Day 13: The Women of Pemberley

This book is really good, and yes-it is a sequel written by a Jane Austen fan. A continuation of Pride & Prejudice, and apparently a part of a Series called The Pemberley Chronicles. I didn't know until I got home from the library that this book is actually book 2 of the series...I have no idea what the first one is. But it's still interesting and I like it very much. If you are either a hopeless romantic or a Jane Austen fan, you will like this book. A shout out to hopeless romantics everywhere-Huzzah! Another thing-If you are one of this club, you will also like Letters to Juliet, a movie that just came out today...I saw it and shed a tear or two. Don't worry, it's not sad--it just reminds us what we all really want--love. So if your in the mood for some romance, history and social repartee, this is a great book to fulfill those needs. No matter what, if you have joined me on this journey, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have so far. I will keep you updated, as always, and as my good friends and confidantes: Adieu, mais seul maintenant (Goodbye, but only for now!)!

Day 12: The Sandwich Swap & The Undone Fairytale

These are two different books, by the way...just so you don't get confused. Both of them are really good....
The first book, The Sandwich Swap, is about two girls who are best friends who think each other's sandwich is gross. They don't say anything until they get angry at each other and start a food fight....I won't tell you the rest, but it's actually a pretty cute book. The second book, The Undone Fairytale, is really funny...as the book progresses the illustrator is painting each page and you find him in the book. They keep telling you to stop but of course you don't and chaos ensues! This book is definitely a nod to illustrators...in fact, I was thinking of my sister Liz the entire time I was reading it...It's really fun and will make you smile. By the way, I keep wanting to say this-Just because a book is short doesn't mean it can't mean something important or bring you to some place better than you were. Just remember that as I'm doing this. I hope you all have a great day, and if your running the 100 with me, keep going....I'm right beside ya!

Day 11: As a Man Thinketh

There is a lot of wisdom in this book...I would suggest this to anyone who is looking for ways to live a happier life. This is what I learned:

-Our thoughts create our circumstances; if we think good thoughts we create good circumstances, and if we think bad thoughts, we create bad circumstances.
-Love, sacrifice and service are the ways to find peace and happiness, no matter the circumstances we may be in.
-Cherish your visions, cherish your dreams...If you want them bad enough and do all you can to achieve them, they will come to pass.
-Listen to music that inspires you.
-Thought precedes action, good or bad.
-Look for the beauty that surrounds you-in nature and in people.
-"Into your hands will be placed the results of your own thoughts..."
-"The calm man, knowing how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others...The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater his success, his influence, his power for good."
-"Say unto your heart 'Peace, be still!' "

Day 10: Tyrannosaurus was a Beast by Jack Prelutsky

Today has already been a really tough day for me....tough on the job hunt, I didn't get enough sleep last night, I want to burn a book I'm working on and I feel swindled...not robbed, swindled. Those are two very different things, by the way. Anyway, so to counter all this, I read this book that I loved when I was a kid...It was my brother's when we were little, but I went searching for it in the library and found it. It's a really funny book, and I think anyone who picks it up can't help but smile, no matter what kind of day you're having. My favorite poem in the book is "Iguanodon" and it goes like this:

Iguanodon, Iguanodon,
whatever made you fade,
you've traveled on, Iguanodon,
we wish you could have stayed.

Iguanodon, Iguanodon,
we've sought you everywhere
both here and yon, Iguanodon,
but failed to find you there.

Iguanodon, Iguanodon,
you were a gentle kind,
but now you're gone, Iguanodon,
and left your bones behind.

For children and adults alike, I definitely want to suggest this as one you want in your library. Hope all is well with you and I hope you can find some gladness wherever you are.

Day 9: The Bell Witch

I love all types of folklore, and so when I picked up this book from the library this afternoon, I was really excited. It is a poltergiest set around the town of Red River in Tennessee called "The Bell Witch" because it tormented a family named the Bells. The most interesting thing about this book is that it is actually a memoir, given to the author and prepared for publication. The facts are real, set down from letters and especially the account of Richard Powell, a man who actually lived and sent this account to his daughter to set before the world. The narrative and conclusion are so well built and shocking that I was riveted to the end trying to figure this one out...Definitely a Halloween type story, if you're into that sort of thing. As soon as I started reading this book, I immediately remembered a folklore class I took in college, but I feel this deserves more than just a nod because it is a memoir. I am sure that the story of the "Bell Witch" up until the time this book came out was swiftly transferred from truth to legend, as most folklore does, but then this remarkable story, and the truth behind it, came to light. How interesting the human condition, and what we do for protection of ourselves. our families, and our lives.

Day 8: The Tree House by Kathleen Jamie

This is a book I had never read before and found randomly on my shelf in Salt Lake. Apparently it's my mom's, who read it while in a Scottish reading group a while back. By the way, Happy Mother's day to every good woman who wants to make a difference in the world...this day is for you. Anyway, the book is a poetry collection from the British Isles. I don't know if it was the language gaps or cultural misunderstanding, but there are some poems that I didn't understand because I didn't understand the words she was using. They are, however, I am sure linguistically interesting, especially the origins. Therefore, for your education and pleasure, I provide some of the words, and a verse or two that I like.

Smirr-There is no dictionary definition available for this word, but the closest thing they could come up with was Smore...:)

Acequias-An irrigation ditch; a southwest Americanism derived from Spanish

Sluice- n: An artificial channel for conducting water, often fitted with a gate (sluice gate) at the upper end for regulating the flow.
v: to let out water by or as if by opening a sluice
It is of Latin origin, a part of Old French that mixed into Middle English, and has lingered on to this day.

Rock rose- Any plant of the genus Cistus or some allied genus

Pipistrelles- any of the numerous insectivorous bats of the genus Pipstrellus of Europe and Asia
It is of Italian origin pipistrello, then transferred to the French language.

Sphegnum- any soft moss of the genus Sphagnum, occurring chiefly in bogs, used for potting and packing plants, dressing wounds etc.
Originally from the Greek sphagnos, meaning moss

Souterrain- A subterranean passage or structure; grotto
Of the French origin meaning underground.

Brindled- adj: gray or tawny with darker streaks or spots
Alteration of brinded, meaning grizzled, speckled, etc.

And finally, a verse that I particularly liked from a poem called "The Bower":

And listing deep,
in the entailed estate,
sure only of its need
to annunciate.

Day 7: The Valley of Fear

Another Sherlock novel, this is one written much like A Study in Scarlet. where there is a second story, a past life that plays deeply into the present, and really Sherlock and Watson come in only when the present is written....Sherlock still definitely solves the case, but the past which he is not a part of has played an integral part. It is a really interesting way to write, but can be a little confusing at times, even for me. That's all except two that I have read of the Sherlock Holmes series, and I'm as big a fan as ever. I also heard that Brad Pitt was going to play the part of Professor Moriarty in the sequel to the movie of Sherlock Holmes-"WHAT?!" was my first reaction...still trying to wrap my head around that one. I never saw Brad Pitt as a maniachal math professor (and yes, that is EXACTLY what Moriarty is.), nor did I ever think of him as sinister enough....I guess we shall see. But at least for now know that I keep myself at bay for this one, and no matter what I will always be a fan of the original books. If you are a fan, this is a read for you.