Pages

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao

I was finally able to make it through this book. It took me a couple of times to get into it as some of the language was a turnoff. The second time i started reading it I almost put it down again because it seemed to jump around alot, but i stuck with it and it was a very good story. The book takes you through the adolescent period mostly of Oscar's life, a little bit of his sister's side and alot of his mom's side to show how Oscar's life came to be and end the way it did. Oscar's mom is also from the Dominican Republic and the story very much features their culture and beliefs especially in the scenes that take place on the island. A strong testimony to how the children can end up paying in one way or another for the sins (or in some cases bad luck) of their fathers (or mothers, grandparents, etc.).

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

for love of....

It seems like a woman's quest to do something fulfilling with her life has been going on forever....whether one is a homemaker or working full-time for many of us we still are not satisfied even though what we may already be doing is an important thing (i.e. raising a family, taking care of the home, contributions at work, etc.). For some of us there is something lacking and sometimes it can take us years to discover it. Or if we know what it is to be able to use it in a way that we can make a living out of it so that we can do what we love all the time and not just in our spare moments.
The movie Julie & Julia is a perfect example of two women who discovered their passions - cooking and then writing for Julia. Writing and then cooking for Julie. I have not read the book but the movie is so heartwarming and humorous depicting a time in their lives when both were searching to leave their mark on the world in some way - even if only in their surrounding world, but something that they felt good about. I completely could identify with Julie - I wonder if she is an Aries? Her comments (and those of her friends and family) regarding unfinished projects sounded so familiar....
And Julia's love of food - a woman after my own heart, no wonder Julie was inspired by her! Julia definitely had one of the best husbands around. The movie definitely has me wanting to cook again and i'll definitely be trying my hand at her Beef Bourgingnon