I had time to read a book?

Dear Friends & Fellow Bloggers,

I just finished reading the most charming book. Okay, charming(?) is that the right word? How about, the most enjoyable book? No, that's not right either... Hmmmm, *checking thesaurus* entertaining? No, that's not quite right. Pleasant? Alright, how about the most pleasantly entertaining, enjoyable read I've had in a long while. Guys, this may be more of a chick book, but maybe not. I don't know, I'll have to see if I can get my husband to read it and get back to you on that. Huh? What's that? The title of the book you ask?

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by, Mary Ann Shaffer
and Annie Barrows

(I know, it a mouthful. Just ask your bookseller or librarian for the 'Guernsey book' or the 'Potato Peel Pie book'.)

The format of the book is made up of letters written back and forth between the characters. Thus the reason why I'm using that very same format to blog about the book, though MUCH LESS eloquently.

You can read a brief synopsis of the book here, by a fellow blogger. I think she liked the book too! I intend to poke around the web some more to see if I can find a review by anyone who DIDN'T like it.

So kind of hard to believe I had time to read, what with all the damn painting I've been doing. Actually it's hard to believe I can even muster up the strength to type with the claw my right hand has become from being wrapped around a paint brush and roller for the past two days. But yeah, one has to do SOMETHING to occupy ones time while waiting for paint to dry.

Speaking of the bathroom project. I've been asked about pictures... As in photos of the HIDEOUSNESS that was the FORMER paint color. Nope! didn't take any pics because believe me, it was best left forgotten and NO Mike, a few days time wasn't going to make that ice cream shop/asylum green even remotely manageable. I will however consider posting pics when the project is completed. I say CONSIDER because there's just something a bit off to me, about releasing pictures of the room I use to uh, powder my nose, for all the internet to view.

In conclusion, the master bath is now a lovely hue of green, my arm should be in a sling and if you're looking for a really good book, you now have my endorsement on 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.' So don't walk, RUN to your car and... Wait! Grab your keys first, you're not going to get very far without those. Did you remember your wallet because your library card is probably in there or at least the cash you'll need to purchase the book at the store. C'mon, do I have to help you with EVERYTHING? Here's the cover of the book so you'll know what to look for:
Now, aren't you glad you dropped into The Paper Treehouse?

Happy Reading!
Embee

Books I've Read, Books I'm Reading & Books I'd Like to Send Back to the Author, Along With a Bill for the Waste of Time & Money Spent...

My thanks to mrs.romero for inspiring this post.

Please note: Before you go through my list of love/hate literature, I am completely aware that a book one woman/man loves, might be the very same book another woman/man completely loathes. That's the beauty of this world... We're all different and I can completely accept that... However, it's important to know that I am always right!... Especially here, in my own little corner of the web.

Books I've Read:
No self respecting 'Doocefan' can call themselves a 'Doocefan', if they haven't read this book. Now a die-hard 'Doocefan' probably would have sent their copy of the book to Heather Armstrong herself for an autograph... And an, "I'll be a 'Doocefan' 'til the day I die", 'Doocefan' would've bought an airline ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah for her book signing yesterday. Me, I just bought the book at the local Border's and read it. I'm not some wacked out blog fan that warrants a restraining order... BUT, I do have a 'Dooce' t-shirt!

I enjoyed the majority of this book but frankly, there was just too little 'Dooce' in it. I think Heather could publish a book of entirely all her own writing and it would be just as, if not more, enjoyable.





Like remembering an old dear friend...
It's unfortunate I didn't discover this series when I was a young girl. I was introduced to Anne (with an 'e') by the PBS Wonderworks series in the mid-80's... And NO, I was no longer a young girl then, but a married woman, I'm THAT Old!!!

So what I'm sayin' is... If you've never read the series... READ IT! Anne is enjoyable at any age. And if you haven't seen the PBS series... SEE IT! It's set in what's quite possibly the most beautiful place in the world, (Prince Edward Island) during a simpler time... You can be quite sure Marilla never had to worry about Anne sending naked pictures to Gilbert via her cell phone. Then again, Marilla had to hand wash her clothes and never had the opportunity to order up dinner using only a phone and the number for Pizza Hut!





