What Chicks Are Reading

Chick Jeanette
 

Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass by Gary Paulsen. When I was a child our family's summer vacations were spent at one of two farms. My maternal grandparents had a farm near Grygla in northern Minnesota and my paternal grandparents a farm near Strongfield, Sask. Canada. This book brought back so many memories from those "farm days".

It is a non fiction book about the four seasons on a farm. The farmers main conflicts are working on the land and dealing with hard times. This is a farm that housed three and more generations under one roof; hard work and little money, but strong family ties, and a closeness to the earth that quite literally is life and death--that is the farm that Gary Paulson is writing about.

There were great illustrations and good descriptions in the book. Milking cows brought back so many memories of my grandmother trying to teach me how to milk properly. I never did master it, but when I read about it even the barn smells came back to me.

I think that the way of life described in this book is so lost by the present generation: lost in a world of e-mail and the shinier-the-better. I would recommend this book to anyone. Those who have never lived the "farm life" could learn so much, and those who have can relive old memories.

Summers End by Danielle Steel. I read a lot -- and every now and then throw in a Danielle Steel novel. I read them fast, actually do enjoy most of them, predict the plot and the ending correctly and go on to something with a little more meat. Most are fun reading though.

In this one, Deanna (who thought she was happily married) meets Ben (a single guy) who really digs her artistic talents while walking the beach. Deanna's husband is spending the summer in France, their daughter is also in France for the summer with her paternal grandparents so Ben and Deanna have the summer to themselves to do "whatever". There is a bit of tragedy, Deanna discovers her husband has a mistress with him in France, etc., etc., and you now predict! If you can't predict, read the book -- its a quickie. Once in a while they are fun.  [TOP of PAGE]

Chick Jana
 

Altar Music by Christin Lore Weber. This book was recommended to me by a friend who thought it was a great book about the spiritual, emotional, creative and sexual awareness of women. I thought it was a very sad but real expression of how women still get caught up in religious sexual repression. Christin Weber, the author, was in a convent for 14 years before leaving the cloth (hehe, never thought I'd write that) so she brings real life experience to the book. She's now married and lives in North Western United States (thank God).

The author tells the story through three women -- a grandma, a mother and a daughter. All three have a hard time with the church's beliefs pertaining to sexuality. They all deprive themselves of the passion that's so natural for women to feel. In doing so, it has a ripple effect throughout the rest of the areas and relationships in their lives.

I had heard the Catholic church (as well as other religions) made women feel guilty about sex, but I really had no idea to what extent women really felt this until reading this book. It offered a great perspective. I would recommend this book to women who hold onto repressed sexual feelings because God or the Church would think it is wrong, but in the back of your mind, you're really questioning whether the church is right. As far as the description of what convent life is like I found myself thinking, "Who in their right mind would actually do this?" The author painted such an awful picture, I'm sure the Catholic church can't be too happy. I do think some nuns and convents do great work, but at what expense? Perhaps the expense of themselves. I don't think God would want it that way.

Okay, I'm getting way too controversial in my book review. Overall I did like it. It was a very thought provoking, but it wasn't a feel good book. It was a sad realization as to how organized religion can effects individuals so negatively when I don't believe that's their true intention. [TOP of PAGE]

Chick Susie

While the book covers the events chronologically it also continues beyond and explores the damage that the trial caused on Microsoft itself. The author's descriptive portrayal (having two face-to-face interviews) with Bill Gates is enlightening and for me demonstrated that Gates actually had complete control of the debacle (as it is now seen) of Microsoft's defense. The author seems to have had incredible access to those known and unknown who were and are really the insiders of the technology revolution and the governments. The book is also very balanced, however, I assume that PR pundits up in Redmond, Washington won't think so. Julie, don't go buy this book. After I have loaned my copy to my Dad and sister, I intend to give it to you. A gift, at our next Chicks gathering.