Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library after a friend recommended it.
This book is a solid 5 stars. It's similar to a book I reviewed earlier (The Orphan Keeper), but that one had been fictionalized to some degree, and that bothered me.
This one (as far as I know) hasn't been fictionalized at all. Obviously, having been a young boy, the author likely had to fill in some blanks, but I think it's as accurate as possible. It's very well written and completely engrossing.
I just wonder how common this story is. Two books, published so close together with a very similar experience, makes me think there could be hundreds of children in this same situation. It's heart-wrenching.
Clean. There are some difficult experiences described, but it's not graphic. There may have been one swear word, but I'm not even sure about that. Maybe not.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Daughter of Joy (Kathleen Morgan)
Why I have this book: I got it free on Kindle.
I read this book way back in the day when my mom and I shared a Kindle account. I'm pretty sure she got it free, also. Then when I separated from her account for my own, the book stayed on her Kindle. When I saw it again for free, I got it. I knew I had read it, but couldn't remember if I liked it or not. Or maybe I thought I did...
In any case, I didn't really like it much. It had potential, but a lot of it seemed contrived. It is VERY Christian, in the sense that there's a lot of sermonizing. (I wasn't sure that was a word, but it appears that it is!) I'm not even sure I agree with some of it, but I understand the intent and I can appreciate that. I only gave it one star on Goodreads, though.
Clean.
I read this book way back in the day when my mom and I shared a Kindle account. I'm pretty sure she got it free, also. Then when I separated from her account for my own, the book stayed on her Kindle. When I saw it again for free, I got it. I knew I had read it, but couldn't remember if I liked it or not. Or maybe I thought I did...
In any case, I didn't really like it much. It had potential, but a lot of it seemed contrived. It is VERY Christian, in the sense that there's a lot of sermonizing. (I wasn't sure that was a word, but it appears that it is!) I'm not even sure I agree with some of it, but I understand the intent and I can appreciate that. I only gave it one star on Goodreads, though.
Clean.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy (Sue Klebold)
Why I have this book: My sister-in-law recommended it after she read it. It's written by the mother of one of the Columbine shooters.
This book isn't easy to read (especially in one particular part where the author receives more information about how exactly the attack went down, and she carefully shares that information in her book.) Sue Klebold is careful in what she writes and does her best to be respectful of the victims of this attack. As a reader, I could feel her very conflicted emotions toward her son and overwhelming remorse for what he did. A good portion of the book (most of the last half) is devoted to what she has learned about depression and violence due to "brain health" issues.
As a mother, my heart hurts for her. I'm still absorbing and sorting through the emotions of everything she wrote. It's honestly heart-wrenching, but I'm glad I read it. I think there are important messages in this book, and it made me look at myself as a parent and friend. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
My heart goes out to all the people who were affected by this horrible tragedy. My own son was a preemie baby at the time the Columbine attack happened. I remember watching it on a hospital television while I was there to care for him before he was released from the NICU. Reading this book has opened my eyes to how much suffering happens in the years (and lifetime) after for those who are close to the situation. My heart just aches.
The book contains enough information about the attack that it's hard to read in spots, although it's not sensationalized or gratuitous. There are some swear words, if I'm remembering correctly, and lots of information about depression and suicide.
This book isn't easy to read (especially in one particular part where the author receives more information about how exactly the attack went down, and she carefully shares that information in her book.) Sue Klebold is careful in what she writes and does her best to be respectful of the victims of this attack. As a reader, I could feel her very conflicted emotions toward her son and overwhelming remorse for what he did. A good portion of the book (most of the last half) is devoted to what she has learned about depression and violence due to "brain health" issues.
As a mother, my heart hurts for her. I'm still absorbing and sorting through the emotions of everything she wrote. It's honestly heart-wrenching, but I'm glad I read it. I think there are important messages in this book, and it made me look at myself as a parent and friend. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
My heart goes out to all the people who were affected by this horrible tragedy. My own son was a preemie baby at the time the Columbine attack happened. I remember watching it on a hospital television while I was there to care for him before he was released from the NICU. Reading this book has opened my eyes to how much suffering happens in the years (and lifetime) after for those who are close to the situation. My heart just aches.
The book contains enough information about the attack that it's hard to read in spots, although it's not sensationalized or gratuitous. There are some swear words, if I'm remembering correctly, and lots of information about depression and suicide.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Dads Who Stay and Fight: How to Be a Hero for Your Family (Greg Trimble)
Why I have this book: I bought it for my husband for his birthday.
I thought this book had a lot of great thoughts on being a good dad. Basically, it's about engaging in your family and really being there, not just being around. The author covers that idea in different areas of fatherhood and what that means for your children.
Clean.
