reading recommendation: Me Before You

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I'm sure you've seen this book on every "top 10 books of 2015" list like I have, as well as displayed at the front of every bookstore for the last little while. It had been on my list of books to get around to reading for months, and I'm so glad that I finally took the time to start it. (I completely dread starting books. Nothing is harder than those first 10-20 pages!) Once I got into the story though I couldn't put it down. I loved the totally unpredictable - yet completely predictable - aspect of the story, which bumps this novel a step above your regular, old chick flick read. And over time in the story, I loved watching the two very opposite main characters learn to tolerate each in their own ways. This book is perfect for a rainy day in, a day spent at the beach, or for your train ride home from work each day for a week.

Goodreads summary:
Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

26 books challenge: (#2) a book that was made into a movie & (#3) a book you pick solely because of the cover.

Book #2: A book that was made into a movie.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. 

World War II books are a favorite of mine so when I'm able to find a book with a perspective I haven't read before, I'm hooked. Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman then in her 50's, is thrown into prison and later concentration camps for hiding Jews in her house as well as working with the underground organization to place more than 100 Jews in other homes/on farms. Since I haven't read many stories of older women who were placed in concentration camps, much less stories of those who were devout Christians and spread their beliefs to others suffering in the camps, I was rather interested in her experiences.

My favorite person in the book was Betsie- Corrie's older sister who was also arrested and later died in one of the concentration camps. Betsie was so full of faith that everything would work out, showed love toward all- even the guards who made their lives miserable, and stood firm in her convictions. I couldn't help but constantly wonder "Would I have been strong enough to react the same way?"

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking book to read. 

Book #3: A book you pick solely because of the cover.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I gave it 2 out of 5 stars.

I. . .I'm at a loss for words here. I truly don't understand the hype about the book. Sadly, I just couldn't get into the story, I thought it was poorly written overall, and certain situations in the book just didn't make sense. I did, however, like how the author takes the reader through Charlie's struggles, and how the reader is able to pick up on small details that allude to the surprise ending.

currently reading. . . 

Book #4: A book your friend loves.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood 

(Thanks to Miranda for the recommendation!)

reading recommendation: 11/22/63

 11/22/63 by Stephen King

I had never picked up a Stephen King novel before, so this was a new one for me! I also haven't read many time travel books over the years since they're usually over the top and whatnot. However, the fact that this book was centered around the JFK assassination drew me in and did not disappoint (history nerd!). As far as time travel goes, I think this was the most realistic way to approach a story and I actually ended up loved the switches between modern day and the 1960s. The only downside to this novel is that it's pretty long and could have been condensed to 500 pages or so.

(The second half of the story takes place in a small Texas town where people eat pie at local diners while catching up with their neighbors. I desperately want to experience that. ;)

Goodreads summary: Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family. Jake is blown away...but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the era of Ike and Elvis, of big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke... Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten...and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful.

26 books challenge: (#1) a book you own but haven't read.

After posting about the reading challenge last week, I had lofty goals to start knocking out books, but got sidetracked by Working Stiff - the memoir of a forensic pathologist who lived in NYC during 9/11. It was incredibly interesting, made me sick to my stomach at times, and increased my knowledge of the autopsy process by 1000%. However, I don't think I'll be picking up any more pathology memoirs anytime soon!

Moving on to the reading challenge. . .

Book #1: A book you own but haven't read.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

4 out of 5 stars - I really liked it. 

I liked the advice given by cute, old Morrie and think it would benefit everyone to reflect on his aphorisms regularly, but I didn't walk away from the book feeling like my life was drastically changed. While it was short and sweet and I truly did enjoy it, it didn't make me reflect much on my own life. It's the kind of book I can see English teachers loving and asking their classes to write up journal entries about. And I really hated useless writing exercises. ;) 

currently reading. . .

Book #2: A book that was made into a movie.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

26 books challenge.

