I'm going to post short reviews of all the books I'm reading for my George Bush 2009 Reading Challenge. I thought I'd break it up and do ten books at a time. And I've just finished my tenth.

FEBRUARY

10) Economics In One Lesson (Henry Hazlitt)
I got this book because it was mentioned in the article Why The New Deal Failed. It was originally written in 1946, which makes its lesson even more frustrating than when I read Milton Friedman. 63 years ago he warned us of everything that President Obama and Congress are doing right now. And the most depressing part was the last page, when he talks about hope for the future:

In addition, there are marked signs of a shift in the intellectual winds of doctrine. Keynesians and New Dealers seem to be in slow retreat.

Thank heavens Henry Hazlitt has passed away, for I would hate for him to see what has become of his Hope.

9) Animal Farm (George Orwell)
I told you I was gonna read this book! And it only took one day. I hadn't read it since high school, so it was nice to revisit it.

Good Omens (Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett)
AirForceWife lent this book to me, and it was pretty funny. I read I, Lucifer last year, and it was funny to read another book of the same genre. My absolute favorite part was when four bikers wanted to be additional Horsemen of the Apocalypse. That part had me laughing out loud.

7) The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery (Massad Ayoob)
A Christmas present from CaliValleyGirl, in lieu of another knitting book. I learned a lot of interesting facts from this book, such as why most policemen carry Glocks, and I was reminded of other things, like the racist origin of gun control laws. My only complaint is that it's not exactly written for true beginners. Ayoob doesn't define his terms at all. For example, in the chapter Point Shooting vs Aimed Fire, I didn't know the difference between the two and had to read the entire chapter and use a little deductive reasoning to figure out what the heck each one of those terms means based on how they were contrasted with each other. A one-line definition at the beginning of the chapter would've been much appreciated. But overall it was an interesting and helpful book.

6) The Bookseller of Kabul (Åsne Seierstad)
My husband gave me this book for Christmas. I recommend this book and also The Places In Between for a look at Afghanistan. But it's bleak. I just found myself so thankful throughout this book that I was not born a woman in the Middle East.

JANUARY

4) A Personal Odyssey (Thomas Sowell)
I got this book as a Christmas present from Amritas. I had no idea Sowell was so old! It was fascinating to read about his life in the 30s and 40s. And you'd never know by reading him today that he used to be a Marxist! Very good autobiography. I basically read the whole book while waiting at the emergency room.

3) You're Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation (Deborah Tannen)
I always enjoy Tannen's books, and when I saw this one, I bought it for my mother but wanted to read it before I gave it to her. I really enjoyed it and learned two things: 1) My mother and I get along better than I thought we did and 2) maybe having a girl wouldn't be so bad...

2) The Night of the Hunter (Davis Grubb)
Everyone knows the image of the prisoner with LOVE and HATE tattooed on his hands, but I never knew where this image came from. Boy, that Preacher was one scary villain! Worse than Bruce Dern in The Cowboys.

1) Liberal Fascism (Jonah Goldberg)
I learned a lot about WWI-era politics. I also knew very little about Mussolini and Woodrow Wilson before this book. Quite worthwhile.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:34 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Last night I dreamt I ran into my husband on post. Not very likely or realistic during SERE school, but OK. We stood there and talked for a few moments before we had to say goodbye. And a voice in my head was saying, "Tell him you're pregnant! Tell him!"

I didn't.

As I walked away from him, I had the urge to turn around and blurt the news to him. It would be so easy, to just tell him. But I held myself back for two very practical reasons: 1) he needs to focus on SERE and not be distracted and 2) I am not at all confident that the pregnancy will last and I hate to get his hopes up.

As bad as it got last night -- and it was bad, and painful, and confidence-shattering -- I know it's not nearly as bad as my husband has it right now. I can bear this burden alone while he bears his. I wouldn't tell him right now even if I could.

That's how much I love my husband.

I wonder how he's doing...he should be heading into the nasty part...

