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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Hi, Anne,

    If you're looking for something to read that will help you understand basic beliefs of Mormonism (I assume you're curious due to Romney's nomination), I have a few suggestions.  First, a book I highly recommend:

    Our Search for Happiness http://www.amazon.com/Our-Search-Happiness-Russell-Ballard/dp/0875799175/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346890881&sr=8-1&keywords=our+search+for+happiness

    It's an easy and comfortable read that explains basic LDS beliefs and practices, ie, our use of the King James version of the Bible, origins of the Book of Mormon, why we have a living prophet and 12 apostles at the head of our church, steeples on our church buildings and not  crosses (but you will find paintings of Jesus Christ in our buildings; some depicting the crucifixion) and many other tenets that may interest you.  

    My heritage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints goes back many years, and my family and I are very active and happy in our faith.  I think it makes sense to go straight to the source when looking for answers about another faith.  If I were interested in what Southern Baptists believed, I'd ask an active, commited Southern Baptist or go to their official website.  So here's the official website of the Momon church that can answer many questions you may have:

    www.LDS.org    or    www.mormon.org

    Best to you in your reading! 

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited September 2012

    ROTFLMAO:

    What Kind of Book Reader Are You? A Diagnostics Guide:

    http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/08/what-kind-book-reader-are-you-diagnostics-guide/56337/

     http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/08/many-more-types-book-readers-diagnostics-addendum/56425/

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited September 2012

    Oh, VR, that's awesome!!!

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  • heyjudette
    heyjudette Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2012

    Wonderful list!!!  I never heard of The Gargoyle before, but I NEED to read it now!

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  • heyjudette
    heyjudette Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2012
    Has anyone read any Tom Robbins?  I'm almost finished Jitterbug Perfume, and to say the least, it's pretty amazing!
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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited September 2012

    Okay, will begin reading my third book of fiction in succession. Kevin Power's The Yellow Birds. I know. What's come over VR?

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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited September 2012
    VR Loved the diagnostic guide!!  Thanks for posting it.
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  • mcsushi
    mcsushi Member Posts: 174
    edited September 2012

    VR: Add me to those who loved the diagnostic guide. Delayed onset reader #1 was a pretty good fit. Thanks for sharing!

    heyjudette: I adore Tom Robbins! No one writes metaphors like he does. Absolute brilliant. Jitterbug Perfume is one of the best I've read by him (I've never looked at beets the same way since reading it). I've also read Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas which is very good, but in my opinion, not great and my all-time favorite is Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates. That book is page after page of pure literary delight. I have a few more of his other books on my shelf waiting to be read. 

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  • Hipline
    Hipline Member Posts: 195
    edited September 2012

    I just read "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. I know it's been around for a while but what a wild ride. It's a true story and certainly must be because you couldn't make this stuff up. I also finished What Remains bass on reccy's here and it really touched me.

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited September 2012

    Hipline- I read the Glass Caste some time ago and remember liking it.

    Wenweb- Did you finish In One Person by John Irving yet?  I liked the ending a lot :)

    I have been reading The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly and have enjoyed it for the most part.  Not my typical read but my MIL recommended it so I gave it a shot.  I liked it enough that it is part of a trilogy and I will get the next book.  Late 1800's set in England and America, a little Jack the Ripper, a little hardship, a little love story.

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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited September 2012
    Hey Laurie-nope, close to half way through.  I'm a pretty slow reader...just like knowing I have a book to go to.  I'll let you know when I'm done Laughing
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  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 4,562
    edited September 2012

    I had the John Irving novel in my hand but put it back now I think I will get it for my next trip.Thanks Laurie.

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited September 2012

    Hello ladies,

    This is my first post on this thread.  I have been lurking for months!  I have read several of your recommendations but have an odd favor to ask.  Can someone recommend a few books do noy contain any mention of infidelity?.  My last 2 books both dealt with this within the first 3 chapters and I closed them up and they promptly went back to the library.  Thanks.

    Oh, and when you all were having the conversation about childrens books, some were not familiar to me.  So with a list in hand, went to the library and gathered those books and sat on the floor and read them all. Time well spent.  :-)

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited September 2012

    Navymom...welcome!!! What a great request! I was all set to recommend Jonathan Tropper's new hilarious book, One Last Thing Before I Go... but there is a drop of infidelity in the book...ditto for the terrific and also hilarious new book by Maria Semple, Where'd You Go Bernadette. I don't think the topic of infidelity was central to either books. You might enjoy them. I am set to begin The Yellow Birds. I'm on a war kick. I really feel it's important to pay homage to those who've served. Reading books about the military seems to make me have a greater appreciation....

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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited September 2012
    Navymom I agree with VR, a great request, as well something I have never thought about.  I just went through all of the books I have on my Kindle, and honestly could not find one that does not at least have mention of infidelity.  When I have a chance, I look through my real books and see what I find.  Welcome to our thread!
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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited September 2012

    VR and WW, thanks for the warm welcome.  Where'd You Go, Bernadette was on my list to pick up next.  I'll skip it now. 

    I'll  check back in a little while and see if anyone can suggest a few titles for me. 

