Rest In Peace Aunt Cathy

There will be no blog about books today.  On Tuesday my Mom's older sister died, and we said goodbye to her today...not forever though, just for a little while.  We'll see her again.





Cathy Tyree Pointer Piper
09/19/1955-07/12/2011



Audio Books Anyone?---Thirteen Reason Why by Jay Asher

I finished the audio book version of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher last night.

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

From http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/:

"Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers."

Wow, what can I say?  I listened while I cleaned the house.  I listened as I did laundry.  I listened while I cooked supper, and I finished it in bed last night.  I couldn't stop listening.  You hear two voices all through the book--Clay's and Hannah's.  Some of it was hard to listen to.  Some of it was creepy.  A lot of it was sad.  I just wanted to yell at everyone in the book--can't you see she needs help?--I wanted to plead with Hannah--just wait! It will get better.

She was very confused.  I believe it's fairly obvious that Hannah had issues long before she came to the new school and met the 13 people on the tape.  All of those people did wrong, but she allowed herself to be treated that way in the beginning which leads me to believe that she had deeper problems than she was willing to let us in on, one of which I am sure was low self-esteem.  I hold the adults in the book most responsible.  They should have seen, but then again I know it's not always that simple.

I don't know if I would call a book about a teen girl's suicide a "good" book.  It's a book that makes you think.  It makes me think of girls I knew in school, the teenage girls in my life now, and the teenage girl my daughter will become.  I think it boils down to the all important SELF-ESTEEM.  If girls have a high self-esteem, even when bad things happen they'll be ok in the end.  But low self-esteem opens the doors to all kinds of dangers.  Yep, this book made me think, and I couldn't stop listening.

Ten Books I Thought I'd Never Read

I have to admit that I have been a little narrow minded over the years when it comes to the books I've chosen to read.  I like to read classics and historical fiction, and with a few exceptions that's what I've read.  My eyes were opened however when I discovered blogging.  I found some blogs that I really like, and started paying close attention to what each blogger was reading.  The past two books I've read were books recommended by bloggers, and I haven't been disappointed.  I suddenly realized that I've missed out on a lot of good reading because of my book snobbery.  I desperately need to broaden my horizons, and learn a little something in the process.  That's how I got the idea for the series of posts--Ten Books I Thought I'd Never Read.

My plan is to take ten book genres that I'm normally not interested in, choose a well known and well liked book from that genre, read it, and blog about it along the way.  I want to make this very clear--I am in no way saying that the books I choose are bad books!  They are just books that usually wouldn't find their way onto my reading list.

The first six books are books that I have or can get my hands on now.  They are...

Romance (Ughh! This is going to be a hard one)
I usually avoid romance novels at all costs, but when I decided to do this series I went to Wal-Mart to see what I could find.  There was a lot to choose from, so I decided my approach would be to pick the one with the silliest name.  My pick for the romance genre will be Pregnant by the Playboy Tycoon.

Source:  www.librarything.com

Westerns
I used to work at our county library, and when I think of westerns, I think of the little old men that would check them out and return them by the bag full.  Even I know that the king of the western genre is Louis L'Amour, so my pick for the western genre will be Hondo.

Source:  www.goodreads.com

Mystery
I don't dislike mysteries.  It's just seems like there's always something else to read.  My choice for the mystery genre is of course Agatha Christie's, Murder on the Orient Express.



Source:  My Photo

 Military
I absolutely love our military, and I love military movies from past to present.  My favorite movie of all time is the Civil War movie, Glory.  The movie, Black Hawk Down haunted me for days making me feel ashamed of my trivial day to day worries when so many of our service men and women face life and death every minute.  Military books though, are just something I've never read.  The book I chose for the military genre is Tom Clancy's, The Teeth of the Tiger.  How did I choose that book?  I was going through my bookshelves the other day, and there it was.  I don't know when I got it or where it came from.

