Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
(I should be reading Persuasion by Jane Austen right now, but mindless reads are what is working this week. So many other things needing my full-brain attention are leaving only a bit of energy for reading!)
I am so torn on Debbie Macomber books. On the one hand, they are good. The story lines are well thought out. The characters seem developed... but something falls a little short. At least, that's how I felt about this book.
I think my biggest problem is that things tied up too quickly, too neatly. Everything is emotional tumoil, then... it's better! Way better. Personalities even seem to change. I don't know... it just didn't satisfy, even though it should have.
I'm not opposed to reading more of her books. They are relaxing and easy reads, not just fluff. But I would only read them if I can borrow them. I wouldn't spend money on them.
That sounds so mean. :/
This book has a couple of swear words, but is otherwise clean.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
The Newport Ladies Book Club: Athena (Heather B. Moore)
Why I have this book: I bought it because I'm completely into this series.
This is the fourth book in the Newport Ladies Book Club series. I found out there will be four more books coming up! The exciting news is that the next four books will cover the next four months of the book club, so we'll find out what's happening with these first characters as we read the stories of new book club members. :) I'm pretty excited about that.
I really liked this book. Interestingly, this character's story is focused more on her own life and not as much integrated with the others in the series. I thought the writing was good, the character development was good... all of it was good.
What a great idea these four authors had, and it's working out marvelously. I highly recommend this series.
I also like that I make note of their book club choices. Of the first four, I've read two... The Help and The Poisonwood Bible. I have a third... My Name is Asher Lev. My old book club read it, but I never did. The fourth (Silas Marner), I had never even heard of. Maybe I'll read it someday. (I wonder how many copies of these books are being sold due to their mention in these books...)
Clean.
This is the fourth book in the Newport Ladies Book Club series. I found out there will be four more books coming up! The exciting news is that the next four books will cover the next four months of the book club, so we'll find out what's happening with these first characters as we read the stories of new book club members. :) I'm pretty excited about that.
I really liked this book. Interestingly, this character's story is focused more on her own life and not as much integrated with the others in the series. I thought the writing was good, the character development was good... all of it was good.
What a great idea these four authors had, and it's working out marvelously. I highly recommend this series.
I also like that I make note of their book club choices. Of the first four, I've read two... The Help and The Poisonwood Bible. I have a third... My Name is Asher Lev. My old book club read it, but I never did. The fourth (Silas Marner), I had never even heard of. Maybe I'll read it someday. (I wonder how many copies of these books are being sold due to their mention in these books...)
Clean.
The Read-Aloud Handbook (Jim Trelease)
Why I have this book: My in-laws gave me my original copy when my oldest children were young... I bought a later edition to have the updated reading suggestion list. (That updated book is one of my 2001 Amazon purchases. See... I'm keeping up with my rotation schedule!)
This is a "must read" book for all parents, in my opinion. The first part is all the evidence of the benefits of reading aloud for children. Not just young children... but all the way up through high school. The second part of the book is a list of books that are good for reading aloud. Not all books are. Some just don't have a good "flow" that is suited for the spoken word. They might be good books to process through reading, but not for hearing. The list of books has suggestions - a lot of them - for all ages, infant through high school.
Excellent book in every way. I actually didn't re-read it for this review. I just know it's a book that will always belong in my library.
Clean.
This is a "must read" book for all parents, in my opinion. The first part is all the evidence of the benefits of reading aloud for children. Not just young children... but all the way up through high school. The second part of the book is a list of books that are good for reading aloud. Not all books are. Some just don't have a good "flow" that is suited for the spoken word. They might be good books to process through reading, but not for hearing. The list of books has suggestions - a lot of them - for all ages, infant through high school.
Excellent book in every way. I actually didn't re-read it for this review. I just know it's a book that will always belong in my library.
Clean.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter (Randy L. Schmidt)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
I love the Carpenter's music, so I thought it would be interesting to read more about Karen. I knew she had died from complications of anorexia nervosa, but not really much else about her life.
