Posts tagged Books
MIA
01 year ago
by Erin
Me at the wedding
Well, I was in a wedding last weekend as the matron of honor. I was so nervous about it, but everything went off beautifully and the couple was very happy in the end. Here is the speech I nearly had an aneurysm writing. I also started crying mid way through it!
Good Evening everyone, my name is Erin and I am proud to be the matron of honor. Bride and Groom*, congratulations on your marriage. I know you two will be really happy together.
Groom and I have known each other since high school, and I first met Bride when she started dating him in college. I liked her right away because I saw how happy my friend was when he was with her, and then I could see why he was so happy. Groom, I don’t have to tell you what a sweet, caring, thoughtful person Bride is and I can’t begin to thank you enough for bringing someone like her into my life. Bride is the kind of person whose “effect […] on those around her [is] incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life” like Bride (Middlemarch).
And actually, our meeting was pre-destined. Bride and I lived a block away from each other when we were in elementary school and we went to the same middle school, but never knew each other. In fact, when we were in middle school we both took a quiz sponsored by our student council that was supposed to tell us who our friend matches were. For some reason I kept mine and came across it a couple years ago, and guess who my number one friend match was? Some girl named Bride. So, see? I did learn something in middle school.
At this point it’s usually customary to offer up some quote or a tidbit of advice about love and married life. Unfortunately, having been married for two years now I know that there’s nothing new I can tell you that you haven’t heard already. Being married is hard work. And there will probably be days when you are so annoyed by your spouse, you may wonder what in the hell you were thinking getting yourself into this whole marriage gig to begin with. Ephesians says to “Patiently put up with each other and love each other.” (Eph 4:2) Because then you’ll remember the time he tried to make you soup when you were sick, or how you told jokes in the dark before sleeping and laughed until your sides hurt, and it’s all worth it.
“Rejoice in the wife of your youth […] may you always be captivated by her love.” Prov 5:18-19
As your relationship began among books, it is fitting that it continues in “Marriage, which has been the bourne of so many narratives, [and] is still a great beginning, as it was to Adam and Eve,” (Middlemarch).
Here is to the beginning of the next chapter of your narrative. Cheers, to Bride and Groom.
*Named changed to protect the innocent!
Next week I am flying to Knoxville, TN to attend another wedding. Fortunately, this time I am not in it, just a guest!
Finished another book!
01 year ago
by Erin
I just finished Shelters of Stone, the fifth in the Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel. I was glad that it was mostly a happy novel, with no real tragedies like in previous novels!
I was surprised to learn that the author has been writing these books since 1980! That’s when the first novel was published, this most recent novel was published in 2002. Next March she will be publishing the sixth installment, The Land of the Painted Caves. I’ll be reading that when it is released!
Currently Reading
01 year ago
by Erin
If you follow me on GoodReads, then you have a pretty good idea of what I’ve been reading since we last spoke. Looks like back then I was just starting the His Dark Materials trilogy! What a long time ago that was!
Well, since then I’ve completed the His Dark Materials trilogy (I gave the first and last books 4/5 stars, the second 3/5). I also read the first three books in the Uglies series. Once I finished Specials, I really did not want to have anything to do with the series anymore. I couldn’t take any more!
After the depressing Uglies series I needed something more light hearted, so I started The Princess Diaries series. I’ve loved the two movies since they came out, so I was already somewhat interested. I loved them! I finished all ten books in something like two weeks! I know, I’m crazy 
After watching The Bridges of Madison County on TV one day, I decided to read the book. What a touching and compelling read; I thought the book and the movie complemented each other so well, and the movie definitely reinforced my love for Clint Eastwood!
And my long awaited third and final installment to The Hunger Games, Mockingjay was released this summer! I loved it, I devoured that book and finished it in probably a day or so.
I also read the Millennium series, the first book being The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I loved them and was very happy with the way the series ended. I also watched the first movie, I thought it portrayed the book very well and I LOVED Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth, although I was less enthralled with Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist. I thought of Mikael as sexier when I was reading the book. Maybe it fit for Swedish audiences?
Throw in a couple more books (Child Star by Shirley Temple Black, disappointing; Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, hilarious) and I am on to yet another book series! This time it is the Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel. Right now I’m in the midst of the fourth book, Plains of Passage and I’m still enjoying them, although the forays into description of the flora and fauna aren’t quite as captivating as they were in the first couple of books. I still want to know what happens to Ayla and Jondalar, though!
So what should I read next? I saw that Rick Riordan has a new book out, it is the first in a new series in the same universe as The Lightning Thief. I’m not sure I’m interested, though. I didn’t enjoy those books too much to begin with. I have the Series of Unfortunate Events that I haven’t read yet and the Old Kingdom Series. Any other recommendations?
