Halloween was going to be busy enough–I volunteered to help with PSP’s party at school plus I made sure to schedule Lamp’s ot/pt appointment for yesterday so they could see her all dolled up. Not to mention meeting up with friends for dinner and trick or treating later on. Well, throw in an unplanned trip...
Check out these two dames… Aren’t they the cat’s pajamas? It is so hard being a modern woman. Lucky for us we’ve got this spiffy sheik to keep us gals company. All dressed up and no where to go…we arrived at our church on Saturday evening for the ward Trunk or treat...
Hey guys–Migs here. So I remember when I was prego with Lamp and we received word that “something” was wrong with our unborn baby. That news was tough enough–not knowing exactly what was wrong and what that wrongness would mean for our little girl made it even tougher. Eventually we got some answers, but not...
I haven’t even talked about Halloween this year…which is crazy because we’ve decorated, crafted, made at least 3 batches of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, while Princess Sparkle begs to listen to this song hourly. We are definitely in the Halloween spirit. Additionally, I’m really excited for our costumes this year. The past two years have been...
Little known fact (at least on this blog): My mom is an interior designer. Another little known fact: She has loved mid century modern decor since way back when I was a kid and thought it was super ugly. Yes, another even lesser known fact: For her senior project at BYU she remodeled her...
I can’t get over these pictures…sweet little angel face. So I know I briefly mentioned her newfound verbalization the other day, but really Lamp has been talking up a storm. New words every day! It’s crazy. If Princess Sparkle says a word, she imitates it. If we ask her to say a word, she gives...
My name is Maren. Most people know me as “Leah’s mom.” Leah is my 4 1/2 year old daughter. She is the first and so far only child for me and my husband, Ryan. She was born completely happy, healthy and normal – except for a teeny tiny gene mutation that presented itself (“turned on”)...
Hey, I'm Amy!
I'm an author, artist, and disability advocate. I live with my handsome husband and three beautiful daughters in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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These Is My Words is the best new book I've read in years.
I have a list of some of my faves here:
http://somethingsclever.blogspot.com/2010/09/good-good-books.html
I read them all over and over. They are fantastic.
By the way, I love love loooooved your costumes. They were soooo fabulous.
I liked "The Big Year." It's a book about birdwatching, but don't let that fool you – it's entertaining. (There's a movie out based on the book, but I'm sure it's not as good.)
Of other books I've read this year, I'd recommend a few:
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Color of Water, Mao's Last Dancer, Little Women, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Sarah's Key, and A Town Like Alice.
Kayli–Yes I too LOVE that book. I'll check out your link–thanks.
Kristen–I don't think I've read any of those…if you had to choose one what would it be?
If you're a book worm, you've probably read these, but I loved Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and the Book Thief.
Also, just for kicks I re-read the entire Little House series and they were darling and I really couldn't put them down. Your daughters may even like hearing those.
My two favorite books we read this year in my book club were: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford and The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.
P.S. I LOVED your family's costumes this year. So cute! Sorry you missed your ward's trunk or treat. We barely survived ours 🙂
My recommendation is "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand"
The writing is wry and witty and I just loved the characters.
A reviewer wrote "You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson's wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, Major Pettigrew is one of the most indelible characters in contemporary fiction, and from the very first page of this remarkable novel he will steal your heart."
Loved the other book recommendations in the comments.
I second "hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet." I also love "a good hard look" and tanya french's mysteries based in dublin.
I'm reading "sea change" right now and I like it. I read "between a rock and a hard place" and totally hated it. But that's probably because I just think the author is a moron.
Ha! I thought the author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place was a moron, too. But I recommended it because it's an interested story…
Of the ones I recommended, I'd say definitely try The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and A Town Like Alice. It's an older novel. I think the Houston library system only had a few copies.
