Another Month Has Escaped Me!

It's been another month since I last posted....I just can't get a handle on staying up to date with my blog. Oh! I have high hopes for this coming month! We've been pretty busy around these parts, but mostly just healthy and happy and we can't complain about that! I've been trying to read a bunch since my ward book club is meeting this week at my house to choose books for the year. I have read 2 pretty great books in the past month and in the middle of my third.

The first book I read came recommended by a friend. If anyone has ever had issues with weightloss or life loss or ever had the desire to run a marathon, this is an inspiring book. Running with Angels... is written by a woman from Utah and it's her own personal, true story. It's not the best written book I've ever read and towards the end of the book, she tends to repeat herself, but she does have quite an amazing story!

Austenland is a really great book that came recommend by Matt's brilliant, English Edu. major, cousin in Milwaukee (or wherever she is, I never can get it straight!)-Katie! She is always reading fun books and Austenland was a great recommendation. Thanks Katie! Barnes and Noble describes the book best..."In 32-year-old singleton Jane Hayes's mind, no man in the world can measure up to Fitzwilliam Darcy—specifically the Fitzwilliam played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Jane is forced to confront her Austen obsession when her wealthy great-aunt Carolyn dies and leaves her an all-expenses-paid vacation to Pembrook Park, a British resort where guests live like the characters in Jane's beloved Austen novels. Jane sees the trip as an opportunity for one last indulgence of her obsession before she puts it "all behind her—Austen, men, fantasies, period," but the lines between reality and fiction become pleasantly blurred as Jane acclimates to the world of Spencer jackets and stringent etiquette rules, and finds herself torn between the Darcyesque Mr. Nobley and a forbidden tryst with Pembrook Park's gardener. Though the narrative is endlessly charming, Jane is convincing neither as a sarcastic single girl nor as a romantic idealist, and the supporting cast is underdeveloped. Nods to Austen are abundant in contemporary women's fiction, and an intriguing setup and abundant wit are not enough to make this one stand out."

READ THIS BOOK! It's easy! It's funny! It's good! Plus the author is from SLC.

So, I admit that Ana's Story is kind of a stretch when choosing a new book to read. It's written by Jenna Bush, yes, President Bush's daughter, but I thought the story might have some merit for those of us who easily get caught up in our fairly easy, non-life threatening, peaceful lives. I wanted to read something to remind me that there are people, kids all over the world suffering and I that I need to be better about recognizing the inconsistencies in our world and help others more! So, I picked up Ana's Story at Costco the other day. It's written like it's supposed to be used in a 7th grade English class, but I think the point behind it all should be worth the pain of reading a brand new, celebrity, writer....we'll see.

Those are my book reviews for now. Hopefully, I'll have some more for you soon!