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Susie's
Book Club |
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By somewhat popular, albeit hysterical, demand,
I am posting our book club online. This is a book club for people who have
never before either wanted to read for fun or felt like they had the time,
because there was always "something else" they were supposed to
be reading for school, etc.
It is all I can do to
get through Newsweek & the four magazines I receive a month, much less read real
books quickly; so pardon the slack nature of new material around here.
*** I would, however, like to thank a very generous benefactor for
actually funding some further purchases (that were - shockingly enough -
NOT children's books!) and inspiring me to read on! ***
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Book Club |
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The books that started it all: |
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Diary of a Mad Bride
by Laura Wolf |
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I laughed out loud so many times! I passed it on
to Wendy, my Maid of Honor, who at the time was also a self-proclaimed
"non-reader", and she devoured it, as well. Tina, another
bridesmaid, was next to dive in and also gave it rave reviews. We agree
with the back cover: it's "for anyone who has ever been a bride, is
about to become a bride, yearned to be a bride, or suffered the sheer
indignity of appearing in public in the world's ugliest bridesmaid
dress..." |
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Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
by Rebecca
Wells |
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Just captivating! I long for my best friends and
I to have as much fun as the Ya-Yas as we grow older! |
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And since then: |
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Most Recent Reads
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It
Ain't All About the Cookin'
by
Paula Deen |
Now that we live right in Paula
Deen's home area, several friends told me to read her memoir, because
she talks about so many local places here. Sold! I already knew quite a
bit of Miss Paula's life story, but I still wasn't the least bit bored. I
loved - as always! - the Southern culture & flavor, and it really was
cool to hear her talk about things I drive by almost everyday now. |
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Heaven
is For Real
by
Todd Burpo |
"The true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear. Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us. Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle." For my personal thoughts,
click
here. |
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Falling Home
by Karen White |
"Cassie Madison, estranged from her sister, returns home to be with her dying father, intending to leave the sleepy Georgia town immediately after his funeral. Unexpectedly, she inherits the family home. Now she has to stay in Walton until it sells...which happens to be just long enough for her to learn how the power of family, memories and a former love can lead to the most amazing discoveries." |
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Sarah's
Key
by Tatiana de Rosnay |
I connected with this book on such an amazing level. I am completely
obsessed with WWII history; I'd rather watch a History Channel special on
WWII than anything...and I don't know *why* I crave this info so deeply. I
don't know what I'm supposed to do with it; I just know that I can't get
enough, and THAT'S my key connection with this book: it's not just about a
Jewish girl in WWII France; it's more about the lady researching the
girl's story in the present day and how it affects her. I felt like her
obsession helped justify mine. I also loved living in Europe, and so I
really identified with her pull b/t America & Europe, as well. The
book is incredibly moving, suspenseful, & easily relatable with the
connection to the present. I really loved the super short chapters; they
spurred me on to read "just one more" and "just one
more" - something I wouldn't have done with long sections. There are
two voices in the book, and I loved their alternating points of view. This
device also served as a great tension breaker when the circumstances could
have started to make the reader feel weary. They helped you catch your
breath. This book will be one of my all-time favorites forever. I can't
recommend it enough! Never forget... |
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The
Help
by Kathryn Stockett |
I feel like I was the last person on earth to read this, and it certainly
lived up to the hype. I
blogged my answers to the study group discussion questions here. :-)
Feel free to add your own comments & answers! |
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What Southern Women Know About Faith
by Ronda Rich |
I just loved this book to bits, and I love my dear friends who gave it to
me for seeing my heart in it. That's one of the highest compliments I
could receive. I highlighted almost cover-to-cover, but some of the gems
that made me want to say, "Yes! Amen!" out loud were the
importance of roots and a sense of place to Southerners, (this is an esp.
