Freakonomics - Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner (5 of 5 Misinformed Parents)

Freakonomics is definitely one of the most intriguing books I've read in the last few months.  The subtitle to the book is quite accurate: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.  This book explores topics ranging from cheating teachers to the Ku Klux Klan to the accounting practices of crack cocaine dealers to parenting practices.

I've never taken an economics class, but almost everyone I've ever talked to that has says it was the worst class of their college experience.  I wonder what they would have said if Steve and Stephen had taught the class.  In the first chapter they lay out the basics of economics.  All action is motivated by incentives.  Sometimes incentives inspire the behavior you desire.  Far too often the incentives backfire.  For example, the government institutes standardized testing to document which schools are failing.  It hopes this will produce reforms and better public education.  What it gets instead is large numbers of teachers changing test answers to avoid getting fired.

If you were one of those people that hated your economics class, I'd highly recommend that you take a look at Freakonomics.  It's sure to purge all those bitter feelings you've been harboring.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech (C+)

I'm a fan of Sharon Creech. She writes young adult novels, and they're usually pretty fantastic. But I just did not get anything grand out of this one. Sad, but true.

The story revolves around a set of orphaned twins--Dallas and Florida--who are sent to spend some time with an older couple--Sairy and Tiller. Sairy and Tiller live in a carefree, backwoods place called Ruby Holler. The twins, who have grown up in a less-than-loving orphanage run by the less-than-kid-friendly Trepids, slowly learn to be kids again and to trust that the world could hold some kindhearted adults. And there's a little something about buried treasure.

The pieces are all there for a great, pull-at-your-heartstrings tale (I'm obviously into the dashes today....) but I just wasn't feeling it.

If you want to try an awesome Sharon Creech book, check out Walk Two Moons. Its a much better choice. But if you have nothing else on your book list and this one is available, its not going to kill you. Plus Florida says "putrid" a lot, and that's kind of fun.

C+

Falling in Love for All the Right Reasons - Neil Warren (4 of 5 Personality Profiles)

Last week, Felicity posted a review of Neil Warren’s book Finding the Love of Your Life.  She expressed her embarrassment about posting the review.  I was not surprised by this feeling.  For some reason we all shy away from reading books about relationships.  Perhaps we think that reading a book shows our inability to pick up the same information through real-world experience.  I don’t think this is true.  I believe that a healthy balance between study and action is best.

As I mentioned in the comment to Felicity’s post, if we want to know more about finances, we study books on finances.  We don’t just blindly dump our life savings into high risk investments.  Thankfully, doctors spend a great deal of time in the classroom studying the knowledge of experts before they start jabbing scalpels into their patients.  Why should relationships be any different?  Who you marry is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime.  Dating is an extension of that decision.  Shouldn’t we therefore put more time into preparing ourselves?  If we were better informed about relationships, is it possible that the divorce rates would be more lower than they are now?

The core of Falling in Love addresses this topic.  After many years as working as a marriage counselor, Warren decided that the most successful relationships are those in which the partners have a broad foundation of common personality traits, interests, habits, etc. – exactly 29 to be precise.  After a rather lengthy introduction, Warren describes all 29 dimensions in depth.  He believes that a soul mate would be a man or woman of the opposite gender who matches your scores in all 29 dimensions.

Fine.  That’s well and dandy.  But how am I supposed to locate that person?  That’s where eharmony.com comes in.  Warren is the founder of this website.  I will admit that my initial reaction was negative, but with some explaining from Dr. Warren, I’m intrigued by the idea.  The method behind the website is that each person upon registering completes an extensive personality profile.  The software breaks down the responses into the 29 categories.  The site will then go out and look for someone that matches you.  I’ll admit I’m not a firm proponent of internet dating, but I find the principle interesting.  Why not utilize the power that technology has to offer?  What are the odds of me actually locating someone that matches all 29 dimensions, especially if they live in another city or state?  Why not let the computer do it?

Wikinomics - Dan Tapscott & Anthony Williams (4.5 of 5 Group Projects)

Wikinomics is a fascinating look at the world of mass collaboration.  With the move to Web 2.0, mass collaboration is easier than ever.  This new web has given users all over the world the opportunity to combine their resources to affect business, science, education, politics, and a host of other groups in novel and exciting ways.  There is no denying that globalization is here to stay.  Wikinomics is an instruction manual about how people everywhere and in every walk of life can benefit from these changes.

Tapscott and Williams give detailed case studies of recent examples of global collaboration: Wikipedia, Linux, Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM, Flickr, Second Life, and many others.  They describe strengths and weaknesses of each, and how those attributes can be applied to one's own business/life.

The four principles of Wikinomics are:

1. Openess - Transparency in business that allows many people opportunities to participate.
2. Sharing - Information is shared so that work is not being repeated unneccesarily.
3. Peering - Members of the community provide positive feedback on work completed.
4. Globalization - The goal is always to harness the abilities of as many people as possible.

I took off a half a point because the book is highly repetitive.  I found myself thinking a few times, "Ok.  I get it.  Move on."  However, the repetition was positive at the same time.  Once I was familiar with the principles of the book, I could follow loosely while simultaneously considering how I could apply the principles to my life.  

For example, my enthusiam for this website increased...  Second, I decided to create an LDS Housing website - www.saltlakecityldshousing.com - which could become a valuable resource in time with additional users.  The housing board at the U institute could be much more efficient and effective in internet form.  Third, I was inspired to start a wiki at work for the policy manual that I was asked to write.  This should make the material more comprehensive with additional input from the other people in my group.

I would highly recommend that everyone read this book.  Since finishing the book, I have discovered that it received several awards from entities such as Goldman Sachs, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and others.  If you don't think you have enough time to read the book, at least check out the website - www.wikinomics.com.

Finding the Love of Your Life: Ten Principles for Choosing the Right Marriage Partner by Neil Clark Warren, Ph.D.

I was wary of posting a review of this book—people might get the wrong idea. Then I remembered not to care what people think. So let me highly recommend this book! An old college roommate suggested this title to me almost a year ago and its taken me almost a year to procure a copy, and then find motivation to read it. What? Its not just the READER’S of this Blog who might judge me. I’m my own judge, thank you very much.

Dr. Neil Clark Warren is a therapist who seemingly specializes in marriage relationships. His tongue-in-cheek writing style is fantastic and very accessible to the lay reader. His Ten Principles for Choosing the Right Marriage Partner are straight-forward, and his explanations are sprinkled with real-world examples from his office. All of this together makes for a very interesting—and highly practical “guide.” As I read I found myself thinking about things I had honestly never considered when it comes to looking for The Right One.

Even for one not currently in a relationship—this book rocks. For someone in a relationship, I might even label this a Must-Read. Good stuff all around.

A

Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare (4 of 5 Matchmakers)

I'll give Shakespeare props for accurately titling this play. There's a whole lot of adoin' going on, all of which is of little importance. And yet, I don't care. I chuckled all the way through it. I think Shakespeare accomplished exactly what he set out to do. Keep it simple. Keep it light. Keep them laughing. He hit the mark on this one. ....Do you know of any works in which he uh...failed?

The story is short enough that there isn't much time to fully develop characters. Everyone seems somewhat flat and contrived. You've got your two star-crossed lovers. You've got the two sarcastic wits that initially hate each other and then fall in love. And of course you've got the evil antagonist that makes everything happen. If you're looking for depth, go read Hamlet. You're not going to find it here.

What you are going to find however, is a lot of one-line zingers that will make you laugh out loud. Prepare yourself for some curious looks from passersby.

The language is sometimes a small hurdle, but you're not going to be lost if you miss one of Shakespeare's obscure references here and there. The plot isn't that complicated. In fact, I consider the language to be a plus. Once in while, the distinct voice of the 17th century is a refreshing respite from modern literature.

Two Short Talks - Sheri Dew and Floyd Weston (4.5 of 5

God Wants a Powerful People - Sheri Dew

Sheri Dew teaches that God wants a powerful people through scripture, story and pure testimony. There is power in the word, spirit, and atonement. God's people is thoroughly immersed in the written and spoken word of prophets both ancient and modern. They have become fluent in the language of the spirit, and they understand the full power of the atonement to heal the broken heart. I quite enjoyed this talk by Sheri Dew. I particularly liked her straightforward and organized approach to these important gospel principles.

The Seventeen Evidences of the True Church - Floyd Weston

Shortly before World War II, five young men began a quest to find the church which most resembled the church depicted in the New Testament. The leader of the group decided to go through the New Testament page by page, noting the doctrines that were taught directly by God and Christ. What he came up with were what he called the 17 Evidences of the True Church of Christ. He observed that among other things that they true church must teach about a Trinity composed of three distinct beings, divine authority, baptism by immersion, and leadership by twelve apostles.