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited September 2012
     I'm ripping through WILD by Cheryl Strayed. It's really a great read for anyone who likes a memoir combined with a hiking trip (me!)
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  • mcsushi
    mcsushi Member Posts: 174
    edited September 2012
    AnneW: My good friend and book buddy is also flying through Wild. I know she's enjoying it very much. I'll have to put it on my list!
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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited September 2012
    Ann,  I'm glad you are enjoying "Wild".  It's on my to read list, and you may have seen from an earlier post I made, that just having been on part of PCT last month sparked my interest as well.  
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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited September 2012

    I just returned The Yellow Birds. It was too upsetting to read.

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  • bedo
    bedo Member Posts: 1,866
    edited September 2012
    Anne, I loved loved loved Wild.  So much of the time line of her life paralleled mine that I was fascinated to read about someone else's experience and feelings about it.  I haven't been able to do that before. The book really was the one that captured me in the last year (and I read a lot)  and I loved a few of her insights on things.
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  • glostagirl
    glostagirl Member Posts: 388
    edited September 2012

    minustwo......You asked about high school reading list, they can often be found at your local library or high school's website.  My son is a freshman in honors english.  One of the books I had to buy for him this year is a collection of short stories.  The title is 40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology by Barbara Lawn.  It's a college level book.  The authors range from Nathaniel Hawthorne to Flannery O'Connor to Alice Walker.  I can't wait to read it.  From his summer reading list, we read together, Steinbeck's of Mice and Men and the Hunger Games.  I liked the Hunger Games enough to read the rest of the trilogy; Catching Fire & MockingJay; not great literature, but entertaining reads.  FYI, there's no sex or marital infidelity, but lot's of death and violence, although it's not gory!  

    I've also reread some high school reads, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Loved both, couldn't put them down, especially Jane Eyre. Funny, I hated them in high school! 

    Just picked up another to reread; Ayn Rand's ~ Atlas Shrugged, I remember loving it the first time, but I'm having a little trouble getting started.  

    Lastly, for film lovers, recently saw this very cool indie film Beasts of the Southern Wild.  

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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited September 2012
    NavyMom,  Have you read "The Elegance of the Hedgehog"?  I am quite certain that there is no infidelity.  
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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited September 2012

    glostagirl, I never managed Atlas Shrugged, though I read The Fountainhead a few times, and several of Rand's other books.

    Let's see...what a challlenge to come up with novels not containing infidelity, off the top of my head. Try THE GIFT OF RAIN by Tan Eng. One of the best books I've ever read. Ever. And THE SAMURAI'S GARDEN by Gail Tsukyama.

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited September 2012

    Just finished The Family Fang a novel by Kevin Wilson. It is not about vampires, it is the story of the adult children of two performance artists, Camille and Caleb Fang. It is very strange - and ultimately about family - the relationships and expectations of parents and children. I liked it very much. 

    Navymom - no infidelity.

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited September 2012

    Anne, Thanks for the suggestions.  I went to my little Po-Dunk library today and of course they did not have any of the books I was looking for.  But can get them from the neighboring Po-dunk library.  So I will have to wait a few days.

    Thanks to you too, Jetson.  Put your suggestion on my list, too

    I do appreciate everyones sensitivity to my request of NO Infidelity reading.  It's been over 5 years since it happened to me and I am still not "over it" 

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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited September 2012

    What's a Po-dunk library?

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited September 2012

    wenweb....Podunk is a term for a small out of the way place....  Interesting how libraries can be big showcases, like the Seattle Library, or as non descript as storefronts tucked into strip malls....  I'd love to take a road trip one day and visit libraries....Quite an adventure...wanna come?  We'll get a dose of books, architecture and sociology AND good food along the way....

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited September 2012

    Wen, yep, VR is right on with the description of podunk.  Even tho my area is growing and the library staff are very helpful, the quantity of books is limited.  Oh and thanks for your suggestion for the Hedgehog book.  It is one that the neighbor town has on the shelf.  So I should have it by Thurs or Friday.

    The tour of libraries sounds fun, especially if eating is involved!

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited September 2012

     The definitiion below is from wikipedia  I originally typed into google  pofunk and found out that was a kind of music and dance!

     Podunk....

    The word, of Algonquian origin, denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations.

    The earliest citation in the Dictionary of American Regional English is from Samuel Griswold Goodrich's 1840 book, "The Politician of Podunk":

    Solomon Waxtend was a shoemaker of Podunk, a small village of New York some forty years ago.

    The book portrays Waxtend as being drawn by his interest in public affairs into becoming a representative in the General Assembly, finding himself unsuited to the role, and returning to his trade.[1] It is unclear whether the author intended to evoke more than the place near Ulysses, New York by the name "Podunk". Possibly the term was meant to exemplify "plain, honest people", as opposed to more sophisticated people with questionable values.

    In 1869, Mark Twain wrote the article "Mr. Beecher and the Clergy" defending a friend, the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, whose preaching had come under criticism. In it he said:

    They even know it in Podunk, wherever that may be. It excited a two-line paragraph there.

    At the time he was living in Buffalo, New York, moving to Hartford, Connecticut in 1871, in a home within 4 miles (6.4 km) of the Podunk River). Elmira, where Twain had lived earlier, is within 30 miles (48 km) of Podunk, New York, so it is not clear to which village Twain was referring.

    An 1875 documentation of dismissive usage is:

    Sometimes the newest State, or the youngest county or town of a State is nicknamed "Old Podunk," or whatever it may be, by its affectionate inhabitants, as though their home was an ancient figure in national history.[2]

    The origin of the term has also been credited to a former village in East Brookfield, Massachusetts named Podunk after Quaboag Pond, which was once named Podunk Pond.[3]


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