Comments -- Books

About Comments

I've decided to have the option here to allow comments, not that I've particularly publicized where this blog is or anything.... Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

Books I Read

A friend was wondering, "So, the books you read are Jack Weyland books?" Yes. I happen to love what he writes because it's full of goodness, which I happen to have a particular penchant for. But no, that's not ALL I read, =o) and LDS teen/young adult fiction isn't my chosen genre. I primarily read non-fiction, but not always.

One of the books I'm currently reading is a book by Denver Snuffer Jr. titled The Second Comforter. It's my third time through it, actually. It's one of those books that I've marked, re-read and marked again, and am now reading and marking once again. There's so much to digest there. And it's a book on what has ever been my consuming passion. Not curiosity about the facts--the ins and outs, and the whats and whys, but only the how. For that, this book has been a particular blessing to have the privilege of reading.

One of my favorite books in this last year has been The Brain That Changes Itself, by Dr. Norman Doidge. It was fascinating. It chronicles some of the advances in neuroscience (neuroplasticity,) and was absolutely spellbinding. Astounding, even. I'd tell our kids some of the accomplishments from the book about what's being done now, and they'd think I was making it up. (Okay, some of the reason for that might be because I might make up something off-the-wall every once in a while just to make them laugh.) One example though, of the kind of thing I'm talking about is this-- Did you know that it doesn't take eyes in order to see? Yes, to actually see the things that are going on around you. Well, it doesn't. And I suppose that's as good of an intro to what's going on in this incredible age of neuroplasticity as anything....

I'm always reading something, and usually in minutes of time. Although I would adore curling up with a book I love and some Granny Smith or crisp Jonathan apples (only in September or October for the Jonathans--that's the only time they're good,) and reading it straight through, I rarely do it. There's usually too much going on around here, and too many other things that I both need and want to do. Since I read fairly quickly, there are some books that simply wouldn't take much time to read. But some books seem made to be devoured, and others, to be savored.

I do experience the joy of devouring or savoring a glorious book all in one sitting from time to time. That's MY idea of fun! Ha! I think my kids would say, "Wow, Mom.... If that's what fun is to you, your life is really, really BORING!"

A Dream About Jared

I dreamed about Jared last night. Since I'm one of those people who, for some reason, almost never remembers my dreams, to know that I dreamed about anything is a rare occurrence. I probably haven't remembered a handful of dreams in a year's time.

In my dream, I was in a room with Brad and Scott, sitting on the floor doing something or other. Someone had turned on some nice music, but I wasn't really paying any attention to who had done it. A couple of minutes later, I happened to look up and saw Jared lying on a bed over in the corner, watching us. I was so surprised to see him there, quiet and unobtrusive, like he would often be. I called out,

"Jared! What are you doing here?" He got that somewhat sheepish, sort of sad smile he had sometimes and said,

"I know that everyone thinks I'm dead, but I'm not. I'm sorry for all the bother I put everyone though over this."

It felt confusing for him to be there, but I immediately started thinking about what we needed to do to help him find someplace to live. And that was it. Then I woke up.

This morning, after I dropped the kids off at seminary, I couldn't stop thinking about my dream. I had an Enya cd in as I was driving home, and one of those haunting, lyrical melodies that she has was playing. Before I realized it, tears were sliding down my face. When I got home, I turned off the engine and just sat in the car and cried. I've felt pretty melancholy all morning, which isn't typical for me.

I miss my kind, gentle son.

A Beautiful Book - Jack Weyland's new =The Samaritan Bueno=

This is my favorite Jack Weyland book ever.

We own every book Jack Weyland has ever written. I've loved being able to buy his books so our kids could read them because they're always filled with goodness, but are so fun and interesting that our teens and young adults think they're great. Since we've enjoyed so many wonderful books of his over the years, I was extremely surprised that THIS Jack Weyland book has turned out to be my favorite one of all.

The Samaritan Bueno starts out with the classic Jack Weyland fare that teens love so much--the witty dialog, the engaging, often humorous characters, an interesting plot line (with a thread of 'values' running through it that parents always appreciate!) But if he ever wrote a book that keeps you off balance, wondering what will happen next and how the story will end, this is it. There were some parts when I wasn't sure where this whole thing was headed, and even a couple of places where I felt a little uncomfortable with how it looked like things were going. This is a book that will make you think, and may possibly even make you reconsider your views on a couple of issues.

As good as it was as it went along, I was unprepared for the profound impact that the last forty pages or so had on me. I was left in tears, not due to a heart-wrenchingly sad turn of events, but because the simple events described there were SO right, SO moving, and SO true, like--

--choosing to do the right thing even if it's humiliating in some respects, because you know in your soul it's what you should do;

--caring about others enough to actually be the person who makes the difference in situations that come up day to day;

--regardless of how things look at the moment, that to just keep doing what your heart says is right and true is the best thing you can do;

--that status and the apparent trappings of "success" don't matter as much as being deeply good and caring.

I love this book, and have such admiration and respect for Jack Weyland. Someone can only write a book like this by drawing from what's within their own soul and heart. What a blessing it is that an individual with a heart like this possesses the gift to be able to share it with the rest of us though what he writes.

Thank you, Jack.

This is a book you will want to own. You can click on the link at the left to see where you can purchase it.