en-US Sun, 22 Dec 2013 10:58:15 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 56748 Meanwhile, the problems young women struggle with grow steadily more from sexual harassment, stalking, and date rape to anorexia and self-mutilation. Both men and women endlessly lament the loss of privacy and of real intimacy. What is it all about?
Beholden neither to conservatives who discount as exaggeration the dangers facing young women, nor to feminists who steadfastly affix blame on the patriarchy, Wendy Shalit proposes that, in fact, we have lost our respect for an important classical virtue -- that of sexual modesty. A Return to Modesty is a deeply personal account as well as a fascinating intellectual exploration. From seventeenth-century manners guides to Antonio Canova's sculpture, Venus Italico, to Frank Loesser's 1948 tune, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," A Return to Modesty unfolds like a detective's search for a lost idea as Shalit uncovers opinions about this lost virtue's importance, from Balzac to Simone de Beauvoir, that have not been aired for decades. Then she knocks down the accompanying myths one by one. Female modesty is not about a "sexual double standard," as is often thought, but is related to male virtue and honor. Modesty is not a social construct, but a natural response. And modesty is not prudery, but a way to preserve a sense of the erotic in our lives.
With humor and piercing insight, Shalit invites us to look beyond the blush and consider the new power to be found in an old ideal. She maintains that the sex education curriculum forced on those of her generation from an early age is fundamentally flawed, centered as it is on overcoming reticence -- what we today call "hang-ups." Shalit surprisingly and persuasively argues that without these misnamed hang-ups there can be no true surrender, no richness and depth to relations between the sexes. The natural inclination toward modesty is not a hang-up that we should set out to cure, but rather a wonderful instinct that, if rediscovered and given the right social support, has the power to transform society.]]> 304 Wendy Shalit 0684863170 Jen 3
Having said how much I like the ideas presented, it wasn't a real page-turner. I believe it was written as a thesis, so of course, it was filled with studies, case studies, etc. It felt a little repetitive at parts and I found myself skimming it a little thinking, "Ok, yeah I get this point." Still an interesting read though.]]> 3.81 1998
author: Wendy Shalit
name: Jen
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1998
rating: 3
read at: 2008/11/01
date added: 2013/12/22
shelves:
review:
I loved the ideas presented in this book. The main idea of the book is that the sexual revolution - teaching sex education younger, making women feel at liberty to express themselves in dress and conduct - has really made society worse off than it was before. I thought she had some great points she made throughout the book - we're a society that expects the men to be gentlemen without the women having to be ladies; and the return to modesty won't work with just a few isolated women thinking and behaving that way - it has to be a cultural shift. Which made me laugh as I read it because I have a feeling that me, and probably a lot of other people who would read that book are the ones who already feel that way. But it was probably good for me to read because at first I thought she was exaggerating how bad things were, but then I realized I grew up in a society that respects modesty, so things probably really are like that other places.

Having said how much I like the ideas presented, it wasn't a real page-turner. I believe it was written as a thesis, so of course, it was filled with studies, case studies, etc. It felt a little repetitive at parts and I found myself skimming it a little thinking, "Ok, yeah I get this point." Still an interesting read though.
]]> 7427700 336 Mitt Romney 0312609809 Jen 0 to-read 3.68 2010
author: Mitt Romney
name: Jen
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/08/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 2153780 Heralded by the New York Times and Time as the couples therapy with the highest rate of success, Emotionally Focused Therapy works because it views the love relationship as an attachment bond.

This idea, once controversial, is now supported by science, and has become widely popular among therapists around the world. In Hold Me Tight, Dr. Sue Johnson presents Emotionally Focused Therapy to the general public for the first time. Johnson teaches that the way to save and enrich a relationship is to reestablish safe emotional connection and preserve the attachment bond. With this in mind, she focuses on key moments in a relationship-from "Recognizing the Demon Dialogue" to "Revisiting a Rocky Moment" -- and uses them as touch points for seven healing conversations.

Through case studies from her practice, illuminating advice, and practical exercises, couples will learn how to nurture their relationships and ensure a lifetime of love.
]]> 300 Sue Johnson 031611300X Jen 0 to-read 4.12 2008
author: Sue Johnson
name: Jen
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 3228917 Learn what sets high achievers apart � from Bill Gates to the Beatles � in this #1 bestseller from "a singular talent" (New York Times Book Review).

In this stunning book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"—the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different?

His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.

Brilliant and entertaining, Outliers is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.]]> 309 Malcolm Gladwell 0316017922 Jen 0 to-read 4.19 2008
author: Malcolm Gladwell
name: Jen
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 995767
The time our children spend doing homework has skyrocketed in recent years. Parents spend countless hours cajoling their kids to complete such assignments—often without considering whether or not they serve any worthwhile purpose. Even many teachers are in the Only one of the hundreds the authors interviewed and surveyed had ever taken a course specifically on homework during training.

The truth, according to Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish, is that there is almost no evidence that homework helps elementary school students achieve academic success and little evidence that it helps older students. Yet the nightly burden is taking a serious toll on America’s families. It robs children of the sleep, play, and exercise time they need for proper physical, emotional, and neurological development. And it is a hidden cause of the childhood obesity epidemic, creating a nation of “homework potatoes.�

In The Case Against Homework , Bennett and Kalish draw on academic research, interviews with educators, parents, and kids, and their own experience as parents and successful homework reformers to offer detailed advice to frustrated parents. You’ll find out which assignments advance learning and which are time-wasters, how to set priorities when your child comes home with an overstuffed backpack, how to talk and write to teachers and school administrators in persuasive, nonconfrontational ways, and how to rally other parents to help restore balance in your children’s lives.

Empowering, practical, and rigorously researched, The Case Against Homework shows how too much work is having a negative effect on our children’s achievement and development and gives us the tools and tactics we need to advocate for change.


Also available as an eBook]]> 304 Sara Bennett 0307340171 Jen 0 to-read 3.63 2006
author: Sara Bennett
name: Jen
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/08/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 213186 Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child is John Gottman’s groundbreaking guide to teaching children to understand and regulate their emotional world.

