The Company We Keep: A Husband-and-Wife True-Life Spy Story
I purchased the book and began reading it . . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited for some action.
I was sorely disappointed by the lack of action and adventure in the lives of these real life spys. In my mind, I imagined shoot-outs, car chases, lots of running {with really cool weapons}, dying hair in a grungy bathroom, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, etc. You get the idea.
Go ahead. Laugh at me. ::snort::
Instead, there was a lot of waiting, stake outs, waiting, watching, waiting, sometimes interaction, blending in and more waiting. Often times these agents would never know the outcome of their mission. It would be months or even years later before the intel would be used and they may or may not ever know.
Despite the fact that the book was vastly different than what I expected, it was well-written and informative; however, I wouldn’t recommend it.
The Thorn Birds
It’s a story of family, perseverance, disappointment, passions, heartbreak, pride and so much more.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down. The storyline completely sucked me in. But . . . I hated how things panned out in the end. I prefer pretty endings. Happy endings. I like things tied up with a pretty blue bow. You don’t get that with this book. It’s raw. It’s real. Just as in life, things don’t always have the ending we hope for.
Sigh.
It makes me sad just thinking about it all over again.
Having said that, if you’re looking for a page turner for this summer, I would recommend this.
Note: This is not for the younger crowd because there is some slight use of language and adult situations.
Six Ways to Keep the “Little” in Your Girl: Guiding Your Daughter from Her Tweens to Teens
This book was both encouraging and convicting. The author talks at length about how to teach our daughters to view themselves properly. As a caveat to that, we as mom have to view ourselves properly first before we can help them. Ouch! I’ll be the first to admit I have a bad habit of nitpicking my body and all the imperfections I see.
These are the six points she’s makes:
{1} Give Her the Right Dolls to Play With
{2} Celebrate Her Body by Punctuating Her Period
{3} Unplug Her from a Plugged-in World
{4} Unbrand Her When the World Tries to Buy and Sell Her
{5} Become the Carpool Queen and Sleepover Diva
{6} Dream with Her About Her Prince
If you’re looking for some guidance in raising your daughter in her tween/teen years, I would highly recommend this. It’s a quick read that you’ll want to refer back to frequently.
8 Great Dates for Moms and Daughters: How to Talk About True Beauty, Cool Fashion, and…Modesty! 
My plan is to use one date idea a month with my girl.
Each date focuses on a certain theme.
Here a just a few: Your Beauty in God’s Eyes, Real Physical Beauty, The Source of Beauty, etc. Some of the dates include a tea party, shopping with friends, a visit to an art museum, and a facial.
If you’re on a tight budget, she gives you some budget-friendly alternatives.
I’m really excited about this.
I’ve felt for a while now that I need help in nurturing my relationship with my girl. I hope I stick with this all the way through. Fingers crossed.
Oh, I just had an idea! Maybe one, two or more of you would be interested in doing this “together” with me. Anyone? Anyone? Shoot me an e-mail.
Do the Work
It was just the get-you-motivated-kick-in-the-pants that I needed for my photography. I have been hemming and hawing for over a year now with Melissa gently nudging me along.
Steven Pressfield’s book was like a shot of adrenaline in the arm.
He shakes you up and makes you view things differently. He takes on those things that keep us from fulfilling our dreams. He takes away the excuses we use and exposes them for what they are ~ excuses.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do? Something you’ve dreamed about but fear is holding you back?
Are you ready to push through and do the work?
Check this book out. It’s short, sweet and succinct.
Note: There is some slight language.
168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think
I have been feeling overwhelmed for a while now. Overwhelmed not by how much I have to do, but with how much I’m not getting done. Whenever I feel like this, life seems almost unbearable. I get grumpy and depressed. Depressed and grumpy. Then, I call Melissa and cry on her shoulder. She listens without judgment while I wallow in self-pity and loathing. ::snort:: Am I alone in this?
I remembered reading a review of this book over on Money Saving Mom’s site earlier this year. I went back and re-read it and decided that was what I needed.
I already knew I had enough time to get everything done I need to get done. I was frustrated because of how poorly I was managing my time.
I waste so much time doing stuff. Just stuff. Stuff I forget about after the fact because it’s so unimportant. Stuff that doesn’t benefit my greater goals: a happy and fulfilled marriage, loved children, a thriving photography business, a healthy lifestyle, and times of leisure to savor life before it passes me by.