hard one for me with the moving we do); the fact that "rarely will a
conversation of any length b/t two Southern women not allude to or
outright mention spirituality"; praying for God's will above our own
b/c "I'm not smart enough to know what I need to have"; the way
Southern women so naturally and w/o hesitation or ANY awkwardness always
ask their friends to pray for them for big & small
things; that part of our famed Southern Hospitality stems from the way we
vivaciously enjoy life, want everyone around us to enjoy it, too, and
always thank God for it; that it also comes from the way we are so openly
kind - using manners & acts of kindness to make people feel
comfortable instead of being closed off & private; the way we openly
grieve together, but at the same time, how strong we are: "you
can never have too much steel in your magnolias." |
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The
Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder
by Rebecca Wells |
The latest from my favorite author! This is a stand-alone book, not in the
Ya-Ya series, but I still loved the Southern setting, culture, &
family! |
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Ya-Yas in Bloom
by Rebecca Wells |
Of course, I can't pass up on another Ya-Yas book, when the original is
what sparked my first time choosing to read for fun! Critics noted its confusing chronological mix of stories and a muddled tone, but the essence and charm of the Ya-Yas
is still there to be enjoyed. The dialogue and details continue to allure! |
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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
by
Jon Krakauer |
Highly recommended by Tina: "In 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty murdered the wife and infant daughter of their younger brother Allen. The crimes were noteworthy not merely for their brutality but for the brothers' claim that they were acting on direct orders from God. Jon Krakauer tells this story of the killers and their crime, but also explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism from which the two emerged. He poses some striking questions about the closed-minded, closed-door policies of the religion - and many religions in general." |
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Be Happy or I'll Scream!: My
Deranged Quest for the Perfect Husband, Family, and Life
by
Sheri Lynch |
Sheri is a radio personality in my home area of Charlotte, and I worked
with her several times to promote different plays I did, so I feel like I *know*
her, which makes this even more hysterical. She is so gifted at making the
everyday hilarious and does so with motherhood in this book. Highly
recommended for giant laughs of parenting commiseration!!! |
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Book Club |
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Currently on my Bedside Table (and
may be for the next year, but I'm working on them...) |
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What Your Childhood Memories Say about You . . . and What You Can Do about It
by
Kevin Leman |
I was completely enthralled and impressed when I heard Dr. Leman speak on Enjoying
Everyday Life, and I instantly wanted his latest book:
"Want to know
why you’re driven to succeed at work…even at the expense of others?
why you have to be the “perfect” mom?
what makes you tick, what ticks you off, and why?
why it’s hard for you to trust others—or to engage with your family?
why you sometimes feel “trapped” in your job?
why you wonder, late at night, if you’re measuring up?
why your relationships turn out the way they do?
what lies you are telling yourself—and believing?
The past isn’t just the past.
It has everything to do with you right now.
And it has everything to do with your future." |
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The Penny
by Joyce Meyer |
Joyce is without a
doubt the biggest spiritual encourager and teacher in my life, so when she
wrote her first novel, I was ecstatic to attending a book signing and get
my own copy! "The year is 1955. Jenny picks up a penny from the
street, resulting in a series of events that change her life forever.
Abused and filled with fear, Jenny learns the meaning of love through a
new friend, Aurelia, and the beautiful, mysterious Miss Shaw." The
theme is overcoming difficulties and shame through God's love and positive
thinking. |
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The Mommy Diaries: Finding Yourself in the Daily
Adventure
edited by Tally - Flint |
Sent to me through MOPS:
"Guess what--it's not just about the kids. Mothering is an adventure
in personal growth, and that's what moms are invited to enjoy as they
read. With contributions from a variety of authors and speakers familiar
to today's moms, as well as insights from fresh new voices, this book will
encourage women to catch a fresh glimpse of who they are and how they can
grow in the midst of the mothering process." |
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Oxygen: Deep Breathing for the
Soul
by Keri Wyatt Kent |
Also from MOPS: "Women--especially
moms--often feel they are short on time, especially time for contemplation
and spiritual growth. This weekly devotional is like taking a deep,
relaxing breath for the soul. It gives busy women a way to grow
spiritually even as they invest time and energy in those around
them." |
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Amusing Mommy Material |
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The Three-Martini Playdate
by Christine Mellor |
So side-splittingly witty, I just want to call everyone I know with
children or with them in the future and make them read this, as well! READ
IT!!! |
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Diary of a Mad Mom-To-Be
by Laura Wolf |
I was ecstatic to find this extremely timely follow-up to the book that
started our whole "book club!" Just as hysterical and real
as Diary of a Mad Bride. Quick, fun reading - highest praise! |
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Friends' Recommendations |
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Taking Charge of Your Fertility
by Toni
Weschler |
This is an amazing book and practice that my friends, Holly
and Liz, introduced to me. Every woman should consider
it required reading. This book explains - with a good deal of humor and
wit - all of the signs your body gives you during your cycles and shows
you how to interpret them to understand how your body naturally works:
when you are fertile, when you are not, when you have ovulated, etc. (No,
none of this has anything to do with the ridiculous Rhythm Method of birth
control.) I also have the accompanying CD ROM that does all the charts for
me; it is so simple, and I truly cannot believe I spent over a decade of
my life not comprehending all the signs my body was regularly giving me to
let me know everything is in fine shape! I cannot stress how important
this is to gain understanding and control of your own health and
well-being as a woman. |
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Under the Tuscan Sun
by Frances Mayes |
Julie, who already has a marvelous appreciation for all things Italian,
recommended this memoir of buying, renovating, and living in an
abandoned villa in Tuscany. This book brings alive the culture and rhythm
of Tuscan living ~ Can we PLEASE go back to Italy?! |
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The Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold |
A bestseller, Tina sent me
this book with the review: "It is haunting." To say the least!!!