Posted by: Sarah at 02:35 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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In dog news, Charlie has decided that he wants to be Charlie Bronson and make a Great Escape.

Our backyard is a disaster, with dirt on one side and sand on the other. It's like a spectrum running from Mildly Crappy to Completely Worthless. Charlie recently discovered that sand is easy to dig and wriggle through. Thus, he keeps escaping. I bought those cheapy wire garden dividers, and I even strategically placed an old flowerpot so he couldn't get out again.

He still managed to escape.

To put things in Rachel Lucas terms:

He can still manage to squeeze out of that space. This means he can't have unsupervised backyard time, which is a real pain in the neck.

Very annoying. I will have to go steal some dirt from the construction site in our neighborhood to put on top of that sand to keep the danged dog in the yard.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:15 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 aw.... We had that yard before moving on base. Mark rented one of those dohicks from home depot and tilled it and planted seed. And watered and watered and watered and watered and watered the stuff so it would grow. It still looked like crap. And we had to pay for his excessive watering. Yeah!

Posted by: wifeunit at February 26, 2009 04:37 AM (t5K2U)

2 He is so cute. He needs a puppy playdate. So does my new puppy. I have to wrestle with her and my old arms scratch so easy they are beginning to look like my mothers when she got old. But it's so much fun.

Posted by: Ruth H at February 26, 2009 05:42 AM (4u82p)

3 Thanks for the photos - and the arrows and text! More, please! Apart from the grey grass and Charlie's priceless expression, this is exactly what I envisioned!

Posted by: Amritas at February 26, 2009 07:14 AM (+nV09)

4 Hi, Delurking to tell you I have had the same issue with my dog. I got a ton of those wire things you are using and doubled and tripled them up. He could get under one but couldn't get under the rest. Might be worth a try. Good luck! Stephanie

Posted by: Stephanie at February 26, 2009 08:56 AM (pdrUe)

5 Stephanie -- I may definitely have to try that. CVG also suggested paving stones

Posted by: Sarah at February 26, 2009 09:06 AM (TWet1)

6 cOmrades, have you forgotten the Berlin Wall? Put up a new one - but without Checkpoint Charlie!

Posted by: kevin at February 26, 2009 09:54 AM (+nV09)

7 You can see that he's hashing a plan. It's his eyes... their shiffty!

Posted by: the mrs. at February 26, 2009 11:19 AM (NJQf+)

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I figured I should give you a small update re: baby.

So here's the deal: You take women who are extremely freaked out about miscarriage and you give them a medicine which prevents miscarriage but which also has the absurd side effect of irritating your cervix and making you bleed.

(I'm reminded of the scene in Futurama when Fry says he can't swallow a pill that size, and the professor says "Well then good news!" because you don't swallow it. Ahem. Oh, and they're refrigerated.)

So basically now it's just a waiting game until I go for my ultrasound in two weeks. I won't know anything until then, but even then I won't feel great: the last time, you'll remember, we managed to become one of the 5% of people whose baby has a heartbeat and then subsequently dies.

I may be a while before I feel confident. Please don't try to convince me I should get that way right now. I won't breathe easily until I make it to a milestone that I haven't reached in the past. Like seeing a doctor. I've never even done that yet.

So we wait it out.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:59 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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1 My heart goes out to you. I have some idea of what your feeling. I had a miscarriage a few months ago and even though I'm now 13 wks pregnant I feel like I cant exhale yet. The fear of losing again, feeling that pain, that emptyness, is a powerful one. Hang in there and my prayers are with you.

Posted by: the mrs. at February 26, 2009 03:18 AM (NJQf+)

2 *hugs* Thanks for the update, Sarah. I will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.

Posted by: Leofwende at February 26, 2009 03:47 AM (28CBm)

3 Thank you for the update. Glad you are plugging along and wishing you all the best. I am surprised your clinic is making you wait two weeks. That was not my experience and seriously I am mad at them for doing that.

