The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

Slow down in life........and enjoy it. Enjoy the stillness and the quietness in those moments.  A pretty good book about the observation of nature (although it is definitely not for everyone).

Clean

This book outlines a specific program that is pretty much like a food detox for your body.  It's really involved, however, and reads as if it is a bit costly.  I was thinking of doing it, but as I read more I don't know if I have the time and funds to do it.  It does list some very helpful tips about healthier eating in general though.

Mindset

Really interesting.  A physician who taught one of our lectures on resilience recommended this.  If you are interested in the psychology of how people think (and possibly why) it's a good read.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

Really funny in the beginning.  It also continues to have funny moments throughout the rest of the book, but the backstory of the author's horrible marriage start to bring you back down to earth.

Poor Little Bitch Girl

Pure trashy Jackie Collins.  I loved it!  It screams "GUILTY PLEASURE!" I mean seriously....look at the cover and you just KNOW it's gonna be a mess :-)

Higher Education?

A book about how colleges are unnecessarily overpriced and don't challenge students to really think on their own and develop their own mind.  It was pretty interesting to see how schools are spending the money they have and how the hierarchy of teaching and professorships is one big bureaucracy.

Catching Fire

 *********SPOILER ALERT*********

you will have to highlight certain areas if you want to know what happens

Book #2 in the Hunger Games series.  Ok...I was all into this one.....until she had to go back to the damn hunger games.  After that I was like "really??!!"  UGH!  The adventure of the second Hunger Games  was kind of interesting with the clock and all but I wanted her to have an adventure covertly traveling through all the other districts until she discovered whether or not District 13 existed.  I think it would have made an even more interesting plot and possibly introduced us to some new rebel characters to prepare us for "Mockingjay", the final book in the trilogy (yes, I peeked ahead to see if it was worth finishing this trilogy).

The Girl Who Played With Fire

He really leaves you hanging at the end of every book! That's a good thing. I thought some parts kinda dragged and I really wanted to say "get to the point already", but overall Larsson keeps you interested.  I guess I'll have to get the "Hornet's Nest" next.

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide.....

Wonderful!  I actually had to break out the pen and take notes...no seriously. The last poem made me really sad.  I had to pause and think about it and re-read it.  I already know I'll be crying during the movie.

The Hunger Games

If you ever saw the movie Battle Royale and enjoyed it, you will like this book.  Although this book is more PG rated instead of R (Battle Royale is BRUTAL!).  I liked it and will most likely complete the series, but I think I was a little ruined by having seen a movie with a similar premise first.

Last Words of the Executed

Weird to read basically the evolution (over the centuries) of what is said at the end of one's life when they KNOW it's the end of their life. If you are interested in capital punishment or even just odd facts about history, it's an interesting read.

Room

This book was disturbing on so many levels....but so good!  I finished it in a day and a half.  Basically it's narrated by Jack a 5 y.o. boy who lives in a soundproof cell with his mother.  The mother was kidnapped 7 years earlier when she was 19 and trapped in this room by a crazy man.  I think the real story begins for Jack when they get free.......

Baby ER

I enjoyed this piece of "medical journalism".  If you are a NICU nurse and read this, keep in mind it is 10years old and things are a little different now.....for instance, it's not uncommon for a hospital to have nitric now.  Apparently when the book was written there really were only a few hospitals with approval for it. Who knew?

Bad Mother

At times hysterically funny, and then at times sad and brutally honest.  I really enjoyed this book because I feel like it gave a more realistic look at parenting in these times, warts and all. Sometimes knowing what parents are dealing with can help you work with them.

Surviving Your Stupid Stupid Decision to go to Grad School

LOVED IT!!!  Geared more towards those going for their doctorates, but I recommend it to anyone in grad school or anyone who went to grad school.  It will have you cracking up because so much of it is so TRUE.  I picked this up randomly in the bookstore. Once I read this line and started laughing, I had to read the whole thing:  "The abstract forces you to write in twenty lines what you're about to write in twenty pages.  It also makes you wonder what the point is of those twenty pages if you can summarize everything so nicely in twenty lines."....MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY! LOL!

