Hoe overleef ik mezelf? by Francine Oomen

The main character is a young teenager, who could only be described as annoying. It's a journey of self-discovery, where the main character struggles to appreciate herself - her body image, her personality, others' reactions to her, whether she has a boyfriend, and so on. She struggles with who she is and who she wants herself to be (graffiti being the hobby she takes up in the book). Although her perspective can be quite refreshing, it can also be a bit 'over-the-top.' The mess she gets herself in is a bit unbelievable at times, even if she still is a fascinating character to get to know.

De Rode Prinses and other books by Paul Biegel

I would describe Paul Biegel's books as classic fairy tales. In each of the (3) novels that I've read there is an overarching story with the different characters in the book experiencing/sharing stories that are only slightly connected. The language is at times difficult, but the stories are always delightful and perfect for bedtime stories.

(dutch) children books

the main reading of the last few months has been dutch children/youth books - of which i have read a phenomenal number. the following is a list of just some of them:
- De GVR (THE BFG) - by Roald Dahl (the author of Matilda)
- Madieke van het rode huis (Madieke of the red house) - by Astrid Lindgren (the author of Pippy Long-stocking)
- Hoe overleef ik MEZELF? by Francine Oomen.
- De Rode Prinses by Paul Biegel (also De tuinen van Dorr and Het sleutelkruid)
- De verloren tuin by Maria Van Eeden
- Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek (Crusade in Blue Jeans) by Thea Beckman (also Mijn vader woont in Brazilië and Kinderen van Moeder Aarde)
- Spreuken & slaapzakken (Spells and Sleeping Bags) by Sarah Mlynowski (and also Beha's en bezemstelen)
- and more...

I read a couple of books a week, so it adds up pretty quick :)

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (1996)

The Sparrow tells the story of a group of people who are sent to explore a new planet and get to know the people and culture there. At the beginning you already know that something went wrong in the mission, as you introduced to the sole survivor - a priest who is beat up and broken. The chapters that unfold the wonder found in discovering and venturing a new planet are juxtaposed against the priest's processing and sharing (or lack of sharing) the tragedy that occurred on the planet. And yet even as it is tragic, it is also hopeful.

Although it is a very good story, it is also a difficult story - the events that happen on the planet are disturbing. They describe a culture that uses another culture/race to meet their own desires and needs. And the book questions the assumptions we make about what is appropriate and reasonable. In their interactions with the other cultures, they naturally makes mistakes - things they did even with the best intentions - and being as careful and sensitive of the other cultures as possible.

It does a very good job of discussing how God reveals himself, how people relate to God (and spiritual) and what can happen when one's expectations of God are completely demolished. It is the story of a slow healing and a growing awareness that there is no simplistic way that one can see God's working in the lives of people.

The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg (2008)

This book of short stories is full of a number of delightful incidents about being oneself. The main characters tend to be older women who are asking questions about what matters most. A number of the stories deal with weight and dieting, as these tend to be huge issues in the lives of women. And a number of them also have to do with the challenges and questions that come with growing old. Most of the stories are insightful and sweet, although some more than others.

My two favourites concern a woman who had had a very full life and of a woman who had been a bit disappointed by her life. The story of the first woman is simply a long meandering letter whose purpose is to share an apple pie recipe. And the story of the second woman is about a trip to Vegas, where she impulsively leaves the life she feels that she's been trapped in - and she feels like she has been given permission to do all those crazy things that she always wanted to do - and even say some of the things she never felt she could.

Abide with me: a novel by Elizabeth Strout (2007)

This is a bittersweet novel of a pastor dealing with the death of his wife. His wife was not really "cut out" to be a pastor's wife, and she struggled with that role - and their marriage suffered because they didn't know how to look honestly at their struggles/challenges. And learning to look honestly at others and one's self is what the book captures best. It also conveys well the sense of life being puzzling.

It's a bit of the "academy award" winning, very deep kind of book - and has a significant focus on feelings. I tend to appreciate faster moving books - and ones where there is less sadness in the pages of things gone wrong. There is hope in the book and winsome humour, nonetheless, and I'd definitely recommend it.

The Shamer's Daughter (Shamer Chronicles) by Lene Kaaberbol (2004)

These are delightful children's books about dragons, evil princes, and magical powers. The main character is a high-spirited, stubborn young teenage girl. Her life is a bit confusing as she has been gifted in ways that make her quite dangerous (or a great help) to those in power. Through a series of her own mistakes and willfulness and the actions of others around her (many of them negative or trying to use her), she discovers more who she is - and what her place is.

The series was fairly fast moving and uplifting. The characters had delightful and surprising elements to them, and were complicated and real. I don't think it's the kind of book that one would read twice (at least not as an adult) but I'd definitely recommend it.

