The book I chose for Arizona was High Tide In Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver.
This was a slow book for me... not because it wasn't interesting, but because each essay made me think. For that I applaud Ms Kingsolver...because that is exactly what I wanted this project to do.
There were many times when I disagreed with a passion over the statements and ideals stated and almost put the book down..but what would I learn by doing that? its very comfortable to live in a small group of folks that think and believe what I do... but the truth is a live in a big world with all sorts of different beliefs and while this book didn't exactly match mine...it did make me strengthen some of my own, change my opinion on a couple of things....and get a tad angry over others... in the end .. I do think we are still friends though...~smile~
as far as Arizona is concerned, there were many things I learned and put on my bucket list of travel. One is the Heard Museum, which seems like a fairy land of Native American culture and history... and the second is the Titan Missile Silo the "front line of the cold war".....
we have traveled through AZ but haven't had the time to visit the nooks and crannies.... Kingsolver also vividly describes the wild life, moods, and seasons of the Tucson area..I especially appreciate her last essay describing a pond she constructed int eh middle of the desert ... good stuff!
So, this book is not a light mindless read...Jamie mentioned to me that this book was required reading for a couple of his classes..... so if you need something to tuck int he bag for beach reading... this is not it...
If you want a book that gives you a few new brain wrinkles ...this is your book.....
I leave you with a quote by Carl Sagan from the book that has stuck with me....
"we are all locked together in a room filled with gasoline vapors, insisting that because they have 200 matches, we won't be safe until we have 300."
.....sometimes... this is true....
Pray for the troops, stand on what you believe, be careful with your matches....and have a fine day...all day long!