Lynne's Book Reviews

My Last Few Books...

2012-01-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

The last few books I've read:

Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time ~ Brian Tracy - Some common sense tips I already know, but other new ones were helpful as well. I'd like to read this one again as a refresher. 4/5

Working it Out: A Journey of Love, Loss and Hope ~ Abby Rike - I couldn't put this one down, especially when reading about the accident that killed Abby Rike's husband, 3-year-old daughter and two-week-old son. She was one of those people who worried more about others' grief and comforting them than allowing herself to grieve. Her story about applying for and being on the Biggest Loser was just as interesting. Not a diet book so much as it is an inspiration to show that anyone can survive tragedy and grief and be happy once again. 5/5

To the Rescue: Found Dogs With a Mission ~ Elise Lufkin - Many short stories (with pictures...my favorite!) about rescued shelter dogs who are given a new "leash" on life and a purposeful one at that...visiting hospital patients, lying quietly next to children learning to read, detecting seizures, companions to former military personnel with PTSD. Lots of wonderful stories and heartwarming photos. 4/5

The Latchkey Dog: How the Way You Live Shapes the Behavior of the Dog You Love ~ Jodi Anderson. Another library book I had to return before I finished, but I liked what I read. What I'll always remember from this book is the importance and benefits of crating dogs and WHY! When dogs are not crated (hence the bigger the space provided to them, i.e., the whole house) the more they feel the need to protect that space and the more anxiety it creates. Makes total sense. I'd like to read this book again...and finish it.

Molokai ~ Alan Brenert - Beautifully written fictional story about the real life leper colony, Kalaupapa, on the island of Molokai in Hawaii in the late 1800s, early 1900s. The main character, Rachel, was so lovable and sweet that when I wasn't reading I wanted to hurry back to the book so I could "be with her" again.

There are several books about leper colonies that I want to read now. One is called The Leper Colony by Philip Edwards. Another is In the Shadow of the Pali: A Story of the Hawaiian Leper Colony. It's hard to believe these settlements existed and that children were taken from their families and sent to live there at the first sign of the disease, which started as a small red sore. The families of lepers were outcast by neighbors and other family members, moving and changing their names to start a new life. 4.5/5

Right now I'm reading The Legacy Letters: Messages of Life and Hope From 9/11 Family Members. It's a compilation of letters written by families to their deceased loved ones. It's very touching and a quick read.

I've also started this one: The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices into Fearless Home Cooks ~ Kathleen Finn. It reads like a novel and is very good. I keep thinking it's boring but somehow can't put it down. Maybe I'll learn a few things. I hope. My husband does too.

The Circus Fire ~ Stewart O'Nan

2011-11-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

Stewart O'Nan
Non-Fiction (2001)

5/5 My Rating

True story of the Ringling Brothers circus tent fire in Hartford, Connecticut, on July 6, 1944, that killed 167 people, most of them women and children.

I didn't like Circus Fire at first. I felt dragged down by all the details that I didn't think mattered, but as I got sucked into the story, realized they did and wished I'd paid closer attention. There were so many, and the book was so long, that I had to renew it through the library twice. Normally if I take that long to read a book I give up and return it, but I couldn't let go of this one and didn't want it to end. Pictures of the fire itself as well as the aftermath had me going back to match them up with the parts of the story I was reading. I couldn't stop staring at the picture of Little Miss 1565 in the morgue, a blond little girl who for years was never properly identified despite tireless work by detectives.

I read O'Nan's book A Prayer for the Dying, a dark story that I thought was well written - odd but intriguing - so his name was familiar to me when I picked this up. I'd like to read more of his work. This and the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks are two of the most well-researched books I've ever read.

I May be MIA but I've Still Been Reading

2011-09-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

I may be MIA but I've still been reading!

Here's an update:

FICTION

Things We Didn't Say by Kristina Riggle

Casey, a young adult, is engaged to a Michael, who has three children. His teenage daughter is a brat and his teenage son runs away. The kids' mom is around the house more than Casey would like, and this threatens to ruin the relationship between her and Michael.

BORING 2/5

I finished it but felt I wasted my time. The writing wasn't bad but the storyline was dull.

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NON-FICTION

This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor by Dr. Susan Wickland

Dr. Susan Wickland endured a painful abortion while growing up in rural Wisconsin. Later, after becoming a doctor, she saw how many women shared her ordeal of unwanted pregnancy and subsequent hidden abortion, and felt called to become an abortion provider. She tells of her experiences, including having to wear a bulletproof vest and carry a gun.

LOVED   5/5

Very controversial, obviously, but I loved how caring and compassionate she was with her patients.  The threats to her and her family were absolutely astonishing.  She was afraid for their lives on a daily basis. I'm embarrassed for the people who treated them like that and sickened by their behavior. Honestly.

Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman

In 2005, Novelist Francisco Goldman married a young writer named Aura Estrada. The month before their second anniversary, during a long-awaited holiday, Aura broke her neck while body surfing. Her family blamed him for her death for some ridiculous reason...he wouldn't go in the water with her when she invited him in.

OKAY   3.5/5

I hate to say it, but I loved the part where he discussed the details of the accident and aftermath (hospital and funeral), but in the rest of the book, when he talked about her childhood and college years, as well as their short marriage, he kind of lost me. The writing was beautiful, but I couldn't help but think he was just trying to capitalize on her death. Awful, I know, but that's what I felt.

The Little Book of Forensics: Fifty of the World's Infamous Criminal Cases Solved by Science by David Owen

OKAY 3.5/5

"To take a crime from scene to court may involve several specialized branches of forensic science. Criminalistics specialists look at statistics, splash patterns, fingerprints and distribution of material at the scene; forensic chemistry deals with fires, explosives, glass, paint and soil analysis; toxicology looks at poisons and drug abuse; serology is the science of body fluids including blood, saliva and semen; the documents unit look at fakes and forgeries; and the computer branch investigate hacking and electronically detectable crimes." That pretty much says it all. Some of the cases were interesting; others, not so much.

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Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw

Bradshaw shows how humans can live in harmony with - not just dominion over - their four-legged friends. He explains why positive reinforcement is a more effective and less damaging way to control dogs' behavior than punishment. He also discusses why it's important to weigh a dog's unique personality against stereotypes about its breed. (Three cheers for pit bulls!!!)

ENJOYED 4/5

A little too scientific for me at first, but then I got into it.

The Lust for Blood: Why We are Fascinated by Death, Murder, Horror and Violence by Jeffrey Kottler

Do you slow down at accident scenes hoping to catch a glimpse of something...anything? Enjoy the gory details at murder trials? Have an interest in serial killers and why they kill? I do, I admit it, and that's why I picked this up at the library.

ENJOYED 4/5

Kottler, a psychologist and author of a best-selling book about serial killers, interviewed perpetrators, victims and "consumers" of violence to find out why this subject draws such a wide audience (nice to know I'm not the only one).

Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan by Del Quentin Wilber

The inside scoop about the day Reagan was nearly killed on March 30, 1981.

ENJOYED 4/5

I enjoyed reading all the details about the day Reagan was shot. And I mean, details. Wilber interviewed the Secret Service agent who pushed Reagan into the limo and ultimately saved his life, as well as the surgeon who operated on him and the White House officials who were trying to determine what exactly happened.

A Grace Disguised: How a Soul Goes Through Loss by Jerry Sittser

Jerry Sittser lost his mother, wife, and 2-year-old daughter in a car accident.

LOVED 5/5

I know one isn't supposed to "love" books about tragedy, but the way this man describes how a soul goes through loss and the steps to healing is extraordinary. I recommend this book to anyone who has suffered any kind of loss of a loved one, including divorce.

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COULDN'T FINISH

Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden

I only read about 20 pages (I usually don't give up until 50), but I couldn't get into it.

UP NEXT

Dogs Never Lie About Love: Reflections on the Emotional World of Dogs by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (He wrote When Elephants Weep, which I LOVED)

I've never read Harlan Coben, so I'm excited about these...

I miss the camerarderie of the blogging world, but my days are so crazy with my son right now. He's a senior in high school, plays basketball and is being recruited by D1 colleges. We're doing lots of traveling for school visits. It's all good, and I'm very proud :) I WILL be back to "hang out" with my cyberspace friends one day. For now I can only give book "thoughts"; they can hardly be called reviews. I need to change the name of my blog: Lynne's Book Thoughts or Lynne's Mini Reviews.

Four Mini Reviews

2011-07-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

Popular Crime (nonfiction 2011)

Author: Bill James

About: The author discusses at length the books written about well known crimes and criminals - such as the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, Lizzie Borden, the Black Dahlia, the Menendez Brothers, OJ Simpson, and JonBenet Ramsey - as well as details of the crimes and his opinion of 'whodunnit,' if the case was not solved. The crimes are in chronological order, starting with the 18th century.

Rating and Thoughts: 5/5 When I saw that the book was 458 pages I thought I'll never read this whole thing, I'll get bored half-way through, and so on. Wrong! I loved it. It took me only two or three days to read the whole thing. And it wasn't boring because even though the research is incredibly thorough (it took him 20 years to write it), his writing is so conversational and informal that it kept my attention.

If you like true crime, read this.

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How to Train a Wild Elephant & Other Adventures in Mindfulness: Simple Daily Mindfulness Practices for Living Life More Fully and Joyfully (nonfiction 2011)

Author: Jan Chozen Bays, MD

About: Each short chapter focuses on practicing mindfulness (being extra attentive) while performing specific actions in order to "live life more fully and joyfully." Chapters include: Use Your Non Dominant Hand, When Eating Just Eat, Every Time the Phone Rings, Notice Trees, Say Yes, Procrastination, Impatience, Mindful Driving, Become Aware of Your Center, and 46 others.

Rating and Thoughts: 4.5/5 Enjoyable book. My only complaint, as with every other self-help book I read, is that I never remember to practice the recommendations. The author did however include a way to remember to do each exercise, which I liked but probably won't do. If one is serious about practicing mindfulness and made a conscious effort, though, this book could be very helpful. I felt joyful and full immediately after reading it anyway.

Also by Author: Mindful Eating

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Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued (Biography 2010)

Author: Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher

About: Laurie Sacher, who works at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, adopts a blind dog named Hope. She learns through the dog's blindness that having faith in God even though she can't see him is the key to having everything she needs.

Rating and Thoughts: 3.5 / 5 It was okay...a little fluffy and corny at times, but a nice story. Deep and spiritual. Someone in a "searching" frame of mind would get a lot out of it. I didn't like the conversation between the author, Kim Meeder, and Laurie Sacher throughout the book and thought it interrupted the flow of the story.

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Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom (nonfiction 2011)

Author: Jennifer Holland

About: Stories of unusual/unlikely stories of animal friendships.

Rating and Thoughts: 5/5 Darling book with stories and pictures of the cutest animals you've ever seen. Just goes to show that animals crave love, no matter where it comes from.

Sorry these are blurry, but I wanted to show you how cute they are. And there are 47 of these stories...

There's another picture of this monkey sitting down and snuggling the kitten. So cute.

And guess what???!!!! I'm finally reading some fiction! Woo hoo! lol

I'm about half way through. So far I'm enjoying it.

Review: Signs of Life

2011-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Natalie Taylor

Genre: Memoir (2011)

Descriptive Words: Widowed and pregnant at 24, accident, single mother, tragic, witty, high school teacher, challenge, triathlon.
About: True story of Natalie, a 24-year-old, 5 months pregnant girl whose 27-year-old husband Josh dies after hitting his head while carve boarding (kind of like skateboarding).

The book covers the time of the accident and up to 16 months afterwards. She discusses a little about the actual accident and how she found out, but mostly about the funeral and after, and dealing with being a widow after only a year of marriage as well as the prospect of single motherhood. At her young age she doesn't fit into the typical grief groups for widows, and because of her recent marital status, doesn't fit into typical single mother groups. She is also a high school English teacher and talks about going back to work after the funeral and incorporates life lessons for her students from several classics such as Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Her sister "Moo" encourages her several months after Josh's death to take on the challenge of a triathlon.

Rating and Thoughts: 5/5

I don't know why I liked this book so much, but I did. Her writing is different. Mostly it's taken from her journal so it's real life, what she was thinking at the moment, rambling writing, but I could not put it down. Simply fascinating. Probably because I don't know many pregnant 24-year-olds whose husbands die, and I was enthralled with the emotional process of dealing with such a tragedy. She's also very witty and funny. Elizabeth Berg's quote on the cover, "Sit down with this book. See if you can stop after page one." is so true. Loved it.

There's only one part that made me cry, and I know those of you who can't read sad books will never read it after this (lol):

"Now that I'm a parent, I am beginning to understand that I have no idea what Deedee [Josh's mother] is going through in dealing with the loss of her child. Not a clue. I knew Josh for four years in college, then we dated for a year, and then we were married for a year and a half. Because I'm twenty-five years old, that seems like a lot of time. But Deedee grew him from a seed.

When Josh was in the hospital after his accident, I saw his body once, and then I had to leave. I never went back. Deedee stayed at the hospital for days. Long after he was pronounced dead, he had to stay so they could remove his working organs. She stayed by him until they wheeled him away for his final surgery. I couldn't be there because to me he was gone. That body wasn't him. But as a mom, I know why she had to stay. When you watch something grow from a seed, you have a very different relationship with it than the rest of the world does.

I know Deedee spent those days staring at his body, taking in the last images of the body she had watched for twenty-seven years. Dead or alive, that body was too special to leave in an empty hospital room. She had been by his side since the day she brought him into this world, not to mention the nine months prior to that. You better believe she would be there on the day he had to leave. Right up until the last second."

Source: Library

Review: Crystal Clear : The Inspiring Story of How an Olympic Athlete Lost His Legs Due to Crystal Meth and Found a Better Life

2011-07-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Eric Le Marque with Davin Seay

Genre: Memoir (2009)

Descriptive Words: Addiction, Crystal Meth, Snowboarding, Lost on Mountain for 8 Days, Legs Amputated, Healing, Hope

About: Eric Le Marque, a former Olympian and pro hockey player becomes addicted to crystal meth after his playing days are over. While snowboarding on Mammoth Mountain and high on crystal meth, he gets lost and isn't found for eight days. Due to severe frostbite, both legs are amputated at the knee.

The story covers mostly his time lost on the mountain and his physical recovery, as well as a chapter or two at the end about his emotional/drug recovery and meeting his wife Hope.

Rating and thoughts: 5/5

I loved the story and pictures, which included some from the actual rescue and hospital stay. The ghostwriter, Davin Seay, did a GREAT job of getting inside Le Marque's head and relating details and emotions. Very talented writer. I'd like to read more of his work.

"For the rest of that day, I never left the shelter I had dug. The sun rose, clouds rolled overhead, and the hours unwound as morning turned to midday and moved steadily on into the afternoon. It all passed me by. I may not have been dead yet, but it was hard to tell the difference. I had passed into a state of sleep so heavy and profound that nothing - not cold, not hunger, not thirst - could wake me. If I stirred during that long silent interlude, I don't remember it. If I had dreams, they drifted by unseen. If I realized that where I lay might well become my grave, I didn't care. For all I knew, I was already petrified, my blood frozen and my flesh turned to stone. There was no difference now between me and the environment against which I had fought so long and hard. The mountain had prevailed and I had become a part of it."

Source: Bought

2011-06-27T11:45:00.001-07:00

Tiger, Tiger

Author: Margaux Fragoso

Genre: Memoir (2011)

About: Okay, I'm done with the child abuse memoirs for now. In this one the author was seven years old when she and her mother met 51-year-old Peter at the neighborhood swimming pool. Her mother was mentally ill and unable to see anything wrong with the friendship that evolved between Margeaux and Peter and thought he was just a nice man. It started with Margeaux and her mother spending time at Peter's house - for her mother she went to escape from Margeaux's alcoholic father - and as Margeaux got older she went to Peter's house alone. He slowly groomed her as his "lover," and they had a sickening, bizarre relationship until he died at 66 years of age...when Margeaux was 22.

Rating: 5/5 I can't help it...it was a page turner. Some of it was so unbelievable and disgusting I almost hoped Oprah would reveal this as partly made up or embellished, like James Frey's A Million Little Pieces.

Why I read: I read about Tiger, Tiger in People or Oprah last month.

Recommend?: Few people will be able to stomach the details of a relationship between a little girl and a man; it was tough. I do, however, think the author did an excellent job and I recommend it if you are interested in this type of memoir.

Review: The Source of All Things

2011-03-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Author:   Tracy Ross

Genre: Memoir (2011)

About: The author was molested by her stepfather from ages eight to 14, at which time she ran away from home and confided in a family friend about the years of abuse. The police were called and she was removed from her home. Her stepfather, because he admitted to everything, received only 8 weeks of court-appointed group therapy and 10 months of abstinence from Tracy. She was later sent to boarding school and eventually returned home to live with her mother and stepfather.

Unbelievable. Her family refused to believe or accept that the husband/stepfather was capable of such a horrific act, and if a small part of them did believe it happened, they just wanted to sweep it under the rug and move on. Her mom constantly pushed Tracy into uncomfortable situations with her stepdad despite all he did to her! I didn't understand their behavior at all. I even felt that Tracy herself at times downplayed the atrocity of what he did.

In addition to the details of the abuse (touching and fondling only), much of the book focused on her relationships, including a failed marriage, and how the abuse affected them.

Rating: 4/5 I wanted to give this fewer stars because of the content, i.e. the stepdad's crime, as well as the dysfunctional behavior of everyone involved, but it is what it is and I can't judge the book based on what happened. I enjoyed the writing, even though it was difficult to read. The jobs she had as a young adult and the adventures she experienced were fascinating. She had an interesting life after she moved out of her house.  But how in the world she forgave her creepy, pedophiliac (that's not a word, but...) stepfather for what he did is beyond me. She even thanks him at the end of the book for "having the grace to let me tell this story."