Did you like Charlotte's Web as a kid? I am enjoying the story behind it…
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Charlottes-Web-Eccentric-American/dp/0802777546/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1320160800&sr=8-5
Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, The Deep Blue Secret, Snowflower and the Secret Fan, Secret Life of Bees, and My Sister's Keeper. These have been my faves from our bookclub this past year. Have fun reading.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, it is a very interesting/different novel. I'm loving it so far
Nothing to Envy was a fascinating read. Not an upper, but one I think everyone should read. It is about North Korea and I finished it thinking "How in the WORLD did I not know that any of that was going on–in my adult lifetime??"
I also liked A Town LIke Alice and The Forgotten Garden.
A few of my faves:
The Red Tent – I read this at least once a year. Love it.
The Good Thief – Weird, but very compelling somehow.
The Great and Terrible (series) – for LDS readers. The first book is pretty hard to get through but it's worth it because the remaining 5 books in the series are so awesome and the first book lays the foundation. Better than the Hunger Games for series progression. These books really changed the way I view temptation and faith.
I'm about to do a book review… but if you haven't read Narnia (I KNOW CUE THE NERD GLASSES and SHAME)… I'm slightly OBSESSED right now…it's the gospel. CRAZY. And the last book (that's why you have to read them all) is awesome.
Also, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother was awesome, and I'm reading Cleopatra's Daughter right now. Didn't think I'd be into something like that but I'm actually really enjoying something different for a change!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Hosseini
Those Who Save Us by Blum
The Devil in the Jr League by Linda Francis Lee (light and funny)
East of Eden is the most beautiful novel I've ever read.
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is always a good read. I second The Book Theif & The Forgotten Garden. Both pretty good reads.
gone with the wind. my-all-time-hands-down-favorite read. EVER. my daughter's name is scarlett. that is how it affected me.
and i have a friend who adores the painted veil.
Shelter me by Juliette Fay.
The Hand that First Held Mine and Cutting for Stone are the best books I have read lately.
If you want to read something different, something gorgeous:
Voice of the River by Melanie Rae Thon
It's about a kid who jumps into a river to save his dog, and how everyone in the town is affected. It's freakishly gorgeous.
It also has short sections, so if you don't have a ton of time to read at once, you can still get somewhere.
How about, "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.
Sarah's Key. I guess it came out in movie version, in limited release, in the summer and I just saw the trailer saying it would be at the theatre this Friday. Tear jerker, have your tissues ready.
Saints by OSC and his women of genesis series if you haven't already read them.
-memoirs of a geisha
-In quiet desperation (thoughts of gay LDS men who remain active in the LDS church. First half is so so good, the second half is a little too repetitive).
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I am having a lot of fun with the Maisie Dobbs series by Jaqueline Winspear right now. I also second the recommendation for A Thousand Splendid Suns. Even better than Kite Runner, I thought.
I have to agree with Anonymous and say Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children I haven't finished it but it is quite good. Also, the pictures in it are apparently real found vintage pictures (kinda creepy). You are an incredible mama.
I enjoyed the Hunger Games too but I can only take so much dystopian reading in my life. To be honest, I just read for entertainment these days. So if you're looking for entertainment…here are a few good books.
I absolutely loved the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer. There are currently nine books out and it's a young adult fiction series about a young British girl who disguises herself as a boy and joins the British navy in the early 1800s. It is just a FUN series to read.
Also, I loved the Fablehaven series – more young adult fiction but this is in the fantasy genre.
That's all I can think of now…I'd love to hear what you end up reading – I'm always on the lookout for a good book to read! I hope Lamp is doing okay – I can't even imagine a 105.2 degree fever!!
Born to Run
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Johnathan Safron Foer
The History of Love by Nichole Krauss
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was really good too. Most of these recommendations are great ones.
Someone may have already mentioned this website but I like whatshouldireadnext.com
It's good for some ideas based on books you've read and liked.
The books I recently read and loved (though I don't know your tastes):
– The Family Fang: A Novel
– Paint it Black (and White Oleander if you haven't read that yet)
– Ten Thousand Saints: A novel (punk/drug scene in NY in the 80/90s)