Sunbursts or Marble Halls: March 2008

Books I have read recently

Shirley by Charlotte Bronte — I'm reading a giant biography of the Brontes "Wild Genius on the Moors" By Juliet Barker (amazing!! but I'll post on that when I finish) So I'm reading each novel as it's discussed in the book. I loved Shirley. I have to agree with the critics that it is a slow painful start and it does take about 150 pages till we meet the title character Shirley. But besides that, it is so well written. Caroline Helstone’s angst is beautiful and poignant. And knowing that the last third of the book was written after Emily & Anne died explains so much about the change in the book. Charlotte likes to fix her world by writing about it and in her version the sick heroine recovers where her sisters did not. I definitely recommend Shirley for the Bronte fan. Don’t skip it.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas --- It took me a couple chapters to really dive in but after that I was in love. I had read somewhere that it was based on Beauty & the Beast, which is great. What I did not know is that it is a retelling of one of my favorite fairytales: East of the Sun, West of the Moon!!! What a treat when I discovered that. I love that story. It's whimsical and the girl saves the day which I love love love. Sarah does a beautiful job of it and I can't wait for the next one!!
Miss Buncle’s Book by D. E. Stevenson —What a little treat. My mom gave these books to me for my birthday and there are so much fun. It’s a light easy read and it made me chuckle.
Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder— I adore her soul finder books. I’ve been reading them for years. She builds beautiful strong women and sweeping romance. Her magic system is unique and I want to live in her world.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr and E. B. White — A must read for every writer. Thanks to Stephen King for the recommendation. It has all those little things that I had questions about and answered them quickly and succinctly. It’s not the funnest read but it’s helpful.
Click of Titles to go to the book's Amazon page

Friday, March 21, 2008

Loss of sleep √

"If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it, to work day and night for it, to give up your time, your peace, and your sleep for it.if all that you dream and scheme is about it, and life seems useless and worthless without it.if you gladly sweat for it and fret for it and plan for it and lose all your terror of the opposition for it.if you simply go after that thing you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity.if neither cold, poverty, famine, nor gout, sickness nor pain, of body and brain, can keep you away from the thing that you want.if dogged and grim you beseech and beset it, with the help of God, you will get it!" - Les Brown

The above quote is my motto for life at the moment. It is encouraging. If this quote is right I am on my way!

Go out and fight for it √
Work day and night √
Give up time √
Give up peace √√√√
Give up sleep √
The only thing I dream and scheme about √
Life seems useless without √
Life seems worthless without it √
Sweat √
Fret √√
Plan for it √
Lose all fear of opposition √
Use all my capacity √√
Use al my strength √
Use all my sagacity √
Use all my faith √
Use all my hope √
Use all my confidence √
Use all my stern pertinacity √
Don't stop because of cold √
Don't stop because of poverty √
Don't stop because of famine
Don't stop because of gout
Don't stop because of sickness √
Don't stop because of pain of body √
Don't stop because of pain of mind √
Beseech it dogged and grim √
Beset it dogged and grim √

Then with God's help you will get it [ ]
No check there yet

Hmm everything else checked but famine and gout
Guess nothing can stop me now.