Today  I finished Brenda Ueland’s book, “If You Want to Write.”  I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is somewhat unlike other writing books I have read.  Brenda’s theme focuses more on developing the freedom to write confidently, rather than outlining the rules of plot and character development.  This book is very encouraging to the aspiring writer/creative. She tells stories of her writing class students and how they overcame their fears and blocks on the road to becoming writers.  She uses samples of their writing to further illustrate her point.  I found it very interesting to read what other aspiring writers have written while they learned the craft.  She also demonstrates several helpful exercises to help jump-start or refine the writing process. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants to tap into their creativity and put words on paper. However, one must keep in mind that Brenda Ueland has a somewhat flaky, new age tone throughout the book.  One example of this is that she repeatedly grants a sort of deity to things that are not God, such as the imagination or the conscience.  Take these quasi spiritual references with a grain of salt. Otherwise, it is a fantastic book about writing.

Tonight I’m sitting on the couch eating cheese and crackers for supper after my beef broth risotto experiment didn’t quite work out.  I ate some of it, but it turned out too crunchy with a very concentrated beef flavor.  Apparently, risotto requires more liquid that the usual proportion when it is cooked in small amounts.  I’ll try again tomorrow night.  If it works out, I’ll post the newly tweaked recipe.

So, cheese and crackers and NPR it is for me tonight.  Brannon is working, and I’m thinking I really need to start a new book.  I recently finished Leif Enger’s newest novel, “So Brave, Young, and Handsome.”

While his second novel was not as gripping as the first, “Peace Like a River,” it was still a wonderful narrative that takes the reader on an adventure into the wild west.  For me, the beginning required a good bit of patience.  I had a hard time relating to the main character and accepting the apparent absurdity of his adventure.  Leif Enger’s writing, however, did not disappoint.  About a third of the way in I was hooked. The protagonist is a failed writer who decides to accompany a neighbor on a trip to mexico to find his long lost wife.  What he didn’t know, was that his neighbor was actually a wanted criminal.  Their journey takes many unexpected turns as they attempt to complete their mission, while on the run from a Pinkerton detective.  I reccomend this book for those of you who enjoy fiction, especially stories set in the American west.

As for me, I think I will dive into the third book of C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy, “That Hideous Strength.”  I’ve taken my time reading the first two, so it will be satisfying to finish the series.  I highly recommend this set of novels as well.  They are very insightful and intriguing, to say the least.

When I received Betty Smith’s classic novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I was excited to read it because my husband and I are hoping to move to Brooklyn someday.  When I first read the title, I envisioned a large city setting in the early twentieth century and a simple, straightforward story. With charming narrative, down to earth characters, and incredible attention to details, this book turned out to surpass even my highest expectations.  Smith tells a story about a young girl coming of age in a city both cruel and wonderful.  The story also sheds light on a specific era of life that will never exist again in America. The author invites the reader to experience Brooklyn in the early 1900’s through the eyes of an impoverished child, an overburdened mother struggling to provide for her family, and an emerging teenager.  Smith explores the overarching themes of poverty, education, family, and childhood which uniquely stir up justice and compassion at the same time.  The language is solid and refined without being difficult to read.  Intense details and depth of history in each character’s journey make the story tangible and timeless.  From the first page to the last, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, impressed me with humility and gratitude for the life I have been given.

I give it 5 stars – a must read.