On a more serious note....

I have chosen the book for June, and I hope it doesn't depress everyone. For a while now, I have been feeling the need to read and learn about pornography addiction and recovery. Thankfully, I have not had to deal with this in my personal life, but I know that the chances are high that I might have to one day. I feel like I need to educate myself about this problem in order to be more understanding, sympathetic and prepared, and to be less judgmental of those who do struggle with pornography addiction. As we get older and continue to have opportunities to serve in our families and in the church, I am convinced that I/we have to educate ourselves on this topic. I think it is particularaly important that we have this knowledge as we work with our children and the youth of the church.
So sorry to drop a bomb on you with such a sobering topic, but I'm hoping I'm not the only one who will find this useful. This particular book comes highly recommended from people I trust completely. My mother-in-law, Christa, has read many books as she's tried to educate herself on the topic and she says this is one of the best. The author is not LDS but apparently Elder Holland quotes him frequently. I can't find the book in local libraries, but it is on amazon or deseret book. I'm trying to give you advance notice so you can order it, if you choose to read it. So....here it is:

The Drug of the new Millennium: The Brain Science Behind Internet Pornography Use
by
Mark Kastleman

"An epidemic is sweeping across America and much of the world. Parents and spouses are desperate for answers. Clergy and counselors are inundated and searching for solutions. It s estimated that over 60 million in the U.S. are addicted at some level. Nine out of ten children between age eight and sixteen have been exposed. Teens are the largest consumers. The epidemic? Internet Pornography Use. Now, via computers, cell phones and even video gaming systems, every variety of Internet porn is instantly available to anyone, regardless of age or gender no one is immune!

After 10 years of study and research with leading neuro-scientists, and direct interaction with more than 10,000 families, renowned author, researcher and speaker Mark B. Kastleman brings the world his groundbreaking work. Rather than approaching this controversial issue from the traditional moral or religious angle, Mark sticks to the facts the brain science behind Internet pornography use. For example:

Internet porn triggers a flood-release of potent neuro-chemicals in the brain virtually identical to illicit street drugs. Porn use is substance-abuse a drug addiction.

Internet pornography radically alters the brain at cellular level, dramatically impacting attitudes and behaviors.

Most importantly, in addition to cutting-edge brain science, Mark provides parents, spouses, clergy and counselors with the 3 Power Principles guaranteed to protect children, marriages and families tested and proven practical solutions to prevent addiction to this super-drug.

This remarkable, comprehensive guidebook gives people the straight-forward, no-nonsense answers and practical solutions they've been searching for."

On a lighter note...Do you realize that we've been doing this book club for a year and a half?! We are awesome!! I love you all!

Sympathy or No Sympathy???

I still have a little bit left in the book, but I just thought I would throw this out there. Is anyone else having conflicted feelings about feeling sorry for Max?! I usually find in these books about WWII that it's always so easy to feel sad for the Jewish people and the whole situation, and I still do here, but it's a little different. Max was super selfish and totally abandoned his mother. What in the world? Knowing the way I feel about my mom, there is no way I could ever do that. So I was talking with my sister-in-law about this and wondering what I would have been like if I had been there during this time. Would it have just been every man for himself? What if I were German...would I have hid people in my house and risked everything? It's so easy to say yes now, but I wonder. So my question is...sympathy...or no sympathy? He left the people he loved behind to save himself. I think the gospel and knowing what we do about families gives us a different perspective and we probably know exactly what we would do in that situation, which makes it all the more difficult for me to feel sorry for Max. It kind of changes the tone of the book for me because I can feel this inner struggle about what happens to him when I read.
On a different note...I love that it is written from death's point of view. Awesome! I love that the whole thing is about finding a love of reading. Different experiences really do change things for people. I think it took me until my senior year with Crime and Punishment to really love and appreciate reading like I do now. If only I had found a grave digger's handbook when I was younger...

High School Goodies

Oh my, when I was looking for a high school picture that included Amy Hendricks, I came accross these oldies but goodies! I thought this might provide some good laughs. Miss you gals!

picks and pickles

So I finished the book long long ago. Is everyone else there now? I found myself finishing the book really fast. Because it was an easy read and because I thought it was pretty entertaining. However, I kind of thought it was the poor man's Steel Magnolias. I mean, it kind of started to bug me as the book went on. Why didn't someone punch Agnes T. Ritter in the face. I don't care if she's a "pickle." She sure didn't act like one. Grrr.

I also found myself wondering about our main character Queenie. It seemed like she and her husband had plenty of money (at least considering) and I wondered how that was possible with farming the way it was. Anyone know? Did it ever explain why they were so much better off than most? Maybe I just missed it.

Well, I think that since I am the last alphabetically to choose, it is Amy's turn! Welcome, and let us know what the book for May is. Meanwhile, we can keep commenting on the pickle club.

My Initiation: The May Book

So I know the book should be posted a month ahead of time, but there was so much pressure with this being my first pick and all; I really had to make sure it was a good one. I'm super excited about being part of this elite club! I miss you girls. I checked through the old posts to make sure I didn't pick a repeat, so I hope everyone hasn't read this one yet. If so, let me know and I have a back up plan. Okay, the book for May:

The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist – books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

My sister-in-law recommended this book and said she was hooked from page one. I got it with the intent of reading it and then life got crazy and that never happened, so here goes another try. Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAMILLE!!

Persian Pickles are just a fancy name for Paisleys

I started the book over the weekend and was bored after about five pages. I really just wasn't in the mood to concentrate and try to get into it so I put it down. I picked it up again last night and it only took me about two pages to be totally into it. I guess I'm fickle. I was reading on my lunch break today and I had to stop in a place that totally left me hanging. BUT...I'm pretty sure I've got the whole mystery figured out. Are any of you reading it yet? Were you bored at first, or was it just me?