One of my favorite things is to browse Pinterest when I have a few minutes to kill (e.g., waiting on someone, riding the metro, a lunch break, etc). It's where I get most of my meal ideas for dinners (tried recipes here!), it encourages me to break out the craft supplies every once in a while, and I've found that I'm able to get book recommendations by the handful.

I came across this little book challenge while I was browsing the other day and thought it would be fun to see how many of the books I could get through before baby comes (3.5 months!). I'm aiming for 10, but we'll see how many new shows get added to Netflix if that happens. Eventually I'd love to cross off every single one, but all in good time!

Book #1: A book you own but haven't read...

I've had Tuesdays with Morrie on my bookshelf for almost 6 months now and I'm going into it with high hopes.

reading recommendation: Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomory

When I was 6 years old I was lucky enough to spend a few days with my grandparents at their home in Oregon. Not only did I get my grandparents all to myself, but my grandpa introduced me to Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, for which I am grateful. The two of us sat on the couch with a rather large bag of York Peppermint Patties between us and we settled in for a double feature of Anne of Green Gables followed by Anne of Avonlea, which hooked me from the get-go. Years later I spent a summer (somewhere between the 5th and 7th grades, I believe) reading all 8 books in the series and falling in love with the characters on a whole new level. My favorite, of course, was the first book, Anne of Green Gables. I love Anne's unintentional impish ways and reading about the different scraps of trouble she finds herself in as she goes about doing things with her heart in the right place - for the most part. :)

Goodreads summary: Everyone's favorite redhead, the spunky Anne Shirley, begins her adventures at Green Gables, a farm outside Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. When the freckled girl realizes that the elderly Cuthberts wanted to adopt a boy instead, she begins to try to win them and, consequently, the reader, over.

reading recommendation: The Martian

The Martian by Andy Weir

For starters let's clear the air. I don't read space books. I just, don't. However, after seeing the many, many positive reviews and ratings, I decided to bite the bullet and finally read a space book. (Don't worry- there aren't aliens and it's not sci-fi. Essentially an astronaut gets left behind on Mars and has to survive in extremely bleak circumstances.)

Before making it to the end of the first chapter, I was sucked into the story and wanted to see if Mark Watney would be able to survive on Mars.* I can imagine that if I were in his situation, I'd binge eat all of my food, sit down and cry, and give up all hope. Instead, because he's a man and not a very hormonal 23-year old woman, he quickly establishes his plan for survival and uses his skills as an engineer and botanist to see it through. Making your own soil and growing hundreds of potatoes from a small handful of potatoes? Brilliant. And over time as things start to break and nothing goes according to plan for Watney or NASA, it's incredibly interesting to read the different points of view and see the cycles of hope and despair on both individual and global levels. 

*I feel like if I ever watched TV, I would get sucked into Survivor or any of those outdoor survival shows. Survival stories are fascinating!

Goodreads summary:

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—& a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

reading recommendation: 33 Men

33 Men: Inside the Miraculous Survival and Dramatic Rescue of the Chilean Miners

It's old news that I'm drawn toward historical fiction and non-fiction more than other genres. This true story of the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for over two months was one I couldn't stop listening to. (I checked out the audiobook from my library and listened to it as I sat at my computer at work, did the dishes at home, and even made dinner. I just had to find out how many of the miners survived and how, and the way it was written was fascinating!) I remember finishing the audiobook and feeling a little bit of shame mixed with embarrassment as I realized just how oblivious I was, and usually am, to the suffering of others and wanting to remedy that the best I could.

I found it interesting to hear about the steps taken during those two months--for better or for worse--to keep the men physically, mentally, and emotionally stable, and equally interesting to read about Chile's response to the incident. I appreciated the viewpoints of the miners' family and friends as they waited for the drills to do their jobs and ultimately save all 33 men, and walked away with a greater understanding of how truly miraculous their rescue was. 