I didn't love this book. I looked at the reviews on Amazon after I read it, and the one and two star reviews sum up my thoughts. The first half of the book is basically about all their albums... how they chose the songs, how they chose the singles, where they recorded it, who the producer was, etc etc etc. Seriously not very interesting to me... and not really about Karen so much as about their group and it's history.
The second half of the book goes more into Karen's life, and more specifically into her eating disorder. Much more interesting... but very sad.
I think the author did a great job with research and in making a book with the resources he had. The Carpenter family had an interesting dynamic that didn't lend itself to telling Karen's story from the inside, so this was probably as much information as could get out there. Maybe that's why he filled the first half with the album history. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a very long book.
This book has more than handful of swear words, including several of the "f-word." I don't really care if you are quoting someone, it's not necessary to include that word, IMO. Otherwise, the book is clean.
I love the Carpenter's music, so I thought it would be interesting to read more about Karen. I knew she had died from complications of anorexia nervosa, but not really much else about her life.
I didn't love this book. I looked at the reviews on Amazon after I read it, and the one and two star reviews sum up my thoughts. The first half of the book is basically about all their albums... how they chose the songs, how they chose the singles, where they recorded it, who the producer was, etc etc etc. Seriously not very interesting to me... and not really about Karen so much as about their group and it's history.
The second half of the book goes more into Karen's life, and more specifically into her eating disorder. Much more interesting... but very sad.
I think the author did a great job with research and in making a book with the resources he had. The Carpenter family had an interesting dynamic that didn't lend itself to telling Karen's story from the inside, so this was probably as much information as could get out there. Maybe that's why he filled the first half with the album history. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a very long book.
This book has more than handful of swear words, including several of the "f-word." I don't really care if you are quoting someone, it's not necessary to include that word, IMO. Otherwise, the book is clean.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Midnight in Austenland (Shannon Hale)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
If you know me at all, you're wondering why I was interested in reading another Shannon Hale book. I liked her quite a bit before reading The Actor and the Housewife, but I just can't get past that pathetic and disturbing book. Still, I did enjoy the first Austenland book, and borrowing means it's free, so...
The book... kinda funny (I actually chuckled aloud at one point... not usual for me while reading.) Suspenseful. A bit of romance. Some parts were creepy enough to make it tough for me to get out of bed, but the fact that I needed to check to make sure the doors were locked made it necessary. I had to keep reading, hoping I'd get to a part that wasn't as creepy so I would be brave enough to walk through the dark house to check the doors. The book definitely kept my attention.
I can't put my thumb on what bothers me about it. The tone of it reminds me of TAATH (the book I mentioned above)... it's like a Hugh Grant movie. That wit, the British self-deprecating humor. The whole "Spit spot, Jolly-Oh!" cadence throughout the book. I understand this is set in Britain, I understand we're talking (make believe) Jane Austen era... but, I don't know... it's just a little much. Maybe that's on purpose, though.
In any case, it was a fun read. Perhaps if I didn't have that negative vibe due to TAATH, I'd not be bothered by any of it. *shrugs* Good read, overall.
Mostly clean. There are a couple of swear words (please, do we need to use the word "effin" in a book for adults? Used by an adult??? I know it's not necessarily a real swear word, but it's so low class.) There is that whole intense Pride and Prejudice romantic tension feel to the story, and of course, there is the creepiness of murder stalking throughout the book.
If you know me at all, you're wondering why I was interested in reading another Shannon Hale book. I liked her quite a bit before reading The Actor and the Housewife, but I just can't get past that pathetic and disturbing book. Still, I did enjoy the first Austenland book, and borrowing means it's free, so...
The book... kinda funny (I actually chuckled aloud at one point... not usual for me while reading.) Suspenseful. A bit of romance. Some parts were creepy enough to make it tough for me to get out of bed, but the fact that I needed to check to make sure the doors were locked made it necessary. I had to keep reading, hoping I'd get to a part that wasn't as creepy so I would be brave enough to walk through the dark house to check the doors. The book definitely kept my attention.
