Why I have this book: I saw it while browsing either on Amazon or in a bookstore catalog... can't remember exactly. It looked good, so I bought it.
I'm not sure the book lives up to it's title. Don't get me wrong... I really liked the book and thought it had some great counsel about handling life's challenges and the way we see them. First, it didn't deal with anxiety, as in the mental health type of anxiety. I would say it deals more with stress, or even with what I would call just negative thinking, or even just feeling overwhelmed. I'm sure the ideas presented would be helpful for those dealing with real anxiety, too, but it didn't go that deep.
Still, the book was good and I highlighted a lot of thoughts that I could certainly use in dealing with my own negative thinking. :)
If it was a real book, it would stay on my shelf.
Clean.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Six books going away...
I decided today to get rid of five books, but somehow I ended up with six. I just made a quick decision on this... hopefully I won't regret it later!
Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story
More of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story - Compiled by Paul Harvey, Jr. (So interesting, but his stories are online, so I don't need the books. Also, these are two of my purchases from my 2001 Amazon list, so that counts for something!)
Going Rogue: An American Life - Sarah Palin (I bought this shortly after her run for VP. I never read it, and now I'm not that interested. It's probably very good, but her family has just had way too much exposure and that has made me less interested.)
What to Expect the Toddler Years - Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway B.S.N. (My youngest are past the toddler stage, so I don't need it anymore. I do love these books, though. I highly recommend them!)
The Activity Book - a bunch of activity ideas for youth leaders. (I don't think we've ever, ever used it, even when we've worked with the youth in our church.)
Whiter Than Snow - Sandra Dallas. (I said I was going to donate it to the library when I reviewed it a long time ago, and here it still sits.)
I love getting rid of stuff.
Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story
More of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story - Compiled by Paul Harvey, Jr. (So interesting, but his stories are online, so I don't need the books. Also, these are two of my purchases from my 2001 Amazon list, so that counts for something!)
Going Rogue: An American Life - Sarah Palin (I bought this shortly after her run for VP. I never read it, and now I'm not that interested. It's probably very good, but her family has just had way too much exposure and that has made me less interested.)
What to Expect the Toddler Years - Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway B.S.N. (My youngest are past the toddler stage, so I don't need it anymore. I do love these books, though. I highly recommend them!)
The Activity Book - a bunch of activity ideas for youth leaders. (I don't think we've ever, ever used it, even when we've worked with the youth in our church.)
Whiter Than Snow - Sandra Dallas. (I said I was going to donate it to the library when I reviewed it a long time ago, and here it still sits.)
I love getting rid of stuff.
Stealing Jake (Pam Hillman)
Why I have this book: It was a freebie from a long time ago when I first opened my Kindle account.
This book took me several days to read, even though it was under 300 pages long. It wasn't difficult... it just wasn't compelling enough to keep picking it up.
Maybe it's just me, since the book won a Christian writer award. The reviews on Amazon made it sound amazing... but I just didn't feel it.
Clean.
This book took me several days to read, even though it was under 300 pages long. It wasn't difficult... it just wasn't compelling enough to keep picking it up.
Maybe it's just me, since the book won a Christian writer award. The reviews on Amazon made it sound amazing... but I just didn't feel it.
Clean.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Family Size (Maria Hoagland)
Why I have this book: I was browsing LDS fiction on Amazon and this one was there. I had read another book by the author (Nourish and Strengthen - reviewed earlier) and liked it, so I gave this one a try.
I liked it, too. As in her other book, the "feel" of the book is interesting. Again, it's like snippets of events, a day here or there, where it's like you're peeking into the world of the characters. I can't really describe it, but it just has a different feel to it than most other books I read. It's not a bad thing... just different.
This book focuses on three different women more in depth than the other characters in the book. They each are struggling with their own challenges. It's just like real life... we often don't know what people are going through. We only see what they are willing to show, and sometimes we see things that cause us to assume things that aren't true. There is a good message about not judging.
