The Little Paris Bookshop

"The Little Paris Bookshop", by Nina George, was a book of the month from my book club. It is about a Frenchman, Jean, who re-purposed a boat and turned it into a book store. Jean is a "pharmacist" of the literary world. He listens to people's problems and then prescribes a book that he thinks will help them through it. Jean is also a hypocrite of sorts. He is still mourning over a long lost love, the one that got away, and instead of dealing with his pain, he shoves it into the back of his heart and mind and continues on as an empty shell of a human being. For over twenty years he has become an expert at feeling nothing. His life is routine, he does not let anyone get close to him, he doesn't even really have friends. In his mind, that is the only way to keep his heart safe from being pulverized again. One day, an unexpected letter appears and Jean is forced to confront his past and set out on a journey of self discovery.
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I was really excited to read a book about "book love". Connecting with a character through the shared love of the written word is one of  the ultimate "nerding out" euphoric experiences for me. It is why I love Hermione and Belle so much. While I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the book, the plot fell a little flat for me. Maybe I just have not met these kind of men in the novel, but I personally have never experienced a man who cries so much. And it wasn't just the protagonist either. The emotions felt by all the men in this novel were just not realistic to me. I suppose I could have believed one "sobbing" melt down, but the continuous, raging emotions felt by all were over reaching. After so many crying sessions you really just wanted to scream, "suck it up buttercup!". It did have its moments of delight however, and I am glad that I read it at least once. If nothing else, it gave me some wonderful book recommendations and definitely lengthened my "To Read" list.
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"Often it's not we who shape words, but the words we use that shape us"
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"A bookseller never forgets that books are a very recent means of expression in the broad sweep of history, capable of changing the world and toppling tyrants"

The Glass Castle

'The Glass Castle' is a memoir by Jeannette Walls. She colorfully describes her childhood with her alcoholic father and her eccentric artist mother, two sisters, and one brother. The Walls family is often moving from place to place, and is often homeless, sleeping in the dessert. The parents label their trials as "adventures" and the children must play the game of acting as if they are having a grand time and on a wild adventure, instead of what they really are: cold, dirty, and hungry. Often times it is the children taking care of the parents, each other, and themselves. There are moments of happiness and childlike wonder of course, but for the most part, they have to grow up rather quickly. This story is heart-breakingly beautiful. Walls is a true storyteller and takes you on quite the narrative. I had a hard time putting this one down and found myself reading late into the night, just praying for a happy ending. 

“One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect it from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. "You'd be destroying what makes it special," she said. "It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty.” 

Re-reading a book

Encountering Life in a New Way

LOVE

"I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me. "

-Allegiant by Veronica Roth-

Book Smell

NERDS

The Remarkable Soul of a Woman

Today I was in the mood to read something uplifting. So I read 'The Remarkable Soul of a Woman' by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the general presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

In this book President Uchtdorf explains that there are two ways to make yourself feel happy. One is by doing charitable service for others, and the second is by creating. Now, I must admit, that sometimes I feel like the least creative person on the planet. There is a certain quote that I read just after such thoughts crossed my mind. He says, "You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before- colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter." I just  loved that quote. Who knew that family memories and laughter were actually a type of creation? And come to think of it, they may be some of the best kinds of creation.

This book takes all of ten minutes to read, its that short. But it honestly would be a great little gem to have on your shelf for those days that are going down the crapper. When you are feeling blue and need a little encouragement just whip this little book out and become enlightened and encouraged.

I Cannot Live Without Books

A Good Book Teaches...

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
Henry David Thoreau

English Hard!

Live More Than One Life

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins, has become a national phenomenon.  And like all phenomenons, there is bound to be some controversy. In case you don't know anything about this series, it is about a futuristic country that includes the capitol and thirteen districts. There was a time when the districts rebelled against the capitol and to prove their power the capitol initiated something known as The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games requires two children, a boy and a girl, from each district to be put in an arena and fight to the death. The last child standing wins fame, fortune, and best yet- extra food for their district for that year.  One guess what the controversy is over... You got it. The kids killing kids part. And of course that is absolutely awful! But to me, that is kind of the point. It should shock you. It should make you stop and think. It should make you question your government instead of following along like a mindless robot. And I think the biggest lesson of all, is that kids should NOT hurt one another. It has been said that these books model our society- and I must admit, I agree. How many violent games are there? How many gangs involve too many kids? And remember how we are in the middle of a national bullying crisis? Violence has become socially acceptable in our society and I feel like these books kind of draw us out on that. These books teach, inspire, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you skip meals because you literally cannot put them down. Suzanne Collins is an amazing author and she deserves credit where credit is due. The movie is indeed incredible, but nothing beats the books. So read it and decide for yourself. And I would love to hear your opinion on this series!

“Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when it's morning again, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.” 

Book Hangover

I experience this ALL the time!

The Beauty of Literature

Happiness

A Potter Generation

This blog of mine would feel pretty empty without a tribute to Harry Potter somewhere. We are the Harry Potter generation after all. No one else, past or present, can say that they grew up with Harry. The first book came out when I was ten years old, the last, when I was twenty. I was 14 when the first movie came out and 24 when the last movie hit theaters. These books and movies were one of the strongest influences in my world, at the time of my life when I was discovering who I was, while I was learning to leave my childhood behind and become an adult. Just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I really did grow up with them, and somehow, they became my friends too. Unlike some book fads that have gone around where everyone was jumping on the bandwagon left and right, Harry Potter is actually GOOD literature. J.K. Rowling is a genius! All of her twists and turns, and being able to connect the last book to the first one is incredible. You know she didn't just sit down and write the first book without thinking about how the rest of the series were going to turn out. I think she knew, or sort of knew, how it was all going to end by the first books publication. She is an amazing author that captivated not only audiences of all ages, but all over the world as well. Harry Potter has been published in over 200 countries and has been translated in over 65 languages! These books really are universally loved and cherished, and if you haven't read them yet, then now is the time to start. I promise you that you will get so much more out of the books than you ever can from the movies. Don't get me wrong, I love the movies, but the books are just so much more.... magical. 

"Whether you come back by the page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." -J.K. Rowling-

WE ARE THE HARRY POTTER GENERATION.

we defended the stone,

we found the chamber,

we freed the prisoner,

we were chosen by the goblet,

we fought alongside the order,

we learned from the prince,

we mastered the hallows.

WE OWE IT ALL TO J.K. ROWLING ♥ 

C.D. Quote

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
-Charles Dickens-