The Choice

Title: The Choice

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Original Print Date: 2007

Quick Summary: The story starts out at the beginning of Gabby & Travis' journey. Gabby has just moved to town in order to be closer to her boyfriend who has been stringing her along by reassuring her that they will eventually get married. So far there's nothing to show for her sacrifice. Travis is a single guy who is always doing something active-skiing, boating, parasailing, etc. Sidenote: They live on a lake. Gabby is Travis' neighbor and their backyards are connected by a line of bushes...not much privacy! When Gabby thinks her dog Molly is pregnant she automatically assumes that it is the fault of Travis' free-spirited dog, so she marches over to his house one night to tell him that he is going to help her find the puppies homes. Let's just say that her 'march' ends in a fall and her angry speech is muffled by blurriness from the fall. She feels less than impressed with herself when she leaves. You can guess where it goes from here....yes, they fall in love. Through a series of events which are small but speak volumes they begin their love story. Fast forward 11 years and you are all of a sudden in a completely different world. Something has happened and Travis faces the thoughest decision anyone would ever have to make...hence the title.

My Thoughts: Damn you Nicholas Sparks. You know how to tug at the heart strings. What I want to know is how he is able to tell such an amazing love story that seems so realistic. He immediately sucks you in with Travis and Gabby's connection through their playfulness and sarcasm toward each other. Travis knows something is different about Gabby from the beginning and always seems to be overly aware of her and for her. I think this is the kind of love every girl deserves to receive from a man. He is there to be her silent strength and her watch. This story is another great one. I made the mistake of finishing the book at work on my lunch break and had to fight back the tears. If I had been at home I would have had my tissues close. If you need reassurance that there is still the possiblilty of true love then read this!

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing

Title: The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing

Author: Melissa Bank

Original Print Date: 1999



Quick Summary: Through the years Jane had her struggles...mostly involving men and work. This book walks us through Jane'e experiences with men, work, and family with a humorous twist. It starts out at her family's summer house in New Jersey while she is still a teen. He brother is quite a few years older than her and he of course brings his latest girlfriend along for a stay. Unintentionally Jane ends up looking to her as a role model and is disapponted when they break-up. Majority of the book goes through her relationship with Archie, a man 28 years her senior, an alcoholic, and a revered editor in the publishing world. Her relationship with Archie also involves her work life and her never-ending need for approval. The journey of the book goes from there as we watch her grow and learn through all of her life experiences.

My Thoughts: The book was okay, but not great. I was pretty much annoyed with Jane the whole time for being such a girl when it came to Archie. I didn't feel like she had any self-respect and allowed him to treat her like she didn't really know anything. His tone with her was almost always condescending, plus they had trouble when it came to the bedroom...sounds like a bust of a relationship to me...the only thing he was good for was career advice. In a "shocking twist" she went back to him after being apart for a few years and she basically just repeated the same cycle over again. By the last stretch of the book she grew a pair and got Archie out of her life and she meets a new love interest who seems promising but it is so close to the end that the reader doesn't get much elaboration on this relationship. So, I say this one is not worth it!

The Great Gatsby/Snobbery

Title: The Great Gatsby

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Original Print Date: 1925

Quick Summary: Because of this story's complexity, I have put together a flow chart to map out a summary. I hope it is helpful! Please see the chart below:

My Thoughts: Well, this was my second time to read this book. Like majority of Americans, my first time was in high school English. When I read it then I remember getting so lost within all of the characters and always feeling confused as to what was going on. This could be the result of my lack of attention span at that age or because I had a bad teacher. It's always easier to blame it on the teacher so let's go with that. I have kept it in my book collection since then and have always wanted to reread it so that I could wrapy my head around the story. I am so glad I was able to put aside some time to do so because Mr. Fitzgerald's writing is magical. There is something about it that is so fluid and vivid that you immediately are able to create the world in your mind. Needless to say, this book is amazing and once again I understand why it is considered a classic. It's timeless!

Title: Snobbery

Author: Joseph Epstein

Original Print Date: 2002

Quick Summary: A book about snobs. Literally. This book takes a look at snobbery and how it has evolved throughout the ages. Mr. Epstein discusses what makes a snob, what the difference is between an elitist and a snob, tastes, WASPs, status, politics, gays, etc. He covers just about every topic which 'snobbism' can be tied to. I have pulled some quotes to highlight the fascinating and common-sensical points he make in this book. This is one of the reasons I decided to combine postings with The Great Gatsby. He makes many references to The Great Gatsby and F. Scott Fitzgerald throughout the chapters. It is hard to wrap your head around the fact that one author made such an impact on society through his writing and veiwpoints.