The one oddity to me is the character of Elise. I still can't decide if I like her or not, but interestingly, we only see her at the surface. Maybe if we knew more about her life, it would be easier to like her. There are hints that she is a good person at heart, but she has a judgmental streak that overshadows her strengths, at least for me. Anyway... she was a bigger character than most, but not as big as the three main characters, so... ?
It was also interesting to read the thoughts the women would have. The things they would think about themselves, about others... the labels, the expectations, the measuring sticks we use. Interesting to "see" those thoughts from the outside. Kind of sad, really, how women can think about other women and about ourselves.
This book also had some strong similarities to the book I just reviewed previously. Sometimes in my mind, I had to separate the two stories... they just had a few things that blurred together for me. (Maybe I shouldn't read two books so close together!)
Clean.
I liked it, too. As in her other book, the "feel" of the book is interesting. Again, it's like snippets of events, a day here or there, where it's like you're peeking into the world of the characters. I can't really describe it, but it just has a different feel to it than most other books I read. It's not a bad thing... just different.
This book focuses on three different women more in depth than the other characters in the book. They each are struggling with their own challenges. It's just like real life... we often don't know what people are going through. We only see what they are willing to show, and sometimes we see things that cause us to assume things that aren't true. There is a good message about not judging.
The one oddity to me is the character of Elise. I still can't decide if I like her or not, but interestingly, we only see her at the surface. Maybe if we knew more about her life, it would be easier to like her. There are hints that she is a good person at heart, but she has a judgmental streak that overshadows her strengths, at least for me. Anyway... she was a bigger character than most, but not as big as the three main characters, so... ?
It was also interesting to read the thoughts the women would have. The things they would think about themselves, about others... the labels, the expectations, the measuring sticks we use. Interesting to "see" those thoughts from the outside. Kind of sad, really, how women can think about other women and about ourselves.
This book also had some strong similarities to the book I just reviewed previously. Sometimes in my mind, I had to separate the two stories... they just had a few things that blurred together for me. (Maybe I shouldn't read two books so close together!)
Clean.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
She Makes It Look Easy (Marybeth Whalen)
Why I have this book: It was a freebie from Inspired Reads.
I liked this book a lot. I thought the writing was smooth. It was easy to get absorbed into the setting and the characters. It was a 'thinker' book... not difficult to read, but it made me ponder and think about how we live our lives, how we relate to others, how we make assumptions, and how we never really know what is going on in others' lives.
I was sorry to get to the last page of this book. It left me feeling not really satisfied, and kind of sad, in a way... but I'm glad I read it. (There is no tragic surprises... the sadness is more in relation to the choices people make.)
This is a Christian book, but it does cover the topic of adultery. There is no swearing.
I liked this book a lot. I thought the writing was smooth. It was easy to get absorbed into the setting and the characters. It was a 'thinker' book... not difficult to read, but it made me ponder and think about how we live our lives, how we relate to others, how we make assumptions, and how we never really know what is going on in others' lives.
I was sorry to get to the last page of this book. It left me feeling not really satisfied, and kind of sad, in a way... but I'm glad I read it. (There is no tragic surprises... the sadness is more in relation to the choices people make.)
This is a Christian book, but it does cover the topic of adultery. There is no swearing.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Company of Good Women Series (Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, Carroll Hofeling Morris)
Three books:
Almost Sisters
Three Tickets to Peoria
Surprise Packages
Why I have these books: When I downloaded the DB Bookshelf app, I did some browsing and found the first in this series. I remembered that a friend had read it years ago and liked it, so I gave it a try on the DB app. After that, I had to read the next two. (I downloaded the next two to my Kindle, though!)
I really, really loved these books. They begin in 1980 and end in 2005. Three women meet at Education Week in 1980 and then share the next 25 years of their lives through mail, phone calls, e-mail, and occasional visits. The books chronicle their experiences and the things they learn from life lessons. I found so much of it touching and pertinent, and I could relate to many of the feelings they had through those years.
My only two complaints:
1) I wish Gabby had more of a voice. As often as she is credited with wisdom and comfort for the three ladies, she really should have been more of a consistent character. She obviously had complex challenges, as well, but they just aren't covered much. I feel like the way her character was handled didn't support the idea of her influence on the other three characters... or at least, that was my perception of it.
2) There are sooooooo many peripheral characters that come into the story over the years. Obviously, that's what happens as our children grow and our worlds expand, but it was really hard for me to keep track by the time I got into the third book. I'd have to stop and think, "Wait, who is that again? How does that person fit into the story?" Anyway, if you read this, you might want to keep a notebook and jot down those characters and how exactly they relate to the main characters. (Or maybe it's just me...)
In three books, there was one sentence where I went, "Huh? That should have been edited." Not bad for about 1200 pages of writing!
So glad I read these books. I really recommend them for readers who are in mid-life. There is just more to relate to if you've been through the years of experience these books cover. I think they would make good book club books... you could easily read all three in one month. (They are LDS fiction, so obviously would work best in book clubs made up of LDS women.)
Clean. Some challenging life experiences are discussed, including same-sex attraction, death, out of wedlock pregnancy, drug addiction, etc.
Almost Sisters
Three Tickets to Peoria
Surprise Packages
Why I have these books: When I downloaded the DB Bookshelf app, I did some browsing and found the first in this series. I remembered that a friend had read it years ago and liked it, so I gave it a try on the DB app. After that, I had to read the next two. (I downloaded the next two to my Kindle, though!)
I really, really loved these books. They begin in 1980 and end in 2005. Three women meet at Education Week in 1980 and then share the next 25 years of their lives through mail, phone calls, e-mail, and occasional visits. The books chronicle their experiences and the things they learn from life lessons. I found so much of it touching and pertinent, and I could relate to many of the feelings they had through those years.
My only two complaints:
1) I wish Gabby had more of a voice. As often as she is credited with wisdom and comfort for the three ladies, she really should have been more of a consistent character. She obviously had complex challenges, as well, but they just aren't covered much. I feel like the way her character was handled didn't support the idea of her influence on the other three characters... or at least, that was my perception of it.
2) There are sooooooo many peripheral characters that come into the story over the years. Obviously, that's what happens as our children grow and our worlds expand, but it was really hard for me to keep track by the time I got into the third book. I'd have to stop and think, "Wait, who is that again? How does that person fit into the story?" Anyway, if you read this, you might want to keep a notebook and jot down those characters and how exactly they relate to the main characters. (Or maybe it's just me...)
In three books, there was one sentence where I went, "Huh? That should have been edited." Not bad for about 1200 pages of writing!
So glad I read these books. I really recommend them for readers who are in mid-life. There is just more to relate to if you've been through the years of experience these books cover. I think they would make good book club books... you could easily read all three in one month. (They are LDS fiction, so obviously would work best in book clubs made up of LDS women.)
Clean. Some challenging life experiences are discussed, including same-sex attraction, death, out of wedlock pregnancy, drug addiction, etc.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Addendum #2 (Kindle vs DB Bookshelf)
This one goes to the Deseret Book Bookshelf. You can buy books directly from the app. With Kindle, you can buy from your Kindle Device, but not from the Kindle app for iPods, iPads, etc. That's too bad. I think it would be advantageous to Amazon to have that option, but whatever! It's not like they are hurting in the sales department. :)
Friday, February 15, 2013
Addendum to Kindle vs Deseret Book App
So, as I've continued to read the book on my Deseret Book Bookshelf app, I have two more points to make.
1) You can change the DB app to work either in a scroll or in a page format. That made me excited... until I tried the "page" option. The "turning" of the page was sooooooo slow. I ended up going back to the scroll method.
2) I made a "note" next to one highlight. It was so easy and I loved the little "sticky note" it left near the note. It made me curious about how that works on the Kindle app. I've made a note or two on my actual Kindle device before, and it's not super slick since you have to use the keyboard. Anyway, on the Kindle app, it's just like the DB app. You use the touch keyboard, and it leaves a little "note" on the spot. Not as cute as the DB little yellow sticky, but just as slick. So I'd call that a tie.
