I finished another book!

It's like a new world record for me. Since I posted that first reading one... I believe it was just one month ago... I've now finished 3 of those Sisterchicks books.

I'd really LOVE to recommend them to everyone. They're awesome. You seasoned readers out there, will zip right through them in just a few hours, I swear. (I mean heck, If I can do it, you all surely could.)

The one I just finished reading was Sisterchicks On the Loose! - Robin Jones Gunn, it's a story about two gals (aka: sisterchicks) that visit Finland, to visit one of their long lost aunt and family. I grew up 2 houses down from a part Finnish family, their dad was from Finland, and mom was from Utah I think. I'm not sure, but I was good friends with their daughter. She only taught me two words in Finnish. Lintu, means bird, and I'll spare you the other one. Its colorful, but not a swear word. lol

Anyway, the reason for this post, is because in the back of the Sisterchicks on the Loose book, there are recommendations for other books, that may be of use to a few of you in the near future.

The first, I think would be awesome for Brianna (even though you may not want her to grow up... she will), and maybe even Hannah... It's Gentle Passages: Guiding Your Daughter into Womanhood Here's what they say about the book:
"Every woman who has an adolescent daughter recognizes her own forgotten questions and insecurities mirrored in those bright young eyes. How can she let her know that she understands these changes, too strange and intimate for her daughter to mention? How can she make the passage into womanhood not a shameful, unpleasant experience but a harmonious and joyful one -- an invitation to a treasured role in God's eyes? Robin Jones Gunn shares stories of how this uncertain transition can become the loveliest time in the life of a mother and daughter, inspiring women with special traditions to carry on for generations to come."


I kinda wish I'd had this book what... 15 years ago?

There's another one that I'd like to have once I finally do have kids too... It's Mothering By Heart. Synopsis:
"Focusing upon the special bond between a mother and child, this unique gift book offers lilting poetry, poignant prose, spiritual insights, romantic photographic images, inspiring quotations, and heart-warming journal entries. A delightful companion to women of every age and background celebrating the vast and myriad joys of motherhood!"


I now adore Robin Jones Gunn, and I really hope to read all her other books, especially the Glenbrooke Series I'm going to try Sophie Kinsella next though. The "Shopaholic & Sister" book is next up for me. I just really can't believe I'm *this* excited about books. I always figured I was a teensy bit dyslexic, my eyes would always jump around when I read, and it was always super hard for me. Maybe its just with these Robin Jones Gunn books... It really doesn't seem that hard anymore. We'll see how I do with the Shopaholic books though, before I start screaming on the rooftops that my partial dyslexia has been cured.

Anyway, I can't recommend them enough. :) Go. Read. Love.

PS: No mail again today, and I'm leaving in a week! ack! I NEED it. :(

Reading Record!

I can't believe it. I've actually finished the book. I started it at 5pm yesterday, its now 2:45pm, and I'm done. I actually slept last night too, what... 8 hours? AND we watched a movie last night too.

I don't think I ever even read a babysitter's club book that fast. I had all of them. up to like 61? and the first 7 "super special" books too. I loved reading those, and I loved buying them with my allowance or babysitting money.

Anyway, I'll be off to the post office (which is conveniently right next to the library) in about an hour, and I'll be getting me another one of these books. :)

Seriously, I can not believe I finished that whole thing in less than a day - (not including sleep...maybe half a day even)! :-o

Reading

Ok, so basically everyone I know loves to read. Me? not so much. Yes, my mom was a librarian, yes, we each had our own book bins we'd put our borrowed treasures in for the week, yes, I was read to as a child, yes... I actually DO know HOW to read English... (stupid immigration people...) But I don't usually get that much enjoyment from just picking up a random book and reading it.

I love me some John Grisham books, and I've read nearly everything he's put out (Currently finishing up his first work of non-fiction "The Innocent Man", I didn't think I'd like it because it's real, but it is quite intriguing.)

Anyway, I usually don't venture that far away from Mr. Grisham. 4-6 months or so ago, I borrowed the Bridget Jones Diary books, which were very easy to read, and quite enjoyable too.

Yesterday I needed some ME time, so I went to the library in hopes of finding either Lipstick Jungle or 4 Blondes, both by Candace Bushnell. And I'm kinda glad they weren't there. So I trudged over to my typical spot over in "GRI" section for a good 'ol John Grisham book, didn't find any I hadn't read, and my eyes wandered a few shelves to the right, and I came across some fun looking books.

Yesterday I discovered (yeah, like I'm Christopher Columbus here...) the Sisterchick books by Robin Jones Gunn. I picked up Sisterchicks do the Hula! The cover is cheese-a-rific, but I picked it up and started reading it in a little corner of the library. Before I knew it, I was on chapter 8, and had read like 80 pages! (This is so not a typical Shelley thing!) I do NOT read and read and read, nor do I love it usually.


I kept reading it. I couldn't put it down, but it was like 6:15pm and I figured I should get home. (I got to the library at 5 or so). I read another chapter on the way home, like those book nerds walking and reading, totally oblivious to everything around them? Yeah, that was me yesterday. I don't live that far from the library, but by the time I had gotten home, I'd finished another chapter! I got a blanket and pillow and set it up on the lawn in the backyard, and kept reading till sunset (9:30pm).

I also read after dinner too, before I fell asleep. And I read some more when I got up. I honestly think I'll finish this book today, which is a world record for me. I only have 5 chapters left... That should take like an hour. It's an odd thing, that a books makes me feel so thankful for all of my blessings, AND makes me homesick all in the same package. Love this book!

You serious readers out there are probably getting a major giggle out of me and this book. It's only 278 pages, and is spaced how I used to space my term papers in college (for maximum pages), but the depth of these books are so much more.

I'm assuming Robin Jones Gunn is a Christian, it'd be hard to write books like these and not be. There's a character in this book named Hope, she sees God's creation in everything, and takes the time to say thank you to Him for it. It's really opened my eyes today to start thinking and feeling like that. I'm just as grateful as she is, why shouldn't I tell Him that? He, apparently, would LOVE hearing that.

Anyway, its kind of like hot tea for the soul. ;) I will definitely be finishing this up today, and getting another sisterchick adventure book today.

Funny thing though, there's a little sticker on the spine that says "Inspirational" on it. I didn't realize that meant that it was religious... (I don't think a non-Christian would be as enthused in this book as I am). BUT... If you are... and you haven't read these books yet, I highly recommend them. They're a super simple read (hey, if I can do it in a day, y'all could finish them in an hour!)


I'm excited for the next one! And maybe I'll read her whole Glenbrooke series too!

I can't believe I'm actually excited about a book! The last time that happened was probably when I was like 5 and read a book by myself for the first time. lol! Its quite obvious that I recommend these books, and I can't wait to read the rest. :)