As I looked on Goodreads and saw all the books I was currently reading I decided it was time to actually finish a few of them. I loved Fablehaven. It was a lot of fun to read it with my sweet husband. When Heather and I went to Spokane to surprise Sarah for her birthday I picked up her copy of Inkheart. That is the book I finished next. It was a good book. Not great, but good. After that I finished the book And They Were Not Ashamed. It is a great book on true intimacy. The last three chapters are about how and when to teach children about intimacy. I have it here for anyone who would like to borrow it. Then I finsihed Forest Born. This is the fourth book in the Bayorn series . I loved the way Shannon Hale brought all the stories together in this last one. I just started reading the first book in 39 clues. I am looking forward to this fun journey. I also ordered a bunch more books just in case I run out. Anyone who would like to check out my collection you are more than welcome to borrow them.

Deena

The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayak

So, I don't know if you know this about me but I've been trying to read alot and learn about history and politics and what not. I've heard for quite a while now alot about The Road to Serfdom and so I finally got around to reading it. I highly recommend it, especially if you want to understand what true/classical Liberalism was really all about. The word has been so tainted, misunderstood and abused that society at large as little to no understanding of it. Liberal has that same root as liberty. Hayak does a great job of explaining his position and the importance of Liberalism in Democracy. I have a lot of respect for Classical Liberalism.

Hayak wrote the book as WWII was ending. There is quite a bit in there about how Nazi Germany came about, and how much of the same philosophy that led to Nazism had been already spreading around Europe. Sadly much of that trend has continued though with less horrific results.

He being Liberal and I being Conservative there are some things that I didn't exactly agree with :) But, it was really valuable to read that real Liberal perspective and there was a whole heck of a lot that I did agree with. Here are some quotes that I found to be spot on. On the importance of having freedom to succeed and to fail, "Either both the choice and the risk rest with the individual or he is relieved of both." On Humility, "Individualism is thus and attitude of humility before the social process and of tolerance to other opinions and is the exact opposite of that intellectual hubris which is at the root of the demand for comprehensive direction of the social process." On morals and freedom, "What our generation is in danger of forgetting is not only that morals are of necessity a phenomenon of individual conduct but also that they can exist only in the sphere in which the individual is free to decide for himself and is called upon voluntarily to sacrifice personal advantage to the observance of a moral rule."

Excellent read.

Fablehaven's Final Book Rocks!!

Done!!! Thank you to Bill and Deena for indeed hurrying themselves through the book. It was a good read. Totally couldn't put it down and finished it in 2 1/2 days! Kudos to Brandon Mull to get a confirmed non-fantasy reader to devour not one, but five fantasy books. Sarah