Kindle Reads - The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

Image Source: 5 Love Languages

I'm a new subscriber to the awesomeness that is Amazon Prime and one of the perks of the service (along with free 2 day shipping) is access to a large Kindle library online.Although it is in the early stages and is a bit hard to search through, I came across the book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary D. Chapman.

The book was an extremely easy read and quite interesting. It explained the five love languages in detail and how you can tell which one is yours and your spouse's. It discussed how we need to speak in the proper language that makes our significant other feel love and fill their "love tank". You may be expressing love in a way in which you partner really doesn't understand which can cause distance and dissension in a marriage. 

At first, I couldn't tell which was my primary love language as I thought that multiple love languages applied to me, so I took the test in the back of the book. It turns out that I was right. My primary love language is "Words of Affection", while I am bilingual in my secondary love languages of "Quality Time" and "Acts of Service". These second two were a close second which is why I included them. 

The Hubs's love language is Acts of Service, followed by Physical Touch. I'm going to try to be more diligent in trying to show my love in his language. This could include spontaenously making a dinner I know he loves, helping him with projects outside (I'm adverse to getting dirty and bugs, so this would definitely show him love!), or giving him a back rub without being asked.

The Hubs and I have a happy marriage, but I think that armed with this information we can make it even better. I know that if we both make the effort to speak in the other's love language that we will both so appreciate it and get the little butterfly feeling of first love for years down the road!

I would definitely recommend this book to others. It's an easy read with lots of good information for couples and singles alike!

Have you read The Five Love Languages? If so, did you find it helpful?

What is your love language and that of your spouse?

Kindle Read - "One Day, All the Children..."

Image Source: Amazon

 
Although this book isn't a Kindle Read, I still wanted to post a short review on it since I found it very interesting and inspirational.  I actually found this book on my company's book exchange shelf. I probably never would have read it (or even know about it), had I not just happened upon it as I was perusing the books while my lunch was heating in the microwave.

It's no secret that I LOVE school. Sometimes I still think that teaching might be in my future...

So I was really interested to hear how a recent college grad, Wendy Kopp, created one of the country's largest teaching movements, Teach for America. I didn't know much about Teach for America prior to reading the book and personally only know a couple of people who have been involved (including Kimberly Michelle).

I enjoyed reading about how Teach for America started and the struggles and triumphs of these young college grads in building a national non-profit core of teachers from the ground up. It was so inspiring to hear how Wendy and her team persevered through times when they almost couldn't secure enough fundraising money to make payroll. They were all so committed to making sure that children in low-income areas received the same educational opportunities as children in more well-to-do areas that they weren't going to be knocked down that easily!

I think my favorite chapter by far was one where Wendy traveled to different schools to see Teach for America teachers in action. By doing this, she was able to see what set some teachers apart and made them (and subsequently their students) more successful. She noticed that to be a good teacher, you needed to be a good leader. Someone who could set goals and motivate students and their parents to help him/her meet those goals. A teacher needs to work relentlessly to achieve the goals they have  set and constantly assess their effectiveness and improve their teaching techniques over time.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading inspirational book and who is interested in education.

Do you have any inspirational books (educational or not) that  you would recommend?

"Kindle Reads" - Pioneer Women - Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - A Love Story

Image Source: Bookswim

 
Everyone in the blogosphere is familiar with The Pioneer Women, also know as Ree Drummond. She has this amazing blog where she documents her life on her husband's (aka Marlboro Man) cattle ranch. Also an amazing chef, she writes about all kinds of culinary deliciousness complete with step by step instructions and beautiful photographs.

I knew she had written a book, but it wasn't until I saw that Nie Nie (a very inspirational blogger if you don't already follow her) was reading it and loving it that I decided to download myself a copy.

This book, Pioneer Women - Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - A Love Story, is the story of her romance with Marlboro Man. I guess she had started documenting the story of their love on her blog (before I was a follower) and people loved it so much she ended up compiling the posts and some additional stories into this great book.

I love me a good love story and this sure is one of them. The best part is that it is TRUE! I love all the intricate details Ree remembers about her quick courtship with Marlboro Man and the funny stories she has to tell about her acclimating to life on the ranch. Let's say hilarity ensues when she is require to take a cows temperature! hehe :-)

I just finished this book recently and was sad to see it come to an end. I really wanted to know more about her life and love, but I guess I'll just have to stay tuned for her blog for more of her love stories!

Anyone else read Black Heels or are you content just trolling The Pioneer Women for your daily dose of love story?

"Kindle Reads" - The Help

I had wanted to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett since probably September after I saw a couple of my SWE friends reading it while at a conference. I put it off as I finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and as I tried to read the first book in The Outlander series (which I still haven't finished). I finally finished the book yesterday and REALLY enjoyed it.

It is a story told from the point of view of two African American maids during the Civil Rights movement and one young white woman who wants to try to understand their lives and make a difference. The relationship between these women is VERY complicated as they dance around the fact that there is obviously an inherent social hierarchy. You get to see both the good and the bad of people on both sides of the racial divide. It also not only deals with racial discrimination, but also womens' rights and their place in society. Kathryn Stockett did an amazing job and allowing the reader to fall in love with the characters and feel for them during every triumph or heartbreak.

Did anyone else read The Help and love it as much as I did?