The Senator's Wife

Tonight my book blub met to discuus The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller. I have to admit, I was looking forward to this discussion because I thought it would be a little controversial. Without giving anything away, the title kind of describes the relationship that can happen between a husband and wife. As I get older, and more settled into my mother/wife role, I can easily see how I have evolved from "Danielle" to "Todd's wife" or "Madion's (Tanner's, Grady's) Mom." I've always thought I was above losing myself in this kind of role, yet here I am. Submissive to my position in my family. Darn it. This book lightly addresses that, and so much more. It addresses a woman's needs for friendship, sexuality, and companionship. It was interesting to hear other woman's/mom's perspectives on these issues, and how those perspectives are shaping our views for our children. I'm always up for a discussion on friendship, self-worth, and motherhood, so this book was right up my alley. A good read-just be sure to talk about that crazy ending with someone!

19 Minutes-Jodi Picoult

I've been trying to write a post on my most recent Book Club pick, 19 Minutes, but it hasn't been coming out the right way. It's almost like there is too much to say-that I can't really give it justice with my own words. So, I'll just say-it's really really good, which is odd to say since it's about a school shooting. That may be the main reason I'm having such a difficult time putting the pencil to the paper on this one-I guess I have a little inner turmoil recommending something so somber.

As a teacher and a parent, I feel connected on both sides of this issue-but this book connected the two sides in an unexpected way. If you don't have this on your reading list, add it. But-make sure you have someone to discuss it with after you've finished. You'll want to.

Back to Reality

I was kidnapped last Friday by the Twilight series (Stephanie Meyer). I was apprehensive about reading these books because of my real-life irrational fear of vampires, but eventually I succumbed to the peer pressure all around me, and tentatively started the first of the 4 book series on Friday. Yesterday, I finished Breaking Dawn, the last of the series. Every waking (or should have been sleeping) moment in these last days was filled with my addiction to Bella and Edward.

These books are geared toward teens, which the writing style definitely reflects, but even so, I identified with the characters on an emotional level. I was instantly thrust into those crazy teenage emotions of insecurity, uncertainty, friendship and love. Through all the surface stories in these books, they truly do tell a great love story.

I mean, who doesn't want to fall in love with a life-saving, protective, intelligent, smolderingly hot vampire? :)

Now that I've broken the seal with these seemingly baby vampire books-a friend is trying to get me to read Interview with a Vampire, etc by Anne Rice, but I don't know that I can-irrational fears win out most of the time.

World Without End

This is also very good. Someone...anyone...(Jarhead maybe?)explain why this book is not just as good as Pillars. They are basically the same book with the second being the continuation of the first albeit 200 years later. Ken Follett really has mastered the art of getting the reader to become what I like to call "intimately invested" in the characters he has created. For me to read a book or rather two books that were both 1000 pages in less than 4 months is rare. Actually it has never happened. That has to tell you something about these books. My dad has always told me James Clavell's Noble House is a good read. As a kid I was alway intimidated by how big it was. Maybe I will pick it up sometime...I am sure he still has it.

The Pillars of the Earth

Very good.

Book Club Widower (for Bowker Five)

This is a shout out to all of the other "Book Club" widowers busy getting their little ones to bed! How long do you think they talk about the book? The picture above says it all!

The Shack

My book club met last night to discuss The Shack. The book centers on one man's spirituality after a great loss. This loss almost cost him his Faith and his Family. "The Shack" addresses those losses. This is a book that will make you pause and consider your own spirituality and belief system. It will make you question your motives in the name of religion, and it will open you to the possibilities of more. I loved this book. I loved this book for so many reasons. I loved this book because it allowed me to validate some of my own beliefs, and give those beliefs a voice.

Growing up Catholic is something that, until I moved to Decatur, I took great pride in. My sense of spirituality and religion was instilled at a very young age. I wanted to be a nun when I grew up for heaven's sake! I loved the tradition, history, and universality of my church. No matter where we moved, I knew church would always be familiar. It would always be safe. Upon moving here, a whole new world was opened to me. I was asked, "are you Catholic or Christian". I was asked if I "had been saved". I was asked "Do you pray to Mary?". I'd never had to defend my religion before, and this was a new path on my spiritual journey. This opened my mind to spirituality as well as religion. This is when I began to define myself as "incense and crystals", and when I began to discuss fate, karma, and contentment. My relationship with God became more about God, and less about the building I worshiped in. I worked my way through some questions, and in the end, I have come home to the Catholic Church-not because it's the "right" church, not because "it's the only way", but because it feels like home. and as for the structure? I know it sounds crazy to believe so broadly and yet worship so specifically, but as everyone said last night, God is too big for us to understand. If you were a fly on the wall at book club, you would have seen that first hand. and if we can't comprehend Him-how can our children? Children need something to grasp to understand what their heart is telling them. For mine, that will be a rosary. For others, it might be a book. Either way, there will be a Foundation of Faith for them to begin living with, growing with, and hopefully they will have a spiritual journey that gives them peace, hope, and above all else, love.

Now, as you can imagine, this made for one of the most lively book discussions to date. It has been said to "leave religion and politics out of it", and while I've never really been one to do what "they" say, I can see "their" point. Emotions on this subject can be heated and raw. Just look at my own history, and you will know why even the hair on MY neck bristled a few times. and isn't that annoying? That in a circle of friends, we bristle as someone questions our beliefs? I think it's annoying. I was annoyed with myself. It happens though; "they" knew just what they were talking about.

Wicked Awesome

In these days of child-filled chaos I have found that "scheduling mom time" takes an effort but is well worth it. In that endeavor, I joined a book club-this month reading (almost finished with) Wicked-The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I have to say I was super pumped to read this book having heard awesome rantings about the musical. I also have to say I struggled through this book, and sadly had not finished by our book club meeting tonight. BUT, our discussion was so super fun. I knew as I was reading the book that there was vivid symbolism, imagery, political nuances, religious undertones....on and on. I just had a really hard time defining what they were and how they fit together. It was interesting to see the story of Oz portrayed in this way, and I have to say I want to be a friend to the Wicked Witch. If everyone were as real as she is then we'd live in an honest and peaceful world. I do plan on finishing the book, but am not married to the idea of seeing the musical. As difficult as this book was for me to read, I would recommend it to others-especially if we sat down with a bottle of wine afterwards. There's no place like Oz.