My Sisters Keeper – The Movie

This afternoon I was able to  see the movie version of Jodi Piccoult’s My Sisters sisKeeper (see my 2006 review of the book here)

I was excited to see it as this was my first Jodi Piccoult read that knocked my socks off at what an amazing author she is.  I was also, as with any book to movie… a little cautious.  We tend to love our books and can take changes a bit personally.

The movie… I really enjoyed it.  I found it heart achingly beautiful and if not for having read the book previously I probably would have come out of the theater feeling blissfully satisfied.  Without giving too much away, I will just point a couple things that didn’t need to change (book to movie) but did…

1.  The brother character of Jesse was deeply troubled in the book and with due cause as all the families attention went continuously to the care of Kate.  In the movie they touch on this slightly, but make him more of a caring and overwhelmed brother.

2.  Of course the changing of the ending.  I actually only heard that it was different yesterday from a friend.  And yes, it was a different ending and while it worked, I believe the book ending is far better.

movie sisters keeperI was curious as to what Jodi Piccoult thought of this rather big change to her book so I looked on line and found this statement written by her:

TO ALL MY FABULOUS FANS WHO’VE SEEN THE MOVIE:

“Yes, I know the ending is different. Yes, I know some of you are very upset. I didn’t change it. The author has no control over the movie, and it was hard for me to accept too. However, there’s a great deal in the movie that I think is great, and I enjoyed watching it – and I hope you did too. Please don’t email me asking me why I changed the ending, or “let” Hollywood do that – it wasn’t something I had any control over.”  ~ Jodi Piccoult

Final thoughts:  The movie captured the story line well, I had many of the same emotions as I had when I first read the book – from at first disliking the mother and finding her impossibly cruel, to moving toward compassion when you start to see the bigger picture of a mothers heart.  I cried like a baby through many parts of the movie.  I think seeing it was more emotional for me than reading it.

Morning Meanderings….

I actually did not have to travel any farther than my email to find coffeesa great book review.  Melissa from  Reminder List emailed me with a book that she was excited about and asking about the Guest Blogger Spot.

I had a tiny window this morning before I boogied out the door but quickly checked out the review and loved it.  As my morning went on, I kept thinking about the book, the review, and Melissa’s passion to promote it.

The book is Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo.  later today I will add this full review to my Guest Blogger Tab.  In the mean time, help yourself to a cup of coffee and read this great review.

Morning Meanderings…

coffee04aI slept funny and have a now two day pinch in my back…. good grief what is that?  Am I old enough for back pain???  So this morning I woke up a little later than usual, and spent a little more time than I should have reading emails and lally gagging around the blogesphere….

My stop today took me a review that just read to me like a casual heartfelt book.  I was at Girls Just Reading, and found this little treasure posted by Lisa:  The Forgotten Garden.  I instantly was drawn to the book.  I encourage you to stop by and see this review and a beautifully done blog.

And now…. I quote the rabbit in Alice and Wonderland….

I’m late, I’m late for
A very important date.
No time to say hello, good-bye,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late
I’m late and when I wave,
late
I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers
Took me too much time to shave.
I run and then I hop, hop, hop,
I wish that I could fly.
There’s danger if I dare to
Stop and here’s a reason why:
I’m over-due, I’m in a rabbit stew.
Can’t even say good-bye,
hello, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.

The Fun Minute Manager by Bob Pike * Robert C Ford * John Newstrom

Meet Bob Workman. Bob likes his job. Bob likes his employees. Bob considers himself a good manager but senses lowfun minute manager morale among his immediate staff members.

In this easy-to-read business fable, a chance encounter transforms Bob s work life as he sets out to discover how fun can revolutionize a worksite and pay big dividends both in morale and return on investment.

Bob discovers that a fun work environment one which lifts people s spirits and reminds them of their value to their managers, their organization, and to each other is a primary need among employees. He sets off on a quest to find ways to create a fun environment and develops a method to produce convincing evidence that creating a fun work environment is worth the time and effort for the company.

Along the way, Bob discovers that fun at work: * reduces stress
* energizes employees and lowers turnover
* improves both employee attitudes and customer satisfaction
* lowers absenteeism and increases productivity
* creates employee loyalty and group cohesiveness

While fun has not been viewed as a traditional responsibility of the manager, managers that care about their employees and their bottom line will find The Fun Minute Manager a great tool for actively engaging their employees and positively transforming their workplace. This book is concise, timely, and a rich resource of practical ideas.

I really appreciate books like this.  I have been in many management rolls all my adult life and most of the people that have worked for me I am still in touch with – years later.  I truly believe that books like this are spot on.  I always felt that if I enjoyed my job, looked forward to going and doing the job itself, the day was so much better… the job was so much better.

The Fun minute manager does just that.  It gives you real life scenarios that you can take into the work place, ANY work environment and make things fun.

The result after implementing fun into the work day?

  • Higher morale
  • Less stress
  • less missed time and/or work related injuries
  • Teamwork improvement
  • Less employee turnover

You can be that company that everyone is talking about.  People will be waiting in line to work for you.  I know this, I have read many books on morale and employee incentives.  It does work.

