A Treasury of Great American Scandals

Here's another book I finished before the holidays.

I found A Treasury of Great American Scandals by Michael Farquhar at Half-Price Books over the summer, but didn't pick it up again until December. At the time, I was in the mood to read about American History, but wanted something fun and exciting to read as well. This book was the perfect choice.

The book is divided into chapters based on the subject matter of the scandal (family affairs, congressional feuds, etc). There's even an entire chapter devoted to duels! Farquhar gives the details some of the well-known scandals in our nation's history, but also recounts more obscure stories about beloved Presidents and forgotten politicians.

The scandals ranged from the Revolutionary period all the way to the 1970's. Carter is the latest story I can remember (apparently, his brother was quite a character), but there may have been a few mentions of administrations after him. It was sort of refreshing to read about the scandalous lives of politicians hundreds of years ago. Things haven't changed all that much.

In the back, he also provides a detailed timeline of American history, and a roster of American presidents with all of their basic information, and a few nuggets of useless, but interested trivia about each man that held the office.

If you are at all interested in American history, I think you'd enjoy Great American Scandals. And if you find history boring, but wish you knew more about it, this might be your solution!

Farquhar also wrote a version about royals, so I might have to find that one as well. You know how scandalous they can be!

Latino in America

Latino in America
Originally uploaded by commonreaders

Now that I am writing on this blog again, I have quite a back log of books I have read over the fall and winter that I haven't written about yet. I'll take this next week to catch up on those books.

A few months ago, I read Latino in America, by Soledad O'Brien and Rose Marie Acre. I had heard about the CNN special a few times, but never got to catch it. I watched the Black in America series last year and enjoyed it, so I was sad to have missed the Latino series. However, I was delighted to stumble across the book version and started reading it right away.

It starts with Soledad O'Brien's fascinating personal family history. Both of her parents were immigrants: her father an Australian of Irish ancestry, and her mother a Cuban of African descent. The stories of her family's rich and mixed cultural heritage had me hooked from the beginning.

Of course, the book's not about Soledad O'Brien. After the first chapter, she goes on to share the stories of many other Latinos living in this country. Some are citizens, others are immigrants (both legal and illegal). They are from Mexico, Central America, South America, and several different island nations. The book explores the how Cuban immigrants are treated differently (often better) than immigrants from other Latin countries. She interviewed Latinos from Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and other countries. Some of the stories were inspiring, while others were deeply heart-breaking.

Growing up in south Texas, I felt like I already knew something about Latino Americans, but of course, realized my experience was limited. This book showed me just how limited my knowledge was and still is. It exposed biases and assumptions I never noticed in myself.

O'Brien's book is entertaining, informative, inspiring, gut-wrenching, eye-opening, and revealing. I'm certainly no expert on the subject as a result of reading her book, but I do feel as if a have a slightly better grasp on the issues thanks to her reporting. I'm glad I read it.

Blogiversary (did I spell that right?) Reflections

One year ago today, I began this little blog. And in a post or two, I'll be at one hundred posts.

I have mixed feelings about this blog. I read so many other fabulous blogs, and I feel like my little place here in the blogosphere is inadequate. I post so erratically, I wonder if there is even really a point. At yet, at the same time, I think of my blog so often, even when I haven't posted in months. So why the silence?

So here I am at the one year anniversary of my entry into the blogging world. And I am recommitting myself to blogging. And to writing in general.

A big reason for my silence for the last 2 months is change. The new year brought immense, frightening, exhilarating, and exhausting change. It all started when I got a job. It's a job that I never really thought I'd be doing at this point in my life, and one that I still have mixed feelings about. Nevertheless, I enjoy the work, and know that this is a temporary side-step toward my ultimate career goals.

The job forced me to reexamine and ultimately change my thoughts on what I want to do. And after a lot of reading, writing, reflecting, and discussing, I've become even more convinced that I want to be a writer. I still might want to do other things with my life professionally, but I know now that I want to write. I have a dozen ideas floating around in my head (and periodically landing in my writer's notebook). These are everything from children's picture books, adult novels, children's novels, non-fiction, and essays or articles. And yes, blog posts as well. I don't know what kind of writer I am (or will be) yet, but I know that if I want to be a writer--I have to write!

