A Book Recommendation and a Revelation

So over the Christmas break I decided to re-read a book. As you know, I am not a big re-reader of books. I've read Gone With the Wind twice, and that was about 11 years apart, and I really love that book. And then there are a handful of other books I have re-read and that's it. But I had been thinking about this book for some reason, and then it was my turn to recommend a book for book club, so I chose The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Can I just say that I LOVE this book? That is big for me to say I love a book. I like a lot of books. I have enjoyed reading and discussing lots of books. But The Book Thief is one of those books that stick with you and changes the way you look at things.

I love the writing style in The Book Thief. It took me a little bit to get use to it at first, but the narration (which is by Death) is so unique. The way he describes things you can totally see it, feel it, taste it. Feelings sit on people's shoulders. Words drop at people's feet or are handed across spaces. Suns drip. Faces look like cardboard and accordions.There are so many beautifully written passages in this book I would go back and re-read inside of my re-reading. Death is witty, too. Who knew?

I love The Book Thief because of the story it tells. I recently found out that the inspiration for it came from stories the author would hear his parents tell of their experiences as German children during World War II.  There is so much beauty mixed in with the ugly. If I were to sum up the gist of what this book is about it is about the power of words, friendship, and the best and the darkest of the human race. I knew the story, what would happen to every single person, every single event that would take place, and I still cried, I still laughed and I still felt filled up. And I'm still thinking about it.

So just trust me. Read the book. Stick with it to the end and you won't regret it.


In other news...I just made a startling realization the other night:

I am a middle-aged 

suburban housewife...

in Kansas. 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Related Much?

Little J and me around the same age:

The Circle of Life

For Mom and Dad....


Me with one Q-tip and Little Miss with two:

Yeah, so, it's another post with Little Miss. What? I like her.

Showcasing her 17-month-old skills:

Yum!

RPADD

When I run on the treadmill, Little Man and Little Miss often sit and watch Go, Diego, Go! or something like that while I am running. The treadmill is in our basement, as is our TV. Today I saw a commercial for possibly the dumbest toy ever. Has anyone heard of Teacup Piggies? So. Dumb. What is fun about that? I don't get it. And I've also seen a commercial for some type of button dolls. They are ugly. And scary. They make me think of something that would be on the Twilight Zone chasing you down. "I'm Talking Tina and I don't like you!"

Speaking of running, I am changing around my running playlist again. I think I have RPADD - Running Playlist ADD. I seriously add and delete songs so much I think it is a condition. It's just hard for me to find songs I like to run to. There are lots of songs I really like to listen to, but not run to. Sometimes I'll put a song on and then once it starts while I'm running I immediately know if it is going to stay or not. If a song starts slow, it generally doesn't make the list. If it has a weird beat or an annoying voice it doesn't make the list. If there is a long instrumental part in the middle or somebody starts talking a lot or something like that, it gets cut. I don't like songs that are yelling at me, because that just sounds like noise in my ear. If there is a part where they say a word or a phrase over and over and over and over again - cut, cut, cut. I don't know why I am so picky.

The songs that tend to stay the longest are "girl power" songs like So What by Pink. My favorite song to listen to first is I Got a Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. That song just makes me happy and when I listen to it, even if I didn't feel like running when I started, I do by the time it is over. It's a great warm up song. Anyway, what are some of your favorite songs to run to?

Halloween

Carving the pumpkins with Grandma 

 

The goofy face, the haunted house, and the zombie children (all of these are referencing the pumpkins, btw)

  

Big J - Chicken Little (school parade)

  

Little Man - the Skeleton (preschool parade)

 

Little J -  the Ninja (school parade)

 

 

Little Miss enjoying the school party

 

Trunk or Treat - Little Miss the Pink Poodle, Me the Rocker (check out my silver leopard print leggings - sweeet!), Little J the Ninja, Big J (the very happy) Chicken Little, Little Man has now transformed into Superman

 

Woo hoo! Candy!

 Can you tell who we thought was the cutest?

   

Rock on until next Halloween!