“To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.” – A.C. Grayling
“Reading was my escape and my comfort, my consolation, my stimulant of choice: reading for the pure pleasure of it, for the beautiful stillness that surrounds you when you hear an author’s words reverberating in your head.” – Paul Auster
How many of you were moved by these words? When I read this, I thought to myself, how is it possible – he has so unwittingly touched my soul?
The love of books has and will always remain part of me. Once this treasure, gift or magnificent obsession was uncovered, there was no turning back. I had my place of peace, my nirvana, my haven where I could retreat and re-energize myself. In the pages of books, I found courage, hope, answers and compassion. I’ve spent hour upon hour traveling the world, discovering new places and people. The world of fantasy became a spring board for discovering the unknown. To read is my bliss.
All of you out there that are touched and moved by this quote, share this connection with me. We are kindred spirits.
A self-help book that continues to be a great source over time…
Depending on my mood you find me reading all types of books including children’s picture books, early readers, young adult books, historical books, biographies and self-help books. Normally, I have 2 to 3 books started at the same time. I love to read. It’s one of my passions.
Time to read eludes me. It’s a constant struggle to squeeze the time out of the day to read. This is one of the reasons you’ll find me reading self-help books. I’m always trying to find the answers to all my questions and dilemmas. What can I do to better myself? Why do I think the way I do? Can I change habits or the way I think? How do I find happiness in the midst of chaos?
One book that helped me and continues to help me today is Happiness is a Habit by Michel Phillips. I first read this book maybe 2 years ago. It was an easy read. Michele’s writing is fluid, direct and easily understood. I’ve gone back to the book at different times to reread certain points and to make adjustments. I’ve also purchased this book and given it to friends as gifts.
Michele provides habits to help you live a happier life. The habits are straight forward and make perfect sense. Of course some of them are harder to attain than others, at least for me. That’s where Michele provides some advice, you need to be patient. These changes are not going to happen overnight or without work.
I have to say, one of her very good suggestions had also been brought up to me by someone else in my life. Go create a vision board. On the surface, a very simple task. In reality, very challenging. I never used a vision board in the past. The reinforced suggestion in the book lit the fire within me.
I have to say, completing my first vision board was quite intimidating, even if it was just for my eyes. The ego comes into play, the possibility of being honest with yourself as to what you want and then potentially failing. Yes, intimidating and scary. Once you create your vision board, you can’t lie to yourself; it’s right there staring you in your face – the things you want to do, where you want to be and maybe how you want to change. If you don’t achieve your goal, review what you wanted, refine it if it no longer works for you and add it to your next vision board. I’m making headway and my vision boards are getting better.
Michele’s message is that happiness comes form within us. We control it and in that knowledge, we gain power. Yes, she also speaks o the failure that I feared. There too, she provides some words of wisdom. “If you really want to live in the world, you have to be willing to make some mistakes, fall down, and get your hands dirty. Take chances! Risk! Experiment!”
If you are interested in a self-help book that is an easy read, try this one. I do not think you will be disappointed. We are all unique and different, keep reading until you find the book that works for you.
Book Review – 50 Children
A couple rescue 50 children
“To take a child from its mother seemed to be the lowest thing a human being could do. Yet it was as if we had drawn up in a lifeboat in a most turbulent sea.” – Eleanor Kraus
My daughters would say I’m ‘vibing’ today. I have to agree; with a day off to read, I’m definitely ‘vibing,’ according to their slang. What an absolute luxury. I’m in paradise.
I just finished the book, 50 Children by Steven Pressman. I’m not sure if the book teaser about the amazing rescue story or my love of history influenced my desire and need to read this book. Yes, I do say need, you see as an avid, impassioned reader, I always need to have a few books ‘at the ready’ to devour at a moments notice. This is actually one of three books I’m presently reading.
Reading relaxes me. That’s why you’ll find me reading at all hours. This is my release; reading gives me back my balance.
What do I think of this book? I think Steven Pressman did an excellent job of providing facts while also expressing the competing agendas of various political factions and the humanitarian calling of the Kraus’. It’s sometimes difficult to provide facts while also relaying depth of compassion, resolve, fear and wonder. Steven Pressman manages to do this well.