Source: Library

Why I chose: I read about this - along with the book Tiger, Tiger, another child abuse memoir I'm now reading - in Oprah or People.

Recommend?   You decide. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Review: Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses

2011-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Author: Claire Dederer

Genre: Memoir
After reading the first couple chapters of this book I thought I was going to love it. Dederer made me laugh, and I was reminded how much I enjoyed the few yoga classes I've taken. Despite my minimal experience, I can attest to this paragraph: "The idea was, you got better, looser, stronger while you were at yoga, and then you exported that excellence to the rest of life. You learned how to act right at yoga, and then you acted right, or righter, when you were in your car, or at the grocery store, or putting your children to bed."

Dederer's writing is casual and inviting, like talking with a friend; I actually went to a yoga class when I finished the book and plan to continue. Beyond the yoga stories, though, it didn't hold my interest. I started skipping over parts of her personal life that I didn't care about, such as her marital relationship, her moves to different cities, and the births of her children. (Some friend I am, huh!) I've read of comparisons to Eat Pray Love, which I didn't particularly like. I won't be recommending Poser to my friends, but I know many people will enjoy it just the same.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Has anyone read this? Heard about it? Plan to read it?

How Book Blogging Led to My Passion

2010-12-13T13:50:00.000-08:00

I've been blogging for two years and book blogging, specifically, for one. During the past year I've wondered why I haven't felt fulfilled. After all, I love reading, and book blogging has pushed me to read infinitely more books than I've read in the past. Two years ago I read 25 books, last year I read 81, and so far this year I've read 145. Reading lots of books is obviously not a bad thing. But my focus was becoming more on how many books I could read and blog about, not on the enjoyment of the book itself. I pretended that the numbers of followers and comments didn't matter and that it wasn't a popularity contest. I'm above that, I told myself. At least that's what I wanted to believe.

But the more I blogged, the more I realized I did care whether or not people read my blog. It wasn't fun any more. And the more time that passed and the more posts I wrote and the more blogs I read (and the more guilt I felt for not writing more and better posts), the more I realized that something - I couldn't quite put a finger on what exactly it was, but something - was missing.

I remember one day thinking, Is all this time I'm putting into reading blogs and writing posts making a difference? Does this matter?

A person can't go long without feeling they are making a difference in the world or in someone's life, whether it be giving or helping. I realize blogging is a form of creativity and isn't meant to change the world, and I certainly enjoyed it. But it wasn't enough. I'm sure it was helpful... My review about an awful book I read and rated 1-star may have prevented someone from reading it and saved them precious moments of an already too-short life. But what about my own life? Is reading like a maniac and spending hours writing book reviews hoping someone reads them a good way to spend my time? Most importantly, is it rewarding enough to continue?

My answer was no. It wasn't. I needed more.

What book blogging DID do was lead me to read books about dogs and animals. I was drawn to those. I couldn't get enough. Of course I'd read a few of the popular ones - Still Missing, Room, and The Help (which I loved by the way) to keep up and not feel like an outsider. But still I'd come back to the dog books. Dog rescues. Dogs saved from shelters. Dogs from Katrina. Dogs, dogs, dogs.

And that's how I found my passion. My calling. My mission.

I now volunteer for Stray Rescue, a no-kill shelter in St. Louis that has approximately 250 dogs currently looking for homes. I walk dogs, do laundry, wash bowls and whatever else needs to be done. The work never ends. Many dogs are adopted out each month, but always there are more. This week alone founder Randy Grim rescued 43 more strays from the streets, many of them litters of puppies.

Until people stop buying from breeders, which I myself did twice before learning how many dogs and cats die in shelters every HOUR - 800 to be exact, and until we start spaying and neutering our pets, and until we stop throwing away our dogs and cats when they get old or unruly, either dumping them at the shelter or out on the streets, and until laws of abuse against animals are enforced, there will always be more.

I also do what is known as "cross posting" on Facebook. I exchange information with rescue organizations and individuals wanting to adopt or foster of dogs and cats in danger of being euthanized in high-kill shelters because of overcrowding. It's heartbreaking work when every other animal is updated as PTS (put to sleep), but there are so many people who care, and once in a while a dog or cat is saved and I wonder if it was me who made the difference.

For me, blogging is fun, I love making new friends with similar interests, it's a way for me to be creative and I definitely read more than I used to.

But now I'm helping save lives. Animals are living, breathing beings. And as long as humans treat animals the way some do, I will always have a passion to help them.

Thanks to book blogging.

I miss you, Friends! And I'll never stop reading. And I'm sure I'll be back.

Be sure to follow me on Goodreads. I always update and rate books there. Go here and click on Lynne (the one from Saint Louis, MO)

A few pictures that prove animals, who cannot speak, need loving humans to protect them from evil scum

Book News and Dog Costumes

2010-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

I've read quite a few books lately but have been bad about posting reviews. I'm not in a reading slump, but I am in a review slump. Oh well, not going to beat myself up over it.

First some pictures of Emma, the lovely model in my header. For Halloween she couldn't decide between her tiger and princess costumes.

She went with the tiger costume.

Books Read in October (15 total)

Miracle Dog: How Quentin Survived the Gas Chamber to Speak for Animals on Death Row ~ Randy Grim (5/5)
Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope ~ Mary Beth Chapman (4.5/5)
Hey Pancakes! ~ Tamson Weston
It Couldn't Be Worse ~ Vlasta Van Kampen
The Gendarme ~ Mark Mustian (2.5/5)
A Prayer for the Dying ~ Stewart O'Nan (3/5)
The Power of Little Words ~ John Beckley (3.5/5)
The Everything Creative Writing Book ~ Wendy Burt-Thomas (4/5)
Ape House ~ Sara Gruen (4.5/5)
Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted ~ Faye Resnick (4/5)
Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English ~ Patricia O'Conner
Shattered: The True Story of a Mother's Love, A Husband's Betrayal, and a Cold-Blooded Texas Murder ~ Kathyrn Casey (5/5)
Operating Room Confidential: What Reallly Goes on When You Go Under ~ Paul Whang, MD (4/5)
Without a Word: How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything ~ Jill Kelly (5/5)
Pukka: The Pup After Merle ~ Ted Kerasote (4/5)

Gave up on:

A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life - gave up after 211 pages (78 to go) - that's probably my record for pages read of a book I finallly gave up. Didn't hold my interest.

The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass - gave up after 87 pages. I enjoyed the writing, but not enough was happening in the story.

So far in November I've read:

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love ~ Larry Levin (4.5/5)
Dogtown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation and Redemption ~ Stefan Bechtel (4.5/5)

At the library waiting to be picked up:

The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean ~ Susan Casey
84, Charing Cross Road ~ Helen Hanff
Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Write Should Know About Writing ~ Patricia O'Conner
The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption ~ Jim Gorant

My husband is reading Matterhorn, so I'll read that when he's finished.

My theme lately? Animals, Murders (true crime) and reference books (writing and grammar).

Do you have a reading theme going on lately?

Review: Without a Word: How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything

2010-10-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

Title: Without a Word: How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything

Author: Jill Kelly

Genre: Memoir/Christian Biography (September 2010)

About: Football star Jim Kelly and his wife Jill find out their infant son has a rare, fatal illness and is expected to survive for only 14 months. This is the story of how Hunter Kelly, who succumbed to Krabbe Leukodystrophy at the age of 8, changed their lives forever.

Thoughts: Absolutely loved this story. Jilly Kelly does a fabulous job of opening her heart, her life, her marriage, her struggles, and her reality to readers. Several pages of pictures are included, which is always my favorite part. I'm a visual person, so to be able to read the story and see the pictures made it all the more heartbreaking and inspirational. The book is faith-based, and I enjoyed reading about Jim Kelly's transformation from philanderer to faithful servant.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: This was everything I love in a book all wrapped in one - medical-related, sad but inspirational, lots of pictures, memoir, sports.

Recommend? Yes, definitely.

Rating: 5/5

Reading Now:

Up Next:

Review: Operating Room Confidential: What Really Goes on When You Go Under

2010-10-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Author: Paul Whang, MD
Genre: Non-Fiction/Medical (2010)
About: The inside scoop of the operating room and hospital.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Written by an anesthetist, the book covers absolutely everything you wanted to know about what goes on in the operating room and during specific operations. There's also a chapter called "Outside the O.R." where he writes about the autopsy room, the morgue, pathology, the cafeteria and administration. There is an entire chapter on anesthesia, which was very interesting. Did you know the chances of having post-operative nausea increase more with these surgeries: plastic, eye, shoulder, gynecological and dental? And that you have a higher risk of nausea and vomiting if you're female, have experienced previous nausea and vomiting after surgery, are having a surgery lasting longer than 30 minutes, are a non-smoker, and have a history of motion sickness? I'm in the 'all of the above' category, unfortunately.

One of my favorite chapters, called Off-Label Truths About Doctors, noted the characteristics of specific medical professions. For example, urologists are a content and happy group with the lowest divorce rate of the specialties, are open minded and like to travel. Psychiatrists are thoughtful, over-analyze faults in their own lives, and have the highest divorce rate. Orthopedic surgeons have the most sex per week. General surgeons are close-minded and judgmental.

Oh yeah, and you can find out all the scoop about sex in the operating room, what doctors talk about while operating, people who wake up during an operation, pain, missing sponges, reactions to anesthesia. It's all there.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I love medical-related books.

Recommend? Yes, especially if you are a medical junkie or will be having surgery and want to be informed.

Rating: 4/5

Review: Ape House

2010-10-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Author: Sara Gruen

Genre: Fiction

About: A female scientist named Isabel Duncan meets a married male reporter named John Thigpen, who encounters animal rights protestors during his visit to a lab housing Bonobo apes. An explosion at the lab severely injures Isabel and the apes escape. A reality TV show soon airs, featuring the apes and becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Isabel does everything she can to save her beloved Bonobos from the media frenzy.

Thoughts: Reading Bonobo Handshake before reading Ape House added so much pleasure to my experience. I was already familiar with all things bonobos, i.e. how much sex they have, how loving and loyal they are, how human-like they are (sharing 98.7% of our human DNA), etc. It turns out that Sara Gruen and the author of Bonobo Handshake, Vanesssa Woods, are friends.

At first I couldn't get into the idea of an ape reality show, but Gruen really made it work. The story had enough going on to keep me interested, with different subplots and drama other than the apes. What really came through for me in the story was how much the author loves these bonobos. She lived and breathed bonobos - even living at the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, Iowa - and it showed.

I enjoyed it a lot.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants was wonderful, and I'm always fascinated by apes and chimps. I wish I could go live at the Great Ape Trust.

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Have you read this? Plan to?

Up Next:

Review: Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope

2010-10-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

Author: Mary Beth Chapman

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: The wife of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman talks about her life and of the death of her 5-year-old daughter, Maria, who was accidentally run over by her 17-year-old son, Will.

Thoughts: I remember when this happened. All I could think about was how in the world was this 17-year-old kid going to live with this for the rest of his life?

All my questions about the accident were answered and then some. Mary Beth Chapman wrote not only about what happened that day in May 2008, but also about meeting her husband at age 19, getting married, having their three children and later adopting three little girls from China. What a loving, faithful family. The story and the writing were wonderful, and I love how many pictures there were. I looked at them over and over.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I was curious to know exactly how the accident happened and how the family was dealing with everything. I always thought Will was backing up and hit Maria, but he was driving into the driveway as she was running towards the car. She was excited he was home because she wanted him to lift her onto the monkey bar that she couldn't reach.

Recommend? Yes.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Reading Now: A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan

Up Next: Ape House by Sara Gruen

Abandoned: A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler. I read 211 pages of this and gave up. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't. The good parts kept me reading for as long as I did, but finally I didn't care anymore and didn't want to finish the final 78 pages.

Readathon - End of Event Meme

2010-10-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? I was perfectly fine until Hour 18, and since I didn't feel like I had anything to prove, off to bed I went.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I recommend you read whatever genre you love.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? As a mini-challenge host, I wish I had used Mr. Linky so it would have been easier for people to visit the other participants, especially since everyone was showing off their cute pet pics :)

Also, I wasn't sure what questions to answer for the end of event/wrap up post. I saw that some people used the questions from last time, so that's what I did. Maybe more direction as to what we're to do in this regard.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? Everything. The cheerleaders make a huge difference. Just when you feel you're all alone, up pops a great comment or cheer. Loved that.

5. How many books did you read? 4 total and part of 2 others.

6. What were the names of the books you read? Choosing to See; Miracle Dog: How Quentin Survived the Gas Chamber; Hey, Pancakes!; and It Couldn't Be Worse. Gave up on A Small Furry Prayer and didn't quite finish A Prayer for the Dying.

7. Which book did you enjoy most? Choosing to See. It's by the wife of Steven Curtis Chapman and mostly she talks about the incident when her teenage son was driving into their driveway and accidentally hit and killed his little sister.

8. Which did you enjoy least? A Small Furry Prayer. I read 211 pages of it and stopped with 78 pages to go. I just didn't care anymore and wanted to move on to another book.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn't a cheerleader, but they sure did a GREAT job!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? This was my first Readathon and I will more than likely participate again. It's addicting :) Not sure what role I'll play, but I loved hosting a mini-challenge during this Readathon.

Readathon Update #3 (Hour 16)

2010-10-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Choosing to See (Mary Beth Chapman)
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 382
Running total of pages read since you started: 417
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 4 hours, 53 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 5 hours, 3 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 3
Other participants you’ve visited: 50
Prize you’ve won: None

I've read a total of 5 hours and 3 minutes. Not too shabby considering I hosted a mini challenge for 3 full hours and didn't read during that time!

I'm getting sleeeepy, but I think I still have a book or two in me. Time to pull out the kiddy lit.

Hour 10 - Readathon Mini-Challenge - Open Internationally!

2010-10-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

***This mini-challenge is now over. The winner will be announced at the Dewey's Readathon site. Thanks to everyone who participated!***

Hi everyone! How is your reading coming along? Ready for a short break and some furry fun?

This is a simple 2-part challenge:

1) Post a picture on your blog of a current or past pet.

2) Tell us your favorite animal book and then write a sentence using the name of the main character and only the first letter of that name. For example: If my favorite animal book was Wesley the Owl, I could write - Wesley works wildly with witches who wander. You could also use the "O" instead...Owls overestimate overeating. Make it short and sweet or challenge yourself and make it as long as you can.

If you don't have or never had a pet or can't provide a picture, that's okay. Do step #2 only.

Be sure to leave the link to your post in the comments. If you do step #2 only, it's okay to write your book title and sentence in the comments.

The winner, chosen by Random.org, will receive a book of their choice up to $25 from the Book Depository.

Have fun, and thanks for playing along. I can't wait to see your pets and prose!

My own two pups

Stella...
(looking pretty)

(looking goofy)

and KC...

(goofy)

(pretty)

Happy Reading!

