DUKE OR KENTUCKY: Who will I pull for?

"March is a month without mercy for rabid basketball fans. There is no such thing as a "gentleman gambler" when the Big Dance rolls around. All sheep will be fleeced, all fools will be punished severely...There are no Rules when the deal goes down in the final weeks of March. Even your good friends turn into monsters." Hunter S. Thompson, BrainyQuote

This week I thought I would begin my post with my reflections on March Madness yet again, namely, THE FINAL FOUR IN INDIANAPOLIS this coming weekend. Both of my men's teams made it to the Final Four, Kentucky and Duke, so I may be forced to choose just one. For now, each team must win one more game to make it to the championship. I think it's safe to say that Kentucky and Duke despise each other, so they will really get worked up if they meet in the championship game next week. I'm not sure when all of the hate talk began, but it may have started when Christian Laettner of Duke hit that half-court shot in the championship game many years ago, that unbelievable shot that got Duke the big win against UK. I've been listening to trash talk on both sides this week, thanks to facebook and one-on-one discussions, and it's been very humorous. I find it funny that fans refer to their teams as "MY Cats" and "MY Devils." I just don't get it, but it's funny. When they say that they are really pledging their allegiance and support to their team, I get it, but it's not as if they are out there on the court too. But I don't blame them for feeling a sense of pride for their team, a team that might be close to where they live. If you live in Kentucky you are either a Louisville fan or a Kentucky fan, but in North Carolina you might choose from among at least three teams: NC State, UNC, or Duke. So, it's a little more complicated in NC. In the last three games,  I will yell, I will have snacks, and I will celebrate for either Kentucky OR Duke, as long as at least one of them makes it to the championship. I'm sure that MY Cats and MY Blue Devils will not let me down. I sure hope that none of my friends turn into monsters!

Since this is a blog about books, I will get on to the topic at hand. I'm not officially reading anything right now, but I'm thinking about re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird. What do you think? Do you have any other suggestions? I discussed Some Luck by Jane Smiley last week a book about life on a farm during the depression. Yesterday I finished listening to a book on CD in the car, V is for Vengeance, by Sue Grafton. The main character is the same one that Grafton uses in many of her mystery books, Kenzie Millhone. She is a young single woman who always seems to have a good sense for solving crimes in her job as a private investigator. This story begins when Millhone sees a woman stealing lingerie from a department store. She pursues the thief and follows her into the parking garage. There is also the other part of the story about a young man who loses everything due to his gambling addiction. He ends up giving his expensive sports car to settle a debt, and he soon loses his life in the transaction. This is a typical Grafton murder-mystery with its colorful characters such as Dante (a gangster), Nora, Lorenzo, and others.It's not my favorite genre - I rarely read a mystery - but it was fun to listen to in the car.

One of the most enjoyable books that I've ever read is the memoir by Terry Ryan, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less. Evelyn Ryan, the mother of the family, helped her family survive by entering contests and by writing slogans, ditties, and poems. During the 1950s there were a lot of contests for people to send in their best jingle, essay, or poem accompanied by a box-top or other product identification. Evelyn's husband was an alcoholic who often spent his paycheck on alcohol, so it was often up to Evelyn to provide food and other things that her family needed. And with ten children, she was desperate. She wrote many witty slogans and won many contests. She won things such as a year's supply of laundry detergent, household appliances, bikes, watches, clocks, and occasionally cash. She even won a car and an international vacation. Sometimes she would sell the prize so that she could use the money for something that they desperately needed at the time, such as rent money. This book was published in 2002, so it has been around for a while, but I've never met anyone else who has read it. You will love this inspiring and humorous book. I can see Evelyn right now as she's ironing clothes for her large family while trying to write a jingle for a contest. Thank goodness that most of my clothes are permanent press!