I'm still convinced the Kindle/Kindle app is the better of the two options, and since Amazon appears to sell any e-book that Deseret Book sells, the choice is obvious for me.
1) You can change the DB app to work either in a scroll or in a page format. That made me excited... until I tried the "page" option. The "turning" of the page was sooooooo slow. I ended up going back to the scroll method.
2) I made a "note" next to one highlight. It was so easy and I loved the little "sticky note" it left near the note. It made me curious about how that works on the Kindle app. I've made a note or two on my actual Kindle device before, and it's not super slick since you have to use the keyboard. Anyway, on the Kindle app, it's just like the DB app. You use the touch keyboard, and it leaves a little "note" on the spot. Not as cute as the DB little yellow sticky, but just as slick. So I'd call that a tie.
I'm still convinced the Kindle/Kindle app is the better of the two options, and since Amazon appears to sell any e-book that Deseret Book sells, the choice is obvious for me.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Kindle vs Deseret Book Bookshelf
I downloaded the Deseret Book Bookshelf e-reader app on my iPod yesterday. The reason I did this was because... um... I don't remember. I think I had a specific reason, but now I can't think what it was. :/
So here's what I've discovered in using the Deseret Book app:
Some books are actually less expensive on the DB app. Not by much... usually only about fifty cents. However, there was one book that was a whole $4 cheaper on DB!!! Seriously? I left a message on Amazon about the price difference. (They have a link specifically for that purpose!) I'm going to leave messages on all the books I find that are cheaper. Maybe Amazon will lower their prices to match Deseret Books e-book prices.
On the other hand, sometimes Amazon is less expensive. It probably all comes out in the wash.
To be honest, that's the only thing positive I can say about the DB app/ebook system. Here's where Kindle wins:
1) Amazon has amazing customer service. If you download a book and you change your mind, decide it's not what you wanted, find issues with the content, etc., Kindle will refund your money if you contact them within a certain amount of time. In other words, you can "return" the e-book. Deseret Book does not offer this service.
2) You have to be able to hook to WiFi or 3g to use the DB app. I was in a long, long line today at a store, and I thought, "Hey, no problem! I'll just read that book I bought last night!" Nope. Couldn't get into my account without signing in. Can't sign in without a connection.
On Kindle, once you download the book, you can read it whether or not you have a connection. You can't move books from your "cloud" to your device without a connection, but once it's on your device, you can read it anytime.
3) On Kindle, you turn the page. Well, you turn it by touch or you push a button and it turns. On the DB app, at least on the couple of books I glanced through and on the one book I'm actually reading, you scroll downward through the chapter. It's just not as comfortable. It's harder to get absorbed, because it feels like you're reading an article on the news instead of a book. And with a screen as small as an iPod screen, you have to scroll a lot. It's hard to keep your eye on the sentence you're reading. Bah!
4) If you buy an e-book from Amazon, you can read it on your Kindle or on another device, such as your iPod, iPad, Android, etc. with the Kindle app. It's nice to have options. If you buy an e-book from DB, it can't go on your Kindle. And again, if you don't have a connection for your device, you can't read your book on the DB app.
So... even if the Kindle price is slightly higher than the DB e-book price, in my opinion, it's worth what you get in return. I luckily have only purchased one book from DB (I did get some free books just for downloading the app), and I won't purchase any others. I would just rather have them on my Kindle and Kindle app.
So here's what I've discovered in using the Deseret Book app:
Some books are actually less expensive on the DB app. Not by much... usually only about fifty cents. However, there was one book that was a whole $4 cheaper on DB!!! Seriously? I left a message on Amazon about the price difference. (They have a link specifically for that purpose!) I'm going to leave messages on all the books I find that are cheaper. Maybe Amazon will lower their prices to match Deseret Books e-book prices.
On the other hand, sometimes Amazon is less expensive. It probably all comes out in the wash.