I can't put my thumb on what bothers me about it. The tone of it reminds me of TAATH (the book I mentioned above)... it's like a Hugh Grant movie. That wit, the British self-deprecating humor. The whole "Spit spot, Jolly-Oh!" cadence throughout the book. I understand this is set in Britain, I understand we're talking (make believe) Jane Austen era... but, I don't know... it's just a little much. Maybe that's on purpose, though.
In any case, it was a fun read. Perhaps if I didn't have that negative vibe due to TAATH, I'd not be bothered by any of it. *shrugs* Good read, overall.
Mostly clean. There are a couple of swear words (please, do we need to use the word "effin" in a book for adults? Used by an adult??? I know it's not necessarily a real swear word, but it's so low class.) There is that whole intense Pride and Prejudice romantic tension feel to the story, and of course, there is the creepiness of murder stalking throughout the book.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Let It Go (Chris Williams)
Why I have this book: I was familiar with this story from the news, and when I heard about the book, I wanted to read it. We bought copies for our family at home and for each of our married children.
This book is painful to read. I don't think most of us can imagine losing four members of our family in one moment. The author lost his wife, his unborn son, his daughter, and another son when they were hit by a drunk driver. He and his six-year-old son survived the crash, and his oldest son was not with them at the time. So, in case I made that too confusing... their family of six (plus one on the way) became a family of three in an instant.
I had classified this book as a book of forgiveness, a religious book. However, the cover says "A Memoir"... and it is that. A memoir which shares the deep and personal spiritual experiences that helped this family work through a horrible tragedy. Reading the book is spiritually intense and very sad in parts. Other parts do seem more like a memoir.
The last part where he describes meeting his second wife and the birth of their two children was a bit of a letdown for me. I guess that is because it was more of the "memoir" side and less of the spiritual journey (which is why I was drawn to the book), and as a memoir, it didn't really share much about that adjustment for their family. He mentions it a bit, how his oldest son had to adjust to the new family arrangements, but it's kind of glossed over. He has every right to protect his family's privacy, of course... it just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book. Maybe it was because I took a few hours break and came back to it, or maybe it was because it went from dealing with the loss of his family to a new marriage fairly quickly (in the book, I mean... I never could quite calculate how long it was in real life.)
All in all, it was a great book. Very heartfelt, very inspirational, very touching. I think it inspires self-reflection, and encourages readers to turn to Christ and strengthen their bond with Him. His testimony of Christ and the plan of happiness is powerful. When the world wanted to applaud him for his forgiveness of the teenage driver who caused the crash, he gave the credit to the power of Christ.
There is a lot in this book (even though it's only 160 pages long.) I recommend it highly.
Clean, although there is some description of the injuries his family suffered and from a fatal accident the author was involved in as a teenager himself.
This book is painful to read. I don't think most of us can imagine losing four members of our family in one moment. The author lost his wife, his unborn son, his daughter, and another son when they were hit by a drunk driver. He and his six-year-old son survived the crash, and his oldest son was not with them at the time. So, in case I made that too confusing... their family of six (plus one on the way) became a family of three in an instant.
I had classified this book as a book of forgiveness, a religious book. However, the cover says "A Memoir"... and it is that. A memoir which shares the deep and personal spiritual experiences that helped this family work through a horrible tragedy. Reading the book is spiritually intense and very sad in parts. Other parts do seem more like a memoir.
The last part where he describes meeting his second wife and the birth of their two children was a bit of a letdown for me. I guess that is because it was more of the "memoir" side and less of the spiritual journey (which is why I was drawn to the book), and as a memoir, it didn't really share much about that adjustment for their family. He mentions it a bit, how his oldest son had to adjust to the new family arrangements, but it's kind of glossed over. He has every right to protect his family's privacy, of course... it just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book. Maybe it was because I took a few hours break and came back to it, or maybe it was because it went from dealing with the loss of his family to a new marriage fairly quickly (in the book, I mean... I never could quite calculate how long it was in real life.)