Posted by: wifeunit at February 26, 2009 03:58 AM (t5K2U)

4 You have me, my dad, my sister, and all the girls on my wing praying for you, even though they have no idea who you are. Plus whoever else happened to get the word.

Posted by: TW at February 26, 2009 04:04 AM (ZfS8j)

5 "because you don't swallow it" So...it's like what Pres. Obama is doing to us.

Posted by: tim at February 26, 2009 04:06 AM (nno0f)

6 Thinking of you sarah, esp over the next few week while your husband is away and you wait. Saying a prayer.

Posted by: keri at February 26, 2009 04:24 AM (HXpRG)

7 Hang in there Sarah - I know it's easier said then done. You and Russ are in my prayers. And so is Charlie for him to stay in the yard!

Posted by: BigD78 at February 26, 2009 05:15 AM (W3XUk)

8 That is the WORST side effect I've ever heard! I didn't realize that was a side effect. I thought it was ... something worse. I actually feel a bit relieved now. That doesn't mean I feel confident. I am used to admitting I just don't know. And I can't forget what Leofwende said: "there is no point that is truly 'safe'".

Posted by: Amritas at February 26, 2009 06:11 AM (+nV09)

9 Just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking about you.

Posted by: dutchgirl at February 26, 2009 06:24 AM (Sj3hy)

10 I guess you could say I'm relieved your cervix is irritated. And I will continue to keep the fingers I can cross, crossed. Carren and I are thinking about you. Also, I've a sure-fire way to keep the dog in the yard, but it may be more work than you're willing to do...

Posted by: Chuck at February 26, 2009 07:07 AM (bQVIy)

11 Oh, yeah, that's a HORRID "side effect" ... I promise you won't hear any "be confident!!!" advice from me, but lots of hugs & hope are continuing your way! :-)

Posted by: kannie at February 26, 2009 07:54 AM (iT8dn)

12 I'm waiting along with you... and ever since you said you were pregnant, I've been having trouble breathing, too. *hugs*

Posted by: FbL at February 26, 2009 09:51 AM (HwqvF)

13 Hugs and you are in my prayers.

Posted by: Reasa at February 26, 2009 02:22 PM (2W7Iu)

14 Im' soorry you are having a rough time. We didn't tell a soul until our son hit 12 weeks. Looks like a good group of people are waiting with you though. HH6

Posted by: Household6 at February 28, 2009 12:45 PM (V86CJ)

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I had a little bleeding today, which sufficiently destroyed my enthusiasm and optimism.
I won't be blogging about it anymore for quite a while, at least not until I know something one way or the other.
I am OK, but I would prefer not to talk about it, so no need to phone.

Posted by: Sarah at 01:50 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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I can't believe it's been five years since my husband left for Iraq the first time. What a Valentine's Day that was.

We're not much for celebrating the 14th, but there are two things we do every year.

One, we sing this.
Two, we watch this.

Happy Valentine's Day, husband. I still choo-choo-choose you.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:58 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 I drew a train with "I Choo Choo Choose You" on the outside of SB's Valentine's package. Nerdtastic.

Posted by: Sis B at February 14, 2009 07:20 AM (0ScrO)

2 Sarah, is the cap for your husband? It just oozes masculinity!

Posted by: Amritas at February 14, 2009 12:08 PM (Wxe3L)

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You know that 1% retail gain in January? I think that was my husband and I. Since my husband is having two deployment years in a row, and since the stock market is in the toilet, there's no sense in hiding money in Roths or TSP. So we've been spending it like it's going out of style. My husband got a bunch of stuff that he needs for SERE and for the next deployment (He's an "operator" now, which apparently means he needs a bunch of stuff that the Army won't provide.) I decided to live in the now by doing two things I've wanted to do for a while: I bought an elliptical machine to make good on my promise to start exercising, and I bought a plane ticket to go visit CaliValleyGirl and finally meet her baby.

Spending is kinda fun; no wonder other people do it so often.