Readathon Update #2 and Crystal's Mini-Challenge

2010-10-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Miracle Dog: How Quentin Survived the Gas Chamber to Speak for the Animals on Death Row
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 103
Running total of pages read since you started: 138
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1 hour, 17 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 2 hours, 17 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 3
Prize you’ve won: None

~~~~~~~~~~~
For a mini-challenge, Crystal from My Reading Room wants to see our books.

Alrighty then:

This was taken BEFORE I got all my husband's ~~crud~~ knick-knacks off the shelves. I don't have a more recent picture, but let me tell you, it looks gorgeous now, with books only.

Readathon Update

2010-10-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: A Small Furry Prayer (Gave up on it after 211 pages! Just didn't care anymore)
Number of books read since you started: None yet
Pages read since last update: 35
Running total of pages read since you started: 35
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 50 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 50 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None yet
Prize you’ve won: None yet

I started an hour and a half late. But my husband just left for out of town and I had to help him pick out ties and suits. NOW I can really read. I just started a book called Quentin, The Miracle Dog. It's a true story about a dog who survived being euthanized in a gas chamber. I made it to page 14 without crying.

Note to self for next Readathon prep: Have tissues handy.

Anyone Else Excited About the Readathon?!

2010-10-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Last I checked there were 355 people signed up for the October 9th Readathon, so there should be lots going on that day. Be sure to stop by here at 4:00 PM Central Standard Time (5:00 PM Eastern); I'm hosting a mini-challenge that will be open internationally, with a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate prize.

If you don't know when to start reading that day, check the start times. (The 2009 Readathon date is shown on that page, but I'm sure the times are the same.) Haven't signed up yet? It's not too late. I promise you don't want to miss out like I did the last time. Everyone talked about it for days, and I felt like the little school girl left out of a game of four-square :( To sign up, go to the Readathon website. It's easy, and you don't have to read for 24 hours. You can read for two hours if that's all you have time for, but to participate in any challenges, you need to make it official.

I'm excited! Does everyone have their books ready? I need to go to the library to get a couple of short, easy-to-read books for the midnight hour and stock up on coffee and snacks. Can't wait to "see" everyone there.

Review: The Gendarme

2010-10-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Author: Mark Mustian
Genre: Fiction (2010)

About: A 92-year-old Turkish man, now living in America, is diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has vivid dreams about his time as a gendarme during the Armenian war when he escorted Armenian refugees to Syria in a death march. He falls in love with Araxie, a young Armenian girl, loses touch with her, and years later desperately tries to find her.

Gendarme (pronounced /dʒɛnˈdɑrm/ or /ˈʒɑːndɑrm/)
Gendarme (historical), French medieval or early modern cavalryman

I found the writing to be choppy and stiff, and the tone, monotonous. I thought I'd adjust as I read further but that didn't happen. Until the last chapter. Which I enjoyed because the author finally gave the characters, Emmett Conn and his long lost love, Araxie, more emotional depth. Why did he wait so long to do that? To make for a climactic ending?
The majority of the book was dull, probably because I didn't feel a connection to the main character and didn't really care what happened to him.
The alternating tense between his dream state and the present wasn't always clear. I wish these would have been chapter by chapter or at least more fluidly written.
Emmett Conn's daughter Violet was mean and rude, especially the way she made decisions for her father - where he was going to live, who would "monitor" him. I didn't like her.
Just as I was finally enjoying the last chapter, the only one I liked, it was over just like that...with a vague and boring ending.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The cover is beautiful and I had seen it on a few blogs so I was curious.

Recommend? I don't want to say no, because a lot of people liked this book. I'd actually like you to read it if you've had it on your radar at all, and then let me know your thoughts. It's one of those you either love or feel indifferent towards.

Rating: 2.5 / 5 (Normally I wouldn't finish a book I rate this low. But I did because I wanted to be able to review it.)

Review: Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers

2010-10-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

Author: Amy Sutherland
Genre: Memoir (2006)
About: The author follows students at the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at California's Moorpark Community College.

~~Liked~~...I loved this book. It had me hooked by page 2 when it said "every student must break a pigeon's neck with her hands, what they call pulling a pigeon, or gas a rat before she can graduate." I know, disgusting, but it's like driving by a car accident, I couldn't stop ~~looking~~ reading. Besides talk about sperm, vomit, pee, poop, and maybe some frozen chopped animal parts, that was about as gross as it got. Most people probably won't read this book, but if you have any interest at all in animals, it really is good. It's like being a fly on the wall and learning the inside scoop of a place you'd more than likely never go.

The writing style was wonderful. The author focused on enough students and animals to get a realistic picture of what goes on, but not so many that it was hard to keep track of them. And it was so real. Not only did a few animals die, not surprisingly, but so did one of the students.

*Wanna know why they have to pull the heads off pigeons and gas rats? It's because birds of prey and reptiles must have fresh prey. They can't hunt at the school facility, obviously, because they're in captivity, so the student caretakers must do it for them. How'd you like to have to do that for a final exam?

Didn't Like...I was disappointed there weren't any pictures and a few typos were distracting. That's it.

Source: I bought this at the Goodwill for 75 cents. A 5-star book for 75 cents...gotta love it.

Why I Chose: 1) I love animal books 2) for a minute when I was younger I wanted to be a dolphin trainer 3) I had never seen a book on this topic. So basically it was on the shelf calling my name.

Recommend? If you like animals and/or are curious about what all goes on at a school for animal trainers, I absolutely recommend this book.

Rating: 5/5

Next Up:

I just started this last night and the writing is so choppy I'm having a hard time getting used to it. I'm pluggin' away though, trying to adjust.

Reviews Cruise - Join Me! / Denial ~ Asta in the Wings ~ Knowing Jesse

2010-09-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Reviews stockpiled? Bored with the same 'ol same 'ol? Love reading but not too keen on writing reviews? Yeah, me too. So I thought I'd go on a Reviews Cruise to liven things up, relieve the pressure, and make more time for reading. Short but sweet and a few at a time. Sounds like a vacation, doesn't it?

(Want to cruise with me? See details at end of post.)
Denial

Jessica Stern is the author of this memoir published in June 2010. It's about the author's rape at age 15 by a stranger at gunpoint in her own home. Her 14-year-old sister was also raped. The police were skeptical of their story and the rapist was never caught. Interestingly, the author now works as an expert on terrorists and terrorism. Overall I thought the book was okay. I liked the psychological and PTSD aspect of the story, as well as the how, when, where and what happened. I liked how she related her father's trauma and after-effects of his being a Holocaust survivor to hers. PTSD is real, and I'm intrigued by the way people process trauma and how it shapes their lives forever. It was interesting that the author became a terrorist expert because, as she says, she was "fascinated by the secret motivations of violent men, and I'm good at ferreting them out." After the violent rape at age 15, she experienced an unusual reaction to fear; situations that most people would find terrifying caused her to retain her composure, become curious and empathetic. This "ability" created a perfect environment for making terrorists feel comfortable and getting them to talk. What I didn't like was how the author came across. I know it has much to do with the rape and subsequent PTSD - but her resentment, mostly towards her father, made her come across as unlikeable and emotionless. I felt bad for her father against whom she obviously still holds a grudge for not coming home from overseas immediately after the incident. He admits he didn't know what to do or how to help, but it happened 30 years ago. There's nothing he can do to change that. I also didn't like that she dragged him into the book so much at the end, detailing their "interview", when he obviously wasn't happy she wrote the book in the first place. I do hope she found healing from writing this book.

I won this book from NerdGirl in a contest, which I entered because I had seen the title around, heard good things about it and was interested in the topic. I don't know if I'd recommend this book to my friends. For me it was just okay and I rated it 3.5 / 5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knowing Jesse: A Mother's Story of Grief, Grace, and Everyday Bliss

Marianne Leone is the author of this memoir published in September 2010. It's about a woman and her husband and life with their son who was born with severe cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, was unable to speak and had severe seizures. He died suddenly at age 17. Overall I loved it. I liked her writing style and the emotional, honest story she told. She admitted her shortcomings and came across as real but likeable. The love she had for her son was overwhelming, protective and beautiful. She fought courageously for him to receive the best medical care, the best support system and caretakers, and the best education available. There wasn't anything about this book I didn't like.

I got this book from the library and chose it because of the synopsis and because I love memoirs. I'm a sucker for stories about mothers and their children and how they are able to see the blessings in a situation others may see as a burden. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and I rated it 5/5.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Asta in the Wings

Jan Elizabeth Watson is the author of this novel published in February 2009. It's about a 7-year-old girl and her 9-year-old brother who are kept in their boarded-up home by their mentally ill mother, who tells them she is protecting them from germs and "the plague." The story is told from 7-year-old Asta's point of view. Overall I really liked it. I liked how the mother encouraged her children to have a rich and creative imagination. She was cool in a weird way. Or weird in a cool way. Her children were "home-schooled" by watching and reciting line after line of old movies on TV, stemming from the mother's desire - and fueled by her delusions - to become an actress. She was quite a character :) I loved Asta's spunk and determination, her willingness to overcome obstacles, her love for her brother, Orion, and her unconditional love for her mother, who did the best she could for her children despite her mental illness. At first I wasn't sure I'd like this book. It was quirky and a little bizarre at the beginning. But once I got to know the children better and fell in love with the writing - the author paid great attention to detail but kept everything so on track - I didn't want it to end. The only thing I didn't like and what kept it from being 5 stars was the ending, which was too abrupt for my taste.

I got this book from the library and chose it because Rebecca from ccq designs, a friend on Goodreads, gave it 5 stars, something she rarely does. I had to check it out. I also chose it because I'm intrigued by all things related to mental illness, child abuse and social issues. I would recommend this to any of my friends, especially if they like quirky little books that normally they wouldn't pick up. I rated it
4.5 / 5.

I don't have a button, but feel free to "take" your own Reviews Cruise and link up if you'd like. Just mention my blog at http://lynnesbookreviews.blogspot.com (copy and paste that there url). You can use my review format (provided below) or your own. Remember, this is a stress-free, no pressure cruise, so make it simple and easy. I'm button-challenged so this cruise is button-free :)

____________ is the author of this _______(genre) published in _____________. It's about _______. Overall I _______. I liked ____________. I didn't like __________. I got this book from _______ and chose it because ___________ I would/wouldn't recommend this book. I rated it ___________.

No cruise? That's okay. Would love to hear comments about the books I reviewed.

Blogging Without Obligation - Remember This Button?

2010-09-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Remember this button? Tiffini from Tart x made this button in 2007 and I thought it was time to bring it back.

Here's what she wrote way back when:

After coming across what seemed to be the 4000th or so post on someone’s blog starting with “I’m sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.” I decided it is time to rethink what makes a good blog and the expectations that have come to be part of it. I am thinking that no one should utter those words again . . .and with that thought I give you Blogging Without Obligation.

If you feel the same way feel free to grab the logo, make a logo or whatever you would like to do!

I release all the logos, thoughts and words mentioned here about this concept into the public domain. Take the idea and run with it. . .or walk away. It is all good.

Because you shouldn’t have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.
Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.
Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.
Because sometimes less is more.
Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.
Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.
Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be “bloggable”.
Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won’t be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .

I Wonder...Does your Family Support Your Blogging and Reading Addiction?

2010-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted an "I Wonder..." and I've been wanting to ask this question of everyone for the longest time:

Do your loved ones support all the time you spend blogging and reading? Do they know how much you blog and read? Do you hide it? Do they read your blog?

My husband and 16-year-old son give me a hard time for reading as much as I do. Everyday when my son comes home from school I'm on the couch reading. He thinks that's what I do all day. Never mind that I've been doing laundry, cleaning, ironing, and grocery shopping the other seven hours he's been gone :) But it doesn't matter...I love to read and I don't mind if they don't support my reading. I think they're just jealous. As far as blogging, though, I try to do it when no one is home. I feel like a sneak! I guess I'm sort of embarrassed by blogging. Why is that? Is it not a worthwhile hobby?

So how do you all spend so much time blogging and reading, is what I want to know. I asked Sheila from Book Journey if her husband has any idea what all goes on on her blog and she said absolutely NOT. For how much she posts...you know, all her Morning Meanderings (which I look forward to each day), her giveaways, reviews, and author chats, I think that's so funny that he's in the dark.

So are you like me and do the bloggy sneak or do you blog loud and proud? Read out in the open or when everyone's asleep? Live alone so this isn't an issue? (*LUCKY*)

Review: What We Have: One Family's Inspiring Story About Love, Loss and Survival

2010-09-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

Author: Amy Boesky

Genre: Memoir (August 2010)

About: All of the women in the author's family have died before the age of 45 from cancer. She and her two sisters grew up knowing they were in a race against the clock...they would have to hurry, get married and have children and decide whether or not to have elective surgery in order to have a chance at life.

Overall: Loved it!

Liked: Everything.

I know, another sad someone-gets-cancer-and-dies book. But it's so much more than that. If you can handle - and felt a connection to - Still Alice, about Alzheimer's, you've got to read this. I gave it 5 stars not because of the story itself but because of the connection I felt to it. Isn't that what reading's all about? :) Amy Boesky's writing was engaging and real and I cannot wait to read more of her work.

The relationship Amy and her sisters had with each other and their mom reminds me so much of my family...the way they'd get miffed if one of the sisters found out something before the others. "Why didn't she call ME first?" Also, the way their mom kept things about her illness from the girls to protect them is exactly what my mom would do. And how the sisters would call each other each day when she was sick, "Did you talk to mom today? Didn't she sound really bad to you?" I imagined my sister and I doing that and also trying to figure out - together, the way these sisters did - what to do about their inherited cancer gene and what their own children would likely face in the future.

Don't miss this one.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The premise of all the women in a family dying from cancer by age 45? I had to know why and how and who and...yah, I'm nosy that way.

Recommend? Absolutely, yes!

Rating: 5/5

Review: Bill Warrington's Last Chance

2010-09-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

Author: James King

Genre: Fiction (2010)

About: Bill Warrington, an ex-marine in the early stages of Alzheimer's, uses his granddaughter to reconnect with his own children, who think he killed their mother.

Descriptive Words: Dysfunctional family, Alzheimer's

Overall: It was okay. A bit too corny, but would make for a good Lifetime Movie Channel movie.

Liked...Bill Warrington's realistic Alzheimers' symptoms of forgetfulness and memory loss and the way he used humor to try to cover them up. As the story progressed, so did his disease, which was sad but real. I also liked the easy-to-read writing.

Didn't like...the cheesiness of the story nor Bill Warrington's daughter Marcy (see below).

Source: Library

Why I chose: I saw it in People (or Oprah?) magazine and thought it looked good.

Recommend? Probably not.

Rating: 3.5 /5

Other Reviews: Some people on Goodreads complained that Bill Warrington was unlikeable because he was so ornery and rude. But this could have been caused by the Alzheimers' or by flashbacks from his time in the Marines, so I didn't have a problem with it. Personally, I didn't like his daughter Marcy, who was mean and disrespectful to her dad, often calling him "Billy Boy."

Review: Suicide by Sugar

2010-09-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Author: Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.

Genre: Non-fiction (2009)

About: "A Startling look at our #1 National Addiction" and "why our sweet tooth may be killing us"

Did you know that...1) The average person consumes 23 teaspoons of added sugar every day, which is 460 calories that supply no additional nutrients and upset the body's chemistry? 2) There are 10 teaspoons of sugar in a 12-ounce soda? 3) Sugar can lead to ovarian cancer and alcoholism and can cause varicose veins and juvenile delinquency, among 136 other cancers and diagnoses listed by the author.

Overall: It was eye-opening but just okay. Too scientific at times. I skipped to the parts I was interested in.

Liked...The inside scoop (hehe) on sugar and the awareness I gained as to the amount of sugar I eat and what it does to me. I'm hypoglycemic and shouldn't eat sugar anyway, but I love gummy worms, Skittles and ice cream. According to the book, I'm addicted and need a 12-step program (yes, they really have them for sugar addicts). My new found awareness is keeping my candy-loving self in check, but I will not give up my occasional glass of wine or my caffeine every morning as recommended by the author. Man, this book is hard core.

Didn't like...how scientific and extreme the book is in it's advice to avoid sugar. Give up ketchup? Uh...not going to happen.

Source: Library

Why I chose: Hi, I'm Lynne and I'm an addict.

Recommend? Yes if you have a problem with sugar addiction, want to lose weight (because there really are only empty calories in sugar), or you are curious to know what sugar does to the body. It's not pretty.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Addendum: Since reading the book a few days ago, I took the time to read food labels at the grocery store, and WOW. It's amazing how much sugar is added to food. Some yogurts have as much as 25 grams of sugar, which is a little over 6 teaspoons. I couldn't find any yogurt that had under 10 grams of sugar (2 1/2 teaspoons). Aaaaand I've lost two pounds since watching my sugar intake. That's worth half a star :)

Review: One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan

2010-09-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Author: Pen Farthing

Genre: Memoir (2009)

About: While serving for the Royal Marines in Afghanistan, the author intervenes when he comes upon the scene of a local dog fight. One of the freed dogs finds his way into the Marine compound where Farthing is staying and eventually so do several other strays. Farthing, with a soft spot for dogs, can't resist caring for them, some of whom are pregnant, and as his tour of duty comes to an end he enlists his wife's help to rescue them.

