Why I have this book: I'm not sure how I was referred to it, but I am an overthinker (the first step is acknowledging it, ya?), so I had no second thoughts on buying this book for Kindle.
I thought there was a lot of helpful information in the book. It was interesting to read, and the author gave good strategies for "turning off your brain" (as my husband has often told me to do.) But not just "turning off your brain"... she also shares ideas on how to solve those issues - or at least deal with them - without just spinning your wheels in overthinking.
I found it a worthwhile read, and it was nice to see that it can be a common trait among women. It's not just me. ;)
There is some swearing in this book, and also some mention of sexual assault and other trials women might deal with in life.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
The Skeleton in My Closet Wears a Wedding Dress (Sally Johnson)
Why I have this book: Okay, so here's the story. It came up as a recommended read on Amazon. I thought it sounded like it might be good... but it was pricey for a Kindle book, so I decided to put it on my Wish List for a while. Then I decided to read the One-Star review on Amazon, which was sooooooo ridiculous and annoying and reminded me of really judgmental people I know. "LDS people should NOT read this book!!!! SHAME!!! SHAME!!!" So I bought it out of spite... and also to be supportive of the author.
Anyway... I read the book yesterday because I wasn't feeling great and I didn't really do much else except lie (lay? You know I can never get that right, even after studying the rule about it many, many times) around all day. I thought it was pretty good. The writing was easy to get into, although there were a couple of over-the-top scenes that seemed completely out of character for the protagonist. I'm not sure any of it was too realistic, but it is LDS fiction. :) I also thought there could have been a little more depth in the backstory. It just never really made sense to me. Plus... she still is such a young thing at the end of the book, that a new love story just seems pushing it, considering...
But for a light read and a pretty enjoyable story, it's a good choice. I still think it is too pricey (I think $4.99 or less would have been a fair price), but I'm not sorry I paid full price just so I can feel a little rebellious against the One-Star reviewer who tried to SHAME the author and anyone who reads this book. Ha!
Clean. Just in case you're hypersensitive about LDS people getting divorced (like the One-Star Reviewer), this story does deal with a young married couple who is divorced.
Anyway... I read the book yesterday because I wasn't feeling great and I didn't really do much else except lie (lay? You know I can never get that right, even after studying the rule about it many, many times) around all day. I thought it was pretty good. The writing was easy to get into, although there were a couple of over-the-top scenes that seemed completely out of character for the protagonist. I'm not sure any of it was too realistic, but it is LDS fiction. :) I also thought there could have been a little more depth in the backstory. It just never really made sense to me. Plus... she still is such a young thing at the end of the book, that a new love story just seems pushing it, considering...
But for a light read and a pretty enjoyable story, it's a good choice. I still think it is too pricey (I think $4.99 or less would have been a fair price), but I'm not sorry I paid full price just so I can feel a little rebellious against the One-Star reviewer who tried to SHAME the author and anyone who reads this book. Ha!
Clean. Just in case you're hypersensitive about LDS people getting divorced (like the One-Star Reviewer), this story does deal with a young married couple who is divorced.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
My Own Mr. Darcy (Karey White)
Why I have this book: It was on sale for Kindle for $1.99. I was going to buy it, but then I saw it was available to borrow with Amazon Prime, so I borrowed it instead.
Super cute book. I enjoyed it a lot.
The Kindle version had a couple of weird typos toward the end, but overall, I thought the book was well written and easy to get into. I even ended up buying it to gift it to my daughter while it was still on sale. If you want a nice, clean read, this is a good one!
Clean.
Super cute book. I enjoyed it a lot.
The Kindle version had a couple of weird typos toward the end, but overall, I thought the book was well written and easy to get into. I even ended up buying it to gift it to my daughter while it was still on sale. If you want a nice, clean read, this is a good one!
Clean.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Why I Don't Hide My Freckles Anymore: Perspectives on True Beauty (LaNae Valentine and Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen)
Why I have this book: It caught my eye a couple of times in bookstore catalogs and I finally decided to buy it.
This book is basically a collection of essays by women (and a couple of men) about their experiences and/or thoughts on what true beauty is. I found most of it to be interesting and a bit here and there worthy of highlighting. I wish the thoughts would have gone a little deeper and that the authors would have shared more about their journeys as they've embraced a more spiritual view of "beauty." I thought it felt a bit too "on the surface" to be a helpful tool for those who are struggling in this very "appearance-focused" world we live in.
Clean.
