The-The-The-That's All, Folks!

Well...wow.  I didn't think it would happen.

I started this blog at the beginning of the year not just to write a little bit, but also to help motivate me to clear off the "shelf of unread books."  It used to be 3+ shelves, and hundreds of books.  Yes, I would buy faster than I could read.  I don't know why...it seemed like a good idea at the time.

It had been my goal in 2009 to clear off the shelf, and that obviously did not happen.  So it became my "I really mean it" goal for 2010.  And - lo and behold - here is the shelf RIGHT NOW.

Empty.  It is completely empty.  I'm still stunned.

So the purpose of this blog has been met, and just in time for the new year.  So now, starting January 1, it'll be onto bigger and better things...over at The Open Road.  Come check it out.

The Death of Josseline - Margaret Regan

Wow.  WOW.  I just finished this book and am almost at a loss for words.

I bought this book through my church a few weeks ago; they are encouraging everyone to read it, and there will be two discussions groups after the new year.  I hesitated - don't I already have too many books to read? - but decided to go for it.  And boy...am I glad I did.

I think of myself as a reasonably intelligent man, but I will freely admit that when it comes to politics, I'm pretty dumb.  It's not that I don't want to or try to understand, it's just that, for whatever reason, politics just doesn't "stick" in my brain.  I don't get it a lot of the time, and when I do, it usually doesn't last.  This puts me at a strong disadvantage when it comes to political discussions, which tend to be discussions that can get heated.

So - what does this have to do with this book?  A lot.  In this book, the author spent time on the US/Mexican border and gathered all sorts of stories of what's really happening there.  Not sweeping political propaganda, but real stories.  From real people.  From migrants to ranchers to medical examiners to Minutemen to Border Patrol agents to - well, to almost anyone you can think of.  And she gets their stories, gets the facts, and tells those stories.  And it is SO POWERFUL.

Why do people want to come to this country so badly?  Why can't they just stay home?  What's the big deal if they do sneak in?  Why should anyone help them?  All of these questions, and so many more, have been swirling through my mind as I've read this.  Some get answered clearly, some are open to moral and philosophical discussion.  It's staggering though to read about the number of people who die.  And the US citizens who live in the area and who have lost their privacy to Border Patrol agents.  And the environmental impacts that building a big wall across a desert have had.  And the inaccuracy of what politicians have said publicly.  It's just mind blowing.

What is the answer, then?  I don't know.  If I knew, I'd share it with the world!  And the author doesn't claim to know either.  And that's part of why I respect her and this book so much.  There's no slant to it that I picked up on.  There's no "And here's why you should believe this or that" throughout the book.  She presents facts and stories from all different parties and points of view, and lets the reader make up his mind.  I wish there were more of this out there, or that I knew where to find it...It's so frustrating to have "news" be nothing more than 10% fact, 60% opinion and 30% propaganda.  Regardless of which "side" it's for.

I am very much looking forward to the discussion group in January.  In the meantime, read this book.  Go get it, read it and share it with others.  Learn some of the stories of what is actually happening, and how our country is (and isn't) responding.

Diabetes Burnout - William H. Polonsky

I asked my mother to get this book for me last year, shortly after I was first diagnosed with diabetes.  I just got around to reading it...even though I wouldn't say that I'm burned out (yet).  But you know what?  I'm glad I have it.  It essentially recognizes that since this is a life-long illness, there will be times where it just doesn't seem worth it to keep on doing everything that needs to be done.  It's not something I wanted, asked for or chose, and yet here it is and I have to deal with it now.  And, honestly, this can apply to much more than diabetes.

But every day - watching what I eat (theoretically), exercising (theoretically), taking the meds, monitoring my blood sugar...and knowing that it'll never end.  Yeah, I'm sure that at some point I will get burned out.  And after reading this book I'm glad to have it on hand.

The book provides good support and empathy why burnout can happen.  And it acknowledges the crappy parts of doing everything that needs to be done...but then rather than just stopping at the whining (which is what I might do), it helps to find answers and solutions and ways through or around the roadblocks.

So, luckily, I can't relate to all parts of this book...at least not right now.  But it's good to know that I'll have it on hand for when I do.

Awakening Your Psychic Powers - Henry Reed, Ph.D.