Here are the next ten books from my catalog:

1. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
2. Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? by Rhoda Janzen (very funny!)
3. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen (also very funny)
4. Toward Old Testament Ethics by C. Walter Kaiser
5. Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish (very funny and inspiring)
6. A Common Life: The Wedding Story by Jan Karon
7. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
8. Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon
9. In This Mountain by Jan Karon
10. A Light in the Window by Jan Karon

Writing from "My Old Kentucky Home,"

Melissa
Book Blogger

Cruse Rescues Scott County

"Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn." -Benjamin Franklin, goodreads.com



Are you an eager learner? Are you willing to try something new, no matter what your age? Some of the happiest retired people that I know are lifelong learners. These are the people who watch the news, play jeopardy, complete the daily crossword puzzle, and always keep a book or a magazine by their chairs. Some of them even play cards! I admit that there are some topics that I'm not very eager to learn about because I'm just not "cut out" for them and become easily frustrated. One example of this is that I'm just not very good at technology. I can do the basic things on a computer, but don't ask me to do anything very complicated. I'm more interested in academic subjects, current events, basketball, and the history of the Christian church.

Last time I wrote about March Madness and how I much enjoy it. Well, guess what?? All THREE of my teams are in the Sweet 16: Duke men, Kentucky men, and the Duke women. So, I have another three games on my calendar for this week, even though two of them will be on TV very late at night. I just can't miss the games, and I don't want to record them just to have someone on facebook reveal the winners before I get a chance to watch the recording. So, if I must stay up late at night to watch my teams, I will. I went to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday to watch the Duke women defeat Albany by a mere 2 points, but a victory is a victory, so I'll take it. The Duke women went on to win their next game on Sunday as well. They defeated Mississippi State by 8 points. So, it's off to the state of Washington for them, and I'm happy for them. Incidentally, when I went to the game on Friday, I was charged $15 for a general admission fee plus a $1 "service" charge. Can anyone tell me what that's for? Oh, I have failed to mention that one reason that I enjoy basketball so much is that I played the game myself. Back in the 1970s I played high school basketball for four years at Scott County High in Georgetown, Ky. After that I received a small scholarship to play for our local college, Georgetown College (NOT Georgetown University in D.C.). I have so many great memories of my years in basketball, especially my high school time. My fondest memory of high school basketball was in December of 1977. I think we were playing Anderson County High on our home court. With a few seconds on the clock, I was fouled, and I made both free throws! We won the game and the newspaper wrote an article about the game. A picture of me shooting the ball was included. The heading of the article said "Cruse rescues Scott County." I felt like a local hero and was thrilled to be a part of the big win. You have to understand the rivalry that we had with Anderson County to appreciate this victory. To top it off, I scored 17 points in that game and it was the first time that I had ever scored double figures. It was our last game before Christmas, so it was a great way to end the semester. To my high school basketball pals, can you remind me of the tall center from Anderson County? I want to say that her name was "Nancy" something. All I remember is that she was a good player and she was at least as tall as me (6 feet) or taller. It sure was fun to "rescue" Scott County that night!

Now to get on to the topic of books...I am listening to a Sue Grafton in the car, V is for Vengeance. I'm enjoying the mysteries within the story, and the main character, Kinsey Millhone, is a witty private investigator who seems to simply stumble upon crimes. She doesn't easily fall for the stories that people give her and so she's a great detective. She seems to be cut-out for her profession. I look forward to listening to more of this book this week.

I finished reading Smiley's Some Luck this weekend. I enjoyed the book a lot and didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed reading about the children of Rosanna and Walter as they grew up, left the farm, and had children of their own. Frank was the oldest child and the first to leave home. He was a sniper in World War II and so he traveled throughout Europe and Africa. He eventually married a girl he had dated in college, and they settled back in the U.S., although far from Frank's Iowa childhood home. You will like this book if you are looking for something that is relaxing, well-written, and inspiring. Each chapter chronicles a year in the life of the family, so you basically get to watch the characters grow older, find jobs, and more. The themes of love, loyalty, self-sacrifice, spirituality, and perseverance are echoed throughout the novel as the story unfolds. I appreciate the simple values of the farm family and their love for one another, even when times were very difficult. So, you might want to put this recent novel on your reading list.

