Recent Reading-Pet Sematary

My nightstand has looked out of control recently with all my "to read" books. I have a bad habit of going to the library and checking out waaaayyyy too many books. I'm a teacher and mother of 3 very young kids; who am I kidding? But I have been able to finish a couple of really great books recently. The first one is:

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

This was my first time to read a book by Stephen King and it's perfect timing with Halloween right around the corner. I don't normally read books in the horror genre and I decided to read this particular title because I've had a fascination with the movie since I was 13 years old. I think the reason why I've been so drawn to this story is the idea of bringing something back from the dead that you love so much; now that I have kids the idea absolutely terrifies me because I think to myself, "Would I if I could?" And the answer to my own question is what shocks me. This book is all about confronting death and that is not a subject one likes to delve in much. 

The particular edition of the book I read had an introduction by Stephen King. He states that it is the scariest book he has ever written. In fact he thinks he took things too far with this novel and at one point he threw away the story. It's a story of caution and warning. One particular quote from the book that sticks out in my mind is: “And the most terrifying question of all may be just how much horror the human mind can stand and still maintain a wakeful, staring, unrelenting sanity.”

I was curious to see how the movie follows the book and I was not disappointed at all; in fact, I ended up liking the book even more than the movie. It explores the psyche of the main character Louis Creed who seems to have the perfect life-a doctor with a beautiful wife and two children (one of them happens to be the age of my own son). His son gets hit by a truck and he decides to bury him in the Indian burial ground that brings dead things back to life. I can't even begin to describe how I felt reading the book and dealing with Louis's emotions while thinking about losing my own son (and daughters). It's the most painful thing I've ever felt. One moment can take away a lifetime of happiness. Life can be cruel, can't it. 

But what if you could take that unhappiness back? What if you could bring back what was taken from you? Would you? Louis decides to bring his son back but unfortunately the son isn't who (or what) he used to be. That's the price you pay-everything comes with a price. His son is now evil but at least he has the chance to be with him again. At least the sorrow is gone. For now. It reminds me of the Governor from The Walking Dead. He keeps his daughter, who has been turned into a zombie, chained up and cares for her. At first I thought, "how weird is that?" And then I look at my own children and I can't help but wonder and think, "I hope I never get put into that situation."

But that makes us selfish people, doesn't it, to bring them back or to keep them from moving on. I believe in Heaven and why would you take that away from someone you love just to have more time on earth with them. Another quote from the book that really stuck with me is “Faith is a great thing, and really religious people would like us to believe that faith and knowing are the same thing, but I don't believe that myself. Because there are too many different ideas on the subject. What we know is this: When we die, one of two things happens. Either our souls and thoughts somehow survive the experience of dying or they don't. If they do, that opens up every possibility you could think of. If they don't, it's just blotto. The end.” 

This book took a lot out of me emotionally, which is rare for a fiction book to do that to me. That's usually reserved for non-fiction books. There were several nights were I fell asleep reading the book and had weird dreams and other nights were I couldn't get to sleep because I was reading a particularly chilling part. I was a little too happy to finish the book; not because I didn't like it but because it was so depressing to me. “That lesson suggests that in the end, we can only find peace in our human lives by accepting the will of the universe.”

The other book I finished recently is "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty. Be on the lookout for my thoughts on that book within the week. 

What's the scariest book you have ever read, and why is it scary to you?

Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With Me

My co-worker challenged me on Facebook to list the 10 books that have stayed with me. I thought it would be fun to add a little reason why I picked each book on my blog. 

In no particular order (and yes, I'm allowed to count series as "one" book):

