Modoc by: Ralph Helfer

This book was awesome. It took me far too long to read, but I blame that on starting the book right before a hard semester of college. However, I finally did it! It really is a touching story and even better because its based on a true story. I wish I had that type of connection that Modoc and Bram have with someone. It seems unstoppable.

Baby Proof by: Emily Giffin; Heart of the Matter by: Emily Giffin; Love the One You're With by: Emily Giffin

I have finally finished the five book collection by Emily Giffin. I didn't feel it necessary to create respective blogs for each book because they are generally very similar.

All books were very easy reads all the way through, very entertaining.

All books contained controversial topics that arise in everyday relationships. But, usually, these topics are usually dealt with the stereotypical responses. Spouse is cheating?? Dump the bastard!!! Old lover comes back into your life?? Ignore the bastard, didn't deserve you then, doesn't deserve you now!!! However, life is more complicated than this and Emily Giffin has really captured all sides of each scenario in every book. You end each book not being able to really hate any of the characters no matter what transgressions have occurred.

The lesson I have gathered from these books is that life isn't perfect; there is no cookie-cutter way to deal with any situation in life. Every person is unique, every relationship is different and is only known by those involved in the relationship. Follow your heart... without forgetting what is important in life.

Bossypants by: Tina Fey

The one thing I've noticed about books written by comedians (and this is only my second (first was, "You Say Tomato, I Say Shutup"), so my conclusions are not stastistically significant) are that I can't fully appreciate them. The beginning of Bossypants was really funny! because I could totally relate to it; I laughed out loud about the part where Tina discussed when she first got her period. There was a time when I first got my period. So, I totally understood, related, laughed.. oh you, Tina Fey, oh you! However, I am not married, living with anyone, have any kids, or approaching forty. So, while I can appreciate the rest of the book, and I still laughed; after all, it's written by Tina Fey, I didn't quite feel it as much as I did in the beginning.

I think I highlighted a few things from the book, lets see:

"When choosing sexual partners, remember: Talent is not sexually transmittable."

"Two peanuts were walking down the street, and one was a salted."

"In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way."

"The person closest to actually achieving this [the perfect woman] look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists."

"Bored, I tried making out with Victor Anthony, a straight kid who was cute but kind of wang. He was the Cream of Wheat of making out. I would try it every now and then, thinking maybe I'd like it, but every time: no. He really was a stunningly bad kisser. It was as if e took a running start at your mouth."

"But the Rule of Agreement reminds you to "respect what your partner has created" and to at least start from an open-minded place. Start with a YES and see where that takes you."

"Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don't just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles."

"We should leave people alone about their weight. Being skinny for a while (provided you actually eat food and don't take pills or smoke to get there) is a perfectly fine pastime.  Everyone should try it once, like a super short haircut or dating a white guy."

"We should leave people alone about their weight. Being chubby for a while (provided you don't give yourself diabetes) is a natural phase of life and nothing to be ashamed of. Like puberty or slowly turning into a Republican."

"You can't be that kid at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute."

"It will never be perfect, but perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring on live TV."

Belong To Me by: Maria de los Santos

This is the second part to "Love Walked In." I wouldn't necessarily call it a sequel, I mean technically it is, but the story, the life that happens, in this book is different. I don't know how to explain it.

First of all, I'm obsessed with the way Maria de los Santos has written this book, everything about it: the different perspectives, the way it all first starts out as different stories; unique, individual, different stories that always tie together somehow, someway to be this one, complete life. Like all these little puzzle pieces adding up, with its own personal shapes, to create a huge finished puzzle. Its just beautiful.

Second of all, I'm obsessed with Cornelia. I'd like to hope I'm something like her. When I read these books I feel connected to her. She's different, but okay with it. She's completely nerdy to the point where strangers, people that don't really know her, have no idea what she is talking about when she speaks. But, she is so Cornelia that people can't help to love her. I am in no way saying this is me. I am just saying that I definitely respect Cornelia's character and if I had to choose somebody to be like, I'd hope to be like her.

Cornelia and Teo's relationship is something (that although I understand its fiction) is something I can only hope to strive for, to hope to have one day. I think I'm so content being single because I won't settle with my forever.. my forever WILL be like Cornelia and Teo.

I don't know why but these two novels certainly found a way to nudge themselves into my soul, my brain... to become a part of my life; just like the Art of Racing in the Rain. And, I love that about novels. That's why I read, because its continues to help me grow, to see things from so many different perspectives, to know more than I ever thought I could. Once a person opens themselves up to be a sponge and soak in all that life can have (good and bad) you have an infinitely high ceiling of growth. Its endless, and I forever will try to reach the end.

Oh yeah. One thing I forget to mention about Cornelia, what I love about her and what I try to do is this: The way she talks about the bad, about the flaws, the struggling, the hard times, the negative in her life. EVERYBODY has it, everybody's personal journey is different and their own and no one can take that away from anybody. But, there are so many people that choose to let this take them over. They let the negative affect them negatively. Which makes sense, after all, it is negative. But Cornelia doesn't do this (okay, maybe once or twice, after all, she is fictionally and metaphorically human). Instead she acknowledges it and owns it. Yes, her life isn't perfect nor yours. Yes shit goes wrong, as your shit, too, goes wrong. But, that doesn't mean she or anybody needs to be babied, pitied, coddled, or complicated as too make them feel like the bad doesn't exist. No matter what you do, or what you say. The bad is there. So just accept it and don't make it mean more than it already does. I can't explain it well, I don't think. You'll have to just read the book and understand what I mean.

