Book Club Selections

I often find myself asking people 'What are you reading?' Their responses are so interesting that I try to find the books myself. I thought that you might enjoy passing on books that you loved or found to be inspirational or just plain fun. Here is a list of reading recommendations that I have received from far and wide, please feel free to email me with your favourite reads to be included on this list! Enjoy!

ONE BOOK ~ ONE COMMUNITY

The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle	Gift from the Sea Anne Morrow Lindbergh “…elegant and wise meditations on youth and age, love and marriage, solitude, peace, contentment as she set them down during a brief vacation to the ocean”	The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd An old classic that I will definitely read again - Jackie
Why People Don't Heal and How They Can Caroline Myss	The Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri	The Brain that Changes Itself Dr. Norman Doidge This book is about the revolutionary discovery that the human brain can change itself, as told through the stories of the scientists, doctors, and patients who have together brought about these astonishing transformations
The Road Less Travelled" M. Scott Peck	Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi	Anatomy of the Spirit Caroline Myss
My Sister's Keeper Jodi Picoult	Race Over Empire - Racism and U.S. Imperialism 1865 - 1900 Eric T. L. Love ISBN: 978-0807855652	Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: Sharon Begley (forward by the Dali Lama) How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves
A Fine and Private Place Peter S. Beagle	The Last Unicorn Peter S. Beagle	The Mermaid Chair " by Sue Monk Kidd
The Night Listener Armistead Mauppin	The Stone Angel Margaret Lawrence	The Tin Flute Gabrielle Roy
Conversations With God Series Neale Donald Walsch	Who has Seen the Wind W.O. Mitchell	Sacred Contracts Caroline Myss
East of Eden John Steinbeck	A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles Marianne Williamson	The Celestine Prophecy James Redfield
House at Pooh Corner - A.A. Milne	The English Patient - Micheal Ondaatje	Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships by Marianne Williamson
The Messengers: Julia Ingram and G. W. Hardin	Lullabies for Little Criminals Heather O’Neill Winner of CBC Canada Reads 2007	'An Audience of Chairs' Joan Clark One Book - One Community readers choice

Transform your Life

A Complaint Free World Your thoughts create your world and your words indicate your thoughts. When you eliminate complaining from your life you will enjoy happier relationships, better health and greater prosperity. The Complaint Free program helps you set a trap for your own negativity and redirect your mind towards a more positive and rewarding life.

“Complaining is not to be confused with informing someone of a mistake or deficiency so that it can be put right. And to refrain from complaining doesn’t necessarily mean putting up with bad quality or behavior. There is no ego in telling the waiter your soup is cold and needs to be heated up—if you stick to the facts, which are always neutral. ‘How dare you serve me cold soup…?’ That’s complaining.”
—Eckhart Tolle, “A New Earth”

How it Works
Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit and complaining is habitual for most of us. As Twain said, we must coax our old behavior down the stairs. The purple bracelet is a powerful tool to remind you of how well you are creating your life with positive intention.

Suggested Rules
Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist.
When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.
If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving and more enjoyable.

Visit the site www.acomplaintfreeworld.org

One Book One Community

What is One Book One Community?
The idea behind this program is a simple one: the community reads a selected book and then comes together for a weekend of activities planned around the book. Like a citywide book club, the program offers readers opportunities to discuss the book, listen to guest speakers, and participate in activities that complement the book. In 2005, Medicine Hat became the third city in Canada to launch a One Book One Community program.

Who is sponsoring One Book One Community in Medicine Hat?
This is a collaborative project sponsored by Medicine Hat College and Medicine Hat Public Library.

How was the book selected?
We stipulated that the book should be by a Canadian writer, available in paperback, and substantial enough to generate discussion and debate. Throughout the month of May 2007, we invited readers to suggest books to the One Book One Community committee by using our online suggestion form or printed forms at the Medicine Hat Public Library and the Vera Bracken Library, Medicine Hat College. These recommended titles were evaluated by volunteer readers and the committee. The One Book One Community 2008 book was selected from these suggested titles.

What book has been selected?
The One Book One Community committee has selected Guy Vanderhaeghe’s The Englishman’s Boy (1996).

When and where will the One Book One Community events take place?
Activities will take place on 1-2 February 2008 in the Medicine Hat College Theatre, Courtyard, and Crowfoot Rooms.

How else can I become involved?
If you have questions about One Book One Community or would like to help with promotion and activities, please contact one of the following:
~ Hilary Munro 502-8533
~ Sheila Drummond 526-4730
~ Rachel Sarjeant-Jenkins 502-8527

Archives:

~ One Book One Community 2005
~ One Book One Community 2006
~ One Book One Community 2007
~ One Book One Community 2008

For further information, please contact Sheila Drummond at the MHC Library.