My Own Little Book Corner

2010 Book Reviews - February

2010-02-28T11:23:00.000-08:00

The Risk Pool by Richard Russo

A great book with wonderful character development. This is the type book that stayed with me after the last page was read. I think Mr. Russo does a great job of making the characters real people with flaws like we all have but also that tiny spark of goodness. This is one of my favorite books so far this year.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling

After hearing references to Harry Potter in sermons, I thought maybe I should read the series. I know it is a Young Adult series that caught on with the older crowd too. The style is definitely YA, but I did enjoy this first book. I enjoyed it enough that I was looking forward to reading the next one .....

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Reading this one right after the first book was probably not a great idea. The YA aspect really stood out to me. I almost felt as if I was re-reading the same story, just with a different set of circumstances. I've decided to try reading at least the next two, but spreading them out. After that I'll decide whether or not to finish the series.

Good to Great in God's Eyes by Chip Ingram

This is a book that I had already and then my "Bible study group" decided to use it for our study. This is the type book that doesn't necessarily have any great revelations but a lot of reminders and practical examples and challenges. The type thing that makes me think, but also calls me to put my faith in action. A good one.

The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

This book borders on depressing. It is the story of a woman adjusting to life after the death of her husband. I will say that Ms Berg would take me to the brink of depression, but then back off. It is a tender story of love - even after death.

Club Sandwich by Lisa Samson

This is book 4 for me from Ms Samson and I that's where I would rank it. It's a good story but I just never felt that connected with any of the characters. I also found it a little predictable and a little "surface" only at times.

Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon

Oh my! This is one of those books that grabbed me from the beginning and I held on. This is not my normal genre of book - there's a lot of suspension of reality, but there is something about the way Ms McMahon writes and the story she tells that made me able to do that. There is a lot of layers to this story and in some ways I think most of us can relate to a lot of the characters. As a sideline - my friend that lives in Erie, PA called me the weekend after I had read this and told me that she had just read a great book. It was not one she would normally read, but something drew her to it so she bought it and put it as the last one on the stack to read. I guess you know what book that was. Check this one out.

Bad Ground by W. Dale Cramer

I've read 4 of Mr. Cramer's books and this one is my least favorite. (There must be something about the 4th book.) I think that it is too "manly" for me with the story being set in a mine. There are some wonderful lines in the book and I'm glad I read it. I just don't rank it as high as his other books.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

I had started this book last month, put it down and then decided to return to it this month. There were times I enjoyed this book and other times that I didn't. Some of the changes that Mr. Maguire makes to the story of Oz are easy for me to accept, others just don't fit. Since I really like the Oz story, it was a problem for me. We are going to see the musical in April. I hope I enjoy it more than I did the book.

Stone Cold by David Baldacci

I like David Baldacci. This is the third book in his series about the Camel Club. I enjoyed this one more than The Collectors. Well written, pretty believable and it kept my interest to the end.

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd" by Jim Fergus

Historical fiction story that is truly a fictional story set in a historical backdrop. The premise is that the US Government has agreed to exchange 1,000 white women for some horses to help assimilate the Cheyenne into the white man's world. This is actually a request made by the Cheyenne's. The story is told through a journal of one of the women who is a part of this exchange. It is an interesting peek into what life may have been like in a Cheyennes tribe. Worth the read.

The Tiny One by Eliza Minot

This is a story told by 8 year old Via about the day her mother died. Om the day of the funeral, Via is going back over the events of the day in her mind. It was just a normal day at school until her world caved in. Ms Minot does a wonderful job of telling the story in the ADD way that a lot of kids (and adults) think. One event or thought leads to another completely different event and through this we get a picture of life in the Revere's family and the relationship of Via and her mom. A sad, yet mostly fun story.

Exercising the Mind and the Body

2010-02-26T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have never thought I'd like an audio book. I've listened to different audio Bible's from time to time and while I've liked doing that, I find myself letting my mind wander. Since it had been a while since I had tried listening to a book, I thought I'd give it another chance. I checked out an audio book from our library, downloaded it to my mp3 player and have been listening while working out.

I usually read a book while at the gym, but logistically that is not always easy to do. The book has to fit in the rack just right, I have to turn pages, I can't read when I jog, etc. So far the audio book has been a perfect fit. Plus I refuse to listen to it at home, so that gives me a little incentive to go work out. I think maybe I'm on to something.

2010 Book Reviews - January

2010-01-27T12:41:00.001-08:00

I read 15 books in January. They are quite a mix of styles and topics. My favorites this month were Night, The Justice Game, American Wife and Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

A classic but not one of my favorites. Predictable from beginning to end. I really wanted to take a pen and change it up some.

The Brambles by Eliza Minot

I would classify this book as an "easy read" but it actually deals with a lot of heavy topics - death, eating disorders, adoption, marriage issues and even a stalker. Surprisingly it was not a depressing book, but in some ways an encouraging one. It did take me a while to get use to Ms Minot's style of writing, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

Night by Elie Wiesel

Wow! What can you say about a book that is a true story of being in a concentration camp. Such a sad, compelling story of survival. This should be a required book for everyone.

City of Light by Lauren Belfer

I enjoyed this historical fiction novel. It is set in the early 1900's in the midst of a hydro-electrical plant being built and the Worlds Fair occurring. This novel covers environmentalism, social issues, politics, romance and family. There is a lot of sub plots but they all tie together nicely.

My Brother's Keeper by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

I was disappointed in this book. From the synopsis, I expected it to be more about dealing with drug addiction and the co-dependency issues. It is really more of a romance with the drug addicted brother as just part of the story. If I had known what it was really about, I might have enjoyed it more.

The Justice Game by Randy Singer

Another great book by Randy Singer. I like his writing style, his subjects, and the way he weaves a Christian life into his books. This was a well written story centered around a lawsuit against a gun company. It is interesting to read about the legal, social, business, and personal plots but what makes this book even more interesting is that the verdict was decided by real people. Mr. Singer used a "jury" to determine how the case would be ruled. A nice concept and one that as I read the book I kept wondering if it would end up the way I would vote. If you like legal novels, check Mr. Singer out. I prefer his books to Grisham.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A fable that is interesting enough. I guess it was a flashback of sorts to my younger days when I loved having my dad read Aesop's to me. As is the case with most fables, there were no huge revelations - just reminders of things I already know but often loose sight of.

Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

After reading Firefly Lane I was ready to dive into another book by Ms Hannah. I would not rank this one up there with Firefly, but it is a good story. It brings home the point that people and things aren't always as we judge them to be. There's almost always an understory that we don't know. The best we can do is open ourselves up to love others and allow them to love us.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

A sad book dealing with the Holocaust. If you are interested in that part of history, then you may want to check this book out. It does cover some of the role of the French that I didn't know about. It is a depressing story though, as you might imagine.

Idyll Banter by Chris Bohjalian

A collection of short stories by Mr Bohjalian. These are actually a collection of his articles written for a newspaper. They are mostly about his life in Vermont. I like his style and enjoyed getting to know him, his family and neighbors a little bit.

A Stolen Season by Steve Hamilton

A detective story that is interesting. Nothing spectacular, but enough to keep me reading to the end.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

This is based loosely on the story of Laura Bush. I haven't read her biography, so I don't know where the line crosses from fact to fiction. I did find it interesting that even knowing that, George W and Laura were not the couple I pictured in my mind while reading. I really liked this book - an interesting story.

Carry Me Home by Sandra Kring

I like this book. The language is a little rough, but it is a good story about life during WWII told through the eyes of a brain damaged boy. Complex, yet simple at the same time. It brings home some of the realities of the aftermath of war.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

Ms Landvik is becoming one of my favorite authors. I love her characters - relating to almost everyone of them. AHEBB is a neighborhood book club, but the story is not about the book club, but rather the relationships of the members. A wonderful story of friendships through good, bad and ugly.

Rachel and Leah by Orson Scott Card

I like historical fiction and Orson Scott Card does a good job of writing historical fiction based on Biblical persons. I enjoyed reading about how things might have happened between Rachel and Leah and why they both ended up married to Jacob. It did seem to drag a little towards the end, but I think that was because I knew what was going to happen. Worth the read if you like historical fiction and don't have a problem with it being about people who lived in Bible times.

144 Books in 12 Months?!?!

2010-01-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

What am I thinking? I signed up for a reading challenge. There's no prizes, no recognition, no rewards - except meeting the challenge and hopefully discovering some good books. Since the most books I've read in one year is 120 and the past 2 years I've been stuck on 59, this is going to be quite the challenge. I am also trying to include as many Pulitzer Prize winners as I can in my reading. I know I won't read them all because frankly, they don't all appeal to me and I think reading should be for enjoyment, not drudgery. I do find it interesting that most people who have posted in the group do not expect to meet the challenge. I am starting the new year with full intentions of reading 144 books, but if I don't, it won't be the end of the world. Just something to shoot for.

If you're interested in joining the group - check it out at Goodreads.com

2009 Book Reviews #11

2009-12-12T09:29:00.001-08:00

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

It's hard to start describing this book. It is actually a collection of short stories set in the town of Crosby, Maine. Through most of the stories Olive Kitteridge makes an appearance in some way - even if as just a mention. Through these snapshots we get a picture of the how others view Olive and eventually as she views herself. She is an interesting character and through out the book she reminded me of different people I know. But this book is about more than Olive. In one of the chapters an observation is made about seeing the houses around us and not really knowing what kind of life people have. To me this book is a glimpse into many lives. It is a somewhat sad story in that so many of the glimpses are of the things that are wrong in their lives. Even when I was beginning to feel a little cheery half-way through reading Winter Concert, that story took a turn. This story offered many different perspectives on people and events in life and is one of those that after reading has stayed with me a little.

Belong to Me by Marisa Los Santos

really enjoy Marisa de los Santos and her style of writing. She has an almost lyrical way with words. This story covers some heavy topics when you step back and think about it, but she writes in such a way that you don't feel burdened, but rather that it is all part of life and the ebb of flow of good and bad times. I read "Love Walked In" last year and while you do not have to read it to understand this story, it will add a little depth and understanding to some of the characters. A good book.

The Last Noel by Michael Malone

I enjoyed this book about friendship, kindness, struggle, love and family. The book covers 30 years of friendship between Noni and Kaye - a white rich girl and a poor black boy. The story is told over 12 Christmas days which also coincides with Noni's birthday, Kaye's birthday and the anniversary of when they met. Some of it is predictable but there are a few twists. It is a bittersweet story with layers to be peeled away and upon which to reflect.

Water Witches by Chris Bohjalian

Not my favorite by Chris Bohjalian - (that would be Skeletons at the Feast) but it is still a good story. It is an environmentalistic novel that mixes drought, lawyers, water witches, and business. I like Mr. Bohjalian's writing style and enjoyed this one too.

A Widow for One Year by John Irving

Another book that definitely isn't my favorite by the author. (In this case that would be A Prayer for Owen Meany.) This book is complicated for me to describe. I like how Mr. Irving develops his characters but the situations in this book were not what I normally read. There were times that I wanted to put it down, but like one of the characters in the book who is an author - I had a need to see what would happen. Besides that I felt like it ended abruptly in some ways - almost a manufactured ending in my eyes = but one that was trying to make you think up your own ending. To me it was so manufactured that I really didn't care what happened to the characters once the story ended.

2009 Book Reviews #10

2009-12-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

This is a Young Adult book that I really enjoyed. Things begin getting weird when a young taxi driver becomes a hero by foiling a bank robbery. After that event, he recieves 3 playing cards that each have an address.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

An interesting story that jumps between the 19th century and modern day with two stories of wife number 19 - one married to Brigham Young and the other to a modern day polygamist. My impression is that the bulk of the book is set in the late 1800's and since I like historical fiction, I enjoyed greatly.

Left for Dead:My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers

Not exactly what I expected. I thought it was going to be more about the experience on Everest. Instead it is more a story of his life and marriage. It was ok - but nothing spectacular. A below average read in my eyes.

Welcome to the Great Mysterious by Lorna Landvik

I really enjoyed this book. It is a story of twin sisters - grown - whose lifes have taken different paths. One is married living in the midwest and is the mother of a downs syndrome 13 year old boy. The other is divorced, with no children living the life of a Broadway star in NYC.

2009 Book Reviews #9

2009-12-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

A Song I Knew by Heart by Bret Lott

An "OK" book. I expected much more of a book based on the story of Ruth. The storyline was a little weak in areas and while the story of love and forgiveness is definitely a good one, this book just didn't deliver as well as I expected it to.

One L by Scott Turow

While this book is old - published in 1977 - I still found Mr. Turow's reflections of his first year as a law student very interesting. I know part of the reason is that in the late 70's/early 80's I worked with 2 people who were also attending law school. It brought back memories of what they were going through. It would be interesting to read a more current book written by a 1L to see how much things have changed over the years.

Sutter's Cross by W. Dale Cramer

I like Mr. Cramer's books. This one did not disappoint. A story of family, greed and miracles. Another one worth reading.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

A really good book! It was one of those stories that drew me in and kept me wanting to read and learn where life was taking the characters. A wonderful story of friendship and family.

Music and Silence by Rose Tremain

If you like historical novels, you will probably like this one. A story set in Denmark in 1629 revolving around the King of Denmark, the queen, a musician and the queen's lady. Well written.

Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward

I like Ms Ward's books. This one is a thought provoking story of grace, mercy and forgiveness. It made me wonder how I would react if I were the different characters. Not a light read but not overbearing. One that stays with you.

2009 Book Reviews #8

2009-12-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

A very good book. The book in the title is a rare Haggadah. The people in the title are those who owned the book or had some other connection to the book over the 300+ year history. This is a very well written story that brought to life the many persecutions that people have gone through because of their beliefs. A nice work of historic fiction.

The Known World by Edward P Jones

I stuck with this but don't know why. A depressing, story that was a drudgery to read.

