I adore books. I love the feel of books, the smell of books, the covers of books and what books teach us. So, basically I love books.

Anyone have any suggestions for good reading material please post away.

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This one is sort of on-topic.


Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach
Book by Howard Glasser, MA, and Jennifer Easley, MA;

"The Nurtured Heart Approach involves bombarding kids with positive statements, while treating misbehavior with unemotional time-outs.

Book's emphasis on ADHD hides the fact that the approach works for other special needs, too.

Some kids are just more intense than others. Their reactions are bigger, their actions more headstrong, their misdeeds more passionate. One solution to that intensity has been to tamp it down, through medication or strict discipline. “Transforming the Difficult Child” suggests another: Channeling that intensity into more positive, productive expression. This approach has the added benefit of focusing parents on the positive, too."

quoted from Parenting Special Needs, at About.com
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/...turedheart.htm

I was a little put off by the title when this book first came out. I don't really like the word "difficult" in there, but that's just me. I'm over it now.

If anyone has any good book recommendations I'd love to see them.
Thanks,
Lara

This one if Off-topic

This book is the one I asked Santa to bring if she thought I was 'nice' this year.

I've been wanting to read it for so long, but never got around to it. Anyone read this? I've read all the reviews etc... but just wondered if any of you have read it? Don't tell me too much about the story though.

The Shadow of the Wind
- Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Hi Lara

good thread!

I am longing to get started on some good books............
but
I have been so busy with my online store these past 2 months that I have intentionally not started on any of the novels I have waiting...cos I know what I am like when I start a book:icon_wink:

This summer my husband and I got really involved with the series
by Alexander McCall Smith:

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency
This is a very touching and wonderful book and it leads into a series:
The Tears of the Giraffe
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
Morality for Beautiful Girls
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

These take place in Botswana..and are very very good. I can't recommend them enough. If you like to learn about other places, and how people really live, you will enjoy these. They are simple, easy reads. Not complex books.
quote from Amazon:

mrsd, thanks very much for posting those! They sound really interesting to me.

Lots of books on sale here at the moment. I like all sorts of books, and love biographies. I picked up a few good ones this week. I've been having trouble using the computer too much lately because of some pain issues so will try to get into some reading over the long weekend here once things settle down a bit.

Chemar, I'm glad your store is doing well. I remember that now. I must have another look. When I was in the US I spent a lot of time in some amazing second hand shops. I've never seen anything like it here... not that great. There was so much beautiful old china and glassware, I couldn't believe it. I also fell for these wooden boxes that used to be used in cotton mills or somewhere like that. I thought they'd make amazing shadow boxes.

Mrs. D,

I read that first book last summer and LOVED it!! It was such a wonderful read and the description of Botswana was amazing. I love books, too!!! It is my favorite part of vacation.....sitting by the water and reading !

I've read very little books lately due to my new job and being super BUSY .

I still get very excited when I visit the library....it was a very special place to me growing up.

I will think a bit more about this!

Take care,
Tessa

I haven't been able to read much lately either, Tessa.

The advantage of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency is that they are so short, and not a huge time investment.

We found a book review in the Christian Science Monitor (my husband's fave
newspaper--but we are NOT Christian Scientists however), but the newspaper is just excellent, in many ways.

After checking out the first book, I ended up buying "used" on Amazon and
took them on vacation. As a series they are really unique, and very humanistic and positive. Something we need in this world!

I am so happy Tessa that you found them too. They are rather obscure, we have found. There is a new one out now in hardcover, I just discovered!

Lara, I think you would enjoy this series. If you find the first in the library, you will be "hooked"

I've been trying to get to Elizabeth George's new installment in the Havers/Lyndley series. But I just have been too busy. Maybe after the holidays. Ms George had a huge crisis on her website with the last novel, where she killed off a beloved character. Her fans were incensed ( I was shocked and upset too), and threatened to never read her again! So I am eager to read this one.
http://www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com/
What I love about Elizabeth George is that each novel is complex, and delves into a portion of the human condition, in addition to solving a "mystery".
I love her style, and psychological character development.

mrsD
Botswana is a truly amazing place and has one of my favorite wildlive areas, the Okavango Delta.

I am definitely going to put that series of books on my list

My daughter bought me "The Shadow of the Wind" as I thought she might.
I'll maybe start that today. It's pretty quiet here.
Someone gave her two travel books for xmas presents. They're DK Eyewitness Travel. I'm not trying to advertize them, but just wanted to tell anyone who is travelling or knows someone about to travel, that they're the best books I've ever come across in this category. She got "Italy" and "France". They're updated annually which helps, and they're pack jammed with absolutely everything and beautifully illustrated as well. They look more like little miniature encyclopaedias.

Lara,

Would the travel books be appropriate for a 17 year old? My oldest son is travelling to Italy and Greece in February for a trip with school . This might be good for him?? He is soooo looking forward to it. Can you believe it ladies :icon_wink: ......it seems like yesterday that I wasn't sure that he'd finish 7th grade due to multiple issues . He is graduating in May from high school having never missed high honors and is finishing up his college applications !!! My true gratitude to all of you....his cyber moms and guardian angels (wish I knew how to put a big heart here....please visualize it).

Mrs. D,

If you like Ms. George.....have you ever read Deborah Crombie's books? I think you'd love them!! I will try to get the Ladies Detective books through my library. I just got the latest Dennis Lehane book (short stories) for Christmas and will start it soon.

Wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year!!!


Take care,
Tessa