Bookish Thoughts: Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Connie Melton

Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton

Scribner, 2013

Nonfiction; 288 pgs
(e-book copy provided by publisher)

I had never heard of Glennon Doyle Melton before being approached to be a part of this tour.  Before agreeing, I did a little research, including visiting Glennon's blog, Momastery.  I like what she has to say.  I like what she represents.  She seems like a smart and witty woman who is all about empowering women and respecting--and supporting--each other.  And so, I agreed to read and review her book.

I immediately liked Glennon, from her openness about her life with all its hardships to her positive attitude.  She fell into addiction at a young age, as well as an eating disorder. She never felt like she fit in and found a hollow comfort in controlling what went in and came out of her body.  It wasn't until she became pregnant by a man she barely knew that she realized she needed to get her life together.  It was a difficult struggle, but with the help and support of her family, especially her sister, Glennon made it happen.  I couldn't help but think of my graduate school research partner as I read Glennon's story.  Her own experience was similar in terms of her addiction and lifestyle choices early in her life. And like Glennon, she made the decision to turn her life around and is now an inspiration to others.

One day at the park, Glennon writes that she was talking with another mother and grew tired of the usual superficial banter.  She spilled her story to this woman she didn't know all that well and was met with tears and a heartfelt story from this new friend.  The woman could have had a completely different reaction, of course, but her own openness spurred Glennon on.  Glennon knew she had to continue what she started and so she has--both in her personal life and in starting her blog.  She let down her guard, let people see who she really was and not just what she wanted them to see.

I recently tried to recreate a similar moment with the mother of one of my daughter's friends and was met with a quick change of subject.  I didn't exactly give her my whole history--just shared a personal struggle I'd had that fit in with the conversation. It was something, and even though it may not have led to a best friend forever scenario (I didn't expect it would anyway), I am glad I spoke up.  In actuality, I have been more open and honest about quite a few things over the last year and a half--talking about how hard (and funny) parenting can be and the like--and it has been very rewarding in terms of getting other women to talk about some of their struggles.  While time and experience is its own confidence builder, I also feel these conversations have given me a bit more confidence, especially in my parenting choices which aren't always in alignment with what everyone else I know is doing.  So, I can relate to Glennon's approach.

The book is essentially a series of essays (many of which have appeared on her blog at one time or another).  Glennon's writing style is conversational, and she comes across as someone who is easy to relate to.  At least I found her so.  There were times I wish she'd delved a little deeper, taken it a little farther.  Ultimately, though, the author describes her experiences, her decision to be more truthful in her life, her family life and her love for her children.  She talks about her faith and her strong friendships. She explains that she wants people to be more open with each other, more honest, and to be open to each other. She wants people, especially women, to stop competing with each other, to see how we are similar and value and accept each others differences--and most of all, to be kind to ourselves, to forgive ourselves when we falter or make mistakes.

As I read Glennon's thoughts and story, I felt just the way I'm sure she hoped I would feel.  Validated.  Hopeful.  Inspired.  How long will these feelings last?  I don't know.  But while I was reading, it sure felt nice. I was touched by her experiences, could relate to much of what she said, and admire her all the more for who she is, what she has done and what she strives to do.  She isn't perfect, and I like that about her too.  Perhaps most of all.

There will be some who won't connect with Glennon, I imagine.  She had to make some hard choices in her life and has beliefs that might not gel with everyone else's.  Even so, I think her message is one that encompasses all of us out there.

Rating:  (Good +)

To learn more about Glennon Doyle Melton and her book, please visit the author's website.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Carry On, Warrior on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. Copy of Carry On Warrior provided by publisher in e-book form.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Finding A Moment of Peace and Joy

The last couple of months have been one thing after another, between sickness, injury, a wedding, birthdays, company, work and just every day life.  The last couple of weeks have been particularly intense as my dog, Riley, struggles with his health.  It was touch and go there for awhile, and a couple of times I was sure he wouldn't be coming home with me when I took him to the vet. It's been a roller coaster ride, and I have to tell you, I am spent.  There are moments when I am not sure which way is up and which is down.  Right now I am cautiously optimistic.  Riley is beginning to show signs of getting better, and hopefully it will take. I just wish I could take away his pain when that darn spinal arthritis gives him so much trouble.

At times like this, I am reminded of how precious life is.  And how important it is to embrace what joy--and peace--we can find.

These are just a handful of moments I enjoyed most recently:

Sitting watching television with Riley on my lap and my cat Anya on my chest.  Sure, the laundry needed to be moved from the washer to the dryer, but who cared?  In that moment, we were all at peace.

Playing spaceship with my daughter: "Blast off!"  "Do you want some berries, Mommy?"  "I want some too!"  Not worrying about work or the dishes or anything else that needed to be done.

Lying in bed reading, uninterrupted for a half hour.

My husband letting me sneak off to take a nap and being joined by my purring cat, Parker.  

