Lipstick in Afghanistan

Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately

This book was a quick read. (Also it satisfies my book challenge criteria of reading a book with a wartime setting(; ) This was not my favorite book ever, but it was very relate-able for me and I really enjoyed it.

Elsa becomes an RN to help people. Specifically to help people in third-world countries, after 9-11 she signs up to be an aid worker and eventually gets assigned to work in Afghanistan. I enjoyed how this book looks at the Afghani culture and seeing things from their point of view. This book moves along rather quickly and sometimes (only sometimes) the character development doesn't move with it. There are a few holes in the book and themes that I didn't particularly care for, but over all I think Ms Gately represented all sides well, including that of the American Soldiers and their role and how the Afghani people see them and how the Taliban destroyed the lives of so many people from so many different walks of life. I identified with elements of Elsa's character and her drive and especially her feeling of insecurity about her ability as a nurse. Parween is the Afghani woman that is bonded with Elsa because of a tube of lipstick and together they teach each other about life, love, and loss.

Overall, a good book. I applaud Ms Gately and her efforts as a humanitarian worker and as a writer. :)

the book challenge

I am accepting a challenge put forth on another book reviewers website to get back to the classics. So for those of you up for it..in 2011 there are 8 Goal of books to read (only 8 books a year..not too bad!!) Here is the link to the website that I found the challenge on : http://sarahreadstoomuch.blogspot.com/2010/11/back-to-classics-challenge-2011.html


The goals to complete:

1. A Banned Book
2. A Book with a Wartime Setting (can be any war)
3. A Pulitzer Prize (Fiction) Winner or Runner Up: a list can be found here
4. A Children's/Young Adult Classic
5. 19th Century Classic
6. 20th Century Classic
7. A Book you think should be considered a 21st Century Classic
8. Re-Read a book from your High School/College Classes

Have FUN!!

i need a book

as a newly married lady, with a husband that may not appreciate my all-consuming love of books, i have not been reading very much as of late (i.e. the last 3-5 weeks, 3 weeks of marriage and all) but i NEED a book. work at a new job that has a much slower pace than i am normally accustomed too, has placed me on the hunt for a new book. and as i was blog-stalking a girl i knew named Connie, i found her book review site and kind of dig it. and want to win a free book!! so check it out!!
http://thebluebookcase.blogspot.com/

also, if you haven't already, read The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. i can't find the words necessary to review it right now, but i am working on it. :)

me talk pretty one day

by David Sedaris

On a recent venture on a plane, I perused the airport book store for something fun to read. I came across this book, and a friend had recommended a book by the same author, and let's face it, the cover intrigued me. Purchase made. Let the telling begin!

David Sedaris is hilarious. Every chapter/essay stands on its own and they are brilliantly and comically written. There were times when I laughed out loud without realizing that yes, I am in an airport/on an airplane or in any place where sitting by yourself and laughing out loud might be construed as slightly odd. His words drew me in, I had to know how he was going to survive the speech teacher, and would he indeed ever talk pretty one day. He doesn't seem to care about social decorum and I LOVE IT! He tells things like they are and doesn't hold back the stuff that would be shocking to most people (I work in an ER..it takes a lot to shock me these days). His battle with drugs, his life in Paris, his childhood, all are explored in this collection.

If you have a chance to read this or any other David Sedaris work, please do it. You will laugh. Guaranteed.

Chocolat

by Joanne Harris

I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. I am a huge fan of reading books that make great movies, and normally I enjoy the books more, but not in this case. Maybe it is Johnny Depp and Judi Dench that seal the deal for me. Either way, this is a book blog, so to tell you a little bit about this book.

Vianne is an amazing character. My favorite part about the book is the beauty and life she brings to the village. Her relationship with her daughter and how that relationship then correlates with the way she felt about her mother speaks to any and all who have ever had a moment in time when that particular area of our life did not go as planned. This is also true for the relationship between Armande and Caroline. Joanne Harris makes it apparent that we need to take chances and be free, which I applaud, but overall this was a good, not great book. My vote, watch the movie. Roux is goregous!

I am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak

I finished reading this book last night. I thought to put books from last year on first, but this one is fresh in my mind, so it gets the top spot.

Ed Kennedy, the loveable and pitiable hero of this novel makes you want to keep reading. After an unlikely bank robbery goes wrong, Ed begins to get Aces out of a deck of cards that force him into helping (and sometimes hurting) those he comes in contact with. I wanted Ed to succeed, and to find the things that make him better. He reminds me of people in my life that I have seen not living up to their potential, and his failures and triumphs are very real. Every page brings a new challenge for Ed, and leaves the reader anticipating the next Ace. Markus Zusak brings love, anticipation, anger, frustrations, sadness and success to his characters in a beautiful way.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. Mr Zusak has given me insight into life and this is the second of his novels that I have read and been impressed with. (You WILL see his name again...)I would recommend this book for many reasons: it is inventive, creative, true to life, sad, joyous, and I loved it!! Enjoy!! (I sure did)

get to reading!

If you know me...you know that I absolutely love reading. I mean, I will read and read and read..it is one of my favorite things to do. I love the journey it takes you on. As much as I love movies, which is a lot, I truly enjoy the movie that happens in my head when I read a book. The characters come to life, and my imagination takes them places. With a good book in my hand, sleep, food and basically life is not important until the journey has come to an end. There are so many books I read last year, and it is such a shame that I only thought to make a blog now. So I may have to retroactively add some fantastic books I read last year, and then continue on with the great books I have yet to read. I hope you enjoy. I welcome thoughts and ops. Just to start I will list a few of my favorite books that I did not read for the first timelast year, but that are spectacular and have brought me joy: (I think most speak for themselves, but if you want to know more about one, please ask)
*Pride and Prejudice
*To Kill a Mockingbird
*Harry Potter Series (5-7 are my faves)
*The Book of Mormon
*No Doubt About It (by Sheri Dew)
*Standing for Something (Gordon B. Hinckley)
*The Scarlet Pimpernel

This list is in no way all-inclusive, but these are books that I think need no further accolades from me. I love them. They are great. The end. :) Well, I am on to blogging about books I love, and maybe ones I don't. Read on.