7/50: Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had a hard time rating this book. At the beginning I was defnintely thinking 2 stars. It was boring and Jack was irritating. Then I got to the half way mark. Thinking at that point a 4 for sure. I'm finished and I have to give it a 3.5 rating.

Room was up and down for me. I didn't like it at first and it took me a long time to get into it. I took almost 2 weeks to read half of it. A few of my book club girls urged me to finish it and I am happy I did. By the time I reached the half way mark, I had this need to know what happens next. It slowed down near the end again, but I did end up finishing it and I think I will think about it for a while yet.

It is written from 5 year old, Jack's point of view. I felt exhausted when reading it trying to keep up to the changing topics and figuring out what he was referring to. Donoghue did a great job at capturing the voice of a child, and then she took it further by having him live in an 11x11 room for the first 5 years of his life. When Jack and "Ma's" world expands to the world we know, we get to relearn everything through Jack's eyes. All of the things we see every day and take for granted are so new and exciting it makes you feel like you're discovering the world all over again. Jack teaches the reader a little bit about living on only what you need, because that's all he's ever done. Ma and Jack lived in Room for 5 years (7 for Ma) surviving only on what they had. Makes you think about all the extra stuff we have an if it's really necessary.

Room is a good read and I recommend it for someone who needs something real. It's a little depressing, but there are truly happy moments as well.

Nest Book Club - February Read
WBC 2011 - Read Jan, Feb, or March Nest Book Club choice; 15 points
EBook Challenge 2011 - 3/12


View all my reviews

Wedding Wednesday: February 9 Check-in

I am a craft making machine! Our pew bows are complete! I made two to start following the instructions in my bow making manual. The first ones are beautiful! We went to church Sunday and had a closer look at the pews. Sadly, the first two bows are WAY too big. I cut the material in half and now they are the perfect size.

What was accomplished:

• Pew bows done! All 14 of them.
• Met with musician and decided on some of the ceremony music.
• Relayed suit information to groomsmen so they can go and get measured. Still need to send information to one more groomsmen so he can get measured and then send us the information to pass onto the store.
• Cake cutting song picked
• Reception music for dance decided. Our DJ has a list of genres for us to say Yes, A few, Only if requested, DJ discrection, No way.
• Ceremony readings chosen.
• Invitations are in. Need to pick them up
• Ordered my veil.
• Maid of honours accomodations set.
• Favours decided on. M&M's!

What needs to be done:

• Cancel hall rental for the night before the wedding. We don't need it anymore.
• Start making chair sashes
• Try rental chair cover on chair at hall to make sure they fit and look good.
• Call priest to set up meeting.
• Make maps for invitations

Therapy Tuesday: Bowen Therapy

It's been a long time since I've done a Therapy Tuesday post. I thought I would bring one back today to talk about a new therapy I'm trying for my wrist.
If you are a new reader, here's some background. Old readers, do you remember when I had no pain? After prolotherapy, I was 4 months pain free! Sadly, the pain is back, but not nearly as bad as it once was. I was off work for 3 months and I think my wrist had a good rest. I'm went back to work in October and found my wrist acting up again by November. I ignored it for a month and finally went for a massage in December. January I tried physio again and have since stopped going. I don't see the point of paying for a service that I could do at home, even if it IS covered by insurance.
After talking about ergnomics and RSI's (repetitive strain injuries) with our safety coordinator at work, she mentioned that she does Bowen Therapy. I'm always up to try anything that might help, so I looked into it.

I went for my first treatment last Saturday. I like it! The therapy uses your body's natural healing mechanism to losen, tighten, heal your muscles. It triggers a feedback loop from brain to muscle. After leaving, I could actually feel my muscles relax later in the day and the next day as well. My wrist doesn't feel much different today then it would normally, but with all things, it takes time.

More information:

Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia
Bowenwork Canada Registry
An introduction to the Bowen Technique (Video)
Bowen Technique John Wilks Pt1 (Video)
Bowen Technique John Wilks Pt2 (Video)
Bowen Technique John Wilks Pt3 (Video)
Pain Relief with Bowen Therapy (Video)

It's Monday! What are you reading? (6 of 2011)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. 

This meme is a great way to start the week and add some great books to your to-read list. I love looking at what everyone is reading.

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading!! 

This week was a slow week for me again. I just can't seem to get myself into reading mode. My mind is filled with wedding! Sadly, now I have to begin to study for my last exam for my fitness certification.

What I Finished

Review Here

What I Am Reading

Still reading Room. I should finish it this week. The way the story is moving along, I anticipate that I won't be able to put it down from now until the end.

I received an ARC for this in the mail. Julie at Book Hooked Blog started a blog tour. It's gone around the US and has now made it's way up to Canada to see me! I love it so far. It's just what I need to combat the two sad books I'm reading at the moment.

Listening To

I loved The Red Tent by Anita Diamant so I thought I would listen to this one. I love it! Told from multiple perspectives throughout one chapter, it moves quickly and keeps me engaged.

What's Up Next

My online book club decided to do a buddy read. We are randomly signed up with another person and we pick a book to read together for the month of February. This is the one we chose.

Fitness Friday: P90 Week 7 & Pole Pics

I did a bad job of the P90X this week. I only did 2 lifting workouts and did not do any of the cardio. I don't plan on the cardio anymore simply for weight reasons, but I should still do the lifting. I can't say that I didn't do any exercise though.
Wednesday I started teaching 2 new intro classes and finished off the last week of another. I also attended my own class and learned a new move! I didn't get any pictures of me doing the moves yet since I keep forgetting to bring my camera. Next week I will remember and hopefully get them posted by Friday.

I do however, have 2 pictures of my pole shoot I did a few weeks ago. I got a shoot done by As I See It Photography. Shelley is also our wedding photographer. She is a blast to work with and I can't wait for the wedding. The work she does is amazing and I am so happy that we booked her. I took my stage to her studio and set it up.


Cross Leg Release
http://www.asiseeitphotography.ca/

Catapiller Crawl
http://www.asiseeitphotography.ca/