Reading is FUNdamental!

Mrs. Mac, you will be proud to know that I have read four books in the last two weeks. COVER to COVER! ...And I'm halfway through number five! With my computer sick with a virus, it was trying my patience too much to wait for pages to load, so I didn't. Instead, I picked up a book. And now I can't seem to stop reading. I've rediscovered that joy!


When I was younger, I was a voracious reader. Stemming, I believe, from the time my Mom took me to the public library to get my very own library card as a "reward" for going to the eye doctor without screaming in fear over those monstrous-looking lens-fitting machines! I mean, come on, what little kid wouldn't be scared to see this multi-eyed monster coming at her?!

Little did I know then that Mom was getting herself off the hook - library cards are free. Borrowing books...free. I was thrilled and Mom and Dad didn't have to fork out any big bucks to buy me some toy as a reward.

Recently, I tried the same tactic on Olivia. She told me that she didn't need her own library card because I have one and she always uses mine. Instead, she wanted to go to The Dollar Store! oy-vey!

She does, however, share my love of reading and reads often - to Brillo Man and myself, to Grandma, to anyone who will listen! I caught her reading to Bentley the other day. I'm not sure he was getting it, though he did have a smile on his face!

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Books I've read in the last two weeks:

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Mistaken Identity by Don and Susie Van Ryn and Newll, Colleen and Whitney Cerak, with Mark Tabb. This book is the true story of two Christian families both of which had daughters who were in a very serious accident. One survived. One did not. However, the one who survived was mistaken for the one who didn't. For five weeks, the Van Ryn family believed the person whom they were helping to care for in the hospital was their beloved daughter, Laura. It wasn't until she was able to speak and write her name that they learned the shocking truth. And the family who buried their daughter, Whitney, discovered that they didn't really bury her...she was alive. This book was very good - showed two families who live with a fierce faith in the Lord. I highly recommend this book!

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The Penny (a novel) by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford. This book is the story of a girl who was abused by her father and I can't help but feel that Joyce may have put a lot of her own experience into this novel. Despite the sadness, it has a happy ending.

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Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu by Lee Goldberg. If you enjoy the television show, you'll enjoy the book. Although I think that the show is better. I needed something light and funny after the serious heart-wrenching subjects of the previous two - this book fit the bill.

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You Know You Should Be Glad by Bob Greene. (no, not Oprah's fitness guru...the Chicago Times columnist) This book is non-fiction - a story of the author and his five closest friends and the journey they take together as one learns he's dying of cancer. Very touching - highly recommended!) Another emotional read by a wonderful story-teller. I'll be reading more by Mr. Greene.

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Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. A novel about a woman who discovers, when the police show up with an arrest warrant, that her father kidnapped her from her mother at the age of four. He had told her that her mother had died. Truth is...her mother spent 28 years looking for her. I'm about halfway done with this one and it's hard to put it down! (I've just discovered this author and I love her writing! And since I purchased five of her books on Ebay, I have the remaining four lined up to read next!)

Also on my list is one recommended by Connie: Sunk Without a Sound - true story of a couple lost while rafting on their honeymoon. And one recommened by Pat: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

Gotta go...the pages are calling my name!!

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They said to him,
"Sit down, please,
and read it to us.
-Jeremiah 36:15

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