NATIONAL COFFEE DAY and MORE...

Well, it's another rainy Monday here in Durham but after a great cup of coffee I'm doing well. As you probably know, today is National Coffee Day!  I found out via FB early this morning, so I planned my errands around my trip to Dunkin Donuts to get my complimentary medium cup of dark roast coffee. Unfortunately, DD is several miles away so I rarely get down there, but it's the nearest DD to our house and is located near Duke Medical Center. I didn't go during rush hour, of course, so I didn't have to wait at all! I always expect the worst whenever I hear that something is "free" but this trip was a breeze and worth the trip.

 I've been known as a "coffee snob" so I have a mental picture of coffees that I've had in various restaurant chains. Dunkin Donuts is my favorite restaurant coffee, followed by Bob Evans, Ihop, and Cracker Barrell. Fresh ground is always best, so at home I'm currently grinding my Costco coffee beans (the 2 lb bag with cat eyes on the front). All I really know about this coffee is that it's from Guatemala. Incidentally, when I was in Guatemala a few years ago and the family that I stayed with didn't even serve coffee at breakfast! So, early each morning, I walked a few blocks to the town square of Antigua so that I could buy a cup of coffee. Then I headed back to the house to have breakfast at 7 am. But I digress. I do hope that you've had at least one great cup of coffee today! I'll continue to be a coffee snob and refuse to drink instant, decaf, or McDonald's coffee. It's one of my simple pleasures.

In thinking about coffee, this leads me to think about books. There is no better aroma to me than the smell of fresh coffee, books, and newspapers. How can this aroma be described? I can't think of any great adjectives, but you know what I mean. When I walk into a bookstore where coffee is sold I purposefully inhale and take it all in. Wow - it's a warm, cozy feeling that helps me to leave my personal woes at the door.

Today I was thinking about the books that I've read that are in a series. I've had the opportunity to read books in a series such as the books of James Herriot (All Creatures Great and Small, etc.) and C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia). I've also read multiple books by the same author such as seven books by Barbara Kingsolver, two books by Chaim Potok (My Name is Asher Lev and The Gift of Asher Lev), two by Vickie Myron (Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World & Dewey's Nine Lives), two by Haven Kimmel (A Girl Named Zippy & She Got Up Off the Couch), John Irving (A Prayer for Owen Meany & The World According to Garp), Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man), and others. I read the series books when I was a child. I greatly enjoyed the stories of James Herriot who was a country veterinarian in the U.K. The Chronicles of Narnia were written by the great Christian author, C.S. Lewis and are filled with symbolism of spiritual truths. For me, I couldn't read just one book by each of these authors because they went together. I read the other books that I've mentioned simply because I enjoyed the first book SO much that I just had to read more books by the same author.

And now for the next five books in my card catalog. During the past 30 years I have also read:

 The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer

Midwives by Bohjalian

A Marriage Made in Heaven or Too Tired for an Affair by Bombeck

Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom

Save Karyn by Bosnak

Apples and Oranges by Brenner

Have a beautiful week, wherever you are.

-Melissa

 

Author Signings and More

"God's world is very large, a world we should always explore, to comprehend the problems of troubled people who may be hungry for what we could offer. It's like eating peanuts - if we can decide to be adventurous and generous once, it may be hard to stop!" - Jimmy Carter, Living Faith, 1996.

                                          Bath, United Kingdom, 2014 (look very closely)

We have lived here in Durham, NC for 18 years now. I remember the year because our daughter had just turned three years old, and she will soon be 21. Time sure flies - that three year old is now a junior in college. During these years I've had the opportunity to attend several author readings that were very inspiring and inspiring. The first one that I attended was held at the Regulator Bookstore on Ninth Street. I can't remember the title or the author's name, but I remember meeting in the basement of the bookstore to hear the author read selections from her book about her loss of her child. That was in 1997. The next book signing that I attended was also held at the Regulator. This time the book was a children's book, Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. That year the Durham Public Schools gave each elementary school child a hardback copy of this book, so I took my daughter to get her copy signed. I think my daughter was in First grade at the time. I guess I was subconsciously trying to influence her in the area of reading, but I never really had to do that because she does enjoy reading today. I knew that our Saturday night family trips to a restaurant and Barnes and Noble were starting to pay off! When our kids started to buy books with their own money, I knew we were headed in the right direction.

