I have been reading for both pleasure and my history class. Being in school is taking away from the time I would usually have to read for pleasure or write. Once this class is over I would have read in its entirety The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People: Volume II: From 1865. Needless to say, I did have the opportunity to read a book from my challenge list. I devoured Home Wrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph. It was the entertaining, quick, fast-paced book that I needed.

Last year sometime Yasmin, the owner of APOOO, had a blogtalk radio show with Mr. Joseph on. I enjoyed listening to him talk about his writing. I was intrigued to read this book. He’s a very humbling individual. He wants his readers to connect with him and tell him exactly what they thought and I can respect him for that.

Ok so I had to toss Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead to the side. It had no plot and was pointless for me to continue to punish myself. I had already spent two weeks on a book that was making me nuts. I have too many books I want to read to keep wasting my precious reading time.

Up next is A Special Summer by Victoria Wells.

The last time I updated my reading list I left one off not realizing it.

1. Til Debt Do Us Part by Michelle Larks (3.5/3)
2. A Reflection of Me:An Anthology
3. The List by Sheri Lewis (carryover from 1st Quarter) (4)
4. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton (carryover from 1st Quarter)
5. Finding Your Faith by Stephanie Perry Moore (5)
6. Believing In Hope by Stephanie Perry Moore
7. The Someday List by Stacey Hawkins Adams (carryover from 1st Quarter)
8. Bring On The Blessings by Beverly Jenkins (carryover from 1st Quarter)
9. Red Light Green Light by Margaret Johnson Hodge (will give this another go later on)
10. Slow Burn by Ebony Farashuu
11. Home Wrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph (4.5/5)
12. The Cooling Board by Tamara Angela Grant
13. A Special Summer by Victoria Wells

So what have you been reading?

On Friday morning about 8:30, I received a call from my mother asking me which junior high school did I go to. I told her IS 238, also known as Susan B. Anthony. She then said do you remember Mr. Weiner. Of course I remembered Mr. Weiner. We made fun of his name when I was in that school in the late 80s-early 90s.

Then she told me the bad news. He was in ICU with the Swine Flu. I couldn’t believe it. Then yesterday morning I awoke to my local news in GA declaring that he had passed away the night before. Something sad and dark ran over my entire body and I felt drained.

No I hadn’t stayed in contact with him or any teachers from IS 238 after I graduated but I knew him. I spoke to him. I shook his hand and he was gone. The realness of this virus struck me hard. What are we going to do to make sure no one else is dying. Even though, I didn’t feel the immediate sadness for everyone who has died, they are all someone’s loved one.

Say something positive to those you care about. Let them know that you love them and remember them even if you don’t speak them but once a year. Mr. Weiner will be remembered by many and missed by even more.

We all have places we like to do certain things. I like to write at my desk when the words are flowing from me like water. But when it’s moving slow, I hand write sitting in my bed or in the car, while someone else is driving of course.

The spot I’m thinking about today is where I like to read. I can pretty much read any and every where. But my all time favorite place to read is sitting on my garden tub in my bathroom. I push the blinds up and let the sun beat on my legs and my face. It’s quiet and peaceful in there. I can stop and look out into the vastness I call my backyard.

I can get so much reading done in there and not fall asleep.

Where’s your favorite reading place?

I know it’s been a while since I have updated my list on what I have been reading. I have been reading a lot, just not what I’ve wanted to read. In between reading Brooks, Shakespeare, Eliot, Carver, Wilson, etc., I have tried to fit in a few pleasure reads here and there.

Before I share my what I’ve read off my second quarter challenge list, I’ll share the titles of the other books I’ve read lately. It’s Always the Pretty Ones by Vonda Howard: fast paced, quick read. Diamond Lives Platinum Lies by Vonda Howard: suspenseful with twists left and right. Scandalous Truth by Monica P. Carter: very good Christian fiction with a hint of mystery tied in. One Finger Left by Vikki Bell: quick and easy silly chick-lit book. All these books are ones I would recommend.

Currently, I’m trying to read Colson Whitehead’s Sag Harbor. I hope it’s not a dense book because all the reading I have to do for history class is dense enough.

Here’s my updated list:

1. ‘Til Debt Do Us Part by Michelle Larks 3.5/3

2. The List by Sherri Lewis 4

3. The Someday List by Stacey Hawkins Adams

4. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton

5. A Reflection of Me: An Anthology

6. Bring On the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

7. Finding Your Faith by Stephanie Perry Moore 5

8. Believing in Hope by Stephanie Perry Moore

9. Red Light Green Light by Margaret Johnson Hodge (will make a second attempt at this one later on)

10. Slow Burn by Ebony Farashuu

11. Home Wrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph

12. The Cooling Board by Tamara Angela Grant

From looking at what I have read so far, one would think I’m on a Christian fiction high. I guess I really need these types of stories right now.

How have you been doing with your challenge list or just your reading in general?

Mindless…

That is the word that best describes how I would like to feel right now. Going from three consecutive English classes, where the last one was literature analysis, to now a history class…I want to be mindless. I want to feel like this cloud.

I want to spend my time reading sweet nothings and anything that will make me laugh. I don’t want to write an essay or read six chapters of boring history; then answer tons of questions. However, in order to reach my goal of being a college graduate, I have to suck it up and use my mind and think.

So after I finish reading the chapters for this week’s class I will indulged myself in a quick and easy mindless read.

Citrus Balloon are drop earrings made from three different glass beads. All the colors are in the mahogany family of colors. These earrings can be wore day or night.

Purple Blues is a necklace and earring set made from purple and blue teardrop glass beads. The accent color is silver. The necklace is 19 inches long. The pendant is a transparent and catches the light. It will reflect the blue and purple of the accent beads.

6/28/09 Update: The earrings are no longer available.

Turquoise Shell is made from turquoise and cream shell beads. There is also round turquoise beads. The pendant has a hand painted design. The necklace is 23.5 inches long; bracelet is 8.5 inches.

Blueberries in the Grass is 22.5 inches. It’s made up of a green fiberoptic cat eye, lapis (the blue bead) and a grey metal bead. It’s on tiger tail wire with a barrel clasp.