Two hits and a miss

Happy New Year to all readers.


Okay, first the miss.  I was traveling recently and had extra time to spend in the airport.  Rather than buy a book I just got ideas for future books to read and then have put them on my library list.  The first of these books was Ego is the Enemy.   This book sounded interesting and I thought I'd give it a try.  The basic premise of the book is that one doesn't have to be an egoist to be successful and then continues to tell one how to get control of your own ego.  I read the first few chapters but this book never caught on with me.  I'm in no danger of becoming a superstar in whatever field I venture into.  This just wasn't pertinent to my life and so I freed up my reading time for something else.

That something else was The Magnolia Story.   If you've ever enjoyed the HGTV show "Fixer Upper", then I think you'll like this book as well.  The Magnolia story chronicles the lives of Chip and Joanna Gaines from when they first met until approximately early 2016.   They certainly seem to be the same, down to earth, fun people they are on the show.  As either Chip or Joanna tell their part of the story, the type face changes.  I thought that was a great way to help identify who was talking in the book.  In my library system, this book is classified as a biography and I'd agree.  There is little in the way of decorating tips or business advice.  I'm glad I checked it out from my library as it doesn't seem a book I'll want to re-read.  None the less, I enjoyed reading it and definitely recommend it to fans of the show.

My second hit is a book called So Long A Letter,  by Mariama Ba.  I can't recall exactly where I found this recommended but it may have been on a list of African Literature.  So Long A Letter, is a work of fiction.  It tells the story of Ramatoulaye , writing to her college friend and describing her life after the death of her husband.  I found it fascinating to read on several levels.  First was the story of this woman, somewhat like me, as a wife and mother and how those roles were important to her.  Secondly was the view into a post-colonial Senegal and the Muslim culture there as it effected her marriage and the start of her widow-hood.   If Ramatoulaye was a real person, I would like to know her and have her as a friend.  The insights the author presents as the character talks about changing roles of women in the society, dealing with religious strictures, being a mother, even her love for her bigamist husband are interesting to anyone regardless of their culture and status in life.  It is a relatively short book and well worth your time.

The Compound Effect

I'm taking a goal setting course for 2017.  This book, The Compound Effect was mentioned in an aside and I picked it up to read at my local library.
It's a short book, a quick read but if you're ready to make some changes in your life, this is a good place to start.  It is under 200 pages, including references and includes links to the author's website that are still active even though the book was published in 2010.
Mr. Hardy starts with the example of would you rather have $3 million today or 1 cent today that doubles every day for a month.  He goes on to show how small changes in what we do can, OVER TIME, have large effects.   For example, cutting out 100 calories per day won't cause you to lose "10 lbs in a week" but you might lose 10 lbs in a year, relatively easily.
Not only does the book cover personal, physical changes but finances, motivation and how those you surround yourself with affect you.
If you're interested in trying to change your life, don't wait for New Years, pick up this book today.

A short quick review

Like everyone else, I've been busy lately so here is one really short review. At the beginning of November, our book club read Graced and Gifted by Kimberly Hahn.  Chosen and Cherished is the first in the series and Beloved and Blessed is the third and final book.  Our consensus was that this was a great book but less applicable to us, older women.
The chapters are short and easy to read and the book is set up as a multi - week study.  A great option if your group meets weekly.  This book also would make a great wedding present for a young woman in your parish.  Kimberly shares several stories from her life to illustrate her points.  Even though the target audience seems to be for women just beginning their vocation as wives, it is still worth reading if you are not.  I just wouldn't suggest it as a one and done book club selection.