God Will Make a Way: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Nothing is impossible with God, no matter what the situation may be... and this includes situations, like heartbreak, addiction, and depression, in which we can't see a way out by ourselves. Cloud and Townsend (co-authors of Boundaries) give us eight principles that let God work through our problem and bring us healing and recovery:

- Begin your journey with God
- Choose your traveling companions wisely
- Place high value on wisdom
- Leave your baggage behind
- Own your faults and weaknesses
- Embrace problems as gifts
- Take life as it comes
- Love God with all you are

There are also separate chapters addressing specific concerns that come with marriage, dating, parenting, depression, addictions, weight loss, and personal goals. Definitely nothing comprehensive, but enough to give us some steps to get started and, maybe more importantly, the hope that things don't have to be like this forever.

I was especially encouraged by the chapter on personal goals and dreams. As I muddle my way through the middle of this graduate program, part of me wants to throw in the towel. The following quotes reminded me of some truth:

"Look hard at what will be true if you do NOT pursue your goals or dreams. What do you see? How does that feel? Can you live with it? Is that what you really want your life to be?"

"...reaching your goals is always secondary. The process of who you are becoming with God and others in that process is what's important."

Overall, an encouraging, yet practical book with solid truth and lots of wisdom. I recommend this book. A chapter a day will give you plenty to think about.

Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the USA by Julia Alvarez

This book explores the tradition of the quinceañera, the party celebrating a 15-year old girl's coming of age. Alvarez describes one specific quinceañera, that of Monica Ramos, while also including sections on the history of the quinceañera and Alvarez's own experience growing up in the United States. The sections are short and this makes the flow of the book quite confusing and disorienting. I learned some about the quinceañera, and Alvarez's own autobiographical story was interesting, but I'm not sure that the two mixed as well as intended.

Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

This book is a repeat of The Devil Wears Prada. Similar storyline, predictable ending. However, instead of taking place in the fashion magazine industry, this book is set in the world of public relations.

So...why did I read this? What can I say? I'm on vacation.

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

This fictional book is about Andrea Sach's year of working as a junior personal assistant to Miranda Priestly, editor of a fashion magazine called Runway. Miranda is demanding, manipulative, and pretty crazy. Andrea believes that working one year for Miranda is worth it because it'll help her get a position that she really wants: writing for The New Yorker. Things get crazier as Andrea is at Miranda's service 24/7 and Andrea begins to neglect herself, her family, her friends, and her boyfriend. She comes to a point in which she has to decide what she wants and what is important to her.

This book was very amusing and funny. I think it would fall under that chic-lit category, but it's written well-enough so that it's not distracting. It seems trivial in all of the fashion details and gossip, but the author manages to pull in some important things to think about: Which qualities do we want to cultivate? How important is it to "get ahead"? What price are we willing to pay to succeed professionally? The book also questions the idea that celebrities have happy, perfect lives. Miranda may be successful and wealthy, but she is also a very mean, bitter, lonely woman. Overall, this was a very easy read and much better than I expected. I would recommend it if you're looking for something relaxing and light.

Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler

This won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction back in 1989. It's the story of one day in the life of Ira and Maggie Moran as they drive to a friend's funeral. They are two ordinary people, married for 28 years, trying to muddle their way through life as best as they can. The book doesn't contain any great action or revelations, but in the ordinariness, we learn about the characters' forgotten dreams, unmet expectations, and the unwillingness to give up. When do we just resign ourselves to how things are? When is acceptance the best (and maybe, only) solution? No, this book doesn't answer this question, but it brings it up. Mild, but rich somehow in its mildness.

Time for a Break

Fall quarter 2007 is history! Well, I should wait until I find out my grades to say that. =D I have the month of December off and I look forward to resting and enjoying this season of Advent. I found this picture of a reading chair. Neat, huh?

The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

This is a short coming-of-age story about Frankie, a 12-year-old girl growing up in the south during World War II. Frankie is looking for a place to belong. Aren't we all?

The author is effective at portraying life through the eyes of a pre-adolescent girl. The writing is very smart and concise. The kitchen conversations that Frankie has with the cook and her little brother are very funny and touching. Some experiences and emotions are described so accurately that it is neat and a little uncomfortable too. However, the book ends rather abruptly and is a bit unsatisfying since there was so much character development. There are some pretty dark things that happen as well, but this is a short, interesting, different kind of read.