I thought this book had a lot of great thoughts on being a good dad. Basically, it's about engaging in your family and really being there, not just being around. The author covers that idea in different areas of fatherhood and what that means for your children.
Clean.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Tears of the Silenced (Misty Griffin)
Why I have this book: I bought this memoir after reading a review on a blog. I've read "Amish fiction," mostly because they are clean and sometimes they have storylines that inspire me in my own faith. I admit, though, that I had a difficult time reconciling what I was reading with what I heard about the Amish. I had to kind of picture the characters in a different way than what I've seen of the Amish. I don't really know how to explain it...
Anyway, I am officially over Amish fiction now. This book was really eye-opening to the kind of things that go on in the strictest sects of the Amish faith. There are some on Amazon who question the truthfulness of this book, and I agree that there were times when I thought the story was unbelievable. How can anyone be so evil as some of these people are? I realize I live a pretty sheltered life, and I tried to remember that just because I haven't had or seen these kind of experiences doesn't mean they don't happen. I mean, we see horrific stories on the news, so I can't discount that these things do happen in the world. I decided to take this book at face value, knowing that the author did alter details in order to protect the innocent while also shedding light on what is going on in some of these communities.
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads. It needed an editor for puncuation and grammar and random typos.
This book is difficult to read because of the level of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse (although apparently, the worst of it wasn't included in the book). There is also a small amount of swearing.
Anyway, I am officially over Amish fiction now. This book was really eye-opening to the kind of things that go on in the strictest sects of the Amish faith. There are some on Amazon who question the truthfulness of this book, and I agree that there were times when I thought the story was unbelievable. How can anyone be so evil as some of these people are? I realize I live a pretty sheltered life, and I tried to remember that just because I haven't had or seen these kind of experiences doesn't mean they don't happen. I mean, we see horrific stories on the news, so I can't discount that these things do happen in the world. I decided to take this book at face value, knowing that the author did alter details in order to protect the innocent while also shedding light on what is going on in some of these communities.
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads. It needed an editor for puncuation and grammar and random typos.
This book is difficult to read because of the level of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse (although apparently, the worst of it wasn't included in the book). There is also a small amount of swearing.
Monday, June 5, 2017
Someday, Someday, Maybe (Lauren Graham)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the e-book library.
I actually only borrowed this because it was written by Lauren Graham, of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fame. I'm not sure why that was a motivating factor, because I'm not like a huge fan or anything. I guess I wanted to see if she could write. (Turns out she has a Bachelors in English.)
Yes, she can write! I really enjoyed this book and I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. It's actually probably more of a 3.75, but only because there was too much swearing for my taste. It would have been a solid 4 or even 4.25 if she had left the swearing out. Her writing just flows nicely and it's easy to get "into" the story.
There was nothing super inspirational in the book (although there were some good little life lessons), but it was just a happy, enjoyable read.
There is some swearing, including the F-word. Pretty sure two characters slept together, but there are no descriptions at all (which is nice), so you're kind of left to assume.
I actually only borrowed this because it was written by Lauren Graham, of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fame. I'm not sure why that was a motivating factor, because I'm not like a huge fan or anything. I guess I wanted to see if she could write. (Turns out she has a Bachelors in English.)
Yes, she can write! I really enjoyed this book and I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. It's actually probably more of a 3.75, but only because there was too much swearing for my taste. It would have been a solid 4 or even 4.25 if she had left the swearing out. Her writing just flows nicely and it's easy to get "into" the story.
There was nothing super inspirational in the book (although there were some good little life lessons), but it was just a happy, enjoyable read.
There is some swearing, including the F-word. Pretty sure two characters slept together, but there are no descriptions at all (which is nice), so you're kind of left to assume.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
The Shape of Mercy (Susan Meisner)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads. It would have been 4, except the ending fell a little flat for me. In fact, it took me a little bit of time to get into it (this was the second time I started it), but the middle was really great. I enjoyed the majority of the book, so really, it was almost a 4 star read. :)
I also had a difficult time really feeling the underlying theme of judging or making assumptions about others. I could sense this was a message the author was trying to get across, but it just didn't really click for me.
Clean, but it does focus on the Salem Witch trials, so if that is something that would bother you, skip this one. (None of it is terribly graphic.)
I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads. It would have been 4, except the ending fell a little flat for me. In fact, it took me a little bit of time to get into it (this was the second time I started it), but the middle was really great. I enjoyed the majority of the book, so really, it was almost a 4 star read. :)
I also had a difficult time really feeling the underlying theme of judging or making assumptions about others. I could sense this was a message the author was trying to get across, but it just didn't really click for me.
Clean, but it does focus on the Salem Witch trials, so if that is something that would bother you, skip this one. (None of it is terribly graphic.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)