false 17 45 37 true 5756350 read 8 true 843772 currently-reading 0 true 843771 to-read 10 false 2795442 god-stuff 5 false 2795402 on-writing 2 false 4790829 parenting 2 false 2795393 food http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77925339 to: I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter with God (Paperback) by Bilquis Sheikh
bookshelves: god-stuff
Uplifting, amazing story of an upper-class Pakistani, nominally Muslim woman who came to know Jesus through some extraordinary circumstances -- for example, she dreamed she had dinner w/ Jesus, then dreamed about John the Baptist and asked him to take her to Jesus -- before she'd ever heard the name of John the Baptist!

Once Bilquis became a believer, she exhibited great courage in staying in her predominantly Muslim community despite personal risk (she got death threats). She also had a remarkable sense of the presence of the Father, and she was very sensitive to when she grieved Him -- she was quick to repent. She is open about her flaws and gives the glory to the Father for her changed character.

This is a quick read but very inspiring. A page-turner, for me. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77924528 to: NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children (Hardcover) by Po Bronson
bookshelves: parenting
Readable, interesting accounts of scientific research in areas of interest to parents -- e.g. why kids lie and how to help them stop; the age intelligence tests are useful (later than they're normally done); some unexpected negative effects of even slightly reduced sleep in kids and teens.

A lot of their stuff is contrary to conventional wisdom but makes total sense, and the science behind the topics they cover is often much better than the science (or lack of) behind the mainstream approach. (Example -- D.A.R.E. programs cost $1B/yr but have hardly any effect on drug/alcohol use. In contrast, a program that you've never heard of that teaches preschoolers/kindergarteners self-discipline through pretend-play and other simple tools has tremendous positive effects on both behavior and test scores.)

I'd read their article years ago on how praising kids for being smart is counter-productive -- this topic is the first chapter of the book and it alone makes this book a very valuable read. (In brief -- it makes them afraid to stretch themselves for fear of showing that they're really not smart. Instead, to motivate kids, praise them for the effort they make, the more specific and true the better.)

Intelligently written and fascinating. And a lot of it you can incorporate into your own parenting. I highly recommend it to parents. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67836775 Michele's review of Twilight (Twilight Saga #1)
by Stephenie Meyer

Thanks, Michele. I like your comment about wishing he'd just bite her already -- yeah . . .

Some friends of mine love the Twilight books. I saw the movie w/ them to see what the fuss was about. I'm not interested in going/reading any further. I agree w/ your review. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56086477 to: Families Where Grace Is in Place (Paperback) by Jeff VanVonderen
bookshelves: parenting
Excellent book -- it has really helped me understand more how to put grace into practice in the family, both as a wfe and a mother. I found especially helpful the discussion on what it means not to provoke one's children to anger, that is, not to put them in the position of having and suppressing hostility. The author includes stories from his own experience (good and bad) as a parent that are also helpful. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56082032 to: Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir (Hardcover) by Christopher Buckley
Leave it to Christopher Buckley to write a light, funny book about his recently deceased parents. I really want to read NT Wright's The Resurrection of the Son of God but am waiting until I'm not so sleep-deprived. Losing Mum and Pup is not as edifying -- CB's idea of the afterlife, if there's any, is pretty juvenile -- but it's an entertaining book w/ interesting anecdotes, some flattering and many not, about his famous parents. This book supports the hypothesis that "great" men don't make the best fathers. Yet his son writes with respect and affection for him (and his mother, to a lesser degree).

It sounds like it wasn't easy being WFB's son. Sure, CB has written a number of well-received books, but WFB wrote 50, not counting thousands of columns, not to mention starting the recent conservative movement, so he wasn't impressed (majorly high standards). And it seems clear that no matter what his son did, WFB would not have given up his own role as the alpha male of the Buckley family. He comes across as very controlling, but his son doesn't seem to hold it against him.

It's a fun read. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55197126 Njesus's review of The Awakening
by Kate Chopin

Hi Norma -- I agree w/ your comments. I read this in a college class on women writers. Like all of the other books we read, it so denigrates a women's role as wife and mother. thanks for your review! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54117150 Grace-Based Parenting (Paperback) by Tim Kimmel
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54117083 Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive (Hardcover) by John Eldredge
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51964330 to: The Girlfriends' Guide to Toddlers (Paperback) by Vicki Iovine
Vicki Iovine's "girlfriends' guides" are my favorite books on childrearing -- very funny, real, and not guilt-inducing (unlike the "What to Expect" series, which set the bar so high that just reading them wears me out). The toddlers one hits a number of big issues like getting them to eat healthily (great tips on this). ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/405958-kristi Kristi made a comment on Kristi I's profile:

Hi Michele,

Thank you! I love hearing about what my friends are reading (and thinking about what they're reading). ]]>