Intelligence That Comes from the Heart

Every parent knows the importance of equipping children with the intellectual skills they need to succeed in school and life. But children also need to master their emotions. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child is a guide to teaching children to understand and regulate their emotional world. And as acclaimed psychologist and researcher John Gottman shows, once they master this important life skill, emotionally intelligent children will enjoy increased self-confidence, greater physical health, better performance in school, and healthier social relationships. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child will equip parents with a five-step “emotion coaching� process that teaches how to:

-Be aware of a child's emotions
-Recognize emotional expression as an opportunity for intimacy and teaching
-Listen empathetically and validate a child's feelings
-Label emotions in words a child can understand
-Help a child come up with an appropriate way to solve a problem or deal with an upsetting issue or situation

Written for parents of children of all ages, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child will enrich the bonds between parent and child and contribute immeasurably to the development of a generation of emotionally healthy adults.]]> 240 John M. Gottman 0684838656 Jen 4 currently-reading 4.17 1997
author: John M. Gottman
name: Jen
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 2011/03/01
date added: 2011/05/06
shelves: currently-reading
review:
Read this on recommendation from my social worker friend. I liked it. It sort of brought to my awareness even emotional issues lurking in my spouse and I that probably came from the way we were raised. And it was interesting to see the tactics that we innocently use commonly that we were unaware weren't really great strategies - like using distraction to help your child get over something rather than helping them work through and express the emotion. I'm really hoping that I can raise emotionally aware boys and adjust my parenting a little using his strategies to help develop that.
]]> 9160695
"This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead, it's about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen-year-old." —Amy Chua

All decent parents want to do what's best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua's iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way—the Chinese way—and the remarkable results her choice inspires.

Here are some things Amy Chua would never allow her daughters to do:

- have a playdate
- be in a school play
- complain about not being in a school play
- not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama
- play any instrument other than the piano or violin
- not play the piano or violin

The truth is Lulu and Sophia would never have had time for a playdate. They were too busy practicing their instruments (two to three hours a day and double sessions on the weekend) and perfecting their Mandarin.

Of course no one is perfect, including Chua herself. Witness this scene:

"According to Sophia, here are three things I actually said to her at the piano as I supervised her practicing:

- Oh my God, you're just getting worse and worse.
- I'm going to count to three, then I want musicality.
- If the next time's not PERFECT, I'm going to take all your stuffed animals and burn them!"

But Chua demands as much of herself as she does of her daughters. And in her sacrifices—the exacting attention spent studying her daughters' performances, the office hours lost shuttling the girls to lessons—the depth of her love for her children becomes clear. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an eye-opening exploration of the differences in Eastern and Western parenting—and the lessons parents and children everywhere teach one another.]]> 237 Amy Chua 1594202842 Jen 0 to-read 3.64 2011
author: Amy Chua
name: Jen
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/03/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 3591262
Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics—their passion for the same woman—that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him—nearly destroying him—Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.

An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.
(front flap)]]> 560 Abraham Verghese 0375414495 Jen 4 4.32 2009
author: Abraham Verghese
name: Jen
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/03/30
shelves:
review:
Great book. Story really kept you interested and reading even though it was such a long book. The identical twins were what first caught my attention! Everyone I've recommended it to has really liked it.
]]> 1067 386 David McCullough 0743226720 Jen 5 4.10 2005
author: David McCullough
name: Jen
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2010/09/01
date added: 2011/02/01
shelves:
review:
I have to say I was worried that this would be hard for me to get through and that it might be drudgery, but that turned out not to be the case at all. I didn't even know enough about history that it could even be a page turner for me since I was always anxious to find out what happened next. I think having lived in New York made it even more fascinating for me listening to them talk about all the familiar places I know but covered with British and American troops or hearing about the Hudson and the East rivers lined with British ships. Also flying over Boston and New York while I was reading about them was an awesome aerial map of everything I was reading about and really helped the perspective. I loved how unbiased he tried to be, showing strengths and weaknesses of the men equally. There were so many things I didn't know or realize about that war, America at the time, and the leaders that founded our nation. I really enjoyed it. I guess I only wish there was a follow-up volume so I could really finish the story.
]]> 3367956 290 Jamie Ford 0345505336 Jen 4 4.03 2009
author: Jamie Ford
name: Jen
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/01/17
shelves:
review:

]]> 7260188 My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.]]> 390 Suzanne Collins 0439023513 Jen 4 to-read
Hmmm. Hmmm. I'm still deciding how I totally feel about this one. I'm not sure it's how I would have written the last book. I was happy she ended up with Peeta, but sheesh, you don't even like him anymore by the end anyway since he's had about zero part in the book and when he did he was trying to kill her, bitter or negative - and since it had been so long since I'd read the others the old Peeta was pretty far from my memory to at least draw on. I thought it was a good way to wrap up the book and make the choice between the two easy - but why did it all wrap up in ONE paragraph? Seriously? Give me some happy moments to hang on to at least to feel complete about it ending up that way.

And honestly - why did she have to kill off practically everyone? And so fast? I was ticked that Finnick died and I didn't even have 1 second to mourn, when normally I probably would have cried at that part. That whole suicide mission into the capital seemed almost like a stupid waste since everyone died and she never even made it to her goal and then the rebels came in and ended it anyway.

And what was with all of them voting to have another hunger games for the capital's children at the end? It was so weird that she threw that in there when it never happened anyway, and it wasn't even believable to me that they would vote yes - especially after Katniss was so into being noble and not killing innocent people this time. And after how messed up they all were from their own hunger games I wouldn't believe that they would vote to put other people through it.

Ok, but I couldn't put it down of course, of course I liked reading it, I'm just not sure that's how I would have ended the series, with everyone so messed up, unstable and unlikable. I realize that's what war does to people and that was probably her point that no one is ever the same, it's just hard to hang on to your favorite characters when they're all in a mental ward.]]> 4.10 2010
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Jen
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2010/10/01
date added: 2010/10/30
shelves: to-read
review:
(Don't read this if you haven't read it yet.)

Hmmm. Hmmm. I'm still deciding how I totally feel about this one. I'm not sure it's how I would have written the last book. I was happy she ended up with Peeta, but sheesh, you don't even like him anymore by the end anyway since he's had about zero part in the book and when he did he was trying to kill her, bitter or negative - and since it had been so long since I'd read the others the old Peeta was pretty far from my memory to at least draw on. I thought it was a good way to wrap up the book and make the choice between the two easy - but why did it all wrap up in ONE paragraph? Seriously? Give me some happy moments to hang on to at least to feel complete about it ending up that way.