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

I enjoyed this story. There were just enough twists to it to keep it interesting and a little less predictible. I felt like I knew the characters and that's always important to me for enjoying a story. The story also gives you things to think about as far as stereotypes and prejudices. A good one.

She Got Up Off the Couch:And Other Heroic Acts from Moreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

A continuation of Ms Kimmel's memoir. Interesting life.

The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas

I read this with my Bible study group. A good book for that setting that made me think - but not my favorite from Mr. Thomas.

The Used World by Haven Kimmel

A big disappointment. I've enjoyed the memoirs written by Ms Kimmel, but this story was hard to get into, then a little entertaining, but then took another turn that made the storyline seem a littel contrived to me. I wish I had not taken the time to read it when there are so many more books out there worth the time and effort.

2009 Book Reviews #7

2009-08-02T15:19:00.001-07:00

The Office of Desire by Martha Moody

This is an interesting story that covers many layers and types of desire and what happens when you give into it and also when you don't. It is set in a small doctor's office that has 5 employees, each with their own desires whether for love, money, faith, happiness, etc. It is interesting how each one deals with the desire and in the end you see the right and the wrong choices. A well written story.

The Broker by John Grisham

I guess I'm taking a little step back in time reading a John Grisham novel that harkens back to the first type novels that he authored. While it was an interesting book, it was also a little confusing to me. It took me a while to understand how the broker was being set up and why. If you like Grisham though, you'll like this one. It's his standard fare, set in a foreign country with just enough suspense to make you think you know where it's going, but maybe not.

Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell

What a disappointment this book was. It has been a while since I read a Scarpetta novel and I was looking forward to this one, especially since it had touches of Baton Rouge in it. The majority of the book was spent bringing the reader up to date with background information. In fact, as I was getting deeper into the book I started thinking that maybe the book was going to be all peripheral information and that it was setting up for the next novel that would wrap up the serial murder story. I wish I had been right as when I got to less than 25 pages left, I realized that it was going to be a shallow wrap up of the story. It is almost unbelievable that there is so much detail about some things and then basically a "they caught one of the bad guys - the end". It left the "story" open for a continuation but at this point, I really don't care.

Straight Up by Lisa Samson

I enjoyed this book but at the same time was just a little disappointed. I felt like it was too surface at times while I desired to dig a little deeper into the characters. That being said, it wil make you think about your life, the choices you've made and will make and that we need to use all of our time to the fullest.

The Ha-Ha by Dave King

As I was finishing this book, I thought that it really is a depressing story in a lot of ways, but there is so much hope and joy in it too that I didn't come away depressed. The name of the book is derived from a hidden retaining wall and the characters all seem to have this wall in their life in some shape or form. It is interesting watching as the walls fall over and a type of family unit emerges that is full of hope and love for one another. It is a very touching story.

2009 Book Reviews #6

2009-08-02T15:18:00.001-07:00

A Father's Story by Lionel Dahmer

I think it's normal to view any event from the stage of life you are in. As I've gotten older, I view most events as a parent so it was interesting to read a book about a real life horror story written from a dad's perspective. I did feel at times like Mr. Dahmer was over analyzing events that happened in his son's young life. But then I also think that would be the normal thing to do - to look back for signs of what was to come and to try to figure out if there was anyway that it could have been avoided. He makes no excuses for his sons behavior, and in the end seems still as confused by it as most of us are. An interesting book.

Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman

The story of a woman who almost stumbles into a nomadic life. Ms Gelman finds herself in a marriage that is crumbling so she suggests a separation. To her surprise, not only is her husband in favor of it, but he thinks it should be for a longer amount of time. This sets Ms Gelman on a journey of travel as a nomad. She finds she can live on much less in the foreign countries she goes to. She sets about to not be a tourist but to be more of a citizen. A great true story that gives you a glimpse of places most of us will never see.

If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar

This book left me with a sort of bittersweet feeling. The story deals with a mother/mother-in-law who moves to America from India and lives with her "kids" and grandchild after the death of her husband. It covers her emotions and how she views things as wll as the daughter-in-law, husband and grandchild. There is also a second story of sorts as the boys next door are abused by their mom and the sort of culture clash that results. A multi-layered story that reminds us that the way we think things are, aren't always the way things are.

Bless Your Heart Tramp and Other Southern Endearments by Celia Rivenbark

This is one of my work-out books. It is a collection of short stories by a very funny woman. I didn't laugh as hard as I did when I read Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank, but still a funny book.

The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ by Randy D. Singer

This is a very well written, easy to understand book. In it Mr. Singer addresses not only the trial and death of Christ, but other events and teachings through the eyes of a lawyer. This is a very interesting perspective. Mr. Singer goes into the injustice and the character of Christ in such a way that it is hard to dispute that He truly is the Son of God. It is a convicting story that makes me realize how much was given for me and how unworthy I am. A very straight forward, inspiring, convicting read. It is an excellent read for anyone.

2009 Book Reviews #5

2009-08-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank by Celia Riverbark

This was a great book to read while working out. I laughed - probably because I could relate to so much of what she wrote. Very entertaining!

The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton

This was an ok book. It was interesting, but at the same time I found it to be fairly predictable. Ms Hamilton does a good job of describing the land and the people in a way that made you really see it in your mind. It is interesting to realize that there is a real Camel Bookmobile and it makes the story even more believable.

Forgive Me by Amanda Ward

This was an interesting story. It is a story full of plot twists and set in both America and Cape Town. At times it was hard to get into.

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas

This is the story of a town that finds itself hosting a Japanese internment camp and the effect it has on the different citizens - most of whom are very prejudice towards the Japanese. A very good book.

Levi's Will by W. Dale Cramer

I like W. Dale Cramer's books. Levi is a former member of the Amish community who left his family behind. This book explores the family relationship, friendships and the spiritual dilemnas. Well written and worth the read.

2009 Book Reviews #4

2009-08-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

I'm way behind on my reviews so these will be short and sweet - or not so sweet depending on the book.

Born Standing Up: A Comics Life by Steve Martin

A interesting read. I was in college when I first heard of Steve Martin. In fact, Arkansas Tech was on his college tour - yes the balloon animals, dart through the head, etc. Saw it all. Not only is this story interesting because of it being Steve Martin's story, it is also interesting to read about the people that have been in and out of his life.

Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by Halima Bashir

Powerful story written from the heart. It's sad to realize what is going on in different parts of the world.

What to Keep by Rachel Cline

A well written story. This covers parts of 3 different decades in Denny's life beginning with the distant, somewhat neglectful childhood thourgh adulthood as a successful playwriter.

So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger

A cowboy adventure story. The narrator is a postman, turned novelist. This is the story of an adventure he took through the wild west and the people and challenges he faced. It is a story full of faith, grace and surprises.

Black Dogs by Ian McEwan

Not my favorite McEwan book. I think it is too deep for me. I enjoyed parts of it, but the overall concept of the black dogs troubled me. I never really understood that part of it - except for the fear they instilled. I'm sure there's a message there.

2009 Book Reviews #3

2009-08-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress

This is the second Mark Childress book I've read and it wasn't as funny as One Mississippi, but it does have the same dark comedy. I never saw the movie but can see how it would transfer to film well. The story is about a woman who basically gets fed up with her husband who is stiffling her acting career, kills him, but can't completely let him go. While all that is going on, there is a civil rights uprising in the city she left behind. A very entertaining book that is thought provoking in it's own way.

When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan by Peggy Noonan

Reading this made me long for the days when Reagan was president. I know he didn't do everything right, but I do believe he was a man of character and morals who would seek God's guidance above all else. This should be required reading for all to see how America can be if we have the right leadership.

The Dead Don't Dance by Charles Martin

Another great novel by Charles Martin. A story of a loving couple who have everything to look forward to as they are expecting their first child. Things take a turn though when the baby is stillborn and the wife goes into a coma. It is a story of faith and love, but not one that beats you over the head. I love the gentle way that Mr. Martin brings Christianity into everyday life. Just like it should be.

Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison

A cute book. This was one of my "work-out" books. It is the story of three very different women and how they are brought together mainly by their love of shoes. The friendship that develops, the bonds that are formed and the resulting success is fun to follow.

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

A story of a man on death row for murder who wants to donate his heart to the child of the man he is accused of killing. The story deals with not only the convict and the family, but the other convicts, the lawyer trying to help him fulfill his wish, his priest. Of course Ms Picoult always has a twist - more than one - as usual. About half-way through the book I wasn't sure if I wanted to stick it out, but I'm glad I did.

2009 Book Reviews #2

2009-02-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so far behind on my reviews. What follows is abbreviated reviews of some of the books I've read this year. On this list my top 3 would be - Three Junes, Same Kind of Different as Me, and A Thousand Splendid Suns

Three Junes by Julia Glass

I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it, but found myself drawn to the story and the people. It is about family and the expectations they put on each other and on themselves, and about love and basically just surviving life.

Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

This is an easy read that is best described as a story. I found nothing deep in it or any layers, but did enjoy the word picture it presented. It is set in Holland and I could picture the life and the world that the characters inhabited. Another decent book.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

A true story that is a tribute to a woman who saw people through the eyes of God. She lived a life of grace and service that reflected God's love in so many ways. It is a convicting story that inspires a person to strive to be the same.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

A very engrossing story about life as a woman in Afghan. This is set during the 1970's through the early 2000's and all turmoil and upheaval of the country. It reads as a true story and is a book that draws you in and you will not want to put down in spite of the horrible events that surround the people.

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute

I had not heard of this book until recently when I noticed it on several "must read" lists. It is based on the march of Japanese women and children in Malaya during World War II. The story centers around an English woman who was working in Malaya when it was invaded and she ends up in the group of prisoners. During the march she meets an Australian soldier and that is where the love story comes in. I don't know that I would classify it "must read" but it is a good read and worth the short amount of time it takes to read it.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Another classic that I felt like I should read. It is an interesting story in it's own way. Before reading this book, I thought it was a romance - kind of a romantic triangle. Instead I found a mystery/horror story. Not exactly what I thought it would be but not a bad read.

2009 Book Reviews #1

2009-02-12T14:17:00.001-08:00

Everything Must Go by Elizabeth Flock

A story about a family affected by a terrible tragedy. The story is more about the paths that their life's take following the tragedy and the dynamics that follow. It is a depressing story and I still haven't decided if I'm glad I read it or not.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

I like Ms Jackson's books - this being the third of hers I read. When I started this one I wasn't so sure, but as I got into it and the characters developed, I found myself drawn in. I was a little disappointed in the ending - too much like a movie ending for me. But well worth the read.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

I must of been the last person on the face of the earth to know about this book. It was a Christmas gift from my good friend, June, and I hadn't heard of it before receiving it. I expected this to be a little depressing, but it really was full of positivity. In some ways it was a little too "surface level" for me, but I had to remind myself it was written by a man and a computer nerd at that. I think it is an encouraging book that most anyone would be glad they read.

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

This was one of my "work-out" books so it took me a while to read. It's probably a good thing that it did as this is one of the most depressing books I've read lately. In fact while reading it, I kept wondering why I wanted to continue. But there was something in me that wanted to find out how it all played out. It is set in India - in the midst of poverty and riches. The contrast between how the two live and the prejudices that were displayed was both unbelievable and too real at times. While it was not easy to read, I would recommend it.

Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

I enjoy well written historical fiction and with this book Naslund delivers - as usual. The book is not only well written, but appears to be well researched. Marie Antoinette has never been a historical figure that I followed to much but I found myself really drawn to her character. Naslund has become one of my favorite authors and in Abundance, she has not disappointed.

Red River by Lalita Tademy

I really enjoyed reading Cane River and couldn't pass up reading another book by Ms Tademy. I must say that I was a little disappointed in this one. I felt more like I was reading a history book and didn't feel as connected to the characters. I was shocked by the events in the book and while I felt sympathy for those oppressed, I didn't feel empathy. It is an interesting read for the historical part of it.

Ahmads War, Ahmads Peace: Surviving Under Saddam by Michael Goldfarb

This was written by a reporter who was in Iraq during the beginning of the current war. Ahmad served as his translator, but he became much more than that. He was a historian, a political person (but not a politician), a father, husband, and community leader of sorts. He was a principled man who stood up for his beliefs. A good, eye-opening book of one man's experience growing up, living, and dying in Iraq.

Rest of 2008 Books

2009-02-10T21:05:00.001-08:00

I read too many books since my last review, so here's what I've read -

American Bee:The National Spelling Bee and the Culture of Word Nerds by James Maguire - Don't waste your time

There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled by Doug Lansky - An entertaining compilation of travel stories

Portrait of a Killer Jack the Ripper Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell

In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan - Check this one out

Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich by Mark Kriegel - Another one worth the read. Especially if you like basketball, but even if you don't it's a good life story.

While I was Gone by Sue Miller

Who Stole the Funny? A Novel of Hollywood by Robby Benson - You should put this high on your to be read list.

The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney by Randy Singer - Another good one. Well written and a good story.

Turn Away Thy Son: Little Rock Crisis that Shock the Nation" by Elizabeth Jacoway - If you like history type books, this is a good one.

The Living End by Lisa Samson

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg - Better than American Bee, but just an average read.

The Judas Field: A Novel of the Civil War by Howard Bahr - Another one to go on the top of your to be read list, even if you are not into Civil War stories.

The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton - One of these days I'm going to realize that if it is a Oprah Selection than I shouldn't expect that much.

Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos - A charming novel that can be a little cheesy, but still enjoyable.

Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian - A heart touching World War II story based on an actual diary of someone who lived in East Prussia.

Limitations by Scott Turow

The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel

The Glass Castle A Memoir by Jeanette Walls - An interesting read that makes you think about family dynamics.

Taft by Ann Patchett - Another one that I liked. I felt like I knew the characters which is always a good measure of how good a book is to me.