Did you know...that dogfighting, a centuries-old tradition, is one of Afghanistan's most popular sports, and that owners cut off their dogs' ears and tails with a knife (no anesthetic) so no superficial wounds will be inflicted because of a torn ear or tail and the fights can then last longer?

Overall: It was okay.

Liked...the courage the author showed in standing up to the dogfights and in caring for the dogs at the Marine compound, as it was not exactly in line with the rules but because he was a higher rank he got away with it. I liked the dramatic ending the best, when he had to organize the dogs' difficult trip out of Afghanistan. I also liked the few pictures on the front and back inside covers.

Didn't like...that it dragged on. Yes he had a huge heart and yes he went to a lot of trouble to save a few dogs in the compound when his duty was over, but not enough content to warrant a book.

Source: Library

Why I chose: The cover. I couldn't resist. And of course the subtitle: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan. Always a sucker for animals. Especially strays.

Recommend: Eh.

Rating: 3 / 5

Review: The Mountain Between Us

2010-09-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

Author: Charles Martin

Also Wrote: Where the River Ends

Genre: Fiction - June 2010

About: Ashley Knox and Ben Payne are strangers who meet in the airport after their flight is cancelled due to an incoming snowstorm. Ben Payne, a surgeon who is also an avid hiker and climber, had been out of town for a medical conference; Ashley was on her way to her own wedding. With several surgeries scheduled for the next morning, Ben hires a charter plane to fly him around the incoming storm and invites Ashley to go with him so she doesn't miss her wedding. She gratefully accepts, with tragic consequences. The pilot has a heart attack and the plane crashes in the mountains.

Overall: Really enjoyed and read it in two days. This is one people will either love or hate. Some may think it's too unrealistic and corny: Ben just happens to have his fully equipped backpack from a climb the week before, he happens to be a doctor, which is perfect because Ashley, who happens to be beautiful, happens to be hurt in the crash. But if you take the story for what it is...a page-turning, action-packed, romantic survival story, well, there you go.

Liked...the tenderness and love Ben Payne showed for his wife as he recorded messages to her on his dictaphone in case he died. The feelings he began to have for Ashley while treating her injuries during their month-long ordeal were realistic. I can imagine how close two people would become after the necessary intimacies required in the aftermath of a crash with injuries like Ashley's (i.e. toileting issues. Hmmm...TMI, perhaps?) I also was glad the story included a dog, who belonged to the pilot and was in the plane when it crashed.

Didn't Like...their saga on the mountain dragged on a little too long at times, but this annoyed me only slightly. For the most part the author kept it interesting.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: Saw it on Book Page and loved the synopsis.

Recommend? Yes, absolutely.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Do stories like this turn you off or are you able to look past too obvious and predictable coincidences and enjoy the stories for what they are?

Review: Strangers at the Feast

2010-08-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

Author: Jennifer Vanderbes
Also Wrote: Easter Island

Genre: Fiction

About: Three generations of the Olson family gather on Thanksgiving in 2007. Hosting the dinner is single daughter Ginny, who will be introducing her newly adopted daughter from India. The chain of doom is set in motion when Ginny’s oven fails and they decide to move the gathering to her brother Douglas' house. At the same time, 17-year-old Kijo Jackson and his best friend Spider set out from a housing project intent on carrying out a job. Their two worlds collide in a string of tragic events.

Descriptive Words: Dysfunction, tragedy, coincidence, misfortune, death

Overall: Enjoyed

Liked

how well formed and slowly each character was introduced.
how dysfunctional - bordering on unlikeable - each family member was - and just like watching MTVs Real World, I couldn't tear myself away.
how the story went back and forth between past and present and from character to character but in an organized, easy-to-keep-track way.
that I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to find out about the impending "tragic events" that were mentioned but not disclosed until the very end.

Didn't Like

the vague ending, and I'm not sure if it's the ending itself I didn't like or that the story was over! I don't like when books end and I think, That's it? It's over? Just like that? I like when I close the book and think, Oh, that was soooo good! I've been critical of the last few book endings I've read.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I was intrigued by the storyline and synopsis of "tragic events."

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 4/5

Review: Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo

2010-08-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Vanessa Woods

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: The author's life while working with bonobos in the Congo.

Did You Know... that bonobos are an extremely endangered ape that share 98.7 percent of our DNA? ...that chimpanzees live in male-dominated societies and resolve conflict with violence and war, and bonobos live in female-dominated societies and resolve conflict with sex? ...that bonobos live only in the Congo?

Overall: Enjoyed

Liked... reading about the author's bond with the bonobos. Many of them died after she'd become emotionally attached; I can't imagine how that must have felt, especially because they were so human-like. I also liked reading about how she met her husband while doing bonobos research and some of the difficulties they had as a couple, as well as dealing with war and disease.

Didn't Like...the war and politics in the book. I was bored and skipped over a lot of it. Also, because bonobos are extremely sexual creatures, the talk about clitorises and penises and orgasms and rubbing was a little overboard. I know, it is what it is. They're animals. What are ya gonna do.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I've seen this book around the blogosphere and I love animals. Easy choice.

Recommend? Yes, if you would be interested in reading about bonobos and how much they love sex. Just kidding. It really is fascinating how they resolve conflict with sex and what a peaceful, loving species they are.

Rating: 4/5

I plan on reading Sara Gruen's Ape House, now that I'm on a primate roll.

Remember Me?

2010-08-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I'm back from a two-week long, much needed - but not always nice - break. You know, flat tire, sinus infection, sick kid, 16-year-old's first fender bender (his fault, of course). Inconveniences I'd rather not deal with but are part of life? I did spend a week with my family in southern California, so at least that was fun.

But I've missed my blogging friends! And even though I took a break from blogging, I never stopped reading. Here's the lowdown:

WHAT I'VE READ:

The Mountain Between Us ~ Charles Martin (5 Stars, loved it)
Messages: Signs, Visits and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11 ~ Bonnie McEneany (4 Stars)
Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Punchier, More Outgoing Language and Style ~ Arthur Plotnik (5 Stars)
Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo ~ Vanessa Woods (4 Stars, enjoyed the parts about the bonobos but not so much the politics and war.)
Strangers at the Feast ~ Jennifer Vanderbes (4 Stars; dysfunctional family gathers for Thanksgiving dinner; a cliffhanger because you know something really bad happens, but it doesn't happen till the end. Author does a great job of keeping an otherwise boring storyline interesting until the climax. Disappointed in the vague ending but otherwise enjoyed.)
Steps to Writing Well ~ Jean Wyrick (4 Stars)
Full Court ~ The Untold Story of the St. Louis Hawks ~ Greg Marecek (4 Stars)

I don't know what my recent obsession with books on writing is about; unlike a lot of bloggers, I have no desire to write.

I read Full Court because my son plays high school basketball with Ed "Easy Ed" McCauley's grandson. "Easy Ed", who played for the St. Louis Hawks, an NBA team, attends all of our games.

READING NOW:

The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven ~ Kevin and Alex Malarkey

LIBRARY - TO PICK UP:

Suicide by Sugar: A Startling Look at our #1 National Addiction ~ Nancy Appleton, G.N. Jacobs
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them ~ Francine Prose (Again, I love books but have no desire to write one.)
One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan ~ Pen Farthing

LIBRARY - ORDERED:

Knowing Jesse: A Mother's Story of Grief, Grace, and Everyday Bliss ~ Marianne Leone
Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life ~ Steven Kotler
You Lost Me There ~ Rosecrans Baldwin
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology ~ Eric Brende
Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English ~ Roy Peter Clark

WON:

Fly Away Home ~ Jennifer Weiner / Won from Florinda at The 3R's: Reading, 'Riting and Randomness. Can't wait to read this.

RECEIVED:

Award from Vicki at Reading at the Beach Thanks, Vicki!

MISSED:

The 32nd Annual YMCA Book Fair. I must have been sick! Darn it.

LOST:

My mind.

I'll get it back by September, I promise. Anyone else taking a break or in a blogging funkslump? I know Staci from Life in the Thumb wrote about her blogging blues one day and got lots of sympathizing comments.
Eva at A Striped Armchair declared August a month of no blogging worries to ease pressure on herself and simply read on a whim. The Literary Stew wrote a post today about her reading and blogging slump. Good to know I'm not the only one.

The weather in St. Louis today is gorgeous, and I can't decide between going on a horseback ride with my friend Donna or a motorcycle ride with my husband. Hmmm...

Have a good day, everyone!

Review: Messages: Signs, Visits, and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11

2010-08-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Bonnie McEneaney

Genre: Non-Fiction/Spiritual (2010)

About: The author's husband was killed in the 9/11 attack. She tells of her own experience with messages and signs she feels her husband sends her as well as premonitions he had just prior to 9/11. She also tells of the signs and premonitions experienced by other 9/11 families.

Descriptive Words: Fascinating, spiritual, comfort, connections

Thoughts: What do you think about spirits and messages sent from loved ones who've passed on? A bunch of crock? Read this book and you may change your mind.
.
I loved it. What kept me from giving it 5 stars was a tad too much talk about coins as a message or sign. She claims that many loved ones of 9/11 victims felt spouses, siblings, and parents were communicating to them through found coins, as well as the appearance of butterflies and rainbows. But everyone finds coins. And sees butterflies. And rainbows, too, but admittedly more infrequently than coins and butterflies. To think that every found penny is a message from heaven made me feel the author was trying too hard to read into things. Hey, I found a piece of lint...must be Aunt Gertrude telling me I need to do laundry. Other than that the book was fascinating, and the stories of victims' premonitions in the weeks and days before the attack and the detailed phone calls to family members from those trapped in the Twin Towers were so interesting.

Besides the author trying too hard at times to read into certain "signs," this book was excellent.

Disclaimer: I've heard stories from friends about premonitions, signs and messages, and have had personal experience, so I admit I do believe in this concept.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I'm fascinated by all things 9/11.

Recommend? YES, especially if you would be comforted to know loved ones who have passed away may be trying to communicate with you or if you've ever questioned that possibility.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Review: Pray for Silence

2010-08-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Author: Linda Castillo

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

About: An Amish family of seven is found slaughtered on their farm. The formerly Amish Police Chief, Kate Burkholder, discovers a diary kept by one of the teenage girls which reveals a secret double life that may have led to the murders.

Descriptive Words: Amish, secrets, videos, eerie, disturbing, descriptive, dark.

Thoughts: The title and cover are ominous looking, so I knew it would be scary, and I knew an Amish family was murdered. Other than that, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was pleasantly surprised, though, and didn't want to put it down. The one negative for me was that the main character, Kate Burkholder, the police chief, was female. In my mind I pictured a male police chief, and it kept throwing me off because she had a romantic relationship with State Agent John Tomasetti. Not a huge deal, but it took time getting used to. Loved everything else. Quite a page turner!

Not quite up there with Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (which I gave 5 Stars), but very close.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The cover and title looked interesting.

Recommend? Yes if you can handle disturbing content (murder scenes, some sexual scenes, language)

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Other Reviews:

Lesa's Book Critiques
The Printed Page
Thoughts of Joy

Review: Glimpsing God

2010-08-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

Author:   Rachel Alkire

Genre: Listed as Biography/Autobiography

About: The author tells of several tragedies in her life: her own near-death experience, her daughter's skull being crushed by bullies, a car accident in which her oldest son is rendered unconscious, and the diagnosis of three of her five children with an irreparable genetic brain disorder.

Descriptive Words: Enduring faith, unbelievable trials

Thoughts: Most of us go through trials in our lives, but thankfully not to the extent that Rachel Alkire has.

One incident after another left this Christian author questioning God's purpose and reasoning. Why was she being tested so severely?  What did He want from her? First her heart stopped during a C-section. Then her daughter's skull was broken when a child hit her with a baseball bat. Then she was in a car accident with four of her children and her son was left unconscious. Soon after, three of her children were diagnosed with a genetic brain disorder. What next?

I enjoyed this honest, heartfelt story.  The writing flowed and was easy to read. I felt sympathetic towards the author and connected with her.  Her courage to question God while enduring one incident after another - yet remaining faithful, knowing God is omniscient - was inspirational. The only aspect I didn't like was the dialogue between her and God. It worked at first, but soon became monotonous. "Is he dead??? No, this cannot be! NO! He is our promised son! God, you didn't give him to us to take him away like this!" Take the seat belt off. (God's voice). And when she wasn't talking to God she was talking to herself, which, again, was fine at first but became slightly annoying by the end.

For the most part, though, Glimpsing God was enjoyable, and I liked her conversational writing style.  I would read this author's work again.

Source: Arielle Roper at Bring It On! Communications - I was not paid for this review but was given a free copy of the book.

Why I Chose: I enjoy reading about others' misfortunes and how they are strengthened by them in the end.

Recommend? Yes, if you like to read about others' tragedies and how their faith helps them through.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Author's Blog

Review: Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives

2010-08-05T13:22:00.000-07:00

Author: Thomas French

Genre: Non-Fiction (2010)

About: Behind the scenes look at a zoo and the animals who live there.

Descriptive Words: Thought-provoking, politics, animal attacks, animal behavior

Interesting Tidbit: The author was inspired to write Zoo Story after reading Life of Pi, in which the main character's family owns a zoo.

Thoughts: My first thought...a non-fiction book about zoos and animals with no pictures?! That really irked me.

The main focus of this book was the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida, and I didn't care for the whole behind the scenes/political aspect. It was very negative. I realize Zoo Story is the title of the book, not Zoo Animals, but the hirings and firings and disagreements and staff turnovers turned me off. I also didn't like that the author focused so much on only one zoo. Is this how all zoos are? Do they all have CEOs with volatile management styles like Lex Salisbury, whose nickname is El Diablo Blanco (The White Devil) and who cares more about his status in society than the care of the animals? Lord, I hope not.

What I did like was getting to know some of the animals in depth, i.e., tigers Eric and Enshalla, and a chimp named Herman. Herman was rescued and raised as a baby by a family, who, when he grew and became more difficult to handle, gave him to the zoo, where he lived for 16 years. The story about his life and tragic death there was sad. I also enjoyed the different stories about animal attacks on zookeepers and zoo patrons.

I'm still on the fence about zoos in general. Their dedication to continuing the species of rare and endangered animals is praiseworthy, and zookeepers do their best to care for the animals. But have you ever seen a tiger rhythmically pacing back and forth in his enclosure hour after hour? That breaks me heart.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The cover / I love animals / I was curious to see how the author would portray zoos

Recommend? Yes if you want to know the inside (and mostly negative) scoop about the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa; otherwise, no. But I did enjoy the in-depth emotional stories about the animals.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

100 Things About Me - Part 3

2010-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here we go - Part 3...

67. I got married for the first time at age 42.

68. My mom got carded on my 21st birthday...and I didn't.

69. I read magazines backwards.

70. I have herniated lumbar discs, but if I exercise and stretch I'm able to stay pain-free.

71. I enjoy watching dance, cheerleading and gymnastic competitions on TV.

72. I didn't inherit a talent for playing a musical instrument like my brother, but everyone in my family has rhythm and can dance.

73. I have no interest in politics. Maybe when I'm older?

74. Sunflowers are my favorite flowers.

75. I find cemeteries fascinating and I like reading headstones and imagining what the person's life was like.

76. I want to be cremated and scattered in the ocean where I grew up because I don't want anyone to feel they have to visit my grave site.

77. I despise winter, and fall just reminds me that winter is around the corner. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons.

78. I'm the only one in my family who didn't need braces.

79. I have a "signature" random act of kindness I do, but it's not anonymous. Whenever I am in a grocery store parking lot, I look for people who are loading their cars with groceries and ask them if they'd like me to take their cart back for them. It's such a small thing, but pregnant women and the elderly really appreciate it...especially in the winter time.

80. My grandmother taught me and my siblings a language, much like pig Latin, called Double Dutch. My sister and I used to speak it all the time when we didn't want people to know what we were saying. We still speak it sometimes, but my mom gets mad because she says it's rude. My son is now fluent in it as well.

81. I met my friend Linda in 4th grade and we were only friends through 6th grade, when she moved to Illinois. However, we were together constantly during those few short years, and even though we don't see each other very often we made a lifetime of memories that will keep us bonded forever. You should see our emails to each other... "Remember [such and such]?" For someone who has a terrible memory, we had so much fun together that I remember more details of that stage of my life than any other time.

82. I'm a total introvert. My energy is depleted by being around people and I am re-energized by being alone.

83. I don't mind going to movies alone.

84. I'll go to high school sporting events by myself, even if I don't know anyone playing.

85. I want to live on a farm. And if that isn't possible then I would at least like to stay at a dude ranch for a week.

86. Having a child was the best thing that ever happened to me.

87. I've been known to report a helpful, friendly service or sales person to their manager because I don't think people do this often enough, and everyone likes to feel appreciated. I wrote a letter (I know, me and my letters...LOL) to my labor and delivery nurse's boss after I had Eric to say how wonderful she was. The nurse wrote me a letter back saying how she had been taking a lot of time off for her deaf child's medical care and was not in good standing with her boss. She said the letter was helpful in keeping her job and came at just the right time.

88. I don't have a lot of friends, but the ones I do have are precious to me. I'm a loyal friend...once you're my friend, you're stuck for life!

89. I never, ever get bored. I can always find something to do: read, do crossword puzzles, work out, write, etc.

90. I tend to drive too fast, but I haven't had a speeding ticket in 20 years. I get extremely aggravated by people who drive under the speed limit.

91. I try to treat everyone the same: hotel maids, waitress or taxi driver. A person's job doesn't make them any more or less deserving of dignity, courtesy and respect. My dad is better at this than anyone I know.

92. I have nice writing and printing, but I cannot draw worth beans.

93. I love that I have older stepkids because I can't wait to have grandkids!

94. I love riding roller coasters and would still ride them if not for my neck and back problems. Grrrrr.