To be honest, that's the only thing positive I can say about the DB app/ebook system. Here's where Kindle wins:
1) Amazon has amazing customer service. If you download a book and you change your mind, decide it's not what you wanted, find issues with the content, etc., Kindle will refund your money if you contact them within a certain amount of time. In other words, you can "return" the e-book. Deseret Book does not offer this service.
2) You have to be able to hook to WiFi or 3g to use the DB app. I was in a long, long line today at a store, and I thought, "Hey, no problem! I'll just read that book I bought last night!" Nope. Couldn't get into my account without signing in. Can't sign in without a connection.
On Kindle, once you download the book, you can read it whether or not you have a connection. You can't move books from your "cloud" to your device without a connection, but once it's on your device, you can read it anytime.
3) On Kindle, you turn the page. Well, you turn it by touch or you push a button and it turns. On the DB app, at least on the couple of books I glanced through and on the one book I'm actually reading, you scroll downward through the chapter. It's just not as comfortable. It's harder to get absorbed, because it feels like you're reading an article on the news instead of a book. And with a screen as small as an iPod screen, you have to scroll a lot. It's hard to keep your eye on the sentence you're reading. Bah!
4) If you buy an e-book from Amazon, you can read it on your Kindle or on another device, such as your iPod, iPad, Android, etc. with the Kindle app. It's nice to have options. If you buy an e-book from DB, it can't go on your Kindle. And again, if you don't have a connection for your device, you can't read your book on the DB app.
So... even if the Kindle price is slightly higher than the DB e-book price, in my opinion, it's worth what you get in return. I luckily have only purchased one book from DB (I did get some free books just for downloading the app), and I won't purchase any others. I would just rather have them on my Kindle and Kindle app.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Five cookbooks that are outta here!
To be honest, the cookbooks aren't on my bookshelf, and they aren't technically books I "read." But I got an inkling today to just get rid of some.
So after going through some of them and thinking of how seldom (never) I use them, I'm getting rid of these cookbooks:
The Mormon Diet: 14 Days to Vigor and Health (Earl F. Updike)
Utah Valley Favorites (from our church congregation way back when we had a young family.)
The Diet Solution: Weight Loss, Wellness, and The Word of Wisdom (Peggy J. Hughes)
Healthy Foods (Leanne Ely)
The Frantic Family Cookbook (Leanne Ely)
With all the internet recipe sites, are cookbooks going to be a thing of the past???
Even though these don't affect my bookshelf space, it does clear a little room off one of my pantry shelves.
Clean. Of course.
So after going through some of them and thinking of how seldom (never) I use them, I'm getting rid of these cookbooks:
The Mormon Diet: 14 Days to Vigor and Health (Earl F. Updike)
Utah Valley Favorites (from our church congregation way back when we had a young family.)
The Diet Solution: Weight Loss, Wellness, and The Word of Wisdom (Peggy J. Hughes)
Healthy Foods (Leanne Ely)
The Frantic Family Cookbook (Leanne Ely)
With all the internet recipe sites, are cookbooks going to be a thing of the past???
Even though these don't affect my bookshelf space, it does clear a little room off one of my pantry shelves.
Clean. Of course.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Letters of a Woman Homesteader (Elinore Pruitt Stewart)
Why I have this book: I can't remember where I read about it, but I think it was on a discussion online and I decided to download it to my Kindle. I have the free version... I notice on Amazon there are ebook versions that cost money, and several versions in print. Not sure if there is any difference in the editions, but the one I have (which is still free) is the Kindle Edition one with the plain yellow cover.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of letters written by Elinore Stewart to an old friend. She tells stories of life as a Wyoming homesteader in the early 1900's in such a delightful and interesting way. The book is short... just under 100 pages and a quick read. If you like pioneer/settler stories, you'll really enjoy this book.
Clean. The "N" word is used a handful of times... not in a derogatory way, so much. It was more just a reflection of the times. (Still a bit uncomfortable to read!)
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of letters written by Elinore Stewart to an old friend. She tells stories of life as a Wyoming homesteader in the early 1900's in such a delightful and interesting way. The book is short... just under 100 pages and a quick read. If you like pioneer/settler stories, you'll really enjoy this book.