The main character is already dead when the book begins...and her name is
Susie - spelled the same as me and everything. That's just the start of
the creepy parallels between this girl and my real life. It's suspenseful and thought-provoking, as Susie watches from
her own heaven while her family grieves and grows and looks for the
answers to her brutal murder. |
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Bergdorf Blondes
by Plum Sykes |
Jackie suggested this as a break from baby books, to dive into fun chick
lit. I tried to read it for 12 months off and on, and I just
couldn't get into it. I might have LOVED it before kids; but I am soooo
far removed from the Paris Hilton-esque lifestyle - I just couldn't relate
and actually ended up thinking it was too shallow to invest time in. |
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Cranberry Queen
by Kathleen DeMarco |
Wendy enjoyed not only
the story, but the author's writing voice and style. She was particularly
pleased with the number of plot twists and surprises, as well. It is slated
to become a Miramax movie sometime soon. "Diana's life has taken
a several bad turns. She can barely cope and drives off from her New York
City home, headed for nowhere. A fluke leads her to the Pine Barrens of
southern New Jersey, a rural enclave where forests and cranberry bogs are
as common as skyscrapers in New York. Quirky new friends who don't know of
her past enable Diana first to deny her pain and then to come to terms
with it." |
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The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown |
Lauren was really
impressed with this murder mystery that also explores numerous facets of
Western history. "Brown's latest thriller is an
exhaustively researched page-turner about secret religious societies,
ancient cover-ups and savage vengeance." Sounds awesome! |
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Dangerous Undertaking
by Mark deCastrique |
The author of this
suspense mystery is actually the father of my senior year college roommate, Melissa! ~
Order
here. |
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Girly Books |
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The Nanny Diaries
by Emma McLaughlin &
Nicola Kraus |
A hysterical peek into the utterly ridiculous world of child rearing in
the upper reaches of Manhattan's social strata. Cowritten by two former
nannies, the novel follows the adventures of the aptly named Nan as she
negotiates working for Mrs. X, a Park Avenue mommy. Please, don't let me ever
end up like Mrs. X!!! |
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Bridget Jones: The Edge of
Reason
by Helen Fielding |
Equally as funny as the first book, Bridget
cracks me up, (and makes me SO happy to be off the dating scene! Haha!)
The serious incident in Thailand and the other threat afterwards almost
seemed too serious to actually be happening to silly Bridge, but I
still loved it! |
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Little Altars Everywhere
by Rebecca Wells |
The prequel to Divine Secrets, this book gives more
insight into each of the characters. I loved Part One, but there were
things I found out in Part Two about my beloved characters that I'd rather
not know. |
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Four Blondes
by Candace Bushnell |
By the authoress of Sex and the City,
these are four character studies of different New York blondes at
different points in their lives trying to figure out what they want.