1. The Divine Comedy 
I read this book in high school for AP English. Man, Dante was gutsy for his time! I named my beloved cat after him. The Inferno is terrifying in it's own way. My copy of the book has so many notes and annotations in it; I can literally find something new in the book each time I read it. 
2. Harry Potter 
I just love all the Harry Potter books. In my defense, Harry Potter was released when I was in middle school (which was about the age that Harry was) so I "grew up" with the books. I really cared for all the main characters and I love re-reading this series. I can't wait to read it to my own children! 
3. Unbroken 
This is the most incredible non-fiction novel I've ever read. Angelina Jolie produced the movie version of this book and it will be released in December-I'll be first in line to see it! It follows the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War 2. I read this on the beach at Cayman Island 2011. It's a page turner; I just can't even begin to imagine all of this being true-but it is! 
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
My grandmother Faye gave this to me to read when I was in elementary school. It reminds me of my childhood and the hope and courage that exists in all children. I get so nostalgic when I watch the BBC version of this series! This is another book/series that I can't wait to read to my own kids. 
5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
This is another non-fiction work. I was in a book club several years ago and this was the pick for one of the months. I hadn't heard of the title before and didn't think I was too interested in the subject matter (the immortal cell line that came from her cervical cancer cells) but this was another book that I couldn't put down. This is such an amazing contribution that this woman made to medicine...and she didn't even know it! It does make me very leery of ever letting doctors take blood or samples from me or my children. 
6. The Giver
I honestly can't remember when I read this novel for the first time; I know it wasn't in middle or high school. I'm pretty sure it was in college. Some critics don't like it but there's just something about it that speaks to me. I haven't seen the movie but can't wait to!
7. To Kill a Mockingbird 
Can you believe I read this book for the first time last year??? Not sure why we didn't have to read it for AP English. What an amazing story of humor in tough times and racial equality. I've begged Justin that if we have more kids and one turns out to be another boy that we name him Atticus. He is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time!
8. Lord of the Rings 
Love the books; love the movies. I love the fantasy genre in case you can't tell. I love the journey this series takes me on. I read The Hobbit in middle school and then started the rest of the series in high school.
9. Atonement 
This book is all about how a simple lie can ruin lives. It is a story of love and war set during World War 2. I read it after I saw the movie in 2007. I thought the movie was great and the book was even better. Usually I read the book first and then see the movie; this time it was vice versa.
10. Beach Music 
The author Pat Conroy is such an amazing storyteller. This book had me so emotionally invested in the characters and the events. I've read through it twice but it is one that I will probably read once ever 5 or so years. In a way this book reminds me of Atonement-the characters in both novels seem to searching for atonement. 

And that's it! Honestly, this list was tough to come up with because there are just too many books that I love. I'm sure it will change every decade or so as well! A side note-I am currently reading Pet Sematary by Stephen King. What a GREAT READ so far! I have been a fan of the movie since I was in middle school but the book takes it to a whole other level. This one has the potential to be added to the list. I have another 6 books on my nightstand right now; I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I'm also supposed to be reading scripts to pick my competition play and I was picked to review a book for Birchbox's Book Club. Too many books!!! 

So, what is on your top 10 list? Are there any on my list that are your favorite or that you really enjoy? 

Summer Reading

This summer I had wild dreams of reading a whole bunch of books on my reading list. Sadly, I only got around to two of them. Usually my summer nights are spent catching up on TV shows and movies, and during the school year I get back to reading before bed. I'm not going to "review" the books I read (I'll leave that to the experts); however, I'd like to share my thoughts and what I took away from each book. 

The fiction book that I read was "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. I've adored all the other books I've read by her and I knew I was going to enjoy this one. I was not disappointed! 

The Booklist summary of the book is: Inspired by the true story of early-nineteenth-century abolitionist and suffragist Sarah Grimké, Kidd paints a moving portrait of two women inextricably linked by the horrors of slavery. Sarah, daughter of a wealthy South Carolina plantation owner, exhibits an independent spirit and strong belief in the equality of all. Thwarted from her dreams of becoming a lawyer, she struggles throughout life to find an outlet for her convictions. Handful, a slave in the Grimké household, displays a sharp intellect and brave, rebellious disposition. She maintains a compliant exterior, while planning for a brighter future. Told in first person, the chapters alternate between the two main characters’ perspectives, as we follow their unlikely friendship (characterized by both respect and resentment) from childhood to middle age. While their pain and struggle cannot be equated, both women strive to be set free—Sarah from the bonds of patriarchy and Southern bigotry, and Handful from the inhuman bonds of slavery. 

There were a few passages in particular that really moved me. The first passage is when Sarah Grimke decides to take a break from caring over her dying father and go swimming in the ocean. 