And honestly - why did she have to kill off practically everyone? And so fast? I was ticked that Finnick died and I didn't even have 1 second to mourn, when normally I probably would have cried at that part. That whole suicide mission into the capital seemed almost like a stupid waste since everyone died and she never even made it to her goal and then the rebels came in and ended it anyway.

And what was with all of them voting to have another hunger games for the capital's children at the end? It was so weird that she threw that in there when it never happened anyway, and it wasn't even believable to me that they would vote yes - especially after Katniss was so into being noble and not killing innocent people this time. And after how messed up they all were from their own hunger games I wouldn't believe that they would vote to put other people through it.

Ok, but I couldn't put it down of course, of course I liked reading it, I'm just not sure that's how I would have ended the series, with everyone so messed up, unstable and unlikable. I realize that's what war does to people and that was probably her point that no one is ever the same, it's just hard to hang on to your favorite characters when they're all in a mental ward.
]]> 11089 ĚýA New York Times and million copy bestseller, the classic handbook on reading aloud to children—revised and updated



Recommended by “Dear Abby�, The New York Times and The Washington Post, for three decades, millions of parents and educators have turned to Jim Trelease's beloved classic to help countless children become avid readers through awakening their imaginations and improving their language skills. Now this new edition of The Read-Aloud Handbook imparts the benefits, rewards, and importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation. Supported by delightful anecdotes as well as the latest research, The Read-Aloud Handbook offers proven techniques and strategies—and the reasoning behind them—for helping children discover the pleasures of reading and setting them on the road to becoming lifelong readers.]]> 340 Jim Trelease 0143037390 Jen 5
I just read this book. I'm so surprised I haven't heard of it earlier! It was great. (I mean great as in content, of course it's non-fiction and not a page-turner like some suspense novel.) If you're looking to become converted and passionate about reading to your kids and reading in general you need to check it out. I just happened to see a friend list her review on the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ website and I was intrigued that she said she'd read the Stuart Little chapter book with her son who is Cash's age after getting the idea from this book and he loved it. So I checked out the book and the arguments and evidence of what an effect it can have on kids - so much more than all the other programs government is trying to enforce - are so compelling, yet simple, it makes you wonder why we don't realize it. This may become one of my new first-time parent baby gifts - love your child, give them a good home, and here is one of the other best gifts you can give them! It would be a great book for educators to read as well and makes me really want to get my kids into a school that really encourages reading, especially just for the love of reading, not just for fear of being tested.

I'm sure I should thank my mom for all the reading she did to me as a child (I think sometimes 30+ books a day, she recorded in her journal); and un-thank college for scaring me away for reading for a good 7 years after all that forced reading totally turned me off from it. I'm only finally recovering. It also made me feel less guilty for reading around my kids. I usually feel like I'm being lazy and ignoring them so I can read, so I usually just do it on my own time when they're in bed, but this emphasizes how important it is for your kids to see you doing it for pleasure. Just like how readily they imitate you talking on the cell phone.

It's been fun to start testing out the book and realize that my kids have a better attention span for reading than I thought. As soon as I open a book and start reading, all three come join me and we read for a good half hour before I'm the one that gets tired of being squished by three kids and needs a break! And I've realized it's so much better for me to do this at any time of day - I'm so sick of the kids after the frenzy of the bedtime routine and always in a rush that I realized those few minutes can't count as my only quality reading time.

I also love that the book only singled out one library in the U.S. as a shining example of what modern libraries should be like - the Salt Lake City Public Library. Way to go!

The back of the book also has a treasury of read-aloud books which will be great since I'm not too familiar with children's literature. I borrowed it from the library but I may get my own copy to have on hand.

Anyway, go read it if you haven't! And who knows, maybe most of you already have and I'm like the last person on the planet to ever hear of it - in which case I can't believe you didn't suggest it to me! ]]> 4.39 1982
author: Jim Trelease
name: Jen
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1982
rating: 5
read at: 2010/08/01
date added: 2010/08/15
shelves:
review:
Here's what I posted on my blog after reading this book:

I just read this book. I'm so surprised I haven't heard of it earlier! It was great. (I mean great as in content, of course it's non-fiction and not a page-turner like some suspense novel.) If you're looking to become converted and passionate about reading to your kids and reading in general you need to check it out. I just happened to see a friend list her review on the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ website and I was intrigued that she said she'd read the Stuart Little chapter book with her son who is Cash's age after getting the idea from this book and he loved it. So I checked out the book and the arguments and evidence of what an effect it can have on kids - so much more than all the other programs government is trying to enforce - are so compelling, yet simple, it makes you wonder why we don't realize it. This may become one of my new first-time parent baby gifts - love your child, give them a good home, and here is one of the other best gifts you can give them! It would be a great book for educators to read as well and makes me really want to get my kids into a school that really encourages reading, especially just for the love of reading, not just for fear of being tested.

I'm sure I should thank my mom for all the reading she did to me as a child (I think sometimes 30+ books a day, she recorded in her journal); and un-thank college for scaring me away for reading for a good 7 years after all that forced reading totally turned me off from it. I'm only finally recovering. It also made me feel less guilty for reading around my kids. I usually feel like I'm being lazy and ignoring them so I can read, so I usually just do it on my own time when they're in bed, but this emphasizes how important it is for your kids to see you doing it for pleasure. Just like how readily they imitate you talking on the cell phone.

It's been fun to start testing out the book and realize that my kids have a better attention span for reading than I thought. As soon as I open a book and start reading, all three come join me and we read for a good half hour before I'm the one that gets tired of being squished by three kids and needs a break! And I've realized it's so much better for me to do this at any time of day - I'm so sick of the kids after the frenzy of the bedtime routine and always in a rush that I realized those few minutes can't count as my only quality reading time.

I also love that the book only singled out one library in the U.S. as a shining example of what modern libraries should be like - the Salt Lake City Public Library. Way to go!

The back of the book also has a treasury of read-aloud books which will be great since I'm not too familiar with children's literature. I borrowed it from the library but I may get my own copy to have on hand.

