1. Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson. So I have been anticipating this book so much. I love reading about parenting so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Thanks to Dave Ramsey I was too cheap to buy it so I waited to get it from the library. I am only a little past the intro. I am enjoying it so far but there are a few parts that make me roll my eyes. Already hes coming in talking about girls getting piercings and dying their hair. COME ON! Really?? Is this delinquent behavior? I dont think so! I got my belly button pierced at 17 and I didnt do it to be a sex symbol. I wanted to express myself. Why did it have to be in the form of a piercing? I have no clue. I just loved the way it looked and I wanted one and I wanted to express myself in that way. I was a good girl when I was a teen. As far as hair dying, I think anyone who knows me knows that my hair has been every color under the sun. Black, brown, blonde, red,purple, pink, even green (although that was an accident). Sometimes I did temporary colors. Sometimes I want my hair to have some purple in it NOW. I dont think I will do this since I am nearing 30 but still. I do plan to get highlights in a few weeks. I just dont see how having pink hair or a mohawk would make a girl rebellious! give me a break. Its just annoying that according to most old people and some religious people we just all have to fit in the mold. We have to be cookie cutter stepford wives with perfect perky boobs with our aprons on cake in the oven and perfectly molded light brown hair with that big perfect grin on our faces. I dont think that is a good message. I know that I am not that kind of woman. I can honestly say that if Claire came to me at 15 and wanted blue hair...I'd probably let her do something temporary if it was a way for her to express herself. If she wanted to dress like a bratz doll that is where I draw the line. As far as Claire goes hair is no big deal to me as long as it isnt a way for her to tramp herself up. I dont want Claire to get a piercing but do I think girls that have piercings are delinquents?? NOPE. Some of the most cruel people I've met are the people who dont have any piercings and perfect hair and some of the nicest people I've met have mohawks...so I guess I dont really understand what the big deal is about piercings and hair color. I know that my personal relationship with God has not been effected by my navel ring or my pink hair (its brown right now...) In fact I know that God made me the way that I am. He knows that because of who I was as a teenager that I expressed myself on my body. I also think tattoos are just fine as an adult. He hasn't touched on that yet but I'm sure that if pink hair and navel rings are already stressed then tattoos can't be too far off. Overall, however, I am going to love this book and I am still looking forward to the advice Mr. Dobson has.
2. The Christian Athiest by Greg Groeschel. This book is an easy read. It is very basic but a very good reminder to Christians who dont really believe God. The chapters I read last night was about shame and love. I have deep hidden shame that I feel scared that God wont forgive me for. I'll sit here all day and say "oh yeah all sin is forgivable" but when it comes to me I just hate to think about certain things and when I do I just have a hard time believing that I will be forever connected to God. How could I? It was a good chapter to read. The other chapter was love...Gods love for us. It is so easy to say that God loves us but do we really believe it? I learned this a while ago that I have treated God like Santa. He gives me good things when he's happy with me and bad things when He's not. I've found that is not true and so it says in this chapter. I love it. I think that I agree a lot with this pastor's stance on things. I have watched some of his sermons online and they are good. Basically there is nothing that can pull us out of His hands. This would be a great book to give someone who was just starting their Christian walk or for a middle/high schooler. I like it so far. I am amazed at this guys honesty. He's not afraid to admit his past and it is just so refreshing to hear someone who is actually real.
3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte- I had a hard time getting into this book at first but now I am about 1/4 of the way through and I am starting to fall in love. It just touches me because Cathy's character is so familiar to me. I love this so far the characters are so unique and flawed. Catherine as a child reminds me of Claire so much. So full of life and vibrance. Heathcliff is "adopted" into her family and they love each other from childhood. I guess soulmates (I absolutely hate that word by the way). Heathcliff is hated by his adopted family because the dad showed him favor but once the father dies his relationship with his adoptive siblings deteriorates. It is starting to get good. I love to see the dimensions in his character. I know people like him and I find myself really feeling for him even though he comes off as arrogant at times. It just makes you wonder where the inspirations came for his character. I see him go off and ignore Cathy and show that arrogant side but I know that deep down inside he's hurting and he doesn't know how to show his love for her. I know this flaw. I love that and I see myself and my dad in him. Well so far that is all I've really read of it but so far I love it. I know it is a sad book and I don't know if I will cry. I have only cried in two books. An American Tragedy I cried for about half an hour after I finished that book and the other is My Sisters Keeper in the first few chapters. I probably wont finish that book. I just can't help but think of Claire. I dont want to even think about it. =(
Let me be clear because I'm not sure if it is but what I mean is that why focus on something as insignificant as hair?? Hair is not something that should be put in a category with skanky clothing, drug and sex addiction, and eating disorders. Why? because I just dont think it is an indicator of something negative. It could be a very positive thing for a kid. Piercings I could see more but not all girls get piercings because they want to attract the opposite sex. That wasnt on my mind when sitting in the piercing place. Maybe that is why my mom let me. It is definitely something that is in the parents hands. If I felt like Claire wanted to do something like this because she thought it would make her sexy that would be a different story but if it was just an expression of who she is then I dont see the big deal. it just annoys me that some people just think there is only one way to be. I had plenty of adults dislike me because of how I looked and it was totally unfair because I was always a nice girl and an innocent girl. I guess that just rubbed me the wrong way. haha.
ReplyDeleteI've read Wuthering Heights. It's good, but as you said it's sad and I'd add that it's a little dark. I love books from that era though, like Jane Eyre (written by the sister of the author of WH), and the Jane Austen books. Why do the best books come from England? I've always wondered.
ReplyDeletehaha Kim I haven't read those. I am trying to read more classics. I can't seem to find many fiction books that I like but I always seem to like the classics. It seems like I put fiction on the backburner and read a ton of non. =) I want to read more fiction, I forgot how fun it was. I can't wait to get more into it. I already feel sad. I just wonder how she developed these characters. I need to learn more about her life. haha.
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