When this journey began the five each belonged to a different church. Each believed that they were going to covert the group to their faith. They decided that every Wednesday night and Sunday they would visit a new church. By the time that that they had to go off to war they had visited over thirty different churches. None of the churches taught more than half of the 17 evidences.

During the war, Floyd became acquainted with a small group of respectable young men. He noticed that they often talked about religion. One day he pulled the list of the 17 evidences from his bag and handed it to them. To his astonishment, they were able to confirm that their church taught all of them. Soon after he was baptized. When the war was over, the five young friends returned to the diner where their journey had begun. As they compared notes, they discovered that each of them had found the same church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had been baptized. You can find their complete list at http://www.redmondfamily.com/Cancy%20and%20Craig/Church/17%20Points%20of%20the%20True%20Church.

The highlight of the talk for me was when the leader of the group took his friend to speak with his Catholic priest. During the conversation, it became evident to the boy that his church was not true. The priest pleaded with him, "There are over 500 million of us. If we're wrong, at least you won't be alone. God will have to forgive you for that." The valiant young man looked his priest in eye and declared, "I'm not looking for strength in numbers. I'm looking for the true church of God."

Taking Care of Yourself - Andrew Weil (4 of 5 Vitamins)

I suppose you've probably heard enough about finances now. I think it's time to move on to a new subject of study (I can't promise though that you won't hear more about finances though...). For a variety of reasons I've started a casual investigation of organic food. Taking Care of Yourself is just one of the several books sitting on my bedroom floor. I would really appreciate hearing about any good books on the subject that you've read.

Taking Care of Yourself covers several elements of balanced living. Andrew Weil begins with an introduction to integrated medicine (the combination of modern and traditional medicine). He argues that a comprehensive approach to healthy living is better than just popping pills. I agree with him. It's always better to go to the root of the problem rather than treat the symptoms.

He discusses many subjects such as balanced diets, navigating health food stores and exercise. I enjoyed the book, though some of the nutrient/chemical names went in one ear and out the other. But I expected that. I don't remember a lot of things from my first finance book either. With time and more exposure to a variety of books regarding healthy living, I hope to get a more complete picture of the whole subject.

Who Moved My Cheese? - Spencer Johnson (4.5 of 5 Chunks of Cheddar)

Who Moved My Cheese? is a delightful little allegory designed to help us find happiness in a constantly changing world. It is the story of four characters. Two of them are mice and two are human. These four characters live their lives in a maze looking for cheese. One morning they discover a large room with enough cheese to support them for many days. Every morning they leave home and go to the cheese.

One day however, when Hem and Haw (the little people) arrive, all the cheese is gone and so are the mice. Dumbfounded, they spend the whole day in the empty room complaining, and expecting someone to bring them more cheese. Hem goes back again and again to the same empty room, while Haw begins to consider returning to the maze and searching for new cheese.

The rest of the story details the changing attitude of Haw as he realizes that "the cheese" never stays in one place forever. We must always be like the mice, aware of the changes taking place in the world and adjust accordingly. We shouldn't be discouraged or become angry when our sources of income or happiness dry up. We should merely anticipate change and welcome the opportunity to return the maze in search of new cheese.

I was quite impressed with this story. It addresses an issue that is quite prevalent in our society. The story is simple but deep at the same time. The book has quite a few good one-liners that I want to go back and write down. This is a short little book that everyone should read.

The Haj - by Leon Uris

I was reflecting on some of the books that maybe are not ones that I am absolutely in love with but nonetheless have left a deep impression. I was in Phoenix at my grandparent's home for a vacation when I asked my grandfather for a reccomendation. He told me to read "The Haj".
And so I did.
It is a story set in the middle east from the 1920's to the 1950's told by a son in a family of the day and culture. It is a violent and sickening story that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. It is absolutely one of the most disturbing things I've ever internalized.
So why would I classify it as "deep impression" stuff, and why in the world would my grandfather (who reads avidly and is something of a quiet, un-voiced intellectual) recommend this book to me?
I have thought of a couple reasons. It makes you really, really think about some of the basic premises of society and what contributes to success. It also, and I think this was the big one for me, helps someone from a relatively sheltered and privileged life understand how in the world ancient hatreds and crazy-bad behaviors have managed to create the current middle eastern world. It is not just history, this background is a real factor in the world today.
So, I'm not going to really say go and read it. If you do so it will more than likely unsettle your mind.

Leadership and Self Deception - Arbinger Institute (4 of 5 Enlightened Coporate Executives)

A few weeks ago at lunch, some of my co-workers began talking about the Arbinger Institute. It is a consulting group based on the idea of combating self-deception, loosely related to Brigham Young University. Obviously, because it's never fun to be left out of a discussion, I decided to do some research.

The idea of self-deception is outlined through a conversation between a small group of corporate executives. A new manager Tom, has been recently hired by the company Zagrem. A month into his employment he is called in to speak with his boss Bud. During their conversation they are joined two other executives who provide personal stories and insight.

The idea of the box is defined as a condition in which a person's distorted perception of the world justifies their own bad behavior. One enters the box by rejecting the impulse to help someone else in need. When that happens, the person tends to see himself as a better person while their opinion of the other is lowered. If we deny these impulses consistently, we develop a permanent box, or permanent state of self deception. Collusion is defined by the event in which two self-deceived people mutually infect each other with their negative behavior.

The way out of the box is to do everything we can to follow the positive impulses when they come, while attempting to see others as people and not as objects to manipulate.

Clearly, you can see some ties between this corporate philosophy and the Gospel of Christ and the Atonement. It is no wonder that there are ties between the Arbinger Institute and BYU. I liked the book for its corporate application of the gospel. The presentation I thought was however lacking. It should have either remained superficial and short, or been long and deep. I found myself often saying, "Yes, I get it already. I'm in the box. Tell me how to get out."

The Millionaire Next Door - Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko (3.5 of 5 Resoled Pairs of Shoes)

A few months ago I reviewed The Millionaire Mind by Dr. Thomas Stanley. After finishing this enlightening book, I discovered that it was actually the sequel to The Millionaire Next Door. With great enthusiasm I put this book on hold at the library. Well...I guess I wasn't the only one that wanted to read it. It took a couple months for me to finally get a hold of it.

While this book was interesting, I was somewhat disappointed. I quickly discovered that much of the information that I had read in the second book, was also in the first book. The primary difference between the books was their method of communicating the statistics about the habits of America's millionaire community. Next Door was full of raw data. Stanley used a more conversational approach in Mind to make the information more digestible. While the information is good in both books, I would recommend that you read the sequel.

Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe (4.5 of 5 Egwugwus)

Things Fall Apart was an assigned reading for my World History class at the University of Utah. The assignment for the book was writing a three-paged analysis of the religious system of the Umuofia and the rise and fall of the protagonist Okonkwo, but don't worry...I'll spare you the literary frills.

I admit that I tend to enjoy assigned books less than those I discover on my own. This was an exception. I am not surprised that this novel by the Nigerian author Achebe has been republished and reprinted across the globe several times since 1959. It depicts the beginning of European colonization in the African tribal community of Umuofia by missionaries. Like Broken Spears it provides an intriguing native perspective of European colonization.

The book begins by establishing a picture of normal tribal life. Okonkwo is a driven man who desires economic, religious, and political power. You see his interaction with his own family and the tribe. His own drive eventually causes his own downfall. While he is exiled from the community, European missionaries establish themselves in Umuofia. When he comes back he stages an ineffective rebellion.

The fresh African voice of the author was that which enjoyed most about the book. I can't exactly pin down the differences, but the voice seemed more direct, and simple in its description of the unfolding events. I was also very impressed by Achebe's ability to expertly describe the culture of native Africa. I would highly recommend this book to those interested in African history or European colonization.

Blink - Malcolm Gladwell (3.5 of 5 Thin Slices of Cheese)

Who wouldn’t be excited by the opening chapters of Blink? It begins with stories of fake statues, scientists that can predict divorce, speed dating analysis and even simulated war games in Iraq. I was completely caught up these stories detailing the brain’s powerful ability to “thin slice” daily experience. Gladwell describes how the brain filters non-essential information, allowing us to make well-informed judgments about how to respond to various situations. The author’s argument is that there are certain situations where it is good to rely on these snap judgments while there are others that are not.

Nevertheless, I saw that the greatest downfall of Blink was that it didn’t feel like it was going anywhere. It began with exciting possibilities, but the narrative seemed to break down into a never ending catalog of stories. I think Gladwell could have done the same amount of work in half the pages. By the end of chapter four I was fully convinced that his thesis was correct. By the end of the book however, I was beginning to wonder if he was compensating for something. If you have doubt concerning the powers of the unconscious to affect the way we consciously think and act, read Blink. If you’ve already spent some time studying cognitive psychology, read the first few chapters and move on.

