Karen's Book Nook

Since I’m a Prevention Magazine reader and the Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccareillo and Cynthia Sass is one of theirs, I figured I’d check it out and see what the hype is about. I’m not really  a “diet” type but I do like to read various diet and nutrition books.

From the Jacket: Sixty-seven percent of Americans say the belly is the body part they most want to change. Health-wise, belly fat is the most important kind to lose– because it’s the most deadly. Even small amounts of excess belly fat can significantly up your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancers.

I love Jodi Picoult and was glad to see this audio book, Nineteen Minutes,  on the shelf at the library.  I’m hoping that the rest of hers that I’ve yet to read (not many) are available in audio book as well since I’ve been able to read much more this way.

From the jacket: The newest superior court judge, Alex Cormier is assigned to preside over the case of the alleged Sterling High School shooter. Lawyer Jordan McAfee represents Peter- the boy who, on the day of the shooting, was found in the courner of the gymnasium holding a gun to his head with a shaky hand. Detective Patrick DuCharme has one star witness, but her story keeps changing. And there’s one thing that could prove a problem for them all: that star witness is Judge Alex Cormier’s daughter…

Since I’m going on a west coast trip this week I’ll have plenty of flight time to read so I’m going to tackle the 3rd of the three books that I committed to read in the Heard it through the Grapevine Challenge way back in the spring. I did read quite a number of books this summer, especially on my vacation in August but I never read the last of the challenge books. So, I’m starting the (long) Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett this week.

The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve is one of Oprah’s Book Club selections that has been in my TBR pile for awhile. I just finished Bud, Not Buddy and The 6th Target this week but with the end of the school year just around the corner, I’ve got TONS of paperwork, meetings and commitments taking up my time. I hope to get more reading done but it may be slow going for the next few weeks.

Last night was the final webcast of Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth but I’m not putting the book aside. This one needs some re-reading and intense digestion. I really need to not just read and learn but apply some of his practices… I’m forever multi-tasking and I need to learn to be more present.

I’m participating in the Heard it Through the Grapevine Challenge that I heard about (a few times removed) on Lynne’s Little Corner of the World. I believe I originally found Lynne through Mary on the Weight Watcher’s Booklovers board after visiting Mary’s book blog. I’ve got tons of books on my TBR (to be read list)… WAY more than I’ve even listed in my Reading Now library at this point. (So many books, so little time!) Since the goal is to read 3 books between June 1 and November 30 that have been recommended to you by others, and my summer vacation falls between those dates, this is an easy one for me! I’ve got plenty of books to read in the meantime so I can save these so that I get to them during the right timeframe as well.

Extra special thanks goes out to Natasha of Mawbooks for helping me out and answering all of my questions about Now Reading. I don’t know her and found her through links on Mary and Lynn’s blogs. I searched for someone using wordpress with the plug-in and took a chance emailing her with a question. She graciously offered to help me in any way that I needed and it feels like we’ve known each other all along! Thanks so much!!

The first book for my challenge is Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan. It was recommended by fellow dog lover and my co-teacher Sydney.

I’m also going to read Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen. I read Water for Elephants and didn’t even realize that this one was out. It was recommended by Mary (Bookfan) a fellow WW Booklovers Board member.

I purchased this one to read with Oprah’s Book Club but life (work!) got in the way…. I’m looking forward to reading this one on my summer vacation. Oprah raved about it! So, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet is my final choice for the challenge.

I’ve been reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose and taking the web seminar with Oprah’s Book Club on Monday nights. The book is intense and focuses on living in the present and overcoming the Ego. I’ve been reading just one chapter at a time to prepare for each week’s webinar, often finding that I need to re-read them in order to digest them. For those of you who are reading it, you’ll know why I have this picture here. My thoughts after the first two chapters were captured in Muse with Me 006 which can be downloaded or listened to via the player on the podcast website.