Clean. The "N" word is used a handful of times... not in a derogatory way, so much. It was more just a reflection of the times. (Still a bit uncomfortable to read!)
Friday, February 8, 2013
Beyond the Storm (Carolyn Zane)
Why I have this book: It was a freebie.
This book is part of the Quilts of Love Series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, and I'm not sure how or if they overlap with each other.
I liked this book. It had more depth than a lot of Christian fiction, and the religious tone wasn't too over the top, even though it definitely shared the gospel. The "storm" mentioned in the title is a tornado... an EF5 tornado. This is the level of force that hit Joplin, Missouri a couple of years ago. Reading about the destruction and devastation made it easier to imagine what it must have been like, although I know nothing could prepare one for actually going through that.
Overall, I thought this book was a worthwhile read. I would probably donate it to the library if it was the printed version.
Clean. Two of the characters are a young couple who "had" to get married, and the husband contemplates cheating. There are also descriptions of death after the tornado, but nothing graphic.
This book is part of the Quilts of Love Series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, and I'm not sure how or if they overlap with each other.
I liked this book. It had more depth than a lot of Christian fiction, and the religious tone wasn't too over the top, even though it definitely shared the gospel. The "storm" mentioned in the title is a tornado... an EF5 tornado. This is the level of force that hit Joplin, Missouri a couple of years ago. Reading about the destruction and devastation made it easier to imagine what it must have been like, although I know nothing could prepare one for actually going through that.
Overall, I thought this book was a worthwhile read. I would probably donate it to the library if it was the printed version.
Clean. Two of the characters are a young couple who "had" to get married, and the husband contemplates cheating. There are also descriptions of death after the tornado, but nothing graphic.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Three Kindle books deleted...
The Words with Friends Word Engineer (William Spaniel)
The Books of Rachel (Joel Gross)
The Lives of Rachel (Joel Gross)
The WWF one I bought when I first started playing Words with Friends. I thought it would be good to learn some words that would come in handy. I want to be clear: I never cheated with this book! I think there was a way to put what letters you have in the program and it would help you find words. I never did that. The list of words (two letters, three letters, etc) was complicated to get through... so really, I read through part of it once, and have never opened it again. So why keep it?
The "Rachel" books were recommended to me. I think they really have the potential to be good books, but as it was, I only could read the first handful of chapters in one of them (can't remember which one), and I had to put it down. Such vulgarity... the worst of the words, yucky sexual content. It's just not for me. I think I would have enjoyed the storyline if I could have edited out the yuck. Disappointing. (And the author's last name being "Gross" seems fitting in this case.)
So... three books leaving my Kindle bookshelf. :)
The Books of Rachel (Joel Gross)
The Lives of Rachel (Joel Gross)
The WWF one I bought when I first started playing Words with Friends. I thought it would be good to learn some words that would come in handy. I want to be clear: I never cheated with this book! I think there was a way to put what letters you have in the program and it would help you find words. I never did that. The list of words (two letters, three letters, etc) was complicated to get through... so really, I read through part of it once, and have never opened it again. So why keep it?
The "Rachel" books were recommended to me. I think they really have the potential to be good books, but as it was, I only could read the first handful of chapters in one of them (can't remember which one), and I had to put it down. Such vulgarity... the worst of the words, yucky sexual content. It's just not for me. I think I would have enjoyed the storyline if I could have edited out the yuck. Disappointing. (And the author's last name being "Gross" seems fitting in this case.)
So... three books leaving my Kindle bookshelf. :)
Legwork (Roland Smith)
Why I have this book: A friend told me about it. It's only available as an ebook.
My son loves Roland Smith, so when my friend told me about this book, I quickly bought it. I figured at 88 pages long, it would be a good way to introduce my son to the Kindle way of reading.
I read it this morning and I loved it! Oh, there were a few typos (commas in random places, etc), but the story was exciting and intense. I even went to Roland Smith's website to see if he was going to continue this story with a series. He easily could. (I can't see that he has plans to as of yet.)
