Christmas Break

I'm back and I found some really great books to keep me busy for the many hours I spent in the car and sitting next to my husband during bowl games.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selzin

This book was like a picture book but really thick and lots of words. The pictures tell the story equally with the words. Here's a link to the opening sequence. And a link to Brian Selznick doing a sing and dance routine from a high school production resembling Alice and wonderland. It gets more interesting around five minutes in, but the whole thing is a disturbing morality tale. The point is, I think, that authors look good in purple tights.

Harry Potter 6 and 7 (rereads, but fun)

Time and Again by Jack Finney (good, but somehow not satisfying. Didn't care about the protagonist enough. He dumps this very likeable girl for no reason. Otherwise, great book.)

What books have you made it through recently? Any to recommend?

Glutton for Punishment?

Move over LeVar…

Nature abhors a vacuum. Apparently, so does the world of literature. Just weeks after the announcement that Reading Rainbow would be a warm memory/Trivial Pursuit question, Osama Bin Laden has stepped up to help Americans fill their bookshelves.

After last week's controversial picks, he decided to go with a classic: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.

Mr. Bin Laden says, "The only thing that could improve this great literary work would be if it were set in Mecca."

He also comments that the scene where the rabid dog forced the community indoors and Atticus Finch—whom he refers to as Atabak al-Finzi—arms himself and shoots down the foaming, stumbling dog (representative of the Great Satan, America) was personally inspiring.

"A man willing to sacrifice his life to set a people free is an example to our martyrs," Osama explained.

In a twist, Osama discusses one of his least favorite books, "A Very Hungry Caterpillar," which exposes the consuming and destructive nature of Western Civilization. Says Mr. Bin Laden, "It doesn't stop eating. This book trains American children, from a very young age, to oppress others. We would never let our children wallow like pigs in this filth."

In closing, Mr. Bin Laden said, "Of course, you don't have to take my word for it."

For Thursday, marketing. Do you know how much marketing the average person is exposed to daily? According to a marketing seminar my hubby attended, 30,000. Yep. Thirty THOUSAND. I'll give some ideas about how you can make that can work in your favor.

Love is in the Hair...

Glutton for Punishment?