Zoom - Vijay Vaitheeswaran (4 of 5 Tesla Roadsters)

Zoom's subtitle is "The Global Race to Fuel the Car of the Future." The book is a brief overview of the issues related to the impending oil crisis. Much of the book is spent documenting the history of the development of the car industry. Vait starts by setting up a comparison between the gas-guzzling Detroit steel companies like GM with the Japanese Toyota. He argues that in order for these stale American companies to match the successes of the foreign imports, they will need to adapt a more practical business model that focuses on improving fuel economy through hybrid and electric cars.

He dabbles in United States foreign policy. He brings up some of the controversial moves that the US government has made in securing its rights to the oil reserves in the Middle East, and how those moves will make us weaker politically as oil becomes scarce. He naturally sees renewable energy as the all-purpose solution to breaking the OPEC monopoly.

The last section of the book outlines his method for making the transition from Detroit steel to electric cars (By the way, if you haven't heard of the Tesla Roadster, go look it up. I know what I want for Christmas...). He believes that a moderate approach is best, balanced between government funding and private investment. He also advocates a general oil tax that will increase gradually over the next 20 years, which will wean the US off of Middle East oil.

Zoom seemed a little superficial at times, but that's to be expected from an overview text of this kind. I enjoyed it. Check it out.

The Broken Spears - Miguel Leon-Portillo (2 of 5 Bad Omens)

I read Broken Spears for my World History class up at the University of Utah. It is a composite of several indigenous accounts of the conquest of the Aztec Empire by Cortez and the Spaniards. The claim of the book is that for the past 500 years, the only record of the downfall of the empire was told by the Spaniards. Leon-Portillo argues that the record was highly skewed in the conquerers's favor. While this is probably true to some extent, I don't think anyone from the 21st Century thinks that Cortez wiped out a civilization with flowers.

The book is extremely repetitive. Each detail of the conquest is told at least two or three times. At the end there is another complete summary of the story. Maybe Leon-Portillo thought that this approach was supposed to leave no rock unturned. I felt it did nothing more than bore the reader. I would suggest that the author give only one account, and let the native voice carry the weight of keeping the reader's interest.

If you're obsessed with the history of Central America, you'll love this book. If you're not, well, read it anyway because of its historical importance... Well, read the introduction and the conclusion and skim the rest.

The Wealthy Barber - David Chilton (3.5 of 5 Crew Cuts)

I finished The Wealthy Barber this past week. It is a continuation of the personal finance kick that I've been on for the past six months or so. It combines many practical tips for growing wealthy slowly over the course of a lifetime with personal narrative. The main character of the novel recognizes that his finances are somewhat unstable, and decides to go to his father for advice. His father forwards him on to the town barber. For the next six months he and a couple of friends go to the barber for a haircut and a personal finance lesson.

The humor of the narrative gives the book an endearing quality. But, I admit the slapstick humor got a little old by the end. The wise cracking old men at the back of the shop wore on me. I don't believe I learned anything new. The core principle is "Pay yourself first" 10% of every pay check. This will ensure that regardless of what you do with the rest of your money, you should enjoy a comfy retirement. You'll also find tips for investing, buying vs. renting, and general frugality. There is also a heavy emphasis on minimizing your taxes.

The Dresden Files - Jim Butcher

Hello all! I haven't actually reviewed/recommended anything in a while, so I thought I'd recommend these. The Dresden Files is a series of books by Jim Butcher (Storm Front, Fool Moon, Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Death Masks, Blood Rites, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Night, Small Favor, and the upcoming Turn Coat.)
The book are about a Wizard, Harry Dresden, who works in Chicago as a private detective and sometimes a consultant for the police. They have a wicked sense of humor, an intriguing protaganist, and great one liners.
Each one has a different plot, and I'm recommending them all, (Although, I'd have to mention I went from liking the books to LOVING the books around book 4) but I should probably at least tell you a little about Storm Front to get you all started.

Here's the summary from www.jim-butcher.com

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things -- and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a -- well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

I'm telling ya, y'all should read these, or check out the one season of Dresden Files that the SciFi Channel produced before they canceled it (those JERKS!!!) The tv show captured some of the magic of the books, but why mess with the original!
Check them out!!!

Making the World a Better Place

The first selection for my History Book Club this school year was Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson. The book details Greg Mortenson’s years-long struggle to build schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. His schools are meant especially to help educate girls in an area of the world where so many girls are illiterate.

The story is co-authored with a journalist (David Oliver Relin), and the book often reads like a narrative news story. Relin interviewed a vast number of Mortenson’s colleagues and its very interesting to hear their side of things and their take on different events in his life.

Overall, the book is fascinating and inspiring and makes me want to do something to make the world a better place. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone and everyone. Its awesome to read about a normal, everyday guy from Bozeman, Montana making a major difference in the world.

A-

The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey (4 of 5 Cut Up Credit Cards)

I recently finished Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover. I was impressed with his no-nonsense approach to personal finances. The core principles of his book are debt elimination and practical preparation for the future. Unlike many other financial advice books, he quotes scriptures from the Bible to support his principles.

For the first third of the book, he openly tells the reader all the things that they are doing wrong with their money. Essentially, in these chapters he argues that all debt is bad and should be avoided like the plague. At times, his tone was a little too much for me, but it did get the point across.

His relationship with the reader becomes a bit more cordial when he begins his basic steps to financial success. They are:

1 - "With gazelle-like intensity" build a liquid $1,000 emergency account.
2 - Eliminate all debt (except for the house), starting with the smallest balances.
3 - Build a 3-6 month savings account.
4 - Secure college funds for your children.
5 - Pay off the house.
6 - Seek to reach the financial "pinnacle point" in which your money makes more then you do.
7 - Enjoy the rest of your life playing (within moderation), investing, and giving to others.

In his conclusion, Dave Ramsey declares that money is only good for the three things listed in step number seven. The most important of these is giving to others. He teaches that by balancing our own finances, we can better help bless the lives of others.

I enjoyed the book. It was straightforward and practical. I liked the religious elements scattered throughout the book, but I felt it was a bit heavy-handed at times.

Thanks Carmen, for your initial review of this book. I think everyone should read it. If you like the book you should also visit his website www.daveramsey.com and check out his radio show which is also available in podcast form.

The Blue Between the Clouds - Steve Wunderli (3 of 5 Airplanes)

I just finished Steve Wunderli's first book, The Blue Between the Clouds. For those that are following the blog or who know Steve, The Heart of Halftime was his second book. I believe that he wrote the first book in 1992 and the second in 1996. While he himself told me that he liked his first book better, I enjoyed the second novel more.

The voice of the narrator in Blue is almost identical to the second book. The story is narrated by a young boy of about twelve years named Matt. It is set in a small town in central Utah in 1939. He and his Navajo friend Two Feathers run around town and get into trouble.

I think Steve had some good themes going in this book, but they are a bit underdeveloped. Both kids are fascinated with flying. This stems in part from their desire to escape their small-town futures. He pulls in the Icarus story a couple times, but it always seems a bit shallow. I acknowledge that you can't go too deep in a book geared toward young kids, but I still think he could have done more.

The plot seemed to wander and the stories weren't nearly as memorable as those in the second book. I'm pleased to see how Steve tightened up these weak points in his second book. In spite of its weaknesses, I'd still recommend that you read Blue. I bought it from Amazon for about five bucks. Let me know if you want to read it, and I'll pass it along to you.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (A-)

Is it okay for me to review the last book in a series without reviewing the first 3? I hope so. And let me say right up front, that I was a fan of this book before I read it. I love the Twilight series! So feel free to take my review with a grain of salt, because the reviewer herself knows this might not be the most well-balanced review available.

Breaking Dawn is the fourth, and final, book in the bestselling vampire romance series by Stephenie Meyer. Bella is the mortal teenage girl who falls in love with the immortal vampire, Edward, and the fourth book puts a good "period" to a very, very long sentence. Much of what occurs in the book is to be expected if you've read the first three. Meyer doesn't take us on any incredible twists in this book where the main storyline is concerned. But the new adventures and new difficulties that arise in Breaking Dawn are enough to keep the reader interested and entertained through the massive 700+ pages.

I really did enjoy the book. Many of the "surprises" were the sort that made me think, "I would never have guessed that, but its so perfect why didn't I predict that?!" I'm also a huge fan because Meyer very much ends the storyline. Other authors would perhaps see the economic gain possible in extending such a well-loved series (i.e. High School Musical 3? 4? REALLY?!) but Meyer leans on the side of artistic integrity, I guess, and closes the story where it should end.

And I loved it.