Source:  www.lookatbowen.com

True Crime
I'm not at all happy about this one, but I feel I must.  The book I chose from the true crime genre is Truman Capote's In Cold Blood.  Beth has it and says I can borrow it.

Source:  www.wikipedia.org

Celebrity Memoir
I don't think I'll mind this one too much.  The book I chose from the celebrity memoir genre is My Story by Marilyn Monroe.  It is currently on it's way to me from Amazon.com.



Source:  http://www.google.com/


I'm pretty sure I know what the next four books will be, but I don't have them yet.  They could change if I can't find them when I need them.  They are...

Horror
I scare easily, so I don't read much horror.  I don't do hard-core horror movies either.  "The Others" with Nicole Kidman is about as scary as I'll go.  I'm not happy about this one either.  The book I'm going to try to find for the horror genre is, I Am Legend.

Source:  www.goodreads.com

Chic-Lit
This genre just doesn't appeal to me.  I'm by no means a girly-girl, but who knows, maybe I'm in for a nice surprise.  The book I'm going to try to find for this genre is Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Source:  www.barnesandnoble.com

Sports Fiction
I like sports, but this is a genre that I've read little of.  The only sports fiction I can remember reading is The Legend of Bagger Vance, and I didn't finish it.  I just didn't like it.  I'm hoping for better luck with my pick for this genre, For Love of the Game.

Source:  www.goodreads.com

Science Fiction
I'm afraid I may be biting off more than I can chew with this one, but here goes...the book I chose for the science fiction genre is The Book of the New Sun.

Source:  http://www.amazon.com/

I may or may not blog about this series every day.  I'll just have to see how it goes, but I will blog about it on a regular basis.  The title for posts concerning this series will always be "Ten Books I Thought I'd Never Read:_________________".   I'll fill in the blank with whatever book I'm talking about at that particular time.  It should be fun, and I hope you like it.  Wish  me luck!

If you've read any of the books on this list, comment and let me know what you thought about them.  No spoilers please...

Have You Ever Been to Asheville, North Carolina?

I'm currently reading Cold Mountain, and I'm really liking it.  I know I'm a bit behind because it came out years ago, and there's all ready a movie about it.  It's on my reading list though, and last time I was at the library I checked it out.

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

Cold Mountain was written by Charles Frazier, and in 1997 he won a National Book Award for it.  He also received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Sue Kaufman Award for First Fiction.

Charles Frazier
Source:  http://www.museum.unc.edu/

Frazier was born on November 4, 1950 in Asheville, North Carolina.  In doing research about Frazier I visited the Asheville, North Carolina Tourism Site.  According to their site Asheville was a primitive outpost in 1797, amounting to a crossroads of Native American trails, on which men like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett traveled.  In 1880 everything changed with the arrival of the railroad.

Today Asheville is a beautiful, bustling, tourist destination with lots to see and do.

George Vanderbilt, a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family starting building his home there in the 1880's.  The Vanderbilt's were wealthy due to their various businesses such as steamboats and railroads.

George Vanderbilt
Source:  http://www.wikipedia.org/

George Vanderbilt built what is now known as the Biltmore Estate on the 12,000 acres he purchased in Asheville.



Biltmore Estate
Source:  http://www.exploreasheville.com/


Author, Thomas Wolfe, was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and he used his hometown as the setting in his book Look Homeward, Angel.  You can visit the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site while in Asheville.

Thomas Wolfe
Source:  http://www.jimpoz.com/

Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site
Source:  http://www.exploreasheville.com/

Some other Asheville historic attractions are:

Asheville Art Museum
Asheville Ghost Trolley
Asheville Historic Trolley Tours
Asheville Urban Trail
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Cherokee Excursions
North Carolina Arboretum

I had heard of Asheville, North Carolina, but I never knew it was full of so many things to see and do.  We will definitely be taking a trip there in the near future.  I'm especially interested in the Biltmore, America's largest home.