If you are a business owner or manager this is a book that I would consider manditory to have in your office library.

fun bobby

Bob Pike CSP, CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame is Chairman/CEO of the Bob Pike Group and has consulted on training and performance improvement since 1969 with organizations like IBM, AT&T, Hallmark Cards, the USMC, The Joint Military Agency, Microsoft, Pfizer, and more. He is the author or co-author of 29 books, including the best-selling Creative Training Techniques Handbook and Dealing with Difficult ParticipantsMore than 125,000 trainers on five continents have attended his 2-5 day train-the-trainer workshops.

Check out more on this book at: www.TheFunMinuteManager.com

Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie O Martian (+ giveaway)

praying wife

Winner Announced!

RITA!!!

Congratulations!!!!  🙂

I recently entered a really cool 30 day challenge with about 1,800 women around the world and part of that challenge was to read a chapter a day out of this book.  (See more about the challenge details at my blog Straight On Through.)

What really amazed me is that although I have read this book before, breaking it down a chapter a day made a ton of difference.  I would read my chapter in the morning while I prepped for my day and do the prayer for my husband that followed each chapter.  By going through this book this way, it really gave me time to let that days chapter sink in and as I thought about the chapter throughout my day I would again bring it before God in prayer.

Stormie O Martian is an incredible author who has written many books on prayer that I would highly recommend.  I have also gone through her book Power of a Praying Parent which is also a great read for women with children of any age.

Power of a Praying Wife is a book that you can go through again and again and get something different and profound out of it every time.  This book is filled with situations that women have gone through and have had remarkable results with the power of Prayer.

I have a new copy of this book that I would like to offer for giveaway.  You have until July 27th to sign up for this one.  As always, please addresses within the US only.

To sign up:

For one entry – leave a comment here (be sure I have a way to email you if you are the winner)

For an additional entry – post about this review with giveaway and leave a message here with the link to that post

That’s it.

Everything Austen Challenge!

My first challenge!  I almost hate to say this but as of this date…. I have never read Jane Austen.  It’s Austentrue.  So seeing this challenge actually fulfills a long time goal for me, which is to get a little time with this author.

The challenge is hosted by  Stephanies Written Word.  We have from July 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010.  We are to read or watch 6 Austen related books or movies.  See Stephanie’s site for more information.

Here is my plan of attack:

Pride and Prejudice (book)

Just Jane by Nancy Moser (book)

Sense and Sensibility (book)

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy by Alexander Potter ( book)

Emma (movie)

Becoming Jane (movie)

I tried to include a mix here of her original works, some of the new works… and a couple movies.  I’ll cross off from this list as I accomplish each read… er…. movie…  uhhhh…. you get the point!  Can’t wait to experience Austen!

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose realism, biting social commentary and masterful use of free indirect speech, burlesque, and irony have earned her a place as one of the most widely read and most beloved writers in English literature.[1]

Morning Meanderings…

coffee04aEach morning I stumble into the kitchen still in sleep pj’s and hair maybe just a tad wilder than it is during the day. I grab a cup of hot coffee (I love you pre set timer coffee pot!) and do a little email checking and book blog reading.

I try to make it a point each morning to visit 10 Book Blogs.  Some are old acquaintances that I like to see what they are up too… but some are new that I link to off other bloggers side bar as blogs to watch.

This morning I wandered into a great blog that I have ventured into before, S. Krishna’s Books.  A review that was posted there caught my eye and my literary heart beat a little faster.  Rooftops of Terhan by Mahbod Seraji looks like a wonderful read.  I encourage you to stop by and read this review.  This book has been added to my wish list.

Monday Mind Game… What is your “indulgent book?”

Come on…. you know you have one.  What is that one book that you have loved so much, that you take it and read it once every year or two.  The one that going back and revisiting the great characters makes you feel a part of their world.

Maybe you display in proudly.  Maybe.  Maybe you can’t believe you keep reading it over and over when there are so many books out there begging – crying even, to be read…. yet this one calls you so you have it hidden like a bag of Milano Cookies.  milano better one

So here is mine.  It is actually three books.  It is the Three Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts. These books, Dance Upon The Air, Heaven and Earth, and Face The Fire are the books I turn to again and again.  If I find extra copies at sales I always pick them up to give to friends because to me – they are MUST READS.  For the record, I am not a Nora Roberts fan…. yet these three books are nothing like I feel she has written before.

There.  I said it out loud.  What a relief.  What a weight lifted off my shoulders.  Thanks for listening.  So come on…. what’s yours?

Leave your comment here and I will enter you  into a random drawing for a new copy of Dance Upon The Air (the first book in the trilogy) (US addresses only please and no po box #’s) Contest ends on Monday July 6th.

Blog about this on your blog and link it back to this contest…. I will give you an extra vote.  So come on…. spill it.  🙂

Sundown Sunday Mail Review….

I love Sunday evenings.  We usually have nothing on the agenda, an easy dinner and during the mailbox loveseason, Amazing Race is our traditional Sunday evening pastime.  However, it is Summer and now Al watches TV in the evenings and I would rather read or catch up on emails.

Today I start a new weekly tradition and that is to review what I have received this past week in the mailbox.  Let’s see what we got….

hearts desireMy Hearts Desire by Mary Singer Wick (When I review this book I will have an author review with Mary as well)


circle of soulsCircle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi (I hope to have an authors review with Preetham as well)


Desperate HighwaysDesperate Highways by Jesse Stretch (this is already on its way to becoming a best seller!)

To be reviewed….. in the meantime you can click on any of the links or pictures to find out more about the books or purchase one for yourself.


Happy Sunday everyone!