Anyway, go read it if you haven't! And who knows, maybe most of you already have and I'm like the last person on the planet to ever hear of it - in which case I can't believe you didn't suggest it to me!
]]> 49436 349 Greg Mortenson 0143038257 Jen 5 3.66 2006
author: Greg Mortenson
name: Jen
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2010/07/01
date added: 2010/07/13
shelves:
review:
I actually felt smarter after having read this book, which (unfortunately) I can't say about everything I read. :) I found myself tearing up frequently as I read the book, realizing the wonderfully touching moments and sacrifices that truly helped bring beauty out of ashes. It did seem to take me a long time to get through it, but it really was a great read. Makes you want to make a difference in the world.
]]> 1656001
As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Also see: Alternate Cover Editions for this ISBN [ACE]
ACE #1 - ACE #2 ]]> 619 Stephenie Meyer 0316068047 Jen 4 3.85 2008
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Jen
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2010/07/13
shelves:
review:

]]> 1751360 192 Linda Eyre 1573457949 Jen 3
I think it was a bit overwhelming to me personally how many "systems" they seem to have. At first I was like - oh this is a good idea... then by the end I was like - more systems? More structured this or that? I'm sure with 9 kids that's how you have to be. I just don't know if I'd ever list my day down to the minute or have certain things we do on certain days of the week. I may think differently when my kids are older and I have more to keep track of though. But it did make me think that some lists and goals and structure would be good - especially with the things you want to teach your children. I found myself realizing if you don't think that out and set goals and times for it to happen you probably just realize one day that your kids are grown and you're not sure you taught them what you wanted them to learn.

I did think it was really good for me to see some of her examples of how a faithful family deals with things, getting answers, prayer, that kind of thing. Made me want to step it up a little.

I guess I also just realize no mothering book is going to have all the answers and solve your life like you wish they would! I didn't always love her writing style (but hey, I don't love my own either) and thought some of it was just her telling cool stories about her life and then tying it in to motherhood for a sentence or two. I'd be interested in reading some of their other books though.]]> 4.03 1983
author: Linda Eyre
name: Jen
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1983
rating: 3
read at: 2010/04/01
date added: 2010/04/14
shelves:
review:
There were some good ideas and a few gems and funny stories I took away from this book. I laugh a bit at how much of an 80s mom you can tell she is - stuff they did back then that you'd never get away with now! Of course it's nice to hear that her life was crazy too and that she'd yell at her kids sometimes or whatever and they all turned out great.

I think it was a bit overwhelming to me personally how many "systems" they seem to have. At first I was like - oh this is a good idea... then by the end I was like - more systems? More structured this or that? I'm sure with 9 kids that's how you have to be. I just don't know if I'd ever list my day down to the minute or have certain things we do on certain days of the week. I may think differently when my kids are older and I have more to keep track of though. But it did make me think that some lists and goals and structure would be good - especially with the things you want to teach your children. I found myself realizing if you don't think that out and set goals and times for it to happen you probably just realize one day that your kids are grown and you're not sure you taught them what you wanted them to learn.

I did think it was really good for me to see some of her examples of how a faithful family deals with things, getting answers, prayer, that kind of thing. Made me want to step it up a little.

I guess I also just realize no mothering book is going to have all the answers and solve your life like you wish they would! I didn't always love her writing style (but hey, I don't love my own either) and thought some of it was just her telling cool stories about her life and then tying it in to motherhood for a sentence or two. I'd be interested in reading some of their other books though.
]]> 4667024
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women, mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends, view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.


Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here]]> 464 Kathryn Stockett 0399155341 Jen 5 4.46 2009
author: Kathryn Stockett
name: Jen
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/04/01
date added: 2010/04/14
shelves:
review:

]]> 106744
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL PARENTING PUBLICATIONS GOLD AWARD •Ěý“A worthy book that brings us genuinely new ideas and fresh perspectives on parenting.”—Mary Pipher, Ph.D., author of Reviving Ophelia

Children take their lead from their Being “cool� matters more than anything else. Shaping values, identity, and codes of behavior, peer groups are often far more influential than parents. But this situation is far from natural, and it can be dangerous—it undermines family cohesion, interferes with healthy development, and fosters a hostile and sexualized youth culture. Children end up becoming conformist, anxious, and alienated.

In Hold On to Your Kids, acclaimedĚýphysician and bestselling author Gabor MatĂ© joins forces with psychologist Gordon Neufeld to pinpoint the causes of this breakdown and offer practical advice on how to “reattachâ€� to your children and earn back their loyalty and love.

By helping to reawaken our instincts, Neufeld and Maté empower parents to be what nature a true source of enrichment, security, and warmth for their children.]]> 369 Gordon Neufeld 0375760288 Jen 5
A few months ago a friend blogged about a book she had read. Seeing how it seemed to have an impact on her and respecting her as a seriously amazing mom, I decided to pick it up. She was right. It was one of those books that I would try to relay to Ryan after every chapter I read. (And he even listened, which is sort of, um, rare.) It's obviously a little older than the stage my kids are at, but I'm glad I read it before I get to that point where your kids are annoyed when you're around and just want to be with their friends, because it also seems like something you should just make your lifestyle. Practice makes perfect, and it would be nice to get it figured out before you really need it, you know? Besides the fact that it's not like it happens overnight, and I was amazed to see how early on the seeds of peer orientation are sewn.

Part of the basic idea is that the natural order is for things to be passed on from older generations to the younger ones - knowledge, ideas, values, how to act, talk, dress, etc. It's that way in all of nature - animals and humans. Or it used to be. In the last few generations there has been a huge shift in that kids now look more to their peers for this information rather than adults. So much so, that I didn't even realize it wasn't normal when I was first reading this book! But as the author says, anyone reading the book probably grew up that way and so we don't even realize it's a problem. So now we have generations of immature children - being raised by other immature children. Even language and vocabulary has dropped as a result because they're getting their language (or lack thereof) from each other. His idea is that this has resulted in a whole lot of the issues that we see in society now - children who want nothing to do with adults, can't socialize with adults, children who are more aggressive, more calloused, don't feel emotion, don't engage in meaningful relationships, have their curiosity stamped out because it's not "cool," are more sexually promiscuous with less feeling about it, families falling apart, parents who have lost the power to parent their children, and kids who will follow their skewed instincts to stay close to their peers at all costs. His theory is that we all have a basic instinct or need for attachment, and when that is not met or strong enough with parents, kids will shift that need to peers to fill it, with the costly loss of parental attachment, which causes parents to lose the power to parent their children because the children are no longer looking to them for cues about anything.