I look forward to diving deeper into this book and I hope it gets me back on track. Or better.
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So, what about you? Read any good books lately?
P. S. All of the book links are affiliate links. If you click on them and chose to purchase something, I will earn a small percent from Amazon. Really small. But, not so small I can’t not say something. Follow?
Id love to check out the mother/daughter dates book. My 7 yrd old is always asking me if we can just have a girls night. So this would be perfect!
xo
I have been looking for a good read this summer…my friend says I must read The Hunger Games…have you read those?
girl! if you haven’t read the hunger games, start right now! Loved it!
OK Ruthanne, while I’m intrigued by all of your reviews, you have me most interested in the 168 hrs book. I may add it to my summer list. I too need to feel less stressed and put a little more leisure back into my lifestyle. Thanks for the reviews!
I think you would enjoy 168 hours . . . not so much the other books. snort
This is awesome! Thank you! Definitely going to check out the mother daughter books, because like you I want a good strong relationship with mr little one
I’ll totally do the date night thing with you over email!
i love all things jodi piccoult, i just finished reading her latest book, sing you home. it was very interesting, as all of her books are and it seems like i always learn something about a new culture or a new type of lifestyle. she makes me tilt my head a little and look at life differently, as she gives the perspectives of all of the characters involved in the story. i was in tears by the end.
and i also just finished (yesterday) nicholas sparks’, safe haven. i could not put it down, pretty much the way it goes with all of his books. read it is all that i can say.
@danielle, the hunger games is amazing! probably the best series i have read for young adults (but a good read for adults too). i teach 8th grade reading and it is one book that i never thought i would like, but can’t get kids to put down and i don’t blame them. it leaves you wanting more.
another great young adult read is jay asher’s 13 reasons why. it makes you stop and think. about what you say and what you do and how you act and how those things can all have an impact on one person and you might not even know it. it was good.
my list could go on and on…but i will stop and go check out the thorn birds instead, that one seems very intriguing.
please keep doing these posts, i love finding new books to read that i might not have ever heard of before!
i have never read any of jodi’s books. are they sad?
i have a love/hate thing with sparks. i’ve read his books and they always make me cry. i hate it. ha!
The first book – maybe you should read the books about Jason Bourne? It fits your description of jumping rooftops and dyeing hair in grungy bathrooms. The Thorn Birds was a mini-series when Donnie and I were first married in the early 80′s. I made sure I was home each week to see the next part. I cried at the end. Then I ran out and borrowed the book from the library. Loved it. Maybe I need to read it again.
Right now I’ve just begun “Romancing Miss Bronte”. It’s looking pretty good so far. And if you’ve never read it you have to read “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers.
redeeming love is one of my favs!
and i’ve read the bourne books. goood!
ooohhhh, the Thornbirds sounds up my alley! i ‘review’ books quite often (okay, i just give my uneducated opinion;))
snort
i think that’s what i did today, too. ;D
i almost always end up crying when i read a sparks book, but they are so good!
and i am sure you have heard of the movie, my sister’s keeper?! picoult wrote it, along with so many other good ones…
the pact (like a modern day romeo and juliet)
19 minutes (about a school shooting)
house rules (autism)
change of heart (death row and donating organs)
plain truth (amish community)
sing you home (gay marriage/adoption and musical therapy)
she has so many more and once you read one, you will want to read more. they are sad, but very real life and almost always deal with some sort of murder mystery that leaves you wanting to find out what happens. you will learn so much with each read and get each side of the story, sometimes leaving you questioning what you thought about one person’s point of view that you just got done reading. try one of her books out and lemme know what you think!
i am definitely going to add those dannah gresh books to my collection. i’ve read a couple of her books and really enjoyed them.
i just finished monkey town by rachel held evans. great book!!! and i’m reading the creative family now by amanda blake soule!!
thanks for sharing all the reviews! i love to see what others are reading and what they are learning !
take care!!
Danna Gresh’s books are all really good. And The Bride Wore White is great about teaching girls about authentic purity.
love dannah gresh!
the thorn birds looks interesting to me-thanks!
this summer, i am re-reading “sacred marriage” by gary thomas and “watership down” and maybe start the “hunger games”-i keep hearing how fabulous the series is:)