95. I have a MAJOR pet peeve and that is when people dress their babies (especially newborns) in sleeveless clothes, with bare legs and no socks, but they themselves have on a sweater and long pants. Hello people! And yes this is the only pet peeve I have where I will say something to the person, but I do it nicely. "Oh, what a cute baby. Poor little thing must be cold, no?"

96. My sister and I have an uncanny tendency to call each other just when the other person was thinking of doing the same or at least thinking about them at that exact moment. It's almost spooky.

97. When Eric was in 4th grade I made up a song that names all the elected US Presidents and how many terms they served. We both still remember it. "Washington, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jefferson, Madison, Madison, Monroe, Monroe, Adams, Jackson, Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Polk, Taylor, Pierce, Buchanan..." I know, so weird, but it's the only way I can remember things.

98. I read the obituaries.

99. I've been to Asia and Europe, and I would love to visit Africa and go on a safari.

100. I love blogging :)

I love reading these "100 Things" posts, so let me know if you do one. I'd like to get to know everyone better, and I think this is a fun way to do so.

100 Things About Me - Part 2

2010-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

34. I weighed 11 pounds, 3 ounces when I was born and was 23 inches long. Check out this picture of me. I'm told that had I not been so big at birth I probably wouldn't have lived because I got the whooping cough when I was 6 weeks old and lost a lot of weight. Thank you God for making me so large. :)

35. I once stayed overnight with a passenger on a flight from L.A. to Dallas on my way to St. Louis. I was going to have to sleep in the airport and she invited me to stay with her in Dallas. She was my seatmate and we had talked the whole way there. Since my luggage was already on its way to St. Louis, she gave me a nightgown to borrow and even took me to the airport the next day. Above and beyond, I'll say! I wrote to Ann Landers about the incident and my letter was published during an "acts of kindness" kick she was on.

36. I once read an article about a young woman - a single mom of an 8-year-old son - who was killed in a car accident. The article really touched me because I was also a single mom. Eric was almost 2 at the time and I could not imagine leaving him behind. I felt I had to do something. The paper mentioned that her little boy was a big hockey fan. My stepdad was a coach for the Blues at the time and I arranged for the little boy to get tickets to a game and to meet some of the players. Here is the letter the woman's best friend wrote to me. I wish I could do small things like this all the time.

37. I have generalized anxiety and have since I was in 3rd grade (now that I look back). My biggest regret in life is not getting help for this sooner! To all those people out there who don't think medicine is the answer to many illnesses? Maybe not some, but for anxiety it is. Anxiety is a neurotransmitter thing. There is nothing you can do to talk yourself out of it. I would have been SUCH a better mom to Eric had I taken medicine sooner. Let me tell you people, it is NOT normal to have your stomach in knots and to be worrying and ruminating (thinking and analyzing) constantly. I did not know what "normal" was until I took medicine to put my brain on an even keel. Awwww...peace. Gotta love it.

38. I love reading! Oh, did I already say that?

39. I am the only person in my immediate family with blue eyes, the only one with fair skin and the only one who writes left handed. (Uh, mom? Can we have a word?)

40. I write left handed but do everything else right handed/footed (eat, throw, kick a ball, put make up on, etc.)

41. I like to write poems. I wouldn't call it poetry because poetry sounds professional, artsy and beautiful. My poems are just fun.

42. I wish I had inherited the musical talent on my mom's side like my brother did. He is an amazing piano player but doesn't read music. It's all by ear. The only thing I inherited is my dad's love for napping.

43. I love taking naps. They rejuvenate me and give me a second wind for the end of the day.

44. I am definitely a morning person.

45. I love all bodies of water...pools, oceans, lakes, rivers. Something about water is so peaceful.

46. I'm a Scorpio.

47. I don't believe in astrology per se, but I do think characteristics for the different signs are fairly accurate. I am definitely stubborn, independent, sensitive, loyal, and all-or-nothing.

48. Until starting medicine three years ago for my anxiety, I had never driven farther than 1/2 hour from my house. A.M. (After meds) I drove to Lake of the Ozarks three hours away and just recently drove six hours to Memphis by myself. Can you say "whole new world"?

49. I'm not afraid to die.

50. I'm a Christian. Guess that's why I'm not afraid to die. I look forward to it when it's "my time."

51. I am a good speller and have a sort of photographic memory with words. I can picture whether or not the word is spelled right if I've seen it even once. Eric inherited this from me...yay!

52. I enjoy crossword puzzles.

53. I enjoy doing calligraphy.

54. I'm always on time or early when I have to be somewhere, and so is my husband, which is nice.

55. It takes me 10 minutes to get ready (makeup, hair, dressed).

56. The older I get the less tolerant I am of noise and commotion.

57. I'm hypoglycemic and have to eat every few hours.
58. My first car was a Toyota Celica. I now drive a Lexus hybrid SUV and love it.

59. My family recycles.

60. I am a candy fanatic, not chocolate so much, but Sweet Tarts, Skittles, Gummy Bears, etc.

61. My favorite ice cream is Peanut Butter and Chocolate or Jamocha Almond Fudge.

62. I have a terrible memory for books, events, movies, names, etc. That's why I take a lot of pictures. It helps me remember events. I write book reviews so I can remember what they were about!

63. I have 25-30 photo albums.

64. I'm grateful that my dad instilled a sense of fitness in us at a young age. When my sister and I were 13 and 16, he bribed us with $100 each if we ran a 10K. We both finished and got our money, and we both have worked out ever since.

65. My first jobs were: renting out roller skates at a surf shop (age 14), busing tables at a small breakfast place (age 15), filing and secretarial work in the doctor's office where my mom was a nurse (age 15 thru 19, part-time), as an aerobics instructor at the Nautilus gym my dad owned (age 16, part-time) and as a bagger at a grocery store - I loved this job for some reason (age 17). I got my first full-time job with benefits as a secretary for neuroscan facility (CTs, MRIs, EEGs) at age 19 and was a medical secretary thru age 42, working for general surgeons, psychiatrists (for 15 years), and neurosurgeons, when I was 19 thru 25, and again as my last job before I "retired."

66. I worked two jobs when Eric was born. I dropped him off at a daycare at 6:15 AM, did typing for a doctor for an hour and a half, then went to my next job until 5:30 PM. I did that for 2 years until my main job finally gave me a raise.

Stay tuned for Part 3...

100 Things About Me - Part 1

2010-07-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

If you read my personal blog, you've already seen this. If not, here are my 100 Things About Me, which I'll post in three parts. Part 1:

1. I used to live with Sheryl Crow when she moved to Hermosa Beach from Missouri to start her music career. When she lived with us she was doing commercial jingles, and when she moved out of our apartment she got a job as Michael Jackson's backup singer. In 1997, she did an interview with the Post Dispatch and talked about how she moved in with some "wild girls" when she first moved to L.A. As evidenced by the bright halo hovering above my head, I'm certain she wasn't talking about me specifically.

2. I love being a mom. When I was pregnant, I prayed for a boy. I think I'm a better "boy mom" than I would have been a "girl mom."

3. I love all animals, especially my two dogs, Stella and K.C. I love animals so much because they are totally at the mercy of humans and I feel obligated to do what I can for them.

4. I love the sunshine and could never live somewhere dreary.

5. I can still walk on my hands at 45 years old.

6. I don't ever want to go back to work, but I love volunteer work if it has to do with helping animals.

7. I write a blog so my family can keep up with what's going on in my son's life.

8. I love St. Louis and have no desire to move back to California. I lived in the South Bay (Southern California) for 25 years and moved to St. Louis when my stepdad got a coaching job with the St. Louis Blues hockey team. He and my mom lived in St. Louis for 10 years before moving to San Jose for his job with the Sharks. They now live in the South Bay and he is a scout for the L.A. Kings.

9. My dad was a pitcher for the L.A. Dodgers; he stopped playing when I was 10. He's now a scout for the Florida Marlins.

10. When I was 9 I swam with dolphins at Marineland with O.J. Simpson. He was afraid to put even his toes in the water. Not afraid to kill his wife though...(sorry, the devil made me do it.)

11. I love to read all kinds of books, fiction, non-fiction, true crime, biographies, anything.

12. I have to be in the mood to cook, otherwise I hate cooking. I could eat cereal for dinner every night. I definitely eat to live and not live to eat.

13. I never graduated from college but am proud of the fact that I got a B in college algebra despite getting a D in pre-algebra in high school and testing into basic math in college. Fortunately my son did not get my math brain (or non-math brain, I should say).

14. I have no sense of direction.

15. My favorite vacation was when I was 16 and our family went to Lake Powell for a week on a houseboat. I would love to take my son some day. I don't know how anyone can see that kind of nature and beauty and not believe in God.

16. I wish my mom had not put me in kindergarten when I was 4. I feel I would have done better academically had I been a year older. (I can't believe they used to do that back then!)

17. I was 17 when I graduated from high school and moved into an apartment soon after. I never moved back home after that.

18. I hope my son gets to go to Europe like I did. There is no better education than seeing the world. It makes me sad when I meet people who have never been out of the country or even out of state. There is so much to see. On our high school trip we went to 8 countries in 30 days.

19. The nicest thing anyone ever did for me was when I was a single mom of a 2-year-old, working 50 hours a week, and on Mother's Day my mom cleaned my entire house, scrubbed the kitchen floor on her hands and knees, made dinner and put it in the oven, turned soft music on, dimmed the lights, lit candles (she knew exactly when I'd be home), and picked my son up from daycare. When I walked in the door, I cried. It was the most heartfelt act of love during an overwhelming time in my life, and I'll never forget it. Hence my favorite saying, "No one is more cherished in this world than he who lightens the burden of another."

20. I am envious of people who find their passion or God-given talent at a young age and have a career doing what they love.

21. I still remember the whole Preamble to the Constitution (from 7th grade), Shakespeare's "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" (...creeps in this petty pace from day to day til the last syllable of recorded time... [from 9th grade English with Miss Edsell]), and much of the first chapter of Ephesians. I know...so random, huh?

22. I am so lucky to have a sister who would be my best friend even if she were not my sister.

23. The only time I wanted to get away from my sister was when I turned 13 and was tired of sharing a room with her for all those years so I moved into our walk-in closet...my bed, stereo, everything. I came home one day to find her on my bed in my "room-closet." Now I know she just looked up to me and wanted to be with me, but back then I was pissed.

24. My husband and I met on a blind date set up by friends and it was love at first sight, although we dated off and on for 10 years before we finally got married almost three years ago. I'm glad we waited because I think we both needed to grow up. Now we couldn't be happier!

25. I love watching any and every sport and will probably end up like my 95-year-old grandmother, who, when I called and asked what she was doing one day, said, "I'm filling out my brackets" (for college basketball). She was a hoot and I miss her.

26. I love any food, drink or candy with peanut butter in it.

27. I love reality TV shows.

28. I cry easily, especially when other people cry. Even if I don't know them or they are on TV.

29. Even music can make me cry, which my son inherited from me. I guess it's something about the melody, but there are two songs that have made him cry since he was a baby: You Are My Sunshine and Rock-a-bye Baby.

30. Songs that really move me are Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art , Bika Mono Ve (It is Well With My Soul) and Great is Thy Faithfulness Go ahead. Click one one or all three. Beautiful! :)

31. I like animals more than most people. I heard a lady at the vet's office say this to someone and it made me less ashamed to admit it.

32. Another thing I used to be afraid to admit but a psychologist friend told me she felt the same way, is that I am not a kid-person. I absolutely LOVE my own son, as well as my niece and nephew, but in general I don't like kids.

33. I was a single mom for 13 years. When my son Eric was about two, I started a local chapter of the National Organization for Single Mothers. I collected dues, wrote a newsletter, held meetings, and through this group met moms who are some of my closest friends today. Nobody knows like one who's been there.

Hope you found out something new about me. Stay tuned for Part 2...

Review: My Name is Mary Sutter / New Header and Layout!

2010-07-21T09:45:00.001-07:00

Author: Robin Oliveira

Genre: Historical Fiction (2010)

About: (From book cover): "In this stunning historical novel, which opens on the eve of the Civil War, Mary Sutter is a brilliant, headstrong midwife from Albany, New York, who dreams of becoming a surgeon. Determined to overcome the prejudices against women in medicine - and eager to run away from recent heartbreak - Mary travels to Washington, D.C. to help tend the legions of Civil War wounded. Under the guidance of William Stipp and James Blevens - two surgeons who unwittingly fall in love with Mary's courage, will and stubbornness in the face of suffering - and resisting her mother's pleas to return home to help with the birth of her twin sister's baby, Mary pursues her medical career in the desperately overwhelmed hospitals of the capital."

Descriptive Words: Civil War, midwife, determination, family, loyalty, sickness, death, triumph

Thoughts: When I heard Laura Bush speak a few months ago, she gave high praises to My Name is Mary Sutter, so I thought I couldn't go wrong. I'd heard others speak highly of it as well, and I generally like historical fiction.

I should have been leary, especially after diving into and not liking Eat Pray Love, Lovely Bones, The Time Travelers Wife, The Poisonwood Bible, Three Cups of Tea (*dodging thrown tomatoes*), and Beautiful Creatures (did I even finish that?). I'm a picky reader. It's hit or miss with me. In fact the only recently raved-about book I agreed with was The Help.

But jump I did. When I started the book I was rating it a 5 (do you rate books in your head while reading?). I loved it. I admired Mary's strong personality. She was emotional and fiery. She didn't want to follow in her family's footsteps and be "just" a midwife. She wanted to become a surgeon. Her determination and drive to be involved in a profession normally chosen by men, and her struggle between family loyalty and desire to become a doctor, were my favorite parts of the story.

The other characters involved were just as interesting - Jenny, Amelia, Bonnie, Thomas, James Blevens and William Stipp - and completely added to the story. Loving, fighting, flirting, dying. Great stuff. I also enjoyed the medical aspect and the gory details of how she delivered babies as a midwife and tended to patients during the war. Mary was not afraid of anything, and I loved that about her. Talk about jumping right in...

As the story progressed, though, and the author brought in political details of the war and wrote from President Lincoln's point of view, it started to go down hill for me. I skipped sentences like a school girl on a playground. And I only do that when I'm bored. Whenever Mary or interactions with her family came into play my interest piqued again, but by that time I'd kind of resolved myself to just getting through it.

I was disappointed. I should have known.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The hype

Recommend? Yes, if you like historical fiction and aren't afraid of hyped up books. No if you're on the fence about it in the first place.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Translation: Better than "it was okay" but not as good as "enjoyed it." I didn't give it a 3 because there were parts I loved, and didn't give it a 4 because there were parts I skipped out of boredom.

Other Reviews:

(Everyone loved it)

Caribous Mom
My Friend Amy
Booking Mama
Linus's Blanket
Bibliophile by the Sea

Anyone plan to read this, despite my review? Are you a picky reader and generally don't like books everyone else likes? Or does it just depend on the genre. Is there a genre you love and therefore enjoy almost every book in that genre? Do you rate books in your head while reading? Talk to me!

Oh, and how do you like my new header and layout? Lauren from Designer Blogs did it for me. Had to keep sweet Emma so everyone would recognize me :)

I Wonder...What Sign Are You? Are You An Introvert or Extrovert?

2010-07-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

I don't believe in day-to-day astrological readings - Today someone will give you a lot of money (I wish) - but I think there's something to the characteristics of the signs people are born under.

I'm a Scorpio and am stubborn, passionate, loyal, and have few but close friends. I'm not shy, but I am reserved. I'm picky about who I get close to, but once you're my friend you're pretty much stuck for life.

I'm also an introvert. I always thought signs correlated with whether or not one is an introvert or extrovert, but my husband is also a Scorpio and he's an extrovert. He can handle being alone for about a day and that's it. Me, I would love to be stranded on a deserted island as long as I had books to read.

A psychologist once told me this: If you're an introvert your battery becomes depleted by being with people and is recharged by being alone. If you're an extrovert your battery becomes depleted by being alone and is recharged by being with people.

I want to know about you!

So for fun, tell me:

1) What is your astrological sign?
2) Are you an introvert or extrovert?
3) Do you think introverts are more likely to be readers than extroverts?

Come back and read the comments or subscribe to comments if you'd like.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2010-07-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sheila from Book Journey hosts this weekly meme; I love to see what everyone's reading!

It's been a few weeks since I participated. No excuses, really.

Here's what I've read since the last time I participated:

1001 Books for Every Mood 5/5

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake 4/5

Still Missing 5/5

I Will Carry You 5/5

Cut in Half 3.5/5

Beneath the Lion's Gaze 4/5

Life, In Spite of Me 3.5/5

The Drowning River 4/5 ~ Christobel Kent

My Grammar and I...Or Should That Be Me? 4/5 ~ Caroline Taggart and J.A. Wines

Awkward Family Photos 4/5 ~ Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

The Longman Guide to Style & Writing on the Internet 5/5 ~ Martha Sammons

Words Fail Me 5/5 ~ Patricia O'Conner

Reading Now:

My Name is Mary Sutter ~ Robin Oliveira (Enjoying this one so far)

Understanding Exposure ~ Bryan Peterson (Great photography book)

Up Next:

All Over the Map ~ Laura Fraser

Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives ~ Thomas French

A Hidden Affair ~ Pam Jenoff

Corduroy Mansions ~ Alexander McCall Smith

I hope I get to them all since they're checked out from the library.

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Yee ha! I've got 100 Followers! Thank you everyone. I soooo appreciate my book friends.

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On a personal (and sad) note, which I'm writing here because my son reads my personal blog but not my book blog, and I just had to share with someone:

My son, who is 16, was at a party Friday night and the next morning, while on Facebook, he found out that one of the kids at the party had committed suicide at 4:00 that morning. My son wasn't close to him, but the neighborhood is small and everyone knows everyone. The high school's graduating class had 25 or 30 kids, and this boy was one of them. He was a football player and wrestler and the cutest, nicest kid. It's tragic, and I hate that these teenagers are getting their first taste of grief, as did I at the same age. You just want to put them in a bubble, don't you?

Thank you, my book friends, for listening :) I do hope you all have a wonderful week of reading. Be sure to give your loved ones an extra big hug today.

Feel free to comment on my books or my news. Didn't mean to bring everyone down!

Review: 1001 Books for Every Mood

2010-07-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Hallie Ephron, Ph.D.

Genre: Non-Fiction (2008)

About: A compilation of books for certain moods.

Descriptive Words: Books, books, books

Thoughts: Does anyone else love as much as I do books about books? I never get tired of them.

Don't read this one if you don't want to add to your wish lists. In the most self-disciplined way I could possibly manage, I added only 10 books to my wish list. I know, I'm proud. It could have been worse.

I loved how this book broke the categories down into moods (duh, good thing, since that's what it's about): for a Good Laugh, for a Good Cry, for Action, for Revenge. And not just typical moods, either. The author got creative: for a Shot in the Arm, for a Kick in the Pants, to Join the Circus, and to Slide Down the Rabbit Hole - never heard of that kind of mood, but...