This job, however, has brought other changes as well. It brought me to a new city, (I LOVE Austin, Texas!), to a new apartment (which is still in dire need of some purging and reorganization), to a new church, to new friends, and to a new way of being independent. The job has given me a very new schedule, which forces me to prioritize my time in a new way, and made decisions about what is most important and how to fit those things into my life.

The move also brought me closer to my boyfriend. For the first time in my regular, daily, every day life (as opposed to summer vacation, spring break, etc), I am spending more than a few days at a time in the same city with someone I am in a relationship with. And it's brought more change that I anticipated. But all of this change is good, and it's forming and molding me in wonderful ways.

Because of all this changes, I feel like I am just now ready to make "new year's" resolutions and goals. I will write about those later today or tomorrow.

So happy birthday dear blog! My birthday present to you is a commitment. A commitment to nurture and put time into you as I would any other priority in my life. It's going to be great!

Marginal Notes

Most recent read: The Joy Diet

Do you write in your books?

This seems to be a topic that people have strong feelings about.

First of all, I am not opposed to writing in books as a rule.  I know some people who consider it to be an act of desecration.  Others are willing to do it, but only in pencil.  I have no such limits (except for my Bible, which has pages too thin for my beloved Pilot G-2s).  I have no moral qualms with scribbling in the leaves of my current read, but the question is whether I really want to, or if I will get anything out of it.

As a student, I always had to read with a pen and/or highlighter in my hand.  I didn't feel like I was studying if I didn't have a pen in my hand.  Holding a pen was a signifier of assigned reading instead of pleasure reading.  I would scribble all over printed articles and books alike.  It was certainly helpful for study purposes, but it seemed to add something to the general reading experience as well.  

When I am doing personal reading, my feelings about writing in books are mixed.  For non-fiction books, I tend to lean towards reading with a writing implement.  If it's a "personal development" book, I often want to note things that to remember or write my own thoughts for later.  That process feels natural to me.

However, I haven't read a novel or a book of poetry with a pen or highlighter since American Literature with Dr. Lucas my senior year of college.  for some books, it breaks up the rhythm of reading a compelling story.  However, there is something intriguing and romantic about writing insightful and witty comments about characters and plot in the margins.  I confess that the possibility of discovering penned thoughts in the margins is the one of the main attractions of used books for me (in addition to the thrifty price, of course!)  Isn't there a love story about a man that falls in love with a woman because of the notes she wrote in book he's reading? 

So what are your rules and habits regarding marginal notes?  Do you?  If so, do you have specifications for genre of book or writing implement?  If not, is it because you are philosophically opposed or simple find no pleasure or use in the practice?  Do tell!!

Books to Make the World a Better Place

I have recently become a part of a fantastic group called "It Starts With Us" or known as "The A-Team".  If you sign up, the founder, Nate, sends you weekly "missions".  These can be just about anything, but are all about small ways to make the world around you a little better.  I can't explain it as well as he does, so go to the website to learn more.  Basically, the concept behind it is getting a large number of people to to small things to make a major impact.  So go to the website, become a member of the A-Team.  It's awesome.  Trust me!  Also, another awesome group, 20 Something Bloggers, has recently teamed up with them.  So if you are a member of 20SB, that'd be an easy way to get involved with the A-Team as well.  

Now, on to the books. Since I've been a member for a few weeks now, following the missions, the blog, the tweets, etc have caused me to focus a little bit more on what I can do to make a difference.  I've tweeted about a couple of cool articles I've come across recently, but my most exciting discovery was some awesome books that are immediately going on my wishlist.  

How to Make the World a Better Place: 116 Ways You Can Make a Difference

The Difference a Day Makes: 365 Ways to Change Your World in Just 24 Hours

What Can I Do?  An Alphabet for Living

All of these titles look fantastic and inspirational.  But now I want to know.  What books inspire you to make a difference?  What are some great websites with ideas for make other people's days brighter?  I want to think about ways that I can make this blog an agent for positive change in the world.  Thanks for being a part of it with me!

(All images from Amazon.com)

30 before 30 cont.

