Best of wishes to our group founder, Marcie, as she prepares to welcome baby Truman to the world! We are all so excited for you and know that everything will go just wonderfully. I, personally, can't wait to meet the little guy!
~Raven
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Agreed
I have to second Raven's comment. These books (and the others similar, Leadership and Self Deception, The Peacegiver, ect.) all focus on one thing: Finding peace happiness in your own life. Finally someone is saying you can stop blaming your boss for your crappy pay, your bad childhood for your unhappy marriage ect., and take responsibility for your own peace and happienss. Heavenly Father didn't send us here to be acted upon, he sent us here to act, and that means we are responsible for how we feel, our relationships with others, and where we are going in life.
I wish I had the book in front of me to do it more justice, but I really liked the overall focus on personal accountability. Sure these people had really difficult children, but they were taught that only once we recognize what we can do to change ourselves can we start to see our challenges in a different light. The difficult part is constantly evaluating our responses to our trials and recognizing how we are either acting as a reactive or proactive person.
I think this book does a good job of helping you to recognize and look out for ways that we can recognize more clearly how we are responding -- I'm sure we'll have some good discussion on the chapter about the "boxes" when we all get there.
-Marcie
I wish I had the book in front of me to do it more justice, but I really liked the overall focus on personal accountability. Sure these people had really difficult children, but they were taught that only once we recognize what we can do to change ourselves can we start to see our challenges in a different light. The difficult part is constantly evaluating our responses to our trials and recognizing how we are either acting as a reactive or proactive person.
I think this book does a good job of helping you to recognize and look out for ways that we can recognize more clearly how we are responding -- I'm sure we'll have some good discussion on the chapter about the "boxes" when we all get there.
-Marcie
Monday, March 19, 2007
In control of our attitudes
Hi, all-
I'm so excited--the first official post about our latest book! I just wanted to say that I love this idea that we are in control of our attitudes and our lives. We may not be able to decide what events or circumstances come our way, but we ARE in control of how we react to them. We can choose to see people around us as objects or humans. That is so key. It's a bit overwhelming sometimes because it means that we need to be constantly aware and thinking of others, but I think it's ultimately a healthier and more productive way to live. This book isn't just about solving conflicts. It's about becoming a better human being.
Glad to see you back, Laura!
Raven
I'm so excited--the first official post about our latest book! I just wanted to say that I love this idea that we are in control of our attitudes and our lives. We may not be able to decide what events or circumstances come our way, but we ARE in control of how we react to them. We can choose to see people around us as objects or humans. That is so key. It's a bit overwhelming sometimes because it means that we need to be constantly aware and thinking of others, but I think it's ultimately a healthier and more productive way to live. This book isn't just about solving conflicts. It's about becoming a better human being.
Glad to see you back, Laura!
Raven
Pumped up to read
hey, I'm back...almost in one piece. =) thanks for the congrats! i'm surviving. it is definitely a challenge, but like everyone says, it will get easier......that better be true. LOL
I'm excited to get started reading this book as well. doing something else other than feeding, sleeping, diapering and burping sounds great to me! I have wanted to read this for quite some time. April 14 seems like a great time to do the meeting, I'm pumped to get this goin again! =)
I'm excited to get started reading this book as well. doing something else other than feeding, sleeping, diapering and burping sounds great to me! I have wanted to read this for quite some time. April 14 seems like a great time to do the meeting, I'm pumped to get this goin again! =)
Friday, March 16, 2007
Congrats to Laura!
Just wanted to post an official Book Group congrats to Laura on the arrival of her new baby! I look forward to hearing how she is doing.
Also, my book is almost here from Amazon; I'm excited to get started on it. Oh, and I think that the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 14th, at 10 am. I can't believe there will be two new little ones added to our group by then!
Also, my book is almost here from Amazon; I'm excited to get started on it. Oh, and I think that the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 14th, at 10 am. I can't believe there will be two new little ones added to our group by then!
Monday, March 12, 2007
The Anatomy of Peace
I just wanted to have an official announcement of our new book for the month. Somehow I just know that we will be up and posting in no time.
