The Woman's Bible: A Classic Feminist Perspective by Elizabeth Cady Stanton

This has been on my shelf for so long I am not even sure when I got it or what list/recommendation I found it on! :) Having been written in the 1890's, much of what was written was outdated. Yet, it provided a very interesting view on society, specifically woman's rights, during that time. I must admit, I skimmed much of the last 30 pages or so, because I was a little overwhelmed by all the names and storylines mentioned!

This is actually a compilation of writings from many authors, or the revising committee as they call themselves. The book followed the different books of the Old and New Testament, providing commentary and insight into the women of the bible. Many aspects of woman's rights were discussed, including how the Bible is actually pro-woman in parts but is either overlooked by the religious superiors (at the time) or twisted into becoming something else.

Finished: January 30, 2010. 2010 Count: 7!

My nook has shipped!!!

First, my nook shipped today...I had to refrain myself from squealing in the baby food/diaper aisle at Target when I got the e-mail on my Blackberry!!!! SO excited!

Second, we (meaning, Brett) put up the last two floating bookshelves in the living room. I love them.

Third, it has become brutally apparent that we have TOO many books...and we have cleaned them out recently...insane amounts of books in this house!

Booking Through Thursday – January 28, 2010

From Booking Through Thursday: Jackie says, " I love books with complicated plots and unexpected endings. What is your favourite book with a fantastic twist at the end ?" So, today's question is in two parts. 1. Do YOU like books with complicated plots and unexpected endings? 2. What book with a surprise ending is your favorite? Or your least favorite? Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don't have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

 1. I like books with complicated thoughts, but not so much on the unexpected endings. I may be a big jaded from reading all those Jodi Piccoult books…almost all hers have some sort of twist ending and they just get to be predictable because they are so common. I do like the occasional unexpected endings though.

2.     My favorite book with a surprise ending would have to be The Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. There is HUGE series twist that shakes up the entire past and future of all most all of the main characters. I loved it!

The Shelves are UP!!!!

Last night Brett put up 4 of the new floating bookshelves and I love them!! They look great...in our someday dream home I demand a whole wall in the living room or entry way to have at least 6 of these in a row...I love how they look so much!! The other two shelves will be hung up on the side of our fire place...I am excited about those too!!

One drawback though, well not so much a drawback just an unforeseen complication on my part. I ordered the large shelves, thinking the only difference is that they hold 20 pounds versus the medium holding 15 pounds. They also are different depths! The mediums are 8 inches and the larges are 10...so all of our usual hardbacks don't fit in the bottom slot right to cover the bookshelf, which is what gives it the floating look! So, two of our shelves are floating and two aren't! :)

This is one of the shelves without a big enough book on the bottom!





Don't judge on the state of our bedroom...we have a young child! :)

Dreaming…

It's Monday and once again there was snow on the ground here when I woke up...so in a desperate attempt to cheer myself up, I was looking on Pottery Barn's website for outdoor furniture. Turns out, this is slightly depressing...I am ready for spring and summer...why? Because I am ready for outdoor reading!!

In honor of my dreams of an amazingly beautiful outdoor reading spot, what is your dream outdoor reading spot? For me, currently this one from Pottery Barn is taking the cake! 

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

I read this as a young girl and it spawned by obsession with Judy Blume and all her wonderful wisdom for a girl struggling with adolescence. I wanted to re-read this gem so when it was available on PBS, I ordered pronto! Of course, this was a quick read but I still love it. I love how she experiences religions and tries to figure that world out by trial and error, without prejudice and judgment. As a young girl who was raised without religion, I found such a connection with Margaret and must admit that she helped start my own experiments with the religious world. One of my favorite parts is when Margaret stands up to her Grandparents when they are labeling her a religion just because she was born to a woman who was baptized. I had such pride in her rejection of this notion and her very loud outspokenness that she isn't anything. As we plan to parent our daughter with the open environment needed to foster experiments in the religious world, I truly hope that she has this same attitude and will be able to stand up for herself in the same manor and with the same conviction. This is a classic pretween book and I look forward to the day I can give Samantha the Judy Blume collection! 