I'd love to tell you all the great ideas from the whole book, but I wouldn't do it justice and really you should just read it. It really has made me think a lot about my own life, my own parenting, and did make me notice a lot of the things that did go right. Like my mom always having lots of big family dinners. We always had extended family around and always intermingled with the generations, playing games and talking. I also think of how much the church is inspired in this way - from it's strong emphasis on families and family time, to always ensuring that there were caring adults who played a big part in your life (leaders and Sunday school teachers and such) and helped your own parents get to know people you were associating with better, along with their families. It also made me resolve to be a better friend to other kids - to get to know my friend's kids better or other kids at church who could benefit from another caring adult in their life. I'll admit - this is hard for me. I've never been a real kid person, so having my own children I've had to be totally focused inward just to take care of my own little family, especially once the twins came along. I have a hard enough time paying attention to my own kids, let alone someone else's, but I always love it when friends have a genuine interest in my kids. And that's part of his suggestions is to have a big network of caring adults, family members, and friends to be a part of your children's lives. To help them attach to other positive adults rather than to a bunch of peers you know nothing about and that they want to leave your company to spend every waking minute with. He says, "The greater the number of caring adults in a child's life, the more immune he or she will be to peer orientation."

It did, however, make me more anxious about sending my kids to school here, especially given their personalities, and made me realize where you live and what kind of neighborhood and school area you're in could possibly have a huge impact on how your kids grow up - for better or worse. I was also interested to see how much applied to teachers and teaching and how much attachment plays a part in learning.

I even thought some of the advice was applicable to my marriage - like remembering the relationship is more important than the behavior. That's a good one. And that filling someone's need for attention when they're begging for it really doesn't fill the need; it's only when it's spontaneously given that it really satisfies. (Um, ok, that one wasn't actually for me. HINT.)

The one thing I didn't like as much was that even though the things he was suggesting seemed to point to it, he never said much about how staying home with your kids rather than working would be a good idea. I'm pretty sure his own wife and mother must have worked out of the home because he just sort of brushed it off as not being practical in today's world and just told you how to deal with it since you would probably be out working. It just seemed like so many other things he was suggesting were different from the societal norm that it seems like he could have given it some weight as at least being beneficial to your children and worth the effort to make it work.

Anyway, all in all, the author is not saying friends are bad, just that there should be adults around, and ideally you would be involved with your children and their friends and their families. He even goes into better ways to discipline to help preserve your relationship with your kids rather than hurt it. That's going to take some creativity on my part and I'll have to see what works for us.

Even with how much I liked the book though, I'll have to say it did take me about 3 or 4 months to read it. I just have trouble when they're not gripping page-turners! Alright, enough already, but I highly recommend it! ]]> 4.17 2004
author: Gordon Neufeld
name: Jen
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at: 2010/01/01
date added: 2010/01/11
shelves:
review:
Here's what I put on my blog about it:

A few months ago a friend blogged about a book she had read. Seeing how it seemed to have an impact on her and respecting her as a seriously amazing mom, I decided to pick it up. She was right. It was one of those books that I would try to relay to Ryan after every chapter I read. (And he even listened, which is sort of, um, rare.) It's obviously a little older than the stage my kids are at, but I'm glad I read it before I get to that point where your kids are annoyed when you're around and just want to be with their friends, because it also seems like something you should just make your lifestyle. Practice makes perfect, and it would be nice to get it figured out before you really need it, you know? Besides the fact that it's not like it happens overnight, and I was amazed to see how early on the seeds of peer orientation are sewn.

Part of the basic idea is that the natural order is for things to be passed on from older generations to the younger ones - knowledge, ideas, values, how to act, talk, dress, etc. It's that way in all of nature - animals and humans. Or it used to be. In the last few generations there has been a huge shift in that kids now look more to their peers for this information rather than adults. So much so, that I didn't even realize it wasn't normal when I was first reading this book! But as the author says, anyone reading the book probably grew up that way and so we don't even realize it's a problem. So now we have generations of immature children - being raised by other immature children. Even language and vocabulary has dropped as a result because they're getting their language (or lack thereof) from each other. His idea is that this has resulted in a whole lot of the issues that we see in society now - children who want nothing to do with adults, can't socialize with adults, children who are more aggressive, more calloused, don't feel emotion, don't engage in meaningful relationships, have their curiosity stamped out because it's not "cool," are more sexually promiscuous with less feeling about it, families falling apart, parents who have lost the power to parent their children, and kids who will follow their skewed instincts to stay close to their peers at all costs. His theory is that we all have a basic instinct or need for attachment, and when that is not met or strong enough with parents, kids will shift that need to peers to fill it, with the costly loss of parental attachment, which causes parents to lose the power to parent their children because the children are no longer looking to them for cues about anything.

I'd love to tell you all the great ideas from the whole book, but I wouldn't do it justice and really you should just read it. It really has made me think a lot about my own life, my own parenting, and did make me notice a lot of the things that did go right. Like my mom always having lots of big family dinners. We always had extended family around and always intermingled with the generations, playing games and talking. I also think of how much the church is inspired in this way - from it's strong emphasis on families and family time, to always ensuring that there were caring adults who played a big part in your life (leaders and Sunday school teachers and such) and helped your own parents get to know people you were associating with better, along with their families. It also made me resolve to be a better friend to other kids - to get to know my friend's kids better or other kids at church who could benefit from another caring adult in their life. I'll admit - this is hard for me. I've never been a real kid person, so having my own children I've had to be totally focused inward just to take care of my own little family, especially once the twins came along. I have a hard enough time paying attention to my own kids, let alone someone else's, but I always love it when friends have a genuine interest in my kids. And that's part of his suggestions is to have a big network of caring adults, family members, and friends to be a part of your children's lives. To help them attach to other positive adults rather than to a bunch of peers you know nothing about and that they want to leave your company to spend every waking minute with. He says, "The greater the number of caring adults in a child's life, the more immune he or she will be to peer orientation."

