Skinny B*$@!

Skinny B*$@!

Written By.  Freedman & Barnouin

Although it is hard to swallow... 

these ladies seem to have some great advice about diet and exercise.

It is so important to take care of our bodies and what better way than to make good, informed decisions about what kind of "crap" we put in it. These girls bash fad diets and inform readers about healthy food, drink and snack choices. 

Diet & excercise are the keys to success...though I can't argue against a large fry or delicious chocolate brownie from time to time. 

The House on Sugar Beach

The House on Sugar Beach

Written By. Helene Copper

Helene Cooper, a descendent of two Liberian dynasties, shares with her readers the experiences she's had growing up as a privileged "Congo" girl and her time at Sugar Beach, Liberia. On Sugar Beach, Helene's family owned a twenty-two room estate of the coast of West Africa. Never would Helene have  imaged that her youth, full of trips to Europe, flashy clothes, crushes, adventure, and wealth, would be destroyed instantly when civil war breaks among the Liberian people. 

At the age of 8, Helene's family take in a foster child, a native Liberian. Eunice is to become Helene's playmate and sister. Eunice's mother is happy to send her daughter to live with the Cooper's in hopes that she will have a better life and receive a first rate education. The two form and instant bond as they share secrets, play foot games, and help fight each others battles. 

The war in Liberia was the cause of racial tension between the wealthy and privileged "Congo" people and native Liberians. The "Congo" race arrived in Liberia in the 1800's as freed black slaves of the United States. On April 20, 1980 a group of rebel soldiers staged a coup, which began with the Liberian president. The struggle only elevates as Helene's uncle is savagely executed before the public and Helene's mother is raped in an attempt to save the innocence of her daughters. The Cooper family is forced to flee Liberian, leaving behind Helene's childhood and beloved sister, Eunice. 

Helene shares her adventures and struggles in The United States; from entering a foreign country, high school, college, and achieving her dreams as a professional journalist for the New York Times. 

I rented the audio version of this book from the public library which is narrated by Helene Cooper herself. Listening made long drives into town so enjoyable. It is neat hearing the author dramatize events from her past in her native Liberian english. This story is captivating! I laughed, cried, as Helene Cooper discover herself in this memoir. 

Pick it up!

Twilight

Twilight

By. Stephanie 

They creep in the night, blood, guts, fangs, walking dead...Vampires!

I know, I know, I  too am certainly surprise that I instantly became engrossed in a teenage romance novel about vampires.  This story is unlike any vampire myth I have come across.

Quick synopsis: A romance between a young couple; the girl Bella and a Edward a teenage vampire. Twilight, book #1 in the series is a basic introduction to the new fantasy world Meyer creates full of emotion and creativity. Simply... how do a Vampire and a human relate?

Meyer's writing style is not one that I would usually enjoy, not intellectually written, rather more contemporary and common. I was surprised by the purity of the novel. No sex (until marriage) and strong values implied! But still vampires I know. I cannot believe how easily I was drawn in. 

Twilight is addictive, captivating and imaginative!

Jailbird

Jailbird

Written By. Kurt Vonnegut

For those of you who know me at all, you know that I really enjoy reading the works of Kurt Vonnegut. I by no means endorse his writings for these historical fictions are full of political satires, black humor, science fiction, and at times can be a bit crude. 

Somehow Vonnegut Lures me in...

Time and time again I am amazed at his view on life. Not that I often find myself conforming to these views but rather how he makes me take a look at what is going on around me, in my world, its the irony of life!

Vonnegut's writings and artwork are full of underlying themes and reoccurring characters that seem to be a product of his own bizarre life; a mother who committed suicide at a young age, life as a prisoner of war in which he survived the bombing at Dresden, among other events that don't ever happen to the average Joe.

This year alone I have read about 10 of Vonneguts books and a few short stories, the most recent of these, Jailbird. Jailbird, drops a fictional character, Walter F. Starbuck into history; highlighting details of capitalism, U.S. labor unions, famous trials, and the Watergate scandal. This tale explores a crazy set of coincidences that surround the life of Walter and shape him into the man he has become. Another of Vonnegut's masterpieces in my opinion!

sorry I missed a week!
I couldn't help it! I finished the book and it was so good. I don't have much time to write now, and I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but it was so compelling!

I guess I am not as far in the book.....
I find myself reading and wanting to hurry and finish the book, but at times I find that I can only read so much...it is definitely not a feel good book. The sorrow and fear that you feel, I can't imagine whats going to happen...well I can...with what the title is. He has just lost one of his friends. The death of Saidu was sad. After being on the run and being so alone for the few days makes us all wonder at the amount of human interaction we need on a daily basis. Having to sleep up in trees and share watering holes with huge snakes is not my idea of fun. But when tested we do what we have to do to survive. But it does make you wonder if you could stand that test...are you strong enough to face those challenges...could I really survive in the forest? Could I run from the fear of the rebels and not get caught?

Why?

What is it in the human brain and/or soul that might allow circumstances to dictate the direction of our lives as it did to Ishmael? Are we all victims of our circumstances? How do consciences become so seared? If homeless, hungry and without hope would we join in and ultimately become the monsters that we had originally hated? Would we become "one of them" not just for survival but actually enjoy the evil and cruelty that Ishmael describes in his writings. These questions haunt me as I think of all the "children soldiers" in the world today. Yes, today September 12, 2008 there are children without food, shelter and soon, if not to be already, without remorse. How can I just sit here and not do anything about it? What could I do to change the world? A point to ponder.