So it looks like you’ll get an actual post faster than I anticipated…because I finished the batch of books due for a book review post!  Except it’s going to be mostly a quote post because I’m a little tired.  Plus these books just have some pretty fabulous quotes.  So enjoy!

1. My Horizontal Life:  A Collection of One-Night Stands – Chelsea Handler.  I actually owe you an apology for this one – I read it in the middle of the last batch of books to be reviewed, but completely forgot about it once I started writing.  Which is horrible because this is definitely a book to remember.  Spectacularly hilarious & I highly recommend it

“I was seven years old when my sister told me she’d give me five dollars to run upstairs into my parents’ room while they were having sex and take a picture.  At that age I had heard of sex but had no idea what it looked like.  I knew for sure that my parents were sexually active.  My father had impregnated my mother on six different occasions, all of which she decided to keep, so it was clear to my siblings and me that there was a definite attraction. ”

2. Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris.  As you know, I already reviewed the first 9 books in this, the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I had only reviewed 9 because at that time, that’s all that had been released.  But lo & behold on May 4th the 10th book was released, and I received a gift card to Target, which I promptly spent on said book.  And it was just as fabulous and just as much fun as before   GO READ THIS SERIES.  Done.

“‘Dead things love you,’ Dermot told me, and I made myself keep smiling.  ‘Eric the vampire?  He says he does.’ ‘Other dead things, too.  They’re pulling on you.’  That was a not-so-welcome revelation.  Dermot was right.  I’d been feeling Eric through our bond, as usual, but there were two other gray presences with me every moment after dark:  Alexei and Appius Livius.  It was a drain on me, and I hadn’t realized it until this moment.  ‘Tonight,’ Dermot said, ‘you’ll receive visitors.’  So now he was a prophet. ‘Good ones?’  He shrugged.  ‘That’s a matter of taste and expedience.’  ‘Hey, Uncle Dermot?  Do you walk around this land very often?’ ‘Too scare of the other one,’ he said.  ‘But I try to watch you a little.  I was figuring out if that was a good thing or a bad thing when he vanished.  Poof!  I saw a kind of blur and then nothing.  His hands were on my shoulders, and then they weren’t.  I assume the tension of conversing with another person had gotten to Dermot.  Boy.  That had been really, really weird.  I glanced around me, thinking I might see some other trace of his passage.  He might even decide to return.  But nothing happened.  There wasn’t a sound except the prosaic growl of my stomach, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten lunch and that it was now suppertime.  I went into the house on shaking legs and collapsed at the table.  Conversation with a spy.  Interview with an insane fairy.  Oh, yes, phone Jason and tell him to be back on fairy watch.  That was something I could do sitting down.”

3. The Known World - Edward P. Jones.  This book is quite a switch from the other, more light-hearted ones I had been reading.  It was a little heavy, but nonetheless excellent.  It was difficult to get into at first, but eventually I did get caught up in the plot.  It’s a very unique account – a fictional story of a black slaveowner in Virginia.  Creates a very detailed and specific picture of life in the time of slavery.

“Fern Elston had chosen not to follow her siblings and many of her cousins into a life of being white.  She stayed in Manchester County where everyone knew what she was – a free Negro, though she was as white as any white person.  Part of why she stayed was Ramsey Elston, a free Negro who came from north of Charlottesville.  Had she gone anywhere else and passed as white, the color of her husband would have made her suspect.  While he was quite light-skinned, he was not as light as she was and it was most evident that he was colored.  She would have been a white woman in the rest of the world with a Negro husband, and that would have limited her world almost as much as their just living as a colored man and his colored wife.  And being a white wife might have gotten her husband killed.”

4. Generation Me:  Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – and More Miserable Than Ever Before. – Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D.  This is a PHENOMENAL book.  Go buy/read it now.  Seriously.  ASAP.  It’s dead-on accurate and she has done an excellent job of backing up her research while presenting a relatable account of the more recent generations (specifically in contrast to the Baby Boomers).  Outstanding.  Loved it.

“Today’s young people…take these changes for granted and thus do not face this problem [of being overwhelmed by the pace of cultural change].  Instead, we face a different kind of collision: Adulthood Shock.  Our childhoods of constant praise, self-esteem boosting, and unrealistic expectations did not prepare us for an increasingly competitive workplace and the economic squeeze created by sky-high housing prices and rapidly accelerating health care costs.  After a childhood of buoyancy, GenMe is working hard to get less.”

