Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

I got this book from the library book sale a few years ago and finally got around to reading it. It was definitely an easy read, and since I tend to love historical fiction, it piqued my interests. I now want to take some time to learn more about the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. I had just been raving the other day about how we saved the world and I tend to get irritated when we are always apologizing for being American.  This book helped remind me that we have also made mistakes along the way.  I want to believe that those in power were doing the best they could at the time.  I cannot imagine being in their shoes and trying to protect the people at home while sending thousands of them to die overseas. War is a terrible thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_Japanese_Americans

Back to blogging

I'm baaack! I finished school at the end of July and I've been reading and cooking and I'm ready to be back to blogging these adventures.

 Most recently, I have finished reading The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.  She is a psychologist and he is a conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.  The book is published by Harvard Business School Press and is designed to help anyone, but especially leaders, to think in new ways.  The book is segmented into chapters, called practices:

Talking with my dad, he thought this fell into the realm of "the power of positive thinking."  While this might be somewhat true, I enjoy the opportunity to get out of my box and think more positively.  I think it can go a long way in interacting with others.

I was also inspired to listen to more classical music.  Mr. Zander has a powerful way of talking about the music that makes you want to dive in.  Check out his TED talk.

Health Care Economics

I just finished a Health Care Economics class last week and I found it fascinating. I would take more economics classes if I had the time.

One of the books recommended by the professor is this one by David Goldhill:


I just finished reading it and I think it has content that many in our country should read. I had no idea that there was another way to think about how to pay for healthcare other than the current insurance model.  From both the class and this book, I have learned that we treat health insurance unlike any other insurance we buy (ex: we don't expect car insurance or home insurance to pay for regular maintenance) and that because we expect for health insurance to pay for all of our health care costs, it creates waste and increased spending.  I don't know how we're going to get out of the mess we're in, but it looks like it might bankrupt us.  This book is definitely worth a read if you have the time.

The last of the summer books

Bell Canto

by Ann Patchett

I have heard that people LOVED this book. Then a friend of mine said she never got into it and never finished it. I felt like I finally became interested in the characters about halfway through the book and then then ending was abrupt and anticlimactic (after being heavily foreshadowed). The last chapter was the most surprising, but the reader is left without much in-depth explanation of the feelings and thoughts of the characters after having spent most of the book in their heads.  The book does a great job of character development, but lacks much in the way of action.  I can't say I loved it or hated it, it's just another book to check off the list as read.

Almost met my summer reading goal

I finished Radical last week when I was home with my family.  I read some of the reviews on GoodReads which questioned Platt's theology, but I felt their assessments were unfair and that they were reading with too critical an eye and not enough understanding.  I have been learning a lot with this book and Multiply (by Francis Chan) and The Story about the bigger picture of God's plan and where we (I) fit into it. It makes sense that I was created to give God glory in everything I do. It's not easy, however. I really like, too, that Platt gives practical steps to take to begin living a Radical life and encourages making a commitment to them for a year:
1. Pray for the entire world
2. Read the entire word
3. Sacrifice your money for something specific
4. Spend your time in another context
5. Commit to a multiplying community (the church)
 

One more book complete

 
I finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter.  The writing is very good, but I agree with the reviews of friends who were disappointed with the ending. There is so much sadness in the book and then one of the main characters dies leaving so much unresolved.  The book just kind of comes to an end without any obvious conclusion.  I found the distance between the characters to be reflected in my own life as I read the book. It made me feel distant from the ones I love. I think I need to start reading more upbeat books!

Half way there

I am halfway through my summer reading list (yes, I know I have less than half the summer left).

I finished Gone Girl in June.  For all the rave reviews I've heard and all the weeks this book has spent on the top seller list, I wasn't that impressed.  The writing was good enough that I felt like I was in the heads of the characters, but I didn't want to be in the heads of characters that crazy. It made me begin to feel a little crazy myself.  I just don't have a desire to connect with characters like that!

The Light Between Oceans was my second summer read and I really enjoyed this one!  I have been recommending it to friends at work.  It is hard to talk about it without giving too much away, but I just kept yearning for the characters to do the right thing.  It was one that was hard to put down.

My latest completion was Half the Sky.  This book took me a little while to get through, but it contains a really good message and encouragement to make a difference in the world.  I was inspired to look into several of the organizations and aid projects that the book referenced. I am always amazed at how much one person who is passionate about something can accomplish and there are many stories of influential women in this book. I hope to do something great in my own lifetime as an advocate for a cause that matters.

Summer reading list

I am just now compiling a summer reading list. I should be able to get 2 books in per month for the next 3 months, so I will attempt the following:

1.  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - I have heard so many good things about this book and I've seen everyone reading it so I figured I'd give it a try

2. The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman - this book was recommended to me by the community reading group

3. Half The Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn - I watched a documentary about this book with a friend from work and then she loaned me her copy to read

4. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards - I got this book at the library book sale years ago and I finally started it on my vacation

5. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - I got this one at this year's library book sale. The woman at the check out said it's a good one 

6. Radical by David Platt - this one has been in my reading stack for a while. After reading so much fiction this summer I'll need a book to bring me back to reality.