Why I have this book: Because I'm a Sandra Dallas fan and Amazon recommended it to me. :)
I liked this book enough to have to make myself put it down every chapter to do some housework, so that has to mean something, right? Actually, when I finished it, I wasn't as in love with it as I could have been. It was good, but it just lacked... something... for me. I think I was bothered by some of the storyline... maybe I just never could connect to the characters with much depth. Actually, the character I got the most connected to died so quickly that maybe I didn't invest much more as the book went on. Ha.
Anyway, not my favorite Sandra Dallas book, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from checking it out of the library. My copy will be going to my grandma or the library.
This book had a few swear words, and several characters engaged in non-married sex... it was mostly implied, but there was a little bit of "roaming hands" type stuff. Also, some attempted incestuous sexual assault.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Gift of Angels (Rachel Ann Nunes)
Why I have this book: The LDS fiction selection on Amazon/Kindle is getting bigger and bigger! I saw this book, had enjoyed a couple of other books by the author... and I thought it sounded like something I needed right now.
I admit... this book was kind of hard for me to read. The protagonist is a middle aged mom who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is struggling with her spirituality in the wake of her uncertain future. She is doubting her faith in prayer and miracles, and is frustrated by the stories others tell or that she reads about of angels and miraculous healings. The book is about how she is able to turn back to God and use His strength and the strength of the angels around her to endure the trial she is facing.
I could relate to her feelings, and reading it was comforting in some ways and hard in others. I agree completely with the message of the book, so there is no conflict there. Life can just be hard and painful at times, and I'm more the "denial" kind of person. :) I generally choose not to read sad books... and this book wasn't sad, per se... but it described a very difficult situation.
All in all, I think it is an important message.
Clean.
I admit... this book was kind of hard for me to read. The protagonist is a middle aged mom who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is struggling with her spirituality in the wake of her uncertain future. She is doubting her faith in prayer and miracles, and is frustrated by the stories others tell or that she reads about of angels and miraculous healings. The book is about how she is able to turn back to God and use His strength and the strength of the angels around her to endure the trial she is facing.
I could relate to her feelings, and reading it was comforting in some ways and hard in others. I agree completely with the message of the book, so there is no conflict there. Life can just be hard and painful at times, and I'm more the "denial" kind of person. :) I generally choose not to read sad books... and this book wasn't sad, per se... but it described a very difficult situation.
All in all, I think it is an important message.
Clean.
Ashley and Jen (Jack Weyland)
Why I have this book: My daughter-in-law loaned it to my daughter. It was sitting here, so I read it.
Okay, so Jack Weyland has published a ton of books in the LDS fiction genre. Pretty sure they are all for teenager/young adults. I've read a handful over the years... mostly borrowed from friends. He tackles some heavy subjects (this one is about eating disorders), and somehow he does a good enough job that he keeps having books published. But... honestly... the dialogue in this book (and I'm quite certain the same holds true in other books of his) produces eye-rolling at an astonishing rate for this reader.
This kind of sums it up for me: I texted my friend and told her I was reading a Jack Weyland book. Her response was, "Put down the words posing as a good book and walk away." LOL! I told her I was on about page 10 or 14 or something and that I had already rolled my eyes a zillion times. But I did finish the book and I liked the overall message. I don't know. I'm totally torn on it. I don't think I'd ever spend money on one of his books, but I would borrow them and read them when I was in the mood for something like that.
Clean... there is mention of one character's reputation with boys.
Okay, so Jack Weyland has published a ton of books in the LDS fiction genre. Pretty sure they are all for teenager/young adults. I've read a handful over the years... mostly borrowed from friends. He tackles some heavy subjects (this one is about eating disorders), and somehow he does a good enough job that he keeps having books published. But... honestly... the dialogue in this book (and I'm quite certain the same holds true in other books of his) produces eye-rolling at an astonishing rate for this reader.
This kind of sums it up for me: I texted my friend and told her I was reading a Jack Weyland book. Her response was, "Put down the words posing as a good book and walk away." LOL! I told her I was on about page 10 or 14 or something and that I had already rolled my eyes a zillion times. But I did finish the book and I liked the overall message. I don't know. I'm totally torn on it. I don't think I'd ever spend money on one of his books, but I would borrow them and read them when I was in the mood for something like that.
Clean... there is mention of one character's reputation with boys.
Friday, August 26, 2011
In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms (Dr. Laura Schlessinger)
Why I have this book: It was on the bargain shelf at the local bookstore.
I liked it. I am fairly neutral about Dr. Laura (I know there seems to be the "Love Her" camp and the "Can't Stand Her" camp. I'm not camping at all. I like some of her advice, don't like some of it... and in any case, I only really listened to her if I happened to be in the car while her show was on.)
Anyway, it's a good book. Not all of it was "Holy Cow! Great thought!", but I did love this part about the transition to SAHM-hood: "The major issue of this transition is, I believe, one of the most important tasks of maturation; that is, becoming less self-centered. Being responsible for children, a home, and a husband teaches you to live outside yourself, for something and someone other than yourself."
So, so true. All in all, it was a good reminder to me of why I do what I do, and how to keep loving it and putting as much into it (and more) as I have since I first began being a SAHM nearly 24 years ago.
A keeper. My daughters and daughters-in-law might want to read it in the coming years. :)
There were one or two swear words in this book.
I liked it. I am fairly neutral about Dr. Laura (I know there seems to be the "Love Her" camp and the "Can't Stand Her" camp. I'm not camping at all. I like some of her advice, don't like some of it... and in any case, I only really listened to her if I happened to be in the car while her show was on.)
