Thanks Oprah, now so have I...

Tell us the title:

She's Come Undone

Who penned this work?:

Wally Lamb

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

I think I saw it recommended in a magazine and then found it at the library

Number of pages:

465

Time passed from start to finish?:

A week or two

Describe the cover:

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Fiction

Summary of the basic plot:

The story follows the journey of a girl from childhood into adulthood.  Along the way, she encounters many heartbreaking an traumatic situations.  I could go into more detail than that, but there's a summary.

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I felt about the same emotional overwhelm while reading this as I felt watching the movie Rachel Getting Married.  It totally stressed me out.  Interestingly enough, I was more impacted by contemplating my stress over this than I was by the story itself. 

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Probably the pages with the whales.  That would be the one in the middle of the story because it felt like a transforming moment.  And at the end of the book because it was nice and then it was over.

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

No idea.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

Ummmm...I just spent ten minutes trying to figure this out and I do not know.
I shall continue working on this question.

Choose your rating:

 - Changed. My. Life.

     - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it

    - A definite page-turner
Somewhere Between...

    - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.

and

      - Why did I waste my weekend on this?

     - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

"You know anything about tropical fish?"

it's simple...

~ Tell us the title: keeping life simple
~ Who penned this work?: Karen Levine
~ Number of pages: 154
~ Time passed from start to finish?: 2 days
~ Describe the cover: Very simple. Paper-bag brown with a green and white daisy illustration, title, author and short description
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Not sure actually...probably the gift section or perhaps a self-help(ish) type section.
~ Summary of the basic plot: There is not really a plot. The book contains guidelines, tips and ideas for keeping life simple.
~ Background information on the story/author: Well, the author is a contributing editor to Parents magazine, which I was not surprised to discover once I had finished the book...
~ What did you think of it? I really enjoyed what a light,quick and somewhat inspiring read it was. I also liked how many ideas it shared, however, I was expecting a little more substance. The first chapter contains some great guiding principles and an action step to take towards making those principles a bigger part of your life, but that is where that discussion ends. The rest of the book is a list of tips broken down into different categories. I think one of the biggest things I realized, though, is that the book is written from the perspective of a mother. This was quite obvious to me as I read through the book and I struggled to relate at times. It still contained lots of great ideas, but for me it was a struggle to keep focused.

~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: I don't think I really have a favorite page in this book. I suppose I enjoyed the first several pages the most.
~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? Um, yeah...no. That movie would not make money.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: "Remember, you really do have the capacity to make choices. And that is the key to your simpler life." This really stuck out to me because I have been pondering the power of choice lately and I found this to be one of the most simple, yet powerful quotes in the book.
~ Choose your rating:
- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A definite page-turner
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash. (unless you are a mom and want tons of ideas for making your life more simple)
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere
~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. Page 222 does not exist and there is a chart on page 22, so here we go: "On the pragmatic level, we hope to help you simplify your life by offering tips and hints for accomplishing tasks and chores more efficiently."

tales of fate and fortune on the road

~ Tell us the title: the Kindness of Strangers

~ Who penned this work?: 26 different people

~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: yet another fateful trip to Powells

~ Number of pages: 271

~ Time passed from start to finish?: about a month(ish)

~ Describe the cover: There is an outline of a human torso and strangely shaped head with a heart outline in the middle of the head and whimsical, childlike text declaring the title and basic information.

~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Probably travel, but I found it on a random shelf while passing by in hopes of escaping the store with only one book...

~ Summary of the basic plot: It is a collection of true short stories of adventures and encounters with strangers during travel all over the world.

~ Background information on the story/author: Each story in the book is shared by a different author, but they all get a little mini bio at the beginning of their story. Most authors have penned other works in newspapers, magazines and/or their own books.

~ What did you think of it? It was great! Each story is only a few pages long, so it was easy to read a story a day quickly and not feel that I should be using my time more wisely. :) It made me long to indulge my sense of adventure and either get lost somewhere in the world or pick up a hitchhiker and learn of their journey. It also reminded me that simple kindness towards one another no matter what barriers may exist is beautiful and powerful.

