Beastmomma

I got this from Lorette‘s blog and couldn’t resist adopting it for all of you.

1. Favorite childhood book?
Pippi Longstocking and the Nancy Drew series

2. What are you reading right now?
The Geometry of God and Home Town

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None.

4. Bad book habit?
Getting antsy or worried and scanning ahead to make sure everything turns out "okay." << I am trying to break that habit.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Geometry of God, Hometown, Chess Garden, and Coop.

6. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
Usually one at a time, but sometimes I go for two at a time.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I now have some worry about what I will write in my review and whether a particular selection will fulfill challenge requirements if I am going behind.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
Even though I have not finished it, I am not liking Home Town very much at all.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Lately, it has been pretty frequent because of my membership in various book clubs.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
stories with strong female leads and confrontation of societal problems.

13. Can you read on the bus?
Yes

14. Favorite place to read?
In a comfortable chair with a cold beverage nearby.

15. What is your policy on book lending?
Love it.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Yes

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Yes

18.  Not even with text books?
I do write in textbooks

19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English, but I would like to get better at reading in Spanish.

20. What makes you love a book?
Good characters and great stories.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I love it and believe someone else will enjoy it as well.

22. Favorite genre?
Hmmm... I think international fiction

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
non-fiction on different topics like economics, banking, etc.

Favorite biography?
unknown

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
yes

26. Favorite cookbook?
lately, veganomicon

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I love you but I am leaving you anyway, great story of redemption

28. Favorite reading snack?

Popcorn or cookies

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Not sure

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
About 3/4 of the times.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
Uncomfortable and guilty

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Hindi or Spanish

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Midnight's Children and 100 Years of Solitude

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Pillars of Earth

35. Favorite Poet?
Audre Lorde

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Three

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Almost never

38. Favorite fictional character?
Leah from Poisonwood Bible

39. Favorite fictional villain?
Snape

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
whatever is the latest selection for book club

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
a day

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Committed by elizabeth gilbert

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
television

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
namesake

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
harry potter movies

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
$200

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
about a quarter of the way through

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
other committments or terrible story

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
yes

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
keep

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
no

52. Name a book that made you angry.
eat, pray, love

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
the harry potter series

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
eat, pray, love

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
real simple magazine

From goodreads:

Set in Sterling, New Hampshire, Picoult offers reads a glimpse of what would cause a 17-year-old to wake up one day, load his backpack with four guns, and kill nine students and one teacher in the span of nineteen minutes. As with any Picoult novel, the answers are never black and white, and it is her exceptional ability to blur the lines between right and wrong that make this author such a captivating storyteller. On Peter Houghton's first day of kindergarten, he watched helplessly as an older boy ripped his lunch box out of his hands and threw it out the window. From that day on, his life was a series of humiliations, from having his pants pulled down in the cafeteria, to being called a freak at every turn. But can endless bullying justify murder? As Picoult attempts to answer this question, she shows us all sides of the equation, from the ruthless jock who loses his ability to speak after being shot in the head, to the mother who both blames and pities herself for producing what most would call a monster. Surrounding Peter's story is that of Josie Cornier, a former friend whose acceptance into the popular crowd hangs on a string that makes it impossible for her to reconcile her beliefs with her actions.

Pages:455 (paperback)

Rating: 9 out of 10

Source: Checked it out from my local library

When Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult was selected for a book club meeting, I was curious. I had never read anything by Picoult and was looking forward to finally reading some of her work.  I started the book during bar prep and so most of my reading was done right before bed, first thing in the morning, or on the train into town.  The story really missed with my dreams at night, gave me something to think about during the day, and made the commute to and from the city seem much shorter.  The book is very compelling.  I was instantly drawn into the story and while some of the characters, like Josie's and her boyfriend Matt, were annoying, I appreciated that none of the character's were one dimensional.  I cried every time I read about Peter's mom.  It made me feel ashamed and embarrassed at how quickly I passed judgment on parenting when I hear about kids doing terrible things.  I related to Alex who was a single mom that worked as a judge.  The complexity of her relationship with her daughter and efforts to resolve it were both heart breaking and heart warming.

During the book club discussion, we talked about what makes some kids targets of bullies and how can you predict whether or not your child will become a victim of bullying.  I really loved the parts of the books the depict Peter's friendship with Josie.  I appreciate that she stuck up for her friend.  While I can understand wanting to have an easier social life, I felt annoyed that she dumped him for higher social status.   It also reminded me of high school where I was so afraid of being picked on by the popular kids that I just tried to stay out of there way.  I wanted to know what other strategies people employed to survive high school.   I also wanted to get the perspective of those who were popular in high school.  Unfortunately, the members of the book club claimed not to be popular in high school and the only strategy which was shared was that they made fun of other people in the school.  It made me wonder if the only ways to survive high school are to hide from the popular crowd, make fun of people, or be part of the popular crowd.  If you feel like sharing, I would love your thoughts on high school.

I am counting Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult for the Chunkster Reading challenge.

