Jan 20, 2009

Defiance

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I’m not much of a history buff.  I guess I enjoy learning about history a little, but not a lot.  However, there’s one era that I do enjoy, if you could call it that (you’ll understand in a second), learning about.  I’ve always had an interest in World War II, or more specifically, the Holocaust.

When I was younger, I didn’t really enjoy watching war movies with my parents.  But, if it was a story about the Holocaust, I always watched it with them.  The Holocaust has always moved me in ways I don’t understand.  I guess it speaks to my soul, but not in a happy manner if that makes sense.

Anyway, Corey and I saw Defiance tonight.  It’s the story of the Bielski Brothers, a Jewish family from the Nowogrodek ghetto. They helped over 1200 Jews from Belarus and Poland survive during the German invasion of the Soviet Union and Poland.  It was a very moving story and I cried many times.

I understand that you may not want to see the movie since it has an R rating.  And, the point of my post isn’t really about the movie anyway.  The point of my post is more about the Holocaust in general.  There are some incredible stories of courage, defiance, and a will to survive that came out of the Holocaust.  I’m just sad that the Holocaust had to happen for those stories to come about.

One of the things I don’t understand as I learn more, read about, or watch anything related to the Holocaust is how people can believe it didn’t happen.  There’s no question in my mind that it happened and it angers me that people try to minimize it.  It was an awful event in our world’s history.  I’m just glad there are stories to support the courage of the Jews, and those that helped them, during the Holocaust.

Whether or not you see movies like Defiance or Schindler’s List or movies about the Holocaust that aren’t R-rated, I think it’s important to learn all we can about the Holocaust.  Our children need to learn about the atrocities so it’s never forgotten.  The men, women, and children who died during the Holocaust deserve that much.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews ·  Tagged: · 3 Comments
Jan 18, 2009

Mama Mia Karaoke Party

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After the symposium I went to with Nancy Turner, we went to my friend Kayla’s house to eat dinner. We had sandwiches and chicken lime cilantro soup. Kayla definitely outdid herself!

We went to my other friend Rachael’s house to meet some more of our friends after we ate dinner. We haven’t been able to get together since November, so it was fun to see each other and spend time together. We watched and sang along with Mama Mia, did some karaoke, and ate lots of yummy, healthy snacks. (We’re trying to be healthier this year.)

Karaoke’s not one of my favorite things to do because I’m always so self-conscious about it. But, surprisingly, I had lots of fun last night. We were all just silly and sang our hearts out. It didn’t matter if we sucked or if we were good. It was just a matter of spending time together and having fun! I love my friends and I’m so glad we met and formed such great friendships!

Friendship at its Best Friendship at its Best

Filed Under: Friends, Movies, Parties, SLTA · Leave a Comment
Jan 18, 2009

Literacy Symposium

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Yesterday, some friends and I had the chance to attend a symposium at the library.  The symposium was all about literacy.  There were tips about how to get the “reluctant” reader to read, family-friendly books, books your kids may enjoy, books everyone should have in their home library, etc.

Nancy Turner, the author of These is My Words, was the guest speaker at the symposium.  (I’ve been reading These is My Words since Thursday and I’m loving it.  I’m about a third of the way done.  When I finish it, I’ll tell you more about it.)  Anyway, Nancy was a great speaker.  She was funny and told us how These is My Words came about.  The story’s based on the life of her great-grandmother, Sarah Agnes Prine.  I really enjoyed listening to her story and hearing about the fictional and non-fictional aspects of the story.

After she spoke, we were able to get our books signed.  She wrote, “For Jennifer, Best wishes.  Nancy E. Turner, January 17, 2009,” in my book.  It was a lot of fun and a neat experience! I’m glad I was able to go.

Symposium with Nancy Turner

Filed Under: Authors, Friends, SLTA · 7 Comments
Jan 15, 2009

I’m Grateful

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I was tagged by my sister-in-law Jen.  I think this is a great tag because I’m supposed to list ten things I’m grateful for.