A-

Standing for Something - Gordon B. Hinckley (5 of 5 Virtues)

This is an absolutely amazing book. As wonderful as President Monson is, I really miss President Hinckley right now. He was a fantastic writer. But of course, that assessment is probably biased. He studied English at the University of Utah...like me. Granted, things have changed a bit at our university since then. Nevertheless, I feel a special kinship with him.

It was an interesting experiment to juxtapose the words of a potential US president to the words of the president of the Church. Throughout Obama's book I always felt myself wondering what was genuine and what was merely rhetoric. His book is all about persuasion. President Hinckley's novel has nothing of the sort. His words do not waver in any way. He is not all concerned about impressing his audience. There are no frills. The personal stories that President Hinckley uses illustrate concepts. They are not meant to manipulate the emotions of the reader. One cannot help but sense the irrefutable truth of President Hinckley's words.

The ten (twelve) neglected virtues are: love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness and mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism, and faith. He finishes the book by presenting ways that society can recover from its current problems. We shouldn't be surprised that the bulk of these suggestions refer to changes that begin in the home. The failure or success of this nation rests solely on the family. A bright future for this country depends on mutual respect, loyalty, "the soft answer," financial honesty and prayer.

There is such hope in his words. You can't help but want to be better after reading this book. Don't read it just once. It was meant to be studied in depth again and again.

The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama (4 of 5 Hanging Chads)

I feel I should preface this review by stating that I in no way consider myself an expert on politics. Only recently in the past couple of years have I become concerned about the subject. In light of the upcoming election, I feel the need to make an informed decision. I've never been one to make decisions based solely on the opinions of others. I've always had to do my own research.

I am reminded of several conversations I had with investigators as a missionary. I remember telling many of them that it was always best to ask the defendant his or her side of the story, rather than make a decision based on only the criticism of the opponent. Essentially, I was telling them, "let us tell our side of the story before you give your final answer."

That is what I am determined to do here. I firmly believe that every man and woman has the power to affect the course of history in significant ways. We shouldn't let someone else vote for us. The future of this nation is too important. We should investigate both sides and then decide. McCain and Obama have both written books. I have put holds on books by both authors. The Obama books just showed up first.

That was a rather lengthy introduction, wasn't it? Sorry. You probably came here to get my opinion on the book, not the history of my interest in politics. Oh well, it can't be helped. No book review is completely objective. Every reader experiences a book within the context of his or her own life. If you can't remove or isolate the context, you might as well understand it.

I enjoyed the book, but I was a little disappointed. I was hoping to get a detailed picture of Obama's stance on the issues. There was some of that, but that wasn't the main focus. I believe the "hope" that Obama was referring to in the title, describes his belief that there are countless Americans who have been disoriented by the current state of politics, but who are just waiting for a change, a new spark to become revitalized. He wants to awaken the American spirit once again. While this may be a very exciting idea, I'm still not quite sure if he has all the details worked out. Based on his current success though, we cannot completely doubt his theory.

Ok...this is too long and I need to get to bed. He starts the book talking about the beginning of his political career. He guides us through his elections to state and national offices. He talks about his initial challenges and successes. He eventually turns to policies halfway through. Barack Obama wants universal healthcare. He wants to devote more resources to education. He believes that discussions about race should not center on white vs. black; the discussions should always focus on achieving equality for all races. He believes that religion is a critical part of America's history and it should stay that way. He talks a lot about his own religious awakening. He believes that the family is the core of American society. If the family fails, the nation fails. Obama talks about how he met his wife during a summer law internship, marriage and the births of his two girls.

It was a good experience. It felt a little empty at times, but I'm still excited to read his other book, Dreams of My Father.

The Power of Total Engagement - Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr (4 of 5 Sunday Afternoon Naps)

I pulled this book off the shelf in one of my many wanderings through the Bingham Creek Library. It is a good resource for anyone who feels that they are running faster than they have strength.

The origin of this book was Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr's quest to improve the performance of professional tennis players. As they studied the habits of the sport's top players, they discovered that the top tier athletes had developed various "rejuvenation rituals." Between points, games, practices etc. they were able to quickly move from intense action to deep rest stages. This allowed them to effectively recover their strength and be back at the top of their game faster than their competitors. Tony and Jim concluded that the most successful athletes lived life as a series of intense sprints followed by periods of rest, instead of one long and exhausting marathon.

Tony and Jim spent many years helping professional athletes develop their own rejuvenation rituals. With time, they decided that they could also adapt their ideas to help top business professionals. They found many ways to help men and women in office environments take short breaks throughout the day to help them maintain their efficiency and effectiveness in the long hours of the afternoon.

It's always amusing to see how the world is always one step behind God. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Any primary student is already familiar with the principles discussed by Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr. I'll admit that it was somewhat interesting to see these principles applied to the worlds of sports and corporate business, but there wasn't anything life-changing in these pages for an active member of the Church.

The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale (4 of 5 Gusts of Wind)

Once again, I was the last one in my family to read The Goose Girl. And I'm the one that's supposedly studying English Literature at the University of Utah... Apparently it's not yet part of the literary canon. Ironically, my Dad worked with Shannon Hale at Allen Communication once upon a time. He'd have to clarify what exactly her job title was. I've listened to many family conversations about the book, but I'd never taken a gander for myself. Well, now I'll have something to say tomorrow night at Sunday dinner!

I enjoyed the book. It was a little slow getting started, but once it got going, it had enough momentum to keep me interested. The plot is somewhat predictable. From the onset, the Cinderella formula is apparent. If you go in for the plot, you'll be disappointed. By then end of the book, I was almost hoping that something would go wrong. It just seems that all the books I've read lately tie up all the loose ends in a nice pretty bow. Is this not the case with the majority of books out there? Why do so many of them end that way? Is it because authors don't believe that their books will sell if it they don't include a happy-ever-after ending? Why then do literature classes insist of teaching all of the books out there in which everyone dies? Do we indeed place more value on the "depressing" books, even though we enjoy the happy-ever-after stories more? Do we all just wish we could live out or lives in a fantasy world? I welcome any insights or discussion regarding these questions.

There are three elements of the book that I believe special attention and praise. The first is the poetic language that Shannon employs. This book makes for a fantastic bedtime story. The gentle sway of her words have a tendency to lull the reader into a pleasurable state of relaxation. The second is her treatment of magic, important but not overbearing. Her treatment of animal speaking, people speaking, and interacting with the wind was quite intriguing. And of course, number three, let's not forget the chickflickgoodness...

The Heartbeat of Halftime - Steve Wunderli (5 of 5 Titans)

For anyone not currently attending the University 16th ward, this review will not be nearly as amusing. Steve Wunderli is the second counselor in my bishopric. About a month ago his brother came to our ward to speak in sacrament meeting. During his talk he mentioned that his brother Steve had written a book. I can't speak for everyone else, but I was quite surprised to find out that we had a published author in our midst. I knew that he worked for Bonneville Communication, but I had never expected to discover something like this. What's more, he has another book called The Blue Between the Clouds, which I just ordered from Amazon.com for about five bucks. I couldn't find Blue at the library. Let me know if you'd like to read it and I'll pass it along to you.

The Heartbeat of Halftime is only about 175 pages, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The best way to describe it is the movie The Sandlot's equivalent to football. A bunch of eighth grade students at Olympus Junior High join together to try and take the state championship. Before this season (1972), they had won only two games. These wins were due to car accidents, arrests, etc. of the opposing team members, which left that with a significant disadvantage. A new kid, nicknamed Spray Can moves into town from Idaho. He's a big kid who give them new hope of taking the championship.

At the same time, Steve's dad is dying of cancer. Steve feels that he has something to prove to his father and everyone else. This subplot provided some additional depth to the story without being too sentimental.

It's everything you'd expect from a junior high/high school story: bullies, discovering girls, pranks, sports, dealing with parents, growing up, etc. I can't wait to get to church on Sunday and ask Steve how much of it is true. I know he was quite a handful when he was a kid. If this book is true, it surely cements that reputation.

One caution: The night before each game the boys from the Olympus team march onto the field to "mark" their territory... It's not crude in any way. It's just boys being boys. If by chance, you think you might be offended by this content, you might try Steve's other book.

Black Like Me, John Howard Griffin (9 of 10 nice people)

I first heard about this book in my American History A.P. class. My teacher had done her own abridgement for us to read as a cultural study of life for the Negro in the Deep South during the Martin Luther King Jr. era (1959) in preparation for the test. A white reporter from Texas whose specialty is in racial matters feels compelled to really live as a Negro as it’s the only way to really discover their true situation. He discusses his plan with his wife, and she agrees that if he feels he must, she would consent to life as a single mom during his absence.