Goodreads summary:

On August 5, 2010, at the San José mine in northern Chile, 33 men were entombed 2,300 feet below the earth when a slab of rock the size of a skyscraper sheared off the mountain and sealed shut their only access to the surface. The miners were discovered alive 17 days later, and for the next seven weeks after that discovery, as rescuers sought to bring them to the surface, the eyes of the world shifted to this previously obscure corner of South America. More than 2,000 journalists and reporters flooded in to cover the drama. But despite worldwide interest, the media rarely delved to either the front lines of the rescue or below the surface of the tragedy. Locked behind police lines, most reporters were reduced to months of interviewing family members and politicians. However, award-winning journalist Jonathan Franklin was the exception.

The print journalist with the most extensive access and contacts, Franklin reported, recorded, and filmed from the front row of the operation as it unfolded and, as a result, was afforded unprecedented and unique access to the miners and the rescuers. Now, for the first time ever, he tells their full story in 33 Men: Inside the Miraculous Survival and Dramatic Rescue of the Chilean Miners

Franklin's status as a "local"--he has lived in Chile for 16 years, speaks fluent Spanish, and has six daughters with his Chilean wife--and his 25 years' experience as an investigative reporter provided him access other journalists could only dream of. For almost six weeks he lived on the hillside that served as the rescue operation's nerve center. He sat in on planning meetings, pored over government documents, and recorded sessions between the miners and the psychologists charged with looking after their mental health. He conducted interviews with miners' families, rescue workers, engineers, drill operators, and many others, including President Piñera of Chile. Even before the miners were rescued, while they were still underground, Franklin interviewed them via a makeshift phone that connected them to the surface. "I sat in this container where you could pick up a phone, dial eleven, and the phone would ring down below," says Franklin, who developed such a bond of trust with the miners that they described in great detail the dramatic first 17 days of their confinement. Cut off from the outside...

reading recommendation: Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This extremely quick read was one of my favorite books I read this summer. I think it's one of those books that's a great read for anyone age 10 and older because of the universal truths we all need to be reminded of continuously--it's okay to be different, kindness goes a long way, and family is everything. I basically want to buy all of the copies at Barnes & Noble and pass them out on the streets! (Wouldn't that be so fun?!)

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Goodreads summary:
You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.

reading recommendation: Let It Go: A True Story of Tragedy and Forgiveness

Let It Go: A True Story of Tragedy and Forgiveness by Chris Williams

I'm always amazed when others who have suffered truly devastating grievances are able to turn the other cheek and wholeheartedly forgive their offender. I absolutely loved reading this story of Chris Williams' healing and forgiving process, and "watching" his understanding of very personal, intimate gospel truths grow. It's impossible to walk away from this book without a deeper gratitude for life and a resolve to be better.

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Goodreads summary: On a cold February night in 2007, a devoted father of four and a seventeen-year-old drunk driver both received life sentences. In one violent, devastating instant, both faced a drastically different - and uncertain - future. But as Chris Williams sat in his demolished vehicle, staring at the car that had just caused the death of his wife, his unborn baby, his eleven-year-old son, and his nine-year-old daughter, he committed to do something extraordinary: he would forgive.

That decision launched Chris on a journey toward healing that impacted his family and friends, the young man who had caused the accident, and an entire community - a community that would face another deadly tragedy just a few days later.

Chris's message of empowering forgiveness is an invitation to all who have suffered, however unjustly, to lay down their burdens and let it go.

reading recommendation: The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

I laughed out loud at least 10 times collectively while reading this on the metro each morning and afternoon for a few days. And it was totally worth the sideways glances and even the full-on head turn accompanied by a quizzical look from a very small, old woman. The author did a fabulous job of invoking all the emotions; it was sweet, heartbreaking, hilarious, embarrassing, and even enraging at points. But. I couldn't love more how it brings to light the fact that people often surprise us--usually for the better.

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Goodreads summary: In this Newbery Honor-winning novel, Gary D. Schmidt offers an unforgettable antihero. The Wednesday Wars is a wonderfully witty and compelling story about a teenage boy’s mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967–68 school year in Long Island, New York.

