Tea

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin has been on my to read list for some time now. Each time it came in at the library the cover intrigued me greatly. The book was also quite popular and I now know why. What an amazing story.

A general overview (which does not do this story justice so go read it!) of the book is that it is the story of how Mr Mortenson began on a lifelong mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The story begins long before 9/11 and continues to this day. Oddly enough in my mind I kept thinking wow this is going to end after 9/11 happens and yet the story does not end. Mortenson continued on with his life work and continues to do so to this day.

I love the reasoning behind the title too. At one point Mortenson is having tea with one of the men he works with abroad and the man tells him the first time you have tea with someone it is as a stranger, the second is as a guest, and the third is as family. The man goes on to say that once you are family people will give their lives to protect you.

Mortenson seems to be an amazing man. I'd love to write on and on and on about the book but honestly the message and stories told within it are worth reading.

Current Listen: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

Good Wife

I have liked Jennifer Weiner as an author since reading Good in Bed and In Her Shoes a few years ago. Her newest book, Fly Away Home tells an all too familiar story in not such a familiar way. The novel is about a politician who is caught cheating on his wife and giving a job to the much younger woman he cheated with. The story is told from the perspective of his wife and also of his two daughters. One of whom is currently having an affair and the other who is recently out of rehab for a drug problem.

I enjoyed the book though at first it was a bit slow paced and I was tempted to put it down. I loved that the novel was told from the three women's perspectives and the reader never got to hear from the husband. Though I'm not thrilled how the story ended, I as always enjoyed Weiner's writing. The subject matter is so current too and it was interesting to see it play out in a fictional setting.

invisible

I am more or less still on this new author find, Anna McPartlin, kick. Finished Apart from the Crowd most recently. I enjoyed the book and felt it was a little more what I was expecting from the author than my last read of hers. The story is of a woman who has had many losses in her life and a rock star from New York that winds up living next to her for some time. I am noticing that McPartlin always shares other characters perspectives and usually there are family members introduced as well as friends. Although love is a common theme in her novels as well, this one had a love story brewing for most of the novel.

I enjoyed the book but this time didn't rush to start another one of her novels. I will keep reading my way through her list though as I do enjoy her writing.

comedy vs tragedy

When doing some research I came across a book about eating disorders that was a 741.5 call number. After many years working at the library I can't say I memorized the entire system but I do know 741.5's are graphic novels. I was curious about a graphic novel on such a serious subject so I reserved it thinking if I didn't like it I would just return it.

Tyranny by Lesley Fairfield is that graphic novel, and I did not put it down. I read it in one sitting which admittedly didn't take too much effort. Even so I really enjoyed it. It sort of reminded me of Glamour magazines comic strips by Marisa Marchetto. Marchetto wrote Cancer Vixen, comic strip about her battle with breast cancer. Serious subject matter turned into a cartoon. Tyranny is done in the same way and still hits on the serious subject matter and gets its point across.

All in all I think it was a worthwhile read even if it wasn't on my list to read and set me back a book ;)

Nothing is Certain

I'm still loving author Anna McPartlin, but I didn't enjoy As Sure As the Sun nearly as much as I'd have liked to. I think because it was borderline mystery it didn't appeal to me as much. I still love the author though and her writing style. And to be able to come up with this storyline was pretty amazing. It just was too mystery novel and unrealistic for me I guess.

Current Read: Apart from the Crowd by Anna McPartlin

For My Girls

The Girls From Ames has been on my to read list for much too long. I'm so glad I finally read it. The amazing story told by Jeffrey Zaslow really hit home for me. The true story is of 11 girls who stayed friends from high school. The "girls" are now in their 40s and the book highlights moments throughout their lives.

I enjoyed reading the story and the hope it provided that my own little group can survive too. Their group has had falling outs and their fair share of sorrow but there has also been much joy. They have experienced lost, sadly one of the 11 passed away in their 20s and another's daughter passed away. There have been illnesses, two have battled breast cancer. But they each have 9 other people they can count on through the divorces, losses, and pain. It was amazing for me to read and was a constant reminder of my girls.

I feel so fortunate to have left high school with 4 of the most amazing women I know. This book showed me that its okay to love all of my friends differently but equally. I love my college friends and the new friends I have made in ways that are very different from the bond I have with my girls. It isn't a more or less, it is just different. The Ames girls describe this much better than I am.

In any case, I feel truly fortunate to have each of my friends in my life. We will go through our ups and downs as we have always but no matter what at the end of the day when you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh and giggle with over nothing, there is always someone to count on.

The story of the Ames girls made me take some time to reflect on the GPCDHE that has been so important to me. It had me look at the other friendships in my life as well. The memories bring so much emotion but for the first time in a long time, they also brought a sense of peace that though a lot was wrong, so much stayed right.

This entry may not make a lot of sense as my thoughts are a bit jumbled but for anyone out there that has a special group of friends or feels as fortunate I do to have people like the GPCDHE, my boo, my wife, MP, and dear old friends I don't see nearly as much I'd like to, you will enjoy this read I promise!

Optimism

I have always admired actor Michael J Fox. I grew up watching the reruns of Family Ties and there was always just something special about him. I was so sad years ago to learn of his Parkinson's diagnosis. My grandmother died with Parkinson's and I saw firsthand what a terrible illness this is. Fox could have given up his place in the acting world and sunk away to deal with his illness on his own with this family. Instead he has created a foundation and advocated for a cure.

Always Looking Up is his most recent book. I enjoyed the divisions in the book with each section being written about certain parts of his life. The central theme of a hope for a cure ties each piece of the book together. I'm curious now to read some of his other books so they've been added to my never ending list.

Lastly, Fox's current family dog is named Daisy... This made me smile big time...