The next ten books in my card catalog are as follows:

1. The five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom
2. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
3. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
4. Madam Secretary: A Memoir by Madeleine Albright
5. The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott
6. My Invented Country by Isabel Allende
7. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (I strongly recommend)
8. The World According to Garp by John Irving
9. Long Time No See by Susan Isaacs
10. Einsten by Walter Isaacson

The Madeleine Albright and Einstein books are examples of some of the non-fiction books that I've read. I often read books about people who are important in history or government. I enjoyed all of the Mitch Albom books for the spiritual themes that lie within them. If you are a person of faith as I am, or if you've lost someone whom you love, you will get a lot out of the Albom books. Also, if you or someone you know are facing physical suffering or imminent death, you will get a lot out of Tuesdays With Morrie.

I'd like to hear from you today - so tell me what you're reading or what you are learning. I'm sure that you are one of the people who is WILLING to learn. There's so much to read and to learn, and there's so little time...have a great week.

-Melissa

March Madness and More...

"Lord! when you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book." -Christopher Morley, quotegarden.com





I genuinely appreciate this quote by Morley because I agree with his sentiment: when I buy or borrow a book I'm entering a new world, a new life that I remain in as long as I'm either reading the book or thinking about it. Christopher Morley (1890-1957) was an American journalist, novelist, essayist, and poet who nailed it when he said that a book is much more than the printed page. When I am in the new life of the book, I am able to escape my own and forget all about it for a time. But a book is much more than an escape - it's a language, a vocabulary that is different than my own - and it fills up my mind and intellect while motivating me to improve my way of life so that it is more meaningful, more purposeful, and more pure. I am thankful for language, for the ability to read, and for authors who have the ability to write well. I enjoy the challenge of books as they stretch me to sympathize with a character or to learn about a historical figure who helped to make America a great nation. As long as I am reading books I will not be bored, no doubt about it.

The hot topic this weekend is the NCAA tournament. Since I was born in basketball country (Kentucky) and I still live in basketball country (North Carolina), I feel compelled to comment on my teams and the tournament itself. I've been following the men's teams of Kentucky and Duke all season and I've have enjoyed the season. It will be difficult to see the season end but I know it must. We all know, of course, that Kentucky has been undefeated all season, but they had a few scares. Nevertheless, many people predict that UK will be the NCAA champion this year. They have the height, the strength, the talent, and the amazing Wildcat fans. I think they could make history and go undefeated and win it all. Sadly, some of the players will not return next year because they will choose the NBA draft, foregoing their education. Next year will probably be a year of rebuilding for them. The Duke Blue Devils have had a great year too, although they have lost a few. They lost a few close ones and won a few close ones, but I still think they are a very good team. I've enjoyed the flow of their basketball style, the rhythm of their offense, and the depth of their bench. They should be able to go far in the tournament if they get in the flow. The other team that I've followed all year is the Duke women's basketball team. They are currently ranked 16th in the nation with a record of 21-10, so it hasn't been as great a year as some they've had in recent years. Yesterday I went to see their first game of the NCAA as they played Albany and won by only two points. They had a very tough time with Albany, even though they had the home court advantage. Albany deserved to win because they played much better than Duke. Duke had so many turnovers and missed shots - it was unbelievable! Anyway, they advance to their next game on Sunday, and the Duke men play their next game on Sunday as well. I won't be able to watch either game live tomorrow though, because I'll be participating in the annual CROP walk of Durham, a distance of 4.8 miles that begins at Duke Chapel. I'm glad that all three of my teams have advanced in the NCAA tourney so that I can enjoy them a little while longer.

And now, getting back to books...as I stated last week, I'm currently reading Some Luck by Jane Smiley. Although I said that it would probably not make my Top 20 list as a great novel, I have enjoyed it a lot. Smiley is a Pulitzer prize-winning author, and it shows as she depicts a farm family in Iowa beginning with the year 1920. The story is well-written and relaxing as it depicts a hard-working family who raises their children throughout many struggles. The joy in their lives always comes through, even though they've had many personal trials befitting a family during this time period in American history. I only have about 100 pages to go to complete this book so I plan to finish it this weekend. Incidentally, this book was just published last year, so if you want to get it from the library as I did, you may have to get on a waiting list. I think Some Luck was worth the wait though, and I think you will too. In the coming weeks I plan to rewrite my list of best books, but I want to give you two different lists: one for the top 20 novels, and one for the top 20 non-fiction books. I also plan to discuss some of the great children's books that you may want to get for your children, grandchildren and friends.