This book is basically a collection of essays by women (and a couple of men) about their experiences and/or thoughts on what true beauty is. I found most of it to be interesting and a bit here and there worthy of highlighting. I wish the thoughts would have gone a little deeper and that the authors would have shared more about their journeys as they've embraced a more spiritual view of "beauty." I thought it felt a bit too "on the surface" to be a helpful tool for those who are struggling in this very "appearance-focused" world we live in.
Clean.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Wonder (R.J. Palacio)
Why I have this book: It was our book club book this month. I actually borrowed it from the e-book library. It nicely came available just when I needed it!
I LOVED this book. Loved it. In fact, I will be buying it. I just haven't decided if I'll buy it as a "real" book or a Kindle edition. In the meantime, it's on my Wish List so I won't forget. It's a great book for kids to read. It's also a great book for adults to read. Besides the obvious lessons, it was just an enjoyable book to immerse oneself in.
I'm not sure why one character "wrote" his chapter with no capital letters. That would be my one puzzlement. :) I'm not bothered, per se, just wasn't sure why exactly. None of the other kids his age (or younger) wrote in a juvenile manner.
And I'm so grateful my kids' school does not hold a graduation for every grade in middle school. Ugh. High school graduation is enough. (Kindergarten graduation is just fun.)
The "other F-word" (the one some people use instead of, say, "toot.") is used over and over in one chapter. (He is telling a story that involves passing gas, and thus uses that word to describe it. Over and over.) The name of God is used as an exclamation of emotion a handful of times.
I LOVED this book. Loved it. In fact, I will be buying it. I just haven't decided if I'll buy it as a "real" book or a Kindle edition. In the meantime, it's on my Wish List so I won't forget. It's a great book for kids to read. It's also a great book for adults to read. Besides the obvious lessons, it was just an enjoyable book to immerse oneself in.
I'm not sure why one character "wrote" his chapter with no capital letters. That would be my one puzzlement. :) I'm not bothered, per se, just wasn't sure why exactly. None of the other kids his age (or younger) wrote in a juvenile manner.
And I'm so grateful my kids' school does not hold a graduation for every grade in middle school. Ugh. High school graduation is enough. (Kindergarten graduation is just fun.)
The "other F-word" (the one some people use instead of, say, "toot.") is used over and over in one chapter. (He is telling a story that involves passing gas, and thus uses that word to describe it. Over and over.) The name of God is used as an exclamation of emotion a handful of times.
Monday, April 28, 2014
The Weight of Love (Jolene Betty Perry)
Why I have this book: It was $2.99 on Amazon and sometimes I just want to read LDS fiction.
Ugh. In fact, I give this a 5-Ugh rating.
It's not that I don't know people who met their future spouses while serving as missionaries. I'm not even opposed to that, because I do have friends who did and it wasn't creepy at all. But this book is "Ugh" on so many levels... I can't even get started on it.
I wish I had not spent $2.99 on it.
Clean'ish. I can't even describe what adds the "ish" to that. Let's just stop talking about this book.
Ugh. In fact, I give this a 5-Ugh rating.
It's not that I don't know people who met their future spouses while serving as missionaries. I'm not even opposed to that, because I do have friends who did and it wasn't creepy at all. But this book is "Ugh" on so many levels... I can't even get started on it.
I wish I had not spent $2.99 on it.
Clean'ish. I can't even describe what adds the "ish" to that. Let's just stop talking about this book.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Eyes Forward (Lavita Wilkinson)
Why I have this book: It was 99 cents on Amazon for Kindle and it looked like it would be a light read... which is what I was wanting this week.
Definitely a light read. The writing was well done... it all flowed smoothly and I enjoyed the book. It was fairly predictable, although in some ways, there was too much going on. There were just a lot of angles to the story, and even though I felt like I was able to get to know most of the characters pretty well, the story wasn't able to get too deep just because of the sheer number of issues for so many of them. The "bad guy" was just too stereotypical and a little over the top to be believable for me... but that seems to be par for the course for this genre.
It was worth the money I paid. I would read other books by the author if I came across them.
Clean. There is domestic violence, which isn't really graphically described.
Definitely a light read. The writing was well done... it all flowed smoothly and I enjoyed the book. It was fairly predictable, although in some ways, there was too much going on. There were just a lot of angles to the story, and even though I felt like I was able to get to know most of the characters pretty well, the story wasn't able to get too deep just because of the sheer number of issues for so many of them. The "bad guy" was just too stereotypical and a little over the top to be believable for me... but that seems to be par for the course for this genre.
It was worth the money I paid. I would read other books by the author if I came across them.
Clean. There is domestic violence, which isn't really graphically described.
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