A very interesting book!  It wasn't exactly the book that I was expecting, but I liked it.  It's not just a "here's how to be psychic in 10 easy steps," but talks a lot about the life, experiences and teaching of Edgar Cayce.

A part that particularly intrigued me is the relationship with the spiritual, which was apparently very important to Edgar Cayce.  It's said in the book that he thought of the big Bang theory as God exploding out into all sorts of little "atoms," which were unique souls.  Unique, but all still connected and part of God, and each one containing the essence of God and unity and holiness.  But then these souls ended up creating physicality and here we are - still with our souls at the core, but the souls now having forgotten where they came from and that we are, still, parts of God with all of god in each of us.  So we go through life (and lives, perhaps) trying to re-learn this.  It is very similar to another book I read - not about psychic abilities at all, but about spirituality.  And I think that that's why it's so interesting to me, to see how closely they parallel.

The book talks a lot about different techniques to use: meditation, a dream journal, learning to rely on intuition, using a pendulum...and many more.  It's really an interesting read and looks at everything with a much more holistic view.

Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg

This is another book I've had forever. It's sort of a how to book for writing. I enjoyed it - and I probably need to start doing a lot of it! There are a lot of good tips and suggestions as well as some realistic ways of dealing with road blocks. I like it.

Transformation Soup - Sark

You know what I like about Sark?  Or one of the things, I should say: she doesn't act like she's perfect and like she knows how to do it all.  She's a regular person, like you, like me.  With faults and imperfections and who has made mistakes and will undoubtedly make more.  Like you...Like me.  Like all of us - which is perhaps what we all truly have in common.

This book is about her year dedicated to healing, and to transformation.  There are little nuggets in here, little gems, that are truly inspiring.  For example:

Let's just all realize and admit that the pain never ends and go on brilliantly anyway.  *Brilliantly, in this case, means: despite all forms of wanting to quit.
Let's realize that to experience our lives intimately means to be off-balance, out of control, and subject to all sorts of fragile and tender emotions.
We might say, "Then why do it?  Why not hide, avoid, resist, anesthetize, refuse, neglect, lie, work harder, gain more control, get more money, seek more escapes, and live in denial?"
You'll do all of these anyway and the pain just waits for another entry point.


But this isn't a book that focuses on pain.  A little further on the same page:

Joy is tougher to accept than pain.  Isn't this a curious paradox.  We are often more comfortable with pain and struggle because it's familiar.


Wow.

Yeah...good stuff.  Sark: I like you.

The Thinker's Way - John Chaffee, Ph.D.

Hi, The Thinker's Way.  Have a seat - are you comfortable?  Um...this is kind of awkward...but we need to talk.  I know that you have been so good and so patient, waiting around on that bookshelf for all of these years, just waiting for me to get to you.  Waiting for your turn.  And now it's here!  And it's wonderful!  And it's great!  But - I think we're just not going to work out.  What I'm saying is, I think I want to read other books.  No - no - it's not you, really, it's me.  Completely me.

We started out so well, it's true.  You were talking about how there seem to be less critical thinking skills today - or at least in our news and media.  And I couldn't agree more!  We are surrounded by sound bytes and data snippets, pieces of facts which are then surrounded by opinion.  And that's not critical thinking!  That's not looking at information, digging deep, knowing your sources, forming your own conclusions...not at all.

And when you said that learning to think critically can lead to clearer goals in your life and greater chances of attaining them...Again, I agree.  And being creative!  I like what you said about how "being creative" doesn't have to mean "being an artist."  I really enjoyed this paragraph about that.

Whenever you are investing your own unique ideas, you are being creative.  When you develop a new recipe or dance in your own distinctive style, you are being creative, as you are when you stimulate original thinking in your children or make your friends laugh with your singular brand of humor.  Living your life creatively means bringing your unique perspective and creative talents to all the dimensions of your life.  Creativity is not an add-on, something extra that you have to find time for in your busy life.  Instead, creativity is a better, richer, more productive approach to doing what you are already doing.  It's braided seamlessly into your life, not a bow that's added on for decoration.


That's brilliant!  I love it!  But I'm only a quarter of the way through, and I'm just not feeling this relationship.  Like I said, it's me.  I'm really close to the end of the unread bookshelf, and I'm probably anxious to move on.  So don't take it personally...I know that the right reader will come along.

The Bodacious Book of Succulence - Sark

Gosh, I don't even know how long I've had this book. I bought 4 of her books or so, without first reading any. Oh, those were the crazy days...