In my free time, when I'm not reading or doing other things, I've been watching "Downton Abbey." Yes - that's right - I have recently become a "Downton Abbey" addict, so I have to divide my down time between the shows and my books. Several of my friends commented that I would enjoy the series, but I was skeptical because I was told that the series was about a rich family and all of their drama. But I finally caved.  It's a little late, but I am now watching the series from the beginning. We bought Season 1 because our library system did not have a single copy, but now we plan to get the others on loan. We're now on Season 2, Episode 2, and we will probably watch at least two episodes tonight. My husband likes the show just as much as I do so it's something that we can watch together. I love the language of the Brits, their costumes, and the beauty of the scenery. The story lines are much more interesting than I thought they would be, and each episode keeps me wanting more. So, although I was a Downton skeptic, I'm enjoying it and I get why it's so HUGELY popular. I'm glad that I finally stopped to see what all of the uproar was about.

And now, the next ten books in my catalog are:

1. The Final Confession of Mabel Stark by Robert Hough
2. A Simple Christmas by Mike Huckabee
3. I Am Potential by Patrick Henry Hughes
4. Humor for the holidays by Shari MacDonald
5. Humor for a Woman's Heart (several contributors)
6. A Pattern for Life by Archibald Hunter
7. A Widow for One Year by John Irving
8. The Matter of Grace by Jessica Barksdale Inclan
9. Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
10. Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams

Until next time,
Melissa

What's on your shelf?

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." -Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, Aug. 7, 1991



Recently I ordered a used paperback book online and when I got near the end, the book completely fell apart. So, with much regret, I took the poor, overused volume to the bin to be recycled one day so that it could become something beautiful and useful once again. So, although no one will ever be able to read this volume of The Bridge on the Drina again, perhaps the book will be reborn someday. It will no longer be on my shelf for me to enjoy, but I will fill its space with another book in due time. I get many of my books and books on cds from the nearby public library but the ones that I feel the need to keep, I want on my shelf. I would love to have my own library someday so I can easily reach books, loan them out, or just enjoy their presence. My library doesn't have to be as large as the one on Downtown Abbey, but it would be great fun to have it. I think our children enjoy books as well, and I began to realize this when they started spending their own money on books. We have TONS of children's books such as most of the Dr. Seuss books, Berenstain Bear books, American Girl books, and many more. We have beautiful hardback children's books such as The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, The Legend of the Candy Cane, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Is Your Mama a Llama?, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear. The time I spent reading to my children is one of the most useful and meaningful investments that I made into their lives. Sadly, there are many American children who have very few books in their homes, let alone have a parent who is willing to enjoy books with them. And we wonder why so many kids have low self-esteem and little ambition. It's a sad, sad situation. In an upcoming post I will talk about children's books in greater detail, and I'll share some of the books that I recommend for children based on my experience as a reading mom and as an ESL teacher in an elementary school.




I'm currently reading a new book, Some Luck, by Jane Smiley. I won't comment on it yet because I haven't read very much in it as of today, but I will discuss it in the near future. I can already tell that I'm going to enjoy the book but I don't think it's going to make my TOP TEN LIST of novels. But like any book that I read, I try to appreciate it for what it is and so I rarely feel that I wasted my time reading it. I've heard it said that when a reader dies, he or she hopes that a good book of great value will be tucked gently in his/her hand. For me, I don't think that it will be a book like Some Luck but instead, I would prefer to be holding The Bible, Paris: The Novel, The Poisonwood Bible, or Cutting for Stone. Then, of course, there are the other greats such as Edgar Sawtelle and The Gift of Asher Lev. Last week I asked you if you could describe my personality based on the kind of books that I enjoy.  I received some feedback on this from one friend, and I would like to hear what you think as well. I don't think you can say that I'm a hopeless romantic because I seldom read love stories. I seldom read self-help books because I don't believe that anyone knows EVERYTHING about any one subject, so why do they think they can give ME advice? I guess you can conclude that I'm a curious person who likes to read all kinds of books, from a good historical novel to a memoir that is inspires or allows me to explore my own thoughts. I have a variety of personal interests as is reflected in my book choice. My personality reveals that I want to know a lot of things. I'm easily bored and like to keep active mentally and physically. I like to live life with purpose - I'm not a mere drifter who is satisfied with the mundane. So don't stereotype me as a sci-fi reader, a mystery reader, etc. I just read. When I was a child I remember that I even read the cereal boxes - I thought it was boring to just sit there and eat my Lucky Charms.

