Back On The Happiness Trail

I am once again reading "The Happiness Project". Kathy convinced me to keep going and so I did... now I am really enjoying it. I am in mid-August and just enjoying most of what she has to say. I am not doing her thing but just enjoying reading it. I may go back and try some of her ideas when I finish reading. It WAS a good pick, Christie. Thank you for an enjoyable read and a chance to share it with you!

Why are You Balling???!

That's what Mike said when he came in the house yesterday afternoon as I sat here reading "The Sweet By and By". Thanks, Christie. The book was really good but such a tear-jerker!
Any of us who have had to spend time with either old people or in a nursing home or both will relate to the book.

I'm not sure what book is next. It took quite a while to pick up and read this one. but it was really worth it.

Oh heyyy

So I know I've been completely absent from here for a long time, but mostly it's because I haven't been doing much reading this year. Since I've been in Creede, I haven't done much sitting around of any kind; I'm either working or outside or doing something other than spending time in my room. But now that the weather has improved, I'm likely to spend time outside reading. I did just finish reading Water for Elephants for the second time. I loved it just as much this time around as I did the first time. If you haven't read it yet, do it. It is excellent. The only other reading options I have are two books I bought at a store that was changing owners and the new owners were getting rid of everything from the old place. I'm not sure which one I'll start with, but the two books are: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and The Gentle Tamers: Women of the Old Wild West by Dee Brown. If I make any progress on either of them, I will be sure to share my thoughts on here.

Goodbye Shire

I FINALLY finished The Lord of the Rings. It was an excellent book - filled with long sentences and words that were sometimes hard to digest, but really an awesome tale. It is so fascinating to me that Tolkien created this new world, with various regions and powers, and even new languages. He not only gives you the three books of the story, but over a hundred pages of Apppendix to add to the meaning and depth of his characters and lands. And although I haven't seen the movies in awhile, I feel like they kept so much stuff out! So, as is usually the case, the book far exceeded the wonder of the movies.

Next I'm going to read something a little less intense: Thursdays at Eight by Debbie Macomber. It's a book Grama gave me about a group of women who meet once a week to discuss their lives and their stories. I'm sure it will be one of the women-oriented books I enjoy so much, and hopefully much easier to get through than the long saga of J. R. R.

Rings and Happiness

Oh my goodness, I've been meaning to write all week, but haven't had a moment!

Grama, I'm sorry you aren't enjoying The Happiness Project, but I really like it. I guess it's because I'm closer to her life place than you are. I've underlined quite a few of her thoughts that I've enjoyed and I am motivated by some of the "projects" she worked on. I related to quite a few of the struggles she has, like desiring appreciation or at least recognition when she does things - though I'd rather give up that need for the good of the team than the good of myself. I also got some ideas for things I'd like to incorporate into my life, just for the pure goodness of them and maybe extra happiness will come too.

In addition to The Happiness Project, and some other books sporadically, I am also reading The Lord of the Rings. It's taking forever, of course, but I am really enjoying it. It's a fascinating book and you just get drawn into the characters and places. Sometimes I wonder if I'd like it as much if I hadn't seen the movies, which give me faces and such to put to things, but truly, the book is still awesome regardless of the movies.

Me

No, not ME, but "Me", a collection of stories by Katherine Hepburn. Sweet and nostalgic. Easy to read, and kind of funny in spots. She wrote like I speak, in round robin story telling format. You know, how I start off on one topic, and go off on a tangent only to come back to the original topic about the time you forgot what I started with... Just some fun.

As for "The Happiness Project", I thought about joining you ladies. However, I am working through Simple Abundance, and figure one of THOSE books is enough for me. :o)

AS FAR AS I GOT

I have read as far as May. I have not found it particularly helpful or interesting. The focus for the last 2 months has been work........... I am about ready to retire, so I could give a poop....and children. Since my babies are now middle-aged and my grandchildren are producing their own generation of the future i also felt quite disconnected from that chapter too. the May chapter is on play.... we will see how it goes. Sorry Chritter but this book ain't what I thought it would be....

The Happiness Project

Hello family!

The book Grama and I are reading this year (for Christmas), and Mom is joining us, is The Happiness Project. I waited until the paperback came out and just received my copy. We are going to start with the chapter for March... since it's March.

If you're interested in joining us, get yourself a copy of the book and get started! We'll be discussing the book here on the blog, though the format of that is yet to be decided. I suppose it will just happen as it happens!

I hope everyone is enjoying some good reading!

Update

I finished The Master and Margarita a couple weeks ago, before we went home for the Fair. I enjoyed it, mostly. I was a little surprised by how much it was about satan. I thought when they said Margarita sold her soul to the devil for love that it was just cliché, but the book was actually about the devil’s presence in Moscow. Of course, a lot of it had political undertones, portraying Moscow at the time the book was written, but as I have no education about Moscow’s history, I was unable to read it with that perspective and was therefore left with the author’s incredible imagination regarding the devil and his entourage. Parts of it were uncomfortable to read, but like other things, I took it as fantasy and was just fascinated by the author’s portrayal of the ultimate bad guy and his gang of hooligans.

Right now I’m into several books. In the morning, I’m reading Power of a Praying Wife if I have time after devotions. During the day, particularly at work, I’m reading Writing Down the Bones. It is excellent so far and I’ll definitely keep it as a reference, and exercise guide, when I’m done reading it straight through. At night, before bed, I’m reading The Scarpetta Factor. I wanted something easy and relaxing that doesn’t get my brain jumping to be creative, and Patricia Cornwell fits that bill.

The Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett

One word: Awesome!

Listening on cd, and really loving it. I will be disappointed when it is over.