As always, here are some of my highlighted parts of the book:

"Never again would birds' song be the same. And to do that to birds was why she came." -Robert Frost

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." -Carl Sagan

"Wasn't at least the possibility of forever the whole point of everything?"

"We think our parents are in charge, right? Like they know what they're doing? But the truth is, they're making it up as they go along, just like we are. Just like everyone. If we judge them by their worst mistakes, they're all, like, gargantuan failures. Maybe you should try judging your mom by her intentions, by whether she, like, loves you and is doing her best."

"Yes, pain is abominable, a nightmare, but pain reveals, when we'e had to throw all else overboard, what is left in our personal sinking boat."

"But I've found that if you insist on goodwill, if everyone insists on it together, goodwill comes. I've found that love can be a decision. Forgiveness, too."

From the desk of Heather Marie

After a long line of book reviews I thought I'd do an update on my life:

It is still summer, so I am enjoying my first summer without summer school in four years. It is delightful!! I miss my book club meetings with Amy already! It was so lovely having intellectual, girl time. I can't wait until we catch up on our novels and get to have a skype book club. I am trying to look for a second job. I need to get a car... my '95 Honda Civic is slowly but steadily getting ready to be replaced. I'm thinking a Toyota Camry, something practical but nice. So, just trying to save as much money as I can. Trying to focus on the gym, I was going really good there with the cardio for a while, but I have been in a funk for the last week and am not motivated to do much cardio and of course, that's what I need the most! Indoor is going well, I wish we played more challenging teams so I could work myself harder; nevertheless, I am so thankful to be playing still. I love the game and it will always be a part of me. I am still single and still okay with it... still too much of me I am working on to worry about much else. When the time is right, it'll happen. I have faith. I wish I would start going to church more again. Work scheduling got me out of the habit, it would be nice to get going again, at least every once in a while. I can't believe that Aubrey (my long life best friend) has been married for a year already. Time goes by so fast! As I mentioned earlier, I am enjoying my summer without school, but I am getting anxious for school to start again. I still have some time, but my fall schedule is going to be challenging and I just am ready to take it on and get it over it! I want to do so well thus I need to be motivated from the get go. I can't lose sight of my goals. I live each day to improve myself and I think it makes me a better person for it.

Work has been crazy lately. EDC is in town (tonight is the last night) and there have been a TON of crazy people (no offense) in town for it. It makes work interesting. I have made a new work friend, Jake, he seems like a nice guy. That's what I love about work, it has opened me up to a lot of new and amazing people.

The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff

It is important to remember that this book is fiction, although, based on a true part of history. As a Catholic, this book was pretty interesting for me to read because I learned more about the LDS faith. It was interesting to see, from this novel's narrative, the perspective that the modern LDS have on the Firsts. This book opens a lot of questions regarding the faith... however, which religion has all the answers?... none! I am not trying to offend anybody, so I choose to keep my opinions intra-personal on this particular subject. I will just state my opinions based upon the novel as a whole.

It took me a really long time to read, and I am usually a pretty quick reader. Parts of it would capture my attention and other parts (mostly the parts that regarded historical references) I would tend to get sleepy and bored while reading. Nevertheless, I finished it and feel more knowledgable for it. Unless one is a devoted reader or very interested in the LDS faith, in particular, the Firsts, I wouldn't recommend reading this novel because, for me at least, it took a lot of dedication to get through.

Here are some notes I highlighted from the novel:

"As poison enters a well, contamination must follow."

"If only the unfaithful heart could act with originality!"

"Last year when my grandma fell and broke her hip she couldn't paint her toenails anymore. So my grandpa started doing it for her, even after he fell and broke his hip, too. For me, that's love."

"You should be careful about saying "I love you" too much. If you don't really mean it the words will lose their value. But if you do mean it, then you can go ahead and say it all the time."

"That's what the desert's about: solitude. It's a test. A test to see if you can stand yourself."

"What do I consider myself now? A man attempting to be good. In this endeavor I have no use for church and steeple. If another man does, I only wish he finds what he needs."

"Who's to say what will come next? Who can say they know what it all means? You got to live with it. The not knowing. The wondering. The unanswered questions. The murk of life. You got to accept it - the why."

"Rage is a candle, it will always burn out."

"I believe most men, even the greatest, can offer salvation only once in their lifetime; for if he succeeds (and most men do not), he will overestimate his powers and thereafter will behave recklessly."

Sarah's Key by: Tatiana de Rosney

This novel is very intense. It tells the story of France's (Paris) role during WWII and the Holocaust. It was extremely powerful for me because I had just spent two weeks in Europe, which included visiting Paris, so it was very weird to read the events and be able to picture it in my head. Books like these are never really easy to read, but they are worth it and people need to be aware and know the horrors of what took place. When I visited Germany, we went to a concentration camp. There we learned that every German student is required to visit a concentration camp before they graduate. I found this very interesting. But, it is so much a part of Germany's history that it makes sense. As I was visiting the concentration camp, I thought to myself, I feel so much for all the suffering and people that died here; but, could you imagine being a survivor.. and having to live everyday bearing on your heart, shoulders, and soul what you lived through? Nothing about anything that occurred during this part of our world's history is okay, and I don't think there is anyway that the world will be able to think about these events without becoming emotional.

This novel was not just a historical novel, but it also had a personal familial relationship tied into the plot that also opened up interesting controversial topics that, sadly, many couples face today. The ending was not amazing, but it satisfied me. I think it was appropriate because as I said before, there is no making it okay, there is no getting over it, there is no forgetting... so, there is no way you can really end this novel with a blunt period, more like an airy breeze that lasts for only a second but leaves you lingering with both the comfort and shivers of it all.