Renato's Luck by Jeff Shapiro

2008 Book Reviews - #6

2008-07-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

Ready to Fall by Claire Cook

Don't bother reading this book. I like the premise of a book written around written correspondence only - whether it's letters, e-mails, IM's, etc. I seldom like the story that goes along with the premise though. This one is not an exception. The main character is going through a mid-life crisis of sorts and sets her sights on her soon to be divorced neighbor. The only interesting part is when she goes off to "Special Delivery" camp to discover herself. The stories about what happens while there are entertaining. But I never liked any of the characters in the book - all too self absorbed and boring.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

This one was not exactly what I expected. I thought thee would be more about what happened in Alaska that resulted in Mr. McCandless' death. While that is covered some, the main story is about his travels before Alaska. There are also stories of other people with a vagabond heart and speculation on how the lives were similar. Mr. Krakauer is a journalist for a magazine and his books are a little dry and straightforward. But overall it is an interesting story.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

What happens when you leave a group of people together in a large house with terrorist (who are almost pacifist) for a long period of time? In this book you see how the people adapt to the small, slowed down world and each other. The things that become important to them, how they spend their time, what they are thinking and how they interact are all part of the story. This book is very well written and interesting. When I read the book, the epilogue seemed a little disjointed from the story. I wondered how they got to that point from the story that was told. But after reflecting on it, it makes more sense to me and I'm beginning to like even that. Good read even for those of us who aren't into the opera.

The Shack by William P. Young

I view this book as a parable of sorts. A story of a man who in the midst of his grieving is invited to spend a weekend with the Godhead. The trinity is presented in unconventional physical ways which took a little getting use to, but that was ok. There are several things I like about the book and how it presents God, but on the other hand, there are several things that I just can't buy into. I kept reminding myself that it is a work of fiction and not inspired by God. But one of the problems I had was that even though I know that, it is still a book that portrays God and His characteristics and at times in ways that I don't think are supported by scripture. I know there are others who think this is one of the greatest books of all times. I personally was disappointed.

One Mississippi by Mark Childress

This was one of my ArcTrainer books. I try to find something that is interesting, but not too deep to read while I'm burning calories. This book fit the bill for a while. It is a dark comedy that becomes more dark than I thought it would before the end. This is a thoroughly entertaining read though. I laughed, I cried, I was shocked! I really enjoyed the Christian musical and the trip to the Sonny and Cher concert. Along the way discrimination, teen angst, and family relations are all addressed. Well written and much enjoyed!

2008 Book Reviews - #5

2008-07-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

Summer of Light by W. Dale Cramer

This is the story of a man who finds himself thrown into the role of stay at home dad. This wasn't his choice, but like many things in his life, there seems to be a larger plan to his life than his own. It is a story of faith - faith found on many different levels. The faith that sometimes we are aware of having and follow gladly and then the faith that sometimes sneaks up on us and we are almost forced to have. It is an interesting book, but I would have liked a little more detail to the story. It may be because it was written by a man so he comes from a different point of view, but I felt like there could have been more emotion to the story. All in all, worth reading just not exactly what I expected.

Breach of Faith:Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City by Jed Horne

I am glad I read this book. It brought back some memories of a time not long ago when New Orleans found itself facing one of the greatest disasters in our lifetime. Mr. Horne does a good job of balancing stories about real people, the politics, and the technical ascpects. One interesting side note - I had forgotten that at one stage the plan to get the Fed's to respond was to manipulate gasoline supply and run the price up to $4/gallon. The theory being there was no way the Fed would allow that and Louisiana would have effectively blackmailed them into responding. Guess we know now that would have been a lost cause.

This is a well written book that even though I'm a little biased living in Baton Rouge, I think should be required reading for all. A good glimpse into very recent history.

Savannah by the Sea by Denise Hildreth

This is an easy read - nothing too deep about it but an enjoyable book. As a character Savannah is almost too self-centered and too naive at times, and the books are a little predictible. But I know what I'm getting when I read these books so I enjoy them.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is anything but an easy read. The story is told by Death so you can figure that it is a little on the depressing side. It is set in Germany in the time of Hitler. Mr. Zusak does a good job of transporting the reader to that time and the country. I almost felt as if I were watching a movie instead of reading a book - and I mean that in a good way. There's such detail and character development that I had to remind myself I was reading fiction. Very well written story that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

2008 Book Reviews - #4

2008-03-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

Time to catch up! Since my last review I've read 17 books. You can follow the links for more details about each book if interested.

Since my last review I've read 3 non-fiction books -

Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer

Interesting book - worth the read. I read this right before the raid in Texas so it made all of that even more interesting. I still don't understand it all and will never agree with it, but feel a little more educated about the religion behind the belief.

You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again by Suzanne Hansen

Written by a girl from Oregon who kind of stumbles into being a nanny and then ends up in Hollywood working for the mover and shakers. A view into the life that is sometimes encouraging, but often not. Another enjoyable book.

Clapton by Eric Clapton

I am not a huge Eric Clapton fan but had read several reviews on this book that highly recommended it. My sweet friends gave it to me for my birthday and I did enjoy reading it. He has led an interesting life spanning many different stages to end up at a good place. Found out some surprising and some not so surprising things about Clapton. Another good read.

Of the remaining books I've grouped them into books I rate about average and those just so-so. First the "above" ones -

The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart

A touching story about relationships. Well written.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Another story about relationships. A little predictable at times. I did feel like I knew the characters and wanted to follow their story.

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Allison Weir

Another historical novel from the Henry VIII time period. My first one to red by Allison Weir and I enjoyed it. I like Phillipa Gregory a little more, but will read more by Ms Weir.

The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

This turned into one of those "wow" books for me. I was drawn into the story and highly recommend this book.

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin

I like Charles Martin books. This one did not disappoint, even though I did find it a little predictable at times. It's not my favorite of his, but still ranks up there as a good book to read.

The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin

Along the lines of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Quirky main character, good story. My first Steve Martin book. I'm looking forward to reading more.

The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

As I've said before, I like Chris Bohjalian books. He always has a lot of layers and has a way of making me personalize things. Another good one.

The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee

Good summer book - no heavy thinking, no heavy plot, just a fun book. Anyone from the South will know these people!

Embrace Me by Lisa Samson

Very well written and interesting book. It examines a lot of things about the church and Christians set against about as strange a backdrop as you can imagine.

Now for the "so-so" books. I'm just going to make a blanket statement about them all - None of them were so bad that I didn't finish them - they just didn't grab or entertain me as I had hoped they would.

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Maybe I expected too much from this book, and I know it is deeper than what appears on the surface, but at times I felt as if I were trudging through.

Something Rising (Light and Swift) by Haven Kimmel

After reading her autobiography, I expected a highly entertaining book. I was disappointed - never really connected to the story.

Flies on the Butter by Denise Hildreth

This is a borderline average book - maybe a little higher. Written by the author of the Savannah books. It was a good enough book, once again just not quite as good as I expected.

The Cat Who Went Into the Closet by Lilian Jackson Braun

Entertaining enough - what I would call a fluffy novel. I enjoy lighter reading too and while this one wasn't awful, it just wasn't my style.

2008 Book Reviews - #3

2008-02-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

Atonement by Ian McEwan

"On a summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses the flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. But Briony's incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination bring about a crime that will change all their lives, a crime whose repercussions "Atonement" follows trough the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century."

This is the second of Mr. McEwan's books that I've read, having read "Saturday" as my last book in 2007. Like "Saturday" I found "Atonement" to get off to a slow start, but knowing what good reviews it has gotten and based on past experience, I hung in there and I'm glad I did. Mr. McEwan can take me away to another time and place. I liked how he showed the different view points of the actions that were taken place. I wasn't surprised by much in the book, but it was a good story that made me think about how what I see isn't always what is happening.

4 stars

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

"What happens when you do all the right things for all the wrong reasons? As an assistant district attorney in York County, Maine, Nina Frost prosecutes the sort of crimes that tear families apart. She helps clients navigate their way through a nightmare – even though the legal system is not always the faultless compass they want and need it to be. She learns that the easiest way to cross this devastating minefield time and time again is to offer compassion, battle fiercely for justice, and keep her emotional distance.

But when Nina and her husband Caleb discover that their five-year-old son Nathaniel has been sexually abused, that distance is impossible to maintain. The world Nina inhabits now seems different from the one she lived in yesterday; the lines between family and professional life are erased; and answers to questions she thought she knew are no longer easy to find. Overcome by anger and desperate for vengeance, Nina ignites a battle that may cause her to lose the very thing she's fighting for."

I don't know if I'm getting use to Ms Picoult's writing style or what, but this one just didn't grab me like some of the first books of hers that I read. This is a good story with some unexpected twists, but it didn't draw me in like I thought it would. I think it's because I know there are going to be twists, so I wasn't surprised. It was interesting watching the dynamics of the relationship between Caleb and Nina and how they each handled the situation. Overall though, I felt it was an average read.

3 stars

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

"St. Elizabeth's is a home for unwed mothers in the 1960s. Life there is not unpleasant, and for most, it is temporary. Not so for Rose, a beautiful, mysterious woman who comes to the home pregnant but not unwed. She plans to give up her baby because she knows she cannot be the mother it needs. But St. Elizabeth's is near a healing spring, and when Rose's time draws near, she cannot go through with her plans, not all of them. And she cannot remain forever untouched by what she has left behind ... and who she has become in the leaving."

Rose is one of those characters that I could never understand. She is an enigma of sorts. Full of love yet seemingly unloving towards those who love her most, a need to serve others, yet selfish and stable with her roots planted, yet a wanderer. It is an interesting story. I found myself more focused on the lives around Rose than on Rose. That is a reflection of the story though. Throughout everyone seems to live around Rose - as if she is the center. It's not that she desires that, it's just the way it is. A believable story that I enjoyed.

4 stars

Reading Time???

2008-02-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

As you can see, my reading has slowed down. It's that time of year where I have a lot to do and if I'm not busy at night, I'm vegging out. That means that I'm not doing anything that makes me have to think. I'm still reading - currently "Love in the Time of Cholera." I'm enjoying it, but it may be a while before I get through it. In the meantime, my "to be read pile" is growing. But I'll eventually work through them.

2008 Book Reviews - #2

2008-01-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

Blood Orange by Drusilla Campbell

"Dana Cabot cannot remember the kind of person she was before May 29th, the day she became angry at God, at her workaholic attorney husband, and herself. The day her seven-year-old daughter, Bailey, disappeared. As the months wear on without a trace of her adorable but troubled child, Dana can't help blaming her husband's controversial defense of an accused abuser for playing a role in the abduction - and it shows in the strain on their marriage. But then a shocking event offers a clue to what really happened to Bailey - and Dana's unwitting part in it. Haunted by the unthinkable consequences of revealing everything she knows, Dana must decide whether to keep the truth to herself - or risk losing the rest of her family."

This story didn't exactly follow the path that I expected, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I expected more of a "Deep End of the Ocean" story, but this is more of a story about what led up to the kidnapping and how the truth is revealed. It is well written and while there are no big surprises, it still keeps you interested.

4 stars

Angel's Rest by Charles Davis

"Growing up in Virginia's Allegheny Mountains, eleven-year-old Charlie York lives at the foot of an endless peak called Angel's Rest, a place his momma told him angles rested before coming down to help folks. In 1967 his town was a poor boy's paradise...until a shotgun blast killed Charlie's father and put his mother on trial for murder.

For mysterious reasons, his mother entrusts his care to an old black man named Lacy Albert Coe. Lacy tells simple stories about the good and the bad that compose life's sweetest music. But when a reclusive Korean War veteran is linked to his father's death and Lacy is victimized by hate crimes, Charlie hears only silence."

I really enjoyed this book. Mr. Daniels does a great job of developing characters that are real. One of my pet peeves with story tellers is that they often attribute more maturity to kids than they should. Mr. Daniels does not do that. In fact he does a great job of acknowledging Charlie's immaturity and understanding level. As the story unfolded I kept trying to figure things out and actually did at one time, but still was not quite sure until it was revealed. This is a believable story that covers many facets of our humanity.

5 stars

If I Gained the World by Linda Nichols

"Lenore and Daniel have a cozy home and a wonderful son, a mirror image of his father. Lenore loves her life and wants nothing to change - except one thing ...As innocent as it seemed, her request is the beginning of the end, and their life together unravels. Lenore takes little Scottie and begins her quest for meaning, purpose, and a new start - as far away from those bittersweet memories as she can get...How will these broken hearts move past their pain and find their way to faithfulness, grace and love?"

This was my least favorite book that I read this month. It is just not the genre that I am interested in reading. There were some interesting characters and it is an encouraging story as far as pointing out the things that are truly important in life. Stories of this type just seem a little cheesy and fake to me at times. I really want to like them, but they just don't strike the chord with me to make me want to read more. However, if you like a romance story that is a little on the fluffy side, this is a good one.

3 stars

2008 Book Reviews - #1

2008-01-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik

"Maybe Patty Jane Dobbin should know better than to marry a man as gorgeous as Thor Rolvaag, but she's too smitten to think twice. Yet nine months into their marriage, with a baby on the way, Thor is gone. It's a good thing Patty Jane has her irrepressible sister Harriet to rely on - not to mention her extremely short, extremely rich almost-brother-in-law, Avel Ames."

This is a story of family, friendship and life. It is not a feel good story, but it is full of warm emotion. I enjoyed getting to know Patty Jane, Harriet, Ione and Nora. They each had highs, lows, good and bad - just like in real life and handled it in their own way. Through it all they were there for each other and for others too.

4 stars

Into Thin Air:A Personal Account of Mount Everest by Jon Krakauer

"In this definitive account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest, Jon Krakauer takes the reader step-by-step from Katmandu to the mountain's deadly pinnacle, unfolding a breathtaking story that will by turns thrill and terrify."

