Christmas Break

Over break, I've "forced" myself to relax to the fullest (it was very difficult, trust me!). It seems so odd to still be on break and know that I have another 12 days of relaxation before the semester begins again. I've never been on a schedule like UW's and it's taking some getting used to.

I finished another book today, bringing my Christmas break total to 4, which isn't all that much, if you know me. However, each book has been finished in less than a day and a half, so my speed hasn't diminished at all :) So far I've read The Song of the Silk Road, The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, The Help, and A Thread of Grace, in that order.

My 2nd and 4th choices dealt with the Jewish population in Italy, one that I'm not very familiar with. I love reading about WWII, particularly Jewish survival stories; this may strike some as odd or slightly (or very) morbid, but I marvel at the strength and courage these people had and the hardships they endured. Many are fiction, but are often accurate representations of the historical events.

The Help was just awesome, and I can't wait to see the movie. However, after reading it, I thought about our country and its current state and was extremely saddened and dismayed in knowing that there are many parts of the country still reflect Jackson, MS in 1960. When will we learn to accept others and not hate?

The Song of the Silk road was good, but not at all what I expected it to be. I felt that the strong sexual scenes slightly detracted from the story's main plot, but it was still enjoyable. Definitely not appropriate for young readers nor people who are uncomfortable reading about sexual encounters.

I'm still deciding what my next foray will be. I have Enrique's Journey, The Lacuna, Eat, Pray, Love, and The Midwife left to tackle, the latter two being my mom's books (so if I want to read those, I'd better get on it!).

Ahh, the joys of Christmas break. The best part about it? Knowing that when I graduate and get a job, I'll still have a Christmas break! Woo for academia!

-L