To describe the difference between a snob and an elitist: : The distinction, I believe, is that the elitist desires the best; the snob wants other people to think he has, or is associated with, the best."

• I love this point because it is so true! I read this and thought, yes! That's exactly right! There are people who genuinely want and try to acheive 'the best,' then there are those who fake it. The ones who fake it are those people who you are constantly rolling your eyes at.
  

Historically, the ruling snob class in America was referred to as the WASPs: White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. The WASP class internally collapsed in the late 1900s during the 60s and 70s when people began feeling insecure about being wealthy, when colleges started accepting people who were not WASP-descendents, and when technology took over business. I thought this was an interesting point Mr. Epstein made using F. Scott Fitzgerald and how he displayed his characters:

"Fitzgerald's yearning to live the good Wasp life was mediated by his knowledge of the like of Tom and Daisy Buchanan, those Wasps to the highest power and the villains of The Great Gatsby: she whose laugh had the ring of money..."

Here are his thoughts on tastes: "'Each has his own taste" is another of the towering cliches on the subject, but one usually says it confident that one's own taste is superior to the person who, or the disagreements that, occasioned the remark."

I would like to close with the below quote from Mr. Epstein. I think this basically sums up the whole book:

"So eager to be among the major players, the inner circle, the upper crust, the snob doesn't get it. He also doesn't understand that one of the best means of acquiring prestige and carrying status is to not give a damn aboutthem, for the paradox of prestige and status is that e more one huners for them, the more one is willing to do for them, the more elusive they become."

My Thoughts: This book was incredibly fascinating to me. I picked it thinking it would be full of sarcasm and witty sentences. I was partially wrong about this. While Mr. Epstein is quite witty and sarcastic, his research and references are legitimate. I had no idea that 'snobbery'was something that has been studied and examined throughout the centuries. This book is a must-read-with-a-dictionary-close-by because it is EXTREMELY well-written with words I have never heard of. A fun read!

If I Live to Be 100

Title: If I Live to Be 100

Author: Neenah Ellis

Original Print Date: 2002

Quick Summary: Neenah Ellis was working for NPR (National Public Radio) during the time she set off on this fascinating project. She decided to to interview some of America's centenarians to gain insight to early 20th century events and what it was like to experience them. She was looking for answers or stories regarding things like what it was like to have a grandparent in the Civil War, or living through WWI & WWII, or what the dust bowl was like, or how their lives changed during the depression, and so on. However, the path changed very quickly and this project seem to take on an identity of its own. Its focused switched to the people themselves and more so on their current lives and emotions rather than their past. It impacted Ms. Ellis more than she ever imagined and through the interviews she shares with the reader this book is guaranteed to give you a renewed sense of perspective on life and a deeper appreciation for the little things.

My thoughts: This book touched me on so may levels. One moment I am laughing at the goofiness of the elderly and the next I am crying at their depth and level of understanding and acceptance of life. It is an extremely powerful book. The people she interviewed are so incredibly unique by providing their personal stories and how they have been shaped into the person they are today. Something I found intersesting, was a recurring theme with most of the centenarians: the innate need and want for human interraction and companionship. One woman had a group of girlfriends who completely adored her and took turns taking care of her, another yearned for a wife to share his time with (which he found), and others participated in backgammon nights. The neatest part of this book was when I turned to the chapter about a married couple both 100 years old who had been married for 80 years! Can you even imagine? I feel like this chapter taught me more than any parental advice ever could. It taught that loyalty, respect, and unconditional love can be one of the greatest virtues of life. To read how in love they still were with each other after all of that time was unbeleivable. During their interview the husband would reach out and hold his wife's hand every once in a while as he talked and taked all about her. It was the sweetest thing. He was so proud of her and proud to be with her. When he shared the story about the first time he saw his wife all I could think of was 'wow.' People today are always looking for the next bigger and better thing and forget to take a look at what amazing people are right underneath their nose. Some of the story goes that the first time he saw his wife was at a school dance in 1917 and he courted her via horse and buggy. They were married within a couple of years. I could go on and on about this man....does this type of guy even exist anymore? If so, I live at....I digress... I cannot recommend this book enough. It is filled with the most fascinating stories and personal revelation that is sure to fill you up and leave you appreciating the small things. It easily ranks as one of my top 3 favorite books.

Favorite Centenarian: Harry Boeff

• He has lived in the same house since 1926!





• His memory stretches far and wide. I wish so much I could have been a fly on the wall during this interview because I am sure his stories far surpassed the chapter in the book.