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

reading recommendation: In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

Disclaimer: I love history.

This was a book I had saved for the holiday break a few years ago because I knew I'd become hooked and completely disregard normal life until I reached the end. I've never read Moby Dick--gasp--but this incredible true story of heartbreak and triumph inspired Herman Melville's tale. I love reading and learning about historical tragedies and struggles because of the strength and courage that comes to light when people are put in truly difficult circumstances. And this novel did more for me than simply teach me about a historical event. I walked away from the book feeling encouraged and inspired to face my own storms in life because of the way the group of young men came up with solutions to survive and focus on their end goal.

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Goodreads summary: In the Heart of the Sea brings to new life the incredible story of the wreck of the whaleship Essex—an event as mythic in its own century as the Titanic disaster in ours, and the inspiration for the climax of Moby-Dick. In a harrowing page-turner, Nathaniel Philbrick restores this epic story to its rightful place in American history.

In 1820, the 240-ton Essex set sail from Nantucket on a routine voyage for whales. Fifteen months later, in the farthest reaches of the South Pacific, it was repeatedly rammed and sunk by an eighty-ton bull sperm whale. Its twenty-man crew, fearing cannibals on the islands to the west, made for the 3,000-mile-distant coast of South America in three tiny boats. During ninety days at sea under horrendous conditions, the survivors clung to life as one by one, they succumbed to hunger, thirst, disease, and fear.

In the Heart of the Sea tells perhaps the greatest sea story ever. Philbrick interweaves his account of this extraordinary ordeal of ordinary men with a wealth of whale lore and with a brilliantly detailed portrait of the lost, unique community of Nantucket whalers. Impeccably researched and beautifully told, the book delivers the ultimate portrait of man against nature, drawing on a remarkable range of archival and modern sources, including a long-lost account by the ship's cabin boy. At once a literary companion and a page-turner that speaks to the same issues of class, race, and man's relationship to nature that permeate the works of Melville, In the Heart of the Sea will endure as a vital work of American history.

reading recommendation: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

My mom recommended this book to me a few years ago and it's become one of those books I (without fail!) recommend to friends and co-workers whenever they're looking for a light, endearing read. To be quite honest, I gush about it. It's easy to when it only takes a day or two to plow through, it showcases how life was post-WWII, and the characters keep you laughing for quite some time. I hardly ever read the same book twice, but this one's an exception. :)

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Goodreads summary: “ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

good reads: volume 3

1 // The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans
Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful. 

Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition. For the next eight weeks—until the evening of December 24—he suggests that they pretend to be a couple. He draws up a contract with four rules:

1. No deep, probing personal questions
2. No drama
3. No telling anyone the truth about the relationship
4. The contract is void on Christmas Day

The lonely Elise surprises herself by agreeing to the idea. As the charade progresses, the safety of her fake relationship begins to mend her badly broken heart. But just as she begins to find joy again, her long-held secret threatens to unravel the emerging relationship. But she might not be the only one with secrets.

Synopsis from here.

This clean chick lit book is perfect for anytime of year and a great read if you're looking for something light and fluffy. I actually listened to the audiobook and didn't mind the narrator's voice.

2 // Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Quite the opposite of The Mistletoe Promise, this book goes much deeper than surface level topics. Everyone I know has been raving about this book so I decided I'd take some time to see what it was all about and found myself mulling over specific quotes from the book for days. I enjoyed reading 50 or so pages at a time and thinking about it in sections instead of reading it straight through.

Outliers delves into the question "what makes high-achievers different?" and focuses primarily on where successful people come from instead of on their habits. Gladwell touches on influences like family, culture, upbringing, etc. and explains the secrets of certain stereotypes.  

3 // Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.

Synopsis from here. 

Personally, I think this is a great read for any age!

4 // 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass
I didn't realize until I had finished the book that this was book #3 in a series, but I didn't think that reading this one out of order was confusing. Another quick, light read, this cute YA book has a few twists that will keep you on your toes.