My coworker telling me not to rush and to spend a little extra time at lunch, knowing I was going to go home and check on Riley, even though we were busy. (I didn't take that extra time, but it's nice to know I could have.)

The young man at the grocery store who volunteered, unasked, to take my shopping cart after I'd unloaded the groceries into my car, buckled Mouse in her seat, and realized the cart rack was too far to go without having to take Mouse out of her carseat (which she'd fought me tooth and nail getting into). *Normally, I don't put Mouse in the car until after I've put the cart in the cart rack, but I was off my game that day.

What about you?  What moments of peace in your daily life stand out for you most recently?

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Happy Birthday, Mouse!

My baby girl is 2 today!  She is so different today than she was just a year ago.  She is more sure on her feet, definitely more verbal, and can do so much more  than she could back then.  

Some of the things she does that make me smile:

She still loves to spin when dancing, encouraging her dad and I to join in on the fun.

Twirling in circles and insisting I fall down right along side her, only to get up and repeat the process over and over.

How she adds "so much" to the end of her sentences (examples include "I love you so much!" or "I miss you so much!" or "I broke it so much!") ~ a sign I use the phrase too much!

"Just one more, please" - a phrase used often when she wants something, even when coming back for seconds, thirds and fourths.

The way she blows kisses.

The way she cuddles up next to me when we are watching television or reading on the couch.

The way she sits in my lap when we read together.

The way she caresses my arm and face when she's trying to fall asleep.

The way she fake cries, "Wah! Wah!" and then laughs.

"The bear is coming!" - how she encourages us to hide with her from the imaginary bear, checking now and then to see if he's still there.

The way she crouches down and creep forward, flashlight (tube of toothpaste) in hand, peering into the dark cave (bathroom).

The potty dance.

Enjoying imaginary picnic lunches with her.  

How she always asks for an apple to delay going to bed.

The way she sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Wheels on the Bus, The ABC song.

The way she always sings a clean up song when cleaning up.

How eager to help she is.

How she loves to say, "Catch!" and then throw the ball at me.

The way she eats her taco, from the middle of the bottom first.

The way she pretends to talk on the phone, "Hello!  How are you?"

The way she says, "No saying!" when she wants me to stop talking (when I'm talking to someone else).

I love how when she is given two of some special treat, she always gives one to me or her dad or her friend.

Seeing her play with her friends; how excited she get when she sees them, and how she holds her own even with the older kids.

How she always responds with, " I pushed Austin," when I ask her what she did that day at school whether Austin was there or not.

Her hugs.

Her kisses.

Her laugh.

Her smile.

How energetic she is!

And how playful.

The way she shakes her head to feel her hair move.

Seeing how resourceful she is and how quickly she learns to do things.

How she reaches up on her tiptoes to open closed doors.

How she insists that all doors be closed after she enters or leaves a room.

How she says, "Riley!  I'm home!" when we come home at the end of the day.

The way she runs to me when I come pick her up from school and then takes me by the hand to whatever she'd been doing when I arrive so I can join in the fun too.

The way she runs to greet her dad when he gets home from work.

How obsessed she is with Dora and Caillou and Mickey Mouse.

Hearing her say good morning and seeing her bright smile when we wake up together.

How she loves to play with her cars and train one minute, build a doghouse with her Duplo Legos the next, and then nurture and care for her baby dolls.

How she tells her dolls "It's okay" when they are sad.

How much she loves being outdoors.

Watching her race to the door when the doorbell rings.

Crawling and hiding in her dad made fort with her.

How she chases the dog around the house and throws him his ball.

Listening to her count out tortillas and cups of flour with her dad.

"I tickle you!"

Watching her sleep.

Just about everything she does makes me smile, when it comes right down to it.  I feel so lucky to have Mouse in my life.

Happy Birthday, Mouse!

[March is a busy month in my household with birthdays and a wedding and a houseful of guests.  I am taking three and a half weeks off from blogging as a result.  Enjoy your reading!]

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: What's a Witch to Do? by Jennifer Harlow

What's a Witch to Do? by Jennifer Harlow
Midnight Ink; March, 2013

Crime Fiction (paranormal cozy); 336 pgs

I like cozy mysteries just fine, but there's something to be said for adding in an element of the paranormal.  So, when I came across this title, I couldn't resist.  It looked like it would be a light fun read, and I was right!

From the Publisher: 

A suspenseful brew with a dash of passion High Priestess might sound like an ’80s hair band, but its Mona McGregor’s life. She runs the Midnight Magic shop in Goodnight, Virginia, and leads a large coven. She’s also raising two nieces and hasn’t been with a man for fifteen years…until a handsome doctor takes an interest in her. But Mona’s life really heats up when Adam Blue, a sexy werewolf, arrives at her door. Adam informs her that someone wants her dead and he is there to protect her. Hell’s bells! When a demon begins stalking her, Mona has to suspect her coven members, and even her family. 

With two handsome men and a determined demon after her, Mona teams up with Adam to find out who really wants her dead . . . and who really wants her.