All in all, it was a great book. Very heartfelt, very inspirational, very touching. I think it inspires self-reflection, and encourages readers to turn to Christ and strengthen their bond with Him. His testimony of Christ and the plan of happiness is powerful. When the world wanted to applaud him for his forgiveness of the teenage driver who caused the crash, he gave the credit to the power of Christ.
There is a lot in this book (even though it's only 160 pages long.) I recommend it highly.
Clean, although there is some description of the injuries his family suffered and from a fatal accident the author was involved in as a teenager himself.
Friday, January 4, 2013
My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life (Julie Wright)
Why I have this book: My niece recommended it, and it was finally available on Kindle for a really low price.
(I actually wrote to the author - surprise! - because a comment on Amazon made it sound like the book was going to change on the Kindle version or something. I don't know. It confused me. And the publishing date for the Kindle edition was several years old, even though I knew there was no Kindle version available when I checked a month or two ago. Anyway, I asked the author if the version available was the current and correct version and she responded to that question and also said to tell my niece - because I had mentioned that my niece recommended the book - that she thinks she's twenty shades of awesome!)
*Niece... you know who you are.*
The first part of the book was interesting enough to keep my attention, but I was not overly in love with the writing. I was thinking it was going to be another one of those books that was just okay. The characters seemed a bit underdeveloped, and the writing seemed more surface than deep.
Okay, let's stop right there and get out there the one thing that bugged me the whole book. The older brother, who is a convert to the LDS Church and is supposed to be this amazing person, calls his younger sister "Satan" as a nickname. Not just a nickname, but a term of endearment. ??? Sorry, I think that's wrong.
Anyway, I ended up really liking this book. The character development improved as the book went on. The conversations and storyline became more natural and relatable. I found tears streaming down my face a couple of times. I liked how it didn't just tie up nice and neat and quick like a lot of books do.
In the end, I enjoyed this book a lot. I even started to look at other books by the author (she is one of the four authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series that I enjoy so much), but my Kindle went wacky and I was unable to look at her other books. I'll be doing that on Amazon today.
If it was a real book, I would keep it on my shelf. I will probably even share my Kindle so my daughter can read it when she graduates this spring and has time to read more than her textbooks. :)
Clean. The storyline involves tough topics, including abuse by a parent, alcohol and drug abuse, premarital sexual relations, and unwed pregnancy. The choices of abortion and adoption are also part of the story.
(I actually wrote to the author - surprise! - because a comment on Amazon made it sound like the book was going to change on the Kindle version or something. I don't know. It confused me. And the publishing date for the Kindle edition was several years old, even though I knew there was no Kindle version available when I checked a month or two ago. Anyway, I asked the author if the version available was the current and correct version and she responded to that question and also said to tell my niece - because I had mentioned that my niece recommended the book - that she thinks she's twenty shades of awesome!)
*Niece... you know who you are.*
The first part of the book was interesting enough to keep my attention, but I was not overly in love with the writing. I was thinking it was going to be another one of those books that was just okay. The characters seemed a bit underdeveloped, and the writing seemed more surface than deep.
Okay, let's stop right there and get out there the one thing that bugged me the whole book. The older brother, who is a convert to the LDS Church and is supposed to be this amazing person, calls his younger sister "Satan" as a nickname. Not just a nickname, but a term of endearment. ??? Sorry, I think that's wrong.
Anyway, I ended up really liking this book. The character development improved as the book went on. The conversations and storyline became more natural and relatable. I found tears streaming down my face a couple of times. I liked how it didn't just tie up nice and neat and quick like a lot of books do.
In the end, I enjoyed this book a lot. I even started to look at other books by the author (she is one of the four authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series that I enjoy so much), but my Kindle went wacky and I was unable to look at her other books. I'll be doing that on Amazon today.