Finished: January 22, 2010. 2010 Count: 6!

Booking Through Thursday – January 21, 2010

Who's your favorite author that other people are NOT reading? The one you want to evangelize for, the one you would run popularity campaigns for? The author that, so far as you're concerned, everyone should be reading–but that nobody seems to have heard of. You know, not JK Rowling, not Jane Austen, not Hemingway–everybody's heard of them. The author that you think should be that famous and can't understand why they're not… 

For me, I have two authors that I L-O-V-E and try to recommend as much as possible. In irony, I have only read one book for each but each made such an impact on my life and reading that I have to campaign for! 

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali – I met Ayaan in person a few years ago at a conference in Washington, DC and she knocked me over with her dedication to helping women gain and exercise equal rights all around the world. Her own experiences with an arranged marriage and her escape are emotionally daunting. Listening to her speak and reading her book left me with a respect for her that has carried with me to this day. 

Summary from Goodreads.com: In this profoundly affecting memoir from the internationally renowned author of The Caged Virgin, Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells her astonishing life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, to her intellectual awakening and activism in the Netherlands, and her current life under armed guard in the West. One of today's most admired and controversial political figures, Ayaan Hirsi Ali burst into international headlines following an Islamist's murder of her colleague, Theo van Gogh, with whom she made the movie Submission. Infidel is the eagerly awaited story of the coming of age of this elegant, distinguished -- and sometimes reviled -- political superstar and champion of free speech. With a gimlet eye and measured, often ironic, voice, Hirsi Ali recounts the evolution of her beliefs, her ironclad will, and her extraordinary resolve to fight injustice done in the name of religion. Raised in a strict Muslim family and extended clan, Hirsi Ali survived civil war, female mutilation, brutal beatings, adolescence as a devout believer during the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, and life in four troubled, unstable countries largely ruled by despots. In her early twenties, she escaped from a forced marriage and sought asylum in the Netherlands, where she earned a college degree in political science, tried to help her tragically depressed sister adjust to the West, and fought for the rights of Muslim immigrant women and the reform of Islam as a member of Parliament. Even though she is under constant threat -- demonized by reactionary Islamists and politicians, disowned by her father, and expelled from her family and clan -- she refuses to be silenced. Ultimately a celebration of triumph over adversity, Hirsi Ali's story tells how a bright little girl evolved out of dutiful obedience to become an outspoken, pioneering freedom fighter. As Western governments struggle to balance democratic ideals with religious pressures, no story could be timelier or more significant. 

The Children's War by J.N. Stroyar– This book is very, very large and thus, very, very daunting but the payoff in the end is well worth it. It isn't for the faint of heart though because of the terror and disgusting acts of violence inflected on the characters, including innocent young children. This book left me feeling emotionally raw and damaged but the story is so rich and the characters so real, you can't help but feel the horror as you read. 

Summary from Goodreads.com:  Bad papers. That's how Peter's nightmare began. Living in contemporary Europe under Nazi domination -- more than fifty years after the truce among the North American Union, the Third Reich, and the Soviet Union -- Peter has struggled to make sense of the reign of terror that governs his world. Now, arrested for bearing a false identity, he is pulled full-force into a battle against Nazi oppression. The crusade for freedom that belonged to generations past is now Peter's legacy -- and his future depends not on running away, but on fighting back. Escaping a Nazi prison camp and joining the Underground Home Army, Peter dedicates himself to breaking down the system that betrayed him. But by facing the evil at the heart of the Nazi political machine, Peter falls deeper into a web of intrigue and adventure that risks everything he holds dear -- in this life and for the sake of future generations. A disturbingly real vision of what could have been, The Children's War is a page-turning epic thriller with a mesmerizing premise and an unforgettable cast of characters. J.N. Stroyar's searingly authentic, impassioned vision of human triumph over the forces of corruption and cruelty stands as a powerful tribute to the millions who have sacrificed and died in the name of freedom.