This is a fun, creative, interactive book about realizing how wonderful and amazing we all are in our imperfections. And how richer we would all be if we stopped trying to hide our succulence underneath our facades. It's a pretty fun book...and yet it touched on some pretty serious topics.

I was particularly touched by and able to relate to the part about death, and how you get thrown into the "death club" whether you like it or not when you lose someone close to you. Yup...that's true.

Anyway - a fun book that'll make you think. Check it out.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy - David D. Burns, MD

This book was originally written in 1980, when cognitive therapy was truly ground-breaking.  And that's what this book is about: cognitive therapy, how to use it and how powerful it can be.  I have had this book for probably over ten years without reading it.  Now, it was time.

Some parts of this book show their age.  There is a section at the end about medications that is, well, 30 years old.  Most of today's popular anti-depressants didn't even exist then and aren't listed.  That's an extreme example, but there were definitely parts that made me realize this book was written a while ago.  Also, I didn't always appreciate Dr. Burns's writing style.  Two examples of things that didn't work for me:

Does that sound like heresy or stupidity to you?  If you think I'm contradicting the obvious, you may feel like burning this book or throwing it down in disgust.  If so, I dare you to read on...


Harriet mastered the...Method quickly and reported a dramatic change in her mood and outlook because it gave her a simple, effective way to handle a problem that had been very real and overwhelming.  When she returned for the next session, her depression - which had crippled her for over a decade - had lifted and was entirely gone.


Okay, seriously?  Over a decade of crippling depression gone just like that?  I had a hard time swallowing that.

Now, criticism out of the way, this is a good book in a lot of ways.  There are real, honest to goodness things that you can do to help.  My personal belief is that depression and moods aren't caused by any one thing necessarily; brain chemistry can be a factor.  Foods (like sugar, especially) can be a factor.  Exercise can be a factor.  And what's discussed in this book can be a major factor - but one factor.  That's just my opinion.  I got some good stuff out of this book, though.  I noticed that even just in reading it, when I'd put it down for the day, I would be feeling a little better - without doing any of the exercises.  Just by reading about them and how to do them.  And I think that that says a lot.

There's also a self-assessment test in one part that shows me that I am emotionally strongest in the categories of Achievement, Perfectionism, Entitlement and Omnipotence...and that I'm emotionally the most vulnerable in the categories of Approval, Love and Autonomy.  Close to what I would have guessed, but maybe not an exact match; and this is good to know, since it helps me see where I excel and where I don't.

All in all - a book worth reading for anyone with depression, currently or previously.  It can be one powerful aspect of dealing with it.

Old Filth - Jane Gardam

A few posts back, the one for David Copperfield, I mentioned having seen a book reviewer in Chestertown.  Well, this same woman said that one of her favorite more recent books was one called The Man in the Wooden Hat.  I went to get it and discovered that it's a follow up to this book, Old Filth.  So I figured I'd start with this one.

It's the story of Teddy, or Eddie, or Sir Edward Feathers, or Old Filth...he answers to them all at one point or another.  Born in southeast Asia, sent at a young age back to mother England to be raised there away from everyone he knows, later to become a very well known and well respected lawyer in Hong Kong - this is his story.  From his childhood - well, from his birth, really - all the way through his death.  But not told chronologically...more thematically, I guess you could say.  Or episodically.  Which, to me, makes it all the more interesting.

I enjoyed this book - not just getting to know Old Filth and those around him, but for getting some glimpses into cultures and countries over the span of a lifetime.  I'm looking forward to reading The Man in the Wooden Hat, which I believe is a companion novel, really...told from the point of view of his wife.  I'll let you know after I read it.

Rut - Scott Phillips

This is the latest installment from Concord Free Press, a great idea that's long overdue.  Essentially, they publish a limited amount of each book and give them away - for free.  Then the recipients (such as myself) read the book, donate money to a charity/organization of my choice, log onto their site and let them know where I've donated along with my book number.  Then I pass the book on - again for free - to someone who will do the same.  And we all get to read good books and help others.  I like it.  But go check out their website, they describe it better than I do.

