Monday Book Club

I got the pleasure of going on two long road trips this summer.  I was so happy to take a break from life and celebrate with good friends!  I also got the opportunity to listen to 4 audio books!  WOWZA, that was a lot of time in the car!  Props to my husband who drove 12 hours straight on one of those legs.

"Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)"

First of all, I am a fan of Mindy Kaling's work.  I thought The Office was hilarious and now I enjoy the Mindy Project.  What I loved  most about Mindy's book was that there was no agenda.  I just got the feeling that Mindy enjoys writing, so naturally a book would be in her future.  I love that she didn't seem to create drama in her own history.  She recalls a really great upbringing and how that has influenced her life.  I enjoyed this book immensely.

"Me Talk Pretty One Day"

I listen to a lot of "This American Life" so David Sedaris has worked his way into my vocabulary.  I thought that I might like this book.  To be honest, it's just not my thing.  I laughed at certain parts, absolutely.  When I think about his segments on "This American Life"  they're never my favorite parts of the show.  He wasn't relatable enough for me.

"Freakonomics:  A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything"

I listen to the "Freakonomics" podcast and have even read "Gang Leader for a Day"  so naturally it was time that I read/listened to freakonomics.  It didn't have that production quality that I've come to love about the podcast, but it was all VERY fascinating.  I recommend this to any curious reader.

"Outliers:  The Story of Success"

We've all heard of the 10,000 rule by now.  It was time for me to check out the book.  It is definitely in the same vain of "Freakonomics."  The conclusion that I came to is that it's not just about the 10,000 hours.  It's more about being in the right place and the right time.  It just made this world seem more God ordained to me.  It's still fairly interesting.

Now I'm listening to "Super Freakonomics"  that's taking much longer to get through now that I'm no longer crossing the country!  So far it's already better than "Freakonomics" so that's promising.

Book Review

This book had been setting on my desk at work for 6 months.  After my mom said it was a good read I decided to read the first few pages.  I really liked it.  The writing is sweet, endearing and easy.  This is a fast read.  It is about black maids and the white women they serve in Jackson Mississippi in the 1960s.  You should read it if you haven't already.

Motivation

The wedding is too near.  I can't keep up with my blog at this time.  It's too much pressure.  Most days I wake up at 8.  Go to work.  Go to Brian's.  Work on wedding stuff.  Come home at 12am.  Blogging just doesn't wiggle it's way into my schedule right now.

But I've been listening to an audio book while I work on wedding stuff.  I get excited to listen to the audio book, so I end up working on wedding stuff more often.

I'm listening to "The Golden Compass."  I read it in the traditional way the first time around.  I love book two of the series, His Dark Materials.  So really I want to get to that one.  The reader is really good, it is the author Phillip Pullman of "The Golden Compass."  The story is much better than I remembered.  Usually I can't stand to listen or to reread books.  Very few I can reread with any vigor.

So over all I'd like to listen to all three books before the wedding.  Maybe...  I don't know it's right around the corner.

Finished my Listening Library

I just finished listening to Count Karlstein by Phillip Pullman.  The audiobook had a full cast, as well as, sound effects and music to go with it.  It was a well produced and entertaining audiobook.  I would recommend that you listen to it over read it.
In reality the story was good.  It had an intriguingly dark plot but it does get all wrapped up with a pretty bow in the end.  It would be ideal to listen to with your kids right before bed.  I should warn you though some parts are rather scary.   It was over all a very British story and I believed that I enjoyed it so much because I loved the thrill of the well produced audiobook.

Vacation Worthy Saturday...

This is what I did today...
I crocheted and listened to twilight...

All I have to say is, "Stupid Unreliable Vampire!"
....and I'm hooked.