Only Two?

So I'm sorely disappointed myself this past month!  I was really hoping to read all seven Narnia books since they aren't very long.  I know, I know... a bit ambitious.  But, I did finish two:

The Magician's Nephew
&
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Many of you have read the second one, so I'm not going to really same much other than it's really good!  But, how many of you have read The Magician's Nephew?  I hadn't even heard of it!  It's a fabulous book!  I'm really glad I read it first because it is the whole back story as to how Narnia was created and came to be.  I highly recommend it!

Moving on....

JULY & AUGUST'S PICK

The Count of Monte Cristo

By Alexandre Dumas

I'm giving us two months to read this one because it's so large.  i know it can be intimidating, but I really recommend reading the unabridged version - longer, but much better!  I hope you enjoy!  If you need more convincing, here is some information:
Set against the turbulent years of the Napoleonic era, Alexandre Dumas's thrilling adventure story is one of the most widely read romantic novels of all time. In it the dashing young hero, Edmond Dantès, is betrayed by his enemies and thrown into a secret dungeon in the Chateau d'If -- doomed to spend his life in a dank prison cell. The story of his long, intolerable years in captivity, his miraculous escape, and his carefully wrought revenge creates a dramatic tale of mystery and intrigue and paints a vision of France -- a dazzling, dueling, exuberant France -- that has become immortal.

Not related at all...

So this post has nothing to do with books, but I thought that you might be intersted in joining me for a little competition. Go here to see what it's all about!  I'd love to have you join! :)

Sorry...

Sorry I missed out on May, but now I'm back!

I had knee surgery and just wasn't up to posting anything. 

Anyway... on to June's pick.

So I thought that for this month I would go a little broader and actually let you pick too.  I know this isn't making much sense, so I'll just say it:

The Chronicles of Narnia

by C.S. Lewis

Since there are SEVEN books, I figured you could choose to read any one of them.  I'm going to try to read them all since they aren't that long. Here's the whole list of them:

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Prince Caspian: Return to Narnia

The Voyage of The Dawn Treader

The Silver Chair

The Horse and His Boy

The Magician's Nephew

The Last Battle

So take your pick and ENJOY!!

A little Late, but APRIL'S PICK

So, I've read this book before, but it's SO GOOD that I love to read it over and over!!  You can't read it TOO MANY times. :) 

The Anatomy of Peace

by

The Arbinger Institute

What is conflicts at home, work, and in the world stem from the same root cause?  What if we systematically misunderstand the cause?  And what if, as a result, we unwittingly perpetuate the very problems we think we are trying to solve?  The questions are answered in the book.

(That is part of the description from the book.  Now, I know you may be thinking... NOT a self-help book!  I know - I'm not a big fan of those cause they can often be very difficult to read and stay involved in the book. However, this book is DIFFERENT!  It tells an intriguing story of parents who are strugling with their chilfren and with problems that have come to comsume their lives, we learn the way to find peace whenever war is upon us.)

So the questions to ask yourself:

Is your heart at WAR?

Find out what I'm talking about by reading this book.  I PROMISE you won't be dissapointed!  And you'll learn so much about yourself and how you interact with eveyone in your life... EVERYONE!!

The Bride

I have to say how much i LOVED this!(the words below) What a beautiful expression of love from Buttercup.This is my favorite passage:

"There is no room in my body and mind for anything but you.  my arms love you, my ears adore you, my knees shake with blind affection.  Sweet perfect Westley, whipser that I have a chance to win your love..."

I could go on and on cause the rest is really good too.  What I wouldn't give to have lived in those days so that when those words came out of my mouth, everyone wouldn't look at my like I was CRAZY!!

That IS what i think about my own Wesley (who was actually named after Westley in this book.) he is such a hunk too :)

Anyway, this is how Westley would tell Buttercup he loved her (which is such a mans response):

"AS YOU WISH"

sweet and to the point, yet she did not understand for such a long time!

How are you enjoying the book?  Haven't read it yet and need a copy?  Let me know and you can borrow mine! :)

THE END

Wait, I'm FINISHED?!?  What a Great Read!  I didn't even realize I read it so fast. So, I guess I'll start breaking it down, section by section...

Introductions to the 25th and

30th Anniversary Editions:

We read all about the "real" author of The Princess Bride,

S. Morgenstern.

Did you know he is Fictional?  Also, Goldman wasn't married to a "Helen" and didn't have a son, but has 2 daughters. I didn't know until my husband told me and I looked it up on the internet.  What Trickery! It's amazing to me how I believed evey word he wrote.  What a clever way to use that type of literary device!

(this is William Goldman)

March Pick

(I'm just gonna keep telling myself that I'll be more successful next month, right?)

Ok, so..... I ADMIT IT!!! I failed at reading my book this month. Just NOT the right month for ME and I have to say it was a HARD book to get INTO!  Do YOU agree?  Or did you FINISH it?  I'd LOVE to know if you did and what you thought about it.

So I'm turning a NEW PAGE (get it? - I know I'm cheesy) and starting FRESH with March!

After much proding, poking, hints and comments - ALL from my husband - the book for March is....

The Princess Bride
by
William Goldman

Most of us have seen the movie. But how many of us have actually read the book?  I haven't!  My husband says it's really good - and I'm a sucker for a love story with some action too.  I think I'll be much better at reading this book. 

Good Luck and Have Fun!