Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library when my friends mentioned that they were reading it for their book club.
My own (former) book club read it years ago, but I didn't. I don't remember why... but I know I wasn't really itching to read a book narrated by Death. The very idea of that sounded creepy, dark, and depressing. I actually borrowed it on the ebook library in the last year sometime, but decided to return it without reading it for the same reason.
This time I braved up and began the book. It starts a little slow and it takes a bit of time to figure out the rhythm of the writing, but once I did, I fell in love with the story.
The book is set during the Holocaust in Germany, but it's not really about that, in my opinion. It's about people and relationships and how life continues on during unbelievably horrific circumstances. It's about the choices we make and the choices others make. It's about humanity... and it is deeply moving.
I've already recommended it to several people and if I owned a copy, it would definitely be a keeper.
This book isn't dark and creepy, but it does involve the Holocaust, death, and war. There are difficult family issues that are touched on, and there is quite a bit of swearing (including using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion.) For me, the enormity of the story overshadows the muck.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Attitude is Everything: Change Your Attitude... Change Your Life! (Jeff Keller)
Why I have this book: It was recommended somewhere... I can't even remember where or by whom... Anyway, I bought it on Kindle because it was only $2.99.
This book totally reminded me of books by Dale Carnegie. It had the exact same feel to it. To be honest, that was a bit of a turn-off for me, because it just seemed like it wasn't really original. The message is good, but it wasn't anything that couldn't have been written in a magazine article. And it was a little like being at a motivational convention. Kind of "rah-rah"...
It also seemed mostly directed towards business situations, so I couldn't relate to that... I had to think a little harder to make it applicable to my life.
Overall, a good message and a quick read. Nothing new as opposed to the Dale Carnegie books, although the stories and examples are more current. (Dale Carnegie died in 1955, so obviously his stories - although not the meaning behind them - are dated for a younger generation.)
Clean.
This book totally reminded me of books by Dale Carnegie. It had the exact same feel to it. To be honest, that was a bit of a turn-off for me, because it just seemed like it wasn't really original. The message is good, but it wasn't anything that couldn't have been written in a magazine article. And it was a little like being at a motivational convention. Kind of "rah-rah"...
It also seemed mostly directed towards business situations, so I couldn't relate to that... I had to think a little harder to make it applicable to my life.
Overall, a good message and a quick read. Nothing new as opposed to the Dale Carnegie books, although the stories and examples are more current. (Dale Carnegie died in 1955, so obviously his stories - although not the meaning behind them - are dated for a younger generation.)
Clean.
Confessions of a Molly Mormon: Trading Perfectionism for Peace, Fear for Faith, Judging for Joy (Elona K. Shelley)
Why I have this book: I was browsing the book table at Costco (which I hardly ever do anymore, because I buy most of my books for Kindle), and I saw it. It looked good, so...
I liked this book. At one point, I thought, "Sheesh, this lady was sure an over-thinker for most of her life!" (Takes one to know one?) But really, I liked the perspective she put on how we often "live the gospel" based on rules and guilt and fear... and how different it can (and should) be.
Her words gave me a lot of good things to think about. She put down on paper how I have often felt about this very subject and it was helpful to see it through her experience. I'm really glad I read it.
Clean.
I liked this book. At one point, I thought, "Sheesh, this lady was sure an over-thinker for most of her life!" (Takes one to know one?) But really, I liked the perspective she put on how we often "live the gospel" based on rules and guilt and fear... and how different it can (and should) be.
Her words gave me a lot of good things to think about. She put down on paper how I have often felt about this very subject and it was helpful to see it through her experience. I'm really glad I read it.
Clean.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Keeping it Together in a Pull-Apart World (Mary Ellen Edmunds)
Why I have this book: I bought it for the Deseret Book app.
This is a short book (64 pages in the hardcover edition) and I read it in an evening. Another lovely book by MEE. I just love her. In fact, I have two of her books still on my wishlist.