In each mood category there were several pages of books along with a thorough description of each. Also included was a literary merit rating of 1-4 stars and a small icon denoting if the book was provocative, influential, inspirational, humorous, brainy, easy reading, page turner, challenging, bathroom book, family friendly, and movie.

Fun, fun!

Source: Library

Why I Chose: Because I cannot pass up a book about books.

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 5/5

Review: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

2010-07-16T14:28:00.001-07:00

Author: Aimee Bender

Genre: Fiction (2010)

About: A young girl, Rose, can taste the feelings in the food of the people who make it.

Descriptive Words: Family dysfunction, bizarre abilities, emotions, coming of age, acceptance

Thoughts: I enjoyed the writing more than the story. The author writes in a sing-songy, rhythmic and easy to read way. The story was strange. Just when I accepted that people's feelings could be tasted (huh?!), the author added another character with an unusual ability, the girl's brother, but I liked in the end how that all came together. Although the tone of the characters was drab and boring and their quirky personalities irked me halfway through, each was distinct and well formed. One comment I related to and laughed at was when Rose said her brother Joe wished there was a Breakfast pill, a Lunch pill, and a Dinner pill. I thought that was funny, and it pretty much sums up my relationship with food.

Overall, I'm glad I read it, but if you don't get to it because of your overflowing stacks, it's not the end of the world.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I wanted to know what the buzz was about.

Recommend? Yes. Although it's the same kind of bizarre as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and The Unnamed - neither of which my brain could wrap around - the literary aspect was brilliant.

Rating: 4/5

Other Reviews:

Book Nut
Bibliophile By the Sea
S Krishna's Books
Booking Mama

Review: Still Missing

2010-07-12T09:14:00.001-07:00

Author: Chevy Stevens

Genre: Fiction: Mystery/Thriller (2010)

About: A realtor is abducted and held captive while hosting an open house.

Descriptive Words: Scary, gruesome, sad, riveting, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, abuse.

Thoughts: Loved it. But not at first. Annie's (the realtor) character was brusque and unfeminine, with her foul language and snarky attitude. As the story went on, though, it worked and I got used to it, and it's probably why she survived The Freak's abuse for a year. She was one tough cookie.

The story switches back and forth between the present, as she talks to her therapist, and the past, where she tells what happened to her during captivity. That back and forth usually bothers me in books, but Chevy Stevens transitioned so smoothly that I didn't even notice, and in fact kept it interesting. Also, The PTSD aspect brought about while talking to her therapist was fascinating. How does one get over something like that?

Some of the things The Freak did to her were so freaky and his character so realistic that I thought he'd pop out of the book any minute. There was never a dull moment, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Also, the way The Freak constantly used her name when addressing her creeped me out. "Not good, Annie. Not good at all." Ewww.

My ONLY complaint was the abrupt ending. I was fine with the story and the twist of what happened, but I felt unfulfilled. I like when a book ends and I think, "Oh, that was so good!" not "That's it? It's over?" like the author got tired of writing and just wanted it to end.

Other than the ending, I was thoroughly entertained and would read anything by this author, who happens to be a female...I thought Chevy was a man.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: Saw rave reviews on so many blogs I didn't want to miss out. The abduction storyline intrigued me as well.

Recommend? YES! Don't miss.

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:

Missy's Book Nook
A Patchwork of Books
Presenting Lenore
Devourer of Books

There are a ton of reviews on this book and I have yet to read a bad one.

Have you read this? Do you plan to?

Review: I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy

2010-07-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Angie Smith

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: The author finds out when she is 18-weeks pregnant with her fourth daughter that the baby, Audrey, has conditions which leave her "incompatible with life." She decides to carry the pregnancy to term for as long as the baby lives. Angie Smith is the wife of Todd Smith, a singer in the Christian group Selah. She has a popular blog called Bring the Rain.

Descriptive Words: Cope, loss, hope, peace

Thoughts: I ordered this book from my library just because of the title. I had no idea that the author was the same person whose blog I found a while back. You know...one of those you find by clicking on one blog who mentions another blog, so you click on that, and so on? In her blog Bring the Rain, Angie Smith chronicles her pregnancy with Audrey and the devastation of finding out the baby would not survive. The blog was so popular - and her writing so beautiful - that it's not surprising she turned her story into a book.

Boy, did this make me cry. I know my blogger friends won't be picking this one up any time soon, but I loved it. The pictures, the scripture, the writing, the love, the honesty, the emotions... Mmm... Beautiful. I like reading books that make me cry. To me it means the author did a great job. Obviously the premise of the book is sad, so to most people it wouldn't take much to make them cry, but I'm a tough cookie because of all the memoirs I read. Angie Smith is talented. If you like books that are sad but inspirational, this is a good one.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The title of the book sucked me right in.

Recommend? YES, if you can "do" sad. (Don't you like a good cry every once in a while?)

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:

5 Minutes for Books
Book Nook Club
Blessed

Review: Cut in Half: How God Mended Me With 23 Miracles

2010-07-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Author: Ana le Roux

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: A woman, her husband and their two children, ages 3 weeks and 3 years, are in a violent head-on collision and the woman is cut in half.

Descriptive Words: No descriptive words needed after that synopsis.

Thoughts: "Hi, I am Ana le Roux. I am a South African living in New Zealand with my husband, Nico, and two children, Trinita and Christian. It is pretty remarkable that I am able to write this book. I was scheduled to die on the fifth of January 2003." Quite an attention-grabbing first sentence, isn't it? Despite the title, the author was not really cut in half; she had temporary paralysis and severe internal injuries to her kidneys and intestines because of her lap belt.

Each chapter is divided into three sections. The author tells her story in the first part; in the second part she has a section called "Food for Thought," where the reader reflects on the story; and the third section is called "Soul Searching," where the reader is invited to reflect on the ways God has shown Himself in his or her own life.

While the story was interesting, and I appreciate that le Roux felt moved to share her religious experience via the "miracles" God bestowed upon her, I didn't feel her writing was professional enough to substantiate a book. Some of the miracles were truly examples of God intervening and working on her behalf (which I believe He does!), but others seemed a little far-fetched. For example, Miracle #20: During the accident le Roux was sitting in the back seat between her two children. At the time of impact she put both arms out to brace them (which most moms do on instinct). Now whenever she thinks of the accident she sees herself in that position and thinks of a cross and "By not erasing the memory, but by changing my perspective of the memory, God has turned it into one of my all-time favorite recollections." Really?

I enjoyed the religious aspect of the book and the Food for Thought and Soul Searching sections. Example of one chapter's Soul Searching section: Have you ever been in a situation that you absolutely dreaded, just to have the opportunity of hindsight to see a positive angle? And this: There is always a purpose in everything. Even when everything seems to be going wrong, the purpose of it is still in motion. And: God knows every person on this planet, and he knows exactly who to send on your path. Value your acquaintances, family, and friends. They're not there coincidentally!

Source: Bring It On! Communications was nice enough to send this to me for review. Except for the free copy of this book, I did not receive compensation for my opinion.

Why I Chose: I love to read about others' tragedies. Sorry, just being honest :)

Recommend? Yes, if you like to read tragic memoirs and enjoy spiritual books, but the narrative prose is not the best.

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Beneath the Lion's Gaze

2010-07-05T11:19:00.001-07:00

Author: Maaza Mengiste

Genre: Historical Fiction (2010)

About: A family's struggle during the Ethiopian revolution in 1974

Descriptive Words: Pursuit of freedom, family, torture, uprising, violence

Thoughts: How are those for some uplifting descriptive words? How about the first sentence of the book... "A thin blue vein pulsed in the collecting pool of blood where a bullet had lodged deep in the boy's back."

I like books that start with sentences that grab me and don't let go until the end. Unfortunately, the first sentence grabbed me, but not very firmly and for only a few pages. After that it was me doing the hanging on! For 150 pages I clung desperately and almost gave up, but thankfully the story came together in the second half and made my clinging worthwhile. :)

I'm still reading Cutting for Stone on my iPad (it's a long one) - which also is set in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) during the revolution - and it's much more interesting than this book. There's nothing wrong with the prose in this one, but with names like Shiferaw, Emana, Almaz, Melaku, Hailu, Abbaye, it was hard to keep track of who was who, and to put personalities with names. Eventually I figured it out, but I don't like having to work so hard to figure out the characters and would rather focus on the storyline.

Overall, even though it was intense, depressing at times, and way too slow in the beginning, I'm glad I read it. I love to learn about different cultures.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I'm reading Cutting for Stone and was curious to read another book about the Ethiopian revolution. I'd also seen it mentioned on a few other blogs.

Recommend? Yes, if you like historical fiction.

Rating: 4/5 (although the beginning was a 2/5)

Other Reviews:

My Friend Amy
Fizzy Thoughts
By Book or By Crook

Review: Girl in Translation

2010-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Jean Kwok

Genre: Fiction (2010)

About: Kimberly Chang, an 11-year-old girl, moves with her mother from Hong Kong to America for a better life. She struggles with living a life of poverty in Brooklyn, NY, helping her mother in a sweatshop, and trying to fit in at school despite knowing little English. After discovering her intelligence is a ticket to success, she lets nothing stand in her way.

Descriptive Words: Harsh working and living conditions, cockroaches, rats, bullies, teasing, trying to fit in, language barrier, love, education, priorities, choices

Thoughts: I found this book easy to read and the characters easy to know. From Kim's best friend Annette to her mother's mean sister-boss to hunky, muscled Matt, Jean Kwok created distinct personalities for all. Kim's struggle between her eagerness to love and her desire to succeed really drew me in. She wanted love and a family, but she wanted out of the depths of despair and poverty she experienced as a child even more.

Although I enjoyed the story, I was disappointed in the abrupt ending (I'm not giving anything away here):

"Then I took a deep breath, got off the bed and opened the door."

In the context of how the story ends, that is so lame.

Still, I'm glad I read it.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: Because I've seen and heard about it everywhere. Oh, and I think the cover is gorgeous.

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 4/5

Other Reviews:

Booking Mama
Good Books and Good Wine
Devourer of Books
Red Lady's Reading Room

Book Blogger LOVE

2010-07-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Book
Bloggers...
Blogging about
Books
But also
Becoming friends
Because nobody knows
Better than another
Book
Blogger how
Beautiful, how lovely it is to
Become one with a
Book

~Lynne~

June Roundup

2010-07-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Life in Spite of Me 3.5 / 5
Disrupting Grace 5/5
Life of Pi 3.5/5
Life is a Verb 5/5
Who Killed My Daughter? 4/5
Where's My Wand? 4/5
Alex and Me 4/5
A Rough Guide to True Crime 4/5
I Am Nujood 3.5 / 5
The Man Who Talks to Dogs 4/5
Girl in Translation 4/5
The Genius in All of Us 4/5
Writing Down the Bones 5/5
Middlesex - DNF

Non-fiction - 11
Fiction - 2

TOTAL: 13

"Life" was the first word in the title of three of my June books, and two of my titles were in the form of a question. I like finding similarities in my titles.

I didn't have a very good month. Unfortunately I read 150 pages of Middlesex and couldn't get into it, so that was kind of a waste. I waited and waited for something to happen to draw me in, but it never did. I hope July is better. I've got some great books on hold at the library.

What about you? Did you have a good month of reading?

There is a Problem With Your Library Record. Please See a Librarian.

2010-07-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

After trying to request the book Coop from my library online, this is the message I got...

There is a problem with your library record. Please see a librarian.

Well just slap my wrist, why don't you.

I don't have any overdue books.

I paid extra money to be a gold card member.

I've never written in or spilled coffee on a library book.

I didn't dog-ear any pages.

Certainly it's not because I have too many books on hold...

On Hold:

My Grammar and I-- or Should That be "Me"? : How to Speak and Write it Right / Caroline Taggart, J.A

Learning to See Creatively / Bryan Peterson

This is Where We Live / Janelle Brown

Understanding Exposure : How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera / Bryan Peters

Still Missing / Chevy Stevens

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake / Aimee Bender

My Name is Mary Sutter / Robin Oliveira

All Over the Map / Laura Fraser

Pray for Silence / Linda Castillo

The One that I Want / Allison Winn Scotch

Beachcombers / Nancy Thayer

Bonobo Handshake : A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo / Vanessa Woods

Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives

As Husbands Go / Susan Isaacs

The Drowning River : a Mystery in Florence / Christobel Kent

Hidden Things

Corduroy Mansions / Alexander McCall Smith

Father of the Rain / Lily King

The Shallows : What the Internet is Doing to our Brains / Nicholas Carr

Little Girl Blue : the Life of Karen Carpenter / Randy L. Schmidt ; foreword by Dionne Warwick

Awkward Family Photos / Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

I Will Carry You : the Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy / Angie Smith

Messages : Signs, Visits, and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11 / Bonnie McEneaney

Career Opportunities in the Sports Industry / Shelly Field (this one is for my son)

Ransomed dreams / Sally John

The following books are checked out:

Girl in Translation / Jean Kwok

The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why they Believe it, and Why it Matters / Charles Colson

Beneath the Lion's Gaze / Maaza Mengiste

The Genius in all of Us / David Shenk

Could that be it? I have too many books on hold?

That I'm going to be bombarded with books should be punishment enough. (What was I thinking?)

Have you ever requested this many books from your library? Does your library have a limit? Have you ever been in "library trouble?"

What about the books? Have you read any of these or are there any you'd like to read?

Review: Life, In Spite of Me

2010-06-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

Author: Kristen Jane Anderson

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: At age 17, depressed and hopeless after the death of three friends and her grandmother, Kristen lay down on railroad tracks near her home and an oncoming train severed her legs.

Descriptive Words: "She wanted to die. God had other plans." "Extraordinary hope after a fatal choice."

Thoughts: I can't imagine feeling desperate enough to lie down on railroad tracks and wait to be run over by a train. So many people, though, deal with depression, and it takes over their ability to think rationally.

I enjoyed Life, In Spite of Me. It's religious based, and the author tells of her strong belief that God saved her for a purpose. Someone familiar with trains told Kristen that she should have been sucked up into the train and that it was a miracle she survived. After healing from her injuries, Kristen attended Moody Bible Institute and now gives talks to young people about depression and suicide.

Is it possible for a book to be too positive to fit the tragedy? I felt like she didn't reveal her true emotions. I mean the girl lost both of her legs, and she wrote about it like, "Oh, it was a little tough, especially when I went somewhere and wondered how I was going to get up a flight of stairs" or "when I woke up in the hospital it was hard to look down and see that my legs were gone" (I'm paraphrasing there). A little too jovial for what she had to have gone through, but otherwise an inspiring story and a quick read.

I'm giving this 3.5 stars - which is between "it was okay" and "I enjoyed it."

Source: Staci from Life in the Thumb was kind enough to send this to me.

Why I Chose: I saw it on a few other blogs and it looked interesting. And it's a memoir, so of course I wanted to read it :)

Recommend? Yes, to my mom and sister and anyone who likes tragic but inspiring memoirs.

Rating: 3.5/5

Other Reviews:

Five Minutes for Books
Book Journey
Life in the Thumb
A Peek at My Bookshelf

Book Giveaway Winners!

2010-06-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Emma would like to announce the winners of Why Dogs are Better Than Cats, whom she picked using random.org!

Alyce from At Home With Books

GMR from Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

gahome2mom from gahome2mom

Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! Thank you also to Simon and Schuster for providing these adorable books. The winners have been notified by email.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2010-06-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

Sheila from Book Journey hosts this weekly meme; I love to see what everyone's reading!

I had a good week or two of reading, I guess because none of the books were very long.

Read (in the last 2 weeks):

Life of Pi (Fiction)
Who Killed My Daughter? (Memoir)
Life is a Verb (NF)
Disrupting Grace (Memoir)
I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced (Memoir)
The Rough Guide to True Crime (NF)
The Man Who Talks to Dogs (Memoir) - by Randy Grim, the founder of Stray Rescue
Writing Down the Bones (NF)
Where's My Wand? (Memoir)

Reading Now: Nothing, and I'm having the shakes!

Up Next - because I never got to them:

Middlesex
The Solace of Leaving Early
Cypress Point (by Diane Chamberlain)

Or whatever else comes my way :)

Review: Disrupting Grace: A Story of Relinquishment and Healing

2010-06-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Author: Kristen Richburg

Genre: Christian / Memoir

About: A mother and father with two children, who adopt a child from Thailand after a difficult second pregnancy, discover that adoption does not always have a happy ending.

Descriptive Words: Heartbreaking, emotional, abusive, attachment disorder, relinquish custody

Thoughts: What a sad story. I loved it. I'm weird that way. There's a reason I worked in Psychiatry for 15 years...it was fascinating.

This loving, educated couple - the mom had a degree in social work and the dad worked in special education - did everything they could to love their two-year-old adopted daughter Emma. For four years they tried to love her, not knowing that she was incapable of receiving that love because she was neglected and probably abused as a baby.

There were red flags from the beginning. When the Richburgs went to the foster family's house in Thailand to take Emma, neither she nor the family had any emotional response to the separation. The Richburgs thought she just needed time and lots of love, of which they had plenty to give. But love, and years of visits to therapists and other specialists in attachment disorders, couldn't break the barrier erected by the lack of bonding during the crucial developmental time between ages 6 months and two years. And it only got worse as time went on. At age 6, Emma began to vomit and to poop in her pants in defiance, after being potty-trained for years. She tried to strangle the family dog. She tortured her two siblings to the point that the Richburgs finally had had enough.

There was a news story recently where an adoptive mother returned a child to Russia after being unable to handle his behavior. Before anyone judges her - and let me say that it was wrong of her to put him on a plane by himself - do you know how difficult children with attachment disorders can be? While working in Psychiatry, I saw several children adopted from Russian orphanages who had attachment disorders, and although it's not the children's fault, obviously, it's extremely difficult to parent them. Pooping and smearing it on the walls was a common occurrence, as was torturing animals and other siblings.

The Richburgs did everything they could to help Emma, but at the expense of their entire family. The author's reluctance and heartbreak at coming to the decision to relinquish Emma is so apparent in the book. She felt like she was giving up on Emma, letting her down. But she also knew that her other two children's lives (yes, lives) and mental stability were at stake. This, along with Emma's nonchalant reaction to being turned over to her new family, reassured her that she was doing the right thing.

Source: This book was given to me by Arielle from Bring It On! Communications for my honest review; I was not compensated nor did receipt of the book reflect on my opinion in any way.

Why I Chose: How could I pass up a story like this?!

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:

Book Nook Club
Books and Needlepoint
Semicolon Blog

Review: Life of Pi

2010-06-16T20:05:00.001-07:00

Author:Yann Martel

Genre: Fiction (2001)

About: Piscine (Pi), a 16-year-old boy, the son of a zookeeper, is moving with his family and their zoo animals from India to Canada. They are aboard a Japanese cargo ship when it sinks in the Pacific Ocean. Pi tells his story of survival aboard a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker (I love that name for a tiger, and the story about how he got that name is interesting.)

Descriptive Words: Multicultural, philosophical, bizarre, survival, gruesome

Thoughts: I've never read a book whose rating, while reading, varied as much as this one. From a 2 to a 5, back and forth. A 2 means I struggled to finish; a 5 means I loved it. Life of Pi and I had a love/hate relationship.

I don't like stories that are unbelievable; I don't have an imagination and I admit it. I enjoyed the beginning when Pi talked about his family and their zoo, and how he embraced the different aspects of Muslim, Christianity and Hindu. But then the boat sank and the Bengal tiger ended up in the lifeboat with Pi, and at first he avoided the tiger so as not to be eaten and then he wanted the tiger so he would protect him.... And then they ran into some other random guy in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean... And then the tiger was ripping and shredding and eating heads and legs and hearts and...bleh. I thought, This is so bizarre, why am I reading this? But what should I do now...stop reading? I was too far into it by then, and I had to find out what the fuss was all about. I'm glad I did. It's definitely interesting in an odd sort of way. I need to read it again. I think I might be able to wrap my head around it better the second time around.

Source: I own

Why I Chose: Peer pressure. Everyone else jumped off the bridge, so yes Dad, I jumped too.

Recommend? Yes/No - You decide (how's that for ambiguity)

Rating: 3.5 / 5 I think I would give this a higher rating if I re-read it

Other Reviews:

Caribou's Mom
1More Chapter
A Novel Menagerie
My Cozy Book Nook
At Home With Books
The Zen Leaf

Review: Life is a Verb

2010-06-15T09:42:00.001-07:00

Author: Patti Digh

Genre: Self-help / life (2008)

About: Not your typical self-help book. More like a "life" book and how to enjoy it fully.

Descriptive Words: "What would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?"

Thoughts: Wow.

That's it.

Just kidding, but I borrowed this book from the library after seeing it on Molly's blog - My Cozy Book Nook and I wish I had my own copy. Molly loved the book so much that she's focusing on one statement in the book a week. If you're a writer or just enjoy writing, you'll love the Free Write exercises in the book.

The author focuses on six practices: Intensity, (say yes), Inclusion (be generous), Integrity (speak up), Intimacy (love more), Intuition (trust yourself), Intention (slow down). The book is made up of colorful, whimsical pages with random sayings everywhere: Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions ~ The Dalai Lama. Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way ~ Edward de Bono. Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses ~ George Washington Carver.

This is a book not to read but to savor and experience. Lovely, yummy, juicy.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I saw it on Molly's My Cozy Book Nook blog, and I love books that suggest ways to live life to the fullest.

Recommend? Yes, absolutely.

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:

Sarah Morgan
My Cozy Book Nook
Women on Writing - author interview
Patti Digh - Author's blog

Review: Who Killed My Daughter?

2010-06-15T09:03:00.001-07:00

Author: Lois Duncan

Genre: True Crime (1992)

About: The author's search for her 18-year-old daughter's murderer.

Descriptive Words: Hit man or random shooting?, Vietnamese boyfriend, car accident/insurance scam, drug dealing, psychic, unsolved.

Thoughts: At first I thought the author was kooky when she began hiring psychics to solve her daughter's murder because the police were of no help. But after several psychics "saw" the same images, and because of my own frustration towards the police and my sympathy for the mother, I realized that she had to become her own detective. I probably would have hired psychics too! I enjoyed the story. It's hard to believe her killer is still on the loose.

Source: Bought at book sale (Yay, I finally got a book off my tbr shelf!)

Why I Chose: I love True Crime and hadn't read any lately.

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 4/5

I wonder...Do You Have Creative Interests Other Than Blogging About Books?

2010-06-14T09:22:00.001-07:00

Do you have creative interests other than blogging about books? If so, do you have a separate blog?

I enjoy photography - even though I don't know very much about it - and I do have a blog I started recently called Lynne's Lens. I used to write poetry (mostly rhymes), but I haven't done that in years. Singing? Painting? I can barely draw stick figures and I can't sing worth beans. One thing I can do is whistle. I can whistle for my son a mile away and I can whistle like a songbird or an old man's tune.

What about you? I'd like to know...and feel free to link to your other website(s).

I Wonder...

2010-06-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

Do you mind if anyone borrows an idea from your blog to put on theirs?

Review: Where's My Wand: One Boy's Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting

2010-06-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

by Eric Poole
Memoir (May 27, 2010)

My Synopsis

Hilarious memoir about the author's life growing up with a mom who was an obsessive clean-freak, a dad who gladly let her wear the pants, and the author's desire to wear her dress. Or something like that.

My Thoughts

I saw this book highlighted in People magazine and then read The Girl from the Ghetto's review , and I had to get it. Since I've been reading so many depressing memoirs lately, I was ready for some humor. So ready, in fact, that I spent full price on it at Borders. $24.95 plus tax. (Why is it that when I have a coupon I don't want a book, and when I want a book I don't have a coupon?)

Murphy's Law - which also applies to the above coupon dilemma - says that if I buy a book at full price I usually end up hating it. But this one was good. Some people may find the one liners a bit much, but it was just what I needed.

Eric Poole is from St. Louis, and I had fun reading about his high school, his hometown (Florissant), the street he lived on, and the local hospital where my son was born. It felt homey :) But besides that, the stories he told were hilarious. My favorite story was when he and his sister went camping with their aunt and found out they had to poop where the bears poop. Poole also makes fun of his gay-ness, his mom's OCD-fueled rants to keep the shag carpet raked at all times, and his unpopularity in school. Really, you can't help but laugh.

He has been mentioned along the likes of David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs. I agree with the Augusten Burroughs comparison; Sedaris I have not yet read (I know, I know...accepting title recommendations in comments).

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

I bought my copy from Borders.

My Rating

4/5 (I enjoyed it)

Other reviews

The Girl from the Ghetto

Beth Fish Reads - Not a review but she highlights it here

Review: Spoken from the Heart (Laura Bush)

2010-06-10T14:53:00.001-07:00

by Laura Bush
Memoir (May 2010)

My Synopsis

Former First Lady Laura Bush writes about her life - as a child, a teenager, and wife of a President.

My Thoughts

I saw Laura Bush speak a few weeks ago in St. Louis. Her sweet Southern accent and easy-going demeanor made her likeable. She took questions from the audience and was down to earth. When someone asked what she was reading, she said she just finished "My Name is Mary Sutter" and loved it. (She needs to become a book blogger and be our friend. She would fit right in.)

I started the book a few days later, and because I had just heard her speak, her Southern accent was fresh in my mind and I felt like she was reading to me.

I was surprised at how much she talked in her book about books and reading. That was probably my favorite part. She mentioned Stephen Ambrose, Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark, Alexander McCall Smith and the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and many others. She definitely knows her authors. And you know that she was a librarian, right? What I didn't know was that she initiated and helped organize the National Book Festival, which debuted in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2001.

Sadly, three days later, the world changed forever. She talks about what she was doing at the time of the terrorist attacks and what happened in the days and weeks after. A couple of times she and staff members had to go to the underground shelter of the White House due to terrorist false alarms.

I loved all the inside scoop. For instance, before a state dinner at Buckingham Palace (I think that's where it was), someone told her that for fun she should peek into the dining room to see what goes on in preparation for such a dinner. She did, and there walking on TOP of the enormous table were numerous staff in clean white socks, setting the table and using measuring tapes to measure the distance between each place setting. Isn't that crazy?

And I love what she says here in defense of her husband: I wondered if Barack Obama, who spent far more time attacking George than he did his opponent, John McCain, would want to amend his words once he discovered the reality of the White House and was himself confronted by the challenges and crises that hit a president every day, all day. It's so true. It's like I told my brother, who doesn't have kids and who used to give me advice on how to parent my son - it's easy to parent when you don't have kids! He agreed. And he backed off. lol

Besides books and reading and her time in the White House, former First Lady Bush discusses her passion for advocating for women's rights and women's health in Afghanistan and the Middle East, with which she still is involved.

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

I bought my signed copy at the author event.

My Rating

4/5

Review: Alex and Me

2010-06-09T11:58:00.001-07:00

By Irene Pepperberg
Memoir

My Synopsis

Alex is an African Grey parrot bought by the author for research, and becomes an unexpected, beloved friend.

My Thoughts

The book was a little slow in the beginning, but when Pepperberg provided more detail about Alex's personality, I fell in love...

At one point Alex was sick and needed nebulizer treatments, where he had to sit in a vapor-filled crate. Each time the vet put him in the crate he would say, "Wanna go back....wanna go back," asking to be put back in his regular cage. When the treatment was over a timer went off. He figured out the routine, and as soon as the timer went off he said, "Come here. Wanna go back!" If the staff was busy and couldn't get to him right away, he would yell, "Pay attention!", which he learned from the students who said that to him during research training.

After Alex had been through a few months of training, another parrot, Griffin, was brought in for additional research. If Griffin had difficulty answering a question, Alex would prompt him. For example, if the answer was "7," and Griffin hesitated, Alex would say "ssss..." "ssss..." as a hint, as one would to a kindergartner learning to read. Also, if Griffin didn't speak clearly enough, Alex told him to "say better."

During one training session the author had different colored numbers laid out and asked Alex, "What number is green?" Instead of answering her question he kept asking for a nut. She said, "Alex, I'll give you a nut when we're finished." Pepperberg asked him again, and again he said, "Wanna nut." After going back and forth a few times and thinking maybe she didn't understand, he said, very slowly, "Nu-uh-t." (Can't you just imagine? Like, duh lady, do I have to spell it out for you?)

And for anyone who thinks parrots don't have feelings? How about this exchange between Alex and the author, which was their usual goodbye as she left the lab for the night...

Alex: You be good. I love you.

Pepperberg: I love you, too.

Alex: You'll be in tomorrow?

Pepperberg: Yes, I'll be in tomorrow.

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

Bought from an indie store called Sue's News.

My Rating

4/5

Other Reviews

Bibliofreak
Rhapsody in Books
A Bookworm's World
Book Slut

Blogging issues

2010-06-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

I guess there are server problems in the area. I had my Monday meme post ready to go, but I can't access Blogger from my desktop. Thanks to my iPad I'm able to post this! Hopefully the issue will be fixed soon.

It's Monday! What are You Reading? June 7

2010-06-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sheila from Book Journey hosts this weekly meme. Come join in the fun!

(Yay! Blogger is fixed! Now I can finally join in the fun.)

The BEA hoopla is winding down. Everyone did a great job sharing their experiences with us non-attenders. Because I plan to go next year, my favorite posts were those that gave advice on what they'd do differently next time.

Books Read (last two weeks):

3 Stars

Secrets of Eden ~ Chris Bohjalian
Lost ~ Alice Lichtenstein

4 Stars

Women Food and God ~ Geneen Roth
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly ~ Jean Dominique Bauby
Spoken From the Heart ~ Laura Bush
Alex and Me ~ Irene Pepperberg

4.5 Stars

Three Wishes ~ Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones, Pamela Ferdinand

5 Stars

Saving Sammy: Curing the Boy Who Got OCD ~ Beth Alison Maloney

Reading Now:

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within ~ Natalie Goldberg

Up Next (these have been on my shelf forever and I'd like to finish them):

Life of Pi ~ Yann Martel
Middlesex ~ Jeffrey Eugenides
The Solace of Leaving Early ~ Haven Kimmel
Cypress Point ~ Diane Chamberlain
Who Killed My Daughter? ~ Lois Duncan

Has everyone recovered from BEA? I know it was tough for me to get out of my "Armchair." lol

Have a great week ya'll :)

May Roundup

2010-06-02T11:35:00.001-07:00

3 Stars

Secrets of Eden ~ Chris Bohjalian
Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle ~ Rhonda Funk
Lost ~ Alice Lichtenstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 Stars

Women Food and God ~ Geneen Roth
Pookster and the Unloose Tooth ~ Rhonda Funk
The Walk ~ Richard Paul Evans
I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like ~ Dr. Mardy Grothe
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly ~ Jean Dominique Bauby
Spoken From the Heart ~ Laura Bush

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4.5 Stars

Three Wishes ~ Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones, Pamela Ferdinand

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5 Stars

When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals ~ Jeffrey Masson
Saving Sammy: Curing the Boy Who Got OCD ~ Beth Alison Maloney

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiction: 5

Children - 2
Adult - 3

Non-fiction: 7

Memoir - 4
Self-help - 1
Reference - 1
Nature - 1

Total: 12

Review: Women Food and God

2010-05-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

Geneen Roth
(2010)
Self-Help

My Synopsis

How do you lose weight without dieting? Eat only when you're hungry. Duh. But Roth tells why we eat when we're not hungry and how to be more mindful and present when we do eat.

My Thoughts

It really hit home when after dinner one night I asked my son if he wanted a cookie. A fancy cinnamon kind I had just bought. He said, "No thanks, I'm not hungry." Whaaaaat? What does that have to do with anything?

A lot, it turns out.

That's when I realized how often I eat when I'm not hungry. And how I've gained 10 pounds since I got married almost three years ago.

Roth has written several books based on overeating, one of which was Feeding the Hungry Heart, which I read years ago and enjoyed. She herself had anorexia and bingeing issues in the past, so she knows the topic well.

The basic concept of the book is that if you have a weight problem it means you overeat, and if you overeat it's because you eat when you're not hungry. Pretty simple.

I've never been on a diet for more than 8 hours because I don't like being told what to do, or eat (yes I'm a rebel). So I liked how Roth talked about trusting yourself to know when you're hungry and when you've had enough. And about eating a cookie if that's what you want - if you're hungry. And figuring out what's really going on when you eat just to eat. Boredom, stress, fatigue, anger? She talks about feeling those emotions, not feeding them. They're not hungry.

The one thing I didn't get was why God is in the title, because God is hardly mentioned. And Roth's God (which she admits in the book) is not the same God that many people have a relationship with. Which is fine, but why didn't she just title it Women and Food. Or People and Food for that matter. Women aren't the only ones who overeat. And bringing God into the book seemed forced, like she just threw it in there. Like it would sell more books.

But again, I really enjoyed the book. The simple concept of eating only when I'm hungry - and learning why I don't - was exactly what I needed.

Now, like every other self-help book I've ever read - if I could just remember everything it said.

Do I Recommend?

Yes, but not if you're interested in a faith-based book about losing weight. The "God" in the title is misleading.

Source

Library

My Rating

4/5

Other reviews

Back to Books - this blogger didn't finish the book because she was expecting it to be more faith-based

Excerpt from "O" Magazine

If you're interested in a Christian website for healthy eating and weight loss -
Take Back Your Temple - Healthy Eating God's Way

Have you heard about this book? Have you read it? Plan to? Haven't heard about it but sounds interesting?

Armchair BEA Wrap-Up Post / Getting to Know You...Getting to Know All About You

2010-05-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

I had a blast with the Armchair BEA. Yeah, I wish I could have been at the New York event, but I could not be more impressed with the planning and organization that went into the Armchair version. Wow.

My favorite parts of the week were:

Getting to know other bloggers better
Learning post content tips. These were great, and I'm still going through Mr. Linky on the official BEA site to read more
The Twitter party!! (Even though I got there an hour late.) It was the next best thing to being there and better than commenting on a blog, hoping for a response in the next day or two

I don't participate in a lot of memes because I have a hard enough time getting reviews up, but doing so is a good way for people to get to know each other. So for me the Armchair BEA was like a week long meme, and I loved it.

One thing I admit besides not participating in memes often - although bloggers mentioned that meme reading is not a favorite past time - is that I rarely do posts besides book reviews. Hard to find the time...blah, blah, blah. And personally, what I enjoy is getting to know bloggers better, which is hard to do if they only post book reviews (like I do :)

Soooo, to practice what I preach, and for you to get to know me better, here's a look at my blogging digs.

Sometimes I go through my Google reader and write comments from my iPad at the kitchen table

My view from the kitchen table. You're all invited to come over for a swim anytime! In fact, I wish you would. I get lonely.

And because it's hard to do posts from my iPad, this is where I do that...in our upstairs office

My husband took this from his iPhone a couple weeks ago. Kind of blurry, but just pretend you forgot to put your contacts in.

Thank you to the Armchair BEA hosts! Florinda, Emily, Tif, the 1st daughter, and Michelle: You did a beautiful thing by bringing us together and having our OWN fun...but without the tired feet and aching backs.

Remember to go to Armchair BEA Central to complete their survey. It'll help them plan for next year.

Giveaway! 3 Copies of Why Dogs are Better Than Cats

2010-05-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the Armchair BEA, and out of the goodness of her black lab heart, Emma, with the

generous help of Simon and Schuster, is hosting a GIVEAWAY

for this darling, hardcover book that would make a wonderful gift...

It's big and full of hilarious pictures that any dog or cat lover would enjoy

enjoy, including a section on why cats are better than dogs.

This giveaway is for anyone (including international), not only Armchair BEA participants.

I have 3 copies to give away and will announce winners on June 24th.

To enter:

1) Leave a comment with your email address

2) Become a Follower

Good luck, and thanks for entering!

Review: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

2010-05-26T14:38:00.001-07:00

By Jean-Dominique Bauby
Memoir
1997

My Synopsis

While editor-in-chief of the French Elle magazine, 43-year-old Jean-Dominique Bauby, father of two young children, had a rare type of stroke to the brain stem that allowed him to think clearly but otherwise left him paralyzed and unable to speak. By blinking his only functional eye, he wrote this book which tells of what it's like to be a prisoner in the most unimaginable way.

My Thoughts

While reading each word, I couldn't get out of my mind the laborious task of writing an entire book by blinking, which probably made me like it even more.