Anyway, the latest book is Rut.  Wow.  This would be a great book for a discussion group, because there are so many questions that I have that aren't answered.  The book is set about 40 years in the future, and something has happened that's pretty much destroyed our infrastructure and has radically separated the haves from the have-nots.  Was it environmental destruction?  Was it climate change?  Was it a war?  It's never stated.  The book takes place in a small town, and we get to know some of the locals.  We get pieces of what this new world is like (and fascinating pieces they are!) and we also get to know some pretty cool people.

I'm tempted to say that Bridget is the main character, just because she's the first character we really get to know, but she isn't.  There really is not one central character; it's about everyone...it's about the town.  And it really is a great story.  In a world where the rules don't always match the ones we have today, I was curious as to what would happen next, and even what was possible.  There was one scene that just really shook me, it was so well done and so - well, so possible.  Which is what makes it scary.

As much as the obsessed-with-details side of me wanted everything explained (what exactly happened? how can people regenerate parts of their body? why is the novel called Rut?), once I let go of my anal-retentiveness (never easy for me) and let myself go in this new and strange world, it was a crazy place to discover.

Don't buy this book - you can't right now, anyway.  But I'll be happy to give it to you so that you can read it, donate and pass it on.  Who wants it?

Mary Ann in Autumn - Armistead Maupin

Oh, I was so excited to see this book in the store the other day. It's the eighth book in the Tales of the City series. I couldn't wait to catch up with some of my favorite people again!

I zipped through this book in one day as I flew down to Charleston. And I loved every minute of it. Spending time with Mary Ann, Michael, Mrs. Madrigal and all of the others...it was nothing short of magical.

One of the things I really liked about the first six books is how the characters grow, develop and change. As we all do. And this continues here. And of course we have some newer characters too. They all just feel so - so true. It's great.

And of course there's some mystery, and some plot twists and connections that I really didn't see coming at all - which made it that much better. If you're a fan of the series, you'll enjoy this. If you're not, well, I don't know what's wrong with you. :-) And if you don't know the series - start from the beginning. It's worth it.

A Yank Back to England - Denis Lipman

I got this book from my friend Kim last Christmas, I believe; her mother is friends with the author.  It's part travelogue, part cultural dissection, part historical information, part family tale.  It's the true stories of Denis, a Brit who has moved to the US and who goes back to visit London and towns near London along with his American wife, Frances.  While there, they also spend time with Denis's family, most notably his parents.

I really enjoyed "seeing" some of the towns outside of London and getting to know the background of them.  It was also interesting to read Denis's observations of the British, being a somewhat removed Brit himself.  Not all of the towns interested me equally, which I think is to be expected.  I think it's a well written exploration, though.

I also was taken with Denis's writing style.  At one point (and I wish I had noted where) I even remarked how he was able to make the act of walking much more interesting just by the different words he used to describe it within the same paragraph.  He also does a great job in describing his parents, and every "Ghrrr" following his father's comments was just endearing.

Another aspect I enjoyed were the snippets and pieces of personal history that come through sometimes, showing what everyday life was like growing up for Denis.  For instance, take this paragraph:

We had electricity, but the supply to our little house in Dagenham was metered.  The electric meter was situated in the hallway, and attached to it was a coin box that took two-shilling pieces.  If we didn't feed the meter, the electric power switched off.  This happened many a night, and if no one had coins handy, one of us would careen into furniture, groping a way through the dark until the "light money" was found.  The light money was kept in an old Rowntrees pastille box, on the ledge on the farthest wall of the kitchen.  Coin in hand, the person sent to "do the light" would feel the way back, patting the narrow passageway until it turned, then shuffling across the hall before colliding with the chair that was always there.


And it goes on in a little more detail like this...which is just fascinating to me.  Makes me grateful for monthly billing!!!

All in all - a really enjoyable book to read.  The only thing is that I ended the book feeling like I know a lot about the towns, the sights, Denis, his parents, some of his extended family...but, oddly enough, not much about his wife or his daughter.  Maybe that's intentional; she's American, and this is about his experiences back in England, so maybe that's part of it - but I feel like I would have liked to know her a little better throughout the book.  Just my opinion.

Anyway - definitely worth a read, especially if you've been to or are interested in traveling to England.

Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories - Mike Birbiglia

First of all, phew.  After coming to this book after reading Charles Dickens, I appreciate Mike Birbiglia in a whole new way.  A very welcome change!  But of course, I already love Mike Birbiglia from hearing him on the radio and having just seen him at the Keswick Theater - where, it just so happens, I got this lovely (signed!) copy of his new book.  And it's a delight.

