30 Days of Books, Day 26: A book that changed your opinion about something

I can't really cite one book that's changed my mind on one issue. But we'll go with this one, as it shuttled me down the road to where I currently am now.

[Yes, the Bible is a massive one for me, but that's changed many aspects rather than one.]

I, to a certain degree, consider myself a feminist.
I am not one of those who aims for a matriarchal society, I am not one of those who believe that 'testosterone is a rare poison'. I am, essentially, just a woman living in Western society and I believe that God sees me on par with men ("There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus," says Galatians 3:28), and ideally, society should as well. I look for equality rather than dominance of either gender. As soon as that begins happening, we're regressing.


When I was a few years younger, I agreed with Germaine's ideas more than I do now. I thought, from what I'd read of her essays on the internet, that she had some decent ideas with how to get society functioning as it ought. Once I moved to Brisbane with access to a decent public library, I immediately checked out The Female Eunuch, expecting to have my beliefs reconfirmed. 


They weren't, and I began to wonder. With some of the statements Greer makes, I wondered how I'd misplaced my goals for the world. Why dominance in any respect? Surely that would make us as oppressive as the men we, as true followers of a Greer-brand feminism, enjoy dismissing. As I read on further, I noticed that I was disagreeing with an awful lot of what Germaine said.


Don't get me wrong - what Germaine Greer and other feminists of her era have done for society is great, and I know that in order to make the smallest step of progress, you need to want to move the furthest. And my desires for the world could only come about in Paradise. But for books that changed my mind, it was this. Progress for the sake of progress, at the risk of hurting others, isn't progress. 

[Insert witty title here]

I'm in Brisbane until... probably Thursday! Maybe tomorrow, if I feel like changing my bus ticket. Probably won't happen as I am very lazy, but these things happen. I've been up here writing for Discerning Bride again, and today I went on a photoshoot.
"These things get sort of boring, don't they?" the stylist said sympathetically to me as I clutched 6 red balloons in one hand and a plastic bag in the other.
But for my very first shoot, I found it brilliant. It was beautiful. The dresses were amazing, the location divine. The dresses were designed by Wendy Makin - who is absolutely lovely - and were shot at Enoteca in Woolloongabba. Enoteca is in my favourite building ever, the Moreton Rubber building, so it was an added bonus.

When I arrived here on Sunday, I felt bleak. I didn't really want to be up here. Maybe it was stress over a new job the next day, maybe it wasn't. I felt homesick, and I desperately wanted to curl my arms around Tuscany's neck and breathe in her doggy smell (as nauseating as it can be at times). Though, as I curled up on a bus seat on the way back from the Gabba, I felt it again. The feeling that this city has beauty, and that I do love it. I don't think it'll be my home forever (at least while I'm alive), but it will for 2 years more.

I've gotten in a few shopping trips - of course - and I snuck in a trip to Koorong as I left the shoot. (My boss, who dropped me off there, also turned out to be a Christian. Things like that amaze me, just considering how God's got it all sorted.) In lieu of any sort of review, I'll post up my purchases.

This is because while I know a variety of words in Spanish, I suck at stringing them together in a coherent way. According to my grandfather, I would be embraced by Chileans everywhere, because they face the same issue and welcome the gringos who cannot speak to save their lives.
I can't help but think that if I rocked up to an interview in any Spanish-speaking country with my currently level of fluency, I would be laughed out the door.

While I love Nicholas Sparks, I must say that I have become less enamoured with him since reading A Walk to Remember.
This isn't because I disliked that book - it's because I loved it so completely and fully that anything he's written before or after has paled in comparison. The love isn't as perfect as Jamie and Landon's, and that makes me sad.
On the whole, I did like this book. It was a good read and a nice way to end the day.

I had no real purpose in buying this book - that is to say, I didn't intentionally look for it. But I feel it's what I need. I find I get myself into better habits of reading my Bible when I'm in studies and whatnot, and as I have felt a bit distanced from God, I want to change that. Immediately. This book looked interesting and useful, so I'll see how we do.

I bought this for similar reasons to the previous book, except I actually went to Koorong with the intention of buying it. I signed up for an online Bible study with Melissa Taylor, and this is the book they're studying from.

It's in week 5 and I've just bought it now. Bad Tash is bad? Yes. But Bad Tash will catch up!

I can't help but notice I've bought books with a very orange theme. 

Regardless, can we all whoop because in four days there's a new Coldplay album yes yes? I think there should be whooping all over this place.

Tomorrow I have the day at home/Chris's place, depending on what I do. The highs of freelancing - I can work at home, and watch Dr Who (of which I have recently acquired all 6 seasons, or what there is of it so far).

Anyway, I'll get back to normal scheduling soon. Goodnight - or morning, if you're in the Welshie land.

Updates galore!

So, I mentioned a while back (and yes, I'm purposely being vague out of guilt) that my Internet isn't the happiest of chappies at the moment. After awarding me far too many bills, I'm cutting back slowly. Hear that, Optus? I'm trying!
Anyway, some things have been happening, and I thought I'd share.

• I'm back writing for Discerning Bride. This time, however, I'm writing wedding stories. Yes, about actual weddings with pretty dresses. Swoon. It's very interesting; I'm getting a ton of resources for the bridal blog Maija and I have tentatively started.
• Maija and I have started a bridal blog! Okay, 'started' is a loose term. We set up the blog sort of haphazardly, then I got my first massive bill. The project is on a brief hiatus, but it'll be appearing, AND IT WILL BE AWESOME. *ahem*
• My time in the southern, newer portion of Wales is coming to a close. I'm getting sad to say goodbye - daylight savings has just begun, and it is undoubtedly my favourite time of year. However, more frequent posts will occur when I return to les Bris, because I'll be living with an IT person who knows where cheap yet expansive Internet can be found.
You have been warned.
• I've read some rather decent books lately, and some that were a bit questionable.
Decent:
~ The Mercy, by Beverly Lewis. Christian romance of the Amish variety, but if that be your kettle of fish, they're very excellent. Of course, this is the final novel in the Rose trilogy (the novels being The Thorn, The Judgement & The Mercy).
~ Blood Promise, by Richelle Mead. New series, and also a spinoff from Vampire Academy. This spells very good news indeed.
~ The Siren's Song, Miranda Darling. Great read, newish release. I'll be doing a proper review when I have better net.
Slightly Questionable Reads
Okay, only one. Jaid Black's novel Deep, Derk & Dangerous was just... Words cannot accurately describe. I know I should have refused to read the book, but an old teacher of mine asked my opinion. Sigh. Put it this way, if you're a fan of having your intelligence catered to whilst reading, and not having your gender demeaned constantly, I would advise against this book. I mean, it's not just women that get the dodgy deal (though they are referred to as, quote, 'chattel' repeatedly). The men in this novel - I know it'd make men I know cringe at being associated with them, however thinly.

Anyway, brief update. I'm off to write some articles and indulge my rom-com fix.
Goodnight, todos!