The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Good but not as good as the back of the book professed: "A remarkable novel about divine female power, a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come."

Set in South Carolina in 1964 tells the story of one Lily Owens. Her life is a struggle between herself and finding peace with her parents. Memories of her mother are blurred from an accidental death and three items she has left from her mother. Lily tries to find happy memories of her father, T-Ray, but he is not the "father" type.

She escapes with her "stand-in-mother," Rosaleen, after Rosaleen insults three racists in town. Lily has a plan to find her mother in Tiburon, South Carolina. She believes her mother was there from one of the three items, a picture with this city and state written on the back. Lily and Rosaleen find August, June and May; three black sisters who own a Pepto Bismol colored house and make a living as bee keepers.

Lily is now free from T-Ray but is still haunted by the blurred vision of her mother's death. From living with August, June, May and Rosaleen she learns about the hard facts of life and love and she finds herself as she is connected to her mother.

There is also a movie out, featuring a great cast: Dakota Fanning (Lily), Queen Latifah (August), Jennifer Hudson (Rosaleen), Alicia Keys (June)and Sophie Okonedo (May). I will probably see this... but it will only be dollar theater or NetFlix worthy.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Davdi Oliver Relin

I just finished an amazing book on my trip to and from Denver. Three Cups of Tea is about "one man's mission to promote peace... one school at a time."This book was so inspiring. Greg Mortenson started his life as a nurse and a mountaineer. After failing to climb a mountain in Pakistan his perspective changed as he saw a group of children gathered to attend "school." Their school was gathering outside in the cold and they used sticks to write their lessons in the ground. This image altered his course and he became the head of the Central Asia Institute building schools for children in Pakistan and nearby regions. He truly believes in his mission that by building schools and educating the children we can bridge the gap of ignorance and hate.

Sometimes I don't feel we are even in a war. The scenes on TV have died down, the deaths have decreased and our focus has switched to the new President elect Obama. As the husband said, we aren't so much in a war but we are now building a nation. Thoughts rise as I think about what I could possibly do to help. Lucky for me, they gave ideas on how to help at the end of the book. One of the ways is to spread the word about the book... http://www.threecupsoftea.com/

I just ordered two calendars from here: https://www.ikat.org/limited-edition-calendar/

The Brothers by Chris Stewart

I didn't love this book. The book took a lot of effort for me to get into it and enjoy but it was recommended by my dear friend and one of the woman I visit teach, so I gave it a try.


This book is the first in a series following a group of people from the preexistence and throughout their lives. The first book is about the War in Heaven, the different sides and views and the main characters choices before they come to earth. Although a central part of my religion, it was difficult to imagine, simply because I had never read it dramatized before. Think of it as reading a story from your parents childhood. A story your dad continually tells but now you are reading it from an outsider's perspective.


The book wasn't terrible, it just took a lot for me to get into. It did make me reflect on the War in Heaven, choices made there, Agency and the Plan of Salvation, so it wasn't a complete loss! I just couldn't read page after page, I had to focus to read pages. Apparently, they get better and turn out to be a really fantastic series. I imagine they would get better as it would be easier to imagine stories of people on earth. I guess I am a book snob in the sense if they didn't hook me with the first book, there is little chance I will read the rest... but there is a chance!

Matchstick Men

Another great movie with Nicholas Cage! Keep them coming Cage!

Roy (Cage) is a hypochondriac, OCD (and possibly more) who happens to make a life the not-so-honest way. He is a "con artist, not a crook" but tells all he is an antique dealer. He takes pills for his condition until his business partner, Frank, suggests he sees a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist tells Roy, his medical issues are because of his guilty conscience.

Roy finds out he has a 13-year-old daughter, Angela, and starts on a journey to form a relationship with her to ease his conscience. Angela wins his heart with her youthful and carefree attitude. In an argument Roy confesses he is a con artist and after some nagging he agrees to teach her a con. He even lets her take part in their biggest con yet. The act doesn't go as planned and his new found relationship with his daughter catapults his desire to change his life around, including his hypochondriac/ OCD tendencies. He is conned at the end but has a new life to start.

Moonstruck

I guess you could say I was "moonstruck" by this movie. Loretta's (Cher) first husband died and she swears it was due to their courting and not being engaged properly. At dinner as Ronnie is proposing she is determined to have luck on her side as she makes him get down on one knee and provide some sort of ring. Ronnie and Loretta split shortly after as Ronnie visits his mother on her deathbed. He asks Loretta to contact his brother as they are no longer on speaking terms and Ronnie wants to start fresh. Loretta tries calling and ends up visiting Johnny (Nicholas Cage) at his bakery. They meet and have a little feud at the beginning, discussing the other's blunders, but in the end Johnny and his fake hand win Loretta.

A new side of Cher and Nicholas Cage you do not want to miss! Just beware as you will have, "when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore" stuck in your head after the movie. Hey, it's a great song and the movie is well worth it!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I have seen this movie before, but recently watched it again with some friends. I remember enjoying it the first time but I think I was better able to appreciate the storyline this time around. The story of four best friends split up for the summer as they each go their own way and plan to stay connected through a pair of jeans. The jeans will be passed from each girl and mark their adventures wherever they are and adventures is exactly what they have. Carmen is visiting her father in South Carolina for the summer where she finds he is getting married. She struggles with this new form of a family and how she will fit in. Lena visits her grandparents in Greece and finds love that she must hide from her grandparents because of a long forgotten feud between the two families (a slight Romeo and Juliette storyline). Tibby remains at home as she works at Wallman's and is determined to make a documentary. Despite her attempts to be callused toward much of her present circumstances, she finds a 12-year-old friend, Bailey, to soften her. Bridget goes to soccer camp in Mexico where she finds herself, but first she finds Eric. Bridget learns the value of love and what love isn't. They come together at the end of the summer still best friends learning and growing through their adventures.

You are bound to connect with one of these girls through the trials they encounter or just learn from their adventures. A great story of life, the choices we make and the consequences that come from these choices. In this movie, Hollywood does have somewhat of a conscience!