Gasp!

This is so me

My Story

Last night I finished reading 'My Story' by Elizabeth Smart with Chris Stewart. In case you lived under a rock in 2002, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her bed in Salt Lake City by knife point by Brian David Mitchell. Mitchell was a religious fanatic who believed that he was god's servant. He called himself Immanuel and thought that god had told him to take seven wives- all of which had to be young Mormon virgins. Elizabeth was the first wife that he chose for himself. This is her story about the nine months that she spent in captivity with Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee. She tells about the many horrors that she endured during this time and is pretty open about her experience. This is not a book for a young reader by any means. Some of the things that she talks about filled me with horror and dread. The things that Mitchell made her suffer through are completely inhumane and things that no little girl should ever have to experience. But this is a story of survival and hope. It has a happy ending because Elizabeth made a choice to not let this horrific experience ruin her life. I am amazed at what a strong, successful person she has become. She turned tragedy into triumph. Although this book is graphic at times, I would highly recommend it.

Gulliver's Travels

I have a goal to at least try to read all of the classics. My latest attempt was to read 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift.... I didn't get very far. It kind of makes me feel like a bad reader when I have to stop reading a book, but dang, it was SO boring! I thought that this story was going to be an adventure, but the author is all about facts and measurements. He explained how everything and everyone looked in enormous detail, so much so that I was bored to tears. I tried to get through this book, I really did, but it just didn't work out. There are so many great books out there that I honestly feel like reading shouldn't be such a chore. Kuddos to you if you liked this book and actually got through the entire thing, but this was not the book for me.