After watching "Everest: Beyond the Limit" on Discovery Channel, this book caught my eye. It was written after an expedition in 1996 that went horribly wrong. Mr. Krakauer was on the expedition to write an article for "Outside" magazine. After the expedition, he wrote the article, but decided that he needed to go back, re-address some of the facts and tell this story in more detail. It was interesting reading about the friendships that were made, the camaraderie between the guides, the conflicts, the government requirements and all the other side issues that arise for an expedition up Everest. The acclimation of the climbers, the actual climb and then the horror of what had happened was all told in a way that almost made me feel as if I were there. An interesting story without a happy ending.

4 stars

The Girls by Lori Lansens

"Since their birth, twin sisters, Rose and Ruby Darlen have been known simply as "The Girls." Raised by the Aunt Lovey, the nurse who took them in after their mother abandoned them, they have lived all their lives in the small town of Leaford, in an old farmhouse bordered by cornfields. This is the story of their shared life, two sisters who are ordinary in most respects but who have a relationship of profound and unmatched intimacy. For Rose and Ruby are conjoined twins, connected inseparably, facing the world side by side. "The Girls" is the affecting chronicle of their incomparable life journey, a heartrending story of love between sisters."

I wasn't sure about this book when I started, but was quickly drawn in. Rose and Ruby had a wonderful Aunt in Lovey. She saw them as individuals and made sure that they were as independent from each other as could be allowed. This is their life story as told by each of them. There are some twists and turns that I didn't expect. Ms Lansens tells the story in such a way that I had to remind myself that it is a work of fiction.

5 stars

Dark of the Moon by John Sandford

"In the small town of Bluestem, where everybody knows everybody, a house way up on a ridge explodes into flames, its owner, a man named Judd, trapped inside. There is a lot of reason to hate him, Flowers discovers. Years ago, Judd perpetrated a scam that drove a lot of local farmers out of business, even to suicide. There are also rumors swirling around: of some very dicey activities with other men's wives; of involvement with some nutcase religious guy; of an out-of-wedlock daughter. In fact, Flowers concludes, you'd probably have to dig around to find a person who doesn't despise Judd."

John Sandford can write very suspenseful, almost disturbing books. This is not one, which is why I enjoyed it. This follows Virgil Flowers as he figures out the murders in the small town of Bluestem. Mr. Sandford writes it in such a way that until the end, I was unsure of which person had done it. In fact, even when the truth came out, I was doubtful. There was enough suspense and side stories all the way through to keep it interesting.

5 stars

December Reviews

2007-12-04T20:19:00.000-08:00

About My Sisters by Debra Ginsberg

5 stars

The true story of family - mainly the relationship of 4 sisters, but it includes the parents and the lone brother. Ms Ginsberg does a nice job of taking current events and reflecting back to childhood. While not everything is perfect between them all, there is a true sense of love. This is the type story that shows the importance of family. I enjoyed it and by the end of the book felt as if I knew them all.

Desire Street: A True Story of Death and Deliverance in New Orleans by Jed Horne

4 stars

This is another work of non-fiction. This is the story of Curtis Kyles - a black New Orleans man that was charged in killing a older white woman in the parking lot of a Schwegmann's grocery store. The book follows Kyles through 5 trials and 14 years in prison, detailing not only the legal and investigative issues, but the emotional toll that this case took on many of the people involved. A well written book that makes you think about our system.

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

3 stars

This book was not what I expected. I knew there was a crisis that occurs, but I didn't know it was going to be a serious book. I was expecting something light hearted. Also once the crisis hit, I knew where the story was headed, which in some strange way made me detach from the story. It is an interesting concept and a good way to tell a story, but I was disappointed in the book.

Bitsy's Bait & BBQ by Pamela Morsi

5 stars

This is a fun book to read. It was a fairly predictable story about family. But being predictable didn't make it boring. The interaction between the characters seemed real and believable, even though it wasn't deep. A good book to read when you are wanting a "feel good" read.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

3 stars

This is another one of those books that I really wanted to like because of the topic, but it just didn't pull it off for me. There were times that I enjoyed this book - I felt like I was there with Mr. Mortenson and could picture the people, land, need, etc. Other times I felt as if I was trudging through and I felt a total disconnect. I'm not sure why - but think it was due to the writing style. I hate to give this an average rating because it is about such a noble, needed cause. I'm glad I read it because it has made me think about some things and it has educated me, but as far as the actual "read" goes - it was an average book to me.

Dreaming Southern by Linda Bruckheimer

4 stars

This is the story of a kindhearted, simple woman who is driving her kids from Kentucky to their new life in California. Her husband has gone ahead and is waiting for them there. There are a few detours along the way and you know with detours there usually comes adventure. I really felt like I was getting a glimpse of a family trip. I also liked that the last section of the book filled the reader in on where the family members were in their current lives. I enjoyed it.

Rick & Bubba's Expert Guide to God, Country, Family and Anything Else We Can Think Of by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey

5 stars

This is a compilation of short stories by 2 radio personalities. I don't think that I've heard Rick and Bubba on air but I'm going to check them out some morning. I had laugh out loud moments throughout this book. I don't know if it's because of my southern roots and being able to relate, because of the mood I was in when reading or just because they were funny. I found myself sharing passages with my family. A good, clean, funny book.

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

4 stars

The story of girl growing up in Moreland, Indiana. As I was growing up I thought to have a biography or memoir you had to be someone famous. Now I see that anyone can write a memoir about the normal life and it can be entertaining. Haven Kimmel had a fairly normal life with enough abnormal thrown in to make it interesting. I see it mainly as a book of relationships - family, friends, authority, etc. Another good one to read.

Life's a Beach by Claire Cook

5 stars

I read my first Claire Cook book earlier this year - thanks to my friend Debbie for sharing it with me. I enjoyed it and that's what made me want to check this book out. This story is once again mainly about family relationships. There are a lot of tangents to the story, just like real life. Ms Cook does a good job of building interest and connecting the reader to the characters. By the end of the book I felt as if I knew the family.

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg

5 stars

I like Ms Flagg's writing style and subjects. She has a wonderful way of telling a story with good character development. While the book is about a pre-mature visit to heaven, it is really more about life on earth. A really down to earth story about people, life and how we live it.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

3 stars

This is a Pulitzer Prize winning book that I feel as if I should give more stars to, but I can't. I didn't dislike the story, but for me it was hard to read at times. It is a letter/journal of an older father to his young son. The father is a preacher so there are spiritual things thrown in. I liked the idea of the story, I liked the story, the characters and how it developed. I think what I didn't like was the writing style.

Saturday by Ian McEwan

4 stars

I expected more suspense from this story. Instead it was about a some what normal day in the life of neurosurgeon Henry Perowne with a twist of an accident that affects the whole day. Not in a outward way, but an inner, as accidents do. By the end of the book we have seen the total affect of the accident, not only on Perowne, but his whole family. All in one day. This book has one of my favorite conflicts - the moral dilemma. After spending a day in the life, I thought I knew how Dr. Perowne would act, but there was part of me that wasn't sure. The beginning of the story was a little hard for me to get through. It is establishing background and includes a section about the surgeries that Perowne had performed the day before. It got a little too "medical termish" for me. Otherwise, a good book to end the year on.

November Reviews

2007-11-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

The Pawn by Steven James

5 stars

I was interested in this book because I have been in workshops taught by Steven James on how to tell Bible story's to youth. He actually has a Masters in Storytelling - who knew there was such a thing?! This is his first novel in a series. It follows a geographical profiler trying to help solve a serial murder case. Intertwined is a "secondary story about a survivor of the Jonestown cult suicide/murders. Very well written - suspenseful and believable. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

4 stars

Another one of John Grisham's "non-legal" novels. This one is about a washed up quarterback who goes to Italy to play football. Truth be told he was pretty much ran out of the USA by the way he played in his last game there. Once there he finds things aren't quire as his agent had told him they would be, but he makes the best of it and adapts to the culture and the league in his own American way. A fun read.

The Dressmaker by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck

4 stars

I enjoyed this story, but it was a little on the depressing side. Ms Birkelund takes a simple premise of love at first sight and takes us on a journey. The story centers around a dressmaker, Charles and one of his clients, Valentine. She comes to him to get a wedding dress made and she becomes not only the woman he loves, but also his muse. The story includes some unexpected twists and isn't a fairy tale. Worth reading.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

3 stars

This is the true story of a man who found a part of the Appalachian Trail in his backyard and decided to walk it. He is joined by his friend, Stephen Katz, and the adventure begins. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It details their prep and adventure over the first part of their trip. There are funny moments and people and reflection on nature and friendships. After a while out he trail, the two men have to take a break from the trail and return later. The second part covers this break and the return. I had to force myself to finish reading the second part of the book. As Mr. Bryson's enthusiasm for the trail faded, so did mine for reading about it. I found that his little forays into "causes" wore thin after a while and the humor and fun were gone. All and all, an average read.

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

5 stars

Another one of Ms Gregory's historical novels. This one covers the time after Ann Boleyn was killed by Henry VIII and when Anne of Cleves and then Katherine Howard are married to the old, delusional king. Jane Boleyn offers a third perspective of the story. As with the other books I've read by Ms Gregory related to this subject - if you like historic fiction set in the time of Henry VIII, this books for you.

The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian

5 stars

I really like Chris Bohjalian's books. This is another one of his moral stories. This one revolves around a family whose twin daughters are killed in a flood and the choices they make afterwards. One choice is to take in a foster child. The not so good choice is that the husband, Terry, has an affair. Seems pretty straight forward - he's a bad guy, right? That's where Mr. Bohjalian always surprises me. He shows all sides of his characters - good and bad. And while Terry is the type character I usually strongly dislike, I couldn't. He's not a sympathetic character - more of a "he is who he is" and you just accept it. Another story with a lot of layers that I highly recommend.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

5 stars

This book is hard to describe. It is about sorrow, love, growing older, fulfilled dreams, unfulfilled dreams and much more. A traveling circus and a nursing home are the main backdrops for the story. It is mainly a story about relationships. Even now I can think of the book and feel transported back in time and almost hear the train wheels and feel the bumping of the cars. Ms Gruen does a wonderful job of painting a picture. Another great book.

A Long Way Gone by Ismael Beah

3 stars

I feel bad rating this book 3 stars because of the topic that it covers. This is the story of a young man that gets thrown into the civil war of Sierra Leone. It is Ishmael Beah's life story and has some horrible things that he went through. It saddens me and is unbelievable that things like that happen in this world. I'm glad I read this book for that reason, but to me there seemed to be an emotional disconnect. I would read some of the things that happen, feel sorry, but at the same time I was thinking that I should feel more. It was written more as facts. I'm sure it helped Mr. Beah deal with some of the things that happened and it's definitely a story that needs to be heard.

October Reviews

2007-10-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Collectors by David Baldacci

4 stars

I like Baldacci's books. I find them interesting but they are not the kind of books that make me sit on the edge of my seat. This book has the Camel Club in the midst of murder and intrigue. Mr. Baldacci takes two different plot lines that end up melded together. An interesting book that is left open for a sequel.

Come Back - A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine

4 stars

A true story of a daughter's drug addiction and recovery. This is told by both the mother and the daughter. It is a depressing and an encouraging story at the same time. Depressing to see how far Mia, the daughter, fell and encouraging to see the love of her mother, Claire, to help her at all costs to overcome. It took a little tough love from Claire but mainly it was the love that Mia had already had from Claire that helped her decide that being clean was something she desired and was ready to work for. A good look into the mind of one addict and how one family dealt with it.

Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson

5 stars

After a "heavy" book I wanted a little levity and I got it from this book. Ms Jackson can tell a story in a way that I can see in my mind. At the end of her books I feel as if I know the characters and as flawed as they are, I like them all. I look forward to reading more of Ms Jackson's books.

Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley

4 stars

I'm not much of a history book reader, but I do enjoy a few "memoir" type history books from time to time. This is one that I felt compelled to read since it has been hailed as such a good book. I learned a lot about the battle of Iwo Jima. I had no idea how long it lasted or how brutal it was. I liked having the human side to those who went into battle. A well written book about a time in our history that must not be forgotten.

Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott

3 stars

I don't know why I didn't really like this book that much. For some reason I just didn't care for Ms Lamott's writing style. I can't tell you why, I just don't. However, this book does have some interesting characters. There are a lot of moral stories in this short book and I really wanted to like it, but felt like I was drudging through it.

Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik

5 stars

I enjoyed this book. It is one woman's life story. Violet is able to come from the depths of despair and discover the goodness of people and life. It's not an easy journey, but it is an interesting one and an encouraging one. I like how Ms Landvik spans the years and how it is a combination of Violet telling the story and a narrative. This is another book filled with people I wish I knew - and think that maybe some of them I do. Worth the read!

The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Burke

4 stars

I like James Burke's books about Dave Robicheaux. I know part of the reason I do is because of the setting. This story takes place during and immediately following Katrina. While that set the stage for the story, it is more of a background than I thought it would be. This was not a real suspenseful book, but it told an interesting tale of events that started before Katrina and the coincidences that kept people connected and torn apart. None of it in a good way. Once again, Burke kept my interest to the end.

Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It is told by Dawn - a woman whose instincts aren't as bad as her sister, the Life Coach Halley, but aren't anywhere near great either. There comes a day that everything changed when Dawn first hears her dog, Chuck, talking to her, and then all the dogs at the Doggy Depot where she works. Chuck tries to become her instinct meter and when Dawn listens to him, there are mixed results. This is a fun story that is easy to read, and odd enough, believable.