It did, however, make me more anxious about sending my kids to school here, especially given their personalities, and made me realize where you live and what kind of neighborhood and school area you're in could possibly have a huge impact on how your kids grow up - for better or worse. I was also interested to see how much applied to teachers and teaching and how much attachment plays a part in learning.

I even thought some of the advice was applicable to my marriage - like remembering the relationship is more important than the behavior. That's a good one. And that filling someone's need for attention when they're begging for it really doesn't fill the need; it's only when it's spontaneously given that it really satisfies. (Um, ok, that one wasn't actually for me. HINT.)

The one thing I didn't like as much was that even though the things he was suggesting seemed to point to it, he never said much about how staying home with your kids rather than working would be a good idea. I'm pretty sure his own wife and mother must have worked out of the home because he just sort of brushed it off as not being practical in today's world and just told you how to deal with it since you would probably be out working. It just seemed like so many other things he was suggesting were different from the societal norm that it seems like he could have given it some weight as at least being beneficial to your children and worth the effort to make it work.

Anyway, all in all, the author is not saying friends are bad, just that there should be adults around, and ideally you would be involved with your children and their friends and their families. He even goes into better ways to discipline to help preserve your relationship with your kids rather than hurt it. That's going to take some creativity on my part and I'll have to see what works for us.

Even with how much I liked the book though, I'll have to say it did take me about 3 or 4 months to read it. I just have trouble when they're not gripping page-turners! Alright, enough already, but I highly recommend it!
]]> 6148028 Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn.]]> 391 Suzanne Collins 0439023491 Jen 5 4.34 2009
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Jen
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2009/10/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 127970 496 Terry Ryan 0739416383 Jen 5 3.90 2001
author: Terry Ryan
name: Jen
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at: 2009/06/01
date added: 2009/06/14
shelves:
review:
I really enjoyed this book. All the funny little things that made up their crazy life were so charming - from the disposal to their wild chicken... it really made me think that some of that real life stuff was funnier than anything you could have come up with. I felt like I took some real gems from this book about being happy and how crying that life isn't fair is just a waste of energy that you could put towards something productive anyway. And just the chances of everything that happened in that book are amazing! Thought it was a fun read for a true story. And made me realize my life isn't so crazy after all!
]]> 31122 408 Dodie Smith 0312181108 Jen 3 3.99 1948
author: Dodie Smith
name: Jen
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1948
rating: 3
read at: 2009/05/01
date added: 2009/05/04
shelves:
review:
Some parts of the book really were charming but at times I did wish it would just get over with. It also made me really examine why it seems people in society have grown so dull, when it seems people used to have nothing to do but chat and find interesting things to talk about. I didn't really feel satisfied by the ending though, especially when I felt I'd read all day just to get to it.
]]> 1343082 208 Cynthia Whitham 0962203637 Jen 5
The book was broken up into easily digestable chapters and sections and had a quick reference at the back. Her overall theory is that attention of any form tacks a behavior into place; therefore, you praise behaviors you want more of, ignore the ones you dislike and take action for behaviors that are intolerable. ]]> 3.91 1991
author: Cynthia Whitham
name: Jen
average rating: 3.91
book published: 1991
rating: 5
read at: 2009/03/01
date added: 2009/04/27
shelves:
review:
This was a good book that I'd seen another friend read. I checked it out from the library but it seems like it could be a good book to have handy as a reference when behaviors you don't like come up. I'm especially thinking that the twins will take a little more effort to control than Cash. :)It also made me happy to see that we were already doing quite a few of the things this book suggests, and I like that you don't have to have constant time-outs to get the behavior you want.

The book was broken up into easily digestable chapters and sections and had a quick reference at the back. Her overall theory is that attention of any form tacks a behavior into place; therefore, you praise behaviors you want more of, ignore the ones you dislike and take action for behaviors that are intolerable.
]]> 2767052 374 Suzanne Collins Jen 5 4.34 2008
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Jen
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2009/02/01
date added: 2009/03/18
shelves:
review:
Fun distraction, interesting concept, keeps you reading. Ending sucked!
]]> 56157 180 Laura Schlessinger 0060520620 Jen 4 I didn't like how she NEVER sided with women on anything - except one example at the very end. I kept thinking, "Where's the proper care and feeding of wives book?" until she addressed that exact question and said she doesn't need to write one because she thinks that women, by their own behavior, have the power to elicit the behavior they want out of thier husbands.
I think it's definitely worth reading, although by halfway through I felt like I got the idea so the last half dragged a little.]]> 3.70 2003
author: Laura Schlessinger
name: Jen
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2009/02/01
date added: 2009/03/18
shelves:
review:
I would almost give this book a 5, but that would only be based on the content in general and the gems I took from this book. My mom even read it while she was at my house, and as she put it: "I don't think anyone could NOT be helped by reading this book." It really does help your perspective on being a wife and makes you feel more responsible for holding up your end of the deal.
I didn't like how she NEVER sided with women on anything - except one example at the very end. I kept thinking, "Where's the proper care and feeding of wives book?" until she addressed that exact question and said she doesn't need to write one because she thinks that women, by their own behavior, have the power to elicit the behavior they want out of thier husbands.
I think it's definitely worth reading, although by halfway through I felt like I got the idea so the last half dragged a little.
]]> 452306
But Tibby says they’re great. She'd love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them.

Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything) thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye.

And then the journey of the pants � and the most memorable summer of their lives � begins.]]> 294 Ann Brashares 0385729332 Jen 4 3.85 2001
author: Ann Brashares
name: Jen
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2008/12/15
date added: 2008/12/15
shelves:
review:
Cute and entertaining. I know I'm not a reader, but I have to laugh that every book people suggest to me has been a high school novel!!
]]> 19063 Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

(Note: this title was not published as YA fiction)]]> 592 Markus Zusak Jen 5 4.38 2005
author: Markus Zusak
name: Jen
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2008/10/01
date added: 2008/10/09
shelves:
review:
I loved the writing style of this author. It was interesting that with such a depressing subject matter, his playful wording and style of writing made it almost fun to read. I loved the way he broke up the pages with bulletted points and stuff to make it easier to digest the 500+ pages. I actually also kind of liked that he forewarned of who would die so that I wasn't so devastated by the last few chapters when everyone dies.
]]> 4502877 The record for the completed novel can be found here.

