Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Final Thoughts


I'm so excited about our April book! I have had Traveling Mercies by Ann Lamott sitting on my bookshelf for a few years now, and have never picked it up for whatever reason. I'm very glad to know have a good reason to make myself read it.

I am curious to know everyone's final thoughts about Eat, Pray, Love. Even if you haven't quite finished it yet, like me, I want to know what your concluding thoughts are. Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? Did you love her and her writing style, or did she drive you crazy? Let's hear it!




Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Traveling Mercies by Ann Lamott

Alright. I know I only gave everyone a day to decide.. haha... but since April is fast approaching I am going to go ahead and officially choose. We will read Traveling Mercies. It is the older of the two, so if you end up liking this first one... you have the next one to read. :) I am not sure how much this book is to buy, but I do know that they have it at the library!! With a wonderful book behind us, I am hoping april brings just as much thought and discussion! :) Thanks everyone!

Monday, March 29, 2010

New Book for April!

Hi all,

Alright so I am always nervous about these decisions. But I was thinking of the group reading an Ann Lamott book. I have heard good things. I am up for any of her books. I have chosen two specifically if anyone is interested:

Traveling Mercies
http://books.google.com/books?id=7ZUdHJoYeIcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:Anne+inauthor:Lamott&hl=en&ei=O36xS6jQA5TSMp35laIE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAQ

or
Grace Eventually
http://books.google.com/books?id=mIZbCiH5OOcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:Anne+inauthor:Lamott&hl=en&ei=O36xS6jQA5TSMp35laIE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAg


Any preferences? Do tell!

Sorry if those links do not work, I am still getting used to this mac thing!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

When Can I Leave?

Reading EPL makes me really want to go/move to Italy. Reading her descriptions and stories makes me desperately want to experience Italy for myself!

That's all. Who's with me?

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

If you liked Eat, Pray, Love...

So I know I've been MIA thus far in the discussion, but I have definitely been reading! I wanted to share this link I found on Elizabeth Gilbert's next book "Committed." (Though I wouldn't suggest reading it yet unless you've read to "bead" 98. The review contains a bit of a spoiler if you haven't gotten that far.) The book seems pretty interesting, especially if you like her writing style. Check it out.

Friday, March 19, 2010

EPL Trailer

Hello everyone! Michelle here. Following the discussion and enjoying it so far. Thought you all might like to see the new preview!!! Looks beautiful. Enjoy ....

Thursday, March 18, 2010

AH I forgot something!

Sorry! I forgot something. I don't know how you all feel about our blog's look, so I want you to tell me if you want me to change it. Go to either Shabby Blogs or The Cutest Blog on the Block and tell me if there is a background you like more. If I don't hear from anyone, then I might just change it myself. :)

Alright, I think that's all for now.

A Few Items

First of all- I'm loving all of the discussion so far about this book! Keep reading and keep posting.

Secondly, if you haven't heard of or use Google Reader yet, you need to. Basically Google Reader will organize all of the blogs you want to follow on ONE screen. It's absolutely fabulous. That way you don't have to type in each web address of every blog you read or follow. If you don't follow many blogs, or any except this one, then Google Reader won't do much for you. But if you are like me and read many blogs, Google Reader is great.

Thirdly, I've organized a rotation for picking books. Whenever it is your turn, please let us know the name and author of the book by the last week of the previous month. For example, Julie is our next book picker, so Julie will let us all know her choice sometime during the last week of March. Then, Joanna will let us know our May book by the last week of April. Get it? So here you go!

April: Julie
May: Joanna
June: Carrie W.
July: Katie Hill
August: Tara M.
September: Annie E.
October: Ann G.
November: Hilary
December: Angela
January: Kelli
February: Claire

And then we will start over!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Movie with Julia!!

So I was browsing the magazing rack while checking out at CVS tonight and came across the latest People. When I saw the cover I had to buy it, and the reason was only a little due to the fact that Jake and Vienna were the main story (Yes, I do watch the Bachelor - I have a specific reason if you want to know some other time). The main reason was because it had a "sneak peak" of a new movie coming out from the very book we are all reading. AND the one and only Julia Roberts plays the main character, our new friend, author Elizabeth Gilbert!!

(You might have already known this was going to be a movie in which case some of you can just pretend you didn't to humor me!)

A little of this.. a little of that... thus far...

Alright you will all have to bear with me. You see, I am a person that thinks and thinks and think about things... but when asked to speak her thoughts, does so with um's and blanks and stares, and looses all train of thought. So, a list is how I shall work this post- because I am a fan of lists- and if possible, i will highlight this list, because I am a fan of colorful lists. :)

1. I agree with Johanna, I am so glad I read the introduction to see how she was choosing to structure it. Not so much because I am a fan of structure, I just love knowing background information. I love knowing just a little bit more to help it sink in that much more. So yes, I'm a fan.

