RED RUM

Please pass the...Rum.. that is about how I feel after reading Stephen King's The Shining. In a true Halloween spirit, I read two haunting stories back to back. Not the brightest idea I have ever had. I am not impressed with either.

Parts of the book make you squirm and turn every page. Other parts of the book I was left wondering how in the world this related to the story. Additionally, after about 400 pages into the book, I figured out most of the story (200 pages in I figured out over half of the story). E for effort, but I have heard there are other King books that are better.

Stephen King is known for being a wonderful writer. I am just not sure I like horror writing. I think I will give him another chance...

Now I am reading Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?  It is hard to believe the end is in site. I will post November books soon!

Happy Reading!

Ghost Story within a Classic

Well, there are books that you hear about your entire life that people just tell you to read. Toni Morrison's Beloved was one of those for me even though I had no idea what it was about other than post civil war slavery.

Over the weekend, I took a break from the Shining (yes it is finished now) and read Beloved. While it was an interesting story, I am not going to stay I liked it. First, I was really confused. The story jumps around quite a bit and the characters jump around in who controls the narration. After reading a complete character list the story made much more sense.

The story takes a dark turn as the house 217 is haunted by "Beloved" the daughter of Sethe. Sethe and her daughter Denver live in isolation in a town post Civil War and work through the past that "Beloved" brings about. It is weird and hard to read at times. While the character development is amazing at times, it is just an okay book. The haunting is a little weird as well.

Not my favorite. I just finished the Shining and will blog soon.

Happy Reading!

A Look at Death

Morrie Schwartz is a truly amazing guy. Confronted with ALS he wanted to share with the world wisdom on Death and Life. While some people were introduced to him through his TV interviews, for me I met him through Mitch Albom's book Tuesday with Morrie (see blog post). I was so excited to learn he wrote down his own thoughts and words in a book called: Morrie: In His Own Words.

Morrie: In His Own Words is a great reflection on Life and Death. It is literally written on his death bed. With that being said, it was a little hard to read. It was a little dark and sad. The message is good, but I would read this in context with Tuesday with Morrie to understand his story. Good advice though!

Sorry this post is about a week late, I was distracted. I just finished up Beloved and I am about half-way done with The Shining. My goal is to finish The Shining and Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. I will then have 18 books left for the last two months of the year. Exciting!

Happy Reading!

Weird Can be Good

First off, I guess I should apologize or make a disclaimer. I did not realize how much fantasy fiction I was cramming into one month.  If I hear a famous book is becoming a movie, I try to read the book before the movie comes out. Ender's Game comes out in 10 days; I guess I cut it pretty close since I just finished the book Saturday morning.

Everyone should read this book. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a truly remarkable book. It was written in the late 1970s. After reading The Hunger Games and looking into some other child against the government books, I can see how much the book has influence other writings.  In the book, population is controlled. Kids can be given to the government. Ender was born for this very purpose. While the book starts off very weird and confusing, the development and growth in the story is amazing. Card crafted a great science fiction novel. The technology of the time was just starting to move forward. The book was so advanced.

All in all it is a great book. Take time to appreciate the moment, and read the book before the movie comes out!

Finished.. Morrie in His Own Words and Starting The Shinning!

Happy Reading!

Percy is Back

While I love Harry Potter, there is another Young Adult fantasy series that I love: Percy Jackson and the Olympians and then Heroes of Olympus. I have read all of the first series and the fourth book of the second series came out last week, The House of Hades.

I finished this book last week, but I have waited almost a week to blog. It is hard to share my thoughts on this particular book without taking into account the entire series. I am not even sure where to start except to say that I loved the book and love how Rick Riordian creates stories. Each plot weaves into a grand story that has an epic conclusion. The story and characters have been great.

While I would not recommend to start with this book, I would highly recommend the series as a whole and to start: The Lightning Thief . Percy knows he is different. He eventually is taken to Camp Half Blood where he learns he is a demigod and saves the world multiple times throughout the first series. Each has a purpose. The second series ties in Camp Jupiter and Roman Mythology. If you like mythology, young adult, or just a good story, I encourage you to check it out.

Finished Ender's Game this weekend. Starting Morrie in His Own Words.

Happy Reading!

Learning how to FISH!

I can't remember when I heard about the FISH philosophy the first time, but I do know when I fully understood and appreciated the philosophy was during our Leadership Guide training at UT and it changed much of my perception on interacting with others. During this time I watched the video and went through some of the facilitation exercises. I finally read the short book that started it all, and it was amazing. FISH! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale, by Stephen Lundin 

The book center's around a work/morale philosophy that started at the famous Pike Place Fish Market. In this story Mary Jane has to revamp her department's culture. After a visit to Pike Place, she meets Lonnie and readers get an inside view of how she implemented FISH and changed office morale and their corporate culture.

While this may seem like a business management book, it is not. It is practical advice about how to not be the victim, seize the moment, and enjoy the day. I love this book. Everyone should explore the FISH Philosophy. Here is their official website: FISH! (There is a clip of the video here)

For me it started with a video. While it is hard to remember these ideas everyday, I know my weeks are better when I do.  Seeing the impact of choosing your attitude,being present, PLAY, and making someone's day is amazing. Try it!

Happy Reading!

Finally finished the Fellowship

Good news, I am pretty much on track for my 100 books with 76 books down. Bad news, I am two blog post behind. So I am taking my lunch break and writing a quick post.

Since I was about 15, my family has encouraged my to read the Lord of the Ring series. I read the Hobbit, but stopped with the rest. I picked up Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Rings two other times over the last two years, but I never read it. Finally over the last week, I finished it and was so excited.

Frodo's journey of courage, strength, and trials was great to read. However, I have seen the movie multiple times. I know the end result. Sadly, I did not have the luxury of creating all of the worlds and characters in my head. The story is always good, but it was a very intense and detailed book to get through.

While I will say every avid reader should read this book at least once, I may only read this book only once.


Finished FISH and starting The House of Hades tonight!

Happy Reading All!

Do you need proof to believe?

Wednesday, I picked up Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. (Side note: Lynn Vincent from Same Kind of Difference as Me was a contributor.) I am not sure what I was expecting as the book has had much hype and media over the last two years since its release.

Heaven is for Real takes a look at a family's life after a little boy almost died from appendicitis. While near death experiences are powerful and are valid, everyone has their own understanding of faith, heaven, and beliefs.  People pray and their answers do not always come right away.

While it was a sweet book, it very much preached a one way to heaven mentality. While I am not saying I have all the answers, I am not sure I want to take this book as my view of heaven. It is an okay read,but not a book I would read again.


Currently finishing The Fellowship of the Rings. Excited for some upcoming books trying to finish this book this weekend!

Happy Reading!