What is responsible for our happiness?

Eric Weiner has written a fun and curious book about how happy people are in various places around the globe. He isn't too terribly happy himself, I'd call him a curmudgeon. But he decides to search the world and find what makes other people happy. I like to read all his little observations and quotes. Here's one for me: "better to go barefoot than without a book,'an Icelandic saying that I can wrap myself around. Check out The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places on Earth.

Sense and Sensibility

Our Adult book discussion of the Jane Austen's novels got off to a great start with the guest appearance of Carrie Bebris, a representative of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Carrie is the author of the Jane Austen mysteries beginning with Pride and Prescience or a Truth Universally Acknowledged: a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery. She was able to add so much to the discussion and the enjoyment of Jane Austen's Emma. Her newest novel will come out in September, featuring Highbury and the setting of Emma titled The Matters at Mansfield Or, The Crawford Affair). Carrie pointed out that the village of Highbury is as much a character in Emma as Mr. Knightley or Emma. I am looking forward to my summer in Jane Austen's world. Our discussion of Sense and Sensibility will be on the fourth Monday evening of July, the 28th at 7 pm.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

Mortenson's book about his mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan was very inspiring. It is humbling to see the actions of one man and how he has motivated others to join him in his mission to sponsor the building of schools in a remote area of the world where there is no support for schools. The parents and the religious leaders desire that the children are educated, but it takes a former mountain climber from America to bring their vision and hopes into being. The book relates how Mortenson overcomes one obstacle after another, even to the point of being kidnapped. This is a must read for people interested in the Middle East and how smaller communities function there.