After getting into trouble at school, Tara is shipped off to live with extended family in a small town for the summer instead of traveling with her parents to Madagascar for a research project. Tara feels like it's a chance to start over and finally make some friends, but gets into trouble and finds herself working for an old lady in town by collecting unique items from other townspeople. With a series of unexpected events, you won't be able to predict how Tara's 13th birthday plays out!

Read any good books lately?

good reads: volume 2.

With no evening classes this semester, I've been diving into books like they're going out of style. And Netflix . . . but, you know, that makes me sound lazy. ;) I'm really into listening to books right now which works well with my schedule and my need to always multitask. (Shout out to Ben for this wireless speaker that follows me all around the house as I do chores.) Over the last few months I've come across some fun and quick reads, and some more serious, heavy reads that I'd recommend to anyone.

(Find volume 1 here.)

1 // Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

Synopsis from here.

Side note: After coming home from Christmas break, I decided that I wanted to listen to the books on tape as I walked to & from work and did stuff around the house. I finished the series in a few weeks after realizing how much better the books are than the movies. It was fun to read the series as a kid/teenager, but the second time through was even more fun as I picked up on the small details and caught more of the references.

2 // Bossypants by Tina Fey
If you're a fan of Tina Fey, you need to read her book. Tina takes the reader through her childhood and details how she got started in the acting/comedy business, and ends with her latest few endeavors. Of course, she'll have you laughing all along the way. I especially loved her thoughts on true beauty, balancing motherhood and a career, and how not to plan a honeymoon!

3 // We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Three cousins (and their friend) spend each summer on their grandfather's private island with the rest of their extended family. There's tension between different family members and eventually an accident occurs that affects the whole family from that point on. Together, the four teenagers reveal to the reader what exactly happened as they work through the truth and lies.

4 // Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman

Recently arrived in Calgary, Alberta after a long, hard journey from Boston, sixteen-year-old Katherine Mary O’Fallon never imagined that she could lose her heart so easily—or so completely. Standing over six feet tall, with “eyes so blue you could swim in them,” Mike Flannigan is a well-respected sergeant in the Canadian Mounted Police—and a man of great courage, kindness, and humor. Together, he and his beloved Kathy manage to live a good, honest life in this harsh, unforgiving land—and find strength in a love as beautiful and compelling as the wilderness around them…

Synopsis from here.

5 // Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane's bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant's name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he'd been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will. Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

Synopsis from here. 

Read anything good lately? I'm always looking for recommendations!

10 books I love.

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy // Let It Go by Chris Williams // Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand // East of Eden by John Steinbeck // The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows // The Help by Kathryn Stockett // The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin // The Awakening by Kate Chopin // In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick // The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

I'd write a bit about each book if I wasn't feeling lazy and if the internet didn't already provide you with a million reviews. Instead, I've provided links to each one where you'll find a synopsis. ;)

Happy reading!

fall book swap.

Hello, hello!

Those of you who have stopped by before know that I have an affinity for reading. I probably spend too much time browsing eBay and Amazon--or even digging through thrift store bins--in order to find new books. But no matter how many books I search out and purchase myself, the fact remains that some of my favorite books I've ever read have been gifted to me by family or friends. I'm hoping that by hosting a little book swap, you could discover a new favorite book, too.

Additionally, the hospital I work at is in desperate need of children's books to be used for entertaining kids while they wait for appointments, for speech therapy sessions, and for volunteers to read to young patients. For each person that signs up to participate in the book swap, I'm planning on purchasing and donating a children's book to the hospital library. So spread the word and let's see how many people we can get involved in the book swap and children's book donations!

1. Fill out this form with your basic info by Friday, October 24!
2. I'll shoot you an email (using the email you entered on the form) by Monday, October 27 with another person's name and address that you'll be sending your book to.
3. Drop one of your favorite books and a little note in the mail by Monday, November 3 at the very latest! (It's under $2.50 to mail a book through USPS.)
4. I'll be hosting a link-up on Wednesday, November 19 so you can share a post about the book you received if you feel so inclined!