~ Which page was your favorite? Perhaps the table of contents because it represents the diversity that exists within the pages. :)

~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? Um...this would be hard considering the whole 26 different stories thing...

~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. "Here's what I love about travel: strangers get a chance to amaze you. Sometimes a single day can bring a blooming surprise, a simple kindness that opens a chink in the brittle shell of your heart and makes you a different person when you go to sleep - more tender, less jaded - than the one you were when you woke up."

Also: "DECENT UNDERWEAR: It's important."

~ Choose your rating: I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. Then, after a few moments of reflection, my host reached down to the floor next to his bed and picked up what I took to be his two most valuable belongings.

"...on the third, you join our family..."

Title:
Three Cups of Tea
Who penned this work?
Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
How did this piece find its way to your nightstand?
My friend Cindy gave it to me for my birthday and then I put it there.
Number of Pages: 349
Time passed from start to finish: Less than two weeks, although the last 80% was consumed in about two days.
Describe the cover: Calming tones of stone, blue and red support a photo (taken by the author) of three young girls adorned with headscarves and books unfolded on their laps. There is nothing flashy or presumptuous about the cover, even as it boasts being a #1 New York Times bestseller and the Kiriyama Prize Winner as well as being graced by an inviting quote from Tom Brokaw.
In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this book?
At the store I am in right now, the book is placed in “world history”. However, I feel it could be placed in the biography, non-fiction, inspirational or the “this is one of the most amazing stories ever” section.
Summary of the basic plot/Background information on the story/author:
A young man who has already seen and endured much in his life survives a failed attempt at climbing K2 and mistakenly makes his way into a Pakistani village that has never seen a foreigner before. By the time he leaves, he is in love with these people and has promised to build them a school. Climbing the worlds highest peaks takes on new meaning as he pursues fulfilling his promise while living in his car and renting a typewriter to seek additional support. As time unfolds, this one man proves education an effective tool for peace as he returns time and again to a land where injustice and unrest are commonplace for people with golden hearts and emerges as a true hero in more ways than one.
What did you think of it?
Where do I start? I expected this story to be encouraging. My expectations were WAY too low. I have been moved beyond words. I didn't expect a thrilling survival story on one of the worlds highest peaks. I didn't expect a sudden love story that challenges the greatest I've ever heard. I didn't expect to learn so much about Pakistan, Afghanistan and India and want to learn so much more. I didn't expect to cry during every single chapter. And more than anything, I didn't expect to be shocked by the relevance of this story to the war we are "fighting" against terror. This book has fueled my passion against ignorance and for community, increased my desire to be educated and changed me forever. So, what did I think of it? I think it is one of the most amazing stories ever lived and shared.
Which page was your favorite? Share why.
I tagged about 30 pages in the process of reading, so the choice is not easy, but I think I will choose the last page as my favorite. Not only was I balling my eyes out for the millionth time as I read the poignant last sentence, but the realization that this was not the end of this amazing story flooded over me and sealed all of the hope, humility, frustration, passion, challenge and inspiration I had experienced through every page.
If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?
Hmmmmm……the main character would have to be able to scale mountains, keep promises and fall in love in an instant. He would need to posses massive amounts of both gentleness and strength. An Indiana Jones of sorts perhaps? I can't think of anyone besides Harrison Ford right now that could take on the role. (I just have to note that I did not notice the commentary on the back cover calling Mortenson a "real-life Indiana Jones" until about five minutes after writing this.)
Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:
"The Enemy is Ignorance"
I want to share handfuls of quotes, the whole text, really, but I am going to choose just one. The title of the 22nd chapter is quoted above and it is a phrase I will remember forever. Several pages into the chapter, the context presents itself:
"...You have to attack the source of your enemy's strength. In America's case, that's not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. The only way to defeat it is to build relationships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise, the fight will go on forever."
-Brigadier General Bashir Baz of Pakistan, during a conversation with Mortenson in 2003.
Rating: Changed. My. Life.
The 7th sentence on page 22:
"Zindabad! Good! Mr. Gireg," Mouzafer said after the third cup, pounding Mortenson delightedly on the shoulder, clouding the tiny cave with more of Mortensons surplus of dust.