Christian Romance Novels

I have a love/hate relationship with them.  I am addicted to reading.  It was not always this way, in fact, I used to hate reading.  That all changed when I took an Honors English class my junior year of High School.  During that year, I had to read several classics including Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, The Scarlet Letter, Sense and Sensibility, Oliver Twist, Northanger Abbey, and the Red Badge of Courage. By the end of the year, I had gotten so used to always having a book with me that I went out and got the Count of Monte Christo. From that point on, I was a goner.  I learned early on in my college career that I should not read for pleasure during the school year because it sidetracked me from my schoolwork.  During semester breaks, you can usually find me reading a book.  I love to read classics.  My three favorite authors have to be Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Alexandre Dumas.

As much as I love classics I have found myself reading a lot of Christian romance novels recently, but like I said in my first sentence.  We have a love/hate relationship.  I love that they are easy reads.  You do not have to dissect and figure out analogies or metaphors.  You do not have to get through a chapter like “it was the best of times.  It was the worst of times.”  In addition, never do you find an author like Victor Hugo, who has to give you a history lesson on the geography and layout of Paris before he can continue his story.  Christian romances are simple, which happens to be the thing I hate about them.

It is nice to know that when I settle down with a book that I will finish it in a few days… perhaps even hours.  I do not have to worry about the language or questionable content.  I find it very hard to put down the book.  I have to know how they couple ends up together.  With the exception of maybe two or three books, the following are usually the case: you always know which characters are going to fall in love by the end of the first or second chapter; and the books are predictable, and there is never any great shock over the course of the story.

The books leave me with one of three emotions.  I think they are sweet and worth reading again one day.  Second, I felt the book was merely adequate.  Third, I have no idea who these characters are!  For example, I just read a 300-page book and I still have no real comprehension as to whom the characters are and what makes them tick.  Who cares is the guy and girl fall in love.  I want to know more about them.  Because women write most of the stories, the woman’s character is developed more fully than the man’s.  The man is always some Mr. Dreamboat who the girl thinks is too good for her.  He is almost always tall dark and handsome.  Okay so this does not seem like a huge deal, but the stories do seem a little repetitive after a while.

Another thing I do not like is that God is not a main character.  Oh, the people talk about him… sometimes… but they do not have a full relationship with him.  I can understand that in a 120 pg book you can’t go all out like you might in a 400 pg  book; but if I don’t understand these characters’ walk with God how am I suppose to under their character?

I guess if I were to write a novel I would be very specific about its contents.  God will be the central character in my book.  Furthermore, the plan of salvation will be clearly presented.  Finally, maybe the girl will not even get the guy… now that would be different .  However, until I write this novel I think I will sit on the couch and read another book.

School, Work, Fun

I have realized that I am horrible at keeping this blog updated.¬† I suppose that could be a good thing because it means I’m not addicted to blogging .

So it is mid-terms this week.  I only had three midterms and two projects due.  I think I did okay on all of them.

Work is normal, although my coworkers are going through a tough time.¬† There is a rumor that one of them might have swine flu… yikes!!!!¬† Another one had a roommate commit suicide… please keep her in prayer.

I spent the night over at a friends house last week and had a blast.¬† I learned a very important lesson while I was driving to her house… NEVER… I mean NEVER allow Renae Archer give you directions.¬† This was the second time she got us lost!¬† I should have remembered the first time that we ended up in Oxnard instead of El Matador Beach in Malibu; but there I was giving her the benefit of the doubt that she knew where we were headed.¬† Its wasn’t until we exited that she confessed that she doesn’t quit remember exactly how to get there.¬† As a result we got to explore parts of West Covina.¬† Thankfully I know how to text Google and get directions… we were able to get ourselves back on track and get to the house.

I was so happy when I realized that it was raining on Tuesday and Wednesday.¬† But wouldn’t you know it… its sunny again with tempertures expected to reach 90 degrees today.¬† California weather boggles my mind.

Upside: Good Hair Day

Tuesday was a great day for me… ok I’m being sarcastic.¬† It wasn’t one of my good days.¬† Here is one example of my day.¬†¬†¬† I had left for work early and was almost to subway when I realized that I had left my hat, apron, and nametag at the dorm.¬† Consequently I had to drive all the way back to the dorm to get them.¬† Thankfully I still made it to work on time.

This was just one event in a very long day.¬† I finally decided that I shouldn’t consider all the bad things in my day and that I should find an upside.¬† I concluded that I wasn’t having a bad hair day.

Ordered to Post

I am at James and Renae’s and Renae has ordered me to update my blog so here I go.

Nothing entirely major has happened lately, just a bunch of random things so here is a random post.

Customers are interesting.

There is this one elderly gentleman that comes in early in the morning to get a bowl of soup.¬† He will only eat chicken noodle or minestrone.¬† When he comes in and we are serving Chipotle Chicken Corn Chowder or Broccoli Cheese he begins to lecture us about how nobody likes those soups and that he needs lots vegetables to keep himself alive.¬† He doesn’t understand first of all, people love those soups more than chicken noodle and second, that we have to rotate through our soups.¬† What makes him even more interesting – and somewhat scary is that this man needs a walker to get around.¬† Okay, so that walker doesn’t sound scary…. but the man drives a car!!¬† Seriously… if the guy has to us a walker should he really be driving?

I was very studious the other day while I was avoiding my homework.¬† I know this sounds like an oxymoron…. but its true.¬† I took a ton of classes for subway university.¬† I have now finished 22 classes… I’m not sure how many more I have to do before I graduate.

I have taken Hannah to the ER allot recently.¬† I think I’m getting used to this idea of staying up all night, well, that is until i get to class the next morning.¬† I did fine in class on Thursday, but I was pinching myself all through chapel in order to stay awake.¬† Thankfully I have never fallen asleep during class or chapel during my college career… yet.

I have a dilemma for next Friday night.¬† PBC is going bowling then to coldstones.¬† LBC is going to boomers.¬† Bowling and ice cream is “free” cause I paid the activity fee… boomers’ isn’t free.¬† Either way I will be making some of my friends mad… maybe i should ditch both that way I don’t have to decide

Hmmm, I’m not sure what other random information I should post.¬† If I think of anymore I will post it later.

Colonel Mustard and the Cube

The movie “Cars” is one of Melissa’s favorites; however her auntie seems to be having the worst time with vehicles right now.¬†

As you already know I went mattress surfing a few weeks ago; as a result my beautiful Malibu was totaled.¬† I got a rental car that was totally sweet (2008 Malibu) but had to return it when I went home on vacation.¬† I am now the not-so-proud-owner of a GOLD!!!! ford focus.¬† I am very greatful that God has provided a car for me… but does it really have to be gold?¬† I refer to my car (actually its Daniel’s car) as Colonel Mustard.

Well the other day I was once again about to go visit James and Renae.¬† I was driving around the block at the dorm when I got a flat tire.¬† That did it!¬† I was in tears over a silly car!¬† Thankfully Mr. and Mrs. Wilson came to my rescue and helped me take care of the Colonel. The Wilson’s vehicles are currently acting up on them so they were in a rental vehicle (the Cube). And yes, i got to ride in it when we went to walmart to get a new tire.¬† The Cube is truly a unique car.

I never made it to James and Renae’s.¬† But I am very greatful to people like the Wilsons who are willing to help me… and sometimes spoil me.