Sherlock in Love by Sena Jeter Naslund

3 stars

I was disappointed in this book. This is the third book by Ms Naslund that I have read. Four Spirits is one of my favorites of the year. I was interested in this book because I had read Ahabs Wife and really enjoyed it too. I hadn't read Moby Dick but was still drawn into the story and thought the same would happen with this book. I just did not get drawn into this story though. I figured a lot of it out in advance and was disappointed. But not so disappointed that I won't read any more of Ms Naslund's books. I'm just going to chalk this one up as if I had liked Sherlock mysteries, I would have enjoyed this book.

Windchill Summer by Norris Church Mailer

5 stars

This book caught my eye on Paperback Swap. I think I read about it on a discussion forum. It had good reviews and since it was set in Arkansas, I decided I needed to check it out. I started reading and immediately knew all the places mentioned in the book - even though the names were fictional. I did some research on the author and found that she was actually raised about 20 miles from my home town. She went to Arkansas Tech which is the same college that Jack and I (and Bekah for 1 year) attended. She was actually an art teacher at Jack's High School, but he doesn't remember her. She is now married to Norman Mailer - has been for over 25 years. She wrote of Nehi Mountain a.k.a. Mount Nebo, the lake (Lake Dardanelle) and even the town I grew up in. That was all a little of a distraction to me. However through it all I found myself soon drawn in to the story. The setting is 1969 and while Arkansas is the main place, Viet Nam is a pervalent part of the story. The story has many layers as do the people in it. In fact the summer job that 2 of the main characters - Cherry and Baby - have is peeling onions at the pickle plant. Before the story was over I thought about how the story was much like peeling an onion - one layer would fall away to reveal another. It is a story of small towns, religion, war, family and much more. I'm glad I stumbled across it.

September Reviews

2007-09-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke

5 stars

I enjoyed this Dave Robicheaux novel more than the last one. Burke still had a lot of his signature plot lines - the corrupt rich family, Clete getting in major trouble, Helen cutting Dave some slack and of course the rain. But things seemed a little "toned" down and more believable.

The Law of Similars by Christ Bohjalian

4 1/2 stars

I like Bohjalian's books. He presents a moral dilemma that always makes me think about what I would do. This story was the weakest one of the 3 of his I've read though. It is the story of a widowed lawyer who goes to a homeopathy and falls in love with her. When one of her patients ends up in a coma, he faces hard choices and decisions about how to help her. I think why I found this weak is because I felt more like he was in lust instead of love, even though we are told it's love. I just had a hard time reconciling some of his decisions and actions based on feeling there had not been the time or background for love that would justify those to develop.

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

4 1/2 stars

The seventh book I've read written by Ms Picoult. This is the story of an 18 year old Amish girl accused of neonaticide and the lawyer that fate seems to have brought into her life at the right time. The story is more about the Amish life, beliefs and faith than anything. There were a few events in the story that I saw coming - almost expected it to happen. Jodi Picoult is known for her twists at the end and while this one has it, it wasn't one that surprised me. If you haven't read any of her books, you may feel different. It is another well-written interesting story from Ms Picoult.

Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

5 stars

A haunting memoir of growing up in Indiana in the 1970's and 1980's. On the surface I'm sure this looked like a great family - the dad was a doctor, the mom involved in Christian activities, 2 adopted children ..taking in 2 young black boys into their white family. Beneath the surface though, things are not what they seem. The dad is abusive and the mother more concerned about her church missionaries than her children. In reading this book I wondered about why there appears to have been no family study done before placing the 2 boys into the home, especially with it being a cross race adoption in the 70's. This is a tale of the love of a brother and a sister that endures the abuse in and out of the family. It is heartwarming and sad at the same time - a real eye opener.

gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

4 stars

There are gods in Alabama and one of them Arlene Fleet left behind with a promise to God that, among other things, if He kept her secret, she would never return to Alabama. Things start happening to convince Arlene that God isn't keeping His end of the bargain and so a trip to see her family in Alabama with her black boyfriend by her side is needed to protect the secret. This is a very enjoyable book. Ms Jackson takes us on the trip with Arlene and Burr - and what a strange trip it can be. Arlene has a past that would make you blush, but overall she's the type girl that I would want for a friend.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

2 stars

I started this book with high hopes and was disappointed. It is a good story that I would have enjoyed if it had not been based on Bible characters. Fiction about a character that not much is known I enjoy, fiction that contradicts what we read in the Bible, bothers me. I finished this book only because so many people loved it. There were parts that I loved when it was about Dinah later in life - away from her family. But the passages that included her family for the most part disappointed me. If you are interested in reading fiction based on Bible women, I would recommend "Sarah:Women of Genesis" by Orson Scott Card instead of this one.

I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles

3 stars

If you are not extremely interested in English history, this book is not for you. I had a hard time keeping up with who was who and how they fit in the story. There are a lot of peripheral characters. The story really bogged down at times, but there were some interesting passages. I think I'll stick with Philippa Gregory for my English Historical Fiction.

The Slow Way Back by Judy Goldman

3 1/2 stars

This is the story of sisters, family and How what you think is truth isn't always true. I would have liked a little more character development. I liked the premise of the story but never fully connected to the characters. I didn't get a good grasp of the relationships between the sisters and that's the main theme of the book. I thought the ending was a little anti-climatic too. This was Ms Goldman's first novel and I think it read as a first novel. I enjoyed her novel "Early Leaving" much more.

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Womans Soul by John and Stassi Eldredge

3 1/2 stars

There were parts of this book that I could relate to, but much of it, I couldn't. The book begins with the premise that all women grew up wanting to be the princess that is rescued by the prince. To be honest, I don't remember that as a dream of mine. Don't get me wrong - I wanted a prince in my life, and have one, but I don't remember the rescuing part. Mrs. Eldredge uses a lot of her personal life experiences as examples to unveil the mystery. The problem I have with that is we had totally opposite experiences. Overall I was disappointed in this book, but can also see how someone else may love it. I think a lot of it depends on your age and where you are in your life.

But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn

5 stars

I loved this book. It is the story of how Miss Dunn went from small town Jersey to the rock and roll life of "The Rolling Stone" in NYC. Through it all Miss Dunn is still the small town girl. It was refreshing to see success come to a girl who at the heart of things is a family oriented nerdy person. I could totally relate to her. I also enjoyed her writing style. In between chapters she gives "how-to's" regarding dealing with stars. I laughed out loud more reading this book than any book I've read in a long time. Very refreshing!

Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin

5 stars

Another good book. Tucker and Mutt grow up with an abusive father who barely knew they were alive. The one person who loves them is Ella Rain - their nanny. She is the one who raises them and instills value in them. The story picks up when Tucker and Mutt are grown and dealing with the aftermath of their childhood. Mr. Martin writes Christian based fiction. I love his stories because he doesn't interject God into them, instead God is just a part of the story like "real" life. This story has God woven all through it, but it is not preachy. Mr. Martin does a good job of character development. He made me want to go to Alabama and meet these people. Wonderful story of love, hope, forgiveness and redemption.

August Book Reviews

2007-09-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

A Live Coal in the Sea by Madeleine L'Engle

3 1/2 stars

This is a story of family asking what makes a family? Is it important to know your bloodline or is your family based more on relationships? This is a story of love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. All wonderful spiritual type concepts. I personally have a hard time reading L'Engle's books though. While her stories are interesting, her style gets in the way for me.

Songs of the Humpback Whale: A Novel in Five Voices by Jodi Picoult

4 stars

This was Picout's first novel. The story is about a family that has fallen apart. Oliver is the dad, a marine biologist, Jane, a speech pathologist is the wife and then there is the 14 about to turn 15 year old Rebecca. Jane and Rebecca embark on a cross country trip to see Jane's brother, Joley, who is working at an apple orchard in Massachusetts. The story is full of interesting twists on their journey there and during their stay. It is full of emotions - good and bad - and a story of how our past affects our present. Picoult often writes her stories from different view points. This one has a twist in that four of the voices are telling the story from the beginning to the end, while Rebecca starts at the end and goes back to the beginning. All in all a good read.

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

5 stars

True story of survival of the genocide that occurred in the 1990’s in Rwanda. Ms Ilibagiza has an amazing faith in God. Through her story you can feel the terror and sense of loss, but she always stands firm. It is a great story of faith that contrasts the hatred man has with the love and power of God.

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

5 stars

This is a well written, easy to read story of life in a small town at the turn of the century. The story revolves around one of the town's prominent families and what happens when grandad marries shortly after the death of his wife. It is told through the eyes of his grandson, Will Tweedy. It is a fun story of life in a small town.

Early Leaving by Judy Goldman

5 stars

What happens when you are so concerned with protecting your image as the perfect family and protecting your son that you don’t really see what’s going on? Early is the son and as you probably have figured out, there is a double meaning in the title. This is told from the mom's perspective. The mom is an involved mom with what appears to be a good relationship with her son. However, through her skewed vision she didn't always see the big picture - even when it was too late. This is a good book that made me think about what I would have done different. Sometimes I wasn't too sure.

Big Fish by Daniel Wallace

4 stars

This is one tale that I will say I enjoyed the movie more than the book. Usually the movie can't go into enough of the nuances, but in this case the movie was able to expand on the theme. It is an interesting book of a fathers mythical tales and how they made up for the relationship the son and father did not have.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

5 stars

I was not expecting a lot from this book. I had picked it up in the store on more than one occasion and put it back down thinking it would be dry and boring. Boy! Was I wrong! This is the “life” story of a man who grows up in Afghanistan. His is a charmed life of sorts as a young boy with a rich dad and a good friend in the servants son. The highlight of each year for the young boy is the kite fights. Part of the ceremony involves kids running to get the kites that have been cut down. The servant's son is the best at running after the kites - thus the book name. This is a well written story of family, friends, guilt and redemption. One of the few books that made me shed tears.

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall

5 stars

Edgar Mint had his head ran over by a postman - and lived. This is the tale of the miracle life that followed. Edgar is a Native American who bounces from here to there, but always affects people in a positive way. Well, maybe not his peers who perceive him to be a little odd. But no matter where he is, there always seems to be a miracle of some sorts. I enjoyed this story. Mr. Udall does a good job of tapping into the imagination.

Kitchen Privileges:A Memoir by Mary Higgins Clark

3 stars

Not one of my favorites. I expected more from this book, though I don't know what. It was interesting reading about life among the stars and how Mrs. Clark managed to succeed in getting her first book published. But overall, not a book that stood out to me.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo

4 stars

Another book that has been made into a movie that I had never heard of. Life in Empire Falls is interesting. Empire Falls is a small town that is shriveling up as the plants close and the most prominent family dies away. The Empire Falls Grill is still operating though and starting to thrive. This story takes you through the life of the manager of the grill - past and present - and his relationship with the town. The story has a few twists in it. Being from a small town, I could relate to some of the people and the hometown feeling. A good read.

The Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger

4 stars

A fictional account of a young boy and his relationship to baseball player Charlie Banks. This is told mostly through letters and notes. It takes place in the 40's and covers baseball, Broadway stars, the war, politics, and religion. It is laugh out funny at times. A good read for this time of year.

All the Numbers by Judy Larsen

4 stars

The story of loss and how a mother deals with it. James, the younger of Ellen's sons is killed in a jet ski accident. Daniel, her older son, and Ellen are left to deal with the loss of James and the decision of the DA to not file charges against the kid that was riding the jet ski. This was a good enough book. I was a little disappointed in how it developed. At the end I almost felt like in writing Ms Larsen thought - "OK, time to wrap this up." I wanted more details and more depth to decisions made. I will read more of her books though.

Another Used Book Source

2007-08-21T20:28:00.001-07:00

I've already recommended Paperbackswap.com as a great place to get and get rid of your books. I've recently signed up at another site - Bookins. This site is different from Paperbackswap in several ways. At Bookins each book is assigned a different point value where at PB each book is one credit (except audio books which are 2.) The other main difference is that with Bookins you print out the postage for any books you send out at no cost to you. You then pay $3.99 for each book you receive. UPDATE - I got the Bookins newsletter today and beginning Sept. 23 the price will increase to $4.49 per book. Not so sure if that's going to be a good deal for me or not. Other minor differences are that there is no "community" at Bookins. The books are all sent "delivery confirmation" so there is no need to log on and confirm that you received the book.

Paperbackswap is my favorite of the 2 because of the simplicity of 1 credit for 1 book. Plus while I like the idea of paying for books received instead of sent, I don't like having $3.99 charged to my credit card each time. I wish there were an option to have $ in an account and then have them credited as needed. However I have been able to pick up some books that were on my wish list with PB and I've also been able to send out some books that were just sitting on my PB list. So, it's a good secondary site for me.

To sign up for Bookins, use this link. Happy reading!

July Book Reviews

2007-08-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

Twelve Years as a Slave by Solomon Northup

This was a surprisingly good book. When I saw all the footnotes, appendixes, etc. I was afraid that it may read too much like a textbook, but I was wrong. This account of Mr. Northup’s life from freeman to slave and back to freeman was very interesting. It was a straight forward account depicting his slave owners as he saw them. One was a kind, Christian man, but the one he labored under for 10 years was a drunk who was fond of the whip. This book brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.

5 stars

Cutting Lisa by Percival Everett

This book promised to be much more than it was. In fact, reading the summary on the back is more thought provoking and entertaining than the book. The book does have it moments of wit and dialogue, but overall a big disappointment. Good premise – not carried out though.

2 1/2 stars

Savannah Comes Undone by Denise Hildreth

An enjoyable book, but not as enjoyable as the first one – “Savannah from Savannah.” In this book Savannah discovers that there is even more to her mom than the surface beauty when her mom ties herself to a 10 Commandment memorial to insure it remains in front of the courthouse. Savannah also discovers a few things about herself – such as how self-absorbed she is. Things get resolved, with a few twists along the way.

