"The Creative Habit"; "The Collaborative Habit" - Twyla Tharp

Both of these books are great reads! The Creative Habit is alot about Twyla's personal process for creation. The Collaborative Habit is a great read on getting along with people.

"The Christmas List"- Richard Paul Evans & "Christmas Present" -Jacqulyn Mitchard

Both of these books follow the Dickens theme of making the most of your life at Christmas. The Mitchard Book is about a dying woman and the Evans book is about a shrewd business man who tries to repair some broken relationships. Both are quick easy holiday reads.

What Makes a Child Lucky -Gioia Timpanelli

One hundred and twenty seven pages and a gem! I'm still digesting this book, but wanted to get a start on recommending it. The author is a wonderful storyteller. This story involves a boy of 13 thrown into a crowd of criminals and how he survives and still finds good in the world. A wonderful read.

http://www.gioiatimpanelli.net/

A Quilter's Holiday -Jennifer Chiaverini

An Elm Creek Quilts novel is always a delight. Sylvia is looking for long lost family. Diane is dealing with a family who is growing up and Sarah and Anna are just getting started. A well timed release for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Middle Place -Kelly Corrigan

The topic seems melancholy: a father and daughter fighting different cancers. The book is not depressing at all it; was very uplifting. I couldn't put it down. Everyone needs a George in their lives somewhere his optimisim is contagious.

The Unfinished Angel -Sharon Creech

I think I'll have to preface this review by stating that I think I've enjoyed every Sharon Creech book I've ever read. This one is no exception. The book takes place in a village of the Swiss Alps. Zola arrives with her father to start a children's school and finds an angel in the stone tower. Together they find orphaned children and bring them to the school. The language takes some getting used to, but is endearing as the angel has the voice of a young child and often the grammar reflects that. "Now the peoples will do something, because peoples take care of other peoples, especially childrens, right."

The Chapters all have facscinating names. My favorite is Mr. Pomodoro, Zola's father, Creech introduces the concept of why and what people save for emotional support. Zola saves feathers and the angel wonders about that. Mr. Pomodoro saves chocolate and one of the villagers has a seceret stash of blue socks. The book is full of interesting characters and relationships.

Catching Up..Four Reads

These are the books I've read lately and neglected blogging about. I picked up the Meg Wolitzer book at the library as an express seven day checkout and ended up pushing myself to finish it. I really did not care for it. The idea of the book appealed to me as many women take career breaks to raise children, myself included. The book profiles about four different women and the choices they've made which all seem to be heavily influenced by money. They all send their kids to a private NY school and complain all of the time about how money is tight. I found the book to be whinny and annoying and too much of keeping up appearances and not much humanity.

I enjoyed the Peter Mayle book A Good Year it takes place between London and the south of France vineyards. Lots of talk about wine and the French countryside with some romance thrown in. A very light enjoyable read!

Seeking Peace by Mary Pipher was also a great read. Mary talks about how hectic her life became with the success of Revivng Ophelia. I enjoyed reading about her life reprioritizing process.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin is a true classic with great writing. I read it because my daughter's English class is reading it and I wanted to refresh my memory of the story. Really, really classic writing: "The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation." Refreshing to read a classic again!