Book #5-The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

The book chapters were short and the story moved along quickly. However, it lacked something for me. Was it ruined for me from the start because it followed the awesome and inspiring The Hiding Place? Or is it another one of those European authors, whose writing style just doesn't captivate me? I remember after reading Atonement last year I thought to myself, "Yep, the movie pretty much summed it up." Will I say the same after watching the movie The Reader, for which Kate Winslett won an academy award I believe? Overall the story was interesting, but it wasn't one of those book that you just can't put down.

My friend and competitor, Kelly, made a remark that reading has taken priority over housework. Maybe next year we should come up with a housecleaning competition of some sort. I thought of suggesting whenever we finish a book, we have to complete one housechore before moving onto a new book. I'll defer to Kelly as she is pregnant. Maybe we'll put that stipulation on next year's reading competition.

I ordered two more Corrie ten Boom books: In My Father's House, which is about her life before WWII, and Tramp For the Lord which picks up where The Hiding Place leaves off. Those won't be delivered for another week probably, so I'm really not sure what to move onto next. A Francine Rivers novel? The Screwtape Letters? Lone Survivor? Just don't know.

Something wonderful has happened as a result of this reading. I've been sharing the books I read with my mother. The great thing about this is that my mom has always stuck to trashy romance novels which do nothing for mind, body, or soul as far as I'm concerned. They're like female emotional porn in my opinion, if I'm not being too harsh. So lately she's been reading more uplifting, moving things like The Hiding Place. Right now she has The Shack, one that I have not read yet, but Keith has. My mother could use more of God's Holy Spirit in her life, and if these books are a way to facilitate hat then Lord guide my own choices as they get passed on to her.

Book #4-The Hiding Place

I'll never be able to effectively describe the impact this book made on me. If you haven't read it, you simply must. Some shy away from books that have anything to do with WWII and the Holocaust. In spite of the topic, or the era, this book is actually encouraging and uplifting in that Corrie ten Boom shared Jesus with EVERYONE, even the lieutenant at her hearing in prison. I also don't know how an atheist could read this book and still say there is no God. Well, I don't know how they can say that in the first place, but even more so after reading such an account.

If I were in her (Corrie ten Boom's) shoes, would I have done the same? Would I have taken such risks? If something like that were to happen in present times, would I be as brave? As bold? Or would I hide behind the excuse that "I have 3 children, I can't take any chances?"

I bet even before the Nazi's invaded Holland, Corrie didn't have conditioner for her hair, Clinique eye shadow, or Victoria's Secret undergarments. I admire how closeknit her family was even before trouble came, and how her parents helped their neighbors and the poor and the needy always. We barely know our neighbors!

Anyway, to make a long story short, I highly recommend this book. Not sure what I'm moving onto. Maybe The Reader because it takes place in the same era, though it is fiction. Or I may do a Francine Rivers. We shall see.

Books 3

Yes, I pluralized my entry for book 3 because Young Zaphod Plays It Safe is only 8 or 10 pages long. I felt guilty about counting it as an actual separate book of its own. I have to say I didn't get these last 2 books in The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide at all. I actually thought the ending to Mostly Harmless, the last book in the Guide, was stupid. However, if you're looking for a mindless work of fiction to delve into, then these 5 or 6 books of the Guide are a good choice. Overall, I did enjoy it very much.

Next I'll probably move onto The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. Either that or a Francine Rivers.

So to organize my thoughts a little I'd like to post some of the books I intend to read this year, or at least some topics I plan to read about.

Non-Fiction
The Hiding Place-Corrie ten Boom
Bringing Up Boys-Dr. Dobson
Sacred Marriage (a book Keith and I started and have not finished)
Nutrition Therapy: Advanced Couneling Skills (one of those continuing education things I have to do)
Lone Survivor-Marcus Luttrell
Arguing with Idiots-Glenn Beck
Going Rogue-Sarah Palin
Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti-Farrels

Fiction
The Screwtape Letters-C.S. Lewis
The Notebook-?
The Time Travelers Wife-?
The Shack-Young
The Reader-?
Lineage of Grace-Francine Rivers
The Last Sin Eater-Francine Rivers
The Scarlet Thread-Francine Rivers
Sons of Encouragement-Francine Rivers
More Jane Austen novels
The Twilight Series

Non-Fiction Topics I'd Like to Find Books About
Homeschooling
Motivational/Weight Loss/Exercise/Health Promotion type things
Gardening

That's all I can think of right now. That should be plenty to keep me busy and hopefully beat Kelly this year! LOL!