"Olive Kitteridge"

by Elizabeth Strout, 2008, 270p, rating=N/A

This book was too complicated for me! Too many stories of strange people. Somehow old lady Olive Kitteridge (main character) has been in these people's lives for one reason or another. What impact did she have on them? What would be of the town Crosby, Maine without her? What insights into the human condition did she discover from these people? These are the questions that were probably answered had I finished the book but I managed to only read about half way through the book. I figured that there were just going to be more different characters and their stories and I was tired! This book just received me in an unfortunate time. I found it dragging. I don't doubt this is a masterpiece to someone willing to be engrossed in the adventures in this book, but it's just not me!

"Dear John"

by Nicholas Sparks, 2006, 434p (large print), rating=3

I started reading this almost a couple weeks ago but I left it at my sister-in-law's and didn't get a chance to pick it up until yesterday. I found the beginning unexciting so I didn't feel a rush to get it back. It got better! It was an easy read. Mr. Sparks doesn't mess with exotic words or deep thinking kind of writing. I believe he appeals to readers who likes honorable love stories and he is good at it. Here he ventures to convey true love.

Hmmm, the title is Dear John, now why was I surprised that John (main character) received the infamous Dear John letter? See, John while serving in the arm forces received a letter from Savannah, his girl that promised to wait for him, saying that she had fallen in love with someone else. Ouch!! What else can go wrong? Oh yeah, his dad. What next? Well, he discovers Savannah's new life and in honor of true love he does not stand in the way of allowing her this new happiness. He even uncovers a way he can anonymously make it better for her. What a man! ~By the way, Savannah's quite a woman herself ... you'll have to read the book to find out.

Really sweet book about relationships between lovers, friends, siblings, and father-son. John may not have gotten the girl, but then again... did he where it counted?

Ch. 9: Prophets of God

from: Gospel Principles

A prophet is a man called by God to be His representative on earth. He teaches truth and interprets the word of God. He receives revelations and directions from the Lord for our benefit. He is a special witness for Christ, testifying of His divinity and teaching His gospel. He
calls the unrighteous to repentance. When he speaks for God, it is as if God were speaking.

Many people live in darkness, unsure of God's will. They believe that the heavens are closed and that people must face the wold's perils alone. How fortunate are the Latter-day Saints! We know that God communicates to the Church through His prophets.


Meet Thomas S. Monson, our current living prophet! He is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has the right to revelation for the entire Church. He holds "the keys of the kingdom," meaning that he has the authority to direct the entire Church and kingdom of God on earth, including the administrations of priesthood ordinances (Matt. 16:19).

We should do those things the prophets tell us to do. The Lord will never allow the President of the Church to lead us astray. Moreover, if we obey, the Lord promises, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory" (D&C 21:6). Pretty cool blessings to me!

***Additional scriptures:
-Num. 12:6; Luke 1:70 (God speaks thru prophets)
-1Sam. 9:9 (prophet called a seer)
-Amos 3:7 (God reveals His secrets to the prophets)
-Mosiah 8:16-18 (a seer can now of things past & things to come)
-D&C 45:10, 15 (God speaks today as in days of old)
-D&C 43:1-7 (only the prophet is authorized to receive revelations for the Church)

"Outliers"

by Malcolm Gladwell, 2008, 285p, rating=4.5

Wow! What a fascinating book! I was captivated from the get go!! Bare in mind that this is not a novel. More like a textbook. In fact you will find this under non-fiction. Anyway, it can be a tedious read since this can serve as a reference book. This even contains an index section! Yet, the way Mr. Gladwell compiled this thesis gave it flow that by book end, he has given you a feel of a novel with the added bonus of coming out intellectually fed! Whether or not his conclusions are disputable, they were undoubtedly convincing and interesting.

I am paralyzed. Where do I start? ...OK, the title is where he started. The definition of outlier (so glad he did, 'cause I was totally wondering what the heck that meant!): noun, (1) something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body, (2) a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample. All right, so we discover that he will talk about the successful elites. Who they are, how they got there, and everything in between. Wow! This book has it all ... philosophy, sociology, anthropology, statistics, mathematics, history, science, etc. I was daydreaming back to my university years. I was reliving the wonderful feast of knowledge I found there. Now I want to go back (take away the exam anxieties though ...hehehe) to learn more and more and more! Anyhow, prepare for a spoiler ... Mr. Gladwell concludes, "They are products of history and community, of opportunity and legacy. Their success is not exceptional or mysterious. It is grounded in a web of advantages and inheritances, some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky--but all critical to making them who they are. The outlier, in the end, is not an outlier at all." pg 285.

My big take out ... WORK HARD! You want to be successful? Then find meaningful work, work hard, seize opportunities, and pray for luck.

Thanks Chique for putting Mr. Gladwell on my radar.

"The Christmas Box"

by Richard Paul Evans, 1993, 87p, rating=4

A tiny book with a huge message! I don't think I can review this without spoiling it for you so if you plan on reading this book, STOP and move on to your next blog friend.

But it's okay if you take a peek too because the message is important and should be shared anyways.

Just had a thought! I'm not going to tell you the story but I'll impart an excerpt from the book instead and then you can read how the character got to that point: "Somewhere between the angel and Mary's house I had figured it out. The gift of Christmas. It just came to my heart. The first gift of Christmas was love. A parent's love. Pure as the first snows of Christmas. For God so loved this children that he sent his son, that we might someday return to him." (pg 82).

A loving parent reading this book will come to identify the priorities of parenthood. Hence, this book would be an appropriate Mother's Day or Father's Day gift. Of course, also appropriate as a Christmas gift.

Book vs Movie

I watched the movie, The Notebook, on DVD yesterday and it was practically nothing like the book! I don't remember that carnival stunt, Allie's mother didn't have that much character, why did they leave out the crab dinner?, there was NO Martha, and that wasn't the ending ... just to name a FEW differences. If you watched it without reading the book you would still get a strong love story but having read the book I couldn't help point out the inconsistencies.

Which do I like better then? The book I suppose, but both was good in its element. The film version had to make appeal to drama and so the changes did that while the book stood as the original version and made it's own impact on the readers.

I wonder what affect it would have on me if I saw a film version first before reading the book it was based on? I'll have to try that one day and let you know.

Ch. 8: Praying to Our Heavenly Father

from Gospel Principles:

Prayer is one of the greatest blessing we have while we are here on earth. Through prayer we can communicate with our Heavenly Father and seek His guidance daily. Jesus taught, "Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name" (3Nep 28:29).

Prayer will help us draw closer to God. We can pray for many reasons like: for strength to resist the temptations of Satan and his followers; to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness; for the Lord's guidance and help in our daily lives; for protection; to express love to our Father and to feel closer to Him; to thank Him; for families, friends, animals, crops, daily work, and our other activities; and so on.

We should pray in faith, "with a sincere heart, with real intent" (Moroni 10:4). We can do this anytime with need to communicate with Father, whether silently or vocally, in privately or in a group, standing or kneeling, etc. We should each pray privately and as a family every day and night.

Our sincere prayers are always answered, but perhaps not in a matter we might want or understand. Our prayers are always answered at a time and in a way that the Lord knows will help us the most. Hence, we must pray to God and to no one else (Exodus 20:3-5) so we may be righteous in our thoughts, words, and actions. ~Keep in mind, you may be an instrument in answering someone else's prayer so pray, listen, and act.

P.S. See previous post here about "how to pray".