Here's a book I never would've picked up on my own accord:
I was at Border's Express one day searching for a little something to curl up in a chair with for an extended period of time. When I was approached by a clerk asking me if I needed help with anything, I KNOW, WEIRD!, right? Customer service? Who knew it even existed anymore? Anywho, I made my desire known to the saleswoman and she points me to this...

I immediately think to myself, "Oh crap! a religious book!" I know I'm taking a chance at offending the church goers among you, but let's not throw stones... Think totally oppressed religious upbringing, among the most offensive group of hypocrites you can imagine and perhaps you can cut me some slack... Okay, so back to the book.

Being the 'uber-polite, can't imagine offending someone to their face' type of woman that I am... Just consider it a given that I would've bought the book no matter how much it cost. Quite simply because I knew this gal would be ringing me up at the register and I just couldn't allow her to think I didn't trust her judgment, especially after asking for her advice!

So I schlepped home with my 'religious' book... And you know what? I LOVED it! What an amazing story of the courage, determination and resiliency of women. Hey, just try to imagine what it would be like to be thrown into a cramped tent, with a plethora of other menstruating women, in a time when tampons had yet to be invented. The hormones alone in that one tent, make it completely understandable as to why the men steered clear and thought it best to risk their lives in the dessert in search of food, even if the 'food' ate them first!

Seriously though, this book will make you proud to be a woman. I recommend reading it while you have your period... It'll make you cry.

There are so many other books I've read that I'd like to mention, but this post is already long and I haven't yet gotten to the good part...

What I'm Reading Now:
Two books actually, the first I'm reading for the class I'm currently taking...

This isn't an easy read by any stretch of the imagination. My copy has underlines, question marks & comments I've written on nearly every page I've read thus far. (which is, pg. 49 - it's not a long book, it's just really cerebral.) The point of this book is to better understand what it means to truly Love. Erich Fromm points out that a painter studies how to become a better artist. A mathematician will take courses to better understand formulas, but what of Loving? For surely Loving is an art. An art which we 'think' we know and understand. However, if the examples of love in todays music, movies & media are any testament of what we believe Love is? Then I think it's important that we get back to basics and understand its real purpose and meaning and exactly how we should go about Loving in the true sense of the word. Serious stuff, I know!

Here's something on a lighter note I'm currently reading:

I purchased this book as a birthday present for my husband. I mean, look at the title... It has his name on it! (Sorry hon, you know I mean well.) While reading the book my husband would share with me funny little tid-bits and upon completion, told me he thought I'd really enjoy it... Why? Because I'm a 'Know it All' too? No, that can't possibly be true!

Anyway, this book is Great Fun! I know it sounds like the story of a guy recounting his foray into reading the entire library of Encyclopedia Britannica from A-Z would be a veritable yawn fest, but this guy is FUNNY! Plus you learn little bits & pieces of Britannica trivia along the way without having to wade through all the exceedingly boring stuff... It's a win-win!





Finally, There's really only one book that comes to mind which I'd like to send back to the author with a bill for the expense of my time and money wasted... and I'll bet mrs. romero knows of which book I speak:

I think this was the very first book to come out of Oprah's legendary book club. After I read this piece of crap, Oprah lost all credibility with me. Sorry Oprah girl, but I feel you done me wrong and it's gonna take more than a free car to win me back.

'She's Come Undone' is the story of a FAT GIRL and her struggles with self worth. One point in the book... I don't remember it too clearly because I honestly tried so hard to forget the details after I read it... The now thin, formerly FAT GIRL sees a beached whale rotting on the shore and cries because you know, she can like totally relate.

Let me just say this... Wally Lamb (the author) is a MAN... I'm sorry but until Mr. Lamb's dick falls off and he somehow sprouts boobs and a vagina, he has only one really short leg to stand on... And that one (very short) leg, certainly won't give him the perspective he needs to write about a woman and her struggles with weight, her sexuality or her self-worth... And that my friends is exactly why this book sucks!

So there you go... Book Review ala The Paper Treehouse. I can see you are now weary and ready to move on to the next blog... So I'll wait until next week to share with you a couple of other books on my fav's list... Happy Reading!