Modoc by: Ralph Helfer

This book was awesome. It took me far too long to read, but I blame that on starting the book right before a hard semester of college. However, I finally did it! It really is a touching story and even better because its based on a true story. I wish I had that type of connection that Modoc and Bram have with someone. It seems unstoppable.

Baby Proof by: Emily Giffin; Heart of the Matter by: Emily Giffin; Love the One You're With by: Emily Giffin

I have finally finished the five book collection by Emily Giffin. I didn't feel it necessary to create respective blogs for each book because they are generally very similar.

All books were very easy reads all the way through, very entertaining.

All books contained controversial topics that arise in everyday relationships. But, usually, these topics are usually dealt with the stereotypical responses. Spouse is cheating?? Dump the bastard!!! Old lover comes back into your life?? Ignore the bastard, didn't deserve you then, doesn't deserve you now!!! However, life is more complicated than this and Emily Giffin has really captured all sides of each scenario in every book. You end each book not being able to really hate any of the characters no matter what transgressions have occurred.

The lesson I have gathered from these books is that life isn't perfect; there is no cookie-cutter way to deal with any situation in life. Every person is unique, every relationship is different and is only known by those involved in the relationship. Follow your heart... without forgetting what is important in life.

Bossypants by: Tina Fey

The one thing I've noticed about books written by comedians (and this is only my second (first was, "You Say Tomato, I Say Shutup"), so my conclusions are not stastistically significant) are that I can't fully appreciate them. The beginning of Bossypants was really funny! because I could totally relate to it; I laughed out loud about the part where Tina discussed when she first got her period. There was a time when I first got my period. So, I totally understood, related, laughed.. oh you, Tina Fey, oh you! However, I am not married, living with anyone, have any kids, or approaching forty. So, while I can appreciate the rest of the book, and I still laughed; after all, it's written by Tina Fey, I didn't quite feel it as much as I did in the beginning.

I think I highlighted a few things from the book, lets see:

"When choosing sexual partners, remember: Talent is not sexually transmittable."

"Two peanuts were walking down the street, and one was a salted."

"In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way."

"The person closest to actually achieving this [the perfect woman] look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists."

"Bored, I tried making out with Victor Anthony, a straight kid who was cute but kind of wang. He was the Cream of Wheat of making out. I would try it every now and then, thinking maybe I'd like it, but every time: no. He really was a stunningly bad kisser. It was as if e took a running start at your mouth."

"But the Rule of Agreement reminds you to "respect what your partner has created" and to at least start from an open-minded place. Start with a YES and see where that takes you."

"Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don't just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles."

"We should leave people alone about their weight. Being skinny for a while (provided you actually eat food and don't take pills or smoke to get there) is a perfectly fine pastime.  Everyone should try it once, like a super short haircut or dating a white guy."

"We should leave people alone about their weight. Being chubby for a while (provided you don't give yourself diabetes) is a natural phase of life and nothing to be ashamed of. Like puberty or slowly turning into a Republican."

"You can't be that kid at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute."

"It will never be perfect, but perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring on live TV."

Belong To Me by: Maria de los Santos

This is the second part to "Love Walked In." I wouldn't necessarily call it a sequel, I mean technically it is, but the story, the life that happens, in this book is different. I don't know how to explain it.

First of all, I'm obsessed with the way Maria de los Santos has written this book, everything about it: the different perspectives, the way it all first starts out as different stories; unique, individual, different stories that always tie together somehow, someway to be this one, complete life. Like all these little puzzle pieces adding up, with its own personal shapes, to create a huge finished puzzle. Its just beautiful.

Second of all, I'm obsessed with Cornelia. I'd like to hope I'm something like her. When I read these books I feel connected to her. She's different, but okay with it. She's completely nerdy to the point where strangers, people that don't really know her, have no idea what she is talking about when she speaks. But, she is so Cornelia that people can't help to love her. I am in no way saying this is me. I am just saying that I definitely respect Cornelia's character and if I had to choose somebody to be like, I'd hope to be like her.

Cornelia and Teo's relationship is something (that although I understand its fiction) is something I can only hope to strive for, to hope to have one day. I think I'm so content being single because I won't settle with my forever.. my forever WILL be like Cornelia and Teo.

I don't know why but these two novels certainly found a way to nudge themselves into my soul, my brain... to become a part of my life; just like the Art of Racing in the Rain. And, I love that about novels. That's why I read, because its continues to help me grow, to see things from so many different perspectives, to know more than I ever thought I could. Once a person opens themselves up to be a sponge and soak in all that life can have (good and bad) you have an infinitely high ceiling of growth. Its endless, and I forever will try to reach the end.

