The Shadow of Your Smile, by Mary Higgins Clark

I waited for what seemed like forever for my library's copy of this book to finally become available. 

It was well worth the wait, too!

Mary Higgins Clark is the best in my book when it comes to weaving tales of mystery and suspence, who-dunnits and even a smidge of romance.

Her latest was good from the get-go, as usual, with her usual way of adding pieces to the puzzle through her plethora of characters, all well written and thought out.  I love how she makes things seem a little obvious at times, then adds yet another piece to the puzzle and throws you for a loop till the very end when it all comes together and you have the ah-ha moment she intended.

In this novel, she included everything from a nun's beatification to murder, from charity foundations to scandal.  It was definitely a good read and is right up there with all of her other books.  Keep 'em comin', Mary!

The End of Overeating, by David A. Kessler, M.D.

Holy life-changing-book, Batman!

This book took me FOR.EV.ER. to read.  Well, at first, it was sitting at the bottom of a stack of library books for literally weeks while I read all the other books I wanted to read... this was maybe 3 months ago... seriously.  Then, I finally started it.  I think the reason I needed to read this book is the reason it took me so long to start it in the first place and the reason it took me so long to get it read.  Because I knew it would do me some good. 

I have struggled with my weight since about two years after I graduated high school.  I've tried everything from the grapefruit diet to the Atkins diet to any get-slim-quick work-out video I could find.  One thing I've come to realize is the word "diet" is synonymous with failure or temporary or deprivation.  Also, the only thing that will EVER get someone thin and healthy for life is exercise and a healthy way of eating.  I know I have some serious bad habits when it comes to food.  I know it's a weakness for me.  I know it's something I can conquer.  How this would be done was yet out of my grasp.

Until I read this book.

This book has changed the way I look at food and will stick with me for as long as I live.  I hope to obtain my very own copy of it so I can refer to it often.  It's empowering.  It's filled with common sense.  It's easy to relate to and it's easy to read.  The author of this book tells how he, himself, has had the same struggle that millions struggle with and basically recorded his mission in finding out why and how to fix it in this book.  He's included so much information, I had to read a little at a time to really digest it.  But it's information that he made easy to understand and relate to and put into practice in one's own life.

In a nutshell, he talks about how certain combinations of food, the very same combinations the food industry uses against us for their gain, affects the brain the same way cocaine and heroin would.  He talks about how the cue-urge-reward-habit cycle is something many battle but all can overcome.  He provides proof that this is happening inside our heads and why and how we can break this vicious cycle.  It really is an eye-opener.

I feel I can finally accomplish something I've been trying to accomplish for what seems like my whole life.

If you struggle with your weight or even feel food is something that occupies your thoughts more than it should, please do yourself a favor and read this book.  It really will change your life.

The Walk, by Richard Paul Evans

I read this in 3.5 hours yesterday.  Well, last night, rather.  It was excellent.  (RPE usually is.)

This book is the story about a man, Alan Christoffersen, who has the career of his dreams, the perfect house, expensive cars, and best of all, the love of his life.  Things couldn't be better.  Then the worst happens and he manages to lose it all within a short amount of time.  On the verge of suicide, he hears a voice that tells him that life is not his to take, and he remembers a promise he made to his wife right before she dies to live.  So, he sells everything he can and starts a journey.  He walks, bringing only what he can carry on his back.  Along his path so far, he meets several people who change the way he sees life, people who were put in his path for a reason.  Angry with God, he tries to find it in himself to make sense of what happened.  His journey started in Seattle, Washington and will take him to Key West, Florida.  This is the first of five in a series, so naturally, it just ends, leaving a person hanging... till next April!! I learned a lot from this book, it was truly inspiring and thought provoking.  I love how one of the messages it teaches is that life is full of trials, it's what we do with those trials that defines who we are.  Richard Paul Evans must be a well of wisdom, that's all I can say.  :)

I read this in one evening, if that tells you how good it was, and I'm sure to read it again before the next one comes out.  I would seriously recommend it.  If you've never read RPE, it's worth your time (and money, if you choose to buy it - I would!) (Oh, wait, I already did!). And if you have read RPE before, this book is true to form and will keep you an RPE fan for life, I'm sure.

My Life for the Poor, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I have never read a book that was so short but took me so long that I enjoyed so much.  I think it took me so long because as I read it, I tried to absorb what I was reading in attempt to make it part of myself.  In reality, it's only 107 pages long, so it could possibly be a quick read for somebody.

I never knew much about Mother Teresa, other than probably what the rest of the world knows about her.  After reading this book, I have half a mind to model my life after hers.  She truly was a wonderful, most unselfish, spiritual person.  The things she did for so many people and her beliefs are so incredible! As I read this, my mind began to grasp what it truly means to be Christ-like.  This woman was such an example of Christian behavior.  She truly believed that the things she was doing to and for others, she was doing to and for Jesus Christ.  She often quoted the scripture that says "If ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  She had such a clear perception on what true poverty is, what true hunger is.  She encourages us all to help the poor around us, first in our homes, then in our neighborhoods, and so on.  She says the worst disease on earth is that of loneliness, feeling unwanted, feeling unloved and teaches how we as God's children can cure this disease by reaching out to those around us.  Her mission, her life, was devoted to helping people come to the realization that God loves them, that they are His children.  She never asked for money.  She had such great faith that if the Lord wanted it done, He would provide, and He always did.  So many people have welcomed her and her "co-workers" into their lives and their countries and provided so much for her work.  She has been joined so willingly by so many "sisters" who have the desire to serve and live their lives as she does, as the poor does.  She literally gave up everything she had for this sacred calling.  Other religions and non-Christians have helped her work progress.  It was amazing to read her story, her thoughts, her firm beliefs, and to be influenced by such greatness.

I've never had a hero before, but I do believe I have found one in Mother Teresa. 

***Now I can FINALLY start my new RPE book!***

Seven more days...

So, I got my RPE book in the mail a couple weeks ago BUT I HAVEN'T READ IT YET. 

My darling husband said I had to wait till my bday.  Which is fine because I generally don't get much for my birthday so I'm keeping it as an extra special birthday treat.  I'll start it right after I eat half of my Tres Leche cake.  YUMMMMM.

I did, however, take it out of the package and look at it and take a picture of it as sort of a teaser: 

*sigh*

I could always start reading it and just keep it in the opened package so my husband thinks I'm still waiting.... ha ha!

My Hands Came Away Red, by Lisa McKay

This was an amazing book, I'm sad it's fiction.

Six Christian teenagers find themselves on the same team for a mission trip to Seram, Indonesia to build a church for a small village on the island.  After a week of being there, a holy war breaks out among the Muslims and the Christians.  The teenagers witness as the pastor and his wife are killed from the hidden safety of the jungle.  Along with the pastor's two children, they hike with what food and goods they can carry for two weeks through the jungle, facing malaria, hunger, massive fatigue, animal attacks, a voyage to another island resulting in a shipwreck and near drowning, among other things.  Their faith is tested as they see the horrors of war and escape near execution themselves in a Muslim village.  When they're finally rescued by the very same army that is causing some of the chaos and death and taken back home, they use the photos they took and the interviews they performed and notes they kept as well as their haunting story to let the world know what is happening in an attempt to stop the terrifying acts of inhumanity.  They build bonds that nothing can break and begin the journey to healing by the end of this captivating tale.  I couldn't put it down once I began.  I can't imagine what it would be like to face such trials... the author definitely did her research when she put this story together.  The details she relays sound so real it's almost like she got them from real survivors who had to face something like this.  It was a wonderful book and I recommend it highly.

Tomorrow just rocks!

Not only is tomorrow my daughter's birthday, but it's the day that RICHARD PAUL EVANS' NEW BOOK IS BEING RELEASED!!!

Ahem.  I'm better now.  ;)

(I pre-ordered mine from Amazon.com, did you?)

Not at the top of my to-do list:

Reading has been on the back burner again.  My life's been a bit busy.  :)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This was a charming book, to say the least.  It takes place shortly after WWII on a Channel Island named Guernsey.  Well, most of the story takes place there, anyway.  The whole book is basically letters sent back and forth between the characters, which tells the story of a young author discovering the island and it's people.  She falls in love with the island and the people on it and ends up marrying one of them.  (That's the shortest review EVER, I think.) I'd buy this book, it was such a joy to read! The story itself is simple and talks of the effect the war had on the island and it's people.  The characters are so well portrayed that I felt I was getting to know them myself, or was the main character herself, experiencing the beauty of life and coming to love these simply islanders.  The story wasn't one of suspense or a heady romance, but I found myself not wanting it to end, just the same.  I would definitely read it again and hope it crosses my path again in the future.

Unraveled, by Maria Housden

I finished this yesterday, but due to a new goal, I had to wait till today to post my review.

This was a hard book for me to read.  I wrote out a review for it yesterday while my thoughts were still in my head, but even now, I find myself abandoning even those thoughts to record new ones. 

First, what the book was about.  Maria Housden writes a memoir, basically, telling of her choice to abandon her role as a stay-at-home mom while turning over full custody of her kids to her husband.  She faces objection from her friends and eventually loses them all when she decides to move across the country from her kids to live with the man she had an affair with.  Her path is one of self-discovery, of being honest about who she is and what she wants out of life.  That, in a nutshell, is what the book was about.

Now, my thoughts.  A quick disclaimer, though.  If you're easily offended by other's opinions, read no further.  If you can appreciate my opinion for what it is while still standing firm in your own, by all means, keep reading.  I'm a stay-at-home mom.  I chose this.  I'm a firm believer that if you're going to have children, you should be the one to raise them.  I do my best to not condemn the choices of others when they go against my own beliefs.  This is hard for me, I'm very opinionated.  If anything, I pity this woman.  It almost sounds as if she has to keep re-convincing herself that she's done the right thing, that adultery isn't bad (ha), and that by doing what she's doing, she's becoming closer to God.  I cannot judge someone's relationship with the Almighty, nor is it my place to judge her for her decisions, hard as they may have been.  Her marriage was falling apart, and from the things she says her husband said, I can imagine why.  So, they get a divorce, which is hard enough for children.  But children need their mother.  She had them every other weekend, and during the summer.  She wasn't there for several milestones of their life.  She claims that her decision to be selfish (my way of putting it) and "live a simpler life" was for the benefit of not only her, but for her children as well.  I think she's been diluted in to thinking these things.

As far as the book goes, it was well-written, portrayed her thoughts well, and kept me turning pages till the very end.  It's a book that I'm sure many modern women can relate to.  I'm a modern mother, yet I cling to old fashioned ideas.  In reading this book, I've learned that I really do choose this (being a mother).  I truly appreciate her example in being honest with oneself and being "unapologetically" who you really are instead of trying to please others and fitting the mold other people think you should fit.  I am grateful to have read this book for this very reason.  I've been insecure as a mother, to say the least, but this book helped me realize that I can be my own version of what I think a good mother is, that I don't need to compare myself to others or be the kind of mother others think I should be.  I think it's very important for mothers to take time for themselves in order to preserve who they are as a person, but I think she should also be committed to her children.  My own mom always told me you need to feel 100% if you're to have anything to give to anyone else.  Being a full time mom is a selfless job, but that doesn't mean you have to keep yourself on the back burner or abandon it altogether to "find yourself".  I know who I am, and I'm grateful for that.  I'm a mother.  I chose this.  I'm going to be there for my children until they don't need me anymore.  I choose to be here when they get home from school.  I choose to be the one to teach them their first words, see them take their first step, and be the last one they see at night when they go to bed.  But, that doesn't mean I don't do things for myself or that interest me.  I'm going to make sure my life is what I choose it to be and that I'm always honest with myself and others and be true to who I am.  I'm thinking that was more for me than for you.  ;)