Archive for February, 2009
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Ten Books I read this last year, what about you?
I collected ten of the books that I read this last year to share with you. When I completed my list I realized that I spend a lot of time reading novels that suspend belief. As a history student I spend most of my life in the throes of reality while reading of historical events and biographies. The books listed here are a way to let my brain take a vacation. This is the first Toni Morrison book I have read and found it very enjoyable. I recommend all these books. Goodbye Harry Potter, it is time to grow up! The Gardener’s Pocket Bible was a gift, a British garden book. Made me miss my days of European gardening.
Joanne Harris is one of my all time favorites (she wrote Chocolat), I knew Kathy Reichs before the series Bones. I have been with her since she started writing. Carolyn Haines writes a light murder mystery series, her “Bones” series. I love her style in these books. However she has written other books too and they are excellent at well. And Sue Grafton, I have been with since she started the alphabet series. The two books by Philip Pullman are books two and three of The Golden Compass series.
But! I am always looking for new authors! Can you recommend books or authors to me?
- The Gardener’s Pocket Bible
Roni Jay - Gentlemen and Players
Joanne Harris - The Girl with No Shadow
Joanne Harris - A Mercy
Toni Morrison - Bones To Pick
Carolyn Haines - T is for Trespass
Sue Grafton - Bones To Ashes
Kathy Reichs - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K Rowling - The Subtle Knife
Philip Pullman - The Amber Glass
Phillip Pullman
Maia the Spring Goddess, Awaken!!
The earth is waking up, stretching; yawning and already in some places spring is trying to force it way forward. And, so like the spring goddess Maia (who the month of May is named after) to awaken spring’s primal urges I say begin the season with star gazing. Maia is the brightest star in the Pleiades (or the ‘seven sisters’) constellation, located between the hunter Orion and Taurus the Bull. While reflecting on Maia’s influences try considering your own life and how areas for renewal can energize you.
Okay okay! So Maia isn’t your fancy? Well just about every culture has a tradition of its own Spring goddess so go on, take your pick! The main thing is to find reasons to renew, refresh, come alive as the earth moves into her spring solstice. It is a time for reflection and renewal.
Paint your toenails; get a new haircut or a new blouse! But whatever you do define yourself in Spring! Plan a visit to a theatre or to the museum or even a rock concert. Whatever YOU do, do it well! Refresh yourself. I have always believed the root word of recreation is to recreate oneself. Choose what recreation works for you and refreshes you and awakens Spring in you.
Where ever you live get online! Look for free classes, free concerts or free exercises classes. Seems like everywhere you look a community is making spring plans. I have my calendar ready with my Spring events. How about you?
A Different Kind of Princess
Princess Bubble is a beautiful fairy tale princess AND an educated, hard-working, well-traveled woman with plenty of moxie. Authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb created the character of Princess Bubble to help combat stereotypes and fight the victim mentality that young girls are indoctrinated with almost from birth. The book is written from a Christian perspective, encouraging young girls to be princess with morals, ethics, and faith in addition to a pretty dress and lip gloss.
Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believed the young girls in their lives needed a story that inspired them to go after their dreams, not just wait around for someone else to fulfill them.
You can buy Princess Bubble at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Share this wonderful story with a little girl in your life and help her become a different kind of princess.
My Boon Companion –A Perspective of Friendship
When I ponder what a friend is to me I always think of “boon companion”, an inseparable, intimate friend. A friend whom I cannot live without, symbiotic and someone that you know so well you can finish each others’ thoughts, someone you cannot imagine life without.
Friendship has many facets that should evolve based on loyalty, a mutual respect and esteem for each other. My friends have seen me through the good times, through the bad times. A life time of changes and together we are able to grow as we change in our life. My favorite (beside my dogs) boon companions are my best friend, who is my husband and my kids.
A life time friend sees us through many things. This one friend of mine just showed up on my doorstep one day when she was eighteen to decide to be my friend. That was thirty-six years ago. When my friend, Karen, lost her mother I called. We had been busy and hadn’t talk in a quite a while. We just picked up where we left off, catching up on stuff.
My “every day” friends I talk to on social networking, I bond with daily. We go through changes in spirituality, health issues and economic hardships. We laugh together, cry together and disagree often.
But my number one boon companion was and will always be my dog, Pip. He was the most loyal friend and I miss him so.
