First book read of 2011

Technically I started this book in December of 2010 so it's a carry over from last year. Ah well. I am obsessed with India right now so I really loved this book. It is definitely an epic family saga at around 1,400 pages. The story is set in post partition India and revolves around Lata Mehra. It tells the story about the search for a husband for Lata. She is a young girl studying at university and becomes romantically involved with a man who her family does not approve of because he is Muslim and they are Hindu. Because of this her mother decides it is time to find Lata a husband. Wrapped around this main story line are stories from her extended family, friends of her family, and the story of India struggling to emerge. There were some references to Hindu and Muslim Gods and festivals that went over my head. There was a fun description of Holi which I am dying to experience in India. My favorite character in the book was Latas best friend Malati. She is described as a very beautiful, tall, and strong young woman. I loved her as a character because of her strength, smarts, and refusal to conform to the typical silly girls around her.

I highly recommend this book.

Just some things I've been thinking.

I believe that anger, hate, and the desire to fight those who injure you are nothing more than evolutionary responses. It is much more courageous to embrace the ones who attempt to mark your soul and return their anger with love.

It takes more courage to embrace someone than to strike them.

I can usually see in someone's eyes when they switch from the mask they use everyday to a genuine look. I'm always amazed at the vulnerability that appears on their faces. I love seeing the switch. From then on, they have a special place in my heart.

I would really like to learn how to use ' correctly.

A quote from the book I'm currently reading:

"Mother, do they think it's exactly in reverse?" she asked.

"What?" asked Mrs. Taggart, bewildered.

"The things you were talking about. The lights and the flowers. Do they expect those things to make them romantic, not the other way around?"

"Darling, what do you mean?"

"There wasn't a person there who enjoyed it," she said, her voice lifeless, "or who thought or felt anything at all. They moved about, and they said the same dull things they say anywhere. I supposed they thought the lights would make it brilliant."

"Darling, you take everything too seriously. One is not supposed to be intellectual at a ball. One is simply supposed to be gay."

"How? By being stupid?"

"I mean, for instance, didn't you enjoy meeting the young men?"

"What men? There wasn't a man there I couldn't squash ten of."

~Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

This is Zach Wahls

I can not believe that Zach is only 19. He has a great presence. I can tell he is going to do great things.

This issue is about equality. Everyone deserves the chance to marry the one they love. No one has the right to tell another person who they can or can not marry.

"The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character."

~Zach Wahls

Agape

"Arithmetic"

I've been staring at the sky tonight
Marvelling and passing time
Wondering what to do with daylight
Until I can make you mine
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

I've been thinking of changing my mind
It never stays the same for long
But of all the things I know for sure
You're the only certain one
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

I've been counting up all my wrongs
One sorry for each star
See I'd apologise my way to you
If the heavens stretched that far
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

[Chorus]
I won't find what I am looking for
If I only "see" by keeping score
'Cos I know now you are so much more than arithmetic

'Cos if I add, if I subtract
If I give it all, try to take some back
I've forgotten the freedom that comes from the fact
That you are the sum
So you are the one
I want

When the years are showing on my face
And my strongest days are gone
When my heart and flesh depart this place
From a life that sung your song

You'll still be the one I want

Well hot and heavy pumpkin pie

Somewhere my future husband is out there wondering where I am. Somewhere he is frustrated with the endless dates and relationships that aren't just quite right. Somewhere he is wondering where his perfect girl is. The one who laughs loudly and often. Who takes delight in the deep green color of grass. Who is content just being in the sun. Who loves everyone...really.

Someone out there is going to listen to me when I have my grand ideas (Even though they usually come to me very late at night). And it will be ok that while I'm passionately speaking my mind he will look at me and really not be listening at all because all he can think is "Wow. I am so lucky that she is mine. She is amazing."

Every day could be the day I meet my Someone and that makes me very excited.

Well I'll take this and use it to propel me forward. Because I'm going to end up on top. And you'll see. You'll see how wrong you were. You'll see

Sometimes the cards we are dealt are not always fair. However you must keep smiling & moving on ~Tom Jackson
By forgiving and choosing to move on, one takes the power back to morph it into positive energy ~ Eugenia Tripputi
Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power. ~Blaine Lee

That’s the toughest part, letting go, you know. That’s the part of grace that really sucks. ~One Tree Hill

*All images found on We Heart It

I've watched more movies the past two months than all of last year

I watched this movie because I have heard a lot of good things about it. The basic premise of the movie is: a nice girl, Olive, lies about having sex. She lies to boost the image of her friend who is gay and is bullied at school because of his sexual orientation. When everyone at school thinks they had sex they stop picking on him. Things get out of control and she ends up with a reputation. She decides to own it by sewing a scarlet A on all of her clothes just like Hester Prynne in the Scarlet Letter. Things get worse and then eventually they get better and end like a John Hughes movie.

While this movie had witty moments and phenomenal actors (I LOVED everyone in this movie) I didn't enjoy this movie. It just made me feel sad. While the movie ended happily it wasn't a happy ending. I felt depressed after I watched it. Not my favorite.

Watch for: Olive's parents played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson