AOL posted their 10 Books to Read Before You Die. I've read some on the list (one I got almost all of the way through and was inadvertently told the ending so I stopped reading in disgust.) and others I have no interest in. Here's the list (I've bolded the ones I've read):
1. Gone with the Wind Margaret Mitchell
2. Lord of the Rings series JRR Tolkien
3. Harry Potter series JK Rowling
4. The Stand Stephen King
5. The DaVinci Code Dan Brown
6. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
7. Angels and Demons Dan Brown
8. Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand (this is the one I almost made it through!)
9. Catcher in the Rye JD Salinger
10. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams
I don't think this is a good list. Partly because #'s 2 and 3 don't interest me even a little. I don't like fantasy fiction. Maybe The DaVinci Code (great book) should be on there but Angels and Demons (okay book)? I think The Color Purple should be on there but it's not. I also think Angela's Ashes and Memoirs of a Geisha should be there too. What about 1984 or Brave New World? This list did remind me that I need to read Gone with the Wind, though.
Do you agree with this list? What books do you think should have made the list but didn't?
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
So Sorry...
I'm sorry that I've neglected the blog a bit. We've actually been enjoying some free time now that the boys are out of school and I've been going a little nuts on Facebook. My goodness is that thing addictive. It's fun, though, because I'm talking to people from high school and college that I haven't seen in years. If you don't have a Facebook page, I highly recommend getting one. Then let me know so that I can be your friend! LOL! (How sad is that?)
Anyway, the boys had their last day yesterday. We ended up staying outside until 10pm, mostly because I was chatting with a neighbor, Katie. We were discussing parenting books and our children. She recommended Love and Logic ("I haven't yelled at my kids since Sunday!" she told me) so I've been on the lookout for it. Has anyone else read it? If so, what did you think? I've read so many other books on parenting that haven't worked that I'm a little jaded.
Mikayla came over this morning to invite the kids to her garage sale. They all ran out of the house to take a look at her goods. Daniel came back begging for money for a Sonic the Hedgehog toy. I told him that if he wanted the toy, he'd have to spend his money. He runs upstairs, empties his bank and heads outside. About 2 minutes later, I see Sonic running through my backyard. Seriously? Yep...this Sonic is every bit as big as Hannah. We've taken to calling it Humongous Sonic. Daniel loves it, though.
Anyway, I guess that's it for now. I'm heading back over to my Facebook page now! LOL! (I blame Angi for all of this!!! I was fine until she asked me to be her friend!)
Anyway, the boys had their last day yesterday. We ended up staying outside until 10pm, mostly because I was chatting with a neighbor, Katie. We were discussing parenting books and our children. She recommended Love and Logic ("I haven't yelled at my kids since Sunday!" she told me) so I've been on the lookout for it. Has anyone else read it? If so, what did you think? I've read so many other books on parenting that haven't worked that I'm a little jaded.
Mikayla came over this morning to invite the kids to her garage sale. They all ran out of the house to take a look at her goods. Daniel came back begging for money for a Sonic the Hedgehog toy. I told him that if he wanted the toy, he'd have to spend his money. He runs upstairs, empties his bank and heads outside. About 2 minutes later, I see Sonic running through my backyard. Seriously? Yep...this Sonic is every bit as big as Hannah. We've taken to calling it Humongous Sonic. Daniel loves it, though.
Anyway, I guess that's it for now. I'm heading back over to my Facebook page now! LOL! (I blame Angi for all of this!!! I was fine until she asked me to be her friend!)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ugh
This was a strange weekend. We set up the new pool (we had to get a new one because I was too lazy to bring the old one in for the winter) on Friday. First thing Saturday morning, the kids wanted to swim. I thought they were nuts because the water was freezing. Granted, it was 85 degrees outside, but dang that water is cold. They didn't seem to care much. At one point, we had as many as 8 kids in the pool.
While the kids were in the pool, we heard F-18's going by. They must have gone by about 8 times. Just circling the house. It was really cool. They were so low that you could almost read the writing on the plane. I guess there was an air show at one of the little local airports. Nothing like two F-18's going over your house to bring out the neighbors. Literally everyone was out on their decks, staring straight up in the air.
At some point in the afternoon, I pulled a message from Mike (he'd gone to the main academy for Saturday training like he usually does) off of the phone. He said that he was at the hospital because he'd taken a kick to the ribs and was having a hard time breathing. They ran a bunch of scans and stuff and nothing's broken but he's bruised up pretty bad. They wrote him some prescriptions and sent him home. I can't even imagine the pain. He did get calls from Master Dave and Grandmaster Lee this afternoon making sure he was okay. Yet another reason I like our TKD school.
While Mike was at the hospital, a hummingbird flew into our garage. It was neat, at first. But then, it became annoying. This was probably the dumbest bird I've ever seen. He couldn't figure out how to get out. He kept flying into the ceiling and walls. He'd hang out on top of the garage door and then fly into the wall. All he had to do was fly down about two feet and then go out the big garage door. How hard is that? He finally figured it out Sunday afternoon. Daniel had walked into the garage with a light up toy and the hummingbird followed that light right out. I didn't realize hummingbirds were that dumb. LOL!
Saturday, I also did 6 loads of laundry. I hate laundry with a passion. I managed to switch out most of the kids' winter clothes for summer ones and their closets are now stuffed with warm weather gear. It doesn't seem like they've grown much so all of the clothes they wore last year are getting another go-round. The only thing I need to get is more shorts for Hannah. She only has one pair. Good thing she has a lot of little sundresses.
Sunday was the kids' last day of Sunday School for the school year. Mike was having a hard time just sitting up, so I took them by myself. After classes were over, everyone met in the time for worship area (that's what Hannah called it since the Rabbi always yells "time for worship!" every Sunday). Each grade level did a skit or song telling everyone where their tzedakah (offering) money went. I honestly can't remember where the first graders sent their money (I think it was some Israeli dog and cat organization) but the third graders actually got in touch with a unit of the Israeli Army and their money went to them. They sent photos and exchanged letters throughout the year. After that, they showed a slide show of the kids throughout the year. It was very cute.
The synagogue also held their used book fair yesterday. Like I needed more books, but at 50 cents a piece, it was hard to resist. I picked up a book called Modern Jewish Cooking that was printed in 1952. A lot of the recipes call for a pressure cooker, which must have been the big gadget at the time. Most of the recipes were familiar but there were some really strange ones. The author goes into detail about the joy of cooking with calves' brains and lungs (you have to buy the whole lungs with the heart. Just remove the esophagus.) It's fun to go through it. All in all, I picked up 16 books for $8. A few books for summer reading and several books for the kids.
This is the last full week of school for the boys. I can't tell you how excited I am about that.
While the kids were in the pool, we heard F-18's going by. They must have gone by about 8 times. Just circling the house. It was really cool. They were so low that you could almost read the writing on the plane. I guess there was an air show at one of the little local airports. Nothing like two F-18's going over your house to bring out the neighbors. Literally everyone was out on their decks, staring straight up in the air.
At some point in the afternoon, I pulled a message from Mike (he'd gone to the main academy for Saturday training like he usually does) off of the phone. He said that he was at the hospital because he'd taken a kick to the ribs and was having a hard time breathing. They ran a bunch of scans and stuff and nothing's broken but he's bruised up pretty bad. They wrote him some prescriptions and sent him home. I can't even imagine the pain. He did get calls from Master Dave and Grandmaster Lee this afternoon making sure he was okay. Yet another reason I like our TKD school.
While Mike was at the hospital, a hummingbird flew into our garage. It was neat, at first. But then, it became annoying. This was probably the dumbest bird I've ever seen. He couldn't figure out how to get out. He kept flying into the ceiling and walls. He'd hang out on top of the garage door and then fly into the wall. All he had to do was fly down about two feet and then go out the big garage door. How hard is that? He finally figured it out Sunday afternoon. Daniel had walked into the garage with a light up toy and the hummingbird followed that light right out. I didn't realize hummingbirds were that dumb. LOL!
Saturday, I also did 6 loads of laundry. I hate laundry with a passion. I managed to switch out most of the kids' winter clothes for summer ones and their closets are now stuffed with warm weather gear. It doesn't seem like they've grown much so all of the clothes they wore last year are getting another go-round. The only thing I need to get is more shorts for Hannah. She only has one pair. Good thing she has a lot of little sundresses.
Sunday was the kids' last day of Sunday School for the school year. Mike was having a hard time just sitting up, so I took them by myself. After classes were over, everyone met in the time for worship area (that's what Hannah called it since the Rabbi always yells "time for worship!" every Sunday). Each grade level did a skit or song telling everyone where their tzedakah (offering) money went. I honestly can't remember where the first graders sent their money (I think it was some Israeli dog and cat organization) but the third graders actually got in touch with a unit of the Israeli Army and their money went to them. They sent photos and exchanged letters throughout the year. After that, they showed a slide show of the kids throughout the year. It was very cute.
The synagogue also held their used book fair yesterday. Like I needed more books, but at 50 cents a piece, it was hard to resist. I picked up a book called Modern Jewish Cooking that was printed in 1952. A lot of the recipes call for a pressure cooker, which must have been the big gadget at the time. Most of the recipes were familiar but there were some really strange ones. The author goes into detail about the joy of cooking with calves' brains and lungs (you have to buy the whole lungs with the heart. Just remove the esophagus.) It's fun to go through it. All in all, I picked up 16 books for $8. A few books for summer reading and several books for the kids.
This is the last full week of school for the boys. I can't tell you how excited I am about that.
Monday, June 18, 2007
It's Raining...It's Pouring...
It's been kind of a dreary day all day long. I woke up this morning to the sound of thunder and I don't think it's stopped yet. Thunderstorm after thunderstorm has rolled through. There was a break this morning and I was able to get out and mow (the yard desperately needed it) and the kids got to be in the pool for a little bit too. They have yet to miss a day in the pool since we've gotten it. For the most part, the kids and I spent the day sitting on the front porch watching the storms roll in. I'm quite sure that our neighbors think we're nuts because every time we'd get good lightning, we'd all cheer. It's cool that the kids have inherited my love of thunderstorms.
So far, I've read three books this summer: House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III, Deception Point by Dan Brown and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. The best one of those was Deception Point. So far, I'm a little disappointed in my summer reading. Right now, I'm reading It Ain't All About the Cookin' by Paula Deen. I thought that I'd try a memoir this time. I seem to like those a lot. After I finish that, I've got Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich all ready to go. I just want something good like Angela's Ashes or Memoirs of a Geisha. What are you reading?
So far, I've read three books this summer: House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III, Deception Point by Dan Brown and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. The best one of those was Deception Point. So far, I'm a little disappointed in my summer reading. Right now, I'm reading It Ain't All About the Cookin' by Paula Deen. I thought that I'd try a memoir this time. I seem to like those a lot. After I finish that, I've got Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich all ready to go. I just want something good like Angela's Ashes or Memoirs of a Geisha. What are you reading?
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Weekend Update
I haven't posted in a couple of days because the kids have me held hostage by the pool. I woke up at 8:00 Friday morning to the faces of two little boys asking if they could go in the pool. Outside temperature at the time? 63 degrees. Friday night, I had to tell them that we wouldn't even consider going in the pool on Saturday until after 10:00am. They were really good about it but once the clock hit 10, they were all about getting those suits on and heading out. Darn schools teaching the kids to tell time.
I'm not getting much done in the house with the kids outside (I'm not at all comfortable leaving them alone in this pool) but it's worth it when it comes to bedtime. All three are so worn out that they go right to sleep. It's usually not an issue for Hannah, she's all about sleep when she's in bed but the boys typically goof around for an hour or so...prompting a lot of yelling from Mike and me. The past couple of nights, I've heard them talking for a few minutes and then it's quiet. I told Mike that I'd still like to get a trampoline so that they can go back and forth between the pool and trampoline and really wear themselves out. Mike thought about it and said that we should wait a little while. Oh man. You know what would be really cool is a huge obstacle course in the backyard so they can run, jump, and climb out their massive amounts of energy. I guess I'll have to settle for the pool for a while.
I had made the mistake, earlier in the spring, of buying Coppertone sunscreen for the kids. I forgot that it gave Hannah "bonks" (bumps) on her arms and legs. I think that she's allergic to something in it. I wasn't expecting Jacob to get "bonks" as well. Anyway, I replaced it with Bullfrog spray sunscreen. No more "bonks" and it works really really well.
I finally finished House of Sand and Fog which is probably the most boring book I've ever read. Okay, so Teacher Man by Frank McCourt is probably the most boring book I've ever read but this one comes a close second. It took me three months to get through this insane story. Sue had told me that I should just stop reading it altogether. I said that after putting this much time into it, I had to finish it. And now, I'm done. I have a book written by Dan Brown that I'm not sure I want to start. I just need some good fluff, I think. Something quick and good that doesn't pretend to be more than it is. I'm not sure my Dan Brown book will fit the bill.
I'm not getting much done in the house with the kids outside (I'm not at all comfortable leaving them alone in this pool) but it's worth it when it comes to bedtime. All three are so worn out that they go right to sleep. It's usually not an issue for Hannah, she's all about sleep when she's in bed but the boys typically goof around for an hour or so...prompting a lot of yelling from Mike and me. The past couple of nights, I've heard them talking for a few minutes and then it's quiet. I told Mike that I'd still like to get a trampoline so that they can go back and forth between the pool and trampoline and really wear themselves out. Mike thought about it and said that we should wait a little while. Oh man. You know what would be really cool is a huge obstacle course in the backyard so they can run, jump, and climb out their massive amounts of energy. I guess I'll have to settle for the pool for a while.
I had made the mistake, earlier in the spring, of buying Coppertone sunscreen for the kids. I forgot that it gave Hannah "bonks" (bumps) on her arms and legs. I think that she's allergic to something in it. I wasn't expecting Jacob to get "bonks" as well. Anyway, I replaced it with Bullfrog spray sunscreen. No more "bonks" and it works really really well.
I finally finished House of Sand and Fog which is probably the most boring book I've ever read. Okay, so Teacher Man by Frank McCourt is probably the most boring book I've ever read but this one comes a close second. It took me three months to get through this insane story. Sue had told me that I should just stop reading it altogether. I said that after putting this much time into it, I had to finish it. And now, I'm done. I have a book written by Dan Brown that I'm not sure I want to start. I just need some good fluff, I think. Something quick and good that doesn't pretend to be more than it is. I'm not sure my Dan Brown book will fit the bill.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)