3 stars

Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian

Another good one from Bohjalian. I read this one because I had enjoyed “Midwives.” This is the story of an extended family – the mom, Nan, her daughter & family - Catherine, ,Spencer and Charlotte, the son & his family – John, Sara, Willow and Patrick. The granddaughters, Charlotte and Willow spend the summer with the grandmother each year. When the parents come for a visit, tragedy strikes when Charlotte accidentally shoots her dad, mistaking him for a deer. The kicker here is that her dad works for an animal rights group – she’s a vegetarian, can’t wear leather, has never been to a zoo and has definitely been taught not to kill an animal. A good family drama seeing how things are exposed and handled and how people can change.

5 stars

Multiple Choice by Claire Cook

A mother and daughter find themselves working as interns at the same radio station. This creates drama to begin with, because the daughter didn’t know her mom was returning to college even. After some conflict, an aspiring producer decides that he has a gold mine show sitting in front of him – a mother –daughter talk show. So, “I’m Rubber, You’re Glue” hits the airwaves. A fun story that at times sounds more like middle school drama than mother/daughter/college.

4 stars

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Like all of her books I've read, this one drew me in. This one is a little more graphic than other books of Picoluts that I’ve read. The story line is about a 14 year old girl, Trixie who accuses her ex-boyfriend or rape. Trixie’s dad has been a stay at home dad – working on his comic strip and taking care of Trixie while her mom taught college. They each have their own demons that they are dealing with, but the love their daughter and are devasted by what she has experienced. This book will open some eyes about teens and how young some begin entering a world that in reality they are not mature enough to handle, even with "good" parents. A story that also explores how at times we see things more with our hearts than our eyes.

5 stars

The Innocent Man by John Grisham

I'm glad I read this book, but it is not your typical John Grisham. This is a true life story of a man fasely accused of a murder. At times I felt detached, as if reading a blow by blow account, when I wanted to read a story instead. In the authors notes he states that he could have written 5,000 pages. I think he had a hard time deciding what to put in and what to cut and it seemed a little fragmented. BUT, it is a good story and will make you think about the justice system and how sometimes instead of being blind, it has on blinders.

4 stars

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

The story of the Land family.. They have a simple, loving existence with a father who can perform miracles, a sister who writes poetry about the old west, a son who should have been dead at birth, were it not for his father and an older son who loves and protects the family in a way that leaves him charged with murder and on the run. This begins a journey for the family that results in lessons of love, mercy and family. A very well written enjoyable book.

5stars

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

I read this based on the recommendation of our preacher. The story loosely parallels the book of Hosea and since we are in the midst of a series of sermons titled “Minor Keys” this goes along with some of the lessons. I enjoyed this book and the symbolism of God’s unfailing love and mercy. The story is set in the gold rush days of the 1800’s and uses the marriage of an upstanding citizen to a prostitute to tell the wonderful story of God’s love, patience and forgiveness. Without the symbolism I don’t think I would have liked this book much at all, but the symbolism is so strong that it is a touching tale.

4 stars

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

Another one of Gregory’s novels about the royalty of England. The Constant Princess is Katherine of Aragon. In this story we follow her through her childhood, her marriage to prince Arthur and then to Henry VIII. Ms Gregory puts her own spin on the claim that Katherine and Arthur never consummated their marriage and how she ended up married to Henry. It is a love story and a survival story.

4 stars

Esther's Pillow by Marlin Fitzwater

Based on a true story that Mr. Fitzwater had relatives participate in. Set in Kansas it is a story of a community who set out to drive out the new school teacher. This story will make you think about the horrible effects of gossip, jealousy and peer pressure. It's amazing how all of these things can snowball into something so harmful as someone being tar and feathered. It's also interesting to read how deeply the community and families were affected by this. Mr. Fitzwater's writing style was a little too impersonal for me, at times I felt like I was reading a newspaper article, but the story is an interesting one.

3 stars

Free Books for Kids!

2007-07-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

Vote here for the state of Louisiana and our children could receive 50,000 new books to read! You can only vote once a day, but you can vote everyday until the end of the contest on July 31st. Please help put Louisiana in the #1 spot!

Cheap Books

2007-07-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

Check out Paperback Swap. This is a place to get rid of books you no longer want, and to get some new ones to read. Condensed version - you sign up and post 9 books. You then recieve 3 credits that can be used to order 3 books. (Each book is 1 credit whether paperback or hard cover. The exception - books on tape are 2 credits.) Your books are listed and can be ordered by others. Your cost is in mailing books that others order. These are sent Media Mail and most books cost $2.13 to send. When the person you sent a book to recieves it, you recieve a credit and the cycle continues.

If you sign up, use me as a reference (jantalk). If you do, I will recieve a credit, which I will return to you. So, you can get 4 credits to start your trading.

Be warned - this is an addictive site and you may find yourself at the post office more than ususal,, but it's well worth it.

Summer Reading Programs

2007-07-05T21:01:00.001-07:00

Summer was always a season of reading for me growing up. Those were the days that Jackie and I could go to the library, browse, get our books and then take them home and read. Now there are reading incentive programs to encourage summer reading. Most libraries have them and a few bookstores. (If you have children in grades 1 - 6, check out the program at Barnes & Noble. For reading any 8 books and keeping a brief journal, your child can get a free book. Not a bad deal. )

Of course the library programs are always good too. I'm participating in the one with the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. They made it easy for adults - read 3 books, record them with a brief summary and turn it in for prizes. The prizes that made me sign up were a $5 certificate for the Recycled Reads sale and a cookie on a stick from Cookies by Design. If they had only had a coupon for CC's it would have been perfect - a book, a cookie and a cup of coffee. What more do you need?!

June Book Reviews

2007-07-03T06:52:00.001-07:00

Here's the latest book reviews (trying to keep it short and sweet):

"The Goodbye Summer" by Patricia Gaffney

This is the story of a few months in the life of Cadie Winger. These months find her living alone for the first time in her 32 years of life as her grandmother moved into Wake House, a place that those who do not need intensive medical care, just a little help, can go and live together. Caddie quickly makes friends with the residents, visiting them and helping them to record their biographies among other things. There's more than one goodbye in the story, but the main goodbye is Caddie’s goodbye to her old self.

4 stars

"The Virgin's Lover" by Philippa Gregory

The follow up book to “The Queen’s Fool” this chronicles the time in England when Elizabeth became queen. A tale of politics and love as Elizabeth and Robert Dudley become close companions in both areas. Those around them see the pitfalls – the largest being that Dudley is married and that he is a Dudley – one of the most ambitious families in the kingdom. Another well written interesting historical novel from Gregory.

5 stars

"Mostly True - A Memoir of Family, Food, and Baseball" by Molly O'Neill

The story of the Molly O’Neill – oldest child and only daughter in the baseball O’Neill family. (Paul O’Neill is her youngest brother) I enjoyed reading about her growing up years (how could it not be interesting growing up with 4 brothers!) – her adult years as she developed in the food industry was not as interesting to me. It is a nice story about a close family.

4 stars

"Savannah from Savannah" by Denise Hildreth

Gotta love this southern girl who has a mind of her own. Savannah is tired of her mom – the former Miss Georgia United States of America – using her influence to make sure that Savannah always gets what she wants. She decides it’s time to step up and thwart her mom’s plans. Savannah takes matters into her own hands and is hired as a human interest story writer for the Savannah paper. Her first story is about – what else – but beauty pageants. Savannah learns that things aren’t always what they appear to be and that you always need to consider whose life you may affect with your words.

4 stars

"End of the Spear" by Steve Saint

True story of faith and courage. Steve’s dad was in a company of 5 Christian men who were reaching out to the Waodani tribe in the Amazon when they were speared and killed by these same people. Steve and his family then ended up living with these people as they found the trail of God. Through all kinds of trials, their love for each other and God continues to grow and be a great example to all.

5 stars

"The Truth War" by John MacArthur

This is a book that encourages us to stand up for the truth and to not bow to the pressures of the world to be PC or post-mod. He uses the book of Jude as a basis. Well written and convicting at times and at times a little "over my head."

4 stars

"The Grace that keeps this World" by Tom Bailey

This book drew me in. and left me with tears. Story of a few days in the life of the Hazen family at deer season time. An important time for storing food for the family, but also a time that finds the Hazen boys with different things on their minds. It is a story about the conflicts, love and resolutions within the family. Very well written and very believable.

5 stars

"But Inside I'm Screaming" by Elizabeth Flock

Tale of a woman’s recovery from a very public breakdown. Isabel breaks down on TV while reporting on Princess Di’s death. She ends up at Three Rivers to recover. This is her story of time in the hospital. An interesting story full of interesting characters. Untimely the story of Isabel's recovery and will to survive.

5 stars

"Love, Rosie" by Cecelia Ahern

Delightful story of a friendship that spans the years. Rosie and Alex grow up as close friends. His family moves from Ireland to Boston their last year of HS, but through the years they remain best friends. This is told through letters, e-mails, IM’s, etc. Very interesting way to tell a story and a fun book to read.

5 stars

"Crusader's Cross" by James Lee Burke

Another Dave Robicheaux tale. I enjoyed the book, but in ways it reminded of the last one of his I read. Another rich, corrupt family that Dave brings to their knees. I find it interesting that Dave got married again and wonder where that story line will go.

4 stars

"Almost Innocent" by Sheila Bosworth

Family story as told and remembered by their daughter Clay-Lee. Her parents, Rand and Constance were much in love, but circumstances and time affected their lives, as it does to us all. The choices made adds to the layers of the story and by the end of the story, all have borne guilt, but all are almost innocent.

5 stars

"Reversible Errors" by Scott Turow

While this story covers a death row inmates appeal, it is also rich in character development of the players involved. There were some twists and turns in the story as far as whether the right man was charged with the crime which kept it interesting. I found it to be a little predictable at times when it came to the development of relationships, but I enjoy Turow's books and this one did not disappoint.

5 stars

"A Patchwork Planet" by Anne Tyler

It’s been a while since I read an Anne Tyler book. She has a way of making her characters so true to life. In this story Barnaby is a man that I feel like I know. He has a good heart, but he can’t see that. Family relationships and romantic relationships, he dooms – but if he’d just get our of his own way, he’d find a wonderful life. What I think of as an "everyday" story. No spectacular occurrences, just life as it happens.

5 stars

"Gardenias for Breakfast" by Robin Jones Gunn

This is a story about a mother and daughter traveling the country and re-connecting with family. The main goal for the mother is to reach Louisiana where her daughter can come to know the Grand Lady (the mom's grandmother) The main story line is abut relationships between the women and what we do or don't do that effects relationships for a long time. I was disappointed in this book. I found it to be an average read that was a little shallow in character development. There were also things that just seemed to be thrown in there and at times it was like a chamber of commerce brochure. Even for a summer read - just not deep enough in development to me.

3 stars

May Book Reviews

2007-06-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Time for the monthly reviews. I'm really trying to shorten them up, so here goes -

First I read the novel that the movie "Simon Birch" was based on - John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany". I didn't see the movie - but enjoyed the book. It is a good story of friendship, faith and politics. I like how Irving fits it all together. Owen Meany is the type character that I would have liked to know. He may have been short in stature, but he was a big person in many other ways - unselfish, kind, loving. The story has it's funny moments and it's serious times. I give it 5 stars.

The next book I read was "S is for Silence". In this book Kinsey becomes involved in a search for a missing mom. The catch is that the mom has been missing for years. Foul play is suspected, but then again with the lifestyle the mom had, she may have just ran away. Leave it to Kinsey to solve it. Another good one from Sue Grafton - 4 stars.

"Jewel" by Bret Lott was my disappointment for the month. I really expected more from this story about a mother's determination to raise her mentally retarded daughter in the 1940's. The mother takes things into her own hands and her whole life becomes this daughter. She often "wrestles" with God. The concept for the book drew me in, but the characters didn't. I just never felt connected to them and I really wanted to. My first 2 star book this year.

I went from that to "How to Be Lost" by Amanda Eyre Ward. This is a quick, easy read - perfect for summer. This story is about a 5 year old girl who disappears one day. The search for her yielded nothing. Flash forward several years and the mom thinks she has seen her daughters picture in a "People" magazine. One sister refuses to be open to the idea, but the other sister goes in search for her. This is an interesting story and before it is over you will discover that there is more than one person who has been lost all those years. After the 2 star book, I'm happy that this one was a 5 star read.

Next I read "Dead Watch" by John Sandford. I enjoy his writing style, though not always his topics. This one was good on both levels. An ex-senator turns up missing and Jacob Winter is called in to help figure out what is going on. A story of politics, love, danger. Well written and not as gruesome as his Prey books. I would say not one of his best, but still ranks up there enough to be a 5 star.

"The Small Rain" by Madeleine L'Engle is a story of family. The main character is Katerine Forrester, the daughter of 2 musicians. This takes her through her lonely childhood and into early adulthood. One review called it a "quietly well-told story" and I have to agree. It was first published in 1945 and it has that feel about it. I enjoyed it - 5 stars

From there I went to "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" by Mark Haddon. This is told by an autistic boy – Christopher. It begins when he discovers their neighbor’s dog has been murdered. He decides to solve the murder. There are a lot of digressions through the story and of course the story is about much more than a dead dog. Interesting look into the mind of an autistic individual – yet humor abounds too. 4 stars

"The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger next up. I enjoyed this book. I’ve seen the movie and know there are differences – of course the book is better. Fairly clean – interesting story about a girl and how she is transformed working for the devil that wears Prada. She must decide if a year of her life and the sacrifices involved are worth her reaching her goal to work for “The New Yorker.” By the end of the book, I felt like “Andy” was a friend of mine. 5 stars

"Two Little Girls in Blue" by Mary Higgins Clark is the story of twin girls that were kidnapped for ransom. As the story unfolds, several possible suspects emerge – some innocent, some not so innocent. The story also involves twins and their connection to each other – even talking without words. Interesting story. 4 stars

"Bobby Rex's Greatest Hits by Marianne Gingher is a book I bought at the LSU Press sale. It is the story of Pally Thompson - a Southern girl who finds herself the subject of hometown boy gone big time, Bobby Rex's greatest hit. Everybody suspects that the things in the song really happened, but Pally knows the truth and in this book, she tells it. A good summer read. 5 stars

I'm probably one of the last people on earth to read "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. This book is an easy read that makes you think about life. In fact, I find it is more a story about life than death - what impact we each have and how our story is more than just ours. I didn't find it to be as great as the hype, but a good read none the less. 4 stars

I finally finished "Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver. In this book Mrs. Weaver steps on some more of my toes - especially when she talks about Flesh Woman. It's always a good thing for me to read a book that makes me think about my life and what kind of spirit I have. 5 stars.

