Kid Cooperation by Elizabeth Pantley

The subtitle for this book was How to stop yelling, nagging, and pleading and get kids to cooperate. This book is a must have for any parent who has found themselves saying, "I mean it!" and getting no response. My Dad is an elementary principal (and an exceptional father) and I couldn't help feeling like he must have wrote this book. If everyone followed these principals, then society would be a much more peaceful place. Best parenting book I've read.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf

What a perfect name for a perfect book!! I simply fell in love with these characters. I never wanted the story to stop. I felt sad and left behind when it was over. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. Please read this, it's just beautiful. You can't help but love the characters.

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

Both my father and sister loved this book, and I loved She's Come Undone, so I had to read it. I'm glad I did, but man it was not an easy read. I like my books to have a sort of even balance between misery and joy. This book was about 95% misery and 5% joy. I really could have used a little more reward for all the heartache, but the characters definitely stay with you.

Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Fun read, reminescent of my Chronicles of Narnia days. I hope to pass this one on to Elise when she gets older. My favorite part of this book, how it seems to inspired so many children and parents alike to read again! What a gift that is. It makes me sad to see the movie come out.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Every couple should read this book! Not only is it extremely helpful, but it is very entertaining to read! The premise of the book is that every person demonstrates love in one of five "love languages". They are Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, and Gifts. If you show love as Physical Touch, but your spouse is all about Words of Affirmation, then neither of you is feeling loved. Just read and see. I really enjoyed it, and felt it helped me see my relationship with my husband in a new light. Now if I could only get him to read it too!!

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp

The best "baby" book I read. It was immensely helpful during Elise's first 7 months because she was so colicky!! I found his theory of colic very interesting as well, made sense to me. I'd highly recommend this to anyone expecting a baby. It would make a great baby shower gift.

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott

The book was subtitled A diary of my son's first year. I read it when I was pregnant expecting a touching memoir of a woman as she becomes a mother. Boy was I mistaken. This "diary" is a chronicle of post partum depression, the trials of colic, and parenting as a single mother with minimal support. Not that I am a parent I can identfy with many of the feelings she described in her book, but man was it a depressing read. Do not read if you are pregnant!

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Bizarre. A bit too sci-fi for me, although I did think the premise was very interesting. I might have even gone so far as to say I liked it if she would have explained a bit more at the end. It was another one of those books that felt so unfinished to me. It would make a great book for book club discussion though. You could go on forever about any number of topics from the story.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

A great book about heroism and self preservation. After her mother is inprisoned for killing her lover, Astrid is moved from one foster care home to another. In her search for security and a figure to replace her self centered mother, she turns to herself. I identified with the main character, and applauded her bravery. This would make a great book for high schoolers too.