The Geography of Bliss: One grump's search for the happiest places in the world by Eric Weiner (2008)

Weiner travels to a variety of places with the hope of finding happiness. In trying to understand happiness, he relates much to his own experience. So he spends quite a bit of time comparing American culture/expectations with the culture/experience of those he visits. As well, as he tends to be someone who is not generally happy - or knows how to be happy, this tendency does affect his search (mostly by his being a bit lost about why others claim happiness).

The book tends to be fairly informative, especially as a means of understanding American culture (this can actually be seen in a librarian's review of the book). Yet, it wasn't the most exciting. It was more of a report on how some people found happiness than a book that provided insight into how to be happy. The chapter on Iceland (which I admit is as far as I got before I needed to return it) was the chapter I liked best. Happiness seemed a bit less illusive in that chapter. Weiner describes the Iceland understanding of happiness as being failure - or at least having the freedom to fail. Perhaps my resonation with this chapter has more to do, however, with my own personal bias that happiness has to do with being able to be fully oneself. And it is in the freedom to fail that people have the freedom to discover who they are - and be fully themselves..

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A natural history of four meals by Michael Pollan (2006)

Although I only got a short ways in the book, it was more than enough to get a good taste of the book. What I read concerned the crazy plant corn, which was taking over the world, or at least becoming a primary ingredient in many of our foods (and not always in a healthy way - like as high fructose corn syrup).

It was whimsical and insightful, while also being thought-provoking. It was an enjoyable read but as it was also thoughtful, it was not something one could quickly read through. Instead, the book needs to be put down after a short time to allow time for the words and thoughts to digest.

I hope to pick it up again some day.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Classic science fiction. It is an epic with all of the right kind of plot twists and events and characters. It is the kind of book that is hard just to fly quickly through - as there are so many layers and details and connections throughout. It is not light reading, nor something that makes you quickly satisfied - instead it is a book that provokes thought and desires re-reading. And the book is slightly bittersweet, even if good is shown to win.

The Pawn by Steven James (2007)

It's a crime thriller/mystery. It's a novel about an FBI agent who specializes in how time and geography help to solve the crimes. The criminal in this book is a serial killer (hence a few gory/messy parts). It is published by a Christian publisher but the book tends toward the philosophy that people will come to know God more by actions than by words (and outright evangelistic sections). The books has great plot twists and the quality of the characters is very high. The multi-layers to the plot and problems are definitely what makes it good. It's worth recommending.

Free for All by Don Borchert (2007)

Borchert gives anecdotes of the people who use the library. It is full of delightful little impressions: parents who leave their children to be babysat in the library, the fights that happen in the parking lot (not just the children!), the multiple ways people try to talk themselves out of library fines (or just try to get a new card), the employees that can't get fired, drug dealers using the pay phone outside, and more. It is definitely worth reading.

The year of living biblically by A.J. Jacobs

Overall, this book provided some fascinating insights into the Bible. I had difficulties with his goal in approaching the project of living one year following the Bible literally - he wanted to show how ridiculous it was to take it literally. In light of this goal, and his tendency to be self-focused and independent, it was hardly a humble quest (as the title seems to suggest).

Nonetheless, he captures some of the beauty of the Bible: the wonder of Sabbath, of ritual, and of celebration (see end of the chapter on December for a good quote on the beauty of ritual and laws). He shows how trying to live following the rules really shapes how you see the world. He also shows how going to far (following the letter of the law instead of the intent of the law) can lead to some problems. He addresses these problems somewhat by noting the choices he had to make of which rule to break in certain situations. And he illustrates how there is more going on in following the Bible than what might be immediately apparent.

He is changed somewhat by the experience, although that he is not a Christian in the end is a bit of a disappointment. And yet, it is perhaps not so surprising - after all, how many Jews (especially Pharisees) who were good at following the regulations actually became Christians?

Table for One by Camerin Courteney

It is a cheerful, uplifting book that provides a healthy perspective on being a single female longer than you might have expected. It encourages you to live your life fully as it is now - and gives helpful suggestions for how to do that.

I appreciated it overall, although I didn't feel like I quite fit the audience. Certainly, I'm single longer than I expected - but I've come to recognize that being single is partly a choice i've made because it provides opportunities and joys that being married couldn't have. I've now seen that those opportunities and joys won't have to disappear if I get married, but i do not feel lost because marriage and having children are not currently part of my life (as i know some women do). Because of this, I think I naturally saw some of the delights of single life and hardships of marriage that other single women might have missed. And i have tried to have a full life, filled with people and children and purpose. So perhaps, i did not appreciate it as much as i could have because i had already travelled along the same journey as the author - and knew much of the wisdom that she had to share.

Still, it was a good read - and one that i appreciated and would recommend to other single women, especially those for whom being single is more of a burden than a gift.