I greatly enjoyed the opportunities to see Frank McCourt, Jimmy Carter, and Rabbi Harold Kushner on a person level, because I had read several books by each of these men and I found them all to be very inspiring. I remember how I stood in line to get the autograph of Frank McCourt at Durham School of the Arts. There was a large crowd there, and after McCourt spoke, we were allowed to get his autograph. At that time, I believe he had only written Angela's Ashes (also a feature film), and 'Tis. Years later I also read his book, Teacher Man, about his years as a vocational school teacher. The fact that McCourt somehow survived his upbringing in Ireland and went on to become a teacher and an author still amazes me. He stole the money for his passage to America when he was a teenager.

I've read several books by Jimmy Carter including Living Faith, An Hour Before Daylight, and Christmas in Plains. I hadn't planned to see Carter at the Regulator but my neighbor, Maureen, said I could get in line with her to see him. In order to see Carter, you had to go to the bookstore in advance and get a number. Only about 1,000 people were allowed to enter the small, crowded bookstore that night. Carter had just come out with his book, The Hornet's Nest, so he was there to promote it. I took several copies of his books to get autographed, and that Christmas I gave my father and father-in-law one of these treasured books. We weren't allowed to shake Carter's hand (secret service were everywhere!), but we could hand an agent our books who proceeded to hand the books to Carter for autographing. I'll never forget when Carter said hi to me and added, "Thanks for coming." Wow - that meant a lot! I took a few quick pictures of Carter, and a man behind me asked if I would email him a picture. I did that the next day. Honestly, I only read a few pages of The Hornet's Nest because I found it to be terribly boring, but I give him a lot of credit for trying his hand at a historical novel. I think he should just stick to non-fiction because his life has been so amazing and world-changing.

In 2003 I had the opportunity to see Rabbi Harold Kushner at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. My friend, Allison, and I went to hear him talk about his latest book, The Lord is My Shepherd. Kushner is probably best known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People (1978). This book has been translated into many different languages and has been seen at grocery-store check-outs. After Kushner spoke, I quickly walked over to his autograph table and got his autograph! I was the first person in line. In the front of my copy of The Lord is My Shepherd he wrote "Best wishes to Melissa - Harold Kushner." His books had meant a lot to me for a very long time, and I couldn't believe I was standing near a man whose theology I so greatly respected.

So...now for my next five books from my file boxes that I've had since 1984. Here goes:

1. Three Short Novels by Wendell Berry, 2002
2. The Nazi Officer's Wife by Beer, 1999
3. 1,003 Great Things About Getting Older by Birnback, 1997
4. Please Stop Laughing at Me by Blanco, 2003
5. On the Prowl by Block


I'm still reading The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street and look forward to discussing it with all of you soon. In the meantime, I'm striving to be adventurous and generous every single day. Leave me your comments on today's thoughts. Let me know what you think, what this reminds you of, etc. I'm looking forward to having some dialogue with you.

-Melissa

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." -Thomas Jefferson

This summer I was able to realize one of my dreams, to visit England and Scotland for the first time. My husband I got to see many amazing castles, churches, memorials, and cities that helped us to paint a picture of some of the history that we'd previously only known through books and teachers. I'm always ready to learn something new, to do something that I've never done before, and to meet people who are different from me. I think Jefferson nailed it in this quote. Yes, there are many events in history that no one wants to repeat, but there were also glorious days that we may wish we could return to, a time when life was less complicated and people took the time to talk to one another. Still, I would really rather live in the present with a hopeful dream for the future of my family and my country. Obviously, none of us wants to repeat the sad, deadly events of the past. So let this be another gentle reminder to you...always have a dream before you so that you are always looking forward and not dreading the past.

