My bookshelf

I keep a little notebook of books I've read and its kinda sparse for 2011—I haven't read that many books so far this year. After my full days I find I am drawn to a movie on Netflix or an older television series that we can view online. At night my tired brain can't seem to focus on a story in print. I've pledged to break this habit this month! Often when I mindlessly watch the screen I am also mindlessly eating and I absolutely want to HALT that old habit off immediately.

I usually walk through a bookstore and let books call to me. Yanno sometimes its just a little, "Pssst!" And other times it will be a title someone left on a table in the café.These are a few titles that attracted me that my lovely public library was helpful enough to order and reserve for me. I love our library! I 'll share my thoughts on those I recommend as I finish reading them.

A Stolen Life a memoir by Jaycee Dugard(audio read by author) It’s not an easy story to hear, it’s written very simply but graphically. It is similar to the story told in ‘Room’ except this is unbelievably real life. I decided since Jaycee was brave enough to write it I’d be brave enough to listen.

Signs of Life  a memoir by Natalie Taylor I'm still drawn to books on how others live through loss and grief. Natalie was a newlywed, with a new house, new career, and new baby on the way when her husband was killed in a freak accident. She finds her way through to hope with the surprising help of a saucy fairy-god-mother and her wicked sense of humor.

Healer by Carol Cassella A novel of lost financial freedom and security. A medical career set aside to raise her family. Claire is determined to keep her family together and learn the true meaning of healing.

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova I read Lisa's first novel about early onset Alzheimers in one sitting. Gripping and haunting. She follows with this story of a brain injury that leaves go-getter-career-mom Sarah without the use of her left side.

This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman A teenage boy receives a sexually explicit video from a girl who likes him. One keystroke and bad decision later he shares it with a friend. Within hours the video is viral.

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman Quote from book flap: "Sometimes the most interesting war stories are not about the soldiers themselves but about the loved ones they leave behind."