Sundays at Tiffany's

I don't really know what to think about this book.  It's like James Patterson is trying to be Nicholas Sparks or he really loves a certain movie with Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage. Either way anyone can finish this book in a day or two.  It's 300pages  but has short 2-3page chapters and middle school font.  Now back to non-fiction.

Diaper Free

Definitely by far one of the most interesting books I read this year.  Seriously!  Of course you would have to have an interest to even pick this book up, but I think anyone with an open mind to various parenting styles could enjoy it.  In my line of work, I figure it's good to know what parents are reading/doing out there.  Maybe it will make me a better practitioner in the long run.

The Interruption of Everything

This was the audiobook I listened to going back and forth to Philly on the highway. It was kind of cheesy funny as only Terry McMillan can do.  I'm going to count it in my challenge this time due to special circumstances (i.e. I can't read and drive at the same time or I'd be dead), but this will be the only audio book entry.

The Lightning Thief

Quick little kiddie read....almost in the same vein as Harry Potter (but doesn't draw you in as much).  I was hoping for another magical-esque series because I miss Harry Potter (and I'm not ashamed to admit it!!)

Anger

Perfect book to finish up while I was at the hair salon for 4 hours!!!  whooo---saaaaa!

The Female Brain

A very interesting look at the female brain through the various stages of life (adolescent, young woman, mother, grandmother, etc..). I recognized myself as well as friends of mine in many of the examples.

Put on Your Crown

Eh, just so-so....I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was still in my late teens-early twenties.  A good book for women in that age group, though.  I just think I already subscribe to most of the little nuggets of wisdom she shared so it was a bit like preaching to the choir.

Peace is Every Step

My personal improvement is always an ongoing project.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Very interesting is all I can say!  You will either love it or hate it. I couldn't put it down! In the end I really feel like the author created an interesting allegory for the evils of slavery.

Listening Below the Noise

I really enjoyed this book.  I  have tried many times to actually "sit" and meditate and it feels so forced for me.  This book talks about how silence can help you can meditate in any moment if you are quiet and present.

How to Get Out of Debt.........

I have been reading this book since June, but you have to complete some of the exercises in stages so that's why it's taken me 2 mos.....I'm actually doing well with the "Back to Black" program as it's called in the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to stop using credit cards and get their financial freedom back.

The Heretic Queen

This author wrote a wonderful historical fiction book about Nefertiti (titled the same) that I couldn't put down.  The Heretic Queen is about Nefertari (the niece of Nefertiti).  I enjoyed this book as well and will definitely be adding any historical book by Ms. Moran to my reading list.

Infidel

Any book that incites someone to put a death threat out on you must be good right?  The answer is YES.  Of course you have to keep an open mind when you read this book, but it is extremely well written and tells the story of one women's oppression under the religion of Islam. The author, of course, was denounced as...you guessed it....an INFIDEL.  Anyone wishing to have a better understanding of a different culture should read this.  However, as always, I caution people to remember that there are always multiple stories in any one story.  So don't take this ONE singular book and try to start a war on Islam.  Just let this be, perhaps, the stepping stone to continued enlightenment about others.

Mathilda Savitch

Frankly, I was bored. Nothing stood out to me about this story or made it memorable to me.

Perfect Peace

The premise of this story alone made me pick up the book.  A women who has all boys, gives birth to yet another boy. This time around she decides to tell everyone she had a girl and dresses the infant up in girl's clothing.  The charade goes on for about 8 years when she finally tells the "girl" that she's really a boy....and so the story begins.  A well written story about redemption, sorrow, regrets and familial love.

Medium Raw

I have a secret crush on Anthony Bourdain.  I think he's awesome! The only other book I read by him was Kitchen Confidential, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Medium Raw was just as enjoyable to me.  If you like food and travel, this book is right up your alley.  I felt like I was immersed in multiple "No Reservations" episodes and I loved it. His backstage knowledge about the inner workings of the food industry and the great chefs of our time is unparalleled.