Remember when you were in school and there was a prescribed reading list to delve into over the summer? Back then, you might have viewed that list as a chore (homework for the entire summer), but now that you’re a bit older and wiser, you realize diving into a great story can enhance your vacation. Here are just a few literary adventures to embark on this season:

Pack in Your Beach Bag
Commencement
J. Courtney Sullivan

Whether you’ve just graduated or those fond college memories are a bit further in the distance, Sullivan’s debut novel will have you reconnecting with former classmates. The story follows four young women who meet their first year at Smith College as they undergo the ups and inevitable downs of academia as well as its real-world aftermath. Far from standard chick lit, this book has a serious side thanks to compelling, educated leading ladies who still have a lot to learn.

In-Flight Reading
Requiem for a Paper Bag: Celebrities and Civilians Tell Stories of the Best Lost, Tossed, and Found Items from Around the World
Davy Rothbart

This treasure trove may inspire you to sift through finds at the local thrift store once you reach your destination. The publisher of the magazine Found, which prints notes and letters people find on the street, delivers this anthology of musicians, writers, entertainers and artists as they detail unique items they’ve come across. The compilation is a bit of a scavenger hunt but there are several hidden gems from the likes of Chuck D, Andy Samberg and Sarah Vowell.

Experience the Book before Seeing the Movie
My Sister’s Keeper
Jodi Picoult

Sure it’s up on the big screen with stars like Cameron Diaz, Jason Patric and Abigail Breslin, but this moral odyssey is worth contemplating in print. Thirteen-year-old Anna Fitzgerald was born with a unique birthright — she was designed by her parents to save her sister Kate who has been battling leukemia since she was two. In an effort to have a say in her destiny, Anna seeks to be medically emancipated from her parents. It might get a bit overly melodramatic, but the tale of a family simultaneously torn apart and brought together by a devastating illness is worth the read. You can always see it in the theater or rent it later.

Just for Kicks
What Would Keith Richards Do?: Daily Affirmations from a Rock and Roll Survivor
Jessica Pallington West

Have you ever found yourself in a tricky situation and wondered what would the legendary Keith Richards do? Probably not, but it’s still entertaining to take in the Rolling Stones guitarist’s musings enclosed in the pages of this affirmative guide. We can only hope someone comes out with a What Would Joan Jett Do? counterpart in the near future.

photo by margo conner

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My birthday has come and gone and my number is getting closer to the big 3-0. I always thought I’d be the kind of girl that takes her age gracefully. Growing older meant blossoming into a more refined woman.

But I’m NOT READY!! I’m too young to be in my late 20’s. I started pacing around my apartment in a whirlwind of panic, frantically writing down my accomplishments. I try to revisit my youth by looking at my scrapbook from college. I go through my photos desperately trying to channel the energy and excitement of a freshman in college.

All of a sudden, a folded piece of binder paper falls onto my lap. It’s dated 3/16/1999 and entitled, “Where I see myself in the future.” I scramble to unfold the paper, filled with exhilarating nervousness. Wait! What if I’m not going to like what I wrote? What if it’s going to make me hate myself? Oh, why! Why did I have to have goals?!!!

Deep inhale. Deep exhale. I’m ready. I steadily open the paper and begin to read my list.

1.    Physician (Boy, did that dream go down the drain after my first semester in chemistry and anatomy!)
2.    Living in London (I lived there for a summer and who wouldn’t want to live in London?)
3.    Married (Ooh, did that! Almost 5 years baby!)
4.    Kids (I’m on a roll, I’ve got one munchkin.)
5.    Own Property (Yay, I do have a mortgage. And boo, I do have a mortgage.)
6.    Own Property in a foreign country (Man, I wish I was in a position to even think about this prospect.)
7.    Have my own private practice (We know how that turned out.)
8.    Financially taking care of my parents (I’m working on it.)
9.    Drive An Audi (I’m still driving my first car from college, but it’s got character…or so I keep telling myself.)

After I read the last item on the list, I took a long sigh of relief. Not too bad! But there was still something bugging me. The list encompassed what I thought my family expected of me. That’s only natural. I was 19 years old. I don’t think I really knew who I was or what I truly wanted to be.

I was instantly calmer. Why? Because the list wasn’t a reflection of me, it was the dreams I thought I should have.

As much as I was initially frightened by the list, in the end it has made me more confident about my choices. Other than my profession, I have stayed on track. I’m sure I envisioned myself to be more financially stable and have my career squared away but I still need things to work on. And the changes that have taken me in a different direction have made me a happier person.

I’m actually impressed with myself. And that’s never a bad place to be.

photo by demi-brooke

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The champagne has been popped, Auld Lang Syne has been sung, and now all you’re stuck with is a hazy head and a promise to yourself that you need to keep for the next 365 days. New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but even easier to break, so here are some tips to stay disciplined through 2009.

1.    Aim low. This may sound like a cop-out, but let’s get real here: the quickest way to set yourself up for disaster is to set yourself an unattainable goal. Help yourself out by easing the stress with a smaller hill to climb. Lose 10 to 15 pounds rather than starve yourself into a size 0. Volunteer your time once a week rather than start your own global initiative. Don’t quell your ambition, but be realistic at the same time.

2.    Create a plan. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you need a game plan that will last you through the year. Figure out how you’re going to resist smoking one more cigarette or eating one less slice of cake. Decide how to motivate yourself to go the gym three times a week or read a book once a month. Outline the year with baby steps, and write them down so you have a physical reminder of the actions you need to take. With a game plan, you’ll actually be able to make a new resolution once December 31st rolls around again, while everyone else keeps trying to succeed with the same one they’ve had for years.

3.    Announce it to the world. The more people to whom you tell your resolution, the more people there are to guilt trip you along the way. You’ll feel more accountable for your goal when you know that all your friends and family are expecting you to cross the finish line at the end of the year. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Change is difficult enough as it is, so why bear it alone? Get the support you need with a cheering squad by your side.

4.    Reward yourself. This doesn’t mean that you can gorge yourself on all the dessert you want if you’ve resolved to eat healthy in 2009. But if you’ve been good for a while, treat yourself to a spa day or a movie night with some friends. Pamper yourself every once in a while, and the last few months will be a breeze.

5.    Be flexible. If it takes you a bit of time to incorporate your resolution into your daily routine, don’t sweat it. Just keep at it. Experts say that it takes around 3 to 4 weeks for a new activity to become a habit and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. Some roadblocks might occur, and you may have to change your resolution when life gets in the way. But stay positive, work around it, and you’ll be the new you in no time.

photo by tyla

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As we step forward into a new year, we can’t help but look back and review another year of cinematic excellence.  From movies that shattered box office records to those headed for Oscar glory, 2008 gifted audiences with a number of remarkable films.  So without further ado, here are my favorites from 2008:

8.  The Reader
7.  Iron Man
6.  Frost/Nixon
5.  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4.  Revolutionary Road
3.  Milk
2.  The Dark Knight
1.  Slumdog Millionaire

But don’t just take my word for it, what are your favorite films of 2008?  And be sure to check back next week for my 9 Most-Anticipated Movies of ‘09!

picture by darren hester

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