5.  Gather Together in My Name – Maya Angelou.  This is the continuation of Maya Angelou’s autobiography (following I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which I actually have yet to read…).  Her life story is, beyond a doubt, incredible.  It’s difficult to believe she can have gone through so many different and dangerous experiences, especially given the image I have of her from the Wake Forest orientation video.  She is truly an incredible woman, and hearing her incredible story is only made easier by her gifted writing and way with words.

“My head stayed high from habit, but my last hope was gone.  Every way out of the maze had proved to be a false exit.  My once lively imagination would not come up with one more fantasy.  My courage was dwindling.  Unfortunately, fortitude was not like the color of my skin, given to me once and mine forever.  It needed to be resurrected each morning and exercised painstakingly.  It also had to be fed with at least a few triumphs.  My strength had fallen away from me as the pert features fade from an aging beauty.  I didn’t drink and had run out of pot.  For the first time in my life I sat down defenseless to await life’s next assault.”

Um well and on that note…time to scrape up some fortitude and head into work.  Another day, another dollar…and the start of another book

I really have the best intentions to write a for-real post about my life.  Really.  I do.  I mean, there’s work…and other work…and friends…and family…and graduations…and Memorial Day weekend…and babies…and work…and driving…and grad school info…and work…and music…and coffee…and current events…and work…and writing…and wor – well, you get the idea.  Point being, there are updates (albeit somewhat depressing/boring ones that would be, alas, just about work).

But unfortunately, my computer fan is dying.  A slow, painful, LOUD death.  Which means I have about a 5-45minute window of computer time before it begins shrieking at me and I have to turn it off for fear that it will either a) attack me or b) cause me to lose my hearing.

So, I think I’m going to turn it off ASAP.  Maybe next time I’ll hop on the ol’ blog first, but in the meantime, I’ve bid on a new fan on ebay.  And called Wake’s IS.  Hopefully I will soon replace the fan myself in hardy home improvement fashion (a la my talented Sister & Brother-in-law Dearest and their washing machine).

And that adventure will surely merit its own blog post (assuming my poor computer survives it…)

The pretty much incredible Becky Hartzog used this Mother Teresa adaptation of Kent Keith’s “The Paradoxical Commandment” as the benediction for Wake Forest’s graduation yesterday…While I had heard it before, I don’t think I could ever hear it often enough.

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.   Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.”

Here it is!  Finally!  Another book review post!  Because I know you’ve been desperately anticipating one.  Ok, maybe “desperately anticipating” is a little strong.  Maybe waiting for one.  Maybe not.  Maybe you just happened to notice that I’ve updated.  Maybe you’re reading this weeks later, or not at all.  But whatev.  Because we’re going to move on with the post.  I don’t think there’s one over-arching theme for this collection of books…maybe love?  But that’s kind of cheap, because most books are about love.  At any rate, here we go.

1.  The Meaning of Sex: Christian Ethics and the Moral Life – Dennis P. Hollinger.  Well, I actually enjoyed this book.  I didn’t really expect to enjoy it, seeing as how I disagreed with more than half of what the author was saying, but it was so well-written and intellectually stimulating that it didn’t matter that I disagreed with various points.  True, it was frustrating to be like “I’m with you so far, but I’m not sure I’m reaching the same conclusion as you” but it certainly helped me articulate my own views that much better because of my disagreements.  This book not only discusses the obvious issues of premarital sex, sex within marriage, and homosexuality, but also asks ethical questions about things like reproductive technologies, polygamy, masturbation, celibacy, our over-sexed culture, etc etc.  Again, while I ended up not seeing eye to eye with the author on most points, I really appreciated the way he approached his arguments.  It was all very logical, and he made sure to present a variety of arguments – not just the one he agreed with.  Furthermore, he looked at sexuality in the context of its purpose and how we as humans tend to distort that purpose and take a good thing and mess it up (which I agree with).  His arguments were, for the most part, not incisive or angry or even self-righteous.  So while I disagreed, I could respect his opinion.  Which was nice.  Definitely a good read if you’re interested in a sound debate.