Please note:
// Limited to U.S. only.
// New or used books are acceptable.
// Keep it clean, please! (No pornography, excessive swearing, drug references, etc.)
// Only sign up if you're willing to mail out a book.
// Your address will only be seen by me and the person who mails you a book.

good reads: volume 1.

I wish I could show you a picture of my nightstand without getting embarrassed. But because it's messy and cluttered, I'll paint you a picture instead. On it you'll find a lamp, my glasses, a box of tissues, a bottle of lotion, some hair ties and bobby pins, my scriptures and Primary lesson book, and a tower of books. Books from the library, books I've bought on Amazon and eBay, and books borrowed from friends. Sometimes this tower of books gets so big that I have to strategically place the books so they don't topple over. Some of the books at the bottom of my pile have been sitting there collecting dust for a few months because I find new books that I'm really excited about. Eventually I'll get to them.

If you're like me and constantly on the lookout for new and interesting books to read, check out these books.

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Set in the Deep South in the early 60s, this book delves into the issues of racism and inequality through a young woman wanting to change the way things are. Meeting with maids behind the backs of their employers, she records their nitty-gritty stories in an effort to put together a book to bring attention to the issues at hand. You'll laugh at times and you'll cringe at times, but you'll want to keep reading through the night to soak it all in. Pretty sure I won't be able to look at a chocolate pie the same way again. ;)

2. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Yes, 14-year old girls across the country are probably dying over this book. I'll admit that I skimmed over the high school romance stuff in the book, and was more interested in the car accident and hospital stuff. This book posed some interesting questions and thoughts about comas and whether we get to choose if we stay or go when we're in limbo, and I couldn't stop thinking about it all for a few days after I had finished the book. I'd highly recommend this as a quick read for when you need to kill 2-3 hours (e.g., on a flight, waiting at the dentist, etc).

3. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
I found this book to be highly captivating since it's a true story. Susannah was fresh out of college and new to the workforce when people close to her noticed that she was acting less and less like herself. Starting with paranoia about her apartment being infested with bugs (even after an exterminator came out and found absolutely nothing) and escalating to being so out of it mentally, she was hospitalized with no diagnosis. Being passed around from doctor to doctor, and eventually to another hospital completely, she lived for weeks with a mental illness that continued to worsen. The book chronicles the experiences of her family and friends, as well as the security tapes from her rooms, and the faint memories that Susannah was able to hold onto.

Check out this page to see what else I've read lately. :)

the first weekend of october.

We filled our weekend with Chinese food, BYU football, General Conference, a girls night/Priesthood session, more General Conference, apple pie, and a game night with friends.  It was a great break!


Favorite one liners from conference:

"Through repentance, you can qualify for all the blessings of heaven."
Elder Quentin L. Cook

"They can be a heaven sent blessing to you."
Elder Russell M. Nelson, in regards to missionaries

"There's something in each day to cherish and rejoice in."
"Have we not reason to rejoice?"
"We cannot take for granted one single day."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Lessons taught at home are becoming increasingly necessary."
Elder L. Tom Perry

"No trial is so large that we can't solve it together."
Elder Neil L. Anderson

"Thy will be done, and in thine own time."
President Henry B. Eyring

"We are surrounded by those who need our kindness, service, support, example, and love."
Sister Linda K. Burton, quoting President Thomas S. Monson

"Did you love me?"
"The crowning characteristic of love is loyalty."
"We have truths to share and good to give.  We can't quit and we can't go back."
"The call is to come, stay true, lend a hand, and love God."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"The opportunity to be a blessing to another often comes unexpectedly."
"The Lord is in the details of our lives."
President Thomas S. Monson

(Insert cliche mormon picture of notes and apple pie :))

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On an unrelated note, guys, I need more books to read.  I'm begging you to leave one book suggestion for me in the comments.  Anyone and everyone!

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