list of goals for the weekend. Pack something. Or throw away some junk that I have no intention of packing/moving. Wish me luck.

How about you? Goals for this weekend? Thoughts on why February is not definitively winter or spring but just an in-between month?

Happy Monday!

It's so easy to be perky on a Monday when it's a holiday, don't you think?

I've had a marvelous day so far. I had yummy coffee, accomplished some decision making for the new house we're building, made fun plans for the day, decided to get my hair cut...AND the baby went down for the nap he so desperately needed. So that's good news.

All in all, I had a marvelous weekend too. I'm ready to get back to school and talk about Henry V and some exciting connections to modern day politics. Oh, it's going to be exciting. Think my juniors will think so? Hm...

I'm about to start reading Ronie Kendig's Digitalis, so I'm thinking maybe that will be next week's book. Everyone I know who has read it LOVED it, so I probably will too...

The baby is making noises, so I'm off. Enjoy your day off, if you have one, and if you don't...maybe look into a job change? =)

Notice the Blog Title?

Yes, I think somewhere on that handy main page I have my blog description. "Thoughts about life, books, and the ministry fishbowl." If it's not there, someone let me know, because it should be. No, I'll probably check in a minute. I'm pretty sure it's there, though.

Okay, I mentioned last week that I really want to start forcing my book preferences down your throats...um, I mean, telling you what to read...uh, sharing my thoughts on books I've loved. Yeah. That one.

For the record, according to some new random law, I'm supposed to tell you when I get books for free. How about you just assume that all the books I review on this site were complimentary copies, okay? I'll let you know if they weren't. It'll be simpler that way. I WOULD like to state, just for the record, that I don't say nice things about all the books I get for free. If I don't like it, I keep my mouth shut. I'm allowed. It's a free country. It's also a free enough country that no one makes me say nice things about books I was given.

But, the law's the law, right?

Anyway, this week's book that I'm highly recommending is Double Shot by Erynn Mangum. First, if you haven't read the other two books in the Maya Davis series, you really should do that. Maya is a fun, caffiene addicted twenty-something who's trying to figure out life on her own after college. I'm assuming I'm not the only one who has been there, so if you relate at all, you'd probably like this.

This is the third book in the series and Maya is planning her wedding to her best friend Jack, who she's been dating for sometime now. While they're making happy wedding plans, Maya's bombarded with some pretty tough events---a possible job change for her fiance, which means a BIG move for her, and a really, really, really premature nephew who has to stay in the NICU for quite a while. I love how Erynn Mangum could deal with events like this and while they're definitely a big part of the story, it's so upbeat. Maya's point of view is so honest, straitforward, and fun (I know, I'm overusing the word fun. But I had FUN reading it, give me a break) that it's what sticks with you.

This is a great read in a bubble bath, at the beach, in front of a fireplace and relax kind of book. My only suggestion that could possibly make this book better for you is if you drink it with coffee. I think Erynn would agree with that suggestion.

I should also tell you that even though I'm completely in love with this series and I'm 24 (some website classified that age as MID twenties, can you believe it? It's totally still early twenties. Ask me about how I break up ages like that...) my mom also really enjoyed reading it and she's...um, well...not 24. I'm pretty sure telling your mom's age on a blog is kind of uncouth. But know that this book isn't limited to a certain age group.

Check out the rest of this series at erynnmangum.com and read Erynn's thoughts (she's hilarious!) at erynnm.blogspot.com It's that enjoyable that I'm sending you away from here to go read hers. And she doesn't even know it. Someone tell her how nice I am. ;) No, really, go check it out. If you haven't heard of her before, please, please, please find the nearest bookstore and buy the first book in this series or in the Lauren Holbrook series. Hilarious. =)

Reading and the "Snow"pocolypse that Wasn't

First, let's tackle the second part of that title. Supposedly, I should be huddled in front of a fire right now, watching the sky dump buckets of snow, ice, and other wintery precipitation. But so far...nothing. Weather Channel, why do you do this to me? When I say you're lying, it snows. When I believe you, I am disappointed. Sigh.

On a good note, this does mean that school is canceled for tomorrow. And as much as I will miss my students and know that they will miss me terribly too, I really need some time to catch up on my laundry. About 8 more snowdays where I do nothing but laundry, and I probably will make a dent in that pile.

For the first part of that title...I love reading. I just finished reading an arc (advanced reader copy) of Kristin Billerbeck's A Billion Reasons Why. Loved it. And as I was sitting here thinking about it I thought about how much most people love a good love story. It's just a basic part of human nature. We like to hear how couples met. We like to watch movies about it. Read books about it. Even guys. Those computer games? There are love stories in there. For real. Anyway, it just got me thinking. Maybe it's one of those things God put in us just for fun or to point us to Him. Either way, I'm glad it's there.

I definitely recommend this book, though, y'all. I'm not going to say anything about it now, because I just wrote a review (check it out eventually on TitleTrakk.com--not for a week or so probably) about it. But it's good. Really. Really. Good.

So how about you? Read any good books lately?

I've decided, by the way, that I'm going to try to post every Monday or Tuesday-ish about a books I've read. Either one I've read lately or just a really super good one from the past. That way if you're just stunned by how amazing the book sounds, you can go buy it and have it in time to read the next weekend. Because who doesn't like to have a new book to read on a Friday afternoon? Ah. It's such an indescribable feeling. Anyway. Tune in this Monday or Tuesday-ish for my take on Erynn Mangum's double shot. And bring coffee. Because reading or reading about an Erynn Mangum book without coffee? It's just wrong.