April Book Reviews

2007-05-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that another month has flown by and it's time for my much anticipated book reviews. (Read sarcasm there.) But whether you like them or not, I'm going to keep them up. I will try to keep them short though. So here goes -

The first book of the month was "The Time Travelers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. This book will mess with your head. This is the story of a man who has a genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time. It was a little confusing to me at times because of the past, present, future thing – even at times there being 2 Henry's at different ages. But it is an interesting concept and story. I would have liked to read more about why Clare was so attracted to him, but overall a good read - 5 stars.

"Light on Snow" by Anita Shreve was my next read. It is a touching story of a father and daughter coping with the loss of their wife/mother and daughter/sister. The father couldn't stand the memories, loaded up the girl, Nicky, and drove until they reached a small New Hampshire town. There they found an isolated house to buy and settled down. Their life changes when one evening, after he finishes his woodwork, they take one of their walks in the snow and find a newborn girl left in the woods. A good story of family, love, hurt, grace and redemption. 5 stars.

After that story I went for a journey of faith book - "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. This is the second book by him that I have read and while I enjoy his writings, I don't think they are as great as some people do. I agree with a lot of what he said, but also had problems in some areas. A sightly above average read - 3 1/2 stars.

From there I went to a different kind of personal story and read "Catch Me if You Can" by Frank Abagnale. I had seen the movie based on this book a few years back and had been curious about the book ever since. He presented himself as so many different people, traveled the world and even though on the surface it appeared that he was living the good life – he knew that he was just conning everyone – including himself. For the type book it is - I give it 5 stars.

My surprise book of the month was "An Unfinished Life" by Mark Spragg. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. The title is tied to the tombstone of Griffith Gilkyson who was killed in a car accident when his wife was driving. She survived and was pregnant at the time. Griffith’s father, Einar, could not forgive her and she left resulting in a series of bad relationships. She hits bottom so to speak and ends up back at Einar’s house. Einar lives alone in the house, but has a friend, Mitch that lives in a shack out back. Mitch and Einar became friends during the Korean war. Mitch came back with Einar to help on the ranch which he did until Mitch was attacked by a bear. So you have a bitter old man, an abused woman, a badly deformed and ill man, a bear and a wonderful young lady – Griff. Griff is the redeemer of them all it seems. By the end of the book you realize that it isn’t “an” unfinished life, but that they all have an unfinished life and that through love they can get through it together. A book whose characters and lives stay with you long after the book is closed. Of course 5 stars!

My Jodi Picoult book of the month was "Vanishing Acts". Nobody can draw me into a story better than Jodi Picoult. This story is about Delia – a grown woman with a child who still lives with her dad. She’s planning her wedding to her child’s father and her life long friend, Eric, when a knock on the door changes everything. The news sends Andrew (her dad), Eric, Delia, Sophie (the child) and Fitz (the other life long friend) into a tail spin. A well written book that makes you think. 5 stars

From there I went for lighter fare and read "The Dog Walker" by Leslie Schnur. A love story of sorts about a divorcee who walks dogs, falls in love with the image of one of the dog owners, meets him - or so she thinks - and the results. The man she meets is actually the dog owners twin, so that's the twist. An enjoyable read, but being the prude I am, the language made me bump it down to just average - 3 stars.

"The Chairman" by Stephen Frey was next on the stack. This is a mystery/suspense novel that involves the business world. I like Frey’s novels that I’ve read because of this aspect of them. This time it is about a battle between equity firms, and the people who work for them. Even though I don’t understand all of the business aspect of it, an interesting novel. The main character – Chris Gillette – is one that I wasn’t sure if I liked at first. By the end of the novel, while I’m not sure I’d want to be his friend, I had developed a certain level of respect for him. A 4 star read.

A book that I've picked up several times in the book store, and then returned to the shelf, I finally brought home and read - "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. The setting is in the 18th century and takes place in China. The story is about 2 girls and their life. One is Lily – a girl of modest means and the other is Snow Flower – a girl who is from a more noble family. It tells of their life together as Laotong – a type of pledged sisterhood. The novel goes through foot binding, marriage, child bearing, and revolution. The book was ok, but not what I expected. I found the conflict between the girls a little contrived, but maybe in the time and culture it would be a bigger deal than I realize. I expected much more, so for me, it's 3 stars.

The last book of the month was "When Crickets Cry" by Charles Martin. This novel has the byline - "A novel of the heart" and it is - both physical and emotional. It is the story of a man who grew up with one goal - to become a heart surgeon so he could fix Emma. Emma becomes his wife, and he becomes a great surgeon - called the "miracle worker" but he can't save Emma. After her death he goes into hiding, but a “chance” encounter with Annie, who needs a heart transplant, rocks his world. Truth is Annie has been praying to meet this doctor – the “miracle worker” for years, so not chance but God. I enjoyed the story, but could have done without so much detailed explanations of things like boats and even hearts. Those often caused me to feel bogged down and while a little explanation would add to the wonder of it all, Mr. Martin often went overboard. I do think it's worth reading though. Bottom line - 4 stars.

Happy reading to you all!

March Book Reviews

2007-04-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

Note to my BR friends - if you would like to read any of these books, let me know. If I still have them, I'm happy to loan them out!

March was a busy reading month for me. I started the month with "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt. This is a memoir of his life growing up in Ireland. His was a poor family with a father that couldn’t stay away from the pubs. Through all the pain and sadness, Mr. McCourt tells his story with a touch of humor. It's not my favorite writing style but I soon found the rhythm and could hear the story being told. Jan's rating - 4 Stars

"Original Sin" by Brandt Dodson was the next book I read. Easy reading mystery about an ex-FBI agent and his first case as a private investigator. Brandt Colton is hired to investigate who killed Emma Caine – a “upstanding” high school counselor. Her nephew is in jail accused of the crime, but his girlfriend, Angela, believes he is innocent. Colton is a good PI and enters the investigation with an open mind. The story has a subplot of sorts about Colton’s personal life – a wife that was killed in an auto accident 6 months earlier, a daughter who is living with her grandparents, Colton’s anger which is the reason he is ex-FBI, his childhood in and out of foster care, and a kind preacher who tries to help Colton see God. Not suspenseful, but not predictable either. A good story. Another 4 star book.

From there I went back to another Jodi Picoult book and read "Keeping Faith". This was a little different from other Picoult books that I read in that it deals with issues of faith and religion. Faith is a young girl who, with her mom, walks in on her dad with another woman. Faith begins seeing a "guard" and is able to do some miraculous things. The story weaves in an atheist television host, the grandmother, the Catholic church, Jewish priests and the firestorm that is created when people hear of the girl and what she can do. Not to mention the father and mother's reactions. I did enjoy reading the book, taking it for what it is – fiction. I give this one 4 stars.

My first 5 star book was "The Queen's Fool" by Philippa Gregory. Set in the mid 1500’s, this is a historical novel about the battle between Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth for England. The title character is Hannah Green, a Jewish girl who has the “sight” and can see things before they happen. Hannah’s brought to court as a “holy fool” and soon is in the service of both Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth. The story of Hannah intertwines with the story of Mary and Elizabeth. A very well written story that kept me interested all the way through.

At the same time I was reading "The Queen's Fool" I read "The Bible Jesus Read" by Philip Yancey. This is a brief examination of the Old Testament. Yancey takes different books/sections and gives a overview of the section and the meaning of it. It is an average book - no great insights but a good reminder of the books. 3 stars.

"The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver is the story of a Baptist missionaries family that moves from Bethlehem, Georgia to the Belgium Congo. The story spans 30 years and is told through the eyes of the daughters – Rachel, the oldest – Leah and Adah the twins – and Ruth May – the youngest. It is a cultural, spiritual, and political tale. Wonderful story and very well written. Another 5 star book.

I followed that book with another engaging story - "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian. This is about a midwife who ends up performing a c-section on a woman who she thinks is dead. Questions arise as to whether or not the woman was dead before or after the c-section. In fact, there is a a lot of evidence that she was alive - enough to charge the midwife with her murder. This is a very well written story that leaves you feeling as if you know the family. 5 stars.

I decided it was time for a little light reading and my next book was "A Dog's Life" by Peter Mayle. This is an autobiography of a dog and includes his insights on humans, chickens, other dogs, dead things, etc. To me an average book, but someone with a different sense of humor may find themselves rolling in the floor with laughter. 3 Stars

The last book I read in March was "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb. I found this to be a depressing story. The main character is Dolores Price. Everything around her seems to spin out of control and she takes on the burden of guilt for it all. Very well written but nonetheless depressing. Depression level brings it down to a 4 star.

I did try to read "Present Value - A Novel" by Sabin Willett. I just couldn't get into that book. I read about 1/2 of it and had to close it up and send it on it's way. So no recommendation on that one from me.

All in all a fun month of reading!

February Book Reviews

2007-03-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

I was able to read 6 books this month and while they weren't quite the "jackpot" of January, they were good books. Here's a quick review of each one.

"Split Second" by David Baldacci was the first book of the month. I've read several of his books and generally enjoy them. While this one was an easy read and entertaining, I found there were several weak spots in the plot. The basic story is about one ex-secret service agent and a current secret service agent who both had "lost" presidential candidates - one through an assassination and the other through a kidnapping. They join in an investigation of the latest event. Not my favorite book, but not a complete waste of time either. This one gets 3 1/2 stars from me for being barely above average.

The next book, "Life on the Color Line:The True Story of A White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black" by Gregory Howard Williams was a disappointment to me. I think I expected too much from it. Last year our city began a program - "One Book, One Community". The idea is to choose a book that is good for the whole community to read and to provide discussion groups, lectures, movies, etc. that goes along with the book. Sort of a community wide book group. This was the first book chosen. I did not read it then, but was interested in it, so that is why it made my list of TBR. I think the disappointment stemmed from the hype. It is an interesting story of poverty and racism, but it was not exactly what I thought it would be. I found myself wondering why he chose the title that he did because the story could have been about several people (unfortunately) who had always known their race from birth. It is a story of a brutal, poor childhood and the triumph of a man through it all. Not something to be taken lightly. I give this book 3 and 1/2 stars, however if I had just picked it up off the shelf without hearing anything about it in advance, it may have gotten an additional star.

From these books, I went for one that in my mind is a little harder to take. I returned to a Richard North Patterson book and read "Protect and Defend". This novel explores late term abortions and parental consent laws and the parallel plot of appointing a new Supreme Court Justice. The story centers around a teenage daughter of conservative parents who becomes pregnant. The parents are supportive and plan on helping her raise the child. The big change comes when during a sonogram the doctor discovers the baby has hydrocephalus. In fact, it appears the baby does not have a brain. The teenager decides that instead of risking the small percentage of chance that she will become sterile by having a classical c-section to deliver a baby that appears dead already, she will have an abortion. The parents cannot accept that as an alternative, so off to court they go. I found several things in the novel that were a little offensive to me. According to this story, the anti-abortionists are stupid, ruled only by emotion - or the love of money, violent, mean people while the pro-abortionists are kind, loving people who base their opinion on fact. I also found it interesting in the area of parental consent that mere lip service was given to the fact that a minor can't have a tooth pulled without parental consent, yet should be able to have an abortion. The parents were painted as pulling the family apart by not agreeing to the abortion while the daughter was not to be "blamed" for that. I don't think it is that simple or that one sided.

While this book is predictable and does not completely follow my views, it was a book that made me think - and did make me angry at times and feel great compassion at times. It's not a book that will change any one's mind about abortion - or I hope it's not because there are too many holes in this fictional account in my mind on both sides. But it was a book that drew me in so I give it 4 1/2 stars.

After reading a heavier fare, I opted for some light reading with "Independence Day" by Richard Ford. This was a good story about a divorced man, Frank Bascombe, and a long Fourth of July weekend in which he does his job as a real estate agent, has a personal life, and spends time with his teenage son that has a few quirks in his personality. This was a very entertaining book and an easy read. I mainly enjoyed the book after the son joined him on the trip. 4 stars for this one.

Not being one to leave heavier fare alone, I dove into "The Pact". This novel by Jodi Picoult addresses teen suicide. It is the story of two families who live next door to each other, are best friends and long for their son and daughter to one day join the families as in-laws. It all takes a turn for the worse when the daughter, Emily, is found dead, and the son, Chris, is accused of murder. Immediately Chris tells that it was a botched up suicide pact. Investigation shows otherwise. The story unfolds going back and forth through time and relates how all of this effects each parent, the families relationship, the relationship of Chris to both sets of parents with a lawyer thrown in for good effect. Very good story, very well written. There were a few things I would have liked to have seen covered in a more detail, but well worth the read. About all I can say is WOW and of course it's a 5 star book.

I ended the month of February with a classic - Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". While it always takes me a while to get into the style of the classics, I do enjoy them. This is a wonderful love story and character story too. It's fun to see the relationships between the characters change over time. I know it's probably required reading for a lot of students, but that shouldn't keep you away if you have never read this classic. 5 stars.

Happy Reading!

January Book Reviews

2007-02-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

January's over so I thought I'd give a brief review of the books I've read this month. I discovered some real gems.

