Mollie's Place: Portsmouth Criterium 2010 Bike Race

Papa Married a Mormon

Papa Married a Mormon by John D. Fitzgerald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This fictional story set in Southern Utah before the turn of the century was published in McCall's magazine in 1955. John D. Fitzgerald writes a semiautobiographical story about his boyhood and how his Uncle Will and his Papa forge west to carve out a life in the new frontier. The characters are honest and witty. The story addresses the conflict between the Mormons and the Gentiles, but it's ultimately a story about acceptance, tolerance and love. I highly recommend this book no matter what faith you are. I loved "Papa Married a Mormon."

View all my reviews

Forever Young

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young

Bob Dylan

(Listen. It's in my playlist)

The Seed and the Sower by Laurens van der Post
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best book I've read in a long time. Van Der Post has something really important to tell us in these three beautifully written novellas. The stories are recalled by two men who had been through the war and prison camp together when they meet again at Christmas time. The episodes are set in a Japanese prison camp, in battle fields, and torture chambers--all places you would least likely expect to find love, compassion and brotherhood. I highly recommend this book. It's out of print so check the library or the internet for a used copy. Favorite excerpt: "Had I not learnt lately that death is not something that happens at the end of our life? It is imprisonment in one moment of time, confinement in one sharp uncompromising deed or aspect of ourselves. Death is exclusion from renewal of our present-day selves. Neither heaven nor hell are hereafter. Hell is time arrested within and refusing to join in the movement of wind and stars. Heaven is the boulder rock unrolled to let new life out. It is man restored to all four of his seasons rounding for eternity" (p. 135). View all my reviews >>

In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars In Harm’s Way is a very vivid and detailed telling of the fate of the USS Indianapolis, which was torpedoed by the Japanese in the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean, leaving the survivors stranded and drifting on the sea for days. The homecoming of the survivors was marred by the court-martial of their Captain in what the author portrays as a real miscarriage of justice; furthermore, the announcement of the end of the war just two weeks after they were rescued sidelined the survivors’ tragic story. As the mother of a son just the age of these boys, my heart literally ached as I learned their horrific story. In fact, I had a hard time finishing some of the passages. It is the saddest of tragedies. Thank heavens this story has been brought to full light after all these years, Historically, everyone should know what happened to the men aboard the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. But brace yourselves—it’s truly heartbreaking. View all my reviews >>

Sophie Scholl and the White Rose by Annette Dumbach

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I recieved this book from a German friend, I had never heard of Sophie Scholl or the White Rose before. This well written book is a heart wrenching true story of a group of students and one professor who resisted the Nazi's. I will never look at a white rose again without thinking of the courage and moral backbone that these Germans posessed. It was the perfect book to read prior to Memorial Day.
Favorite quote from the book: "Despite all the powers closing in, hold yourself up." Goethe

View all my reviews.

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This true story was an incredible read from beginning to end. I learned alot about a president that I didn't know much about. Roosevelt was 54 years of age and had just lost a third party bid after two terms in the White House when he decided to go to South America. This is a very human, heroic, and tragic telling of an expedition--led by Rooselvelt and a Brazilian explorer named Rondon--that journeyed through an uncharted tributary of the Amazon River. Reading about the extreme hardships they endured made me think about my own character and how I would respond to the tremendous challenges they had to face: malaria, piranhas, savage Indians, dysentary, flesh eating bateria, and starvation. To think that I complain over a single mosquitoe bite!

This would make an interesting Father's Day gift.

View all my reviews.