book review: the tipping point

Last night my book club met & reviewed our latest selection

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

Let me first start off by saying-

1. I really love my book club
2. I have never considered myself a "reader."

3. I almost never see members of my book club- except for at book club.

4. Our book club- is a truly- a free to express your opinion place to be where I feel everyone contributes & no one person pushes their view too much. I like that.

5. Membership has been a stretch for me & a privilege.

I am reading now- not loads of books- come on if you read this blog you know I'm just a little busy most of the time- but still I am reading books I would never pick up on my own & loving it!

I found this book to be very interesting.

from the back cover:
"The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold- tips- and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of anew product , or a drop in the crime rate."

The Tipping Point made my mind stretch- brought up ideas I had never thought up before & others I instinctively thought were true already. There are some controversial subjects- nature vs. nurture- which is more "sticky" or affective- and others. Although I thought the main point of the book dragged on at times- it was a very interesting read. I read it on the way to & from Megan's house in the airplane- I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I were not in an isolated situation with nothing else to do? I do feel like I learned a lot from this book and it made me think... why do we buy into the things we do? Do we really want something... or is it just a marketing trend set up by those trying to sell us? Are my children truly influenced by family or is peer pressure taking over? Is the atmosphere of my home influencing our family for good?

All great questions.

I sincerely recommend The Tipping Point.

If you read it- or have read it- let me know what you think!

*do you belong to a book club?

*are you a reader?

peace

My book club met last week to discuss this book:

The Anatomy Of Peace

resolving the heart of conflict

by the Arbinger Institute

This is one of the main reasons why I have not blogged consistently this past week. This book although not a page turner... was very interesting to me. Reading it has caused me to think deeply into myself. What justifications do I make in my life for what I do/don't do that I should do/not do?

It was difficult to read only because I don't embrace change or criticism.
(laughing here after writing this past sentence)
Not that it was pushing either... I just clearly needed to read & take in some of the concepts. I am not a deep thinker. I am a simple minded person. I'm not ashamed of this, but embrace it because sometimes I think the deep thinkers just get them selves into deep do do. But, this book was really good. It made me think & think & not blog. It is potentially life changing. Potentially- Old habits die hard, but I would like to think I have been changed for the better reading this book.
If you would like to read an excerpt- click here-

*Have you read this book?
*what did you think of it- of the excerpt?

I can't believe it... I'm a reader!

Since Christmas I have read THRee books!

This is huge for me- I've never really been a big reader. I think it all started in second grade when I was put in the lower reading group. I'm sure there was no "low" reading group... but I knew I wasn't in the smart kid reading group & it really stuck with me. I took a class at BYU, I don't even remember which class now, where we learned about how putting kids into learning class distinctions can sometimes determine their success. Something in me clicked- I thought- that's me... I am not a reader because I thought I wasn't a reader. I distinctly remember thinking at 8 years old- so I'm not a good reader- oh well.

It stuck.

Well, not forever.

A dear friend invited me to be in her book club a couple of years ago. I said no for a year, then after trent got in school, I was done with some big commitments, etc. I thought- what the heck? It would be good for me to branch out. And it has been. For the past 2 going on 3 years, I have read quite a few books. I am proud to say that this month I even read a book... just for fun!In January we met & mapped out our books for the year.

First, for February-

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

wow- very emotional, powerful memoir

Has anyone out there read this?

It was really hard to read & put down at the same time.

Jeanette Walls tells the true story from a child's view (her view) of growing up in extreme poverty. It's truly amazing & thought provoking. Our discussion last month was one I DID not want to miss- and I didn't. Great discussion book.

Next, I read this-

The Persian Pickle Club, by Sandra Dallas

Great fun read.

Janae recommended it & even though it took me the first two chapters to really get with it, I loved it! It was full of twists & turns... really surprised me.

It's about a group of women quilters, in the time of the depression & how their friendship gets them through some difficult situations. I highly recommend it for a fun, quick read.

