Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library because I like the author.
This one seemed a little more typical romance than her other books did… at least for a portion of the story. I figured what would happen, you know, because it kind of followed that predictable pattern. It turned out to be not quite as predictable as I thought it was, though, so I was glad about that. I enjoyed it.
Clean.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
All-of-a-Kind Family (Sydney Taylor)
Why I have this book: My friend loaned it to me a few years ago and it's been sitting on my bookcase ever since. Oops.
This is a cute story that was originally published back in the 1950's… and I was surprised to see that it's actually the first book in a series. It's geared towards elementary school children, and I think it would hold their interest, although some of the descriptions of Jewish holiday preparations bogged me down a little.
Clean.
This is a cute story that was originally published back in the 1950's… and I was surprised to see that it's actually the first book in a series. It's geared towards elementary school children, and I think it would hold their interest, although some of the descriptions of Jewish holiday preparations bogged me down a little.
Clean.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Among the Shoshones (Elijah Nicholas Wilson)
Why I have this book: My friend read it and loved it… and even though hers was a used, old copy (which she loves), I bought my copy as a Kindle version.
This is basically a memoir of a man who lived with the Shoshone Indians as a young boy. He actually left with them just before he was 12 because they promised him a pony. Meaning, he left his family! Without telling them!
I found it interesting, and I think my husband and son would, as well. The Kindle version had quite a few typos (including his Indian name changing back and forth a few times), so that made me want to call the publisher and offer my services. :) Still, it was a worthwhile read.
Clean, with some description of injuries and death resulting from the battles and attacks between the white people and the Indians.
This is basically a memoir of a man who lived with the Shoshone Indians as a young boy. He actually left with them just before he was 12 because they promised him a pony. Meaning, he left his family! Without telling them!
I found it interesting, and I think my husband and son would, as well. The Kindle version had quite a few typos (including his Indian name changing back and forth a few times), so that made me want to call the publisher and offer my services. :) Still, it was a worthwhile read.
Clean, with some description of injuries and death resulting from the battles and attacks between the white people and the Indians.
31 Days to a Younger You (Arlene Pellicane)
Why I have this book: For a short time, I "met" (through blogs and such) a group of Christian women speakers, authors, whatever. I'm not really sure what to call them, but as part of that, I came across a few books that were recommended, and this was one of them.
It was pretty good. Some of the stuff wasn't that inspiring to me… it was pretty common sense. The spiritual stuff meant a bit more. I did highlight a few things.
I didn't read it as a "31 Days" thing… I just read it all the way through. I knew I wouldn't remember to read a bit every day.
Clean.
It was pretty good. Some of the stuff wasn't that inspiring to me… it was pretty common sense. The spiritual stuff meant a bit more. I did highlight a few things.
I didn't read it as a "31 Days" thing… I just read it all the way through. I knew I wouldn't remember to read a bit every day.
Clean.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
The Lake House (Kate Morton)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
It took me a little while to get completely sucked in, but once I did, I was IN. The ending was tied up a little more neatly than I expected, but I was happy with it anyway. :)
There are a handful of swear words and some talk about infidelity, and the subject line involves a couple of missing people and speculation (and discovery) of what happened to them.
It took me a little while to get completely sucked in, but once I did, I was IN. The ending was tied up a little more neatly than I expected, but I was happy with it anyway. :)
There are a handful of swear words and some talk about infidelity, and the subject line involves a couple of missing people and speculation (and discovery) of what happened to them.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Boys in the Boat (Daniel James Brown)
Why I have this book: I bought the Kindle version a long time ago when it was on sale for my husband and my grown son because I had heard it was good.
This month it was our book club book, so I finally read it. And just like my guys, I loved it.
My one piece of advice is that you should take the time to read it at a leisure pace. I kind of had a deadline, due to book club. I started it a bit late, but still finished on time… within an hour or so of our meeting. Haha. It really is the kind of book you need to just absorb and enjoy and learn from. There is so much information in there, but it really is all so interesting. And once again, I find myself admiring "the greatest generation." I'm very glad that I read it.
Clean, although I remember a few swear words, I think. There is also some slight description of wartime violence.
This month it was our book club book, so I finally read it. And just like my guys, I loved it.
My one piece of advice is that you should take the time to read it at a leisure pace. I kind of had a deadline, due to book club. I started it a bit late, but still finished on time… within an hour or so of our meeting. Haha. It really is the kind of book you need to just absorb and enjoy and learn from. There is so much information in there, but it really is all so interesting. And once again, I find myself admiring "the greatest generation." I'm very glad that I read it.
Clean, although I remember a few swear words, I think. There is also some slight description of wartime violence.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a True Story (Josh Sundquist)
Why I have this book: My teenage son begged me to buy it for him, so I bought the Kindle version.
Okay, so when my son was reading it, he would start laughing aloud. He kept telling me I needed to read it. I have so many books to read, and I wasn't sure this would be at the top of my list, but I actually ended up reading it a week or so after he did.
I was pretty sure I wouldn't find it as funny as my son did, since I'm not a teenage boy. But I found myself laughing at times… aloud! I also caught myself smiling at other times because I was amused. It actually is quite an entertaining book by an author who seems to be a genuinely likable guy.
Clean, although he mentions a couple of times the awkwardness for teenage boys when certain things happen during, say, a close slow dance. (No description given.) He also mentions that a girl put his hand on her breast, but he pulled away and told her it wasn't okay. The author is a Christian, so it's written from that perspective.
