Manic

I just finished the book Manic by Terri Cheney. It is a memoir of manic depression. I enjoyed the writing but most of the stories revolved around seducing men in a manic state. I really wish she would have gone into her family background a little better. I breezed through the stories though and really feel for what the author went through. I am not manic depressive myself but have met a few people who are and some of her stories are simply heartbreaking. I will say that certain parts of her story started to depress me greatly. I need to read something more uplifting because a lot of this book ends with despair.
I just started the book Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. I recently started reading Vonnegut and am very interesting in getting to know his work better. I began with Cat's Cradle and it is a kookie story but so inventive. My friend Carol has really become a fan and she says for her it all started with Galapagos. I have ordered this book and a few others as per my book shopping weakness. I don't have the heart to recount my bookshelf yet but feel the need to do so soon. I started out the year so good but am starting to feel I am spiraling out of control. I think it is probably time to clean out some shelves and re prioritize my reading collection. I currently have 4 books on order. I have signed on to a 50 books in a year reading blog and I have currently gone through at least 30 this year but I really need to get ride of some books to make room on the shelf.

Summer Reading

As crazy about reading as I am I agreed to read my daughters summer reading books along with her. As it just so happened I already owned copies of both books. She must finish A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN and A SEPARATE PEACE. Now as it so happens I have read Separate Peace twice before(I didn't enjoy either time). Once in high school and once when it was assigned reading for my son's English class. (I read all the books my kids read for summer reading and book reports in order to make sure they have read them and can answer common questions)
I recently finished A Tree Grows (my daughter is still in the process) and I have to say it is one of the most enjoyable reads I've picked up in awhile. I loved the old black and white film when it was on in my youth and I watched it with my parents. I'm not sure I haven't read it before but even so it was wonderful. Especially owning to today's economic times it is interesting to revisit this depression era novel. Poor but happy is the outlook of the characters despite a pretty miserable existence. I would truly love to sit down with my 14 year old and get her heartfelt impression of Francie and the times she lives in but I doubt my daughter will be a moved by the story or as willing to share her thoughts with me. Hopefully she will share them in her English class. My grandfather was a product of the depression and this story brought back fond memories of the kind of man he was and the way her viewed life. I do wish I could peek inside my daughters teenage mind and really peer at her thoughts having no previous experiences to relate to the era. One thing I do know is that this story is truly timeless in its way. It is a fantastic journey for readers of any age and I can't wait till she finishes and I hope she appreciates the story half as much as I do.