Midnight Sun is the much anticipated retelling of Twilight from Edward Cullen's perspective. An unedited partial draft was illegally leaked onto the internet in 2008; consequently, author Stephenie Meyer put the project on indefinite hold. Shortly afterward, she posted a letter to her fans on her website including a link to the entire partial draft of the book so that those who wanted to read it could do so legally and with her consent.

Note: Do not add a cover. Do not add translations. Do not add any other editions. Do not combine with editions of the full work. Do not add this book record to any series.]]> 264 Stephenie Meyer Jen 5 4.01 2008
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Jen
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2008/09/01
date added: 2008/10/09
shelves:
review:
I really enjoyed this. Finally in the head of mysterious Edward. Was fun to read and I wish it went further! I really hope she finishes it.
]]> 1162543 "Don't be afraid," I murmured. "We belong together."
I was abruptly overwhelmed by the truth of my own words.
This moment was so perfect, so right, there was no way to doubt it.
His arms wrapped around me,
holding me against him....
It felt like every nerve ending in my body was a live wire.
"Forever," he agreed.

WHEN YOU LOVED THE ONE WHO WAS KILLING YOU, IT LEFT YOU NO OPTIONS. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

TO BE IRREVOCABLY IN LOVE WITH A VAMPIRE is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

NOW THAT BELLA HAS MADE HER DECISION, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life - first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse - seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

THE ASTONISHING, BREATHLESSLY anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.]]> 756 Stephenie Meyer 031606792X Jen 4
I will say I was surprised that I wanted to see some heads ripped off at the end and was kind of bummed it didn't happen. Reading some stuff off her website made me ok with it when I understood her reasoning a little better - that she basically didn't want 90% of everyone dead by the end of the story. Did anyone else guess the whole book by about page 200? I still enjoyed it anyway, of course. I do get a little why-isn't-my-life-this-amazing?? by the end, which does give me a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, but I get ridiculously into them while I'm in them totally forgetting what's reality and what's really in the book. ]]> 3.74 2008
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Jen
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2008/09/01
date added: 2008/10/09
shelves:
review:
I think I gave all the Twilight books a four - reason being I didn't think they were life-changing or amazingly written. But based on the couldn't-put-it-down factor and they're the first books that have compelled me to read in a long time, I should give them a five.

I will say I was surprised that I wanted to see some heads ripped off at the end and was kind of bummed it didn't happen. Reading some stuff off her website made me ok with it when I understood her reasoning a little better - that she basically didn't want 90% of everyone dead by the end of the story. Did anyone else guess the whole book by about page 200? I still enjoyed it anyway, of course. I do get a little why-isn't-my-life-this-amazing?? by the end, which does give me a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, but I get ridiculously into them while I'm in them totally forgetting what's reality and what's really in the book.
]]> 924827
For over 25 years, On Becoming Babywise has been the de facto newborn parenting manual for naturally synchronizing your baby's feeding time, waketime and nighttime sleep cycles, so the whole family can sleep through the night.

The authors demonstrate how order and stability are mutual allies of every newborn's metabolism and how parents can take advantage of these biological propensities. In particular, they note how an infant's body responds to the influences of parental routine or the lack thereof.

Early chapters start with explorations of everyday aspects of infant management such as the three basic elements of daytime activities for feeding time, waketime, and naptime.Ěý

Practical discussions then focus on broad and niche topics including feeding philosophies, baby sleep problems, baby scheduling challenges, nap routines, sleep training multiples, baby sleeping props, Colic and Reflux and many other dimensions which impact breast feeding schedules, bottle feeding tips and baby sleep training.

Five resource Appendixes provide additional reference

1) Taking care of baby and mom
2) A timeline of what to expect and when
3) Baby Sleep Training Problems and Solutions
4) Monitoring Your Baby's Growth
5) Healthy Baby Growth Charts

On Becoming Babywise is more than an infant-management concept. It is a mindset for successful parenthood. It can help any parent develop a plan that meets both the needs of a new baby and of the entire family. These principles have worked for millions of parents and, when applied with common sense to your unique situation, can work wonderfully for you too! Recommended by doctors across the country.]]> 6 Gary Ezzo 1934384011 Jen 3 3.53 1993
author: Gary Ezzo
name: Jen
average rating: 3.53
book published: 1993
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2008/02/12
shelves:
review:
I don't know - I have such a hard time with this book. Before my first baby I read it probably 5 times - certain that my child would come out of the womb and be on a schedule exactly how this book described it. And I read nothing else, so I had no backups. This book says there's no such thing as luck when it comes to having a good sleeping baby. I disagree. I guess the thing is this - if you're one of the 80% of parents who have a normal to easy baby, I think this book will work for you. I really think any good parenting technique will work for you. If you're one of the 20% of unlucky parents who have a colicky baby, you will be frantically flipping through these pages over and over wondering what you're doing wrong and seeking answers that just aren't there. I'm re-reading it this time around hoping that my babies will have a different disposition than the first, and maybe I'll take some ideas from here, but I really don't like the dictatorial tone of the book, now that I'm more experienced. I still MUCH prefer "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." I think the author of that book has much more expertise and research when it comes to sleep and it just makes a lot more sense.
]]> 1172356 - Preparing the Mandatory Gear for Babies and Mom
- Twinproofing Your Marriage
- Breastfeeding Strategies (and Why It s Okay if You Don t)
- Unsolicited Stories from the Trenches
- Getting Twins on a Schedule Preferably the Same One Lyons balances the day-to-day challenges of raising twins from double feedings to sleep deprivation to getting out while pretending everything's under control with a sanity-saving dose of camaraderie. By the end, you'll be smiling and shouting, ''Thank heaven, I m not alone!'' ''Elizabeth Lyons' humorous yet realistic perspective provides new parents of twins with a great starting point from which to embark on that all-important first year.'' - Dr. Bob Covert, Leading Chicagoland neonatologist ''Elizabeth Lyons captures the universal discourse of sisterhood while guiding new mothers of twins through the first year.'' - Kathy Voit, RNC, Labor and Delivery nurse]]> Elizabeth Lyons 0974699020 Jen 5 3.78 2003
author: Elizabeth Lyons
name: Jen
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at: 2008/12/01
date added: 2008/01/23
shelves:
review:
Very good, totally practical information. Way more down to earth, and here's what works, even if it's not exactly what you "should" do. And humorous.
]]> 763434 Includes information
The Everything Twins, Triplets, and More Book is your all-in-one resource for preparing your home, and your life, for all your little bundles of joy!]]> 304 Pamela Fierro 1593373260 Jen 3 3.28 2005
author: Pamela Fierro
name: Jen
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2007/12/01
date added: 2008/01/23
shelves:
review:
This book was ok. Maybe if it was my first pregnancy or if I hadn't already read something like "What to Expect When Expecting" it would have been better. But it was too much general what pregnancy is like and not enough twin specific information. I much preferred the other twin book I read, although this one had some interesting points. It was more text-bookish and the other one was way more practical here's how to survive with twins.
]]> 100282
Here Dr. Marc Weissbluth, a distinguished pediatrician and father of four, offers his groundbreaking program to ensure the best sleep for your child. In Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, he explains with authority and reassurance his step-by-step regime for instituting beneficial habits within the framework of your child's natural sleep cycles. This valuable sourcebook contains brand new research that