This was a story he wrote back in 1996, if I remember right. He dug it up again and updated it a bit, then republished it himself as an ebook only. He talks about it on his website, along with his conversion to Kindle reading. (www.rolandsmith.com)
I can't wait for my son to get home so I can hand him my Kindle and tell him, "Read!" (Thank goodness I have my Kindle app on my iPod. I won't have to stop reading while he uses my Kindle. Ha!) I know he'll love this little book as much as I did. If it was a book in print, it would be a definite keeper on our bookshelf.
Clean.
My son loves Roland Smith, so when my friend told me about this book, I quickly bought it. I figured at 88 pages long, it would be a good way to introduce my son to the Kindle way of reading.
I read it this morning and I loved it! Oh, there were a few typos (commas in random places, etc), but the story was exciting and intense. I even went to Roland Smith's website to see if he was going to continue this story with a series. He easily could. (I can't see that he has plans to as of yet.)
This was a story he wrote back in 1996, if I remember right. He dug it up again and updated it a bit, then republished it himself as an ebook only. He talks about it on his website, along with his conversion to Kindle reading. (www.rolandsmith.com)
I can't wait for my son to get home so I can hand him my Kindle and tell him, "Read!" (Thank goodness I have my Kindle app on my iPod. I won't have to stop reading while he uses my Kindle. Ha!) I know he'll love this little book as much as I did. If it was a book in print, it would be a definite keeper on our bookshelf.
Clean.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
In Need of a Good Wife (Kelly O'Connor McNees)
Why I have this book: It was our book club book this month.
Soooo... I'm conflicted on this one. On the one hand, I enjoyed the book. It had an easy flow to it, and after the first few chapters (I messaged a friend to ask if it was going to get better), I did get into it.
The first chapters were all over the place... confusing and hard to sort through. After that, things narrowed down and became easier to follow. The story lines all had the potential to be very interesting, but the author seemed to mostly skim the surface of what was happening. Only one story line got deeper than that, and it became my favorite one.
I was bothered by the lack of morals that never seemed to be addressed (such as an upstanding man visiting a brothel and there not really being any kind of disgrace about it as far as I could tell. Not really the case back in the pioneer times... right?) Relationships weren't developed very deeply, except in the case of the story line I mentioned above. I don't know... so much potential, but it really didn't cinch it for me.
Somewhat enjoyable, but not something I would keep if it was in print form.
Not quite clean. There were some immoral situations that were thrown in there with no moral context (although not graphic), and a handful of swear words. A few scenes almost seemed religious in tone, as if it was a Christian historical fiction book. Strange contradiction.
Soooo... I'm conflicted on this one. On the one hand, I enjoyed the book. It had an easy flow to it, and after the first few chapters (I messaged a friend to ask if it was going to get better), I did get into it.
The first chapters were all over the place... confusing and hard to sort through. After that, things narrowed down and became easier to follow. The story lines all had the potential to be very interesting, but the author seemed to mostly skim the surface of what was happening. Only one story line got deeper than that, and it became my favorite one.
I was bothered by the lack of morals that never seemed to be addressed (such as an upstanding man visiting a brothel and there not really being any kind of disgrace about it as far as I could tell. Not really the case back in the pioneer times... right?) Relationships weren't developed very deeply, except in the case of the story line I mentioned above. I don't know... so much potential, but it really didn't cinch it for me.
Somewhat enjoyable, but not something I would keep if it was in print form.
Not quite clean. There were some immoral situations that were thrown in there with no moral context (although not graphic), and a handful of swear words. A few scenes almost seemed religious in tone, as if it was a Christian historical fiction book. Strange contradiction.
Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God (Michelle Aguilar)
Why I have this book: It was a freebie.
Michelle Aguilar was the winner of Season Six of The Biggest Loser. I think I watched part of that season, so her story was somewhat familiar to me, but not enough for me to even know she had won.
