The Nine

The picture of the book turned out pretty small - oh well. This one is a must read! Ricky and I both tore through it. It is an interesting look at the Supreme Court and the justices that serve on it. Maybe we found it interesting because Ricky is in law school, but I think it would be good for everyone to read. It gives interesting background information about each justice and some of the big cases from the past few decades.

Team of Rivals

This book was amazing. I learned so much and thought it was especially appropriate as we approach the upcoming presidential election. The book delves into the inner workings of Abraham Lincoln's ascension to the presidency of the United States and then how he picked his cabinet members and orchestrated the country through the Civil War. The book talks a lot more about the cabinet members and their interactions with Lincoln than any book I have read. Therefore, I learned lots of interesting facts about this time period I never knew before. The book left me with the impression that Abraham Lincoln truly was a political genius. I think he was the perfect man for the times. I enjoyed the book so much that I would recommend buying it. It is very thick with small print and is not the kind of book you just sit down and read until you're finished. It's best digested in small chunks with time to think about. Ricky and I both enjoyed it.

The Testament

This is a good book to read for pleasure. The plot is interesting, but doesn't make you overtax your brain. It about an extremely rich man who dies and doesn't leave any inheritence to his family members. Instead he leaves all of his money to an illigitimate daugher no one knew he dad. Unfortunately she is a Christian missionary deep in uncharted territories of Brazil. A lawyer who has just been released from drug and alcohol rehab is sent to Brazil to try and find her. The book is about his struggles to find her and all of the legal proceedings surrounding the will. It was different from other Grisham books I have read. I found it to be a great read for the end of the day when I needed to relax.

I Am America (And So Can You!)

Ricky bought me this book for my birthday, and it has been enjoyable.

Read it if:

• You are a Colbert fan - the whole book is written exactly as he would speak. I can hear his voice as I read.
• You enjoy political comedy.
• You need a good laugh.

Beware of:

• There are some parts of the book that you wouldn't want to read to small children (a little bit of language and somtimes some innuendo). However, if you want to read a completly clean version come to me. I edited mine :).
• If you haven't watched Colbert the book might not seem as funny/clever to you as it was to me. Watch the show (free episodes online) and become a fan before the open the book and it will be so much better.

Angels and Demons

I finished reading this book a couple nights ago and really enjoyed it. I had previously listened to it on CD's in the middle of the night when the boys were in the NICU. I guess I must have been more asleep than I thought while listening to the book, because the plot twists and turns still surprised me. I like this book a lot better than Da Vinci Code. I thought the storyline was more interesting than Da Vinci - it deals with physics and the election of a new Catholic pope. I found myself drawn into the story. I could easily picture the characters and what they were doing. In fact, Robert Langdon looked exactly like Harrison Ford in my mind. What movie character does Robert look like in your mind? The book was also interesting to read because a new leader of my church was just sustained. The book made me very grateful for the way my church leaders are chosen. So all in all, I would recommend this book as a fun read. It's good for vacations, plane rides, or just curling up on the couch to read a book that makes you think (but not too hard), has surprises (but not too many) and is just about the right length.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

I am always on the lookout for good books to read. In case any of you are also looking for books to read I will periodically write a little about the books I have been reading. This book by Khaled Hosseini was a very sad, but informative book. The author's web site says this about the book: " A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan’s last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to the post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them. A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment."

What I liked about the book: The book was very thought provoking. Previous to reading this book I didn't really know much about Afghanistan's history and all the war it has experienced. We hear snippets about the country in the news, but the book brings to life the terror its citizens are living with. It also show how its citizens can love their country so much even though it is dangerous to live there. The other thing I liked about the book is that it truly helped me to understand why we cannot judge others. I realized that the way people are raised and the events they go through impacts the way they do things in ways we don't understand. Only God can judge people because he is the only one who truly understands everyone's situations. The book made me feel so fortunate to be born and raised in the United States in a time and age where it is a great thing to be a woman.

Other thoughts on the book: The book is extremly sad. Almost nothing good happens in the book. Don't look for a happy ending here. That being said, I think the book needed to sad/depressing in order for it to get its point across. Just don't read this book if you are looking for something happy and fun.

Expanding Your Book Collection - On a Tight Budget

I collect three things - postcards from the places I visit, bookmarks, and books. Luckily postcards and bookmarks are very inexpensive. Unfortunately, books can be expensive. Here are some ways I have been able to add to my book collection without subtracting much from my bank account.

1. Go to library sales: Many libraries have special sales once or twice a year where you can get used books for low prices. This past weekend Ricky and I went to our library's sale and were able to get all the items seen below for a grand total of $5. We were able to pick up some nice board books for the boys, a few holiday books for them, two children's videos, and six novels for Ricky and I. Just ask your librarian if your library has any sales. In addition, sometimes local elementary schools have used book sales. Just watch the newspapers or ask parents of elementary school students if their schools have used book sales.

2. Go to garage sales. Garage sales are great because people are usually trying to get rid of clutter they don't want anymore. You can barter with them and come away with some pretty cheap books. Last year I was able to get about 20 children's books for the boys for less than a dollar. Make sure you look through the books before you buy them. If you are buying children's books make sure all the flaps, pop-ups, etc are there. Also, make sure there aren't any big stains or missing pages. For adult books just flip through the book to see if it is in good condition.

3. Shop at amazon.com or half.com: If there is a specific book you are looking for these web sites are great places to look. You can type in the title of the book you want and it will bring up price for new and used copies. I usually look at regular book stores to see the going price of the book(s) I am interested in. That way when I shop online I know if I am getting a good deal or not. Also, half.com has a section titled "paperbacks for $.99 or less". I have found brand new popular books for less than a dollar here.

4. Take books your parents and/or friends are getting rid of: If your parents are cleaning out their house or you have friends that are moving - look through the books they are getting rid of and claim any you want to have.

5. Buy thrift editions of classics: If you go into most bookstores you can find classic books for $1-$5. I think they're called Dover Thrift edition or something like that. They are brand new books. You can get such authors as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and others.