The experiment is this: Would the black Mr. Griffin- with the same name, skills, wallet, and even reason for being there (to study the condition of Negro life in the Deep South) be treated differently from the white Mr. Griffin? He consults a dermatologist who administers oral medicine in conjunction with long exposure to ultraviolet rays to temporarily darken his skin. He finishes up with some shoe polish to make the change more convincing, and emerges as a Negro in the same city he lived in for a time as a white. He visits the same drug stores and restaurants he patronized as a Caucasian-with the same wallet and name, but is met with drastically different experiences due only to the color of his skin. He searches in vain for a job in which he can use his skills as a writer only to be rejected repeatedly. His life is threatened on numerous occasions, and he sees first hand the putrescently tactless side white men unabashedly show to Negros in their conversation, which ironically serves as evidence that in some cases the white men’s characters are far more degraded than the Negros’. While much abuse, hypocrisy, and hate are found to be typical characteristics of whites (a side seen only by Negros, he notices) living in the deep south, Mr. Griffin does try to be fair in reporting the good as well as the bad of the people with whom he associates, whether they be blacks, whites, or of a mixed race. After weeks of his experiment he resumes his white skin color, goes back to some areas again as a white and publishes what he has done and the experiences he had. This, of course enrages many racists across the country which put him and his family at risk for retaliation. He's even lynched in effigy once.

As part of our country’s history and dealing with the subject of race and the discrimination that so unfortunately arose because of it, it is my opinion that the viewpoint Mr. Griffin has provided to the world at quite a personal risk is a rather valuable one. It is told from both sides of the conflict, which in this particular situation is fundamentally (but apparently not) impossible to do. The good news is this: my personal experience is that racial discrimination fades with each generation. Perhaps it is due to increased globalization, a more homogenous culture, more interracial marriages, and better education on the matter. I don’t know, I’m not an expert. Obviously the eradication of unjust treatment has come a long way since then, which is a very good thing.

This book is not a happy one, nor is it one I would want a child to read due to what it deals with, but it is a good resource as far as the social culture of the time and area are concern

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis (4 of 5 Lost Ghosts)

Yes. I know. I did it again. I should really stay out of the deep end of the literary pool during the summer. For what it's worth I put this book on hold at the library a few months ago when summer was still just getting started. It came in and I felt obligated to read it...is that a good enough excuse?

Having just finished Mere Christianity a couple of months ago, this book felt oddly familiar. The premise is a little different, but the ideas expressed are much in the same. The book begins as C.S. Lewis finds himself wandering through a run-down town. The only people in the town are waiting at a bus stop. He stands at the back of the line and soon begins to interact with them. None of them seem to be happy. Small skirmishes break out up and down the line. Several of the people decide to step out of line and go back to where they came from. Lewis decides to stay, and soon the bus arrives. To his surprise, it carries him forever upward into the sky.
They soon discover that the bus has stopped at the edges of heaven. The travelers descend from the bus to find themselves in a large field which borders on a forest. A majestic mountain range lies in the distance.

For much of the book, Lewis wanders around the field listening to conversations between the travelers and the angels that have come to accompany them to the to the mountains. Many of the travelers are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to make the journey. Lewis watches as several slink back to the bus. Through these conversations, Lewis explores the many vices that keep us from God: materialism, fear, self-pity, pride, etc. In typical C.S. Lewis fashion, he helps us to take a fresh look at the basic principles of Christianity. Well, fresh at least, if you hadn't recently read one of his other books... As always, his lessons are enlightening and his metaphors illuminating. Thoughtful readers will appreciate this book for its depth, and value as a mirror, with which, they might observe their own weaknesses.

Dragonfly - Frederic S. Durbin (4.5 of 5 Shadow Battles)

Thanks PJ for the suggestion. I'll give it the last half a point when I figure out what I just read. This was one of the oddest, yet most enthralling books I've read in a long time.

Dragonfly is the name of a 10-year-old girl who lives with her Uncle Henry who works as a funeral home director. A few weeks before Halloween, they begin hearing voices in the basement and sounds of construction. One night a mysterious man named Mothkin shows up, making references to the last time that he had to "go down." Before long, Mothkin and Dragonfly are descending a steep staircase under Uncle Henry's house into the abyss of Harvest Moon, where every day is Halloween.

Prepare yourself for vampire battles, werewolf attacks, and eccentric gypsies. You might think that a story told from the perspective of a young girl would be juvenile fantasy, but it's not. You'll find it in the fiction section of the library. This might be better to read during Halloween season, but I still really enjoyed it in July. Read it now or read it in October, but don't miss out on reading this amazing book.

The Book Thief - Markus Zuzak (6 out of 5 Stolen Books)

This may well be one of the best books I have ever read. And I don't say that lightly.

The Book Thief is the tale of a young girl given by her mother into foster care, and her growing up and trying to deal with the world of Nazi Germany. It is a profoundly moving, emotional, evocative book, one of the few books that has ever made me cry. I can't really do it justice with any sort of review, so I will simply say that if you haven't yet read it, go do so posthaste.

The Merchant of Venice – William Shakespeare (5 of 5 Caskets of Lead)

Yes...I recognize that it’s summer and that Shakespeare is probably one of those authors that one should avoid during his summer vacation, but I couldn’t help myself. I was wandering around the library when I noticed it sitting casually on a shelf. I pulled it down, curious about its contents. I’ve read Hamlet three or four times in addition to a few other of Shakespeare’s plays, but many of them I’ve only heard about in my English classes. As I walked to the checkout line, I thought, “Well, if it’s a miserable read, at least I’ll be prepared the next time one of my professors brings it up in class.”

I’m not really sure what I was worried about now that I look back. Shakespeare didn’t achieve his reputation as one of the greatest writers in the English language for nothing. He really is a fantastic author. I was immediately drawn into the romance of Portia and the young Bassanio as well as the plight of Antonio at the mercy of the Jewish lender Shylock. The depth of the language was incredible, the suspense impressive, and the resolution beautiful.

I believe this was the first play that I’ve read by Shakespeare without being required to do so by a teacher or professor. It was a much more pleasant experience this time around. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always enjoyed Shakespeare’s works when we’ve read them in class, but I feel that some of the natural pleasure is lost when one is required to dig, analyze, and twist the words of this brilliant author. Reading Shakespeare just for the sake of reading Shakespeare was one of the highlights of my summer read-a-thon.

I would highly recommend strolling over to the books on CD section of the library. Arkangel Productions has taken on the task of creating audio productions of every one of Shakespeare’s plays. You’ll probably find several of them on the shelf. They all employ a full cast of professional actors. They do a great job of bringing the play to life.

Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison (B)

The title is intriguing, isn't it? It was the title, as well as the nifty lion on the front cover, that caught my attention last week at the Bingham Creek Library. I picked up the book on a whim, and was pleasantly surprised. Peter Allison worked for a number of years as a safari guide in South Africa and then in Botswana, and his stories are fantastic. I would love to sit around the campfire with this guy!

The stories range all over. Some deal with guests of the camp, other guides, or pesky camp "pets;" others take place in the bush--lions attacking, getting lost on the Okavango Delta, or watching an elephant give birth. The stories range in length as well--anywhere from a longer 12 pages to a mere 2 or 3. In and of itself, that keeps the book interesting.

I was most pleased to discover that, though a safari guide, Mr. Allison can actually write. Too often these memoir-type books are bogged down in the author's lack of writing ability. Sure they've led an exciting life, but can they write about it? I thought the writing style was delightful in this book. The pace moved along quickly, and I found myself reading "just one more story"...over and over again before I went to bed.

This book will probably never be a Classic, but it was entertaining.

I give it a B. Nothing extraordinary, but all good fun.

Law in America - Lawrence Friedman (3 of 5 Lawsuits)

Law in America (A Short History) tracks the development of law in North America from its birth in the colonies to the present day. Friedman begins by describing how the colonists adapted the common law system of England to their new environment. The serious lack of trained lawyers in the colonies produced a mish mash of laws and ordinances strung together from what the common folk remembered seeing back home. Isn't that amusing... No wonder it's so complicated.

One important difference between England and the colonies was the availability of land. Much of the laws in England were created to protect the rights of the landed nobility. America on the other hand had an abundance of land. That was not their first concern. Instead, they focused their energies on protecting their rights in regards to distant crown, ultimately drafting the constitution and bill of rights.

After he establishes the foundation, Friedman proceeds to give a short history of the various branches of law dealing with issues such as slavery, voting, business, family relations, education, civil rights, gender equality, etc. He discusses superficially important cases related to each issue and how the law as a whole has evolved over time in response to changes in society.

He finishes with an assessment of how the recent innovations in media have affected law and politics. Even though he may be correct in some ways about the current status of America, I disliked his cynical view of our future. His harsh ending provides the capstone for the sarcastic tone that he carries throughout the book. Perhaps if he had ended with something a little more inspirational, I would have forgotten about the sarcasm. This way however, brought it to the forefront and left a bad taste in my mouth.