The next ten books in my card catalog are as follows:

1. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
2. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
3. Losing Malcolm: A Mother's Journey Through Grief by Carol Henderson (Durham resident)
4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
5. The Integrity of the Church by E. Glenn Henson
6. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
7. The Sea Captain's Wife by Martha Hodes
8. Three From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes
9. Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
10. Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

What's on your shelf today? What kinds of books do you enjoy the most? I'd love to read your comments at the bottom of my posts.

Have a great week as you enjoy warmer weather,
Melissa

Books as Friends

"I never feel lonely if I've got a book - they're like old friends. Even if you're not reading them over and over again, you know they are there. And they're part of your history. They sort of tell a story about your journey through life." -Emilia Fox, brainyquote.com



How do YOU feel about books? For some of us, a book is nothing more than something we pick up while we are waiting for something such as an airplane or a doctor's appointment. For others of us, a book is something we treasure, a good friend that speaks to us in words that no one else can articulate. I enjoy sharing ten titles of books that I've read at the end of each of my posts, because it allows me to share a bit about my journey with books, my friends for many, many years. I've read good books, and I've read "bad" books, but I don't think any of them has been a waste of my time. No matter what the story is about or how poorly written a book may be, I enjoy the words for what they are. Granted, there are stories that I connect with more than others. The stories that inspire me with their unique stories and well-written prose and organization are the ones that I enjoy the most. They are my BEST friends. Whether the book is non-fiction or fiction, it becomes a part of my history as it stretches me to think, to ponder, and to explore new ideas. One of my dreams is that I could have a library of my own, a place where I can keep all of my books displayed near me. I don't like to sell my books for 25 cents at a yard sale - that seems so wrong to me. But sometimes our house needs the space for other things so I must do the difficult thing and try to "move out" a few of the books. All I can hope for is that someone else will enjoy and appreciate the book for what it is.

I'm so blessed to be in a family that values reading. My parents and my grandparents before them were avid readers, especially my parents and Grandmother Cruse. Grandmother Cruse loved to read books by the poet laureate of Kentucky in 1954, Jesse Stuart. She gave me some of his novels and short stories so I, too, was able to enjoy these treasures written by a man who was born in Greenup County, Kentucky. If I remember correctly, Jesse Stuart sent a typed letter to my grandmother about fifty years ago, and she definitely saved it because I remember looking at it.




I have discussed some of the books that I consider to be the top ten best novels ever written, but I haven't spoken too much about the non-fiction books that I have read. While I rarely read a self-help book or a book written by some dysfunctional celebrity, I do read memoirs. Some of my favorite biographies and auto-biographies are A Girl Named Zippy, She Got Up Off the Couch, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, Little Heathens, My Life in Orange, Dewey the Library Cat, An Hour Before Daylight (Jimmy Carter), Unbroken, and The Boys in the Boat. Oh, and I enjoyed reading How Starbucks Saved My Life. Some of these books have received very little publicity, but I consider them to be some of the very best that I have ever read. Have you read any of them? If so, did you enjoy them? Did they give you food for thought? Incidentally, a few years ago I emailed the author of Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression. Surprisingly, the author, Mildred Armstrong Kalish sent me a timely response. She was living in a retirement community in California at the time of her writing. It meant a lot to me that she took the time to respond to my comments, making her even more admirable.

This week I finished listening to the novel, I've Got Your Number, by the British author, Sophie Kinsella. I enjoyed listening to it in the car and got a lot of laughs. I've read several books by this author, as I noted in my last post. I'm almost finished with Mean Streak by Sandra Brown (not among my favorites) and will soon begin reading a book from the library, Some Luck: A Novel, by Jane Smiley. I also picked up another book on cd from the public library, V is for Vengeance, by Sue Grafton.