  1. I’m grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don’t know where I’d be without my faith in and knowledge of my Savior Jesus Christ.  I know I can always count on Him to be there when I need Him the most.
  2. I’m grateful for Corey. Our marriage has been rougher than most, but totally worth it.  I’m so glad I get to be with him for eternity.
  3. I’m grateful for my kitties. They bring so much joy and happiness into my life.  I love their curiosity and watching them play and have fun.  I also love their instinctual nature about knowing when I’m having a bad day and trying to make me feel better by either loving me or spending time with me.
  4. I’m grateful for my family. Even though it’s been rough the last few years, I still love them.  I’m also very grateful for my nieces and nephews.  I love that they’re my “friends” and that I can have so much fun with them.
  5. I’m grateful for my friends. Without my friends, I’d be a nobody.  I love having fun with them.  I love sharing their sorrows.  I love just being a part of their lives.
  6. I’m grateful for my job. It’s more often that I hate my job than like it.  However, I’m grateful I have a job, especially during this recession.
  7. I’m grateful for books. It’s funny because I’d never have listed books as something I was grateful for two years ago.  It’s amazing to me how one changes as they grow or experience new things.
  8. I’m grateful for technology. I love my Macbook because I can do some much with it.  I love my iPod because I can have all my music with me all the time.  (When I was younger, I’d always lug all my CDs with me on vacation.  It’d drive my parents nuts.)  I love the Internet because of the knowledge I have at my fingertips and, let’s be honest, the entertainment value.  I love all the advances we’ve made in medicine.
  9. I’m grateful for the things I have. Even though I don’t feel like I have very much, I know I have a lot more than a lot of people.
  10. I’m grateful for music. I love listening to music.  Music speaks to my soul.  It can lift my spirit or bring it down, depending on what I’m listening to.  Without music, I wouldn’t be here today.

I have so much to be grateful for, but now it’s time for someone else to share.  I tag Amber, Ali, Ashley, Christie, Debbie, Kayla, Leah Marie, Meagan, Megan, and Rachel.

Filed Under: Tags · 4 Comments
Jan 14, 2009

Review: Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark

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Two Little Girls in Blue CoverTitle: Two Little Girls in Blue
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Series: Stand-alone
Genre: Mystery
Buy on Amazon · Add to Shelfari · Add to Goodreads

In a riveting thriller, worldwide bestselling suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark brilliantly weaves the mystery of twin telepathy into a mother’s search for a kidnapped child, presumed dead. When Margaret and Steve Frawley come home to Connecticut from a black-tie dinner in New York, their three-year-old twins, Kathy and Kelly, are gone. The police found the babysitter unconscious, and a ransom note from the “Pied Piper” demands eight million dollars. Steve’s global investment firm puts up the money, but when they go to retrieve the twins, only Kelly is in the car. The dead driver’s suicide note says he inadvertently killed Kathy. At the memorial, Kelly tugs Margaret’s arm and says: “Mommy, Kathy is very scared of that lady. She wants to come home right now.” At first, only Margaret believes that the twins are communicating and that Kathy is still alive. But as Kelly’s warnings become increasingly specific and alarming, FBI agents set out on a desperate search.

As some of you know, I didn’t read at all, unless forced to, until I started to read books written by Mary Higgins Clark.  I read a few of her books in high school for a class I was in.  And, since then, I’ve read a few of her books here and there because I really enjoy the suspense, mystery, and thrill.  I have a soft-spot for her work.

I decided to read Two Little Girls in Blue because of the Play Book Tag group on Shelfari, which I mentioned in my review of The Thirteenth Tale.  The category for the month of December (I’m a little behind) was mystery and I always think of Mary Higgins Clark or Agatha Christie when I think of mystery, even though Mary Higgins Clark’s genre is more suspense/thriller than mystery.  Anyway, since I hadn’t read anything by her in a while, I decided to go with one of her books I hadn’t read yet.

I enjoyed reading about the concept of twin telepathy and I enjoyed the premise of the story. However, Two Little Girls in Blue is definitely not my favorite book written by Mary Higgins Clark.  In fact, it’s probably my least favorite of all her books.  I did feel a little suspense while reading the story.  And, I did want to get to the end so I could see the resolution.  But, the story didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat or second-guessing who I thought the “bad guy” was like her other books have done.  It just felt flat and a little too contrived.

Filed Under: Book Reviews ·  Tagged: , · 2 Comments
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