Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

So far, I have had a love hate relationship with this book.  It started a year ago when I kept seeing this book.  I thought it was very pretty and it had the three best things I like to do but never actually picked it up as, not only was i very busy with other books, but also was not interested in some ecumenical rendition of religion or spirituality.  So I put the book waaaay in the back of the brain's  back burner.

A week ago, a friend of mine posted on her fb wall asking who would be interested in the movie on the book coming out.  What?!! The book has a movie?  I love books on movie!!!!!  So I rehash the thought of the book and actually consider reading it.  And I proposed that it be the book of the month for our Wive's Club.  We are set for a mom's night out to its movie on a Friday night in September. Because of it, this will be the group's book of the month for August.

So now, on to get the book.  Also having a renewed fascination of the public and county library, I decide to check it out and see if it really would be worth the purchase.  Uhmm.... so much for that idea.  There are over a dozen people on the waitlist... so take that number and the minimum number of 2 weeks per person (not even considering the option of renewing the book), that means I would get the book... NEVER.

So the next option is to buy the book.  Why is it now that the cover that I think is so pretty is nowhere to be found in stores?  All the covers now have Julia Roberts on it eating ice cream on a bench.  I love Julia but I really prefer the pretty little pasta, beans, and flowers on a white counter background over Julia on a bench as seen here: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

With that frustration, I thought, maybe I should just get the audio version as I now have an iPod.  That way, I can get through the book faster and not have to worry about a cover of the book. So I look it up on Amazon and find the audio version here: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.  Why am I not surprised that it is over 3 times more expensive than the regular softcover of the book?

Sigh....  I will have this book... in the cover that I want or the audio version in the price that I want.  I have 5 days to August.  5 days to finish The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage LP and get  Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, happy reading and then happy watching!

Personal Finance by Kapoor 9th edition

Purchased another book for another class the hubby will be taking.  This was a class I took 9 years ago and has helped me be financially savy and have the basic know-hows on what to do with money.

This book is definitely not a "How to Get Rich" book but does teach the reader the basics of finance and what one should know to be in the good side of $ rather than in a pit of darkness when it comes to handling your goods and your money.

This book and I will never fully agree because I really don't car anymore for building credit and support the use of credit card to do so.  Seriously, what person needs credit to buy an acquire things when one has all the cash one needs?

But no one can ever have that much cash, can they?  Says who?  Let those on the opposing end of the 'Credit vs Cash to wealth' spectrum meet 10 years from now.  Let's see who's believed a lie, shall we?

P.O.W.E.R. Learning: Strategies for Success in College and Life

POWER - each letter stands for a step in the learning process.  An easy way to remember what one is to do to be an effective learner.

The hubby had purchased this book for an upcoming college class - College Success Skills.  We actually chose a particular section of the classes listed based on the text book they were using.  The other College Success Skills courses are using Becoming a Master Student, 13th Edition.  9 years ago, I took the same course and used an older version of Master Student.  I still have the book which he is currently reading.  So what's the point of practically rereading the same book?  Not much.

Nonetheless, such class has helped me tremendously and figured this would be good for him.  This book featured to the left claims to focus more on critical thinking rather  than just a list of basic skills such as time management and "lots of foo-foo" as reviewers have called it. 

We are currently in learning/self developement mode and thought, what better way to do it and hit several birds with one stone; learn something, hone on skills, get college credit, and put off school loans. And if my hubby does go on to get his into medical school, he just has more tools in his tool box to work with.  What does each letter in POWER stand for?  Read the book!

The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

I am a few chapters away from finishing this book.  It was the book for July for my Better Wives Club.  I figure I have 5 days left in the month so I am marinating in it.

It took me over a week to get through the first chapter so I decided to check out the CDs from the library, uploaded it to my iPod and tadah!  Easy to read/listen to.

There is so much information and things to swallow in this book that I find it hard to get through a sentence, a statement, or an opinion of hers.  So audio it is!

Though I have already read The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, I found this book to be worth every minute spent on it.

Admit it or not, though we say we love our husbands, we don't naturally DO things that pleases them.  Dr. Laura's message is that if you do what pleases them, it is only natural for a healthy and loving husband to reciprocate it... and then so much more.

Following her advice has really improved my marriage.  Anyone and everyone should give her and her book a shot.  There is nothing to lose but a perfectly good marriage!

Firstborn Advantage, The: Making Your Birth Order Work for You

I ran across this on one of my sleepless nights. This summer has been a great time of discovery for myself, my family, and my first child.  She is now 3.  We have been all over town with dance classes, play dates, trips, and all sorts of outing.  Being used to the hussle and bustle, I needed something to tantalize my brain but also wanted to be be - still, about her.

I enjoyed this book greatly and finished it within a few days.  Not only did I learn about things that about my daughter, what her natural tendencies were, and how to tone down and thrive on it... I also learned that I have a natural tendency to qualities that can do her some harm.

So yes, I learned about me as well.  I also learned about the husband... why he is the way he is.  Despite being the youngest of 5 out of 5 boys, he still is a firstborn.  Have no clue what I mean by that?  Read the book!