2.  The Fifty Greatest Love Letters of All Time – ed. David Lowenherz.  First of all…yes, this is the book Carrie Bradshaw is reading in the Sex and the City movie.  Secondly, I loved it.  I really enjoy reading other people’s letters (I guess I’m nosy like that…oh hello internet…).  I also really enjoy the time when letter-writing was an art.  I borrowed this book from Lovell, and she asked me to pick a favorite letter after I finished, and while I couldn’t achieve that task (indecisive to the maximum) I do believe my favorite section of the book was the “Fire and Ice” one.  It had the most interesting and passionate letters, I believe.  The “Tender” letters were sweet, but didn’t quite stir me the way the F&I ones did.  But on the whole, this was a quick enjoyable read that looks at a variety of types of loves and a variety of great loves throughout the ages.  You should definitely pick it up at some point.

3.  A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier – Ishmael Beah.  Ummm freaking EXCELLENT book.  Also horribly tragic and disturbing, but a necessary read.  This memoir tells the story of Sierra Leone’s Civil War and its specific effects on the young men of the country – many of whom were forced to become boy soldiers.  It’s horrific to think of the amount of trauma these kids (and they were just kids) went through and the terrifying crimes they were forced to commit against each other and themselves.  There is no way to read this book and not care about the state of affairs in Africa, and to take seriously the devastation Civil War can impart, no matter how small a country.  However, what is even more amazing than the horrors Beah survived is the fact that he survived them.  He got out.  And was rehabilitated – no small feat.  I don’t even know what all to say about this book, except that I think we all have a responsibility to read stories such as these – no matter how astounding and devastating they are – because they are stories that have earned the right to be told, to be heard.

4.  Everything Is Illuminated – Jonathan Safran Foer.   This was a re-read, but one I’d been wanting to re-read for awhile.  It definitely did not disappoint.  In fact, it exceeded my expectations as I guess it fell in my estimation over time.  There was a lot of the book that I forgot – mostly because I didn’t realize it had been so long since I’d read it.  Still, it almost made me cry at the end.  I had only remembered the Brod storyline, and had forgotten how intense the main storyline was.  Yet even tho the multiple storylines are wonderful, the best part of this novel is the way Foer plays with words.  He truly is a gifted writer, capable of creating vivid images and giving new meaning to our everyday language.  The novel begins in the form of an epistle, and is framed as the exchange of stories between two men – one in the Ukraine, and one in the United States.  It becomes clear through the letter writer, Alex, and his stories, that Jonathan has journeyed to the Ukraine to discover what happened to his Jewish grandfather during World War II prior to his escape to America.  Jonathan’s storyline is more complex, relating the history of the town of Trachimbrod.  Difficult to describe, but definitely should be read.

5.  The Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis.  This was also a re-read, and another excellent one.  Lewis is, of course, an outstanding writer.  The premise of this book is that a senior demon, Screwtape, is writing letters of advice to his nephew, Wormtail, about the best way to secure a human soul through temptation.  It’s a really unique representation of spiritual warfare, and one only a writer as deft as C.S. Lewis could properly handle.  If you haven’t read it, you should.

6. The Voice That is Great Within Us: American Poetry of the Twentieth Century – ed. Hayden Carruth.  So, I’m still working on this book.  I made it through ten more poets, and definitely enjoyed the majority of them.  This batch of poets included Stanley Kunitz, Kenneth Rexroth, Robert Penn Warren (of All the King’s Men fame, which is an EXCELLENT book), Richard Lattimore, Theodore Roethke – fabulous poet – Robert Fitzgerald, Charles Olson, Winfield Townley Scott, Elizabeth Bishop, and J.V. Cunningham.  All were excellent, but I’d have to say I most enjoyed Roethke & Olson.

And that was it for this time around…happy reading again

So, a few things have been crossed off the list, which is very exciting.  But somewhat disappointing is how many things I had In Progress that I have had to admit that I have not been keeping in progress – i.e., #55, tithing.  This is one of those I need to pick back up, among others.  I would maintain some of them for a month or even close to 2, but then would completely get out of the habit.  So, gotta start over!  However, to stay positive, these are the newly completed goals!  And actually, a fair number of these were goals I had to maintain for 2 months and feel as tho I have since achieved   So, here’s the update; bear with me as some of this stuff happened awhile ago, but I’m just filling you in! (For a reference, check out the entire 101 in 1001 list!)