Check out Booking Through Thursday: http://btt2.wordpress.com/

The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer

I have had this on my bookshelf for over a year when I finally picked it up. Between the size (over 700 pages) and the subject (soldier life and war), I was a little scared of starting it. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! Reading this brought out almost every emotion possible for me. The heartbreak of death and leaving your family behind, the anger at the unfairness and mistreatment of the prisoners (on both sides of the line), the disgust at some of the character's, the admiration of how the soldier's pushed themselves to the limits of their body's abilities and the shock at the day-to-day conditions of soldiers on the ground. I found myself siding with certain characters and gasping out loud (loud enough for Brett to ask me what happened!) when a specific character was shot down by snipers. 

One thing haunted me throughout the entire book…the soldier's use of the word Fug…instead of the F-bomb. Maybe Norman Mailer specifically wrote it that way because of societal environment at the time he wrote the book, or to avoid alienating readers by the real word. I found it to be distracting and it removed some of the reality and cruelty of living as a foot soldier in the War. 

Finished: January 20, 2010. 2010 Total: 5!

Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline E. Luckett

This is my most recent free Goodreads win and I love free books! Yet, as much as I love free books, this was only a so-so read for me. The usual plot of a woman who seems to have it all: money, status, a gorgeous husband and two gorgeous children. Just when she thinks life couldn't be better, she realizes that she has lost herself and so starts a life-searching mission. She sheds her husband and posh lifestyle in the style of Tina Turner and so begins a European trip to meet her. Along the way she reacquaints with an old-lover and rediscovers a passion that brings back her spark. While the plot was easy enough to figure out the obsession with Tina Turner was a new addition. It added a level of interest and humor to the journey. I liked this book but this is definitely a library book and not a purchase book for me. 

Finished: January 10, 2010. 2010 Total: 4!

Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief by Dale MacGowan

This.Book.Is.Amazing! Having read Parenting Beyond Belief, I was very excited to get Dale McGowan's next book. This has lived up to PBB and more! Since Samantha is not very old yet, much of this book doesn't apply to us yet, but we know it will. I have about 20 sticky notes marking activities, tips and websites for our next few years of parenting. This book not only increases my anticipation for Sammie's youth, it makes me feel more prepared for raising her with our pro-science, pro-reality, pro-critical thinking and free-thinking environment.

On a side note, I actually met Dale McGowan in Washington, D.C. during the 2007 annual Atheist Alliance International meeting. I sat through a class/lecture about parenting that he and a few others (Julia Sweeney for one!) led...it was wonderful! He is as nice and passionate about this style of parenting in person, as he is in the books. I am deeply appreciative of the insight and tips that these free-thinkers have provided to us in these books and that class.

I highly recommend Raising Freethinkers and Parenting Beyond Belief to anyone who wants to raise their children with the freedom to decide if and/or what they believe in when it comes to religion. Also, check out Dale McGowan's blog: The Meming of Life

Finished: January 10, 2010. 2010 Count: 3.

Check out the blog header!!

I finally sat down and made this blog a bit more presentable...including a lovely homemade blog header! :) This shows the current state of our books...in laundry baskets while we await our new floating bookshelves to arrive. We used to have all the books on wall shelves and bookcases but with turning the den/office into a playroom for Samantha, we had to find a new home for the books! They will be moved into the bedroom and living room using these great shelves:

What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff

I actually started reading this book when our daughter, Sammie, was a few days old. It provided many answers to many questions we had from how much she should be eating as a week old baby to SIDS information. We found it to be a good interim resource when the pediatrician's office wasn't open or the question seemed too small for a nurse. The book is very heavy on breast feeding and has a lot of information on that throughout the months. Two things bothered me to the point of annoyance due to the presumptions made. The back-to-work/finding a day care section was in month 3 or 4, much later than most people have off after a baby. The presumption that most parents have that long off after a baby was annoying to me since I didn't get near that long! :) The second issue I had was with the monthly milestones. They seemed to be a month or so behind most of the babies I know and other information I found online. I do think that this is a good/cheap reference guide to have on hand with a new baby, if nothing else than give you a few tidbits of reassurance throughout those sleepless nights! 