50 Children exemplifies how those with faith and fortitude can basically overcome insurmountable odds and succeed with their goals. Adversity, including, negative press, delays, roadblocks, changing political climate, mortal danger is no match for people with a vision. Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus rescue 50 Viennese children from their dire existence in Vienna during the Nazis’ policy of Judenrein (the exclusion of Jews in Vienna and Berlin in 1938 and 1939).
It’s easy to understand the difficulty of coordinating such an undertaking, but when I let myself go, I could feel the depth of the tremendously difficult heart wrenching emotional decisions the Kraus’ made and the toll they must’ve taken on both of them. Look at what they needed to do; they met family after family, shook their hands, smiled, listened and in the end they picked 50 children to go with them, while knowing the plight of all the parents and children left behind was catastrophic and tragic.
Could I’ve done this? I honestly have my doubts. The strength of this couple amazes me. They had children of their own. They knew what these parents were feeling. Take a minute and just think about this burden. Then think about the choices the parents had to make; they’re just as awful.
I find the thought of sending my child away to the unknown (yes, hoping they will be safe but not knowing) while also knowing it may be the last time I see them, absolutely horrifying. On the other hand, thinking about keeping them with me in harms way, knowing each day there is a greater possibility of the whole family being sent to a work camp or killed, even worse. How conflicted and emotionally tortured were these parents? Their reality most likely was concentrating on survival, each family member’s survival. How could they all get out?
Eleanor said of the fathers, “They looked so lifeless, so hopeless, so forlorn. Only one thing seemed to be left to these men, and that was pride in their children.” She witnessed one mother, Rosa Weisz saying to her child, “If you leave, your life will be saved, and then I will have a better chance of saving my own life.”
These families were desperate; this had to work out for them. Eleanor said when they asked each of the 50 families to meet them to complete paperwork, they arrived two hours earlier to prepare, but when they got there, the 50 families had already been waiting there for two hours. I could feel the goose pumps on my arms just reading about this. Sure, they arrived four hours early, the walls were closing in on them.
In the end Gil and Eleanor picked the 50 children. Feel Eleanor’s anguish and pain she describes during their questioning. “Will you leave your mama and papa and come to America with us? And each time the question was asked, I died a little more.”
I was emotional while reading this book; happy, sad and in awe of the courage of these two ordinary citizens, destined to be heroes. Read Steven Pressman’s book to learn about this rescue and the European and American political environment during this period. It is thought provoking. If interested in buying the book, at this time, Bookoutlet.com and Walmart are selling it for under $7. The other vendors I checked were higher.
Keep reading, learning and thinking.
A STORY FILLED WITH SUSPENSE, INTRIGUE AND CHARACTER GROWTH
Posted OCTOBER 18, 2020
This first middle school novel in Trenton Lee Stewart’s four book, award winning, New York Times bestselling series, The Mysterious Benedict Society , starts off slow but quickly develops into a quick moving story filled with suspense and intrigue. You just need to get past the the eccentric narcoleptic genius’ selection process for finding four orphans to help him and his associates uncover and end the threat to the world. Then there is no turning back. Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance, Mr. Benedict, Rhonda, Number 2 and Milligan captivate and ingratiate the readers with their wonderfully complicated and sad lives.
How can four precocious children, ages 12 and younger, possibly help Mr. Benedict save the world from a madman inventor who is ready to unleash his mind altering “Improvement” plan on humanity? After twists and turns and a little humor, these clever children show, you can do anything with perseverance, determination, friendship and love. Watch as four lonely, forlorn orphans become friends with confidence and a cause. Many loose pieces are tied up and you feel good at the end of this story.
Adult or middle school reader will both enjoy this book. The characters are endearing. Their flare for uncovering the truth, working together and leaning on all their strengths are worth thinking about. Let their simple desire to please each other be a lesson for each of us to heed.
After reading the first of the four books, I want to read more. I’m interested in seeing how the relationships of the four children and the adults develop and evolve over the next three books (The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages).