Good morning! I had an awesome evening with my College Son and hubby. We had dinner and watched Survivor together. Then later last night I was doing a little reading and a little putting around on Twitter and seen that Sarah Ockler (author of Twenty Boy Summer) was asking what was that love ballad that we could pull out of our head from years ago and along with it the memories.
Oh my gosh! I instantly went to You Tube and punched up Chicago’s “You’re The Inspiration” and it was like I pulled a cork that released all of these memories of High School.
Basically did anyone order up a blubbering baby? Because that’s what you got.
So – as I leave you this morning for the gym that’s calling me…. then work… then a wonderful get together with some friends for a road trip to St Cloud and dinner…. I offer you up the song that still pulls me into the era of big hair, pants that zipped at the ankle, leg warmers, and words like, “He is sooooooo totally awesome!”
AND if that song doesn’t mess you up – or at least bring up memories of your own “song” that melted you into a pile of hearts, flowers and tears, stop over at Sarah Ockler’s Blog where she posted last night her songs and asks you to share yours as well.
Have a great day everyone! Later Lori Lansens is going to be here to chat books, and well…. I LOVE to chat books. 😀
Arnold Spirit (known as Junior at home) is a 14-year-old Spokane Indian. He was born with water on the brain, is regularly picked on by his peers, and loves to draw pictures. He refers to the world as a series of broken dams and floods and his pictures are tiny lifeboats. He loves basketball, and is fairly good on the Spokane Team. He decided if he stays in the reservation all his life he is never going to go anywhere just like his parents. They too had dreams once of being something more. He requests that they let him go to the rich white school in Reardan which is 20 minutes away. His parents agree. This destroys his friendship with his best friend Rowdy, who has always been this crazy Native American kid who will beat up anyone who looks at him twice. This once meant Rowdy was a source of protection to Junior, and now includes Junior in the beating category.
What happens when Arnold (known as Arnold when he switches schools) is that he once again finds himself the blunt of jokes and discrimination. He stays at his new school, determined to make it work, even sometimes having to walk the twenty minutes to and from when his dad does not have enough money for gas in the car. Eventually he makes a few friends along the way, and is able to find a happy medium between his life on the reservation and his school that is not.
Confession time. I picked this book up as part of Banned Books Week. It came to my library late but I still wanted to read it. After I brought it home with several others I looked up why it was banned. On line it said that is was banned for talk of masturbation, racism, and vulgar language. I almost returned it to the library unread. It was honestly, the first of all the banned books that I read this past couple of weeks that I can say I questioned if I wanted to read it or not. I don’t condone banning, not in the least, but I do believe in our rights to choose to read a book or not.
However, I listed this book on a post about the books I had received at my library and I started receiving comments from people who had read this book saying what an amazing read it was, some even calling it a favorite. A few others who hadn’t read it said that they had been wanting too. To all of these people, I say thank you. If not for you, I may have missed out on an incredible reading experience.
So I was cautiously optimistic when I opened up the book, still reserving the right to put it down at any time. (Oh the conversations I have with myself sometimes… :razz:)
I didn’t put it down.
The parts that I felt may have been unnecessary were so small. They did not take away from the book. I read this story told from a 14-year-old boys perspective and I have to say I really enjoyed the incredible insight he brought into race, stereo types, and color.
The pictures throughout the book are so important to the story line and really give Arnold’s story a life. The pictures add to what he is feeling, be it happiness, confusion, anger, or pain. You can see it all, and for me, I could feel it as well.
As Arnold shares his story I was reminded again how strong prejudices can be when people see through eyes of judgment. What I also seen was that the power of friendship and acceptance has a much stronger presence and hold.
While I would not say hand this book to your young child, I do think it is an important read for older YA and holds within its pages an amazing read that I will not soon forget.
Good morning fellow book worms, bookish types, and random dude who just wandered over thinking this was a site that talked about cheese puffs. I see you over there dude in the corner… just back away from the keyboard with your powdery cheesy fingers….
Ok… I am in an odd mood…. a good one… but I have no idea what the first paragraph is about.
So I am up and in need to take off soon here for work and beyond (voice echo’s “beyond, beyond, beyoooonnnnddddd”)
Has anyone seen any good movies coming up? I am interested in seeing that Facebook one. I think that looks interesting. The other one that I would really like to see that is out right now is You Again. It looks really funny and I like many of the actresses in it. (Are they actresses anymore? Or do we call them all actors?)
Anyway – I posted the trailer here for your viewing enjoyment and so you say see why I called today’s post what I did. Seriously Betty White cracks me up.
I need to find time to see that one!
College Son popped in the door yesterday afternoon as a surprise (I have kids popping up all over the place lately!) He had a couple of days off from work and school so headed into town from Mankato. He is only here for a little bit but it was cool to see him and tonight we are going to hang out a bit.