Finished: January 7, 2010. 2010 Count: 2.

Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

After reading Bill Clinton's autobiography, I became intrigued into, not only the Presidential lifestyle but also that of the Clinton family. I have had Hillary's autobiography on my to-be-read list for awhile when I ran across the book during one of our Half Price Book trips last year. I finally got around to reading it at the end of 2009, but it took me a while to finish it. Hillary just doesn't have the same charisma that Bill does. After having listened to Bill in person at a Presidential Library event and read his autobiography, I came to the conclusion that he has a very persuasive speaking ability. He gathers the listeners up and conveys his passion to the point that the listener swells with that same passion. He spoke about civic duties and volunteerism at the event I was at and by the time I left, I wanted to volunteer for anything and everything! Hillary just doesn't have that same connection with her audience, at least in my opinion. This autobiography was interesting, a glimpse into her life and the roots of their marriage. I was slightly disappointed in all the name dropping. I would have preferred more on their life inside the white house as a family. It provided an interesting insight into the Clinton world, but not as deep as I anticipated. 

Finished: January 6, 2010. 2010 Count: 1.

Reading Tendencies

A fellow NBCer posted this reading related poll today and I thought I would post it here with my answers too! And, if you feel creative, post your own answers on your blogs! Leave me a comment and I will check them out!

 

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

 

Not generally, but I do read during my lunch hour so I eat my lunch and read at the same time.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?

 

I shudder just thinking of writing in books.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?

            I have a slight bookmark addiction, so a bookmark is the way I roll.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

 

Both, but I have a preference towards fiction.

Hard copy or audiobooks?

 

Hard copy but mainly because my commute to work is 15 minutes.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you
able to put a book down at any point?

 

        I read until a chapter break if possible…which has caused many of late nights because some author's have very long chapters!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?

 

No usually, but this is something I want to do when I get the nook and have a dictionary handy!

What are you currently reading?

 

1. Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief by Dale MacGowan

2. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

What is the last book you bought?

 

A few board books for my daughter.

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?

 

I can read more than one, and am right now, but I prefer to only read one.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?

 

I don't have a favorite time, but love to read on my couch or bed cuddling in blankets.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?

 

Both. I love how immersed in another world I can get in a series but also love the finality of a single book.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

 

Dean Koontz for a scary sci-fi read, Twilight series and the Sookie series for some adventures in vampire world and The Children's War by J.N. Stroyar for an amazingly heart wrenching tale.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author's last name, etc.?)

 

This is actually in transition currently. I think they are going to be organized by author in the very near future.

Happy 2010 and Happy New Blog!!!

Welcome to the new blog!! After much deliberation, including personal polls of family and friends and an online poll for my NBC peeps, I finally concluded I needed to separate our family blog from the book, reading and writing blog posts. Hence, the birth of Life is Short…Read Fast! While the intent of this blog is pretty clear, I have to embellish the blog address/title with a story.

When Brett and I first started dating he wasn’t much of a reader. I being the addict I have always been, read a lot. In many discussions about reading and why he didn’t read, he would comment that he read too slowly and it took forever to finish a book. I kept reminding him that if he found a book he could really fall into, getting wrapped up in the story, he would realize that he doesn’t read THAT slow…insert his shoulder shrug and an obnoxious “whatever.” When we lived together he would constantly harass me about how fast I would go through books. Of course, the week before our wedding I read the first 3 or 4 of the Harry Potter series probably didn’t help my case! I was off work, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! While shopping for our first married Christmas gift exchange I stumbled across the most perfect tree ornament. It says, “Reading is not a race.”

Since that moment, we have been battling each other on reading speeds. Brett finally found a book that helped him discover his love for reading, Stephen King's the Dark Tower series and now we both fill our bookshelves full! In response to his continual complaining that I read faster...my mantra has become: Life is Short. Read Fast.

Hence, the title to this blog!