Here are the next ten books in my card catalog:

1. The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
2. A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
3. Teaching Youth the Bible by Louis B. Hanks
4. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
5. Every Woman's Hope by Lisa Harper
6. Crossings by Walt Harrington
7. Plainsong by Kent Haruf
8. Tinyburg Tales by Robert J. Hastings
9. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
10. Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes

Some of you have been reading my posts since August of 2014 so you've heard me talk about a lot of different kinds of books.Also, you've seen my lists of books that I've read in the past 30 years. So, after knowing all of that, what can you conclude about me?

Happy reading,
Melissa

Two Books - Two Purposes

This week I finished reading The Bridge on the Drina, a historical novel written by Ivo Andric, a Yugoslavian, and translated by Lovett F. Edwards. This book was not easy to find, but since a reader recommended it, I wanted to give it a try. First, I searched in our public library system, but they did not have it. Then I looked...where else...on Amazon.com, and found a few used copies there, but there were no new copies. Since I like to get my books free or very cheap, I was perfectly happy to buy a used copy. But after three weeks of reading this book, the book is completely torn into two pieces and is headed to the recycling bin soon. Maybe I shouldn't have "drug" it to so many different places, placed it in my purse, etc. It looks like our beagle-mix attacked it, but maybe that's a sign of a book that has been well-used. This book is definitely not "light reading," but I'm glad that I read it because of the history that is depicted within. I'll admit that there are parts of the book that I don't understand, but I did come away with an appreciation for what people have gone through to gain what all humans want, things like peace, joy, laughter, an purpose in life. The violent history of the Balkans from the early sixteenth century to WW I is told as the people dealt with wars and executions as well as times of prosperity. It took the people many, many years to complete the bridge on the Drina, and many men were abused in the process when they were forced to work against their wills. But when at last the bridge was completed, it became a place for daily social gatherings. Also, the bridge made life easier in many ways since it united the two parts of the Sarajevo road and linked the town with its surrounding villages. This made travel easier and safer.



I've also been reading I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. I'm listening to this library recording while driving around and it's totally hilarious, as are all of Kinsella's books that I've read. If her name doesn't sound familiar, you've probably heard of the movie, "Confessions of a Shopaholic" starring Isla Fisher. The movie is based on the series of Shopaholic books. Kinsella's books take place in England and are full of British words and sayings. I've Got Your Number is about a woman in her late 20s, Poppy Wyatt, who loses her emerald engagement ring and then begins to tell multiple lies in order to cover up what she's done. She's suppose to be a physical therapist by day, but it doesn't seem like she ever goes to work because she's constantly meddling in other people's lives. I'm glad that I chose this book to listen to in the car, because it's fun and doesn't require a great deal of concentration - we all need some light reading at times. So, while I'm glad I read The Bridge on the Drina, I'm enjoying Kinsella's book more. If you've read either one of these books, I'd like to know what you thought of the books. You can write your thoughts in the comment section below.

What should I read next? I have one that belongs to my parents in Kentucky, and they usually loan me books that they think I'll enjoy, but it's always risky to start a new book. I don't like to waste time and so I only want to read books that challenge me and cause me to dig deeply into my own spirit. I love books like The Poisonwood Bible, Edgar Sawtelle, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and Cutting For Stone because they are stories about characters who are strong beyond measure. These characters think deeply and feel intensely. Then, of course, there's the beauty of the writing in these great novels that allows the stories to flow easily throughout time. So, please, please, please...share a good book with me so that I can enjoy it as I have so many others.

Now for the next ten list of books that I've read since 1984:

1. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
2. The Summons by John Grisham
3. The Testament by John Grisham
4. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
6. My Life in Orange by Tim Guest (it's about a man who grew up in a cult)
7. The Year the Colored Sisters Came to Town by Jacqueline Guidry
8. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
9. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon
10. Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

Have a warm weekend, wherever you are...Melissa

P.S. I got two final Jeopardy answers correct this week and very few of the contestants got them right! Here are the questions, rephrased:

What state name can you type using just one row on the keyboard?
Who was president when President Obama was born?

I thought the questions were easy, but apparently the contestants disagreed. Tell me your answers, and no using the internet!