Ok… times a moving so I had better run…. run like the wind (good grief what is with me today?).
Lori Lansens is my feature Word Shakers On Line Book Club Author of the month. The Wordshakers read her book, The Wife’s Tale, over the past 5 weeks and discussed it through an online format. Now Lori has generously offered three copies of each of these books for a give away to Book Journey readers!
How To Enter
To enter please leave a comment here letting me know if you would prefer a chance to win #1) The Wife’s Tale, #2) The Girls, or #3) Rush Home Road. You may choose more than one in your comment, and if have no preference say so, and you will be eligible to win any one of the books. **You must answer this question to be eligible for any other entries.
Bonus Entries
If you subscribe to Book Journey (upper right hand side bar) please let me know in a separate comment here and I will add another entry for you.
If you link to this giveaway on twitter, on your blog, or on Facebook, let me know here and I will add another entry for you.
If you left a comment on The Wife’s Tale Review and let me know in a separate comment here I will add another entry.
** For those of you who linked your review of the book The Wife’s Tale to the review post I have here, or if you were a part of the WordShaker book group and discussed the book using the discussion form, let me know here in a separate comment and you will be given another entry.
USA entrants only this time (sorry but all the books were sent to me and the shipping costs are all mine) If you live outside the USA but have a USA address you could send the book to if you win that would be fine.
This giveaway will end October 20th
Good luck everyone!!!
A special thank you to the generosity of Lori Lansens who provided three signed copies of each of her books for a giveaway.
Mary Gooch’s universe has shrunk to the trail she has worn from her bedroom to the refrigerator. Disappointment and worry have worn Mary down to not leaving the house, hiding from the world behind food.
On the eve of their silver anniversary Jimmy, Mary’s very attractive athletic husband does not come home. She is forced for the first time in years to action and she boards a plane alone to search for her husband. So begins Mary’s to self discovery as she opens her eyes to a world she no longer believed in… only to find herself along the way.
This was our Wordshaker On Line Book Club pick and 24 people (both bloggers and non bloggers) who read Book Journey joined in on this read-a-long. This was my first experience with Lori Lansen’s writing and I was really impressed with the style in which the book flows.
Of course, the main character Mary gave me mixed feelings. On one hand you cant help but feel bad for this woman who let her eating go too far. Yet on the other hand I wanted to shake her out of her slump and get her motivated to make positive changes. Thanks goodness I was not a character in the book! I would have been an annoying neighbor that would have asked her to come rollerblading or biking. 😛
Yet, author Lori Lansens knew what she was doing when she developed the character of Mary. As Mary learns to make positive choices for herself – we can’t help but cheer her on. And yes, Mary throughout the book becomes more and more likable, leaving you at the end a little sad that your time with her is over.
I have not had the opportunity (yet) to read any of Lori Lansen’s other books. I have heard The Girls is a wonderful read and I look forward to having a chance to enjoy that one soon!
But this is just my thoughts…. here’s is what the Wordshakers thought of the book:
We had a good discussion on how people look and judge those who are obese. The judgment and labels that are pinned on those who struggle with their weight is maddening. Degrading. And you can see why Mary would have chose to stay inside rather than venture into the world any more than she had to.
The discussion over how we felt about Jimmy was intense. Some understood Jimmy’s reason for going away but others found this to be a cowards way out. Over all, it did get Mary out of a lifelong slump and if Jimmy had not left, more than likely nothing would have changed.
The majority of the group felt that they would recommend this book to others. On a scale of 1 – 10, 10 being the best out of the 24 who read it, 7 was the average rating.
Please watch for my upcoming Author Chat with Lori Lansen!
So – if you have read and reviewed this book please add your review to the LINKY below. I have a very generous giveaway coming up with 9 (yes NINE) signed copies of books by Lori Lansens. Anyone that shares their review here through linky will automatically get an entry into this giveaway.
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…
Good Morning! *pause for more COFFEE* After yesterday morning of “opportunities” I have updates!
My fine for parking in Itaska State Park has been reduced to $5. YES. Five dollars. Apparently that was the original amount that it would have been had I purchased a day pass – had I known that I needed a day pass.
What a relief!
Then I had a meeting yesterday that was scary and exciting at the same time…. it was something I had been praying about for a while now and after yesterday’s meeting I am still scared and excited – but I finally have a yes…. and I am moving forward on my book. You may not have known there was a book. Or even the inkling of a book. I was really nervous (and still am) to share about it in case it wouldn’t be. Now however it looks like it will be and I still have a lot of work to do, and don’t want to say much more about it at this time other than a tired “SSQQQUUUEEE!!!”