As it turns out, there are books on the topic!!  

Many of them are related to skills you should have before you turn thirty, but others are about things you should do.  Some are more of the "before you die" variety, but they are giving me good ideas!!  My list has 3 spots left, but I might change one of the existing items if I come across 4 fantastic things on my list.

Okay, so here's the book list:

30 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do Before Turning 30

The Expert Guide to 100 Things That Everyone Should Know How to Do

101 Things to Do Before You're 40

 

The Pocket Guide to Adulthood: 29 Things to Know Before You Hit 30

1000 Places to See Before You Die

And finally, I found this fun blog with an old post of 50 things everyone should know.  It has a lot of other fun posts with other lists of things to do and know.  I love lists.  I need to make more for myself.

All images from Amazon.com

30 before 30

26.  

Today I turn 26 years old.  I kind of sounds old in my head, but it doesn't really bother me that much.  I am hopeful that 26 will turn out to be a joyful and productive year.  Recently, I came across a lovely blog, 30 Before 30 List by Suz.  I was inspired by her ambitious list to create my own.  I've had it for a few months now, but have yet to finalize the items.  I have 30 things now, but I want to replace a few of them.  They seem kind of silly.  But now that today is my birthday, and I have exactly 4 years to complete my goals, I want to start to finalize it.  

As I have thought about my 30 list, I've begun to realize that many of these goals are micro-steps towards greater goals I have for my life and who I want to be.  Here are a few of my life-time goals.  I think they might help explain some of my 30 items (these are in no particular order):

-Visit all 50 states (I'm at 27)

-Be well-read

-Be well-traveled (domestically and abroad-visit at least 2 more continents)

-Raise a family and be close with the family that raised me

-Write a book

-Speak Spanish fluently

-Have an individual and distinctive sense of style

-Be a wonderful friend and nurture many meaningful friendships

-Be creative, crafty, musical and artistic

Those are just a few of my life-time goals.  Here are a handful of my 30 before 30 list.

-Visit at least 3 more states (which will make 30 states in 30 years-although I won't stop at 3 if I have additional opportunities)

-Use my passport again

-Learn Spanish

-Learn to sight-read piano pieces and be able to play at least 5 songs from memory

-Learn to play guitar well from tabs

-Reconnect with at least 5 friends

-Join a choir

-Find a church home

-Take at least one big risk

-Read at least 12 "classic" books

-Establish a yoga practice

-Create a piece of art

-Be financially stable

-Learn to ballroom dance

-Learn to sew and knit

-Learn to drive a standard car

-Learn to find the constellations

-Learn a new sport (probably tennis)

-Have a book plan/proposal or draft

-Finish my family tree

That's 20 things.  I have a few more I'm considering.  Many of these are hard to quantify.  But the end of the week, I'd like to have my list complete.  

Does anyone else keep "life lists", "bucket lists", etc?  Anyone else done a 30 before 30 or something like that?  Anyone have some awesome goals that I can steal?  I like the idea of having a few off the wall things on my list.  Do share!!!

The Author of Wicked

This morning I was driving back to San Antonio from a fun-filled weekend in Austin.  It's a drive I've been making a lot lately, and my Sirius Satellite radio makes things go much quicker.  This time, I was listening to Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane on NPR (which is a fantastic show out of the Philadelphia area).  Today she was speaking with Gregory Maguire.  Don't know who he is?  I didn't by name alone, but surely everyone has heard of his book, Wicked, and its musical adaptation!  I haven't read the book or seen the show, but I've been wanting to.  And listening to this man for an hour has only increased that desire.  

He was compassionate, funny, deeply thoughtful and supremely intelligent.  He has written dozens of books for adults and children that I was unaware of.  Many of his books and stories are reworkings of classic fairy tales and myths.  Click on the link by his name and read his answer to the question about his inspiration for Wicked.  It is deeply moving and profound.  He made me want to read old fairy tales again--the Grimm's/Andersen version though, but the Disney-fied stuff.  (not that I don't love Disney).  Oh, he's also written a book about Maurice Sendak!  

Have you read Wicked?  What did you think?  Seen the show?  What versions of fairy tales should I read??