UPDATE:

I said to my husband, "Oh, I also should've put that we paid off our car." And he joked in a cartoonish announcer voice, "Freeing up capital for someone else!" Heh. We're doing what we can to help the ecominy.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:40 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 You and me both Sarah! I'm spending like there's no tomorrow. Big screen tv last week. Next week? Living room furniture. Then....it's on to the next room. Oh, and they ordered the company car and that arrives next week. I'm thinkin' that 1% gain came our two homes! ;-)

Posted by: Tammi at February 14, 2009 06:28 AM (5c0T5)

2 I still haven't bought the pistol She told me I could get when I made Staff Sergeant... Hmmm... You're inspirational. Sig

Posted by: Sig at February 14, 2009 07:16 AM (fPHZv)

3 Good for you! The elliptical machine sounds neat & I'd much rather have one at the house than at the Y b/c I rarely go visit the one at the Y! Glad you're going visiting too! That's cool.

Posted by: Guard Wife at February 14, 2009 10:31 AM (i0ZCx)

4 That's basically what we said... there isn't a decent place to invest, so lets just spend it. Replaced the only appliance that didn't die during deployment (range), and a few other things

Posted by: Susan at February 14, 2009 03:05 PM (Y8ZGj)

5 Amen! Replace and stock up on stuff that doesn't depend on a paper dollar holding its worth, LOL - clothes, food, fixes, etc. Not a bad idea to save up some $ after that, either, though, just in case it's still worth something once Congress is done "helping"... Hubby asked me what we should spend our "stimulus money" on if we get any, and I answered him with one word: "Ammunition." No sense in having the government steal other people's money if you don't make good use of it...

Posted by: kannie at February 16, 2009 10:59 AM (iT8dn)

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Yes, the timestamp on this entry is correct. I've developed a terrible new habit: I wake up every night around 4 AM to fret. I have been awake for an hour now, so stressed out that I don't know whether to cry or throw up.

My husband leaves for SERE school on Monday. A few days later, I will find out whether I am pregnant. If I am, I won't be able to tell him for two and a half weeks. But the more likely scenario, obviously, is that I am not, in which case I will have to do the next fertility round by myself a day or two before he gets home. Thus, I will have to pick up my husband from SERE and drive him straight home for babymaking. The thought of forcing the situation the day he finishes being beaten and starved makes me sick to my stomach...but so does the thought of skipping a cycle when we have precious few left.

So I lie in bed fretting and stressing every single night. I'm back at the Choose Your Own Adventure stage.

Posted by: Sarah at 11:49 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Of course the thought of babymaking may help your husband get through SERE school. My ‘glass half full’ ‘not in your shoes’ two cents. Good luck…to both of you.

Posted by: tim at February 13, 2009 04:01 AM (nno0f)

2 Well, if he's been beaten and starved, might I suggest you begin the evening with a lovely meal of some his favorites, followed by a hot shower & massage THEN get to the business (whether for babymaking or not)? Of course, if I were in your shoes, I'd do the biznasty first and follow-up with the other two because Brian would be ASLEEP at the end of the massage. LOL Maybe the next time you're awake at 4:00, you can make a mental list of all the things you need to shop for? Or, just call me & we can chat it up.

Posted by: Guard Wife at February 13, 2009 05:10 AM (N3nNT)

3 *hugs*, Sarah.

Posted by: Leofwende at February 13, 2009 06:38 AM (28CBm)

4 Eat a banana, drink some milk and go back to bed. It works!

Posted by: Oda Mae at February 13, 2009 10:29 AM (kqi0o)

5 Ugh! I'm sorry. Wish I could say something better than that.

Posted by: Lucy at February 13, 2009 03:44 PM (HGFog)

6 I have nothing but hugs, love and prayers for ya.

Posted by: Reasa at February 14, 2009 06:12 AM (2W7Iu)

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I was joking with Amritas and David the other day that I have found the secret to workplace productivity: Hire people who don't need the money and then tell them that they can go home when they finish all their work.

