Summer Reading

One of my greatest pleasures in life is getting lost in a good book. I have always loved to read. As a child I remember “Curious George” and “Babar”. Later I evolved into more sophisticated works like anything by John Grishom and classics such as George Orwells, “1984”, “The Grapes of Wrath”, “Dorian Grey”and “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
Recently I began to read “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman. My staff quickly noticed my face buried in this book at lunch and during slow moments in the day and began to comment. One by one they became more interested in what I was reading and eventually they all purchased this book and began to read and discuss it. I didn’t take long before we decided to form our very own book club, since we were really doing it anyway. I fell in love with this idea right away and can hardly wait for our first formal meeting. I also think it is so cool that we can do this together and that they are excited about the joy of reading so much so that I am already hearing suggestions for our next book.
With the fast paced world that we live in today let me urge you to find a great book this summer and spend a few moments each day in escape. It is a practice that rewards your mind, body and spirit and will remind you of the simple pleasures of the written word. Here are a few suggestions from my own reading list. Maybe you will find one of these books to be right up your ally.
Self Awareness:  COMING TO OUR SENSES by Jon Kabat-Zinn   This book takes us into the world of meditation and how this simple practice can enhance our daily lives and help us to live fully in each moment.
Non Fiction: NIGHT by Elie Weisle  This is a true story of a holocaust survivor and the atrocities that he witness as a young boy at the hands of the Nazi regime. Rabbi Weisle shows us how joy, hope and great peace can be found even after the most horrid of experiences.
Fiction: THE POISENWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingslover take us into the heart of Africa in the 1950,s as this family of missionaries is sent to live in a new world that they don’t completely understand. Each chapter is told from a different family members experience and tells how they grow to find challenge harmony and understanding in a foreign land.


KIAH