If it was a real book, I would keep it on my shelf. I will probably even share my Kindle so my daughter can read it when she graduates this spring and has time to read more than her textbooks. :)
Clean. The storyline involves tough topics, including abuse by a parent, alcohol and drug abuse, premarital sexual relations, and unwed pregnancy. The choices of abortion and adoption are also part of the story.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Okay for Now (Gary D. Schmidt)
Why I have this book: I was reading some "clean reading" type sites and this book was mentioned more than once. I put it on my wish list on Amazon, then stumbled on it when I was browsing the state ebook library. I borrowed it. :)
I wasn't sure I would love this book at first. I was probably 1/5 through it before I became totally hooked, but I ended up liking it a great deal! I'm going to leave it on my wish list and probably will buy it at some point so my kids can read it. It's written for the adolescent crowd and up, and it is very clean... no swearing, no suggestive comments.
It ended with questions unanswered, but in a way that worked out for me. I could imagine things turning out the way I want them to. :)
My only complaints are these: The dad uses the word "freaking" a lot when he is spouting off in anger. This story is set in the late 1960's... did people use the word "freaking" back then? I know it's super common now, but it wasn't when I was in high school or even in the early years of marriage. But maybe I was just sheltered. haha...
Also, at one point in the story, a character confesses to a significant criminal activity, but there is no explanation of what happens to him. Was he charged? Did he have to pay society for his crime? Was all forgiven, even by the authorities and the victims? (Seems unlikely and unrealistic.) Not sure what to think about that, and I admit it disappoints me that the author didn't follow through on it. It takes the writing down a very small notch, in my opinion. There was also another situation that made me think, "What? Why would...?" If I met the author, I would ask him to explain these things to me, just to satisfy my questioning mind.
BUT... I thought the thread running through the book about Audubon's book, The Birds of America, was brilliant. When I buy this book for real, I'll buy it as a printed book so I can refer back to each painting (which is featured at the beginning of each chapter) as its story unfolds. (Flipping back to the page with the painting is not easy on a Kindle.) So fascinating how the author used those paintings in the story. I loved it.
Definitely a keeper if it was on my shelf. I also think it would make a good book club book.
Clean.
I wasn't sure I would love this book at first. I was probably 1/5 through it before I became totally hooked, but I ended up liking it a great deal! I'm going to leave it on my wish list and probably will buy it at some point so my kids can read it. It's written for the adolescent crowd and up, and it is very clean... no swearing, no suggestive comments.
It ended with questions unanswered, but in a way that worked out for me. I could imagine things turning out the way I want them to. :)
My only complaints are these: The dad uses the word "freaking" a lot when he is spouting off in anger. This story is set in the late 1960's... did people use the word "freaking" back then? I know it's super common now, but it wasn't when I was in high school or even in the early years of marriage. But maybe I was just sheltered. haha...
Also, at one point in the story, a character confesses to a significant criminal activity, but there is no explanation of what happens to him. Was he charged? Did he have to pay society for his crime? Was all forgiven, even by the authorities and the victims? (Seems unlikely and unrealistic.) Not sure what to think about that, and I admit it disappoints me that the author didn't follow through on it. It takes the writing down a very small notch, in my opinion. There was also another situation that made me think, "What? Why would...?" If I met the author, I would ask him to explain these things to me, just to satisfy my questioning mind.
BUT... I thought the thread running through the book about Audubon's book, The Birds of America, was brilliant. When I buy this book for real, I'll buy it as a printed book so I can refer back to each painting (which is featured at the beginning of each chapter) as its story unfolds. (Flipping back to the page with the painting is not easy on a Kindle.) So fascinating how the author used those paintings in the story. I loved it.
Definitely a keeper if it was on my shelf. I also think it would make a good book club book.
Clean.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Devil's Food Cake (Josi S. Kilpack)
Why I have this book: Because I am firmly committed to this series of "culinary mysteries."
This is the third book in the series and my favorite so far. I don't know what else to say... except I'll be reading the whole series. In fact, I like them so much that I'll be using the motivation to purchase the next one to keep me on my New Year's goals. :)
Clean... but there is a little bit of violence (murder... hello?) and fighting and such.
This is the third book in the series and my favorite so far. I don't know what else to say... except I'll be reading the whole series. In fact, I like them so much that I'll be using the motivation to purchase the next one to keep me on my New Year's goals. :)
Clean... but there is a little bit of violence (murder... hello?) and fighting and such.
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