Anyway, it's a good book. Not all of it was "Holy Cow! Great thought!", but I did love this part about the transition to SAHM-hood: "The major issue of this transition is, I believe, one of the most important tasks of maturation; that is, becoming less self-centered. Being responsible for children, a home, and a husband teaches you to live outside yourself, for something and someone other than yourself."
So, so true. All in all, it was a good reminder to me of why I do what I do, and how to keep loving it and putting as much into it (and more) as I have since I first began being a SAHM nearly 24 years ago.
A keeper. My daughters and daughters-in-law might want to read it in the coming years. :)
There were one or two swear words in this book.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Girl Who Chased the Moon (Sarah Addison Allen)
Why I have this book: It's the second half of a RD's condensed book.
Hmmm... well. I did like this book, in the sense that it was very entertaining. It had a "magical" feel to it. (The cover art even looks magical!) I wanted to keep reading it even when there were other things I needed to be doing... there were just too many things I needed to see play out.
On the other hand, some of it was a bit too magical for me. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. The ending was satisfying... but I wanted to know more. So...?
Good book? Yes, I think so. If I had the "real" book, I'd probably keep it and read it again in the future, just in case I could figure it out on the second go-round. I finished it several days ago and now that I'm writing about it, it's in my head again. It's one of those books that kind of absorbs you.
This edited version had implied unmarried sex and some swear words. I have no idea how much the "real" version contains.
Hmmm... well. I did like this book, in the sense that it was very entertaining. It had a "magical" feel to it. (The cover art even looks magical!) I wanted to keep reading it even when there were other things I needed to be doing... there were just too many things I needed to see play out.
On the other hand, some of it was a bit too magical for me. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. The ending was satisfying... but I wanted to know more. So...?
Good book? Yes, I think so. If I had the "real" book, I'd probably keep it and read it again in the future, just in case I could figure it out on the second go-round. I finished it several days ago and now that I'm writing about it, it's in my head again. It's one of those books that kind of absorbs you.
This edited version had implied unmarried sex and some swear words. I have no idea how much the "real" version contains.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Home to Italy (Peter Pezzelli)
Why I have this book: My mom had put it on our shared Kindle account. I realized this is the same author as two of the RD Condensed books I've read - and whose books I've enjoyed - so I decided to read it.
I liked this book a lot. It's a good story... easy to get into, and fun to come back to after you've had to put it down. I liked how the characters were so into the Giro d'Italia, since my husband is a biker and we've watched it on tv. I could picture the descriptions given on how the spectators get involved with the race. I felt like the author captured the spirit of Italy, and did a great job making the characters come to life.
I wasn't completely convinced on the love story, and there were a few cheesy parts... but overall, this is a very enjoyable book. I will even look to see what else Peter Pezzelli has written. If it was a "real" book, I'd keep it and have my husband read it. He'd like all the biking stuff in it. :)
There is some using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion, but it's in Italian, so...? For all I know, there was other swearing in Italian, but none in English that I recall. There is also some implied (not described) unmarried sex.
I liked this book a lot. It's a good story... easy to get into, and fun to come back to after you've had to put it down. I liked how the characters were so into the Giro d'Italia, since my husband is a biker and we've watched it on tv. I could picture the descriptions given on how the spectators get involved with the race. I felt like the author captured the spirit of Italy, and did a great job making the characters come to life.
I wasn't completely convinced on the love story, and there were a few cheesy parts... but overall, this is a very enjoyable book. I will even look to see what else Peter Pezzelli has written. If it was a "real" book, I'd keep it and have my husband read it. He'd like all the biking stuff in it. :)
There is some using the Lord's name as an exclamation of emotion, but it's in Italian, so...? For all I know, there was other swearing in Italian, but none in English that I recall. There is also some implied (not described) unmarried sex.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rainwater (Sandra Brown)
Why I have this book: It's the first half of a Reader's Digest condensed book.
I did like this book. The story has some hard topics in it... racism, poverty, murder, etc. It's a touching story, but not necessarily a happy one. There are definitely life lessons to be learned from it, and there is a certain "peace" about it... but it's not what I would call a light, happy read.
There is one blaring contradiction in the book... so much so that I went back in the pages to see if I misread what it said. Sometimes I think I should have been a book editor. I tend to catch the misspellings and typos and there was even one book where a character's name completely changed by mistake. Anyway...
I would read it again, so it would be a keeper if it was the real thing. Since it's part of a condensed version, I will send it on to my Grandma when I finish the second novel in the book.
As mentioned, there are some hard topics in this book... some are even a bit disturbing. There are one or two swear words (used by the "bad guy") that I recall, some implied sex between two unmarried adults, and an attempted rape. This book is an edited, condensed version, so I can't say what else might be in the full version.
I did like this book. The story has some hard topics in it... racism, poverty, murder, etc. It's a touching story, but not necessarily a happy one. There are definitely life lessons to be learned from it, and there is a certain "peace" about it... but it's not what I would call a light, happy read.
There is one blaring contradiction in the book... so much so that I went back in the pages to see if I misread what it said. Sometimes I think I should have been a book editor. I tend to catch the misspellings and typos and there was even one book where a character's name completely changed by mistake. Anyway...
I would read it again, so it would be a keeper if it was the real thing. Since it's part of a condensed version, I will send it on to my Grandma when I finish the second novel in the book.
As mentioned, there are some hard topics in this book... some are even a bit disturbing. There are one or two swear words (used by the "bad guy") that I recall, some implied sex between two unmarried adults, and an attempted rape. This book is an edited, condensed version, so I can't say what else might be in the full version.
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