What's a Witch to Do is the first in a new cozy mystery series, a spin off of the author's F.R.E.A.K. series which I have yet to read.  If you haven't read the other, don't worry.  You'll manage just fine.  Right from the opening of the book, it's clear Mona has a lot going on in her life.  I found What's a Witch to Do? to be a fast-paced suspenseful romp.  It was a bit predictable, but, I often find books like this to be so--and I don't really mind.

There was a lot to like about Jennifer Harlow's book and about her characters.  I loved the interaction between Mona and her nieces.  It's obvious she really cares about them and will do anything for them.  The two young girls seem older than their ages, but given their past--at least the hints we are given--it's really no wonder.

I love that Mona isn't your typical urban fantasy type heroine.  Yes, she's a strong woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind, but appearance wise, she's not exactly Angelina Jolie (and I am so tired of heroines who eat anything they want and don't gain weight!).  Mona can hold her own though, especially when it comes to working out problems.  I like that Mona is modest, even despite her position as high priestess.  She truly cares about those around her and isn't afraid to ask for help when she--or others--need it.

There's plenty of action with a side of romance as Mona tries to figure out who is out to get her.  There's a definite southern small town feel to the novel with the genial hospitality and the gossip that spreads like wildfire.  I enjoyed getting to know the people of Goodnight, and look forward learning more about a few favorites in future books.

Rating:  (Good +)

You can learn more about Jennifer Harlow and her books on the author's website. 

Source: I received an e-copy of this book for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

From Book to Movie: Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook (Spoilers)

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

Viking, 2002

Romance; 256 pgs

(Movie version came out in 2005, directed by Gary David Goldberg)

My must see movie wish list is not nearly as long as my must read wish list, but occasionally the two share titles.  I am generally a person who likes to read the book before seeing the movie, and so there are quite a few movies I have not gotten to simply because I have yet to read the book.  Must Love Dogs was on that list for quite a while.  I have wanted to see the movie since it first came out, only, well, it took me awhile to get to the book.  But finally I can say I've seen the movie!  Now that I've read the book.

From the Publisher:

Forty-year-old Sarah Hurlihy, a divorced preschool teacher whose life is her classroom, is about to meet her first date in more than a decade. It was the "Loves Dogs" that hooked her in the personal ad, and now she is scanning her neighborhood café for the man with a yellow rose. And find him she does, but he's the last person on earth she expects to find there . . .

In Must Love Dogs, hilarious missteps abound. Sarah's widowed father, Billy Hurlihy, with six adult kids, is seeing at least two women. And he and Sarah aren't the only Hurlihys with romantic challenges. Her brother Michael, for one, has a rocky marriage that Mother Teresa, his St. Bernard, just may put over the edge. With self-deprecating humor and a laugh-out-loud view of the way we live now, including shar pei/Labrador crosses and a transgenerational body-piercing experience, Must Love Dogs is a perfect beach read that melts the heartache of dating with warmth and humor.

Must Love Dogs was a fun way to spend an afternoon.  I do not often read books like this, admittedly, and so think that played a big part in my delay in reading the book.  I enjoyed it just the same.  Sarah seems like the kind of person I might like to hang out with--and I just love her family.  I think they and John Anderson were perhaps my biggest draw to the book. I confess there were moments I wanted to shake Sarah and point her in the right direction, but what would be the fun in that?

I liked how the author didn't gloss over how difficult it can be to start over after a failed marriage and in starting to date again.  She also touched on ongoing marital issues and the challenges that are sometimes faced when the couple grows apart.

In the book, the reader is inside Sarah's head and sees the world through her eyes.  As a result, not much is known about her possible love interests.  The movie helps fill that out, however, complementing the book quite nicely.

The book and movie are quite different in several respects, but it didn't hurt my enjoyment of either.  There's a lot less dating and more walking through Sarah's typical day in the book than there is in the movie.  The mode of putting out an ad for dating was also different--likely a sign of the changing times from when the two were written.  The movie had more obvious funny moments while the book took a more subtle approach.  And, of course, there were some character changes-additions and cuts.

I bought into the movie romance more than I did of that in the book, but I think that is in part because the movie took it farther.  Not only is the viewer given Sarah's perspective, but we also get the perspective of her love interest, Jake Anderson (John in the book). There's also the fact that the movie and book end on slightly different notes.  One being your happily ever after type ending and the other being more of an introduction to that possibility.  If that makes sense.

One thing I liked about the book more was the portrayal of Sarah's family.  I felt like I got to know them much better in the book and I missed the interactions between Sarah and her niece in the movie.  I think their relationship was a significant part of the book and was one of the reasons I was endeared to Sarah.

Overall, I enjoyed both the book and the movie.  It's hard to say which I liked more--but for different reasons.  Both were entertaining and a nice break from the more serious topics I have been reading lately.

Rating:  (Good)

You can learn more about Claire Cook and her books on the author's website. 

Source: I purchased a copy of the book and movie for my own pleasure.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.