One of the things that I like best about Mike Birbiglia is his voice.  Not just his actual speaking voice, although that's pretty snazzy, but his comedic voice.  And it really comes through in his writing here.  There were times where I found myself reading slower than I might normally read so that I could read it in the rhythm of how I imagined him saying it.  And I think that that's the sign of someone who knows his voice.

It's a collection of stories, true stories as the title implies...different episodes throughout his life.  And it's awesome.  So my one friend who actually reads this - you know that I can be a bit, well, melodramatic.  Especially when I'm not feeling well.  Which is why this paragraph made me laugh out loud.

     When I was nineteen, my doctor found a malignant tumor in my bladder.  But it's funny - stay with me - because I was a hypochondriac, and the funniest thing that can happen to you as a hypochondriac is that you get cancer, because it confirms every fear you've ever had and allows you to say to your family, "See?  I told you!  Remember last week when I was overtired and I thought I had rickets?  I was probably right about that too.  There are gonna be a lot of changes around here!"


Genius.

So, my friends, if you're looking for some good laughs with some good insights along the way, go get this book.  I highly recommend it.  And Mike Birbiglia - we should hang out sometime.  You seem pretty awesome.

David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

Phew!  I didn't know if I'd make it through this one, but I did.

A little over a year ago, I was at the first annual Chestertown Book Festival, and one of the speakers I had the pleasure of seeing was a book critic for NPR - or maybe the Washington Post.  One of the two.  Anyway, I don't remember her name (or where, apparently, she works) but I do remember that she said that one of her favorite all-time books is this one - David Copperfield.  So I went right out and bought it.  All (almost) 900 pages of it.

I started this book almost two months ago.  It's not fast reading; I couldn't just zip through it.  And as frustrating as it was to be progressing so slowly through such a thick tome, I was enjoying every bit of the story.  Finally, with my being on vacation this week, I was able to really spend time, dig in and give this book its due.  I really got a lot out of it.

Anyone can look up this book online to get an idea of the plot; David Copperfield and his life.  But it's so rich...the number of characters, the interconnectedness of them, the way they fade away and then come back...it's like a tapestry in that regard.  And so many insights into the culture of the time, with some opinions in there on class, poverty, snobbery.  Truly a rich novel.

One of the passages that really spoke to me was toward the end.  David has had a lot of loss in a relatively short time, and has reached a point where he's able to step back and breathe and really start to accept it all.

     I went away from England; not knowing, even then, how great the shock was, that I had to bear.  I left all who were dear to me, and went away; and believed that I had borne it, and it was past.  As a man upon a field of battle will receive a mortal hurt, and scarcely know that he is struck, so I, when I was left alone with my undisciplined heart, had no conception of the wound with which it had to strive.
     The knowledge came upon me, not quickly, but little by little, and grain by grain.  The desolate feeling with which I went abroad, deepened and widened hourly.  At first it was a heavy sense of loss and sorrow, wherein I could distinguish little else.  By imperceptible degrees, it became a hopeless consciousness of all that I had lost - love, friendship, interest; of all that had been shattered - my first trust, my first affection, the whole airy castle of my life; of all that remained - a ruined blank and waste, lying wide around me, unbroken, to the dark horizon.


Yeah.  That's some deep stuff.

If you're looking for a nice light read, this is not the book for you.  But if you're looking to read a classic, a novel that will hold onto you for some time, that you can really sink your teeth into, and with people you'll come to like and dislike - then this is a perfect fit.

StrengthsFinder 2.0 - Tom Rath -AND- Strengths Based Leadership - Tom Rath and Barry Conchie

Okay, first of all, Tom Rath?  If you're reading this, CALL ME.  You are absolutely, completely, 110% adorable and I have a crush on you.  *sigh*

But onto the reason I'm here.  I had lunch with the COO of the company where I work a few weeks ago, and she lent me a copy of Strengths Based Leadership.  The main tenet is that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and as employees (and people), we are more engaged and much happier when we can do things that play to and engage our strengths.  Makes sense!  But we're in a culture where more focus - much more - is placed on weaknesses and "overcoming" or "improving" them.  While it's important to know your weaknesses, it's also important to know your strengths and to be able to use them.  And this book talks about 34 different strengths, and how they fall into 4 different categories: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking.  People's main strengths can fall into any or all of these 4 areas, but may lie principally in one area.  And leadership needs to come from that area and also bring in people with strengths in other areas for things to work as best they can.  It's a really interesting book and a great concept.