My managers wanted me to stay on at the store so badly that they offered me whatever I want...except money. I said I would stay on if I could work one day a week and only do things that are fun. Amazingly, they agreed.

There were some parts of my job that I really liked, like organizing the yarn section. I love doing that; I would do it for free. I like to see how quickly I can do it. On Monday, I shelved all the new yarn in 24 minutes. I was sweating and puffing by the end.

And, absurdly enough, I have grown fond of making those foam houses. Now that I have several of them under my belt, I automatically know what will and won't work, and I just glue-gun the hell out of it and go to town. (I made an Easter castle today, and I was just thrilled that it didn't have any butterflies on it. They are the worst.)

So I am staying on to work one day a week, sorting yarn and doing crafts. And I go home when I'm done with my tasks. I'm cool with that.

Posted by: Sarah at 08:43 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 LOL!!! What a negotiator! :-) And I can totally relate to the yarn-stocking fun - I stocked hospital carts for surgery rooms one summer, and it was WONDERFUL! :-) Congrats on getting your job, your way! :-)

Posted by: kannie at February 05, 2009 09:13 AM (iT8dn)

2 Congratulations! "Unquit" ... now that's a word you don't hear every day. And your story's pretty unusual too. It is refreshing to see someone with a positive attitude toward work without being a patsy. I doubt everyone gets your kind of deal. You've earned your managers' respect, and it's no wonder they wanted you to stay. The Two-Gun Girl is back in town! Glue gun in one hand, real gun in the other. Not that she ever left ...

Posted by: Amritas at February 05, 2009 09:21 AM (+nV09)

3 Yay! I'm so happy for you. Very cool.

Posted by: FbL at February 05, 2009 11:07 AM (HwqvF)

4 Why when I read that the jingle "Price-line Neeee-go-ti-a-tor!" came into my head. It should now be "Mich-ael's Neee-go-ti-a-tor!" Way to go on that. Now if only I could adapt those skills to my job. It's a slow week and instead of surfing the net I could use my free time to catch up on my recorded Lost episodes

Posted by: BigD78 at February 05, 2009 11:21 AM (W3XUk)

5 I quit a part time job at a bookstore years ago. The owners liked me so well they tried to entice me back with a part interest in the store. I declined, owning a bookstore would be a full time, 24hour headache, and it was just before the big box bookstores moved in. Good managers noticed your talent. Good on you!

Posted by: Ruth H at February 05, 2009 02:20 PM (hBAQy)

6 I came here specifically this moment to see if you had posted the reasoning. I had guessed 'free yarn' which isn't true, but I KNEW it had to have something to do with the yarn. LOL Good for you. I will remember this negotiation tactic if I'm offered a job in the next couple weeks..."I see your job offer and will accept on two conditions: I only have to show my face around here once a week and when I do, I only do FUN stuff." LOL

Posted by: Guard Wife at February 06, 2009 08:40 AM (N3nNT)

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I'm on track to beat Bush's 2008 and 2007 scores in my George Bush 2009 Reading Challenge: I've read four books in four weeks. I'm gonna make sure I keep up the pace, which I think will be easy once my husband starts leaving town all the time. Heck, maybe I could even beat Rove.

I have plenty of things on my bookshelves to keep me occupied, but I always enjoy asking people to recommend books. What are your favorites? Maybe I will add some of them to my list this year.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:20 AM | Comments (22) | Add Comment
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1 If you haven't read them already, my husband and I both enjoyed Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, and also Thomas Sowell's The Quest for Cosmic Justice. I know you've read Atlas Shrugged before, which would have been my #1 otherwise.

Posted by: Leofwende at February 01, 2009 07:13 AM (28CBm)

2 Leofwende -- I have read Freakonomics and enjoyed it. I love Thomas Sowell and just finished his autobiography yesterday, but I haven't yet read The Quest For Cosmic Justice. And you can't suggest 1200 page books for my reading challenge! That will slow me down!

Posted by: Sarah at February 01, 2009 07:57 AM (TWet1)

3 1.) "Patriots; Surviving the Coming Collapse" by James W. Rawles 2) "Invisible Resistance To Tyranny" by Jefferson Mack Both very short but worthwhile "reference" manuals for these troubled times in which we find ourselves.

Posted by: retro at February 01, 2009 08:03 AM (dGwLF)

4 Retro -- Thanks. I am not familiar with either of those books.

Posted by: Sarah at February 01, 2009 08:08 AM (TWet1)

5 Slaughterhouse 5, Kurt Vonnegut. Hands down, by far, (next to The Fountainhead) the best.... Ever.

Posted by: Allison at February 01, 2009 11:11 AM (HwSVX)

6 When you first mentioned Bush/Rove's reading challenge, you linked to two other blogs that had their reading lists posted. One recommended Clarence Thomas' My Grandfather's Son, which I just finished. It was an absolutely inspiring book. The part where he discovers Thomas Sowell's writings for the first time - well, the book is worth reading just for that part alone! If you haven't already read it, it's a must for your list. I promise - you will love it!!!

Posted by: Amy at February 01, 2009 12:08 PM (I9LMv)

7 Allison -- I read Slaughterhouse 5 in high school, and I liked it, but it's been a long time since I read it. Maybe I should read it again. Amy -- Thanks for the tip! I will add it to the list. I have actually heard good things about that book before.

Posted by: Sarah at February 01, 2009 12:36 PM (TWet1)

8 War on Wealth is quite good...for a thinking book...

Posted by: AWTM at February 01, 2009 12:43 PM (yufL5)

9 For starters: "A Canticle for Leibowitz," by Walter Miller. A deep, depressing, but often funny book: categorized as science fiction, but really philosophical/theological fiction "Darkness at Noon," by Arthur Koestler..a committed communist is arrested by the Stalinist regime. "On the Rails: a Woman's Journey," by Linda Niemann...a PhD in English takes a job as a railroad brakeman. (My review here) "Father, Son, & Company," by Thomas Waston Jr..this memoir by the long-time CEO of IBM is something quite different from the typical look-how-brilliant-I-am CEO autobiography.

Posted by: david foster at February 01, 2009 12:58 PM (ke+yX)

10 AWTM, thanks. Good idea. I also have never read Survivor, which I know isn't your favorite, but Palahniuk always makes me think of you. David -- I will definitely read your picks because I just think the world of you and know your picks will be interesting and challenging.

Posted by: Sarah at February 01, 2009 01:02 PM (TWet1)

11 Thanks so much, Sarah! I look forward to seeing what you think of them.

Posted by: david foster at February 01, 2009 01:26 PM (ke+yX)

12 I'm, at my son's house, his wife had another aneurysm fixed so I'm trying to help and can't remember ALL my books, we have about a million (no joke, our rooms are lined with bookshelves) but some I can remember are: The Forgotten Man, Amity Shlaes book on the depression; Seabiscuit, very good historical information in this; Lone Survivor, Marcus Latrell; anything by Steven Pinker, they are all on how the mind works and language, oh so good! That is about as much as my mind can drag up from its depths. I do very much recommend any Steven Pinker book, I think if you have an interest in language it would really be right up your alley. (and husband's) Wish I had one of my books with me. I am trying to read Pride and Prejudice and it puts me to sleep, I need sleep so that is good.

Posted by: Ruth H at February 01, 2009 01:59 PM (b90vF)

13 Right now, I"m on a kick for Kent Haruf's books, thanks to RSM. I"ve read "The Tie That Binds" and now I'm on to Plainsong. Good writing. I'd recommend "Atlas Shrugged" and "Fountainhead" but I know I'm preaching to the choir.