- Pinpoints the way daytime sleep differs from night sleep and why both are important to your child
- Helps you cope with and stop the crybaby syndrome, nightmares, bedwetting, and more
- Analyzes ways to get your baby to fall asleep according to his internal clock--naturally
- Reveals the common mistakes parents make to get their children to sleep--including the inclination to rock and feed
- Explores the different sleep cycle needs for different temperaments--from quiet babies to hyperactive toddlers
- Emphasizes the significance of a nap schedule
-

Rest is vital to your child's health growth and development. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child outlines proven strategies that ensure good, healthy sleep for every age. Advises parents dealing with teenagers and their unique sleep problems]]> 688 Marc Weissbluth 0345486455 Jen 5 4.12 1987
author: Marc Weissbluth
name: Jen
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1987
rating: 5
read at: 2008/01/01
date added: 2008/01/23
shelves:
review:
This book came highly recommended, and with good reason. Loved it and I recommend it to everyone. I'm currently looking through this one again. This was what finally did the trick with Cash and he's a fabulous sleeper now, although it came with hard work. I just wouldn't have understood what normal sleep was supposed to look like if I hadn't read this.
]]> 132900
No wonder pediatricians across the country are praising him and thousands of Los Angeles parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan, have turned to him to learn the secrets for making babies happy.

Never again will parents have to stand by helpless and frazzled while their poor baby cries and cries. Dr. Karp has found there is a remedy for colic. “I share with parents techniques known only to the most gifted baby soothers throughout history …and I explain exactly how they work.�

In an innovative and thought-provoking reevaluation of early infancy, Dr. Karp blends modern science and ancient wisdom to prove that newborns are not fully ready for the world when they are born. Through his research and experience, he has developed four basic principles that are crucial for understanding babies as well as improving their sleep and soothing their senses. ·The Missing Fourth Trimester: as odd as it may sound, one of the main reasons babies cry is because they are born three months too soon.

·The Calming Reflex: the automatic reset switch to stop crying of any baby in the first few months of life.

·The 5 “S’s�: the simple steps (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking) that trigger the calming reflex. For centuries, parents have tried these methods only to fail because, as with a knee reflex, the calming reflex only works when it is triggered in precisely the right way. Unlike other books that merely list these techniques Dr. Karp teaches parents exactly how to do them, to guide cranky infants to calm and easy babies to serenity in minutes…and help them sleep longer too.

·The Cuddle Cure: the perfect mix the 5 “S’s� that can soothe even the most colicky of infants.

In the book, Dr. Karp also explains:

What is colic?

Why do most babies get much more upset in the evening?

How can a parent calm a baby--in mere minutes?

Can babies be spoiled?

When should a parent of a crying baby call the doctor?

How can a parent get their baby to sleep a few hours longer?

Even the most loving moms and dads sometimes feel pushed to the breaking point by their infant’s persistent cries. Coming to the rescue, however, Dr. Karp places in the hands of parents, grandparents, and all childcare givers the tools they need to be able to calm their babies almost as easily as…turning off a light.]]> 336 Harvey Karp 0553588729 Jen 5 3.86 2002
author: Harvey Karp
name: Jen
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2002
rating: 5
read at: 2008/01/01
date added: 2008/01/23
shelves:
review:
Just re-reading this. This book was a lifesaver with baby #1. I only wish I'd found it sooner. It gave me lots of tools to deal with a colicky baby that the others I'd read (well, Babywise) were no help for.
]]> 428263 "BELLA?"
Edward's soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, just like he had in the parking lot, and kissed me again.
This kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine - like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

READERS CAPTIVATED BY Twilight AND New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much-anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga.]]> 629 Stephenie Meyer 0316160202 Jen 4 3.73 2007
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Jen
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2007/11/01
date added: 2008/01/23
shelves:
review:
I liked the first book the best, then this one. I was a little traumatized by the ending though!
]]> 49041 There is an alternate cover edition for ISBN13 9780316160193 here.

I knew we were both in mortal danger. Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again. My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin. It was like there had never been any hole in my chest. I was perfect - not healed, but as if there had never been a wound in the first place.

I FELT LIKE I WAS TRAPPED IN ONE OF THOSE TERRIFYING NIGHTMARES, the one where you have to run, run till your lungs burst, but you can't make your body move fast enough.... But this was no dream, and, unlike the nightmare, I wasn't running for my life; I was racing to save something infinitely more precious. My own life meant little to me today.

FOR BELLA SWAN THERE IS ONE THING more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning....

LEGIONS OF READERS ENTRANCED BY THE New York Times bestseller Twilight are hungry for the continuing story of star-crossed lovers Bell and Edward. In New Moon, Stephanie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural spin. passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.]]> 563 Stephenie Meyer 0316160199 Jen 4 3.61 2006
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Jen
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2007/09/29
shelves:
review:

]]> 41865
First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight is a love story with bite.]]> 498 Stephenie Meyer 0316015849 Jen 4 3.66 2005
author: Stephenie Meyer
name: Jen
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2007/09/01
date added: 2007/09/25
shelves:
review:

]]>