Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (Michael J. Fox)

Why I have this book: I downloaded it to my Kindle because it piqued my interest a few months ago. With my newly discovered health challenges, I thought it would be good to read about someone who is handling his own (much bigger) challenges optimistically.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Michael J. Fox is a very good writer... the words flow easily and he writes with humor and honesty. The book wasn't exactly what I expected... I think his first book (Lucky Man) is one I'd like to read and is probably more about his journey through his diagnoses of Parkinson's Disease and how he came to grips with that, but it's not available on Kindle at this time. I'll keep checking.

Yes, a good read. I don't know if I would read it a second time (if it was a real book and not on my Kindle), so I would donate it to a library.

MJF uses a good amount of profanity, including the "F" word several times. It always surprises me how profanity is just kicked around like it's common language... which I guess it is for some people.

How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini (Heather Horrocks)

Why I have this book: It was on the bargain table of a local bookstore, and the Easter Bunny took advantage of this and gave it to my daughter in her Easter bag. (Because we do bags instead of baskets.)

I'm sure I've read other versions of this story many times. It was a fairly typical LDS young adult romance novel. Cute. Enjoyable for a light read. Written well. A bit witty.

Yeah.

It's not mine, but if it was, I'd pass it on. Not that I regret reading it... it's just not a keeper for my overstuffed shelves.

Clean.

La's Orchestra Saves the World (Alexander McCall Smith)

Why I have this book: It was the second half of a Reader's Digest condensed book. I'm pretty sure I already reviewed the first half a long time ago.

I liked this book a lot. The only problem was that I went back and read the first chapter after finishing the book... it was one of those stories where the first chapter takes place years later, and then you go back in time for the rest of the story. Anyway, I had more questions than answers after reading that first chapter again, and I wish I knew what happened. I don't think reading the original version would answer the questions for me, but maybe my friend (M) will check it out of the library and tell me if I missed anything with this abridged version

If I had the "real" version, I'd keep it.

This edited version was clean... I think there was a swear word or two, but nothing major.

Bitten (Robert Smith)

Why I have this book: It was on the bargain shelf at the local bookstore.

Okay... so this book (I discovered) is an abridgement of two previous books by the author, who also is known as Robert Farrell Smith. He wrote Baptists at our Barbeque and Captain Matrimony. I reviewed Captain Matrimony earlier in this blog, and I liked it and the movie version of "Baptists..."

So if I had bought this book and didn't know it was an abridgement, and I had already read the other books (which were titled All is Swell: Trust in Thelma's Way and Falling for Grace: Trust at the End of the World), I would not be happy. But anyway, I hadn't read those other books, so it was fine.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that the author is somewhat a one-trick pony. All these stories are about quirky, LDS communities with even quirkier LDS people. You could interchange any character from this book into the other books and vice-versa. It worked a couple of times, but now it's just a bit redundant.

This book was okay... the second half was better than the first. I finished it and I'm glad it's done and now I can donate it to the library and move on.

I feel horrible saying all this, because I'm sure Robert (Farrell) Smith is a nice guy, and his stories are kind of fun. It would just be nice to see if he can write something that isn't based on quirky people in quirky communities.

Clean.

East (Edith Pattou)

Why I have this book: I joined a small, online book club... and this was the choice of the month.

East is a cross between a fairy tale and a fantasy. I'm not a big fantasy fan AT ALL. I would have never picked this book to read on my own... but that's the wonderful thing about belonging to a book club. I have read many books I wouldn't have read otherwise because of the various book clubs I have been in!

I started this book a couple of weeks ago, read the first chapter or so, and put it down. Last night (since the discussion begins later this week) I picked it up again at around 9:30 pm, settled into a hot bath, and began reading again.

I tore myself away from the book when I noticed - a couple of hours later - that the water was cool, got my jammies on, and climbed into bed with my small book light to keep reading. (I was that enthralled in the story!) I read until well after midnight, when I finally put the book down to get some sleep. (It's spring break, so I knew I could sleep in a bit.)

I finished the book today.

I will say I thought that once the climax of the story had happened, the book ended rather quickly and fairly neatly. I was a bit disappointed in that. It was like I was completely engrossed in the story, totally sucked in... and then the rest of the book was just "surface" reading, because there wasn't much depth to it.

But... it's a keeper. I know both my older girls will love it. I really enjoyed the story, and wish the author would have finished out the ending with the same depth as the rest of the book. However, the book was already nearly 500 pages long, so... ?

This book is totally clean.

The Fearless Mind (Craig Manning, PhD)

Why I have this book: My oldest son and I went to hear the author speak at a seminar put on by the owner of the gym we belong to. We were so impressed that we bought his book. :)

This book is about how our minds are such a crucial part of how we become "high performers". Dr. Manning is a sports psychologist and was formerly a tennis coach at BYU. Most of his stories are sports-based, but his theories can apply to anyone in any situation.

I enjoyed this book. I think it's one I'd have to read over and over again to remind me how I should be thinking. It certainly doesn't come naturally to me. :) Definite keeper.

Clean.

Austenland (Shannon Hale)

Why I have this book: I bought it when it was a book club book several years ago.

I liked it the first time I read it... mostly because I am a huge fan of the Pride and Prejudice movie version with Colin Firth.

But now that I apparently have a chip on my shoulder about the author (because of the book The Actor and the Housewife, which I reviewed a few entries ago), I didn't love it quite as much this time.

I enjoyed it. I thought it was cute. A nice, silly, fun romance.

But I'm not keeping it this time. I'm probably going to give it to the library.

There are a couple of swear words and one use of elementary age'ish slang for a male body part.