Catching up on my reading...

So I published a book list for 2010 and to date I have read 3 of the books on the list. The first one I read was The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. It recently came out in movie form and I saw it in the theatre. I must confess I am one of those people who usually think the book is far greater than the movie. I thought this movie was sweet, but it did not do justice to the character development in the book. It also left out all of the references to the father's faith and his bible reading. Nicholas Sparks continues to be one of my favorite authors and this story was worth the read!
For my birthday my friend Tara gave me two books by Jodi Picoult - Nineteen Minutes and The Tenth Circle. Both of these, coincidentally, were on my reading list! I delved into The Tenth Circle first. It was about a family and the effects of lying, rape of a teenage daughter, a father's love, an affair and having a "past". Some of the book was definitely disturbing. It makes me want to keep my boys from turning into teenagers, for sure! A different facet to this book was the addition of a comic book story woven throughout the novel. The main character in the book was a comic book creator. It was definitely a different twist and interesting to read. The illustrations were very graphic. I have never been into comic books, but I can see why the author included this addition to her novel.
The last book I read was Nineteen Minutes. I finally finished it Tuesday night about 1:30am. I simply had to get to the end even though I knew I should be going to sleep. I knew there would be a surprise ending and I had a hunch as to what it would be, but I didn't see that coming!! This book disturbed me on a level that actually made me cry. It brought back such vivid memories for me of middle school and high school. I remember wanting/NEEDING to fit in, to feel accepted and part of "the" group. I remember shirking old friendships for new friends. I remember laughing at jokes some of the guys would say or do at the cost of someone else's humiliation. I am definitely NOT proud of those actions. I wish I could go back and fix some of those hurts. I know all too well how it felt to be made fun of or picked on because of wearing glasses, not having the right purse, jeans, shoes, etc. I would purposely wear baggy shirts so the guys would not call attention to and make crude remarks about my chest. I vividly remember running out of gym class one day because two guys were being very lewd about my chest....and dying a little bit inside because one of the girls I thought was a friend was laughing and going along with them.
Nineteen Minutes made me vow to do something about the bullying and hurtful attitude in schools. In my role as a school counselor, I am going to do my part to educate and eradicate this in our school. I may not be able to change every high school, but I can certainly do my part to change the one I work for - one student at a time! Parents and teachers need to wake up and not let things go - it is NEVER ok to call another student a name, shove kids into lockers, play embarrassing and humiliating pranks or damage their property. Part of our job as adults is to protect the kids who cannot protect themselves.
When I finished this book, I found myself fervently praying for my three sons. I asked God to awaken a heart in them that feels compassion for others and a desire to be friends with the kids that no one wants to be friends with and to not be the kid that picks on other kids. I prayed they would not feel the sting of another bully's biting comment. I prayed that they would communicate with us and never shut themselves off. I prayed they would never be the victim or perpetrator of a violent crime.
If you haven't read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult - buy it or check it out at the library today. It is a must read!
Now - three books off the list, several more to go! I am halfway through So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. It wasn't on the list, but I am SO glad I am reading it! If you haven't heard of it, get a copy today. Every woman should read it!