Lastly, I just finished my club's March read last night-

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card

This book is an award winning classic. If you haven't read it & consider yourself a reader... you really should. It's the first in a series of science fiction thrillers, written for teens. I loved it. It's hard to put down & full of strong life lessons. I am looking forward to the discussion.

Are you a reader?

It's never too late to start!

Book Club

Tonight it's Chloe's book club. Lily's sister is in it too. There is some extreme jealousy going on here. I can't say I blame them. So hey- these two made their own book club! They decided to take turns reading- Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed. Talk about cute. Of course less than half hour into it, Trent ditched that idea & moved on. Lily finished the book soon after on her own- of course. She is the more serious book club member. Trent got in his 20 minutes of reading homework so it's a total win, win, -win situation!
Lily brought the treats- mmmmm cupcakes. Oh how I love them. I was so good & only ate one.

Introducing my friends to Bakerella was pretty much the smartest thing I've ever done. Twice now someone has brought me these. These ones are made by WEnde. We absolutely LOVED them. These are amazing really, I've been wanting to make some- but I have that whole sugar addiction- & I know I couldn't eat just one or two.

Then surprise, surprise... miss Lelly sent me one of her Valentines!!
(I had been secretly coveting one so just imagine my excitement.) I feel so special. I also got a sweet card from her this week & now I can't find it!!! It's probably hangin' out with the extra special card I got for my father in law's birthday last month & now can't find. I'm losing everything these days. Aargh!

*are your kids in a book club?
*isn't it hard being the youngest?
*when you get really busy do you start misplacing things?

Craziness Abounds

Last night was our turn to host Chloe's book group. We made individual pizzas, ate Dove milk chocolates, & discussed this book. The book is one all of my three girls loved at the same age. Having a book group for girls is a lot of fun. It gets them reading something they may have not read before & is really helpful for those young gals who don't like to read! Afterwards they played hide & seek upstairs. Wende came & took them all home- after laughing our heads off with Jack & his friends (who were listening to really funny stuff on I-tunes) then me showing her my new favorite blogs that I am obsessed with! Well.... before all that, yesterday we got 7-8" of new snow.

Oh my gosh- get me out of here!!

Brett & Trent made a snow cave after school & decided they were going to sleep in it? What in the world? I thought they were joking- boy was I wrong- I guess I will never truly understand men. Yes, Brett is a big scouter & has made these in the past- just never slept in them with my eight year old son. CRAZINESS!
They made it until 4:00AM when Brett said it started dripping on them. He learned a few things about snow caves I guess. I am so happy for him.? The temperature inside was a balmy 40 degrees- he kept telling me that like that was going to make me feel better?? They were in heavy duty eddie bauer sleeping bags & tons of clothes but still. I was a wreck all night.

It's hard to see the cave in this picture but this is it. The opening is blocked by sleeping bags it's bigger than it looks. It's still crazy if you ask me. I am glad my son has a father- he is so excited this morning that he slept in a snow cave- one that he made.... I WANT YOU TO KNOW I WOULD NEVER- EVER DO THIS.
CRAZINESS- That's what dad's are for!?

January Book Group At My House

My book group met last night at my house.

Every January each member comes with three choices- all non bloggers, what in the world? The choices are presented while each member rates them 1-3, 3 being something you really want to read. It's a tough process but we narrowed it down to 11 choices & two of mine were picked! AMAZING. I have gone from a non- reader to a reader in 2007.

my three choices were:

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman- not picked. I love this book & I want to read it again anyway.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In the Night Time- by Mark Haddon. Thanks for the recommendation Amanda :). I read it, loved it, now we are all reading it! (warning: it has quite a bit of bad language but very much worth reading!)

Two From Galilee- by Marjorie Holmes. Perfect for December, which is when we are reading it & discussing it at my house!

I am really excited for all of the books this year! Joining a book group was a real stretch for me last year. I am surprised how much I have liked it. I really only know one of the members, so it has been fun to get to know a great group of women & learn a lot through reading some fantastic books. Happy Reading 2008.