Just an FYI...I ordered my copy from Amazon for $14.46 and it will be here Tuesday. I checked Deseret and it was a lot more expensive. Can someone post when our next meeting is going to be? I already forgot :)
Just an FYI...I ordered my copy from Amazon for $14.46 and it will be here Tuesday. I checked Deseret and it was a lot more expensive. Can someone post when our next meeting is going to be? I already forgot :)
Friday, March 9, 2007
Where's my mind?
Ladies,
Sorry for the absence on the blog. I get the feeling all of us have had a couple of crazy weeks. I feel as if I don't think of anything until the last minute — like the fact that I should probably talk about tomorrows meeting!
I hope everyone (meaning you Raven because I talked to Amy this morning: ) is still planning on coming to the meeting tomorrow morning from 9 -11 a.m. What would we like to eat? I'd be happy to make smoothies, or muffins or something. Any ideas?? Something low-key since there is only three of us this month. If nobody posts somthing they'd like to bring I can figure something out :)
Make sure to come ready with questions and ideas for discussing. Even though Raven will be leading the discussion it will be great for all of us to have some thoughts to contribute without making her do all the work : )
Also, as we talked about last time, lets have some solid book recommendations. Can everyone have TWO books they would like to recommend for next month? That will make it easier. Tammy, if you have some books you would like to read then feel free to post those on here so you can make sure to have a say as well!
I will plan on seeing everyone at my placce unless I hear from you otherwise.
See ya tomorrow!
Marcie
Sorry for the absence on the blog. I get the feeling all of us have had a couple of crazy weeks. I feel as if I don't think of anything until the last minute — like the fact that I should probably talk about tomorrows meeting!
I hope everyone (meaning you Raven because I talked to Amy this morning: ) is still planning on coming to the meeting tomorrow morning from 9 -11 a.m. What would we like to eat? I'd be happy to make smoothies, or muffins or something. Any ideas?? Something low-key since there is only three of us this month. If nobody posts somthing they'd like to bring I can figure something out :)
Make sure to come ready with questions and ideas for discussing. Even though Raven will be leading the discussion it will be great for all of us to have some thoughts to contribute without making her do all the work : )
Also, as we talked about last time, lets have some solid book recommendations. Can everyone have TWO books they would like to recommend for next month? That will make it easier. Tammy, if you have some books you would like to read then feel free to post those on here so you can make sure to have a say as well!
I will plan on seeing everyone at my placce unless I hear from you otherwise.
See ya tomorrow!
Marcie
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Finished : )
I just finished -- and let me just say once you get near the end you can't put it down. Finally the romance comes together for everyone and it's exciting in a chick-flick kind of way.
Anyway, I was just thinking after reading it of a question or two that came to mind:
First, if you were reading this with your teenage daughter, what thoughts do you think she would have about marriage?
How do you think the author portrays families in this book?
Just some thoughts,
Marcie
Anyway, I was just thinking after reading it of a question or two that came to mind:
First, if you were reading this with your teenage daughter, what thoughts do you think she would have about marriage?
How do you think the author portrays families in this book?
Just some thoughts,
Marcie
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Notes on Pride and Prejudice
Hi, ladies-
Here are some notes on the historical context of this novel. I will continue to post notes like this (including some discussion questions) during this week leading up to our meeting.
"In her own day, Austen's work signified a break with the Gothic and sentimental novels that had long been fashionable, in which heroines were always virtuous, romance was always sentimentalized, and unlikely but convenient coincidences and acts of God always occurred to bring about the dramatic climax. Instead Austen represented the ordinary world of men and women as it—sometimes mundanely—was, a place where love and romance were constrained by economics and human imperfection; where women had distinct and often sparkling personalities; where characters were never simply good or evil but more complicated amalgams, reflecting both their own moral nature and the virtues and failings of the families and society that shaped them.