I expect to finish Cold Mountain today, and I'm really excited about a new series of posts I'm going to start tomorrow called, "Ten Books I Thought I'd Never Read".  Come back tomorrow and check it out!

Audio Books Anyone???

I have never been one to listen to audio books.  In fact there are only two things I've listened to on audio book--The Word of Promise New Testament Audio NKJV Bible and The Shack by Wm. Paul Young.

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We found this New Testament Audio Book one day while we were just browsing through Family Christian Stores.  If you've never visited a Family Christian Store you should check it out.  Lots of great stuff there--beautiful Bibles, books, music, toys, clothes, and lots more. 

I always enjoy listening to this, and we actually gave several copies of it to family members for Christmas a few years ago.  Everyone seems to like it, and listen to it.  My Step-father is a truck driver and has listened to the entire 20 CD set at least 11 times.

Source:  http://www.thomasnelson.com/

From Thomas Nelson...

"Hear the Bible Come Alive in Dramatic Audio Theater™!
This multi-voiced, scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) features a star-studded cast of actors, an original music score, and incredible feature film quality sound effects. This world-class production creates a dramatic audio theater experience that makes you feel like you’re really there with Jesus and His disciples. Listen in your car, on your MP3 player, or with your family or small group to gain a new perspective of the Bible.
The Word of Promise® New Testament Audio Bible is a 20-CD set and includes a bonus “Behind-the-Scenes” DVD.
Cast Includes:

• Jim Caviezel (The Passion of The Christ, Déjà vu) - Jesus
• Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss (Mr. Holland's Opus, The Goodbye Girl) - Quotes from Moses
• Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, What Women Want) - Mary Magdalene
• Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach (Prison Break, Hemingway) - Paul
• Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Louis Gossett, Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman, Roots) - John
• Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim, Father of the Bride) - Mary, Mother of Jesus"

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A couple years ago, a friend asked me if I had read The Shack.  I said no, so she offered to let me borrow her copy, which just so happened to be on CD.  I accepted and started listening to it immediately.  I couldn't stop.  I got to the last CD and realized it wasn't there, so I ran out to Wal-Mart and bought the actual book.  I finished that day, and right away gave it to my sister to read.  I let my Mom borrow it too, and now I'm glad to say it's back on my shelves.  I say glad because I suddenly have the urge to reread it.  If you've never read it, this is one you should seriously check out, but be prepared for tears.

Source:  http://www.theshackbook.com/

From the back cover of The Shack...

"Mackenzie Allen Philips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness.  Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgement he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare.  What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant THE SHACK wrestles with the timeless question:  Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?  The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him.  You'll want everyone you know to read this book?"

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Why then, since I've really enjoyed the two audio books I've listened to, don't I listen to more.  The answer is this.  I absolutely love my ol' traditional books.  I love the feel of a book in my hand.  I love being able to see the progress I'm making as my bookmark makes its way through the book.  Oh, and I love bookmarks!  No technology is required, and I can sit in the peace and quiet and just read.  I also feel like reading exercises my brain more...if that makes sense.

I am, however, planning to incorporate audio books into my book life.  I think it may be a way to fit more books in each year.  So last night I went on Itunes and downloaded 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  I know nothing about this book.  It was Audio Book of the month and $5.95 on Itunes, so I downloaded it.  Let's hope it's good.

Source:  http://www.goodreads.com/

Excerpt from Thirteen Reasons Why...