• He went through a childhood that none of us could ever imagine today and he pulled through it unscathed and made the best for his situation by creating the life he wanted.
  
  
  
  

The Flirt

Title: The Flirt

Author: Kathleen Tessaro

Original Print Date: 2008

Quick Summary: What a character web this story is! All of the characters' stories seem to revolve around the main character, Hughie. Set in London, Hughie is young, broke, and at a standstill in his life. His main excitement consists of casual, no-strings-attached sex with lingerie designer Leticia. Unfortunately for him AND her they both seem to be falling for the other, which is completely against their rules, but inevitable(personally, I am not sure that sex with no feelings is really possible). While reading the paper one morning, just before he is about to dine and dash, he comes across an intriguing classified ad for a job opening. It read, "Unique situation available for an attractive, well-mannered, morally flexible young man. Hours irregular. Pay generous. Discretion a must!" With nothing to lose he sends in his qulaifications and after an uncanny interview he lands the job. Then, the fun and twisting journey begins!

My thoughts: First thought when I picked up this book was that it would be a chick flick, romantic comedy type book, but it proved to be much more. Instead it was full of fun, complex characters and their unique life struggles and triumphs. I was amazed at how well Ms. Tessaro integrated all of the characters and their personalities into the story. She caught me off guard with a twist toward the end I did not see coming. That's the best kind of story when you are reading along and then all of a sudden something shocking and unexpected shakes up the storyline. I think the overall message of the book is that, although we are all different, we must stay true to who we are and always go with our gut instincts. They are usually spot on even if others do not understand. Hughie, Leticia, Sam, Olivia, Amy, & Jonathan especially struggle with this throughout the book, but they find that once they give in to their intuition things seem to make more sense, although the pieces don't always fall into place as they expect them to.

Favorite Character: Red Moriarty

• I love how she surprises herself with her previously untapped talents




• I think her frustration and downtroddenn outlook on life at the beginning is a blessing in disguise which causes her to have to 'go with the flow' and discover her true calling, which goes hand in hand with one of my main mottos of life. Things always happen for a reason.

Rating: Must Read! I cannot wait to read other books by this author. Such a fun and different book!

Around the World in 80 Days

Title: Around the World in 80 Days

Author: Jules Verne

Original Print Date: The story originally started as a newspaper column in 1873. Even though the newspaper was Parisian, Verne's story captivated audiences from around the world (no pun intended). With that said, he decided to turn it into a novel, and now it is one of the most beloved and recognizable classics.

Quick Summary: Phileas Fogg, a wealthy, methodic, and extremely reserved man, is presented with a challenge from his acquaintances to travel around the world in 80 days. He stoically accepts and sets off on an adventure with his bright-eyed servant, Passepartout. Despite it being his first day on the job, Passepartout immediately feels obliged to be loyal to Fogg. Right before the two embark on their journey, the local bank is robbed by a man fitting Fogg's description. This throws quite a few bones in their trip because a greedy detective plans to arrest Fogg once he receives an arrest warrant. The catch here is that warrant he needs does not have good timing, so the detective ends up taking the whole trip with them and deceives Fogg the whole time. At each stop on their trip it seems getting from train to ship, ship to train, etc. couldn't be more tricky. The crazy adventures they end up experiencing is the best part of the book, and I can't be giving that away. So with that said I will stop here with my summary.

My Thoughts: Everytime I read a classic, the more I understand why books are placed in this category-because they are timeless. They are forever relatable to all people no matter what time period you are living in. I remember growing up any 'classic' such as Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Jules Verne, Emily Bronte, and so on and so forth, were considered uncool and boring. As I matured and my love for reading blossomed I decided to take a Shakespeare class and read Jane Austen's 'Emma.' Needless to say these were eye-opening experiences for me, and now I have a deep appreciation and love for anything considered a 'classic.' Around the World in 80 Days was no different. I found myself completely enthralled by the each of the characters, contemplating their thoughts and actions. I was always wondering what was going to happen at each stop and everytime Verne caught me off guard and pulled off some crazy adventure that somehow seemed realistic but so unpredictable. I also think that part of being a classic means there is a valuable life lesson for you to take away. Here, I would say the morals of the story are if you believe, you can achieve, and to always stay true to who you are.

Favorite Character: Passepartout

• He is always causing problems in a 'Get Smart' kind of way. He never realizes he is in a dilemma until he is too far in, but yet he always finds a way out.


• Provides comic relief


• He is dangerously honest and extremely loyal to his master, despite the detectives accusations.

Rating: Must Read!!