Liberty and Tyranny A Conservative Manifesto by Mark Levin

I have been reading quite a few books lately about political things. I'm sure none of you knew that :) Anyway, this book was one of the best so far. Mr. Levin just lays out Conservative principles and the utter lack of those principles being used in the recent past. I absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn what Conservatism is supposed to be about. Newsflash *our last President was not a great example of Conservatism*
I've called myself a Conservative with a healthy respect for Classical Liberalism. The thing is neither one of those principles seems to really exist much these days (there are a few). It's all about Progressivism, it just depends on which speed you want to go.
Anyway, the book is a pretty fast read, and incredibly informative and eye-opening.

A book we read

As most all of you have already read the book "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane", I will simply say that our family loved it! We used it as our Sunday activity for a few weeks and just finished tonight. What a delightful story.
Sarah Elizabeth

Miracle in East Harlem, and Inkheart

I recently finished the book The Miracle of East Harlem. The book discusses the education system in a school district of East Harlem. It had been the poorest performer in the area, and alot of people had just given up hope. The school district got some people on board who really believed they could turn the district around. They did so by making it a free market type of system. Teachers and administrators were encouraged to develop the type of curriculum they wanted and then were encouraged to actually apply it. Parents and students were encouraged to choose which ever school they wanted. The schools that got a lot of students stuck around, those that did not, went back to the drawing board. The system worked out beautifully. The book is written with some wonderful honesty and some great stories of success. I highly recommend it as a book and also as a system that I wish school districts would adopt.
I also recently finished Inkheart. It was a well written and enchanting book. The story does not so much take you into a different world as it brings a different world to you. I don't want to give much of it away. But, I did think that it was a fun read and look forward to reading the 2nd in the series.

I just finished reading Carol Tuttle's new book on Energy Profiling called It's Just My Nature. I love the information that I teach. This book had some very good insights. I have it available for anyone that would like to borrow it. I really do believe that understanding energy profiling has made a difference in how I relate with my family. The book itself has a lot of typos. She is also a salesman, so she refers a lot to other classes you can take or products you can order. But being able to look past those things and getting to the meat of the information was very good.

Twilight...the second time around

Twilight...

I realize it is a religion with some...so I need to tread and use my words lightly. The first time I read it, it took me about 1/2 way through to really like it. And then, I couldn't put it down, neither the 2nd or 3rd books and I read them all within a week. As school ended this semester, I found myself needing a trivial read and so I picked up Twilight, to read it a second time. I must say...I am not impressed. Yes, the story is good. The love story is sweet, but I found myself having zero desire to read it all the way through. I just got bored with all her thoughts and the story...

I do say this. Twilight, does what it is supposed to do. It sucks you in and lets you enjoy a sweet love story. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is great literature.

So, I am happy that I got to read the series, but I won't read it again!

I give it 2 1/2 to 3 popcorn's.

and don't get me started on the movie and the fact that Edward was not cute and it had tainted the Edward my mind wanted to create in the 2nd read!!!

2 Cute Boys and . . . A Baby Hippo

More Baby Hippo

Will Vlog

Mary Roberts Rinehart

I just finished 3 novels and 4 short stories by Mary Roberts Rinehart. Wow! As Matthew, and anyone who really knows my reading tastes will tell you, I like mystery novels, and British literature. Almost without exception, I have hated every American novelist who's works I've read. Until now. Rinehart is considered one of the first, and best American novelists. She, along with Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, revolutionized the mystery genre. Her books are clean, entertaining, witty, and never a dull moment to be found. Her best work, of the ones I read, would have to be the "Window at the White Cat". Wonderful! Give Rinehart a try when you get a chance.
Sarah Elizabeth

We just finished reading the second book of Fablehaven together. It was definitely a page turner. Very well written. Very enjoyable. We have them for anyone that would like to borrow them.

Real Christianity by William Wilberforce

This is a book that I have been wanting to read for quite some time now. William Wilberforce was one of the driving forces behind ending the British slave trade and eventually slavery throughout Great Britain. The movie Amazing Grace is about him. I knew he had written this book and was anxious to get my hands on a copy. Unfortunately versions in the original 18th century English are pretty expensive. I read a modern language version. I still would dearly like to own an original language version, because after all I can understand quite a bit of what the Bible says for instance.
But, I digress.
I highly highly recommend this book. I have actually already loaned it out. I think its message is so absolutely timely for us today. He discusses authentic faith as opposed to cultural faith. He really understood some important Gospel principles. He also discusses the great need that his nation at that time had for authentic faith. In some passages I would say out loud "William did you write this about today?" It just really fits. He talks about that the most patriotic thing we can do is live with authentic faith, because that more than anything else will have the greatest positive effect on our nation.
Amazing book. Please please read and please pass it on to others. I've been telling people all week they should read it.
20 Thumbs way up!