#16: Throw a Christmas Party at some point for friends - So yeah.  This happened this past December.  I threw a Tacky Sweater Christmas party.  Now, it should have been an extraordinarily fabulous party, but there was a snowstorm.  So it was simply fabulous.  While attendance was down due to the weather, we still had a great time and wore some TACKY sweaters and ate some delicious food & had great drinks   Even the preparations for the party were fun, and I’m all for holiday parties on a regular basis!

#26: Get into a graduate school program – PRAISE GOD HALLELUJAH THIS HAPPENED THIS YEAR.  Third time’s the charm?  More likely, God is infinitely wiser than I am in His timing and more accurate in assessing my motivations.  Be that as it may, I have been accepted to Wake Forest’s M.A. in Counseling program, which I am THRILLED about.  Classes start in August.  I’m ridiculously excited.  Hallelujah.

#35: Take on my own car payments – Soooooo this is a less positive achievement, but nevertheless one that needs to be crossed off.  Instead of taking on my car payments when I was financially ready in order to achieve a new level of fiscal responsibility and ease my parents’ burdens…I totaled my car last September.  So the insurance paid off my car and gave me some extra $ and my parents were kind enough to loan me my father’s old car, which has no car payments as it is paid off.  So, I have no car payments to make at the moment, but rest assured that whenever this car gives out (which please dear Lord let it last through grad school) I will be taking on the new car payments of the next car…

#53: Begin writing a novel – Why is this one that it’s embarrassing to say I can check off?  Perhaps because you’ll note this is cleverly worded so as to say “Begin writing” and not “Complete” or “Publish”, and really anyone can begin anything.  So it feels a little bit like cheating.  But still, in my efforts to begin writing creatively again and pushing myself, I’m pretty pleased with even achieving a beginning   It’s not a novel proper as it’s not fiction, but it is going to be wonderful (even if only read by me!).  It’s going to be about the exciting life & times I’ve had as an RC.  Yes.  Epic.

#58: Do something alone and just for myself once a week – I have become SO MUCH BETTER at this!  And I love it.  Sometimes it’s nothing more than writing in my journal, or sitting on my balcony in silence, or lighting candles in the apt, or driving to B&N to drool, or taking a bath.  Sometimes it’s a massage or an (at home) pedicure or turning off my phone & computer super early or what have you.  I do wish that more often it was running or yoga or going to the gym, but alas…baby steps   It is so crucial for me to have my time by myself, and I’m finally getting into the habit of taking it…whenever I can lol.  Really helps with the burnout.

#65: Improve wardrobe and MAINTAIN dressing nicely on a daily basis – Again, this is one goal that implores you to be patient with my baby steps.  But this I mean a) stop wearing graphic t-shirts from high school and college on a daily basis (achieved)   b) don’t dress like one of my teenage cls every day of the week (achieved)  c) actually wear make-up and put effort into my hair/jewelry from time to time  d) wear things that are flattering.  However, this does have to be balanced against the fact that I work 5 days a week and can’t wear anything that is revealing, or that I will care if it is ripped or stained with either manure or bleach.  Also dresses & skirts are completely off-limits for work.  BUT, even within the strictures of my necessary work clothes, I feel as tho I have come a LONG way on this goal since I incorporated it into my 101.  I do make an effort!  Hurray!  Of course, I still have days where only a my ‘These clothes are good enough to drink in” t-shirt will do (oops can’t wear that one to work either tho…role model!)

#66 – Explore the shoe world and obtain some nice shoes – Again, this is one in which you have to bear with me.  My shoes have greatly improved.  And I have a variety of way nicer ones than I ever have.  But this by no means implies I have truly become a shoe connoisseur, largely because I have a troubled past in the fashion world as a whole, and specifically in the shoe world.  I truthfully was not aware of my accurate shoe size until literally three years ago.  So, I have come a long way   Also, again, this goal is hindered by not only my precarious financial situation, but also by the requirements my job places on my wardrobe.  Le sigh.  One day I’ll get to look nice at work…one day…

#81 Start and MAINTAIN washing dishes by hand more often than using the dishwasher to preserve the quality of the dishes – Kind of an anti-climactic note to end on, but yes!  I have done a much better job of this!  Usually only with pots & pans, but those were the ones I was most concerned about to begin with.  Pretty straightforward.  The end.

And there you have it…I’ve noticed that I seem to be having a somewhat difficult time crossing off those items in the “Just for Fun” category…hopefully in the near future I can work on those…

PS Book review post coming SOON!