It was informative, but not uplifting. Skip this one. I'm sure there are many other resources out there for learning about the legal system in America.

The Millionaire Mind – Thomas Stanley (5 of 5 Franklins)

As my score indicates, I was thoroughly impressed with The Millionaire Mind. For many years Thomas Stanley was a university professor. Over the years he became increasingly interested in the core characteristics of millionaires in America. He eventually left his position, and began conducting statistical surveys of the wealthy in America. He conversed with thousands of millionaires through mail, small focus groups and one-on-one interviews.

This book compiles all of this research into one, very accessible book. What he found was that the typical millionaire in America did not exhibit an extravagant lifestyle. Again and again he calls them a cheap date. Over the course of a lifetime they have learned how to be extremely efficient with their time, energy and money. They do not waste their resources on consumer goods. They are constantly looking at the lifecycle costs over the first cost of any purchase.

One of the most important factors that he saw in these millionaires was their choice of vocation. The key to becoming economically successful, according to Thomas Stanley, is selecting a profession that allows you to make full use of your skills and talents. If you love what you do, you will be more willing to work hard. He highlights the importance of selecting a job market where you can be competitive. He talks a lot about how the American education system has a tendency to channel bright students into the medical and legal fields. Upon graduating, these talented students find themselves swept up in a wave of fierce competition. They work hard all their lives, but are unable to stand out among all the other professional elites. Stanley’s evidence shows that the economically successful members of America are more likely to find a less competitive environment in which they can easily excel. They are the big fish in a little pond.

At the end of the book Stanley breaks the millionaire mind down into eight elements:

1. They understands that America rewards hard work, integrity and focus.
2. They understand that education isn’t everything. Even though over 90% have a college education, few had outstanding grades.
3. They have courage to make informed financial risks.
4. They select a unique vocation and utilize their special skills for profit.
5. They are extremely careful about selecting a spouse.
6. They operate an economically productive household.
7. They study, search and negotiate at length before buying a home.
8. They adopt a balanced lifestyle.

This was an amazing book. There is a wealth of practical knowledge here. I’m excited to read the companion book, The Millionaire Next Door.

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex (A)

I want everyone to read this book. Can I just leave my review at that? Since about page 42 I was positive this was a winner and I've spent the remaining 380 pages wracking my brain for a good way to review it when I wasn't laughing out loud. How do you do such a strange, randomly hilarious book justice in a short review? I'll give it my best shot...

The True Meaning of Smekday begins as a school essay assignment and then moves into an extended memoir by our heroine, 11-year old Gratuity "Tip" Tucci. She's assigned to write about the true meaning of Smekday--the day aliens invaded earth in the year 2013 and renamed the planet Smekland. Her story begins with her mom being abducted by aliens, and ends three different times (with her original essay, her rewritten winning essay, and then her longer "unpublished" memoir). After Mom gets abducted, Gratuity has to make her way to the well-named Happy Mouse Kingdom in Orlando, FL, and then on to Arizona...where all humans are being forced to move because the aliens like Florida too much to give it away. Along the way, she picks up her very own Boov--an alien named J.Lo who's in trouble with his fellow aliens, and who proves to be a useful road trip companion. If you keep reading, you'll meet the people of Area 51, a Clark Kent look-a-like, and stereotypical G-man named Mitch.

The adventures in the story never stop and that's one good reason to read. The real selling points, however, are all Gratuity Tucci's. The author's ability to write through a snarky 11-year old's voice is awesome, and her asides and comments will have you laughing out loud. Literally. Don't read this one in a library. And don't let the fact that its about aliens taking over earth put you off picking this one up. This book is hilarious and you'll be recommending it to everyone you know before long.

I give it an A.

And after you read, you'll probably enjoy visiting the official website of Smekday where the hilarity only continues.

Not a Review...

I figured this Blog is all about books, right? And the goal is to share with one another ideas for your next reading selection. I always enjoy hearing what other people think about books, and I found this post on another site and felt it might be of interest to the others on this Blog. Anyway check it out and enjoy "The Books that Changed Your Lives." Pretty cool.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (B+)

The tagline for this young adult novel is "In a world of extreme beauty, anyone normal is ugly." And thus it begins.

The time is hundreds of years in the future, after people like you and me have royally screwed the world over. The people who were left decided to patch things up and make the world better than it was. The theory holds that all the problems in our world were created because people were different, so the solution is to make everyone "pretty" through a series of operations you undergo at age 16.

Our protagonist, Tally Youngblood, is anxious to turn pretty. She hates her ugly self--as she's been trained to do--and her best friend turned pretty 3 months earlier. She wants to get herself all dolled up and moved into New Pretty Town ASAP! But then she meets Shay, another Ugly like herself. Shay doesn't want to turn pretty. She wants to stay ugly (i.e. NORMAL) and just be herself. Tally doesn't follow this radical line of thinking, but her world is turned upside down when Shay runs away only days before Tally's operation. Shay's headed for The Smoke--hundreds of miles away, and home of a ragged group of bandit Uglies who refuse to follow the system. The Establishment, if you will, give Tally a terrible choice: find Shay and turn her in, or stay ugly forever.

No spoilers here--but Westerfeld does a great job of pulling the reader into this "world o' the future." There's action, comedy, romance and philosophy for everyone; there's obviously a great message about loving yourself for who you are and not just for physical beauty. And there's a sequel! I'm excited to read it (Pretties), and I was really impressed with the author's ability to lead you into the sequel without it feeling like, "I want to write another book so we're going to create this new problem." It felt really natural that we'd need to see the next part of the story. I'm a fan.

A solid B+ on my score card.

Life on a Refrigerator Door: Notes Between a Mother and Daughter, a novel - Alice Kuipers (4.5 of 5 Magnets)

A friend of mine suggested this book to me a couple of weeks ago. I put it on hold and let the library to do the rest. I started and finished it in the same morning (it was a very short book). Apparently length isn't everything. I was very impressed with it.

The whole novel is composed of notes left on a refrigerator door by a mother and her daughter. The mother is divorced and spends much of her time working at the hospital. The teenage daughter is caught up in her own world of school, friends and babysitting. They write notes back and forth, some short and some long, some lighthearted and some serious.

Before you jump to conclusions, I should mention that not all of their communication is done this way. Many of the notes make references to the time that they had spent together the previous night such as "Thanks Mom for dinner and movie last night."

The letters become more serious when the mother discovers that she has breast cancer. I thought that this was one of the more interesting ways to discuss this topic. What I most impressed with was how authentic the discussions felt. I'll admit that I haven't been a teenage daughter who watched her mother battle with breast cancer, but I have been affected by this horrible disease. My grandmother passed away four years ago after a courageous struggle with stomach cancer. Does anyone agree or disagree with my assesment of the authenticity of the book?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling (2 of 5 House Elves)

Poor Voldemort. How many times do we have watch villains work so hard to get revenge upon their foes only to see them squander away all their work in a fit of hubris at the very last moment? He had Harry tied to a headstone in a graveyard thousands of miles from anyone that could help him. Have the death eaters gone soft? Can’t they think up a better way to kill a helpless fifteen year old boy than with the havarta curse? Whatever happened to a good old stabbing or drowning? That seems easy enough.
Maybe someone should have supplied Miss Rowling with a less predictable way to end her book…and the last hundred pages were the most entertaining section of the novel. I’d take predictability over sheer boredom any day.

It doesn’t appear to be getting any better. Harry Five has already put me to sleep twice, and I haven’t even gotten through the first three CDs. Didn’t Harry originally begin as a bedtime story? Well, at least she has accomplished that purpose. Getting through all seven books before the end of the summer is becoming less and less likely.

My theory is that by this point in her writing career, J.K. Rowling’s novels had become so popular that she felt that she could write whatever and however much she pleased and everyone would still read her books. Goblet of Fire was dreadfully slow. It’s almost as if she got lost in her own little world and gave up on moving the central plot forward. A hundred pages on blast-ended schrutes, a hundred pages in Hagrid’s shady genealogy, a hundred pages in house elves rights...and the list goes on.

The Total Money Makeover

I just finished reading this book and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Being married to a financial planner who actually loves what he does (i.e. he talks about financial principles all the time), I would not consider myself uneducated on this subject. I have read other books on how to handle money in general, including a book by Suze Orman (good info also), but this book by Dave Ramsey is one that I will actually be buying for home reference. It tells things how they are in a manner that is easy to understand and which brings humor to a serious situation many people find themselves in today. I highly recommend you read it, and the younger you are the better (as in if you implemented the principles outlined you would be light years ahead of your peers).