Posted by: HomefrontSix at February 01, 2009 02:00 PM (RlqpK)

14 Hmm... I'm kind of reading founding-type documents or philosophers referenced in John Adams (by David McCullough) right now. Starting with Frederic Bastiat. Then maybe some Cicero... After reading John Adams, though, I get the sense that David McCullough is simply an EXQUISITE biographer, so more bios by him are on my list. OTOH, it took me a year to read just one book, chunk-by-chunk every few months, LOL! But they're great! :-)

Posted by: kannie at February 01, 2009 04:10 PM (iT8dn)

15 A few more: 1)"We the Living," probably Ayn Rand's least-well-known novel, is IMNSHO her best from a literary standpoint. (There's also an interesting film based on this book, made in fascist Italy, of all places) 2)"Year of the French," by Thomas Flanagan. Ralph Peters called it "the best historical novel written in English," and he's not far wrong. It's about an incident in Ireland in 1798, when the French revolutionary government landed a force to support the Irish rebels. 3)"The Forging of a Rebel," by Arturo Barea. A narrative of Spain and of the Spanish Civil War. From my review: This book is "about" the Spanish Civil War, but it is not conventional military or political history. It is the story of Spain in the first half of the 20th century, as seen through the eyes of one man. The writing is so rich, dense, and vivid that reading it is like finding yourself inside someone else's dream.

Posted by: david foster at February 01, 2009 04:50 PM (ke+yX)

16 Books I've absorbed in the last couple of months: Juggler of Worlds Fleet of Worlds THe Blank Slate (Pinker) The Demon is in the Freezer The Nurture Assumption Crimes Against Logic Building Harliquin's Moon The Stuff of Thought (Pinker) A Walk in the Woods Damned if We Do (obscure tanker scifi!) When You Are Engulfed In Flames Chilton Volkswagen Jetta 1999-2002 repair manual I'm acquired a complete set of Patrick O'Brian novels (the whole Master and Commander series) so that will be next.

Posted by: deskmerc at February 01, 2009 08:36 PM (o/QXM)

17 In between all these tomes, you need a little fun, light reading that you can breeze through--like the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (One for the Money, Two for the Dough, etc.).

Posted by: Pat in MN at February 02, 2009 03:39 AM (ky1Ki)

18 I am currently reading The Three Junes (the book I have been trying to finish since November)...and it's good. But otherwise I can recommend some children's books, if you never read them: Anything by Roald Dahl, especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I also really liked his autobographies, Boy and Going Solo. He led an amazing life, especially his years in Africa during WW2. He also has some wickedly funny adult short stories books. But I think you would really enjoy Going Solo. I recently read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm. Defintely want to read that with my kids one day. I want to re-read all the Laura Ingells Wilder books too...I loved those! But I guess re-reading doesn't count, huh?

Posted by: CaliValleyGirl at February 02, 2009 05:45 AM (irIko)

19 Wanted to stop by and invite you to come on over! I'm so happy to be able to do this for our military community. I'm a military wife and the daughter of a veteran. eMail Our Military (eMOM) is offering 10 ways for our military community the opportunity to win FREE flowers just in time for Valentine's Day ♥ http://snurl.com/b55mb

Posted by: Trish | eMail Our Military at February 02, 2009 07:06 AM (13x4Q)

20 I am currently reading A Return to Modesty by Wendy Shalitt. A young conservative Jewish woman examines the loss of sexual modesty in our society and the consequences. Very different from what I have been reading lately but absolutely fascinating. Anything by Jen Lancaster (blame AWTM, she sent me Bright Lights, Big Ass).

Posted by: Butterfly Wife at February 02, 2009 09:21 AM (Yelj1)

21 DavidFoster ~ that's next on my list of Ayn Rand's books to read. I've heard it's incredible. Amritas ~ very true. I've taken the challenge too. It's a good one to take! CVG ~ LOVED the LHotP series. My daughter is reading them now and it's great to be able to read along with her and discuss them. Dahl is awesome - we love him too. I'd also recommend "Despereaux" - incredibly well-written. We're reading it before the movie hits the dollar theatres.

Posted by: HomefrontSix at February 03, 2009 09:47 PM (RlqpK)

22 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Currently reading The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands. Sig

Posted by: Sig at February 04, 2009 04:07 PM (fPHZv)

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