The Life of Our Lord

This was never meant to be published or read by others. Dickens wrote this to his children.
It is written not only to his children but for their level of understanding. A fathers simple testimony to explain to those he loves about something he feels very important and close to him.
His approach is wonderful yet simple.
I enjoyed this read.

In The Dark Streets Shineth

Tonight at Deseret Book as we bought a new Christmas book for our Family reading, I was pleased to see them add this book to the bag saying, "Here's a free gift for shopping with us."
While this is a small book, only 35 pages, it was a fun read.
The best part of the book was texts of the speech's on Christmas eve 1941, days after Pearl Harbour, of Pres Roosevelt and Winston Churchill who had come  across to the white house to meet.

While some may say I shouldn't count this as a real book in my quest for 100, I will proudly count it since it was written, published and enjoyed.
This is a great Christmas read and the DVD that came with it of the 2009 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas program is priceless.

Mission to Be Happy

I had to stay late at work and sit listening to a call of mostly silence while my networking guys worked on a change. During that 2 hours I pulled this book off my work shelf and re-read it. I first rean it last year and thought it was ok. On reading it again I have to say it is still ok. I enjoy hearing how song writers come up with their songs and there is some of that in this book. I also enjoyed the chapter entitled "Your Happiness Your Way"
This is a book inviting the reader to start today to be happy and find what makes them happy.
It has a companion CD and the songs fit the book but nothing really stick with you like most of his other songs. However, the phrase "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired" rings out when needed in my head.
Get this book and make sure you listen to the songs at the end of each chapter, it may or may not help or change your life but is worth the effort for the read.

BrainDroppings

This read like a transcript of a George Carlin record.
Funny, sometimes insightful and entertaining. While I do not agree with a lot of his take on things I find him funny. He was Seinfeld before Seinfeld. His look at the world while sometimes twisted is honest.
His sections on the words we use and how what they mean is funny.

Worth the time if you want to smile.

One slilent sleepless night

Another book I found in my in laws good will  box.
I found this more touching to me since I remember President Kimball very fondly even though I never met him. He was the leader of the Church for most of my "Growing up "time. This is Pres. Kimball's first-hand account of his long night's experience following his 1957 throat surgery, wherein he reviews the memories of his childhood, the death of his mother at his age of 11, his call to the apostleship, and his marriage, are all written in a poignant way. He has a nice way with words,and it makes me want to be more detailed in my own journal writing

Sun, shade 'n rain: Moods of life

Came across this book as I was helping my in laws clean out their storage unit. I sat down after we were done and spent the next hour inside. If you were in Utah in the late 70's and an active member of LDS Seminary you know of Sun Shade n Rain a singing trio. They were perhaps the first Mormon popular religious singing group. Of course the Osmonds were huge but not doing really religious songs. If on your mission you ever showed the film strip "I'll build you a rainbow" then you have heard these guys. I was a big fan and this book by one of the members about how they came together and their life in the entertainment world was great. Much like sitting down and catching up with old friends you haven't seen in a long time. It brought back great memories and I enjoyed reading it before I added it to the box headed to the DI (Goodwill Store)

Glenn Beck: The Redemptive Story of America's Favorite Political Commentator

This was a very quick, yet informative read. I read it tonight on my Literati while I watched Boo play outside.
If you love Mr. Beck or Hate him. Agree or disagree you have to admit his is a story worth reading about.
I have met Glenn and his wife once...they were extremely nice people. They were "real".
I thought I knew most of his story but this book held a few surprises while it brushed lightly on other parts I wish it had gone into more deeply.
Not a bad way to spend a hour or so.

This Time Together

This was a great book. It is a collection of memories and thoughts from Carol Burnet. I found myself smiling every few minutes.

No real knowledge to gain, except that life is good and there is always something to smile about.

How to write Science Fiction and Fantasy

I have not read a lot of novels by this author but I know of his success. I first got this book many years ago when I thought of really tyring to write, and I did write winning a 3rd place and a honorable mention in the Utah state writing competition one year.         This book is a good one to get if you want to write in these fields. So much alike yet worlds apart. I truly do not think the average reader that is not into one of these genres really understands those of us who relish the time we spend. This book covers the basic of creating worlds, rules you need to create and follow and how to present different ideas.

I will be going back to this book from time to time as a reference as I start to write again.

On Writing

I listened to this on my iPod. What a great invention an ipod is... This book was very insightful. Mr King said it best at the start of the book, when talking about books on writing that this book would be shorter than most since most books of that type are full of BS. I have read many of those books and I have to agree somewhat.

What I found most enjoyable was the stories of his high school years and other events that I could match up with stories he has written.

I have not read all of his stuff but enough to understand his craft. He still holds the honor of writing the only book that really scared me. Back in 1982, on a raining night in my small one bedroom apartment in the married student housing at the U of U. Sitting in my rocker reading "Salem's Lot".( I have yet to reread it.)

I really enjoyed this as an audio since Mr. King was the reader. He truly added something to the experience.

This book is a must read for even the slight Stephen King fan or budding writer.

Fritz Leiber

I picked this up at the Library thinking it would be about the writing style and writing life of this author.

Turns out it wasn't quite like that. This is written by a person who has read every one of the books/stories of Mr. Leiber.

He talks a bit about the writers life and thoughts then goes into a list of the stories and a short synopsis of each. He then adds his opinion of what Mr. Leiber was probably thinking when he wrote the story.

I found it ok.



Hold on the light will come

This is the third time through this book and I still love it!

It is a behind the song look at some creations this artist has done.

Some of the stories you know most you don't

It was a great inspiration into the creative process from this artist.

Made me look at some of the songs differently.

I will do a fourth read in about 2 years I think.