Better Late Than Never

Right? Sorry I've been so slow in posting this - Breanne asked me a while ago, but I've been dithering too much about what book to choose. I finally settled on Man's Search for Happiness by Elder Ballard. This should be an easy one to give everyone a break for the summer months; you can probably read it in a Sunday afternoon, and most of you should have read it at least once already. I know I read it many times on the mission. Anyway, I kept thinking of this book as we read the last one, so I figured I'd suggest it. Hope you all enjoy!

2 Months and a New Baby!

So Jocilyn will be doing the book club book for July. And she thought (and I agree with her) that the 2-month thing worked really well. Trying to get and read a book in a month or less was just kind of exhausting (I am still working on Man's Search for Meaning!).

So what do all of you think? 2 months/person/book, which works out to about 1 book/person/year? Yea or Nay? Let me know in the comments.

Also, Jocilyn has a new baby. That's what the second half of the title is for. :)

Man's Search For Meaning

I finally finished the book. I agree with his philosophy on so many levels, consequently I loved the book. He is missing one vital element, the atonement. He leaves everything in our own hands, I am so glad that I know there is help beyond what I can do. Some of my favorite quotes form the book;

The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails...gives him ample opportunity...to add a deeper meaning to his life.

The prisoner who had lost faith in the future--his future--was doomed. With his loss of belief in the future, he also lost his spiritual hold; he let himself decline and became subject to mental and physical decay.

He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.

When we are no longer able to change a situation...we are challenged to change ourselves.

Man's freedom is not freedom from conditions, but it is freedom to take a stand toward the conditions.

A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and deepens disappointment; it undermines and diminishes pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction.

All of this is made even more poignant by his life experiences. He had every opportunity to become bitter and angry and chose instead to help others through their bitterness. I thoroughly loved the book and this morning as we were reading in 2nd Nephi and read that man was to act not be acted upon I wished that Mr. Frankl would have had the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon. I would love to hear others thought on this book if any of you have a chance to read it.

Finally!

Okay,I'm a slacker. I chose the book as soon as Breanne asked me to be responsible for it this month, (actually I had several in mind just waiting for my turn) but the beginning of the month was sort of crazy and then when I finally sat down to post this I realized I was so computer illiterate that I didn't even know how to post, just comment. That was an incredibly long sentence, sorry. Finally with some help from Kaitlyn I am to this point. I realize that this has been a crazy month for all of the family is seems that everyone is either moving, having a new baby, going on a road trip, or having to spend every free moment at my house building a deck and keeping the house together while I have been gone. Sooo, I am wondering if my book choice can be for May and June. The book I am choosing is Mans Search For Meaning by Viktr Frankl. This is purely a selfish choice because I can quote several parts of it but have never read it myself. This is the perfect motivation for me to do it. Happy reading! Breanne, maybe you can use your new Library of Congress card. Losaunne do they have libraries in Skagway?

Love you all,
Mom

March and April

I am sorry to say that I still haven't read the book from April. I am looking forward to it but it was checked out of the BYU library when I ran in to get it (the last month of school just gets so busy!).

Laura has the book choice for April. I look forward to it! I think the discussions generated here are interesting and insightful--and just so much fun!

The Velveteen Rabbit

When I was 10 years old, my friend gave me a beautifully illustrated version of "The Velveteen Rabbit". Over the years this book went missing and it wasn't until recently that I realized it was gone. I found a copy at a garage sale, but since it is still a bit over Maxton's reading level I decided to share it all with you. It is very short (since it is already the 11th of April) and is about a rabbit so that ties in with Easter, right? I am excited to read this book again after so many years. I will post comments after I have read it. If you can't find a copy or don't have time to go to the library, you can read it online in digital form. It you search for "The Velveteen Rabbit" you will find several options for online reading.

And There Was Light

When I was 16 or so, my Sunday School teacher (Brother Hogan, for those wondering) brought this book to class and mentioned it as part of the lesson. I was very intrigued and talked with him about it after class. He let me borrow it for a while, but life was too crazy with homework and other commitments to read the entire thing. Soon several weeks had passed, and I felt like I should get it back to him. I returned it, having only read a few chapters. I have always wanted to finish the book, so this provides a great opportunity!

And There Was Light is the autobiography of Jacques Lusseyran, a central figure in the French Resistance during WWII. He was in an accident during his childhood that left him blind, but as he grew up he learned to deal with his disability in some interesting ways. From what I understand, he trained himself to actually see, inwardly, the light of others. His abilities were priceless during the war because he could sense whether those with whom he interacted were good or not. I don't know much else about the story, but I am excited to learn more about this inspiring hero.