Why I have this book: I heard about it (and the author's story) a while ago, and finally bought the book on Kindle.
The author went through the traumatic event of her husband's murder, which was the result of his affair with a married woman. The seemingly perfect, young family life was shattered in one night by not only his death, but by the revelation of his infidelity.
I liked the parts of each chapter where the author described the events of her life both before and after that tragic night. "Liked" is probably not the right word, like it trivializes what she went through. What I mean is that I found it interesting, emotional, and heartbreaking.
I didn't really connect with the part of each chapter where she turned what she learned through those events into a opportunity to "teach" the reader a spiritual concept. I appreciated what she was saying and trying to do, but those sections were too wordy for me… maybe a little disjointed in some ways. After a while, I just skipped those paragraphs and went on to the next chapter. I feel bad saying that, since I think that was a big part of why she wrote the book - to share how her faith strengthened her during this horrible time. For my brain, though, less would have been more.
She has a second book that, I'm assuming, continues her story into her second marriage. I do want to read it, but I'll borrow it from the library.
I think there were a few "mild" swear words and some description of the murder of her husband.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
All I Have to Give (Melody Carlson)
Why I have this book: My friend passed the print version on to me, which I passed on to my daughter because I found the ebook version for cheap and I figured we could both read it at the same time!
I really, really liked this book. In fact, I started it just before bed and ended up staying up until after 1:00 a.m. because I wanted to know what happened! Close to the end, I had my suspicions about at least part of the story, but I won't say more…
This is a great book to read for Christmas.
Clean.
I really, really liked this book. In fact, I started it just before bed and ended up staying up until after 1:00 a.m. because I wanted to know what happened! Close to the end, I had my suspicions about at least part of the story, but I won't say more…
This is a great book to read for Christmas.
Clean.
The Blackberry County Chronicles (JoHannah Reardon)
Crispens Point
Cherry Cobbler
Prince Crossing
Why I have these books: One of them showed up on Book Bub, and when I looked them up, I realized the first and third were free, with the second one being available to borrow for free from Amazon. So I ended up with all three.
The one I borrowed was the one I liked the most, by far. Too bad, yeah? Anyway, they were all fine, totally light reading, good for times when you just need to stick your nose in your Kindle for a while. I got through all three books in three days.
Anyway, they are stand alone books, and I can recommend Cherry Cobbler. It was cute.
Clean.
Cherry Cobbler
Prince Crossing
Why I have these books: One of them showed up on Book Bub, and when I looked them up, I realized the first and third were free, with the second one being available to borrow for free from Amazon. So I ended up with all three.
The one I borrowed was the one I liked the most, by far. Too bad, yeah? Anyway, they were all fine, totally light reading, good for times when you just need to stick your nose in your Kindle for a while. I got through all three books in three days.
Anyway, they are stand alone books, and I can recommend Cherry Cobbler. It was cute.
Clean.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Joni (Joni Eareckson Tada)
Why I have this book: I bought a copy of it a while ago because I remembered it from my childhood. My grandma had me read it. I remember liking the story, and I'm not sure what prompted me to find it, but I did. And it's a print book! It was either a while ago (before I had a Kindle) or it wasn't available on Kindle. Not sure which.
Anyway, I have mixed feelings about the book. I think her story is awesome and important to share, but the writing is not great, in my opinion. I know she was writing conversations years after they really happened, but they just aren't realistic. They're very surface… they kind of remind me of the acting in old Disney movies, like Pollyanna.
There were a few moments when she expressed her confusion and despair at her situation that I could feel and relate to. I wish there was more of that, and also more depth to her conversion. It seemed like someone would read a scripture or tell her something spiritual and she would be like, "Oh, I agree!" and then everything would be happy. I know she spent more time than that, because she talks about her ups and downs, but it just didn't really get into it that much.
She chronicles her broken relationships a few times, but even in the update (years after her marriage), she doesn't talk about her husband or their courtship. It would have been nice to hear more about that, especially when she talked so much about why her other serious relationships broke up… namely, her permanent injury (although not just that).
I will probably pass this one on to the local library. I'm not sorry I read it… I just wish it had a little more depth. I'm not sure I would read it again, so it's best going where others have a chance to read it.
Clean, although she does talk about choices she made as a youth that were morally wrong and how that affected her in her life.
