Amazon amazes

So I went online to buy some cd's from Ray LaMontagne - if you're not familiar with his music then youtube him. Just something about his music moves me.

Anyway - so I checkout, pay and Amazon provides me with a thank you screen and "other customers who made this purchase also like...." and the recommendations are:

1. Outlander - a book I want to read
2. This I know Is True - a book I've read and loved
3. Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies - I'm currently reading her book "Unaccustomed Earth"

So you tell me - does Amazon got this data mining thing down to a science or what. They really do know what I like - hahaha.

Book Series - Chronicles of Narnia

So I finally finished all the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I read them in 'reading order' and not publication order. When Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - he never expected to write any other books - that's why if you actually want to read the series you should start with The Magician's Nephew.

Anyway - I decided to read the books because I was tired of waiting to watch the movies in order to figure out what happens! Yes, these are children's books so they're really easy reads. Most of the time I was doing one book a day....but the stories in each of them are really great. Lewis' descriptions of places, people, and emotions are quite intense - especially in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I only wish I had read these when I was younger...but back then I was into "Island of the Blue Dolphins" and the "Boxcar Children Series".

Graduation May 2009

Wicked by Gregory McGuire

Wicked by Gregory McGuire introduces you to Elphabala also known as the Wicked Witch of the West....who is she and how did she become so wicked?!

So we read this book for our ebook club in Facebook. I didn't know what to expect of the book...but of any expectations, it met none of them. The book was heavy on the political and sexual side. Though the story was good - there were plenty of sections that kept you scratching your head...and some questions just remained unanswered at the end. Was I thrilled by the book? Definitely not. Was it finishable? Yes.

McGuire has some follow up books to Wicked such as "Son of Witch" that help answer some questions you may have had in Wicked...though I probably won't be reading any of them. If you want to see the musical, I think it would be helpful to read the book first.

It's been awhile....

So I've been bogged down by graduation planning, hosting, and guest entertaining...but I did manage to get some reading in. Unfortunately, it wasn't for the book club which is now on My Sister's Keeper and Wicked!!!

However, I did start the Chronicles of Narnia series. I never read the books growing up but love the movies and I can't wait every couple years for the story to finish. So I went and got the books. I finished The Magician's Nephew and am now starting The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

For those of you not familiar with the Narnia series, Lewis didn't think he'd write anymore books about Narnia after his first published book The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; however, he ended up writing LOTS more books. So to get the full effect you read them in chronological order - not publishing order. What is the chrono order?

1. The magicians nephew
2. The lion, witch, and wardrobe
3. The horse and his boy
4. Prince caspian
5. The voygage of the dawn treader
6. The silver chair
7. The last battle

They are VERY easy reads but entertaining nonetheless.

Upcoming posts:
-grad ceremony and party pics

The Shack by William P. Young

The Shack by W. Young is a work of FICTION. The end of the book may confuse you but don't be alarmed...it's simply fiction. I think its supposed to be like the Da Vinci Code where the media might be able to hype it up and gain audience interest (in the event a movie is ever made).

Anyway, this novel is about a man who after a horrible family tragedy is summoned to the very place of the 'accident' through a letter from God. So Mack (short for Mackenzie) will travel to this place of his nightmare to reconcile the darkness in his heart and his relationship with God. Yes at the shack Mack will meet God in real life.

The book was really interesting and different. The descriptions are very vivid in both your senses and emotions. If you're deeply religious then some of the ideas in this book will be very touching. If you're not I think the ideas behind it can be applied in other aspects. It's not a long read; however, at some points the conversations with "Papa" can be quite confusing - when He explains some of the concepts of living completely in God, etc. But if you stick with it then you might find something that touches you.

The Alchemist by P. Coelho

The Alchemist is the 2nd book I've read by Paul Coelho. This book takes place in Andalusia/Egypt as Santiago - a sheep herder attempts to discover his 'personal legend'. After having the same recurring dream twice, Santiago is persuaded to follow his personal legend into the great desert of Egypt. As the book progresses Santiago meets many new people along his path while you wonder, will he ever make it to Egypt and find his treasure?

When I went to pick up the book I was surprised to see how small it was. I figured an award winning novel would have to be some big fat book. Well once I started this book I wasn't able to put it down. The story of Santiago offers some lessons of life that we too often forget while we slave away to our bills and job. The Alchemist reminds us to follow our dreams and those that do will find that life rewards them. It speaks about how hard it is to give up what you know and do in order to pursue you life's goal - which will cost you a lot in the beggining but reward you greatly in the end. We're also shown how most of us will never aspire to our 'personal legend'. I think everyone will find this book thoughtful and inspirational. A lot is packed into this short read.