On to our topic of BOOKS! Since my last entry, I can proudly say that I completed the LONG book, Paris: The Novel. Yes, I read all 805 pages but my enthusiasm was fading somewhat toward the end. Still, I enjoyed following several different colorful characters through various decades in the history of Paris. Some of the characters met well-known people such as Hemingway, Picasso, and Monet. These characters live through epidemics, the French Revolution, and Hitler's regime. I also learned a little bit about Charles de Gaulle, the French general for whom the large airport in Paris is named (CDG airport). If you are interested in French history I think you will enjoy this book.

Earlier I wrote about one of the best novels that I've ever read, Cutting For Stone, by Abraham Verghese. I would put this in the top 15 books that I've ever read. This is the book about twin brothers who were born in Ethiopia. Have you read this book? If so, what did you think? I would love to read your comments. I found it to be an amazing story of charismatic characters who loved each other deeply and who also loved the poor, suffering people of their country. This is the only novel that I've ever read about a nun who gave birth to twins and died in childbirth, leaving the father's identify a deep mystery. It's an intriguing plot with powerful characters.

I hope you're keeping up with my card catalog list of all of the books that I've read since 1984. Somehow, throughout various moves, I still have the two card catalogs. I recently had to buy a third plastic file because the first two were too full. It would be easier to put these books on a spreadsheet, but when I started the list I didn't own a computer and didn't know anyone who had one. So here are the next five books in my card catalog:

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank.
The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank
Death of the Soul by William Barrett
The Work of the Minister of Education by Will Beal
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

I neglected to mention in earlier entries, that when I talk about the best books that I've read, I believe that the Holy Bible is the greatest, most important, and most life-changing book that has ever been written. It comes before all of the other books that I've ever read because it is the guide for all people on earth to live their lives, regardless of the language spoken or time in history. In other words, the Bible is for ALL people throughout all of history. It has probably been translated into more languages than any other book. In a day when people are searching for hope amidst chaos, suffering, sadness, and evil, the Bible has something to say that will encourage and guide everyone who reads it. When I read the Bible, I see how God has encouraged His people, and I know that He will surely rescue me as well, encouraging me all along the way.  This is a statement of faith, and people who acknowledge their "spiritual-ness" will also receive this hope through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is very, very powerful.

The book that I started today is The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman. My good friend, Anita, recommended this book, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it so far. It is a story of an immigrant and how she made it in America, so since I enjoy historical novels, I'm sure this one will not disappoint! Can't wait to dig deeper into it. Incidentally, this book is not out in paperback yet, so get it on your kindle or try to get it from the library.

It's officially Fall now, so enjoy it! I'm looking forward to a beautiful, cooler week here in North Carolina. I would appreciate any feedback that you can give me about my blog, so please leave me your comments when you have a chance!

-Melissa

"Rainy Days and Mondays"

Do you have the spirit of adventure? Do you long to have new experiences?  We certainly had adventures this summer in England and Scotland. Do you like to visit unfamiliar places and try unusual foods? Do you like to challenge yourself to tests of physical strength and endurance? I would definitely say that I am an adventurous person. Sometimes I'm would even call myself a "restless spirit." I get easily bored with the mundane aspects of life, but the wheels are always spinning as I think of new things to do and to try. I like the words of George Mallory. He said "For the stone from the top for geologists, the knowledge of the limits of endurance for the doctors, but above all the spirit of adventure to keep alive the soul of man." I hope you're having an adventure this week. It doesn't have to be something big. Just do something that you've never done before. Or do a familiar task in a new way. Do something more fun, more fulfilling, more imaginative than what you did yesterday. There is always something to reach for.

Last time I wrote about the book Unbroken about the WWII survivor. That is one of the most incredible and inspiring stories that I've ever read. Don't be too disappointed when the movie comes out in December - book lovers know that the book is always better.

