latest and greatest achievement

My whole life I've wondered how people possibly manage to do this.  I could not figure it out, I don't think my brain works the right way!  But finally, tonight, it happened.  I did it!  My latest and greatest achievement is.....

SOLVING A RUBIK'S CUBE!!!

Next goal...learn to do it without an online step-by-step guide.... ;)

reading resolution

In the beginning of this blog, I wrote that I'm not terribly good at New Years resolutions, but I'm not sure that I quite believe myself now.  My other resolution (and I really think there were only two!) was to read more books.  I've always loved reading, since I was very young, but my reading died a lot when I was at uni.  This may be partially due to the busyness of study, but I think also to the philosophy (or guilt factor?) that if I wasn't doing my uni readings, then I shouldn't be reading for fun either!  I have still read since my uni years, but not as much as I used to, so I decided 2013 was the year!  And I tell you what, my friends, it's been great!  Reading is WONDERFUL!  You should all do it!  Read anything and everything!  Learn, laugh, cry, and see the world from the perspective of others!

These are the books I read in January.

 Top down:
Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart.  A hilarious look into the ins and outs and intricacies of life.
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.  Started last year and finished in Jan.  An exciting mystery and hailed as the first detective novel in the English language.
In His Time compiled by Eileen Gordon-Smith.  Biography of an OMF missionary doctor to Thailand who, along with 11 other adults and children from missionary families, was killed in a tragic traffic accident.
Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer.  A murder mystery
Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne.  Two books people of every age should read.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.  A rather depressing read about a woman's struggle with mental illness.
The House of Memories by Monica McInerney.  Story of a woman dealing with a deep grief, and an interesting insight into different ways people cope with grief.

The three on the side are what I'm currently reading:
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks.  A journey into the world of Islamic women.  Extremely interesting.
Letters From Thailand translated from Thai by Susan Folop.  A series of letters written by a Chinese immigrant to Thailand in 1945.
Letters Never Sent by Ruth van Reken.  Letters written by the author throughout her life to her parents and to God, depicting the journey and struggles of being a third culture kid.

Also there is my favourite bookmark, which a friend had made for me.  Another visible bookmark is a piece of wool, which if you know me much at all you won't be surprised by!

So what are your favourite books?  I would simply love to have suggestions from you for my reading!  Easy or complex reads, deep and meaningful or light and fun, long or short, I'll take all ideas.

I do so encourage you to pick up a book-you might just find yourself enjoying it and getting lost in another world for a while.