Finally… and this is random… I signed up for Netflix again. As I am reading all these wonderful books that I heard are also movies (especially some of the older titles), I can not find them at our forever closing video rental stores. All we have in town are Red Boxes which carry a frightening low selection and they are so hit and miss, unless I have reserved one on-line – it’s not worth browsing.
I guess that’s all I have for news. I guess that’s enough for today! 😀 I am still a bit shell-shocked with all the news of yesterday. However. I can leave you with this.
Feel free to turn up your speakers and dance around the room.
It is time to have some winners. I am just in that kind of “winning” mood. 😛
Here are the latest winners over here at Book Journey.
A Signed copy of Summer at Tiffany coming straight from the author goes to:
Julie H
Entrants were asked to share a favorite summer memory. Here is Julie’s:
One of my favorite summers was the year we went on a trip out East, to see Boston and nearby historical attractions. We made a side trip to Concord and took the time to visit Orchard House, made famous because of Louisa May Alcott. It’s still one of the best house tours I’ve ever been on.
Entrants were asked to share a book or audio that is a must read for me yet this year
3 Copies Of The Island (audio) by Elin Hilderbrand go to:
Karen K
who suggested I read anything by Dorthea Benton Frank
Cindi
Suggested the audiobook called Dimanche and Other Storiesby Irene Nemirovsky!
Kelly B
Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
Entrants were asked to come up with a character and story line for a James Patterson novel
3 Copies Of The Island (audio) by Elin Hilderbrand go to:
Cindi
Cindi’s answer was: Callie went missing over 15 years ago and now she has been spotted in Paris France ~
Sarah G
Sarah’s answer was: Sunny Disposition – lifeguard and FBI informant, married to a mob hitman who is named Stormy Disposition
Nancye Davis
My new character would be Cindy Malone, retired school-teacher turned librarian/ undercover private investigator/ bank robber extraordinaire! Cool!
Monthly Winners for September
Each month I draw two random comment winners to win a book out of my prize box and I announce my top commenter who wins a $20 gift card from Amazon. Here are the August winners:
I read this book many years ago, pre blogging. It had touched me very deeply. This past weekend a friend of mine who I went to school with had the opportunity to meet Gracia Burnham and this triggered this post, and a little information from my good friend Barb.
Sheila
Gracia and Martin Burnham had been Missionaries in the Philippines for 17 years, starting in 1986. They lived among the people and were well-known.
Then tragedy struck. They were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group with ties to Osama bin Laden. The Burnham’s were snatched away from friends and family and thrust into a life on the run in the Philippine jungle. Others that were captured with them were either eventually released for ransom or beheaded. The Burnham’s would remain in captivity for over a year, they faced near starvation, constant exhaustion, frequent gun battles, cold-hearted murder—and intense soul-searching about a God who sometimes seemed to have forgotten them.
The kidnappers demanded $1,000,000 for their release. A ransom of $330,000 was paid, yet the kidnappers refused to release them. During the eventual rescue attempt by the Philippine Army on June 7, 2002, Martin was killed by three gunshots in the chest and Gracia was wounded in her right leg.
This is their story as told by Gracia Burnham.
This book touched me deeply. I could not imagine such a terrifying experience as what Gracia and Martin had gone through, day-to-day not knowing if this would be the day that they died.
Here is what Barb emailed me about her time with Gracia Bunham this past weekend:
Gracia was wonderful sharing her story of faith and forgiveness ….sometimes teary but mostly, surprisingly made us laugh. After a brief video explaining her terrifying time in the jungle, she talked about the time spent there and what has happened in her life since. She showed us the clothing she wore in the jungle, one was her (don’t remember what it was called) but it was a giant piece of fabric sorta like a sarong but sewing in a circle. They had thrown it to her on the boat to cover herself since she was only in shorts and a t-shirt. Besides for clothing, she used it as a blanket, her bathroom (by pulling it up around herself and holding it with her teeth), and in the same way her changing room WHEN she had clothes to change into after bathing in the river (since her captors never let her out of their sight of course), a tear wiper, and a giant kleenex, and also the other captors used theirs with a large branch as a sling to haul off their injured. Many of her captors are now in prison for life and a few actually WRITE her from time to time! One letter she had to have translated was very “nice” sounding: “Dear Gracia…..Do you remember our time in the jungle?” (at this she said something funny, like how could she forget?) and the bad guys actually sent her a bright orange prison t-shirt that said “DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS” across the front and they WROTE MESSAGES to her on it! She said, “What am I suppose to do with this? It’s not something I could wear to the mall!” But amazingly, three of her captors have given their lives to Jesus Christ! Her two oldest kids are married to kids of New Tribes Missionaires and her son is now flying planes the same as his dad ……. I wish I had brought a notebook and took notes. I had her sign my book In the Presence of my Enemies, and then went and bought her other book. I thought, Darn I should have bought this first so I could have had her sign this too. I decided on the hard cover version. When I opened it last night, it was already signed!
