Family

The book the lifeguard brought up an interesting quote that I kind of wanted to reflect upon. He said, "You cannot choose your family, but you can choose who decide to make your family."

Now, I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but I find it interesting. Because that's true, you can't choose your family. But why wouldn't you want to make your family, your family? Sometimes friends become as close to you as a family member would, but what makes that a family-like relationship? Obviously something in the present family has characteristics that cause an individual to associate a friendship or relationship to that of their family. Right? Because if a person was never introduced to a great family relationship, then how can they make a strong friendship into a "family relationship."

SO

Does this mean that if you have a sucky family, then you have sucky family-like friends?

_________

I'm confusing myself, so I think I'll stop here. But I can't imagine having a relationship stronger or close to equal than that of my family. Yeah, they're annoying sometimes. Yeah, sometimes I wanna deck some of them. But they're my family and I love them TONS. Sometimes I don't think people realize how much family means until they leave them...

Coming to school in California and leaving my family that far back has definitely given me a different viewpoint on family (same thing happened in Switzerland). I think that's why I like going distances... so that I can realize the things that I had but didn't bother to realize HOW MUCH they meant to me because they were always there. When you go somewhere far away and realize that you can't have that thing that was always there. It makes you appreciate the little things I think... Just a little food for thought...

When You Know Your Life Sucks...

So, I started reading the Lifeguard by James Patterson the other day. And I couldn't help but shake my head and chuckle at this poor kid's terrible luck. 

First of all, he's a graduate from BU on an academic scholarship. Great right? Turns out he was actually going on a sports scholarship, but he injured himself and there went his scholarship. Anyways, the school gave him a chance to get good grades and keep a scholarship of the same value and he did. Good. So he gets his degree. Goes into teaching.

He's this great history teacher at a high school for students that have played with the wrong crowd. Sort of like he did. He helped them out, gave them good grades for their efforts and became an inspiration friend to many of his students. One in particular, a female, he took interest in. She had the dreams that he had, but she never thought she could achieve them because of where she grew up. He was her inspiration. Until she said something that went down the social chain and turned into him assaulting her. Bam! There goes his teaching career regardless of the fact that the girl eventually came forth and said it wasn't true. Tell me that doesn't suck. But it doesn't stop there.

Since that little incident is on his permanent record, he becomes a lifeguard.

While he's lifeguarding he meets this beautiful woman that he probably wouldn't have a chance with, except this one time. Tess was her name and she was a knock out. He went on a few dates with her and really thought his luck was changing.

BAM! Tess is murdered. Tell me that doesn't suck. But he doesn't know this yet...

His friends (he calls them his family) are plotting this amazing robbing scheme to steal 3 paintings from a rich man and sell them for 5 million dollars. Great plan. It's going well. Ned is doing everything he's supposed to be doing. BAM! They were set up and BAM! His whole family is killed on a murder spree by an inside job. Tell me that doesn't suck. And after he finds this whole thing out, he drives by Tess' house only to find that she was murdered as well.

Now he's lost his family and his lover. The only thing he has left is his mother, brother, and father. (By the way, his older brother was murdered in a shoot out by a job set up by his father... tell me that's not messed up!) He goes to Boston to get away from the FBI... and to get a hold of his dad who probably set up the inside job for his best friends that ended up killing them all.

Tell me that doesn't suck.

Book #2: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

This book was O.K. Considering it took me about twice as long as the first Twilight novel because I was just not that into it, I was slightly disappointed. The first Twilight book was so exciting and so adventurous that it took me about 3 days to finish it...which is remarkable for a slow reader like me! 

If you like the Twilight Series, I'm sorry if I have offended you all, but I'm shying away from Twilight books. :(

This book was just too slow for me, and not as adventurous as the first...

New Book(s)

Ok, so here's the deal. I have this thing where I buy two books at a time and read them simultaneously. Kind of out of the ordinary, but it's because I read one "easy" novel on the elliptical every day and one "more-dense" novel before I go to bed. It's just how it goes...

So last night, I finished the Twilight Novel: New Moon and The Shack because of my awesome little workout/relax routine :).

Right now, I'm reading the Lifeguard by James Patterson (that's my elliptical book) haha! And The Road by Cormac McCarthy. 

Book #1: The Shack by William Paul Young

I started this book on my plane ride back to school because it was a book my mom gave to me. She said it was one of the best books she read in a long time, and her friend had also told me about the book. Considering I'm not much of a reader (ironic that I'm doing this challenge) I was kind of thinking, "yeah, ok, whatever," but I'm so glad I chose to read this book.

Being the slow reader that I am (irony 52 in 52 ha!), it took me a while to finish it, but I think it's because I really didn't want it to end!

The book starts out extremely depressing and it got to the point where I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it. The novel addresses religious questions about the Christian religion that one thinks about, but never wants to ask. They're the types of questions that, if brought to a public discussion would cause discomfort among many. However, Young has an extreme gift when it comes to answering these questions. It may be difficult for some readers to see the overall message as powerfully as I had. However, this is just because of my ping pong relationship with religion. Despite my strong spiritual faith, I never knew/know where I fall worship/religion-wise. However, Young answered just about every burning question.

I have so much more to say about the book, but I don't want to ruin it for people that may want to read it as well. If you've read it, let's chat! If not, READ IT! It's unbelievably good. 

Introduction

Hello! I'm Kate Fideler aka Fids, and I started this blog because of the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge! I've been trying for a long time to get into reading, and I figured this challenge was a good place to start! On here I will be posting my reading progress as well as maybe a list of books I'm interested in. I'll probably put up summaries and reviews, etc. We'll see! I'm excited :)