"Scandalous, gossipy," and although not quite as good as Sex
and the City, if you enjoy that, you'll enjoy this. |
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A Walk to Remember
by Nicholas Sparks |
Set in 1958 Beaufort, NC, this tear-jerker tells
how one guy's life was forever changed at 17. A love story, and an
extremely quick read! (I did not see the movie version and have been told
it destroys the book.) |
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Bridget Jones's Diary
by Helen Fielding |
Fabulous! Parts are different from the movie,
but I love them both. The quick, dry wit keeps you engaged through out! |
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Where the Heart Is
by Billie Letts |
The sweet Natalie Portman/Ashley Judd movie in 2000
inspired me to read the book. It's a charming story that developed out of
the fascinating premise that somebody actually could live in a
Wal-Mart for weeks. The rest of the story escalates from there. |
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True Stories |
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Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum
Depression
by Brooke Shields |
One of the most important books I've ever read! In my opinion, I don't
think you should read this if you're currently pregnant, (esp. for the
first time.) I think it may end up scaring you for potentially no reason
whatsoever, esp. if you are remotely neurotic, (and how many pg girls
aren't? Not many!) But for any mommy who has had moments of feeling
trapped, alone, scared, unequipped, overwhelmed, out of control, lost,
(and how many mommies haven't? Not many!) I cannot recommend this book
enough! Brooke had serious PPD for many extremely valid reasons. (I want
to rip Tom Cruise a new one, after hearing what she truly went through and
how long she tried to "fix it" herself without any medication,
all to no avail; it wasn't like that was her "easy way out.")
Thank God I was never anywhere near this bad...but there are still so many
universal "new mom feelings" in there. I would LOVE to
commiserate and discuss this book with anyone else who reads it! |
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Confessions of a
Failed Southern Lady
by Florence King |
I cannot in good conscience
recommend this book to anyone who is not truly Southern...not
out of prejudice, but because you'll just be bored and think we
Southerners are even weirder than we already come across. Florence's
grandmother cracks me up - you have to love the Daughters, (that's
the UDC.) The watery
moles made me laugh out loud! I didn't like once she went to college - I
just personally couldn't relate at all - and her grad school
revelation: no thank you! I totally didn't see that one coming, and she
can keep those details to herself...but the rest was fabulous! Southern
humor is such a spirit-lifting thing! |
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Book Club |
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Love Stories of World War II
compiled
by Larry King |
Being an avid World War II buff, (and newlywed!)
this book seemed perfect for me. It's full of tiny chapters, one for each
couple's story, and is also filled with lots of pictures - which I loved,
because I felt like I had actually met these people, being able to put
faces with names. Incredibly heart-warming and hope-inspiring! |
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The Greatest Generation
by Tom Brokow |
Again, because I love studying about World War
II, I was
fascinated by the true stories of everyday people and their roles during
the war. I was extremely impressed by one unifying factor - their values:
their sense of duty, morality, society, and their responsibility for their
own individual actions. It made me want to be a better person! |
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Close to Shore: A True Story
of
Terror in an Age of Innocence
by Michael Capuzzo |
This is "the story of the real-life JAWS that
stalked the
New Jersey shore in 1916. The shark
captivated the public's imagination along the Eastern seaboard, devastated
the resort economy, and even drew the attention of President Woodrow
Wilson." This book is not only a good suspenseful tale, but also an
excellent cultural and social history of late Victorian life. The customs
of the time are described in great detail. |
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Stolen Lives
by Malika Oufkir and Michèle Fitoussi |
Recommended to me by Wendy, this book actually was
featured in Oprah's Book Club. Born into Moroccan high society, Malika and
her family had their lives stolen when they were imprisoned for two
decades. "A heartrending tale of survival and courage...of their
resilience and their resolve to live in freedom." |
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Suspense Fiction |
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The Führer's
Reserve
by Paul Lindsay |
With my degree in German, this title naturally
drew me in. "FBI agent Taz Fallon hooks up with art investigator
Sivia Roth to find paintings stolen by the Third Reich. As octogenarian
Nazis who hold filched masterpieces drop dead of gunshots, Taz and Sivia
assemble the clues to why they would become murder targets."