Barb (back left), her daughter Lexie, and Gracia Burnham
I still own this book and if you are interested in a read that is emotionally charged, and a brilliant example of strong faith under the worst of circumstances, I highly recommend you read In The Presence Of My Enemies.
The Burnham’s capture and captivity were the subject of a July 2008 episode of the TV series, Locked Up Abroad.
Good morning. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Mine was crazy busy but I have lived through it and am ready to start this week with a bit of energy that I think I have stored up over night. It’s not a lot – but I think it will be enough to spark me forward. 😛
Last month you may remember that my friend Wendy and I went on a 75 mile bike ride that started and stopped in Itaska State Park. We drove there that morning, got lost, and finally made it there about an hour and a half later than we had hoped to start. The man who was working for the bike ride committee told us that the main parking area was full and asked us to park in this other lot that he pointed to.
We completed the ride in hot weather but came back triumphant from completing our goal. We loaded up the bikes, stopped for our Dairy Queen award and went home.
Then came the letter.
The letter states that a vehicle may not enter a state park, state recreation area, or a state wayside over 50 acres in area without a state vehicle permit. Currently my fine and court fees are $125.00
WHA???
So needless to say, I was on the phone yesterday calling the Itaska State Park Operations Supervisor who had signed this letter with the phone number. The message said the office closes at 2 pm each day. I left a message expressing my concern over this letter (and *gulp* fine). Then I thought I had better call the people who set up the bike ride as well as they are the ones who would have my name registered as a rider and I am a bit upset they would have me park in an area that I shouldn’t. I mean, if we are going to participate in this ride, no where during sign up did it say that my vehicle would need to have a Park permit.
So… I am looking for the phone number on their website… scrolling down scrolling down…. and then I stop. What was that? I scroll back up and almost bust a gut laughing….. the picture on their website is Wendy and I. Not a scrolling through pics of the event… nope. Wendy and I. I had no idea.
So yes, I did find the phone number for the coordinator and left them a message as well. I am hopeful today I will get some calls back and we can get this cleared up. The picture is random – they have no idea who the pic is other than riders for the event. I think it is HILARIOUS that I am the one who will be speaking to them about this fine and I have real proof that I was on the ride – because there I am. (Pre – letter happy) 😛
So that is my latest in event worthy news. Today I have work, an exiting afternoon meeting I hope to share more about with you soon, and kick ball (I know, I know) tonight.
Picture clicks to website
I hope your day is filled with sunshine and that your parking is ticket free.
When my kids were learning to walk, I remember walking behind them, ready to catch them if they stumbled backward. I never dreamed that thirteen years later my kids would be walking behind me, ready to catch me if I stumbled backward.
I was 42 years old when I was diagnosed with a benign, operable, brain tumor. Doctors predicted a short hospital stay followed by a speedy recovery. Complications arose, giving me unexpected life-long obstacles.
A divorced mother of two beautiful, talented, wonderful children, I had high hopes for a bright and happy future. I had a secure job that I loved, and I was beginning to date again when my brain tumor was diagnosed.
My life since that fateful day has been focused on regaining basic human functions: breathing, swallowing, walking, etc. I am working again, and trying to be a good mother to my two beautiful, talented, wonderful children.
Putting a positive spin on life’s disasters doesn’t always work, but looking for, and accepting, positive things in spite of life’s disasters works. Instead of making lemonade out of lemons, I add life’s sweet sugar and cranberries to my lemons. This makes life much more palatable.
Shari Bookstaff
Ok… yes I admit it… I was partially drawn to this book because book is in the author’s name. It’s true.. I am that girl. 😛 BUT, before you go rolling your eyes (if it’s not too late) I did find more in this book than a really cool authors name… I found a fighter, a survivor… and a down right funny woman!
What Shari goes through in this book would put some of us down for the count. In a time that would be easier to go lay back in bed with the covers up to your eye brows, Shari writes of a determined spirit.
Here is a part of the book:
At night when I couldn’t sleep, I asked myself some very difficult questions. I had questions about the value of my life, questions about my future, questions about why this happened to me, and questions about my dogs capacity for humor. My questions had no right answers just like my problems had no solution.
These were some of the questions I asked myself:
What should I do if my life is over but I am still alive?
When I get to Heaven, will I be able to walk normally?
It is said that as long as you have your health, you have everything. Well what if I don’t have my health, then what have I got?
Is my glass half full or half empty? Who cares if I don’t like the beverage?
How can I accept my physical limitations and believe that I can continue to improve physically as well?
Where’s Nemo?
Page 116
I enjoyed reading Shari’s story very much. This is a book that as Shari would say, helps you exercise your right to choose how you are going to go forward from the lemons that life tends to toss our way.
Book Journey 