Oh yeah. One thing I forget to mention about Cornelia, what I love about her and what I try to do is this: The way she talks about the bad, about the flaws, the struggling, the hard times, the negative in her life. EVERYBODY has it, everybody's personal journey is different and their own and no one can take that away from anybody. But, there are so many people that choose to let this take them over. They let the negative affect them negatively. Which makes sense, after all, it is negative. But Cornelia doesn't do this (okay, maybe once or twice, after all, she is fictionally and metaphorically human). Instead she acknowledges it and owns it. Yes, her life isn't perfect nor yours. Yes shit goes wrong, as your shit, too, goes wrong. But, that doesn't mean she or anybody needs to be babied, pitied, coddled, or complicated as too make them feel like the bad doesn't exist. No matter what you do, or what you say. The bad is there. So just accept it and don't make it mean more than it already does. I can't explain it well, I don't think. You'll have to just read the book and understand what I mean.

As always, here are some of my highlighted parts of the book:

"Never again would birds' song be the same. And to do that to birds was why she came." -Robert Frost

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." -Carl Sagan

"Wasn't at least the possibility of forever the whole point of everything?"

"We think our parents are in charge, right? Like they know what they're doing? But the truth is, they're making it up as they go along, just like we are. Just like everyone. If we judge them by their worst mistakes, they're all, like, gargantuan failures. Maybe you should try judging your mom by her intentions, by whether she, like, loves you and is doing her best."

"Yes, pain is abominable, a nightmare, but pain reveals, when we'e had to throw all else overboard, what is left in our personal sinking boat."

"But I've found that if you insist on goodwill, if everyone insists on it together, goodwill comes. I've found that love can be a decision. Forgiveness, too."

The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff

It is important to remember that this book is fiction, although, based on a true part of history. As a Catholic, this book was pretty interesting for me to read because I learned more about the LDS faith. It was interesting to see, from this novel's narrative, the perspective that the modern LDS have on the Firsts. This book opens a lot of questions regarding the faith... however, which religion has all the answers?... none! I am not trying to offend anybody, so I choose to keep my opinions intra-personal on this particular subject. I will just state my opinions based upon the novel as a whole.

It took me a really long time to read, and I am usually a pretty quick reader. Parts of it would capture my attention and other parts (mostly the parts that regarded historical references) I would tend to get sleepy and bored while reading. Nevertheless, I finished it and feel more knowledgable for it. Unless one is a devoted reader or very interested in the LDS faith, in particular, the Firsts, I wouldn't recommend reading this novel because, for me at least, it took a lot of dedication to get through.

Here are some notes I highlighted from the novel:

"As poison enters a well, contamination must follow."

"If only the unfaithful heart could act with originality!"

"Last year when my grandma fell and broke her hip she couldn't paint her toenails anymore. So my grandpa started doing it for her, even after he fell and broke his hip, too. For me, that's love."

"You should be careful about saying "I love you" too much. If you don't really mean it the words will lose their value. But if you do mean it, then you can go ahead and say it all the time."

"That's what the desert's about: solitude. It's a test. A test to see if you can stand yourself."

"What do I consider myself now? A man attempting to be good. In this endeavor I have no use for church and steeple. If another man does, I only wish he finds what he needs."

"Who's to say what will come next? Who can say they know what it all means? You got to live with it. The not knowing. The wondering. The unanswered questions. The murk of life. You got to accept it - the why."

"Rage is a candle, it will always burn out."

"I believe most men, even the greatest, can offer salvation only once in their lifetime; for if he succeeds (and most men do not), he will overestimate his powers and thereafter will behave recklessly."

Sarah's Key by: Tatiana de Rosney

This novel is very intense. It tells the story of France's (Paris) role during WWII and the Holocaust. It was extremely powerful for me because I had just spent two weeks in Europe, which included visiting Paris, so it was very weird to read the events and be able to picture it in my head. Books like these are never really easy to read, but they are worth it and people need to be aware and know the horrors of what took place. When I visited Germany, we went to a concentration camp. There we learned that every German student is required to visit a concentration camp before they graduate. I found this very interesting. But, it is so much a part of Germany's history that it makes sense. As I was visiting the concentration camp, I thought to myself, I feel so much for all the suffering and people that died here; but, could you imagine being a survivor.. and having to live everyday bearing on your heart, shoulders, and soul what you lived through? Nothing about anything that occurred during this part of our world's history is okay, and I don't think there is anyway that the world will be able to think about these events without becoming emotional.