2. I love the writing. She is down to earth, yet a smart little sassy girl with her own insecurities, someone every lady can relate too!

3. This book is starting to make me want to learn Italian. I catch myself saying the quotes outloud, trying to have an Italian accent while my husband stares at me across the room in confusion.

4. I should have blogged sooner , because I had many more thoughts before this, but see ( i didn't make a list) and therefore, they have vanished.But the part I am at right now, she is talking about really understanding pleasure for all that it is. How in Italy, they applauded her for that and yet in America we seem to learn something different. It caused me to ask the question:

" Where do I stand with pleasure? Should i worry so much about what pleases me, or worry about pleasing the Lord? Or mayyybee... when I desire to please the Lord, my pleasure becomes what His was in the first place.."

She states ' generally speaking Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from porn to theme parks to wars, but that's not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world today. But we seem to like it. Of course we all work to hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pj's, eating cereal straight out of the box staring at the TV in a mild coma. Americans don't really know how to do nothing. ..... Planet advertising in America orbits completely around the need to convince the uncertain consumer that yes, you have actually warranted a special treat. This Bud's for you! You deserve a break today! because you're worth it! You've come a long way, baby! And the insecure consumer thinks, yeah!! Then the reactionary binge, followed by remorse."

I have found myself falling into these same lies and traps (especially with Kit Kats, ohhhh they get me!). It's sooooo interesting to me how different cultures function, different nations, different people's.


It raises the question, what is pleasure to us? Where do we find it?
If you were told that you had the week off of work and you were supposed to use that week doing whatever gave you the most pleasure. The absolute most pleasure , where would you go? What would you do? Would you really even know?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Thoughts and Yes, Feelings (so far...)

I am only through Chapter Three. And I have a few thoughts and yes, feelings. Because if you know me, when I think I feel, when I feel I think.

Let me start with the good things. Things I really like....

1. I love any book that begins the first chapter with a kiss, or an almost kiss in this case.

2. I love the way she "speaks" in a Gilmore-esque way: quick, witty, likeable. I think we would be friends and I like her.

3. She knows her audience: women. Think about it: food, religion, love....it grabs us girls at the core.

Ok now the main thing that I was biting my lip about....

After reading Chapter 2 and 3, I feel sad. Sad that someone who is passionate about seeking the "truth" can be so close and yet not see it yet, both with the idea of marriage and her view of God. And she is not uninformed. It's almost like there is a flashing neon sign right in front of her and she is looking everywhere but at the sign.

Of course I will continue to read this book and I promise I will like a lot of it, but I do feel sad already. I want her to know and see and experience and yes feel the God that I feel in good times and bad. A God who IS "magnificent" BECAUSE there is only one way to Him: a relationship with his son Jesus.

We will see where she ends up. I'm interested to see and hear more about her journey and how she did become informed with what she does believe and know.

And yes, I would still be her friend.

Is Love Enough?

I came across this quote from Eat, Pray, Love today, and I wanted to know everyone's thoughts on it. Elizabeth Gilbert writes, "We were so committed to solving this thing. Because how could two people who were so in love not end up happily ever after? It had to work. Didn't it?"

What do you think? Is love enough? Comment or post away, even if you haven't gotten to this part or even started the book!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Thoughts So Far

Confession: I just started reading our book today. I know, I know, I should have started it awhile ago, seeing as I already owned it, and have been wanting to read it, but I've been reading other children's books for school. So I haven't gotten too far, but I wanted to share a few thoughts on what I've read thus far.

I'm really glad I read the introduction, because I liked the explanation of how the book is structured. If you know me at all, I LOVE structure. I thrive on structure. I have small panic attacks when things are unstructured, and therefore, knowing that this book is founded on this awesome principle of structure, I can sleep a little bit easier tonight.

I also thought her comments about how our spiritual journeys are structured was also interesting. She said, "Sincere spiritual investigation is, and always has been, an endeavor of methodical discipline." I am intrigued by that statement, and as I thought more about it, I believe she is absolutely right. People who say they are looking for Truth, and for spirituality, but are haphazard and not all that concerned with any sort of investigation whatsoever, are really not that interested at all in finding Truth or spirituality. However, how often do those of us who are Christ-followers (I myself included in that group), try to make out the Gospel and Christianity as this "do whatever feels right, there is no structure here" belief system? True seekers are searching for the Truth with "methodical discipline", and I believe that unless we have a disciplined, structured system to offer, these seekers will definitely be unimpressed, and probably seek out other belief systems. I'm not saying that we should become this ultra-traditional, legalistic religious cult, but rather, embrace what makes Christianity and the Gospel the Truth.

I don't know if that makes sense at all- it does in my head. I'm very interested to know all of your thoughts so far. Please feel free to post! And post often.