A Book a Day

118. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Oh dear. I hate going against the flow of public opinion, but this book was just not my kind of read. I got through the first few chapters, thinking it was going to get better. It didn’t. Finally, I decided to jump to the end, to see what was going to happen. The ending intrigued me enough that I jumped to the middle and read a few chapters there. Back to the near end to see how the relationship played out. Then back toward the front to pick up where I’d initially stopped….Well, you see where this goes.

Not sure this counts as a read, given that I read the front, the end, the middle, the end, the middle, the front. But I feel I read enough to warn the wary: This is a hyped-book that did not (for me) live up to the hype. The writing (the translation?) felt like it was a color-by-the-numbers story.

119. Citizens by Simon Schama

I can see it is going to be one of those weeks. First, I barely get through Sarah’s Key, which everyone is raving about, and then I have to force myself to read (skim?) Citizens, an online group read.

And I just knew I was going to love this book. It’s about French history and I’m going to France in one week.

Come to find out, I’m just not that interested in knowing so much about the French Revolution. Call me shallow, but I was happy to go read the summary at World Book and be done with it.

120. French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook

It seems the secret is mostly water. And portion control. (And, some say, don’t forget that over half of all French women smoke. That could have something to do with it.)

It’s a mystery, but French women are, despite lots of butter and cheese and wine, not fat. I definitely think it’s something scientists should be looking at, but, in the meantime, I had lots of time to look through these recipes which were mixed in with lots of speculation about why French women don’t get fat.

121. Mystically Wired by Ken Wilson

God made us for prayer with Him. He wired our brains in such a way that we long for prayer with God.

So, why is it so hard for us?

Thus, this book. Wilson helps us through the hard parts, including just the very act of getting started and making prayer a habit. He suggests stillness. He suggests praying outdoors. He suggests meditating on scripture. He suggests holding loved ones in memory during prayer.

Wilson has some wonderful ideas. He is able to talk down nay-sayers of meditation using lots of Scripture, and that in itself is a feat. Recommended.

122. God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours by Regina Brett

Brett has had a rough life. Dropped out of college. A young single mom. Discouraged from her life’s dreams. And, just when she finally found happiness with her husband, cancer.

All these tough times have made Brett tough and she is happy to share what she has learned here.

The chapter titles sound like she’s going to get preachy, but, perhaps because we know she’s been where we are, she never does. And each little essay is much, much better than the title, so don’t let that stop you from reading on.

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