Can't live with us & can't live without us!!

"Woman, don't you know, is such a subject that however much you study it, it's always perfectly new."

                           "Well, then, it would be better not to study it."

                                                  

In Anna Karenina, this conversation between Levin (Konstantin Dmitrievitch) and Stiva (Stephan Arkadyevitch [Anna's brother]) just makes me laugh!  Just to know that women have been confusing men for at least 138 years brings me immense happiness!!   This is one of my absolute favorite lines in the whole book so far. 

They couldn't understand us then and they still can't seem to understand us now.  From a recent Cosmo issue, it seems some poor sap is trying to give it a go.

Things women do that stress guys out:

1.)You hold a grudge.

2.)You issue an ultimatum.

3.)You give him the silent treatment.

4.)You bite his head off after a long day.

5.)You play it too cool.

What he fails to mention is that there will ALWAYS be reasoning behind our actions.   We don't just do these things out of spite, well, most of us anyways. Just consider our successful methods to be art. 

To help all of you silly confused men, I recently saw this being passed around facebook so it may help you out.

‎5 DEADLY TERMS USED BY A WOMAN:

1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when she knows she is RIGHT &  YOU need to SHUT UP.

2.) NOTHING: Means SOMETHING & you need to be WORRIED.

3.) GO AHEAD: This is a dare, not permission, do NOT do it.

4.) WHATEVER: A woman's way of saying SCREW YOU.

5.) THAT'S OK: She is thinking long & hard on HOW & WHEN you will pay for your mistake.

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Back to the book!

Stiva has made a habit out of cheating on his wife.  When we first meet him, his wife, Dolly (Darya), is furious with him for having an affair with their governess.  This woman they employed to teach and train their children, was trying to move up the corporate ladder, if you know what I mean. Apparently they didn't have the saying "Don't get your meat where you get your bread", back in the 1800's. 

The children are worried of an impending divorce and so Stiva's sister (Anna) comes to help bring the family back together.  Ironically, Anna tells Dolly to stay with her husband even though he's a cheating bastard. (as if she should really be giving marital advice)

Throughout the entire book, almost every time we read of Stephan, he is involved in some form of extra-marital affair.  Are these many transgressions his form of studying women?   Here's a tip for ya buddy, just ask your WIFE!

I especially love the relationship between Kitty and Levin.  Although in the beginning on the book they were off to a rocky start when Levin's proposal was refused, ultimately their relationship is one that should be mirrored by others in this book.  They are very loving, and honest with each other.  Levin is fiercely protective over his wife and while some may think that his jealousy would be a bit over the top, I feel that he is simply keeping the love of his life safe from anyone and anything! 

The men in this book range from cocky and pompous to shy and humble.  They, to me, are very easy to read and predictable.  A claim that cannot be attached to any of the female characters.  :-)

So ladies, may our power forever live on!!

Thanks!



**Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Anna Karenina is a bad mom and i'm gonna shout it!!**

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

The very first, and perhaps most quoted, line of Leo Tolstoy's 1873-1877 classic, Anna Karenina should show you that no matter what century you live in, your family is most likely dysfunctional.  In fact, the extremely maladjusted families in this book should almost make yours feel normal and happy! 

Even back then husbands and wives were unfaithful to each other.  Divorce was morally frowned upon and you were publicly shunned for being the "bad guy" in the separation. Children were merely toys to keep the wives busy while the men discussed politics while downing vodka and smoking cigars in the parlor. 

As flawed as 19th century Russia was, I can't help but feel envious of at least one thing.  The amount of respect shown to even the most hated adversary made my jaw drop.  My wife is sleeping with you good sir? Well, let me just shake your hand and beg your forgiveness for not assenting to your actions. (For example)

Wait, what?

You mean you want HIM to forgive YOU for not liking the fact that he's committing the ultimate sin with YOUR wife? Bizarre! My point is that no matter how ridiculous the situation, every character in this book was respectful to the other. Now days, people settle their disagreements by shooting each other or getting their friends together to gang up. 

If ever we need to go back to the old ways, it's in this instance.  I'm not saying not to stand up for yourself if someone has done wrong by you but don't automatically resort to violence or immaturity.  Sit down and talk it out.  We can learn a lot from history sometimes.  What to do and even sometimes what not to do. 

I am a bit disturbed regarding the actions of Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, the books' namesake.  Her husband tells her that if she continues her affair with Count Vronsky he will petition for a divorce and take her son away from her.  While being kept from her son deterred her decision for a short time, ultimately the love for her son was not enough to keep her from running away with her lover, Alexei Vronsky.  For all she knew she would never see her son again, but she went anyways. 

I cannot even fathom how a mother would make that decision.  She already had her doubts of Vronsky's feelings for her.  Basically, she made a life changing decision on what I believe was a immature little girl whim.  While traveling through Europe with Vronsky, they cannot find any new friends who are willing to accept their relationship and cannot maintain friendships with existing acquaintances because Anna has been shunned for her actions. 