This novel was not just a historical novel, but it also had a personal familial relationship tied into the plot that also opened up interesting controversial topics that, sadly, many couples face today. The ending was not amazing, but it satisfied me. I think it was appropriate because as I said before, there is no making it okay, there is no getting over it, there is no forgetting... so, there is no way you can really end this novel with a blunt period, more like an airy breeze that lasts for only a second but leaves you lingering with both the comfort and shivers of it all.

Something Blue by: Emily Giffin

This book is really great. It is the sequel to Something Borrowed; however, unlike sequels that I'm used to reading, it is not just  a continuation of the plot but also written from a different characters point of view. It is interesting to see the other characters take on all the events that took place in Something Borrowed and then to see the storyline progress. It made me want another book doing the same thing from the first point of view, Rachel, to see what she thought about the new events that had taken place. There are a few more books in this series; but, I'm not sure if they are new plots and characters or if it is a continuation of the first two. Oh well, I guess we will find out!! These two books were such easy reads and it was a nice break from the previous emotional novels I had read!

Something Borrowed by: Emily Giffin

This book captivates you from the beginning, very easy and fun read. AND I'm sure a lot of people can relate to many of the characters in the book, whether they see them in themselves or if they remind them of people they know and interact with in their own lives. I definitely had this experience and I felt like I was reading something that was very real. There are four (I think, maybe five...) other books in this series and I am very excited to read the next three or four. I have a 14 hour plane ride on Monday so I suspect I will get through a couple then. Just like with "The Help," I was so focused on reading and finishing this book that I didn't take much time out to highlight good points in the book. I have only one to share with you:

"When you are in a relationship, you are aware that it might end. You might grow apart, find someone else simply fall out of love. But a friendship isn't a zero-sum game, and as such, you assume that it will last forever, especially an old friendship. You take its permanence for granted, which might be the very thing that is so dear about it."

This quote touched me a lot, because I really felt that it was applicable as an explanation for why I do and do not do things in regards to relationships. I have a hard time letting go of things and people that have touched my life in special ways, I feel safer in a friendship because as this quote says, friendships are something that don't predict an end, but a stable support system that can last a lifetime. I find comfort in that.

The Help by: Kathryn Stockett

Okay, so this was absolutely an amazing book. I loved everything about it. I think I personally felt a little more connected to it because I spent four years in the south, South Carolina, for college so I saw first hand the type of segregation and level of racism that still sadly exists. Coming from the West I was really confused when I went to the south and experienced the differences. The book really creates a vivid picture of what it must have been like and it is really something people should be aware of. I found it especially interesting that the author had first hand experience being raised by help. I think that made the book more special and real.

I was so into this book that I didn't really take much time to highlight as many parts of the book as I should have, but here are a couple things:

"Mother's been nagging me about my smoking and I know I should stop, but its not like its going to kill me."

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" -Garth Stein

I love love loved this novel. I had been wanting to read it for a while, I finished my other book club book pretty quickly so I decided to squeeze this one in before I received my next book to read. To be honest, I had no idea what it was about, I knew that it had something to do with a dog and I heard it was kind of sad. Other than that, I had no idea about the plot. And, I totally love going into books with that kind of knowledge. I love knowing nothing about the book except for that I hear its really good or something. This way every moment with the book is a surprise and each page is something new and exciting. Sometimes books aren't that great at the beginning, or some parts are slow, which can leave you with no drive to finish the book. However, when someone is like, "This is a really good book, you have to read it," I have faith that at the end of the book I will be happy I read it. So, anyway, I read "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and I really think that everyone should read this book. Very VERY good. Very inspiration in ways and as silly as this sounds it just has something good to say. Here are my favorite lines from the book:

"People and their rituals. They cling to things so hard sometimes."

"Because memory is time folding back on itself. To remember is to disengage from the present."

"That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves."

"Any problems that may occur have ultimately been caused by you, because you are responsible for where you are and what you are doing there."

"The true hero is flawed. The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles- preferably of his own making- in order to triumph. A hero without a flaw is of no interest to an audience or to the universe, which, after all, is based on conflict and opposition, the irresistible force meeting the unmovable object."

"To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to."

"Yes: the race is long- to finish first, first you must finish."

"Separate entrances for cats and dogs. That's what I remember most. And still another entrance for infectious animals, which did not discriminate by genus. Apparently, dogs and cats are equal when they are infectious."

"There is no dishonor in losing the race," Don said. "There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose."

"The human language, as precise at it is with its thousands of words, can still be so wonderfully vague."

"The race is long. It is better to drive within oneself and finish the race behind the others than it is to drive too hard and crash."