Anyway, I have mixed feelings about the book. I think her story is awesome and important to share, but the writing is not great, in my opinion. I know she was writing conversations years after they really happened, but they just aren't realistic. They're very surface… they kind of remind me of the acting in old Disney movies, like Pollyanna.
There were a few moments when she expressed her confusion and despair at her situation that I could feel and relate to. I wish there was more of that, and also more depth to her conversion. It seemed like someone would read a scripture or tell her something spiritual and she would be like, "Oh, I agree!" and then everything would be happy. I know she spent more time than that, because she talks about her ups and downs, but it just didn't really get into it that much.
She chronicles her broken relationships a few times, but even in the update (years after her marriage), she doesn't talk about her husband or their courtship. It would have been nice to hear more about that, especially when she talked so much about why her other serious relationships broke up… namely, her permanent injury (although not just that).
I will probably pass this one on to the local library. I'm not sorry I read it… I just wish it had a little more depth. I'm not sure I would read it again, so it's best going where others have a chance to read it.
Clean, although she does talk about choices she made as a youth that were morally wrong and how that affected her in her life.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
A Quilt for Christmas (Sandra Dallas)
Why I have this book: I bought it a while ago on Kindle.
I enjoyed it, although it didn't seem like the author's normal level of writing until towards the end. I actually really enjoyed the last part of the book better than the rest… I was more absorbed in, the characters seemed to have more depth after the war ended and a "new" character came in. (No spoilers here!)
Mostly clean, although there may have been a swear word or two, and a couple of women shared information about sexual assaults that had happened in the past.
I enjoyed it, although it didn't seem like the author's normal level of writing until towards the end. I actually really enjoyed the last part of the book better than the rest… I was more absorbed in, the characters seemed to have more depth after the war ended and a "new" character came in. (No spoilers here!)
Mostly clean, although there may have been a swear word or two, and a couple of women shared information about sexual assaults that had happened in the past.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Silver Linings (Debbie Macomber)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library. And I waited a long time for it, too… over two months. Maybe even closer to three! It gave me time to read all the books in the series up to this one, so that was good, I guess.
This book is typical Debbie Macomber… perfect for when you want a light read that you can sink into as a good escape. I am glad some questions were answered and I really want to know now how things pan out. I mean… I'm pretty sure I know, but I want to see it in print and have that satisfying conclusion.
Pretty clean… I don't recall any swearing. There is a situation from the past that involves a high school couple who have a sexual encounter (but it's not glorified) and a verbal exchange later that indicates the characters are NOT having casual sex in their lives.
This book is typical Debbie Macomber… perfect for when you want a light read that you can sink into as a good escape. I am glad some questions were answered and I really want to know now how things pan out. I mean… I'm pretty sure I know, but I want to see it in print and have that satisfying conclusion.
Pretty clean… I don't recall any swearing. There is a situation from the past that involves a high school couple who have a sexual encounter (but it's not glorified) and a verbal exchange later that indicates the characters are NOT having casual sex in their lives.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Angel Falls (Kristin Hannah)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
I think the message the book was trying to send was really good… but the writing didn't really lend itself to making it a deep-felt message, at least for me.
Some parts were really dumb… anything involving the ex-husband, for example. This book just fell flat for me.
P.S. Writing this a few days later… I just realized this is the author of Nightingale. Wow. This one was published in 2001. Nightingale was published this year. Her writing has improved A LOT. Realizing this makes me want to try some of her other books. Maybe this one was just a fluke.
I thought it was going to be a clean, somewhat religious story. I was very surprised when anything involving the ex-husband would bring in profanity and gross situations. It just felt dumb… not edgy, not realistic.
I think the message the book was trying to send was really good… but the writing didn't really lend itself to making it a deep-felt message, at least for me.
Some parts were really dumb… anything involving the ex-husband, for example. This book just fell flat for me.
P.S. Writing this a few days later… I just realized this is the author of Nightingale. Wow. This one was published in 2001. Nightingale was published this year. Her writing has improved A LOT. Realizing this makes me want to try some of her other books. Maybe this one was just a fluke.
I thought it was going to be a clean, somewhat religious story. I was very surprised when anything involving the ex-husband would bring in profanity and gross situations. It just felt dumb… not edgy, not realistic.
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