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I first picked up Name of the Wind on the suggestion of my favorite librarian. She's been giving me suggestions for years, and knows how much I like fantasy. I had bypassed the book several times, I am ashamed to say, because the cover didn't appeal to me. It never grabbed my attention, and so I ignored it. Oh, how wrong I was. I was intrigued just by reading the inside flap (which I'll post in a while, in a blatant attempt to get y'all to read it too). In fact, when I got home I started reading, and I could hardly put it down for 3 days, and when I finished, I wished it hadn't ended. Luckily for me there are two more books, unfortunately though, they aren't published yet. And so the waiting begins. Here's the inner flap:

My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree.

"The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire.

"The Thunder" I attribute to a strong baritone and a great deal of stage training at an early age.

I've never thought of "The Broken Tree" as very significant. Although in retrospect, I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic.

My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.

But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant "to know."

I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

The story is beautifully written, and I highly recommend it.

Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine

A little girl at heart, I finally broke down and read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine- something I should have done in fourth grade. Although a Newbery Honor book, this is hardly college literature. It’s a fairy tale, a Cinderella story- which I’m now realizing is a story line running around in more abundance than I’d ever imagined. I thought I’d seen them all by sixth grade, but no, I’ve discovered two since starting college. Not that it’s a bad thing. It’s the quintessential chick flick. You’d be hard pressed to find a girl who doesn’t appreciate the story of a young girl, who when thrown into deplorable and hopelessly dismal situations endures bloodthirsty foes, impossible fairies, and manipulative family ...and acts nobly anyway. There is something of a spiritual triumph in this simple act of one-sided nobility. It speaks to the prince and princess inside each of us and inspires us to live up to our title.

This particular rendition of the Cinderella story is fun because Ella is more of a realistic person than the Disney movie makes her out to be. She’s not perfect, and her disposition is not blindly submissive despite (or more accurately because of) the curse which was bestowed upon her at birth by an impertinent fairy to “Always be obedient”; she obeys orders, but only because the curse will not allow her to do otherwise.

She is a real person with real relationships with the people around her. Something the Bruno, Gus and Lucifer version doesn’t have that this one does is this: not only does Ella’s prince, Shar (prince Shar-ming, ha ha ha! :) sweep her off her glass-slipper shod feet, but they start as friends long before the prospect of marriage is considered. While not nearly as involved as a Jane Austin novel, similarities exist as their friendship is based primarily on intellect, interests, and conversation.

I recently found an old, beat up copy of The Slipper and the Rose while going through some videos. At my mom’s request I popped it in to see if it still worked. It did, barely, and I ended up watching the whole thing. Yup, another Cinderella story. The reason I bring this up is because I found it uncanny when just a week later I read Ella Enchanted and found that both Cinderella and Ella choose selflessness over their happiness when faced with practically the same situation. Their decisions in this instance are noble, but also make me positively sick. Fortunately neither The Slipper and the Rose nor Ella Enchanted end right there.

The story ends, of course “And they lived happily ever after”, however, I figure this came as no surprise to you. I guess it’s borderline spoiling, but this should in no way dissuade you from reading the book if you so desire- if you consider those people in real life who really do live “happily ever after” when the end of their story comes have the stories worth reading (take President Gordon B. Hinckley’s biography for example), knowing the ending won’t really ruin the read. Everyone should indulge in some fairy tales once in a while. I’ll bet Charles Dickens would even agree with me on that one.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Aron Ralston (One Thumb Up)

I just finished Between a Rock and a Hard Place this morning and I'm still a little stumped about what I want to say about it. Even though you may not have read the book, it's likely that you're familiar with the story. Back in the Spring of 2003, Aron Ralston decided to go hiking by himself in the slot canyons around Moab. A few hours into his hike on Saturday, he disturbed a large boulder above him that fell, pinning his hand against the cliff wall. After several attempts to move the boulder, he decided that the only thing left to do was cut off his own hand. He then single-handedly hiked out of the canyon.

Among other things, I enjoyed this book because it helped to correct some of the preconceived notions that I had about Aron. I figured that a hiker who went alone into the slot canyons and got himself stuck would have been inexperienced. Exactly the opposite is true. He was very experienced at traversing mountains. He holds the record for the largest number of 14,000+ ft. mountains climbed during the winter months (somewhere around 50). He climbed most of these mountains before his accident. Before dedicating his life solely to climbing, he was a mechanical engineer for Intel for five years. He received a bachelor's degree in both Piano Performance and Electrical Engineering. He was typically a very cautious hiker. It was merely a rare set of coincidences that led to him being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The book itself was a little slow. The language seemed overdone at times. Don't expect a lot of deep psychological turmoil. And caution...there's a lot profanity during the accident itself with scattered cursing each time he gets frustrated. That I didn't enjoy.

But, on the other hand, it is an inspirational story that shouldn't be overlooked. It's unlikely that you'll walk away without wanting to go for a (group) hike.

I'd like to be a Puddlejumper now

I picked up Puddlejumpers by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson, on a whim. I'd never heard anything about it before, but it sounded interesting enough. I enjoy young adult fantasy novels. This one fits right into the genre--a fantastical world existing right in the middle of our normal human one, or in the case of Circle, Illinois, right underneath our normal one.

Puddlejumpers are small earthy creatures that inhabit a world below the Up Above where all the humans live. They love MotherEarth and need water, and all sorts of good stuff. But something evil and sinister is coming to destroy their kingdom! Their only hope is an ancient prophecy that says a human boy will be born who will help save the kingdom. (Are you thinking Harry Potter at this point? Me too. But there aren't any wands in this one...) The Puddlejumpers find their prophetic Rainmaker in Shawn Frazier, watch over him for 3+ months in the confines of his own human home, and then kidnap him into the Puddlejumper world. Everything goes well until disaster strikes, the Puddlejumper world is infiltrated and the Rainmaker is LOST...or so it seems.

Fast forward a number of years and enter two kids, Ernie and Joey, who decide to solve the mystery of the kidnapped baby. Their entrance into the story starts the whole prophecy thing in motion again...and the great question is, will the Rainmaker return and save the Puddlejumper's world? Will he return and make it rain again?!

The story is very reminiscent of Harry Potter and every other "there's a boy and a prophecy" fantasy novel out there. But the book is also entertaining and creative enough to keep you from making too many connections to Rowling's books. The characters have heart--especially Ernie Banks--and I found myself reading for hours, unable to put the book down. Puddlejumpers is not the greatest book you'll read this summer, but its fun, easy, and you'll have a good time.

Welcome to the Experiment

First of all, let me make this clear. Anyone can write a post. I hope that each "Contributor" will contribute for the benefit of the group.

"Boyintheframe" hit the nail right on the head. I can go elsewhere to find "the lists" of classic books. I read many of the classics in high school. The read-a-thon continues in college. Like he said, reading those books can be beneficial for their depth and depiction of the human experience.

But this is summer. And what are "summers" really for? In my opinion summers are kind of like Sundays. We take a break from the things that we have to do, to focus on the spiritual things that we (hopefully) want to do. Both realms of projects have value if we let them.

So. Back to the experiment. I want to find those books that still have merit but don't make it on the lists. And who better to ask then my close friends and family?

Now, as you've probably noticed, I've written up several reviews of books that I've read this summer. I'm still waiting for most of my friends and family to do their part. I honestly don't want a senior thesis for every book. I just want a basic synopsis of the book (hopefully without spoilers) and what you thought of it. If the book was fantastic, tell me it was fantastic. If it was terrible, tell me it was terrible. My hope is that we can all find a book or two that we wouldn't have otherwise read. I don't expect life changing events, but hey, if it happens...congrats!

Let's look forward a few years. I fully intend to write up a little review of every book I read from now on. And if everyone was writing? Think of the possibilities!

Spoiler Alert

I have a confession to make:

I...am afraid...of the Big Bad Woolf.

Which begs the question: what am I doing here? I guess I was invited by a good friend and couldn't refuse. Besides: I don't want to appear as though I don't appreciate a good book. I guess my opinion of a good book is...well, non-vernacular. Take the works of Terry Brooks, for example. Probably his most well-known series--relatively speaking, of course--would be the Shannara series, of which there are currently seventeen entries, and more are on the way. In addition, series that were once seperate from these, such as The Word and the Void, are becoming incorporated into the Shannara universe. It is a Fantasy/Sci-Fi style series, and they are distinctive in their character and imagination. The first entry ever written, The Sword of Shannara, was written in the early 1970s, and it heralded a new tradition in episodic fantasy writing ever since The Lord of the Rings. The first Shannara book I ever read was The Wishsong of Shannara, in the seventh grade, and I fell in love.

Make no mistake: I know the difference between the classics and popular fiction. Terry Brooks is a bold writer, but his works just don't compare to the likes of even the most contemporary masterpieces, like Conroy's Lords of Discipline, or Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany. So why even mention the series? It is because this series doesn't compare, that I mention it. It stands out as a great book without assuming too much of itself. It isn't about trying to change the world, or proving a point; it is simply a fairy tale, an epic adventure.