In these ways, Austen seems very much in tune with today's sensibilities. We love her strong, unpretentious heroines ("Pictures of perfection as you know make me sick & wicked," Austen said of them), who think for themselves and say what they mean when appropriate and don't take themselves too seriously. They are not, in today's parlance, victims. We are as interested as ever in Austen's favorite subjects of love and marriage, while also identifying with her steadfast refusal to romanticize romance; with her acknowledgment that money, class, and what other people think matter in the real world; that marriage does not result in a happy ending for everyone; and that it is dangerous to let passion blind us to reality. Living amidst the cultural fallout from the self-absorbed, sensibility-prone 1960s, we appreciate Austen's emphasis on reason, moderation, fidelity, and consideration for others."
What do you think? What do we love about Austen? What do we see as her failings?
Raven
Here are some notes on the historical context of this novel. I will continue to post notes like this (including some discussion questions) during this week leading up to our meeting.
"In her own day, Austen's work signified a break with the Gothic and sentimental novels that had long been fashionable, in which heroines were always virtuous, romance was always sentimentalized, and unlikely but convenient coincidences and acts of God always occurred to bring about the dramatic climax. Instead Austen represented the ordinary world of men and women as it—sometimes mundanely—was, a place where love and romance were constrained by economics and human imperfection; where women had distinct and often sparkling personalities; where characters were never simply good or evil but more complicated amalgams, reflecting both their own moral nature and the virtues and failings of the families and society that shaped them.
In these ways, Austen seems very much in tune with today's sensibilities. We love her strong, unpretentious heroines ("Pictures of perfection as you know make me sick & wicked," Austen said of them), who think for themselves and say what they mean when appropriate and don't take themselves too seriously. They are not, in today's parlance, victims. We are as interested as ever in Austen's favorite subjects of love and marriage, while also identifying with her steadfast refusal to romanticize romance; with her acknowledgment that money, class, and what other people think matter in the real world; that marriage does not result in a happy ending for everyone; and that it is dangerous to let passion blind us to reality. Living amidst the cultural fallout from the self-absorbed, sensibility-prone 1960s, we appreciate Austen's emphasis on reason, moderation, fidelity, and consideration for others."
What do you think? What do we love about Austen? What do we see as her failings?
Raven
Friday, March 2, 2007
Pride and Prejudice
Soo.... I'm guessing by the silence on the blog that everyone else is having as hard time as I am divining great truths and virtues from this book. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally enjoying reading it, but I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to be learning from it, or what makes it a classic. I did cheat and read the questions provided in the back of TJED to see what I could be thinking about, and that did help a little.
So far I've had some interesting thoughts on pride -- at this point I'm not sure how Darcy will ever become likable in my eyes, I find his pride (though they say it is warranted in the book) to be obnoxious and overbearing. I also find many of the characters to be silly (esp. the mother).
I'm just getting in to some of the observations on marriage which are also interesting — though it makes me wonder, did people actually think and act like these people? It makes me glad to live in modern times.
I'll be interested to get everyone's ideas on the book — specially yours Tammy because you're down there in AZ reading them all by yourself! (complete side note: Tammy was your luggage ever found??!?!)
I also hear rumor that Laura will most definetely NOT be joining us for our book club this Saturday. She has lucked her way out of this novel by having a baby. Last I heard she has an inducement date on the 9th, so I think we'll let her off hte hook to have a baby. Hopefully she won't have to wait even that long and will have the baby on her own this week :D
- Happy Posting,
Marcie
So far I've had some interesting thoughts on pride -- at this point I'm not sure how Darcy will ever become likable in my eyes, I find his pride (though they say it is warranted in the book) to be obnoxious and overbearing. I also find many of the characters to be silly (esp. the mother).
I'm just getting in to some of the observations on marriage which are also interesting — though it makes me wonder, did people actually think and act like these people? It makes me glad to live in modern times.
I'll be interested to get everyone's ideas on the book — specially yours Tammy because you're down there in AZ reading them all by yourself! (complete side note: Tammy was your luggage ever found??!?!)
I also hear rumor that Laura will most definetely NOT be joining us for our book club this Saturday. She has lucked her way out of this novel by having a baby. Last I heard she has an inducement date on the 9th, so I think we'll let her off hte hook to have a baby. Hopefully she won't have to wait even that long and will have the baby on her own this week :D
- Happy Posting,
Marcie
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