Spring Break reading list:

Team Edward

I finally joined the rest of the world and started reading the Twilight series.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

I can't put this book down.

Influence

by Mary Kate and Ashley Olson

I looked through this book at Urban Outfitters the other day and ended up sitting on the couch in the store for a half hour. It shows the twins collection of shoes, jewelry, vintage clothing, pictures with designers, and how they are inspired. I think they dress a little weird at times, but the book is worth looking at (for free).

Book Review

"Occasions" and "Style" by Kate Spade

Both of these books have creative suggestions and pretty pictures, but I would not pay full price for them. (I found my used for around $2.00) Kate offers some great ideas for entertaining and dressing (specifically with color combinations), but go to Barnes and Noble, get a coffee, and sit down in a chair to look through these books. I did learn that Kate also has a dog named Henry.

"Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown
I decided to read this book after being in Rome and knowing the movie was coming out soon.
(and because I heard it was better than the "Da Vinci Code") In my opinion, this book is better than the "Da Vinci Code" and I found myself unable to put it down. I couldn't read it at night because it was a little scary (like CSI.)

Book Review

My husband and I went to a taping of the Oprah show before Thanksgiving, but the episode just aired last week. The topic was on creating an action plan with personal finances in 2009. Suze is offering her new book for free here. (you have until midnight on January 15th to download the book) The book is quick to read because you can skip over info that doesn't apply to you.

Here are my notes:

1. I am not going to close my first credit card I opened on my own. (the longer your credit history, the more data they have for your FICO score) Now that I am married, my husband and I have 1 shared credit card, but I am still going to keep my first credit card open.

2. Take your money out of the stock market at least 10 years before you plan to retire

3. Open a Roth IRA (my husband and I started this when we got married) and invest the maximum allowed

4. Buy stocks now, if you can (and always buy low, sell high)

5. Invest 80% in stocks and 20 % in bonds (specifically high-yielding dividend-paying stocks (VYM) (DVY) and 5 year bonds, or Treasury notes) if you want to retire in more than 20 years

Freakonomics

I just finished this book last week and I found it very interesting and a little shocking (the authors correlate abortion to decreasing the crime rate). Being the last person alive to read it (or so I felt), I felt like I had heard most of the information in the book via word of mouth. I found the last 2 chapters about parenting and naming your children the most informative.

David Sedaris

will in chicago on Monday, October 13th. Get your tickets here. Has anyone read his new book? I am thinking of picking it up next time I go to Barnes and Noble. (and Traditional Home because there is an article in the July issue about the set design for the Sex and the City movie.)

The Red Leather Diary

I was reading the free magazine Chicago Social yesterday and found this book. The author found an old diary about a young woman growing up in NYC... sounds very interesting!

Check out this article. And the author, Lily Koppel, will be at the printers row book fair this weekend. (which is free)

Book Review:

I love this book! I just finished reading it with my students. This time that I read the book, I picked up on the part when Scout puts herself in Boo's shoes and says, "Summer, and he watched his children's heart break." (p. 279) (I didn't remember this specific phrase from before) Reason #547 of why I love to read - I can read a book for the 8th time and find something new and amazing.

Having read Emily Giffen's other books, I bought this the day it came out. Although is was entertaining, the main character made me mad at times - so I stopped reading it for a week. I did end up finishing it and I do appreciate the way in which this author pulls me into the story. The author provides characters who are not perfect and predictable and this is what keeps me coming back to her books.

The author of this book (a rogue sociologist) follows a Chicago gang for 10 years and studies how the poor live. Having looked to buy a Condo in a mixed-income housing development in Chicago, I started to look into the CHA and the Plan for Transformation (incorporating market-rate homes in with section-8 housing). Sudhir Venkatesh had done extensive research into this new housing plan and I think I might read his book Off the Books. (check out this article)

Up next:

The Boleyn Inheritance

Eat, Pray, Love

Love the one you're with

I have read all of Emily Giffin's books (Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof) and loved them! This new one is out today and I will be stopping by Target to pick it up.

This book is following me...

In the window at Barneys New York on Oak street, Anthropologie, the Jonathan Adler store on Wabash, in Allure magazine... this book is everywhere! (these sightings are just from the past few days) Maybe this is a sign I should read it! Any book reviews for this book??

Book Review: Marley and Me

I started "Marley and Me" the other night and it is great! (witty, interesting, and not all about dogs) I am halfway through and can't put it down. If you have ever had a dog then you must read this! (I recommend the edition with pictures)

Book Review

I have been struggling to get through "The Devil in the White City," by Erik Larson, for the past month! Although it is an interesting book, I can't read it before I go to bed because I have nightmares about the serial killer. (the same thing happens when I watch Law & Order or CSI) Also, the first 100 pages continuously mention that the buildings needed for the 1893 World's Fair might not get built in time. Newsflash, we all know that the fair occurred. It is kind of like on Project Runway when the designers complain that they won't finish in time and SURPRISE they finish. I am starting to get sick of the suspense the producers are trying to create. Hopefully, the next half of the book will get better.