There are, of course, more serious books that I find interesting as well. Orson Scott Card is a fine Sci-Fi writer. His Ender series is an intense and involved space tragedy, full of international and interplanetary intrigue. He also has a very interesting series depicting a futuristic scenario of Earth's descendants, based on the history of Nephi and his family in the Book of Mormon. It is called the Homecoming series, very interesting interpretation of religious texts. Like children's books? I would recommend The Lorax, by Dr. Suess, or Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig. Want satire? Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett are good authors for that.

So sure, I like books. I am still afraid of the Big Bad Woolf, the books that the world says mean something. I guess there are a few that I have come to like in that area, but I find it hard to adapt to that world. I feel bad, sometimes, as if I am failing to apply myself to good reading, but I look back and realize that there are good books out there, and I have read a few of them in my time. I may find it hard to find a good new book for me, but I am grateful, all the same, for good reading.

Letters for Emily - Camron Wright (4 of 5 Gold Coins)

Harry is an older man dying of Alzheimer's. The opening chapter is a letter written by Harry that tells of his wish to be remembered for the man he was before his illness robbed him of his mind. He describes his intent to write a few last letters to his granddaughter Emily, in which he will include his final words of wisdom.

Harry's son Bob and his wife Laura are having marital problems. When the story opens, Bob has already moved to California. Laura takes her daughter Emily to visit Harry every Friday afternoon as his life draws to a close.

First of all, I wouldn't be surprised if this book was made into a Hallmark video, if it hasn't been already... If so, it would be one of the better movies Hallmark could produce. While the story itself is a little predictable, the actual letters from Harry are what makes the book worth the read. His subjects range from the importance of flossing to forgiveness. My favorite letter was the one in which he met his wife. I can't tell you much more than that... I don't want to spoil it for you. If you've read it, come find me and we'll chat and have a good laugh.

Warm fuzzies abound. Let me know what you thought of it.

The Automatic Millionaire - David Bach (4.5 of 5 Hammocks)

I was wandering through the nonfiction section of the library a couple of weeks ago when I came across The Automatic Millionaire. Naturally, I was skeptical of such a title. I took it home with me as somewhat of a joke, but I was pleasantly surprised. This was a informative book, free of the typical get-rich-quick schemes.

The core principle of the book is taking steps to automating your finances. Bach throws out the common practice of budgeting (which I thoroughly enjoyed...perhaps because I do such a poor job of it), concluding that it is a waste of time and effort. In it's place he provides several strategies for automatically taking money out of your hands and putting it into a safe place before you get a chance to spend it. The book includes resources for finding and establishing retirement and emergency savings accounts. I found all of it to be rather intriguing.

The last chapter of the books describes the process of giving 10% back to the community in the form of tithing or supporting local charities. I was pleased to see someone outside the church put their stamp of approval on tithing. It provides a satisfying conclusion to the book.

I have already started applying several of the principles in Bach's book. I discovered that the interest rate on my savings account with Mountain America was a dismal .9%. I had previously thought that it was much higher. At the suggestion of Bach I looked into the online banks ING and HSBC. Turns out that ING offers a rate of 3% and HSBC 3.5%. They both have very credible reputations. They both offer resources for automatically deducting funds from your checking account according to your own desired schedule.

I would highly recommend this inspiring book to anyone wondering about how to better handle their money and prepare for the future.

I took off a half a point for how many times David Bach uses the word automatic. The book was read by the author. The drawn out emphasis on the word every time he used it wore on me. Get the book in print to avoid this...

The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling (3.5 of 5 Wands)

I just finished the third installment in the Harry Potter series. Of the three that I have read, this is my favorite. But let's remember that we're rating Harry against Harry, not Harry against literature in general.

Even though I'm one of the last remaining people on the planet still attempting to push through them for the first time, I figure I'll give you a short synopsis. Once again, we find Harry back at home with the Dursleys. Once again, Harry makes his way to Hogwarts and finds himself at the center of attention. The Dementors are chasing Sirius Black who is chasing Harry. More Quittich. More house cup, yada yada... You get the point.

(A quick disclaimer. I've been listening to these on CD. I've never seen some of these names and words in print so forgive me if they're all spelled wrong.)

So...in spite of how formulaic these books seem at times, it was amusing to see how all the pieces fell into place at the end of the book.

Perhaps the most interesting part for me was Harry's explanation for how he was able to perform the Petronus charm. "I knew I could do it because I'd already seen myself perform the charm." Hm... There are some serious contradictions of logic flying around here, but it's still an interesting concept. I suppose you could adapt this idea to a spiritual context. You might see this situation as similar to a patriarchal blessing which gives you a picture of things to come. Knowing the blessing encourages you to work toward the fulfillment of the prophecy. In the end, was it the prophecy or the work that allowed you to accomplish the goal? It was both.

The Host - Stephanie Meyer

Being (apparently) one of the few people who has not read Twilight and the subsequent sequels, I didn't know much about Stephanie Meyer. I therefore had no idea that her first book of adult fiction was released in May. However, when I was visiting my cousin in California we all found ourselves reading one evening and I just could not get myself interested in my umpteenth reading of The Prisoner of Azkaban. So as I was staring off into space wondering what to do, my cousin Lisa suggested that I start reading The Host. The new novel by Stephanie Meyer.

So I started the book, not knowing anything about Meyer, least of all that she was a Mormon and not really knowing what to expect. The jacket description about a new species coming to earth and taking over human bodies was somewhat odd, but I was intrigued nonetheless. As I delved into the story, I found myself pulled into the life of Melanie and Wanderer. Melanie is running from the body snatchers of souls that have systematically taken over the bodies of human beings. Souls are essentially a parasite that cannot exist with a "host" of some sort. They have taken over other planets and creatures in other parts of the universe and earth was next. Melanie is one of the few "humans" left who have not yet been captured. We open the story with her capture and the insertion of the soul Wanderer into her body. To the surprise of Wanderer, when she wakes up from her hibernated state newly implanted in Melanie's body, Melanie is still there.

There, in the sense that Melanie still has control over parts of her mind. She doesn't allow Wanderer to see all of her memories and she talks to Wanderer. For the soul Wanderer not only is this disconcerting, she knows that it is not supposed to happen. As she begins to try and force Melanie out, Melanie begins to show Wanderer piece by piece parts of her past, until Wanderer is just as consumed by the welfare of Melanie's human friends as Melanie is.

As a first time reader of Stephanie Meyer, I was left with desire to read more. The Host was one of the most entertaining reads I have had in a long time, Meyer's style of writing was new, and her ideas for the story were different than anything that I have EVER read. Her exploration of ethics and individuality in the book was intriguing and thought provoking. Put it on hold at the library, it's worth the wait to read it.

Austenland - Shannon Hale (2 of 5 Hearts)

A few weeks ago a friend of mine recomended that I read Shannon Hale's books. While wandering through the audio books at the Bingham Creek Library last week, I stumbled upon Austenland. I naively took it home and popped the CD into my laptop.

I was quite intrigued by the opening chapter of the book. A "thirty-something woman" from New York has developed a Darcy complex, after a lifetime of loser boyfriends. Whenever she feels lonely she watches Pride and Prejudice and falls in love with Mr. Darcy yet again. She might have lived her entire life this way, spending night after night with her beloved DVD if it had not been for the appearance of her rich aunt. During a visit to Jane's New York apartment, her aunt discovers Jane's addiction. They speak briefly over lunch and then her aunt leaves. A few years later, Jane is notified that her rich aunt died, leaving her a three week trip to a hotel in England. After some deliberation, Jane decides to accept the gift in an effort to expunge herself once and for all of her addiction. Comedy ensues.

I will admit that I had high hopes for the book. The author has obviously read her fair share of Austen books several times. Amusing references pop up all over the place. In the beginning of the book, Hale's tone is hilarious. Then it gets old. Then it gets just plain obnoxious. I felt there were far too many plot twists for the sake of mere plot twitters. She should have just stuck with the Gardner. That seemed to be working out just fine.

I found myself desperately hoping that real women aren't nearly as whimsically lovesick as Miss Jane Erstwhile. If they are, well...I guess I'm in trouble.

Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis

So...To the Lighthouse had to go back to the library too...sad.

To prevent another tragedy, I decided to buy my next book. I picked up Mere Christianity last week. I believe one of the most profound passages appears at the end of the preface.

"I hope no reader will suppose that 'mere' Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions - as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is the difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and panelling. In plain language, the question should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service?' but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?'"

"When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more, and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. This is one of the rules common to the whole house."

This quote is 394 words long. This exceeds the fair use limit. Oh well. Until someone explains to me the intellectual property laws regarding internet blog posting, it will stay here for you to enjoy.