Book #5: Marley and Me

I'm crossing books off my list like mad woman! Marley and Me was not my first choice for book number five, but after 80 pages of the other book I was bored to death....just in time for Marley and Me to be delivered to my door!

John Grogan's Marley and Me is my life. "Worlds Worst Dog." Miley and Me flows off the tongue just as easily as Marley and Me!

I laughed out loud when John described Marley eating flowers...five minutes earlier (I swear!) Miley was trying to eat the flowers that were delivered to me. Keep the trash can on the table? We do that too! Maybe Miley isn't the worlds worst dog! And my puppy is just as sweet at the puppy in the book.

This was such a great book about life with a dog..and falling in love with a dog. Even when John read that unstable dogs should be put down...I recognized myself in him. A dog is a mans best friend, they feel the same we do, and can not be put down because they have too much energy.

I'm in love with this book. I read most of it while snuggling with Miley on the couch and when I cried she looked at me like "hey, stop that...I'm not going anywhere for a long time!" I recommend this book to all dog lovers and fans of the movie. I loved the movie but the book is deeper....and better.

Book #3: If I Am Missing or Dead

Maybe I should change the goal...instead of one book a week, it should be atleast one book a week. With last weeks southern snowy mess...I read more than one. I think I'll exceed my 52 Book goal...we'll see! But for now, here's the list. It's constantly growing and changing!

Before I review this book, this is the summary of the book I found online:

In April 2002, Janine Latus's youngest sister, Amy, wrote a note and taped it to the inside of her desk drawer. "Today Ron Ball and I are romantically involved," it read, "but I fear I have placed myself at risk in a variety of ways. Based on his criminal past, writing this out just seems like the smart thing to do. If I am missing or dead this obviously has not protected me..."

I would say this is actually not what this book is about. I expected the book to start with the letter...but instead, it's not. If I Am Missing or Dead is a memoir written by Janine Latus. It starts when she is a child and ends as an adult. This book is raw, emotional, and unedited. Janine endures decades of abuse by many (if not all) the men she encounters in life. She doesn't know it...but her sister, Amy, is going through the same thing.

I liked this book. But I feel weird for liking it. I feel it's like saying I like the pain these two women went through. But obviously that's not true...this book is written almost as a warning to other women. It's remarkable that this woman was able to write this, but even more remarkable that she had survived this.

I found this review of the book from the author of Food and Loathing (also on my reading list.) This described my feelings exactly.

Janine Latus' memoir of domestic abuse depicts two life journeys: Janine's own escape from a violent boyfriend and her sister's tragic death at the hands of one. Both stories are powerful cautionary tales that shine a bright light into the darkness of domestic abuse. There are no heroes here -- just real people whose bravely told stories could save lives.
Betsy Lerner, author of Food and Loathing 

You Inspire Me: One Step at a Time

This weeks inspirations come from Stacie at One Step at a Time. Stacie seems like such a sweet person, and she's one of the few people out there who doesn't have a Facebook! Be sure to check out her blog!
 

Stacie's movie recommendation was Brokedown Palace. I've always heard of this movie but have never seen it. So one night while Danny was at work, I sat myself down and popped the  movie in!

Alice and Darlene take a little summer vacation to Thailand, but their parents think they are in Hawaii. While they are there they befriend a guy named Nick...and are soon, to their surprise, they are caught smuggling drugs. After Darlene signs a fake confession they are sentenced to 33 years in prison. As the girls friendship falls apart, so does their legal case.

I really liked this movie, especially the ending...it is a true story of real friendship. I recommend this flick!

For her book recommendation she said she liked The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson. I decided on the prequel Danger in the Shadows. I've never heard of it...and I'll be honest I wasn't really looking forward to reading it.

Sara is afraid and falling in love all at the same time. The FBI protects her, she writes children books, and has to change identities constantly. You need to read this book to figure out why!

I really liked this book. I read it in less than 12 hours (I love snow days!) It was such a simple, easy book to read...and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I liked Sara, but at the same time she bugged me. I know something awful happened to her but she acted YEARS younger than 31. The other thing I couldn't figure out, "why is it called The O'Malley Series?" I guess I'll need to read the rest of the series to figure it out!

Stacie's food recommendation was amazing. She doesn't cook, she eats whatever her hubby makes! So, I stepped out of the kitchen while Danny made me dinner! He made me some super yummy olive and pepperoni pizza! YUM!

Great recommendations Stacie! I'll be honest, I didn't think I was going to like the book or the movie. Thank you for proving me wrong!

Book #1: Decision Points

So, as you know...one of my goals for 2011 is to read one book every week. I've made a huge list based on all of the recommendations I've received. I'm 110% in love with swap.com, I'm  currently waiting for eight more books to come in the mail. I'm running out of room in my bookcase!

To kick of this year filled with reading, I read Decision Points by George W. Bush. I'm a huge sucker for GW. I remember in high school I used to tell everyone I wished he was my grandfather because he just seemed like such a fun guy! In college my Roomie had one of those "GW-Vocabulary" posters (what college student didn't?!) and used to "pick" on me for being a fan! I believe that he is a great person even though I wasn't a big fan of his politics (or any politics for that matter....)

Decision Points was really good....atleast the first part. I liked reading about his childhood. I really liked reading the part where he killed his sisters fish by putting vodka in the fishbowl...reminded me of when I put two beta fish in the same tank....me and GW...kindred-fish-killing-spirits. I liked reading about his decision to quit drinking, even though most critics that this chapter was unnecessary. I felt it shaped the whole book.

I know absolutely nothing about politics, so I found myself skimming through the pages where he was name-dropping. Yea, I've heard the names on TV, but I need a face to actually remember who they are. There are at least a thousand names in this book! I liked the chapter on Afghanistan but Iraq kinda bored me.

I liked how he talked about real people and how "regular" people shaped him. It's so easy to see him as a person and not just a president.

This is a great read...I read the first half really fast. But then it got kinda slow for me. So, I made a game out of reading the book....read it like GW talks. Makes it veryyyy interesting!

And for the record, this book isn't going into my swap.com account! That's how you know I liked a book!

Goal #1: Reading

One of my goals for this year is to read one book every week. This is a work in progress list and will change often. Also, the books are not in the order that I'm going to read them. Thanks to swap.com for making reading so cheap. Recommend something to me!

1. Decision Points by George W. Bush (Started on 1/3/11 finished 1/9/11)

2. A Kiss of Shadows by Dee Henderson (Started 1/10/11 finished 1/10/11 YES, the same day!)

3. If I Am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus (Started 1/11/11 finished 1/12/11)

4. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult (Started 1/18)

5. Sense and Sensibility

6. An Italian Affair

7. Chicken Soup for the Military Soul

8. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

9. The Long Road Home

10. Water for Elephants

11. Marley and Me

12. A Thousand Splendid Suns

13. Something Borrowed

14. Under the Banner of Heaven

15. The Thirteenth Tale

16. Anne of Green Gables

17. The Last Song

18. The Choice

19. At First Sight

20. Three Weeks With My Brother

21. The Wedding

22. Food and Loathing

23. Shopaholics Takes Manhattan

24. Danger in the Shadows

25. French Letters

26. Assholes Finish First

27. Notes from a Small Island

28. The Lucky One

29. Stuffed: Adventures of a Restaurant Family

30. Blind Man's Bluff

31. Kite Runner

32. Skinny Bitch

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52