"She smiled when I emerged from the changing room. She had no cap, and I'd unpinned my hair, which was flaming out in the wind. She said I looked like a mermaid. I took hold of one of the ropes and followed it into the waves, hand over fist, until I came to where the rest of the ladies stood. The water slapped our thighs, tossing us to and fro, a tiny game of Snap the Whip, and then without knowing what I was about to do, I turned loose and strode away from them. I pushed into the seething water, and when I was some distance, I dropped onto my back and floated. It was a shock to feel the water hold me. To lie in the sea while upstairs my father lay dying."

For whatever reason, this passage had me in tears after I read it. Sarah is experiencing a very freeing moment for herself, and I felt like I was rooting her on. Throughout this book Sarah has to "take care" of her parents even though they haven't emotionally taken care of her. I was proud of her for taking a moment for herself, however fleeting it was. 

The next passage that spoke to me was "How does one know the voice is God's? I believed the voice bidding me to go north belonged to him, though perhaps what I really heard that day was my own impulse to freedom. Perhaps it was my own voice. Does it matter?"

And finally, " "...Why would God plant such deep yearnings in us...if they only come to nothing?" It was more of a sigh than a question. I was thinking of Charlotte and her longing to be free, but as the words left my mouth, I knew I was thinking of myself, too. I hadn't really expected Lucretia to respond, but after a moment, she spoke. "God fills us with all sorts of yearnings that go against the grain of the world-but the fact those yearnings often come to nothing, well, I doubt that's God's doing." She cut her eyes at me and smiled. "I think we know that's men's doing." " 

Beautiful. It makes me think of children and how we stifle their creativity. We tell them they can't do certain things or pursue certain dreams because we as adults don't think it's what they should do. I had a long talk with my husband about this topic. We have three children who will one day want to pursue something that maybe we won't necessarily "like." I might not agree with their decision but I will give 100% of my self to them to make sure they are the best at whatever it is they want to do. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It was very moving and I was emotionally invested in the main characters. If you have read it let me know what you think! 

The second book that I read this summer was the non-fiction "The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon. Now I will admit, I did not choose to read this book "for fun." I read it for work. 

The Amazon summary of the book: The Energy Bus, an international bestseller, takes readers on an enlightening and inspiring ride that reveals ten secrets for approaching life and work with the kind of positive, forward thinking that leads to true accomplishment—at work and at home.

Everyone faces challenges. And every person, organization, company, and team has to overcome negativity and adversity to define themselves and create their success. No one goes through life untested and the answer to these tests is positive energy—the kind of positive energy that consists of the vision, trust, optimism, enthusiasm, purpose, and spirit that defines great leaders and their dreams.

I understand why they had us read this book before the start to the new school year. It's got a great moral to the story-be more positive in your outlook in life. The ten steps he outlined to living a more positive life are as follows: 

1) You're the driver of your bus
2) Desire, vision, and focus move your bus in the right direction
3) Fuel your ride with positive energy (negative energy is friction)
4) Invite people on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead
5) Don't waste your energy on those who don't get on your bus
6) Post a sign that says no energy vampires allowed on your bus (get rid of the malcontents)
7) Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them for the ride
8) Love your passengers by giving them your time, listening, recognition, service - work to bring out the best in them
9) Drive with purpose
10) Have fun and enjoy the ride

There was one quote in particular that really spoke to me: "Too blessed to be stressed." It made me really take a look at my own life and realize how good I have it. This quote will be my motto for this next school year. 

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the story of George. George is a fictional character who needs to turn his life around because he is too negative. It was a little too cheesy and unbelievable for me. I would have enjoyed it more if Jon Gordon had used a real life example of somebody who went through the ten steps. We will be meeting the author next week and I will be curious to see if anybody asks about that part of the book. 

If you need a little "pick me up" for your work or personal life, check out "The Energy Bus." It's a quick read and really does make you realize that no matter how bad things seem to be, they could always be worse. 

The next two books I have on my reading list are "Looking For Alaska" by John Green (fiction) and "The Highly Sensitive Person" by Elaine Aron (non-fiction). 

How about you-what did you read this summer or have next on your reading list?