Okay, so when my son was reading it, he would start laughing aloud. He kept telling me I needed to read it. I have so many books to read, and I wasn't sure this would be at the top of my list, but I actually ended up reading it a week or so after he did.
I was pretty sure I wouldn't find it as funny as my son did, since I'm not a teenage boy. But I found myself laughing at times… aloud! I also caught myself smiling at other times because I was amused. It actually is quite an entertaining book by an author who seems to be a genuinely likable guy.
Clean, although he mentions a couple of times the awkwardness for teenage boys when certain things happen during, say, a close slow dance. (No description given.) He also mentions that a girl put his hand on her breast, but he pulled away and told her it wasn't okay. The author is a Christian, so it's written from that perspective.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
His Right Hand (Mette Ivie Harrison)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
This is the second book by the author that I've read… the first one was the first book in this "collection." The collection: A Linda Willheim Mystery Set in Mormon Utah. (The first book was called The Bishop's Wife, if you want to read my review.)
I am really unsettled with both of these books. On the one hand, they are kind of fun to read - she's got an easy writing style that makes it easy to get into… but I really don't get what the author is trying to do. Both books focus on really controversial subjects and she makes it clear that the LDS Church is just another church to her. She may or may not agree with the teachings, and she likes to make underhanded comments about the way things are done.
She also paints a picture of an LDS world that is nothing like I've ever seen in the decades I've been a member of the Church. If someone wasn't LDS, they would really get the wrong impression of a typical LDS community.
This particular storyline was a bit on the unbelievable side… but then, so was her first book. There's a bit of "cozy mystery" flavor to the books, but the way she seems to be using her stories as a tool to make the Church look bad is annoying to me.
The sad thing is, that even after both books, I can't figure out what her purpose is. I don't understand the idea of being a member of a Church and simultaneously feeling comfortable with mocking it.
There were a few instances with using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion. The subject matter involved a transgendered person and there were a few descriptions of sexual issues that were just weird to throw in there. The storyline also involved infidelity.
This is the second book by the author that I've read… the first one was the first book in this "collection." The collection: A Linda Willheim Mystery Set in Mormon Utah. (The first book was called The Bishop's Wife, if you want to read my review.)
I am really unsettled with both of these books. On the one hand, they are kind of fun to read - she's got an easy writing style that makes it easy to get into… but I really don't get what the author is trying to do. Both books focus on really controversial subjects and she makes it clear that the LDS Church is just another church to her. She may or may not agree with the teachings, and she likes to make underhanded comments about the way things are done.
She also paints a picture of an LDS world that is nothing like I've ever seen in the decades I've been a member of the Church. If someone wasn't LDS, they would really get the wrong impression of a typical LDS community.
This particular storyline was a bit on the unbelievable side… but then, so was her first book. There's a bit of "cozy mystery" flavor to the books, but the way she seems to be using her stories as a tool to make the Church look bad is annoying to me.
The sad thing is, that even after both books, I can't figure out what her purpose is. I don't understand the idea of being a member of a Church and simultaneously feeling comfortable with mocking it.
There were a few instances with using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion. The subject matter involved a transgendered person and there were a few descriptions of sexual issues that were just weird to throw in there. The storyline also involved infidelity.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Two books by Joshua Becker
Simplify
Inside-Out Simplicity
Why I have these books: I bought them a few years ago, and I actually read them before. I'm not sure why I never posted about them, but being that it's the new year, I read them again.
I really like both of these books. It's always good to have a reminder to simplify life and to keep life in a healthy perspective.
Clean.
Inside-Out Simplicity
Why I have these books: I bought them a few years ago, and I actually read them before. I'm not sure why I never posted about them, but being that it's the new year, I read them again.
I really like both of these books. It's always good to have a reminder to simplify life and to keep life in a healthy perspective.
Clean.
Alabama Moon (Watt Key)
Why I have this book: A friend recommended it years ago and I bought it a long while ago.
I didn't love this book at all. According to Amazon, it is geared towards grades 5-8, and yet, there is a lot of swearing. It confused me why a book for children has so much swearing in it.
I didn't like the main character or his father. I never felt a connection to either of them. I felt like both of them were disrespectful of other people (and society at large), although the son was that way because that's how he was raised. I never really *felt* a connection between the characters, even though the author described it happening. I did like some of the fringe characters and could feel their kindness and humanity, so that was a bit of a redeeming quality.
I just found the story depressing overall.
I didn't connect with this book. Maybe if I was more outdoorsy, I'd have found it more fascinating. I'm not sure I would even have my boys read it. Without the swearing, I maybe would, but I don't think the story makes it worth it.
There is a lot of swearing for a book written for elementary/middle school kids. The story also deals with death a couple of times.
I didn't love this book at all. According to Amazon, it is geared towards grades 5-8, and yet, there is a lot of swearing. It confused me why a book for children has so much swearing in it.
I didn't like the main character or his father. I never felt a connection to either of them. I felt like both of them were disrespectful of other people (and society at large), although the son was that way because that's how he was raised. I never really *felt* a connection between the characters, even though the author described it happening. I did like some of the fringe characters and could feel their kindness and humanity, so that was a bit of a redeeming quality.
I just found the story depressing overall.
I didn't connect with this book. Maybe if I was more outdoorsy, I'd have found it more fascinating. I'm not sure I would even have my boys read it. Without the swearing, I maybe would, but I don't think the story makes it worth it.
There is a lot of swearing for a book written for elementary/middle school kids. The story also deals with death a couple of times.
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