So this led me to StrengthsFinder 2.0 - the book that started it all, I think, and the book that comes with a code to an online exam where you can find out your top 5 strengths.  I read the book and took the exam, and - are you ready? - my top 5 strengths are: Harmony, Empathy, Input, Relator and Discipline.  Of these, three fall under Relationship Building, one under Executing and one under Strategic Thinking.  Clearly I'm not all that great at Influencing.  And - honestly - that makes sense to me.  I know what I feel and what my opinions are, but I'm not always great at expressing them.  I offer an opinion but if you don't want to listen, then that's fine.

I don't know that there's anything rocket science in here in terms of finding out my strengths.  But I really appreciated and learned from reading about this idea of playing to our strengths.  And the book and website have a lot of resources (like my personalized 20 page report about my strengths) that I'm going to continue to read and explore.  And, of course, discuss in my next follow-up meeting with the COO.

Babies Ruin Everything - Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr

Aah, the Idiots are back!  Volume XXVIII (that's 28 to you and me) in the Idiots'Books series.  You could think of this, possibly, as a follow-up to The Baby Is Disappointing, and it certainly is related to the birth of their second child.  This volume is written from the perspective of a very little girl who has been an only child, and now finds herself dealing with having a younger sibling.  The illustrations are a break from the "traditional" Robbi, and are more done in the style of a little kid.  And yet Robbi still shines through, like when the pony is pooping on a kid, and with the amount of urine in the pictures.  There's a lot of urine.  A LOT.  And I love every last drop.

Go find the Idiots at www.idiotsbooks.com.  Buy their books.  You'll never regret it.  And it just may change your life.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt

Okay, so I've had this book for, oh, let me think...12 years?  That's right.  Easily.  And I have no idea why I waited so long to read it!  It was a GREAT book.  Based on a true story of someone who is shot to death.  But it's so much more than that; it's a love story between the author and the city of Savannah, Georgia.  And during the book, he made me fall in love with Savannah as well.

The people are so unique, the city sounds beautiful, and what happens is fascinating on so many levels.  He tells the story and lays out his facts in a way that makes it seem almost like a novel, and it's not at all dry and cold facts like some other "true story" books I've read.  He really weaves us into the tale.

A good book.  Go out and read it.

Wild Ride - Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

First of all, I have to announce the big news!  This is the first book that I read on my new Kindle!!!!!  Thank you, Amy, for the wonderful gift and your amazing generosity.  I love it.

Now, back to the book.  Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer have written three books together; this is the third.  I didn't read the first one, but the second one - Agnes and the Hitman - is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read.  This one is not a sequel; it's all different characters in a completely different setting.  And I enjoyed this one as well.  Not as much as Agnes, but pretty darn close.

It's the story of a woman named Mab who is restoring a theme park in Ohio.  Oh, but the theme park just happens to be a prison for demons and home to some people whose life work it is to make sure that the demons don't escape.  Except, well, of course, the demons escape.  And chaos ensues.  And it's so entertaining!  And there's also a bit of a love story in there, too, and maybe a sex scene or two.  It is, as the title says, a wild ride.

Now - as for the Kindle experience - it took a little getting used to, but by the end of the book it felt natural.  I'm not going to say that every book I buy going forward will be on the Kindle.  I truly feel that its main advantage for me will be when I travel.  That said, the price of the books for Kindle tends to be cheaper than buying the actual book.  But then, when I'm done, I can't exactly lend the book to anyone, which is part of the joy of reading a good book for me.  I am amazed at how small and lightweight it is.  All in all, I'm just so excited to have one!!!!!

The Secret Life of France - Lucy Wadham

Scott got me this book for my birthday!  How thoughtful.  It's Ms. Wadham's true story of going to France, falling in love, getting married and staying there.  (She's British.)  But it's a lot more than that: it's more of a cultural analysis and comparison between France and the UK.

Well...I tried.  I was very excited about it, really I was!  But I got about a third of the way through it and it still wasn't grabbing me.  It's a great idea, an interesting concept, but it ended up being a little too intellectual or philosophical or something-al for me.

So - onto the next one.