"Saving CeeCee Honeycutt: A Novel"

In my opinion, this book started off promising but got pretty boring early on. The first few chapters were interesting, the part that described why CeeCee needed to be saved. But then 80% of the book was the 'saving' part and I most likely could have summed it up in about 4 pages and a reader would have got the same idea. I noted/highlighted a few things from this book, but didn't appreciate them as much as from "Love Walked In":

"...far too many people die with a heart that's gone flat with indifference, and it surely must be a terrible way to go. Life will offer us amazing opportunities, but we've got to be wide-awake to recognize them."

"I find all men to be very much like wearing high-heeled shoes- I love how pretty they make me feel, but by the end of the night I can't wait to get rid of them."

"Oysters are a lot like women. It's how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty"

As you can see, I only highlighted three parts of this whole book. Meh.

"Love Walked In"

I finally finished the book a few days ago and I just thought I would share my thoughts about it. First of all, the plot was not at all how I expected it would be. It's nothing at all like a typical love story. It's perfectly refreshing and meaningful. The characters are relatable and corny to the point where you laugh because you've thought the same things they have but never really said so out loud, but not too corny where its just ridiculous. I don't want to give away any super important parts of the book for those of you who haven't read the it yet. However, I will share a few quotes that I enjoyed enough to make a note of:

"When you encounter people named Liar and Abstinence, you might not be crazy about them, but you know exactly what you're getting into."

"Do you see what I mean at all? Questions the asking of which erases the reason for asking, yes? Something like, "If you have to ask, no way are you ever getting the answer you're looking for."

"In my experience, people love what they love. They just do."

"The shock of the new. I like it; you like it. There's no jolt like a new jolt. But, I'm an even bigger fan of the shock of recognition..."

"And Martin had a certain way of looking at me that made me feel exactly as though he were touching me, even when he wasn't."

"... we were intimates; I'd breathed his breath; my skin knew his skin; my nerve endings had sparked under his touch. That kind of knowledge was deep and never been something I could walk away from with ease."

"... even if someone wasn't perfect or even especially good, you couldn't dismiss the love they felt. Love was always love; it had a rightness all its own, even if the person feeling the love was full of wrongness."

These were all specific lines that I really felt like I could connect with or relate to for whatever reason. We all have our own life experiences that make our conformations in the mind that much more unique and specific to us. I urge you to read this book and I hope you think of me when you read these parts... I wonder if they, too, will mean something to you.

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

So, among small talk people find out that I am a part of two amazing book clubs and that I love to read. So, they always ask what I have read so far and ummmmmmm... I always forget the names and authors of books; I read them, love or hate them, learn from them, then move on to the next one. However, I feel like its time to make a list of what I have read just for my own sake. This is what I can remember off hand, probably will have to add more later (and I'm not including the countless romance novels I read throughout high school):


The Book Thief by: Markus Zusak
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by: Rebecca Skloot
Little Bee by: Chris Cleave
You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up: A Love Story by: Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn
Room: A Novel by:Emma Donoghue
Montana Sky by: Nora Roberts
Water For Elephants by: Sara Gruen
Sharp Objects by: Gillian Flynn
Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by: Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played With Fire by: Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Next by: Stieg Larsson 
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by: Mitch Albom
Twenties Girl by: Sophie Kinsella


and currently I am reading: Love Walked in by: Marisa de los Santos and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by: Beth Hoffman.


I know there are more books to add to the list; however, this is just what I can remember from May 2010 until now. So basically almost a year. I'll add more later as I remember. 

words to live by

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends      and parents will. Stay in touch
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But, the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take  "no" for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: In five years, will this matter?
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situating is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.


I like to read these 45 little pieces of advice ever so often because they really do help to put things in perspective and I don't know about you, but I'm all about living a happy, healthy life. Nobody knows my journey but me and what matters is how I live everyday and if I can go to bed each night and be okay with who that person is. I'll leave you with one of my personal favorite quotes that captured my attention. It's super random because its from the movie Batman Begins and involves Katie Holme's character, Rachel Dawes, speaking to Christian Bale who plays Batman: "Bruce deep down you may still be that same great kid you used to be. But it's not who you are underneath it's what you do that defines you." This goes hand in hand with another favorite saying to live by, "actions speak louder than words."

New Beginnings

“One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”

Getting up at 4:30am is inconvenient, indeed. However, it has really given me the opportunity to see the sunrise. People don't give sunrises enough credit... it's always about how beautiful the sunset is and if you do manage to see the sunrise, people just comment on how you're up too early. But doesn't the sunrise represent a beginning rather than an end? I'll take my sunrises and I'll cherish them because every day I see this beautiful view on my way home from boot camp and a little part of me is uplifted and ready to take on anything. Like the quote says "...live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."