She becomes very emotional and jealous over Vronsky.  She can see that he is becoming bored with her as he goes from hobby to hobby to occupy his time without much interest in her.  They decide to return to Moscow with hopes of Anna reuniting with her son.  Upon their return, she is told by her husband’s friend, a Countess, that she will not be allowed to see her son.  She immediately blames her unhappiness in the situation on Vronsky.  Um, excuse me Miss Unfaithful, but it takes two to tango!

                                                   *****************************

 Anything regarding Anna in this book gets me angry.  She acts like a child who cannot get her way.  It was her decision alone to leave her husband and her son knowing full well what the consequences would be.

When her sister in law, Dolly, visits her in the country, she seems so happy.  I'm glad that Anna is happy but at what cost?  Her son is being "raised" by a father who does not love him and only keeps him to hurt Anna.

I can understand taking your life by the reins and doing what you want.  Sometimes that’s necessary when you’re completely unhappy.  But, all I think about is her son’s unhappiness having to grow up without his mother.  When thinking of the relationship I have with my son, it hurts to think about leaving him.  Right now, he is on a trip with my parents in New York visiting family and he’ll be gone for 10 days!!  10 ridiculously long days without my little man is bad enough but to think about never seeing him again would tear me apart. 

So, if this book was a true story and I had a time machine, I would go back and tell Anna to get her mess together and be a parent, but not before stopping at Adam & Eve and getting a little electronic something for her to keep her hormones in check. 

Feel free to comment and thanks for reading!!

The Amazon Kindle-A virtual library at my fingertips!

I am an avid book reader so my bookshelf is literally overflowing.  I made several not so subtle hints over the months before my birthday, to anyone that would listen, that I desperately wanted a Kindle. I studied and researched this handy device to the point that I now know just about everything there is to know about it. Amazon should seriously think about hiring me as a sales person.  It can hold 3,500 books at a time.  It can sync with your smartphone app. You can even play games!!  There is an over abundance of awesomeness!!

So, on my birthday on June 18th, I sat outside with my family eating cake and ice cream anxiously awaiting "gift time."  Once we were all finished consuming a weeks worth of sugar, my mom got up quickly and went into the house.  It was time! She comes out holding a huge bag full of gifts! Through my greedy haze, I barely noticed the beautiful ribbons and tissue paper embellishments spouting from the top of the gift bag like a fountain.  I reached in and out came....bubble bath?!? Okay that's great, I thoroughly enjoy baths but where's my kindle? So I grasped at another object, and out came...a family craft?!? Okay, okay I love doing crafts with the kids but where is my kindle?!? I looked in the bag, and there among the frivolous decoration covering the bag, sat a slim brown box.  My eyes lit up, my heart stopped, and you could only hear the sound of my parents happy breathing.  There it was, the holy grail of birthday gifts, the Amazon Kindle!!!

Not everyone can get exactly what they asked for, this was not so in my case.  I was so ecstatic upon receiving the worlds best gift, that i jumped up and swallowed my parents in a big, squeeze the breath out of you, hug.

I opened it up, turned it on(my parents charged it up before giving it to me), and set off on reading my first ebook, Anna Karenina. 
**Gasp**
 Yes, I know...I have taken on Leo Tolstoy...War and Peace may very well be next! When normally I read romantic Nora Roberts, or empowering Jennifer Weiner, I decided to step outside of my literature comfort zone and read one of the most difficult (for me) books out there.  But let me tell you, it has, so far, been well worth it.  Tolstoy has so beautifully described several characters love stories which are so entwined with each other.  To step inside another persons mind from a totally different era and culture is an amazing gift.  But, i've gone off on a tangent so i'll cover more on this book later. 

My point is, if you're a book lover, consider the Kindle!  While I can no longer feel the coarse paper beneath my fingertips or smell the glue binding my beloved book together, I still feel that this is a decent trade off.  Being convenient and easy to use definitely puts a check in the pro column for me.  I have provided a link so you can see for yourself.  So, think about it!!
Check out the new Amazon Kindle.

Thanks for reading!!

What's Not To Like?

I wanted to create a blog about the books I’ve read and the many off the wall unique thoughts constantly assaulting my mind. It seems that very few in my social, family, work, or any kind of circle cares a tiny morsel about books let alone anything resembling a unique thought.  "What's a unique thought", they ask me, "and why would we want to do something that would make us different than everyone else?" 

My many circles all seem to think I’m crazy for reading a book when I could just wait for the movie.  I enjoy a movie just as much as the next person but can a movie make you feel every thought and every shiver right down to your bones? Can a movie make you taste the delightful pie the author has verbally baked or smell the sweet perfume of a flower the author has planted?  I think not.  But a book can!

You all will be my sounding board, my shoulder to cry on, and my best friends.  I love sharing my thoughts on a book and I can't wait to share them with you! 

When someone in my close circle comes to me for advice, I have always told them to write down how they feel and it will make them feel better.  Being that no one wants to hear my book rants, I decided to follow my own advice and create this blog.

So, I pose the question--what's not to like about a book? Is it the paper cuts? I say wear a glove.  Is it the amount of time it takes? I say throw away your watch or turn off your cell phone.  Take some time to get back to the basics.  Assault your own senses with a page turner and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed (unless it’s not a good book.)

I hope everyone enjoys my thoughts and if not...well, that's just too bad!! :-)