I've been listing books from my card catalog. This is a list of books that I've read since 1984. The next five titles are:

Something for the Pain by Paul Austin, M.D. (local author here in Durham, NC)
The Idea of Revelation in Recent Thought by John Baillie
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Recently I was asked to list the ten best books that I've read without giving it much thought. So, for my unscientific list, I'd like to list the following as my top ten:

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (she sent me a form letter but it had her signature!)
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
How My Mom Raised 10 Kids in 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan
Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish (she replied to my email!)
Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel (also from Durham, NC!)
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Granted, these books vary in genre. A book's primary purpose might be to make you laugh, to inspire you, to provide you with words that are beautiful, or to give information. I should make at least two lists, fiction and nonfiction, because the two genres often vary in purpose. For simple enjoyment and inspiration, I highly recommend the following biographies:  How My Mom..., Little Heathens, and A Girl Named Zippy. My top three fictional works are The Poisonwood Bible, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and Edgar Sawtelle. But there are many books still to be written (hooray!) and many more to be read, so my favorites could change in the future.

Last time I stated that I would tell you about a book that I read a couple of years ago, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. This novel is about twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone. They were born to a nun,  Sister Mary Joseph Praise, in Ethiopia. I consider this a great novel because it weaves the story of this family from the birth of the boys to their adulthood when they finally solve the mystery of their paternity. The reader grows to know and greatly admire the missionary medical staff at the Missing Hospital of Addis Adaba, Ethiopia. Each character is carefully developed by Verghese in such a way that we feel that we know them or would like to know them. But the great mystery everyone wants to solve is, How did such a godly nun become pregnant? Who was the father? And who was to take care of these boys and to protect them during great political upheaval in Ethiopia?
 I consider this to be a great novel, the type that you don't want to put down, because many of the characters are very admirable and often mysterious. But the main reason that I consider it to be a great novel is that it discusses the important themes of relationships, love, self-sacrifice, and pride. Read it and let me know what you think.

It's still raining here in Durham, NC on this September Monday, so why not get out your book? Don't forget to let me know what your top ten books are, but don't think too much...just write down ten titles that you really enjoyed. And do something that you've never done before!

Hasta luego...Melissa
 

Weekend thoughts...

"I dream that one day I would be a published writer and people would read my books - if not, I would be living in the mountains in a small hut, near a pond where swans swim, writing a diary for myself." (Srindhi.R).

It would be so fun to retreat to a mountain house this weekend, but although I don't have such a place to visit, I do get to do something fun this weekend. Tomorrow I'm riding to my daughter's college with a friend whose son also attends there. I last saw my daughter just 2 weeks ago, but I'm looking forward to taking her some muffins and other things and just spending some time with this amazing creature who warms my heart every time that I see her. A day trip to Boiling Springs, NC will be great. I wish it were a little closer though - the 3 1.2 hours one way is tiring but can be done occasionally.

Have you ever dreamed about writing a book of some kind? Many of us who love to read also would like to write a book. People like us have a lot of thoughts to share because we are thinkers who contemplate on many subjects. Although some of my Bible study work for teenagers was published in 1993, I would also like to write some other type of work such as poetry, magazine articles, or something else. If you were published, what would be your genre? I would love to have your thoughts on this. I'd also like to know WHY you have thought about writing this.

And now...the next 5 books in my card catalog of books read since 1984:

The New Lottie Moon Story by C. Allen
I Gave God Time by A. Anderson
Alias Grace by M. Atwood
, by Laura Hillen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

What are your thoughts on these books? Like or dislike, and why? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

I heard recently that one of my favorite books will soon come out as a movie, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. This book is am amazing biography of Louis Zamperini, a survivor of WW II. The book is undoubtedly a better rendition, but I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. Louis Zamperini survived as a POW against unspeakable atrocities, and he found his way to genuine peace and joy. Have you read the book? If so, what did you think? Do you plan to see the movie this Fall?




In my next entry I'd like to discuss a great novel, Cutting For Stone, by Abraham Verghese. I'm looking forward to reflecting on this book that I consider to be a very sound and complete novel. It should definitely be on your reading list. Until next time...keep on reflecting....