"A shoebox-sized package is propped against the front door at an angle. Our front door has a tiny slot to shove mail through, but anything thicker than a bar of soap gets left outside. A hurried scribble on the wrapping addresses the package to Clay Jensen, so I pick it up and head inside. I take the package into the kitchen and set it on the counter. I slide open the junk drawer and pull out a pair of scissors. Then I run a scissor blade around the package and lift off its top. Inside the shoebox is a rolled-up tube of bubble-wrap. I unroll that and discover seven loose audiotapes. Each tape has a dark blue number painted in the upper right-hand corner, possibly with nail polish. Each side has its own number. One and two on the first tape, three and four on the next, five and six, and so on. The last tape has a thirteen on one side, but nothing on the back. Who would send me a shoebox full of audiotapes? No one listens to tapes anymore. Do I even have a way to play them? The garage! The stereo on the workbench. My dad bought it at a yard sale for almost nothing. It's old, so he doesn't care if it gets coated with sawdust or splattered with paint. And best of all, it plays tapes. I drag a stool in front of the workbench, drop my backpack to the floor, then sit down. I press Eject on the player. A plastic door eases open and I slide in the first tape."

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When do I plan on listening to audio books?  About a month ago, I read in a blog (I'm irritated becasue I can't remember which one) that the author liked to listen to audio books while on the treadmill.  She said it helped the time pass like music or television couldn't.  Since exercise is something I REALLY need  more of, I decided I'd give that a try.  I'm also going to listen as I clean the house and do laundry.  I'll post about this again after I finish Thirteen Reason Why and let you know how it goes.

If you have a favorite book that you've listened to on audio book, leave a comment and let me know.  I'd really appreciate it!

You Might Be Surprised At What You Find

I love to travel!  I'm a big believer in exploring your own state, your own county, and even your own town.  You might be surprised at what you find if you just look!  I guarantee you'll learn something.

When I saw this book on Kentucky travel, I snatched it up.

Source:  http://www.paperbackswap.com/

There are 55 trips detailed inside, and they are broken down into regions.  They include:  Western Lakes Region,   Bluegrass, Blues,&Barbecue,  Caves, Lakes& Corvettes Region,   Southern Lakes & Rivers Region,   Kentucky Derby Region,  Bluegrass Region,   Northern Kentucky Region,   Eastern Highlands North Region,   Eastern Highlands South Region.

The trips are numbered in the book.  Trip #1 being Paducah-McCracken County and Trip #55 being Alice Lloyd College.  There's a trip to satisfy just about everyone in this book--history, museums, outdoor activities, city life, food, festivals, and concerts.

Here's some of the trips we've taken and really enjoyed:

Paducah-McCracken County (#1)
http://www.paducahtourism.org/

Source:  My Photo



 Pattie's 1800 Settlement (#2)
http://www.pattis-settlement.com/

Source:  My Photo

Bluegrass&Barbecue (#6)
http://www.visitowensboro.com/

Source:  http://www.bbqandbourban.com/

Mammoth Cave National Park (#10)
www.nps.gov/maca

Book I purchased when we visited last
Source:  http://www.amazon.com/

Louisville Zoo  (#22)
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/

Source:  My Photo



Where are your favorite places to go in Kentucky?  Leave a comment and let me know.

I'm Glad I Read It, But I'm Glad I Finished It

Yesterday I finished the book, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.  It is the story of nine year old, Oskar Schell whose father died in the World Trade Center on 9/11.  He is haunted by the messages his Dad left on that morning.  He longs to know the details of his Dad's death, and when he finds a strange key in the top of his Dad's closet, he goes on a search to find out what it unlocks.

Source:  www.goodreads.com

Jonathan Safron Foer
Source:  www.cwp.fas.nyu.edu.com

This one was hard for me to read, but that doesn't mean that I thought it was bad.  Oskar is just nine years old, and the sadness that runs through this book made it hard to enjoy.  I just felt so sorry for him.  I have to say that this is one of the strangest books I've read in a long time.  This book is totally different from what I normally read, so it took me a while to get used to the writing.  The dialogue all ran together instead of being separated by paragraphs.  I understand that it lends to the tone of the book.  It just took me a little time to get used to it.  I'm glad I read it, but I'm glad I'm finished.  I can move on to the next book.  I'm going to read Cold Mountain next, and I'm really looking forward to it.