This book was interesting. It seemed more like a way for her to get out on paper her experiences for her own benefit more than anything. I admire her for her commitment to God and her desires to live a life devoted to Him. I admire what she has accomplished in her physical goals.
All in all, the book was a decent read, but I wouldn't keep it if it was a printed book. I would donate it to the library.
Clean, as far as I remember. Possibly a swear word or two?
Michelle Aguilar was the winner of Season Six of The Biggest Loser. I think I watched part of that season, so her story was somewhat familiar to me, but not enough for me to even know she had won.
This book was interesting. It seemed more like a way for her to get out on paper her experiences for her own benefit more than anything. I admire her for her commitment to God and her desires to live a life devoted to Him. I admire what she has accomplished in her physical goals.
All in all, the book was a decent read, but I wouldn't keep it if it was a printed book. I would donate it to the library.
Clean, as far as I remember. Possibly a swear word or two?
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Band of Sisters: Coming Home (Annette Lyon)
Why I have this book: I saw it and I bought it. Haha. It is a sequel to Band of Sisters (which I reviewed earlier. Click on "B" on the right and you can find my review there.)
I remember that I said in my review of Band of Sisters that I probably wouldn't read it again, because it was sad. Apparently, I lied. I had to read it again so I could remember each character and their story prior to reading this sequel.
I enjoyed the first one just as much the second time and it wasn't as sad because I knew what was coming. I mean, the story definitely had some sad parts, but I was braced for them...
Anyway, I liked this book, as well. The ending seemed a little too sweet in moments, but overall, another good read. The writing is such that you can really understand the characters' emotions and personalities.
*I need to get a job as an editor. I don't know if the printed books have the same editing issues, but both of the these books on Kindle have a couple of mistakes that need to be cleaned up.*
All in all, a great set of books. I do recommend both of them, and you for sure want to read them in order.
Clean.
I remember that I said in my review of Band of Sisters that I probably wouldn't read it again, because it was sad. Apparently, I lied. I had to read it again so I could remember each character and their story prior to reading this sequel.
I enjoyed the first one just as much the second time and it wasn't as sad because I knew what was coming. I mean, the story definitely had some sad parts, but I was braced for them...
Anyway, I liked this book, as well. The ending seemed a little too sweet in moments, but overall, another good read. The writing is such that you can really understand the characters' emotions and personalities.
*I need to get a job as an editor. I don't know if the printed books have the same editing issues, but both of the these books on Kindle have a couple of mistakes that need to be cleaned up.*
All in all, a great set of books. I do recommend both of them, and you for sure want to read them in order.
Clean.
Nourish and Strengthen (Maria Hoagland)
Why I have this book: I received it free. (Long story... it came through an LDS email group.) It's available though Amazon, and is inexpensive as an e-book. ($2.99 at the time I'm writing this.)
So, this book was interesting to read. It didn't have the feel of other books... it was like there wasn't really a typical plot line, per se. (conflict/climax/resolution.) It felt like I was just seeing glimpses of the characters' lives, scene by scene.
Having said that... I really enjoyed the book. It felt like being with a group of friends - on their walks with them, having the conversation with them, etc. It was easy to get absorbed into the story. I could relate to so many of the emotions of the main character... the emotions that come along with being a mom and wife and an LDS woman.
Most of the focus of the book was dealing with Type I Diabetes, and I learned some new things about that medical condition.
If it was a "real" book, I'd keep it on my shelf.
Clean.
So, this book was interesting to read. It didn't have the feel of other books... it was like there wasn't really a typical plot line, per se. (conflict/climax/resolution.) It felt like I was just seeing glimpses of the characters' lives, scene by scene.
Having said that... I really enjoyed the book. It felt like being with a group of friends - on their walks with them, having the conversation with them, etc. It was easy to get absorbed into the story. I could relate to so many of the emotions of the main character... the emotions that come along with being a mom and wife and an LDS woman.
Most of the focus of the book was dealing with Type I Diabetes, and I learned some new things about that medical condition.
If it was a "real" book, I'd keep it on my shelf.
Clean.
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