I started the year with "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. This is the tale of a family that faces some hard decisions when they discover their daughter has leukemia. They have a baby so they can have a donor to help save their daughter's life. This story is years later and is about the effect all of this has had on the individual members of the family and the family as a whole. It is very well written and makes you think. I give it 5 Stars.

My next book was the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. Very easy to believe that the events took place - unfortunately. A classic tale about the racial divide. Another 5 Star book.

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards is a story that begins in the 60's. Dr. David Henry ends up delivering his babies due to a snow storm. The fact that it was twins was a surprise. The first baby was a healthy boy, the second, a girl with downs syndrome. David asks the nurse to take the baby to a home - which she agrees to do. He then tells his wife - who had been put to sleep during labor - that the girl was born dead. The nurse ends up taking the girl and leaving town. The story is about the effect this big secret had on all of their lives. Another story that draws you in. A good book, but not as outstanding. I'd recommend it, but give it 4 Stars.

I changed genres and read Richard North Patterson's book,"Conviction" next. "Conviction" is about a man on death row who is down to his last appeals. The lawyers who take over his case, Terri, Carlo and Chris, discover many things that point to his innocence or at least that he should not be executed because he is retarded. The book is mainly about the legal system and how a person becomes entangled in the law and the system, losing their identity. This book touched me in many ways. What can I say, it's another 5 Starer.

The last book I read this month was "The Little House" by Philippa Gregory. This book was one that as I was reading it, I wasn't that impressed. It is about a couple and the husband's parents relationship. Let's just say that the mother-in-law is manipulative in a "sweet" sort of way. You know the kind of person that disguises her true self in the sugary sweetness of caring. But the book does take an unexpected twist and I actually enjoyed the ending. I probably shouldn't say enjoyed, but I always enjoy the surprise of a book without a cliche ending. So while I can't highly recommend it, I'd give it 3 Stars - an average read.

Not a bad list. I've got my stack for February. I just hope my 5 Star streak continues.

2010 Books Read

2007-01-09T20:20:00.000-08:00

1. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

2. The Brambles by Eliza Minot

3. Night by Elie Wiesel

4. City of Light by Lauren Belfer

5. My Brother's Keeper by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

6. The Justice Game by Randy Singer

7. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

8. Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

9. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

10. Idyll Banter by Chris Bohjalian

11. A Stolen Season by Steve Hamilton

12. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

13. Carry Me Home by Sandra Kring

14. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

15. Rachel and Leah by Orson Scott Card

January Reviews

16. The Risk Pool by Richard Russo

17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling

18. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

19. Good to Great in God's Eyes by Chip Ingram

20. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

21. Club Sandwich by Lisa Samson

22. Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon

23. Bad Ground by W. Dale Cramer

24. Wicked by Gregory Maguire

25. Stone Cold by David Baldacci

26. One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd" by Jim Fergus

27. The Tiny One by Eliza Minot

February Reviews

28. Your Oasis on Flame Lake by Lorna Landvik

29. Sufficient Grace by Darnell Arnoult

30. Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy

31. Love Mercy by Lisa and Ty Samson

32. Fallen Skies by Philippa Gregory

33. Some Things That Stay by Sarah Willis

34. Bury the Lead by David Rosenfelt

35. March by Geraldine Brooks

36. The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

37. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow

38. New Mercies by Sandra Dallas

39. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

40. The Brethren by John Grisham

41. The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning

42. Tne Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

43. Viktor Frankl A Life Worth Living by Anna Redsand

44. I Heard that Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark

45. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

46. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

47. Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire

48. Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

49. The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg

50. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo

51. Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

52. The Church Ladies by Lisa E Samson

2009 Books Read

2007-01-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

1. Everything Must Go by Elizabeth Flock

2. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

3. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

4. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

5. Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

6. Red River by Lalita Tademy

7. Ahmads War, Ahmads Peace: Surviving Under Saddam by Michael Goldfarb

Book Reviews

8. Three Junes by Julia Glass

9. Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

10. Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

11. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

12. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute

13. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Book Reviews

14. Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress

15. When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan by Peggy Noonan

16. The Dead Don't Dance by Charles Martin

17. Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison

18. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Book Reviews

19. Born Standing Up: A Comics Life by Steve Martin

20. Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by Halima Bashir

21. What to Keep by Rachel Cline

22. So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger

23. Black Dogs by Ian McEwan

Book Reviews

24. Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank by Celia Riverbark

25. The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton

26. Forgive Me by Amanda Ward

27. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas

28. Levi's Will by W. Dale Cramer

Book Reviews

29. A Father's Story by Lionel Dahmer

30. Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman

31. If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar

32. Bless Your Heart Tramp and Other Southern Endearments by Celia Rivenbark

33. The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ by Randy D. Singer

Book Reviews

34. The Office of Desire by Martha Moody

35. The Broker by John Grisham

36. Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell

37. Straight Up by Lisa Samson

38. The Ha-Ha by Dave King

Book Reviews

39. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

40. The Known World by Edqrd P Jones

41. We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

42. She Got Up Off the Couch:And Other Heroic Acts from Moreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

43. The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas

44. The Used World by Haven Kimmel

Book Reviews

45. A Song I Knew by Heart by Bret Lott

46. One L by Scott Turow

47. Sutter's Cross by W. Dale Cramer

48. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

49. Music and Silence by Rose Tremain

Book Reviews

50. Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward

51. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

52. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

53. Left for Dead:My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers

54. Welcome to the Great Mysterious by Lorna Landvik

Book Reviews

55. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

56. Belong to Me by Marisa Los Santos

57. The Last Noel by Michael Malone

58. Water Witches by Chris Bohjalian

59. A Widow for One Year by John Irving

Book Reviews

2008 Books Read

2007-01-04T06:23:00.000-08:00

1. "Patty Jane's House of Curl" by Lorna Landvik

2. "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

3. "The Girls" by Lori Lansens

4. "Dark of the Moon" by John Sandford

Book Reviews

5. "Blood Orange" by Drusilla Campbell

6. "Angel's Rest" by Charles Davis

7. "If I Gained the World" by Linda Nichols

Book Reviews

8. "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

9. "Perfect Match" by Jodi Picoult

10. "The Patron Saint of Liars" by Ann Patchett

Book Reviews

11. "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

12. "The Myth of You and Me" by Leah Stewart

13. "Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife" by Irene Spencer

14. "Something Rising (Light and Swift)" by Haven Kimmel

15. "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs

16. "You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again" by Suzanne Hansen

17. "Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey" by Allison Weir

18. "The Kindness of Strangers" by Katrina Kittle

19. "Flies on the Butter" by Denise Hildreth

20. "Pomegranate Soup" by Marsha Mehran

21. "Chasing Fireflies" by Charles Martin

22. "The Pleasure of My Company" by Steve Martin

23. "The Cat Who Went Into the Closet" by Lilian Jackson Braun

24. "The Double Bind" by Chris Bohjalian

25. "Clapton" by Eric Clapton

26. "The Devil in the Junior League" by Linda Francis Lee

27. "Embrace Me" by Lisa Samson

Book Reviews

28. "Summer of Light" by W. Dale Cramer

29. "Breach of Faith:Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City" by Jed Horne

30. "Savannah by the Sea" by Denise Hildreth

31. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Book Reviews

32. "Ready to Fall" by Claire Cook

33. "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

34. "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett

35. "The Shack" by William P. Young

36. "One Mississippi" by Mark Childress

Book Reviews

37. "Americn Bee:The National Spelling Bee and Culture of Word Nerds" by James Maguire

38. "There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled" Edited by Doug Lansky

39. "Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed" by Patricia Cornwell

40. "In Search of Eden" by Linda Nichols

41. "Enduring Love" by Ian Mcewan

42. "Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich" by Mark Kriegel

43. "While I Was Gone" by Sue Miller

44. "Who Stole the Funny? A Novel of Hollywood" by Robby Benson

45. "The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney" by Randy Singer

46. "Turn Away Thy Son" by Elizabeth Jacoway

47. "The Living End" by Lisa Samson

48. Bee Season by Myla Goldberg

49. The Judas Field: A Novel of the Civil War by Howard Bahr -

50. The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton

51. Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos

52. Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

53. Limitations by Scott Turow

54. The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel

56. The Glass Castle A Memoir by Jeanette Walls

57. Taft by Ann Patchett

58. Renato's Luck by Jeff Shapiro

2007 Books Read

2007-01-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

1. "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult

2. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

3. "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards

4. "Conviction" by Richard North Patterson

5. "The Little House" by Philippa Gregory

Review of January Books

6. "Split Second" by David Baldacci

7. "Life on the Color Line" by Gregory Howard Williams

8. "Protect and Defend" by Richard North Patterson

9. "Independence Day" by Richard Ford

10. "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult

11. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Review of February Books

12. "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt

13. "Original Sin" by Brandt Dodson

14. "Keeping Faith" by Jodi Picoult

15. "The Queen's Fool" by Philippa Gregory

16. "The Bible Jesus Read" by Philip Yancey

17. "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

18. "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian

19. "A Dog's Life" by Peter Mayle

20. "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb

Review of March Books

21. "The Time Travelers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger

22. "Light on Snow" by Anita Shreve

23. "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller

24. "Catch Me if You Can" by Frank Abagnale

25. "An Unfinished Life" by Mark Spragg

26. "Vanishing Acts" by Jodi Picoult

27. "The Dog Walker" by Leslie Schnur

28. "The Chairman" by Stephen Frey

29. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See

30. "When Crickets Cry" by Charles Martin

Review of April Books

31. "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving

32. "S is for Silence" by Sue Grafton

33. "Jewel" by Bret Lott

34. "How to Be Lost" by Amanda Eyre Ward

35. "Dead Watch" by John Sandford

36. "The Small Rain" by Madeleine L'Engle

37. "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" by Mark Haddon

38. "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger

39. "Two Little Girls in Blue" by Mary Higgins Clark

40. "Bobby Rex's Greatest Hits by Marianne Gingher

41. "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom

42. "Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver

Review of May Books

43. "The Goodbye Summer" by Patricia Gaffney

44. "The Virgin's Lover" by Philippa Gregory

45. "Mostly True - A Memoir of Family, Food, and Baseball" by Molly O'Neill

46. "Savannah from Savannah" by Denise Hildreth

47. "End of the Spear" by Steve Saint

48. "The Truth War" by John MacArthur

49. "the Grace that keeps this World" by Tom Bailey

50. "But Inside I'm Screaming" by Elizabeth Flock

51. "Love, Rosie" by Cecelia Ahern

52. "Crusader's Cross" by James Lee Burke

53. "Almost Innocent" by Sheila Bosworth

54. "Reversible Errors" by Scott Turow

55. "A Patchwork Planet" by Anne Tyler

56. "Gardenias for Breakfast" by Robin Jones Gunn

Review of June Books

57. "Twelve Years as a Slave" by Solomon Northup

58. "Cutting Lisa" by Percival Everett

59. "Savannah Comes Undone" by Denise Hildreth

60. "Before You Know Kindness" by Chris Bohjalian

61. "Multiple Choice" by Claire Cook

62. "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult

63. "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham

64. "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger

65. "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers

66. "The Constant Princess" by Philippa Gregory

67. "Esther's Pillow" by Marlin Fitzwater

Review of July Books

68. "A Live Coal in the Sea" by Madeleine L'Engle

69. "Songs of the Humpback Whale; A Novel in 5 Voices" by Jodi Picoult

70. "Left to Tell - Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust" by Immaculee Ilibagiza

71. "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

72. "Early Leaving" by Judy Goldman

73. "Big Fish" by Daniel Wallace

74. "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

75. "The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint" by Brady Udall

76. "Kitchen Privileges" by Mary Higgins Clark

77. "Empire Falls" by Richard Russo

78. "The Last Days of Summer" by Steve Kluger

79. "All the Numbers" by Judy Larsen

Review of August Books

80. "Pegasus Descending" by James Lee Burke

81. "The Law of Similars" by Chris Bohjalian

82. "Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult

83. "Jesus Land" by Julia Scheeres

84. "gods in Alabama" by Joshilyn Jackson

85. "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant

86. "I, Elizabeth" by Rosalind Miles

87. "The Slow Way Back" by Judy Goldman

88. "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Womans Soul" by John and Stassi Eldredge

89. "But Enough About Me" by Jancee Dunn

90. "Wrapped in Rain" by Charles Martin

Review of September Books

91. "The Collectors" by David Baldacci

92. "Come Back - A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back" by Claire and Mia Fontaine

93. "Between, Georgia" by Joshilyn Jackson

94. "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley

95. "Crooked Little Heart" by Anne Lamott

96. "Oh My Stars" by Lorna Landvik

97. "The Tin Roof Blowdown" by James Burke

98. "Walking in Circles Before Lying Down" by Merrill Markoe

99. "Sherlock in Love" by Sena Jeter Naslund

100. "Windchill Summer" by Norris Church Mailer

Review of October Books

101. "The Pawn" by Steven James

102. "Playing for Pizza" by John Grisham

103. "The Dressmaker" by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck

104. "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

105. "The Boleyn Inheritance" by Philippa Gregory

106. "The Buffalo Soldier" by Chris Bohjalian

107. "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

108. "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah

Review of November Books

109. "About My Sisters" by Debra Ginsberg

110. "Desire Street: A True Story of Death and Deliverance in New Orleans" by Jed Horne

111. "Life on the Refrigerator Door" by Alice Kuipers

112. "Bitsy's Bait & BBQ" by Pamela Morsi

113. "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortensona nd David Oliver Relin

114. "Dreaming Southern" by Linda Bruckheimer

115. "Rick & Bubba's Expert Guide to God, Country, Family and Anything Else We Can Think Of" by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey

116. "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel

117. "Life's a Beach" by Claire Cook

118. "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven" by Fannie Flagg

119. "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson

120. "Saturday" by Ian McEwan

Review of December Books