You can't go wrong with books by MEE. :)
Clean.
This is a short book (64 pages in the hardcover edition) and I read it in an evening. Another lovely book by MEE. I just love her. In fact, I have two of her books still on my wishlist.
You can't go wrong with books by MEE. :)
Clean.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Moloka'i (Alan Brennert)
Why I have this book: I've had it for years. It was a book club pick a long time ago, but this is the first time I've read it.
This is a novel set in the leper colony of Hawaii on the island of Moloka'i. I don't think most Amercians are really familiar with leprosy... it's not a disease that is common in the States in this day and age (thankfully), and until I saw a documentary on it a few years ago, I didn't even know it was still common in other countries.
I liked this book for the most part. I liked it a lot... for the most part. There were things that could have been left out of the story and it still would have invoked the same emotions for those who were the victims of this disease and all the social repercussions it brought.
In both this novel and the other I read by this author (Honolulu, reviewed a few posts ago), there is quite a bit of talk of sexuality. It's not graphic or vulgar... it's just treated as a natural urge that is a part of life. There is no morality attached to it, really... he doesn't seem to have an opinion one way or the other on religion. He writes about it in a detached way, I think. He also brings a character into the story who is transgender. I'm not sure why... he doesn't mention this character as a "real" person in the author notes, so it must just be a storyline he threw in there to make things interesting. It didn't bother me (she is actually a likable character), but I wonder what the point was.
Interestingly, he talks about "The Church of Latter Day Saints" on the island. He not only got the name wrong (should be "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"), he also didn't do his research on how the ministry works. He called the congregation leader "pastor" and referred to a "deacon"... which was used more in the way a deacon would be used in a Protestant church. It's something that would be overlooked by any reader who isn't familiar with the LDS Church, but I found it curious that with all the research he did on other subjects, this fell through the cracks.
All in all, I'm glad I read it. It was informative, interesting, and emotionally compelling.
This book contains some bad language (including the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion), non-graphic sexuality (although I now know the Hawaiian word for "boy parts"), some descriptions of the wounds caused by leprosy, and there is plenty of death for obvious reasons. There is also a transgender character.
This is a novel set in the leper colony of Hawaii on the island of Moloka'i. I don't think most Amercians are really familiar with leprosy... it's not a disease that is common in the States in this day and age (thankfully), and until I saw a documentary on it a few years ago, I didn't even know it was still common in other countries.
I liked this book for the most part. I liked it a lot... for the most part. There were things that could have been left out of the story and it still would have invoked the same emotions for those who were the victims of this disease and all the social repercussions it brought.
In both this novel and the other I read by this author (Honolulu, reviewed a few posts ago), there is quite a bit of talk of sexuality. It's not graphic or vulgar... it's just treated as a natural urge that is a part of life. There is no morality attached to it, really... he doesn't seem to have an opinion one way or the other on religion. He writes about it in a detached way, I think. He also brings a character into the story who is transgender. I'm not sure why... he doesn't mention this character as a "real" person in the author notes, so it must just be a storyline he threw in there to make things interesting. It didn't bother me (she is actually a likable character), but I wonder what the point was.
Interestingly, he talks about "The Church of Latter Day Saints" on the island. He not only got the name wrong (should be "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"), he also didn't do his research on how the ministry works. He called the congregation leader "pastor" and referred to a "deacon"... which was used more in the way a deacon would be used in a Protestant church. It's something that would be overlooked by any reader who isn't familiar with the LDS Church, but I found it curious that with all the research he did on other subjects, this fell through the cracks.
All in all, I'm glad I read it. It was informative, interesting, and emotionally compelling.
This book contains some bad language (including the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion), non-graphic sexuality (although I now know the Hawaiian word for "boy parts"), some descriptions of the wounds caused by leprosy, and there is plenty of death for obvious reasons. There is also a transgender character.
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