Extremely fascinating subject matter to me, although I didn't really care
about the protagonists; I was almost rooting for the bad guys! |
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The Vendetta Defense
by
Lisa Scottoline |
I also love mafia lore, and even though this
really has nothing to do with the mob, it does revolve around a
60-year-old Italian vendetta. "When Judy Carrier takes on 79-year-old
Pigeon Tony Lucia's defense, the trick for her becomes keeping Pigeon Tony (and herself) alive long enough to get them to
trial." Some of the courtroom stuff is rather ridiculous, and Judy
takes her independent investigations almost unbelievably far, but Tony's
friends and neighbors are just fabulous! I really enjoyed it. |
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Advice Books |
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What No One Tells the Bride
by Marg Stark |
Stark interviewed 50 real women married 5 years
or less to write this book about dealing with the changes of married life.
I thought parts of this book were geared more towards career women who had
lived out on their own for years and years and who had issues with
"giving up" their "single identity", but nonetheless I
gleaned lots of great advice. |
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Book Club |
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The Five Love Languages
by Gary
Chapman |
Our minister gave us this book as a part of our
pre-marriage counseling, and it is brilliant! "People express and receive
love in different ways - the five languages of love: quality time, words
of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch." You need
to find out what each other's primary love language is, so that you can
make sure each other feels the most loved. |
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Pregnancy-Related Fare |
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For the couple: |
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Your Pregnancy Week-By-Week
by Dr. Glade B.
Curtis and Judith Schuler |
The most highly recommended book from all of our already-parent or
pregnant friends! Really like the drawings of what the baby looks like
each week. Each chapter covers one week in your pregnancy, including:
~Baby's growth and development ~Mother's growth and
development ~How mother's actions affect baby ~Nutrition and
exercise guidelines ~Full discussion of medicines and medical tests
a mother may encounter, for herself or baby ~Health
precautions ~Information on specific conditions
~Tip-of-the-week |
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Book Club |
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The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-To-Day Guide to a
Healthy and Happy Pregnancy
by A. Christine Harris, PhD |
Fantastic! "Nothing makes it easier to connect with your growing baby
than knowing exactly what magical development is happening every day.
Filling the need for practical information, medical data, emotional and
spiritual fuel, and even "pregnancy trivia," this is easily one
of the best books available for a woman or couple expecting a baby. The
journal contains about half a page of information for each day from
conception through delivery. Nutrition, how to avoid discomforts
associated with pregnancy, childbirth customs in other cultures, and
practical parenting tips are among the topics touched on. Many days in the
journal have a great section called "Did You Know"; for example,
from Day 49: "The baby's arms at this point are only as long as this
printed 1." At the bottom of each page is a quote from a literary or
historical figure; some are sentimental, some pithy, some humorous, all
inspiring." |
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Getting Ready for Baby: The Ultimate Organizer for
the Mom-To-Be
by Helene Tragos Stelian |
While we never actually filled this book out, all of the checklists,
tables, and note sections are awesome. Everything you need to buy, all of
the phone numbers and information you need to have put together - it's all
presented concisely, so you won't leave anything out or forget anything
important. Even though we didn't have a need for every single topic or
checklist, overall we found it valuable. |
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For the men: |
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Daddy Smarts: A Guide for Rookie Fathers
by
Bradley G. Richardson |
The first that JB read. Reads like an
instruction manual and is funny, yet practical. Straightforward coverage
from talking about when to start trying to get pregnant through bringing
baby home from the hospital. |
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Book Club |
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Your Pregnancy For The Father-To-Be: Everything You
Need To Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth, And Getting Ready For Your New
Baby
by Dr. Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler |
Very good reference book. Covers all the basics, opening with a very
useful table that breaks down topics (with page numbers) into "The
Good Part," "You May Have to Help Your Partner Deal With"
and "Pay Attention to" by trimester, around labor and delivery,
and finally at home with the baby. |
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Book Club |
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A Guy's Guide to Pregnancy: Preparing for Parenthood
Together
by Frank Mungeam |
HORRID! DO NOT BUY! We would return it...had we not only spent $0.59 on it
in the first place. This terrible book treats men like rude, purely
self-centered, uninterested idiots. It talks to fathers-to-be as if they
are going to be put out and annoyed by the entire pregnancy experience.
This book tries to be funny, but instead falls way short, ending up being
flat out insulting. |
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