From TLC book tour website:

Television writer Tracy McMillan managed to work her way into a killer Hollywood career—a privileged world of pool houses, premieres, and big-time producer deals—despite being the daughter of a fur-coat-wearing, El Dorado–driving, smooth-talking pimp named Freddie. But success couldn’t save her from the pattern of self-destructive choices—stemming from her history with her father—that would shape all of her romantic relationships. I Love You and I’m Leaving You Anyway is her comic, tragic, and ultimately victorious story, the riveting true tale of how having a father obsessed with women made her a woman obsessed with men.

Pages: 334 (hardcover)

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Source: Received as part of TLC book tour.

As I wiped the tears away, the first word which came to mind when I finished Tracy McMillan's memoir I Love You and I’m Leaving You Anyway is "Wow."  Her journey to self-love is one that many can relate to even if the specific steps are different.  Throughout the book, Ms. McMillan's humor and insight cut through the pain we experience with her as she leads us through her past. Even though I got frustrated with some of Ms. McMillan's choices, I was cheering for her.  I feel like she spoke to all of us who have come into relationships seeking validation, value, and acceptance.

My favorite parts of the book were all in the chapter entitled, "I love you and I forgive you." I appreciated that she reevaluated relationships from an adult perspective and then gave thanks for what she learned from having all the connections.   One of the most moving moments for me is when Ms. McMillan is saying goodbye to her foster mother June.   She is reunited with one of her foster brother's and remembers how she felt like she was part of something.  It reminds me a little bit of how I feel when I go to my parent's house for Thanksgiving. Even though I get annoyed, frustrated, and try to demonstrate all the ways in which I am different than my family, I am glad to be tied to something bigger than myself. 

I also really loved Ms. McMillan's son, Sam.  His presence seems to ground Ms. McMillan in a really lovely way.  I appreciated all of his questions and answers to many things.  I loved the epiphanies Ms McMillan had about men since she became the mother of a son.  Another one of my favorite scenes is when Sam interacts with Freddie (Ms. McMillan's father) in prison.  It is beautiful to see the two parts of her lives come together and to feel the happiness and joy she has in that moment.

Most of all, I appreciate the hope the book provides. Hope to those of us who seem to be so far behind in the journey of self-love.  Hope to those of us who find it hard to believe that we have not missed our window to finding love.  If I had read the book before I was married, I may have been a little less surprised that my Partner would end up being someone who loves watching nature shows and enjoys eating yogurt rice every day.  Maybe I would have spent less time trying to figure out what was wrong with him and how I could fix myself to be with him.  Instead, maybe I could have enjoyed and trusted the peace I feel around him sooner or enjoy the fact that being with him feels both like an adventure and a safe resting place.  Ms. McMillan dedicates her book, in part, to "[her] fourth husband, wherever you are." << After such a wonderfully written and provocative journey to self-love and understanding of men through her son, I am cheering for her to find a Partner with whom she can have a healthy and fulfilling relationship. 

I am counting I Love You and I’m Leaving You Anyway for the Women Unbound challenge. 

Even though I am very slow with completing books,  I thought it would be fun to track my reading progress each week. The Sunday Salon is  an online reading group where all the participants set aside time to read every Sunday and blog about the experience. To learn more or to join, click on the picture above.

Writing a Sunday Salon post feels wonderful. I have missed participating over the last few months. Preparing for the bar exam was a time consuming and stressful event. Fortunately, the exam finished almost two weeks ago.  Partner and I went to Atlanta to celebrate which was very fun! I got back into reading with two very different selections.

Home Town by Tracy Kidder reads like a very long episode of Praire Home Companion without the funny commercials and variety of voices.  I really enjoyed Kidder's book Mountains Beyond Mountains, so I had high hopes for the selection. I am almost half way through the book and hope it improves.

I Love You and I am Leaving Anyway by Tracy McMillian is a memoir of how one woman comes to terms with her past in order to have better relationships in the future.  At first I was not sure how I would like the book, but I am really drawn into McMillian's story and enjoying her voice.  I got the book as part of a TLC book tour which I will participate in later on this week.

In other reading news, I am hosting an Orbis Terrarum Mini-Challenge. It is a contest that combines food and books.  The first post for the mini-challenge can be found here. 

Hello Orbis Terrarum Readers; I hope that you are enjoying your reading around the world. (If you do not know about Orbis Terrarum; click here for the main challenge blog) For the next six weeks, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: international reading and food.  Each week, I will be writing a post that is a tribute to either food, writing, or food and writing from a particular region.  In the comments, you are invited to share your tribute to any of the above from a particular region as well.  You can either link to your own post or just leave a comment with the information. At the end of each week, I will draw a winner from the comments. I will be doing separate posts for each region, but will have links to my entries below for easy reference.

Here is the travel itinerary; I will post about the first region soon.

1. North America: I wrote a tribute to one of my favorite dishes. Please comment on that entry to be eligible for a prize. 
2. Europe: I wrote about various versions of pesto I have created.  Please comment on that entry to be eligible for a prize. 
3. Asia: I wrote about my favorite Pad Thaid recipe.  Please comment on that entry to be eligible for a prize.
4. Oceana: I need some book suggestions. Here is the post
5. South America: I created a list of South American food staples. Here is the post.
6. Africa: I wrote about enjoying Ethopian food with a dear friend. Here is the post.