Winter Read: The Almost Moon~Alice Sebold

Synopsis
"When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily."
So begins The Almost Moon, Alice Sebold's astonishing, brilliant, and daring new novel. A woman steps over the line into the unthinkable in this unforgettable work by the author of The Lovely Bones and Lucky.
For years Helen Knightly has given her life to others: to her haunted mother, to her enigmatic father, to her husband and now grown children. When she finally crosses a terrible boundary, her life comes rushing in at her in a way she never could have imagined.
Unfolding over the next twenty-four hours, this searing, fast-paced novel explores the complex ties between mothers and daughters, wives and lovers; the meaning of devotion; and the line between love and hate. It is a challenging, moving, gripping story, written with the fluidity and strength of voice that only Alice Sebold can bring to the page.

Winter Read: Harvesting the Heart~ Jodi Picoult

This is my first time reading Jodi Picoult, and I absolutely LOVE this book. With work and all, I have been reading everyday for the last week (could have finished this weekend but had other things to do).

Synopsis

Harvesting the Heart explores the story of a young woman overcome by the demands of having a family. Written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love and vulnerability, Harvesting the Heart recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Sue Miller.

Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who left when she was five. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother's absence, and shameful memories of her past, make her doubt both her maternal ability and her sense of self-worth.
Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness by searching for her mother and, eventually, returning to be a mother, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters. Any mother—or child—cannot help but to relate to the issues and emotions explored within this book.

Smithsonian October

Three really good articles this month- click the link above.

Guerrillas in Their Midst
Face to face with Congo's imperiled mountain gorillas
By Paul Raffaele

Teaming up with Thoreau
One hundred fifty years after the publication of Walden, Henry David Thoreau is helping scientists monitor global warming
By Michelle Nijhuis

Swamp Ghosts
In Papua New Guinea, a journalist investigates the controversy over a World War II bomber
By John Darnton

Summer Read: For One More Day~Mitch Albom

It took me longer than I wanted to finish "Running", but I did it yesterday. It was different...

On to one of my favorite authors (I can hear Jake in my head saying "Who wrote the aufor?).

I have loved his other books and I am sure I will not be disappointed.

Summer Read: Running with Scissors~ Augusten Burroughs

I finished "Night" this afternoon..very good book. Off to finish "Running with Scissors". I started reading it in November when I was pregnant with Kaleb. I am 3/4 of the way done so it won't be long.

Summer Read: Night~ Elie Wiesel

I have just finished "Baby Laughs" and decided to start this book next. I had forgotten what the book was about (a Holocaust Survivor) and after picking it up and starting last night, I really didn't want to read it now because of its content. Part of me wants to read it, so I am going to.

It is a "quick" read, but won't be an "easy" read (I will be able to knock off a chapter or two everyday while pumping at work....hopefully).

Click the link above to learn more about the author and his moving account of surviving a Nazi concentration camp.

Summer Read: Baby Laughs~ Jenny McCarthy

This was a quick book I was able to read in my "private office" at work. I am not a huge fan, but do find Jenny McCarthy funny at times. This book was actually pretty funny- if you are a first time parent, you will be able to relate. A little over the top at times, but funny! I will have to pick up a copy of "Belly Laughs".