Bauby accepts his fate with unbelievable dignity and hope. His writing, as "dictated" to his assistant, is witty yet emotional.

Hunched in my wheelchair, I watch my children surreptitiously as their mother
pushes me down the hospital corridor. While I have become something of a
zombie father, Theophile and Celeste are very much flesh and blood, energetic
and noisy. I will never tire of seeing them walk alongside me, just
walking, their confident expressions masking the unease weighing on their small
shoulders. As he walks, Theophile dabs with a Kleenex at the thread of
saliva escaping my closed lips.

Sadly, Jean-Dominique Bauby died two days after the French publication of the book. What a beautiful memory to leave to his children.

This book was made into a movie, which I have not seen but would like to.

Do I Recommend?

Yes. Short (132 pages) and easy to read.

Source

Library

My Rating

4/5 (I enjoyed it)

Other reviews

Bookopolis
Book Reviews by Bobbie
A Novel Menagerie
Books on the Brain
Hey Lady, Whatcha Readin?
Books I Done Read

Has anyone else read this book or plan to and/or did you see the movie?

Review: Three Wishes: A True Story of Good Friends, Crushing Heartbreak, and Astonishing Luck on Our Way to Love and Motherhood

2010-05-26T13:03:00.001-07:00

By Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones, and Pamela Ferdinand
Memoir
Published April 2010

My Synopsis

True story about three friends, one of whom goes to a sperm bank because of a ticking clock. She ends up falling in love, and with no need for the vials from sperm donor #8282, she offers the vials to two of her friends.

My Thoughts

Cute, funny, and well written memoir from three friends in the same predicament but at different times. After several failed relationships, and feeling life without a child unimaginable, Casey initiated the motherhood quest by going to a sperm bank. Focused on a baby, and not on falling in love, of course that's just what happened. Bad (or good) timing. I won't give the story away except to say that she no longer needed the help of donor 8282 and offered the vials to first one friend, then the other.

Hilarious, happy, awful, exciting, bizarre, tragic. This book covered it all. Did I mention sad? At one point I became teary-eyed, which doesn't happen to me often unless it's an animal book (lol). All three authors do an equally wonderful job of telling their stories. I was mesmerized, intrigued and entertained.

I don't usually give half stars, but I will in this case because it was better than a 4 and not quite deserving of a 5.

Do I Recommend?

Yes, absolutely. I read it in two sittings.

Source: Library

My Rating

4.5 / 5

Other Reviews

Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife

Armchair BEA

2010-05-25T10:28:00.001-07:00

We're there in spirit, right guys? I must admit I'm a bit jealous, and next year I'd really like to go. But for now I'm sitting in my armchair, pretending.

And reminiscing...

About the time I went to an author signing for Jennifer Weiner's book Best Friends Forever. That was the first author signing I'd been to and I didn't know quite what to expect. I wasn't disappointed.

She was a hoot, and I seriously felt like I was at a comedy club and should have paid an admission fee; that's how entertaining she was. She spoke for an hour, and I laughed so hard I cried. Raunchy is not even the word to describe her speaking manner.

Then, talk about contrast(!), last week I saw Laura Bush speak about her new book Spoken From the Heart. She was just as entertaining, but in a soft-spoken, polite, southern way.

I don't know if it's considered an author signing when the books are pre-signed, but I'm sure it had to do with security - and the sheer number of people. There were secret service and police scattered throughout the library where it was held. Still, I loved it, I loved her. She answered questions from the audience and was so down to earth. I wanted to be her friend. I'm reading her book now, and I love that I can hear her speaking voice through the words...like she's sitting next to me, telling me her story. The part about her childhood friend that was killed in an accident she caused is sad. And such a fluke the way it happened. I had no idea.

That's it as far as my experience with author signings. I can't wait for more. Richard Russo will be here next week, but I think I'll be at Lake of the Ozarks. Darn, that would have been great.

So Armchair BEA buddies, are you jealous you're not in New York or are you okay with your in-home, virtual journey? Do you plan to go next year if at all possible? With all the hoopla surrounding the event this year, I don't want to miss out again!

Review: Saving Sammy: Curing the Boy Who Caught OCD

2010-05-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

by Beth Alison Maloney
Published September 2009

My Synopsis

True story of a mom's struggle to find help for her 12-year-0ld son who has sudden-onset OCD.

My Thoughts

I've read every "Saving somebody" book there is, except Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt. There was Saving Gracie, Saving Cinnamon and now Saving Sammy. How funny is that?

This book was fabulous.

Twelve-year-old Sammy suddenly acquires all sorts of strange compulsions and rituals he must perform, most of them taking hours to complete. It takes him an hour to go in and out of the house, and getting in and out of the car takes another hour. He has to jump and spin and hop before moving forward. Then come the vocal tics. His mother and two brothers deal with his OCD for an entire year before finding out that it was caused by a non-symptomatic strep infection, determined by a simple blood test. A year! A year of daily two-hour crying outbursts and numerous doctor appointments, several which had to be canceled because Sammy could not get in the car. He didn't shower, wore the same clothes for weeks, rarely slept, and went through periods where he refused to eat. He dropped out of school and was tutored at home.

I worked in Psychiatry for 15 years and this is the sickest child I've ever seen or read about. Obviously he couldn't function, nor could his mother, who was a single mom to three boys. She did everything in her power to find help for Sammy. She finally figured out - through her mother's friend and her own research - that Sammy had a condition called PANDAS, caused by strep, and his OCD could be helped. It's amazing what a mother's love and determination can do.

Loved the writing, the emotion, the story, the advocating-for-your-child message...everything.

Do I Recommend?

Absolutely. Don't miss it if you have a child with OCD; but you'll also enjoy this if you have a special needs child or are interested in medicine or psychology/psychiatry.

Source

I won this wonderful book from Sheila at Book Journey. Thank you, Sheila.

My Rating

5/5

Other reviews

Red Lady's Reading Room
Book Journey
Bibliophile by the Sea
Book Chatter
Rundpinne

Review: Secrets of Eden

2010-05-16T13:17:00.001-07:00

by Chris Bohjalian
Fiction (2010)

My Synopsis

After her baptism by Reverend Stephen Drew, Alice Hayward goes home and is killed by her abusive husband, who then kills himself. Heather Laurent, a well known author of books about angels, befriends Alice's 15-year-old daughter Katie, since she experienced her own parents' murder-suicide. Questions around the murder-suicide arise when certain secrets are exposed.

My Thoughts

Aghhh! I couldn't decide whether to give this a 3 (it was okay) or a 4 (I enjoyed it). I switched back and forth between the two ratings while reading. At times I enjoyed the writing and characters and storyline, and at other times I was bored and felt like not enough was happening. I did feel empathy towards Heather Laurent and enjoyed the depth of emotion when she discussed her childhood, but when she talked about angels (which was often), I thought she was a nut! Also, her appearance after the murders was so random. Hi, you don't know me, but I'm a famous author and I want to be your friend.

The teenager, Katie, was strange, and I didn't find the things she said to be realistic, which is surprising considering Bohjalian got input for the book from his own teenage daughter.

My favorite character was Catherine, the state prosecutor, and my least favorite was Stephen Drew, the reverend.

The storyline was interesting for the most part, with its relationship twists and possible scenarios of "who dunnit," but I didn't love it like others did. Which isn't surprising considering the only popular books I've loved that everyone else raved about are The Help and The Book Thief. Guess I'm a pretty tough customer...lol.

Interesting tidbit and wondering how it may have affected my review... A friend (not a close friend, but she was in our circle and lived only a block away) was killed a few years ago by her husband after finding out she was going to divorce him and that she was interested in another man. He then killed himself. Their two boys (10 and 12) were upstairs when it happened, and one of them heard the gunshot and found them both dead.

Do I Recommend?

Hard to say. If you are a Bohjalian fan, I'm sure you've already read it or plan to - and you should - but I won't recommend this to anyone I know.

Source

Library

My Rating

3/5 (It was okay)

Other reviews

S. Krishna's Books
Thoughts of Joy (This blogger agreed with me)
Girls With Books

Armchair BEA!

2010-05-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

We may not be there in person, but we'll be there in SPIRIT! Emily's Reading Room is hosting this event during the actual BEA May 25-27. If you aren't one of the lucky ones soon to be traipsing around New York, schmoozing with authors and famous book bloggers at the - as Emily put it - "book prom," let's at least have our own fun.

I'll be hosting a giveaway, so even if you don't participate in this event be sure to come back. I've got THREE books from Simon and Schuster to hand out. Shhh...Don't tell anyone, but it's international. Oh my gosh, did I really say that?

International

I most certainly did.

Come on! Be there (in your chair) or be square.

It's Monday! What are You Reading? May 10

2010-05-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sheila from Book Journey hosts this weekly meme. Come and join in the fun!

I didn't participate last week, so these include reviews I was behind on for the past two weeks.

Last two weeks

"I" ~ The Creation of a Serial Killer ~ Jack Olsen

Still Alice ~ Lisa Genova
Making Toast ~ Roger Rosenblatt
The Walk ~ Richard Paul Evans
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals ~ Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like ~ Dr. Mardy Grothe

Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle ~ Rhonda Funk

Pookster and the Unloose Tooth ~ Rhonda Funk

Josie's Story ~ Sorrel King

Dry ~ Augusten Burroughs

The Dream Giver ~ Bruce Wilkinson

I Barfed on Mrs. Kenley ~ Jessica Harper

Reading Now

Secrets of Eden ~ Chris Bohjalian

Up Next

Strength in What Remains ~. Tracy Kidder
Where the Love of God Hangs Out ~ Amy Bloom
Impatient with Desire ~ Gabrielle Burton

How about you? Did you get a lot of reading done? Did you enjoy your Mother's Day with your kids, your mom, or your pets? My son (16) and I went out to breakfast. He said his presence was my present. Puhleeeeze.

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying my iPad. Love. It.

Oh, I forgot...

On My iPad

Cutting for Stone ~ Abraham Verghese

I look forward to seeing what everyone else is reading!

Mothers

2010-05-09T11:33:00.001-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Review: When Elephants Weep

2010-05-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

By Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
Non-fiction (1995)

My Synopsis

Non-fiction book about the emotional lives of animals.

My Thoughts

Ever since I saw the movie Arctic Circle I've been interested in animal emotions. The moving picture in my mind of the mother polar bear grieving for her dead cub - first lying next to it and then, knowing she must move on, glancing back several times, finally, reluctantly leaving - is etched and permanent.

When Elephants Weep is a carefully researched book of scientific data and experiments, accompanied by scores of animal stories, that prove that animals (not just elephants) in captivity and in the wild experience emotion.

Animals emotions proven and covered in the book include: Fear, hope, love, friendship, grief, sadness, joy, rage, compassion, rescue, altruism, shame, and the ability to appreciate beauty.

There is mention of the cruel rhesus monkey experiments from years ago, but also the most beautiful, awe-inspiring stories of animals that show they feel just about every emotion humans do, from pain and fear to guilt and embarrassment.

I absolutely loved this book and will never look at animals the same way again.

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

Library

My Rating

5/5

iLove My iPad

2010-05-07T17:07:00.001-07:00

Okay ya'll.

Feel the beat.

Here we go...

I don't mean to brag and I don't mean to boast
But I love my new iPad more than cinnamon toast
I'm a hip and funky rapper named-ah Cinnamon Spice
And let me tell you that my iPad is way better than nice

(Hey, what do you think? If this blogging stuff doesn't work out for me... Hmm, hmm?)

I've only had my iPad for two days, but here's what I think so far.

I love:

That I can take it anywhere and access the Internet instantly.
The Kindle app.
That it's small enough to fit in my purse.
That I can sync my email contacts from my computer to the iPad.
That it's easy to set up and use.
That an icon pops up to notify me of new emails.
The Kindle app (oh, did I already say that?)

I don't love:

That it's a little heavy when reading a book on it, but I knew about that complaint before I bought it.

My Favorite Feature

My favorite feature of the iPad, besides being able to check emails on the go, is the Kindle app. I've taken it to the gym twice (yep two days in a row - good girl) and I bought and downloaded the book Cutting for Stone through Amazon. Most people find it difficult to read a book while using the elliptical; I've always enjoyed it except for trying to hold the book open with my elbows or turn the pages with my nose (just kidding). But the iPad sits perfectly on the elliptical's book holder and with a swipe of my finger on the screen I can turn the page. Love it! Plus, if you need to you can increase the font size to make it even easier to read while you're (hopefully) pumping your legs like crazy and working up a sweat.

In the Kindle app you can click on "popular highlights" to see portions of text most often highlighted by Amazon/Kindle customers, which are shown very lightly underlined. I like this feature, and the popular highlights underlined are usually what I would have highlighted myself. Missing, though, is the dictionary that's available on the regular Kindle, where you can highlight a word and see the definition. That would come in handy for me.

However! The iPad comes with it's version of eReader called iBooks, and it does have a dictionary. It also has a search gadget where you can click on a word or phrase and it will locate the word or phrase throughout the book.

I also like the page turning aspect of iBooks; when you swipe the screen it looks like the page is actually flipping. Pretty neat.

In iBooks, a Winnie the Pooh book is already on the "shelf," and it shows illustrations. I don't think pictures or illustrations are visible on the Kindle app, which is a bummer because I read a lot of memoirs and biographies that include pictures. If I buy these through iBooks, would the pictures be visible? Not sure.

When you turn the iPad on, both the Kindle app and iBooks go directly to the page of the book where you left off.

I know there are considerably fewer books available through iBooks than Amazon, but I haven't shopped in their "store" yet to see what they've got.

There are a lot of features that I'm finding out by trial and error - just pushing buttons and seeing what happens. The iPad does not come with a manual; a 150+ page pdf manual is available on the Apple website. I haven't had a chance to go through it completely, and I certainly won't be printing it out.

Here are the other apps included on the iPad desktop that I haven't had a chance to check out yet:

Calendar/appointment book
GPS
Notes (see below)
Contacts
iTunes
You Tube
Photos

Funny: The first day I had the iPad I wrote a note on the "Notes" app, "Get something for dinner." That night when my husband got home I was excited to show him the iPad and everything I can do with it. When I showed him the notes app, he saw my "Get something for dinner" note and said, "Well that didn't work."

And off to dinner we went.

Questions about the iPad anyone?

Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle / Pookster and the Unloose Tooth

2010-05-07T08:55:00.001-07:00

Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle
By Rhonda Funk
Illustrations by Eric Kieninger

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 16 pages
Publisher: Fish Pond Kids; Pap/Cdr edition (September 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1935265415
ISBN-13: 978-1935265412
Price: $11.99

(From Amazon) "This silly story about an over-protective pickle eater teaches a valuable lesson on kindness and how our sweet words glorify God, but our sour words hurt people."

Pookster loves pickles. One day while eating one, she is so sure her little brother Bubs and his plastic G.I. Joe's are going to attack and steal her pickle that she yells at him. Mom sees the interaction and steps in, threatening to take her beloved pickle. She takes Pookster aside and gently reminds her what the Bible says hurtful words can do.

I get that a child might be in love with pickles. But I found it a little unbelievable that she would think her brother and his G.I. Joe's were planning an attack to steal her pickle when all he was doing was setting them up. I thought that was a little far-fetched.

What I enjoyed about the book was the Christian message of speaking kind words to one another, and the way the author used siblings to portray this. To solidify the message, the Proverbs bible verse, around which the story is based, is the focus of the last page. I thought the font used throughout the book was adorable, as were the illustrations.

Overall it was a cute story, but I probably would not have chosen it off the shelf. Thank you to Bring It On Communications for sending me this book for review, for which I was not compensated.

3/5 Stars

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pookster and the Unloose Tooth
by Rhonda Funk
Illustrations by Eric Kieninger

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 16 pages
Publisher: Fish Pond Kids; Pap/Cdr edition (September 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1935265407
ISBN-13: 978-1935265405
Price: $11.99
Kindle version (available March 15, 2010): $2.99

Every kid looks forward to losing their first tooth, but reading the first page of this book gave me the willies! Pookster talks about how loose she and her brother like their teeth to be before they pull them out. "My brother Bubs likes to let his teeth be loose forever (you know until they are just hanging there)..." Ewww, does that bring back memories.

The message in this series is about God's timing. I thought this story was funnier and more realistic than Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle. When Pookster finally loses her two front teeth, she is upset that while eating spaghetti noodles she can't stop because she can't cut them off, and when she eats apples she leaves rows. It made me laugh.

Again, I loved the message, the font and the illustrations. I probably would have chosen this book off the shelf had I not been sent this review copy by Bring It On Communications. I was not compensated for this review.

4/5 Stars

Each book comes with a CD audio version for read-along, which is great for young readers.

Author Info (from Amazon):

Rhonda (Stafford) Funk was born on the outskirts of Seattle, Washington and grew up in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the beautiful Snoqualmie Valley. At the age of three she started playing the piano by ear and wrote her first song at the age of fifteen. Becoming a Christian in her late twenties, Rhonda began creating CDs and traveling, sharing her music and testimony across the nation.

Nearly a decade later she met best-selling author and speaker Sheri Rose Shepherd who encouraged her to follow through on writing a book series for kids. Besides her Pookster and Bubs™ series, Rhonda is also writing a book to encourage caregivers called "Who Cares For the Caregiver" (through her experience as a caregiver when her husband had cancer) and a book to minister those dealing with unexpected pregnancies called "The Truth About The Choice."

Review: I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like

2010-05-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

by Dr. Mardy Grothe
Non-fiction (2008)

My Synopsis

An entire book of metaphors, similes and analogies.

My Thoughts

This book inspired me to add a 'favorite sayings' page at the top of this blog.

The author includes a metaphor or analogy for just about every aspect of life.

Here are the chapters:

Life-altering Metaphors
The Human Condition
Wit and Humor
Insults and Criticism
Definitive Metaphors
Life
Relationships
Love
Marriage, Home and Family Life
Sex is an Emotion in Motion
Ages and Stages of Life
Stage and Screen
Politics
Sports
The Literary Life (readers and writers will love this section)

A few of my favorites (there are so many):

Remarrying a husband you've divorced is like having your appendix put back in. Phyllis Diller
Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing. Norman Mailer
Going out with a jerky guy is kind of like having a piece of food caught in your teeth. All your friends notice it before you do. Livia Squires

Do I Recommend?

Yes, especially if you like metaphors. You know who you are :)

For more metaphors from this book, go to my Favorite Sayings page.

Source

Library

My Rating

4/5

Dr. Grothe's Website

Review: The Walk

2010-05-04T11:16:00.001-07:00

by Richard Paul Evans
Fiction (2010)

My Synopsis

A story about a man named Alan Christoffersen whose wife is injured in a tragic accident and subsequently dies. Because of the time he took off work to care for her, he loses his job and then his home to foreclosure. With nothing but a backpack and bare essentials, he begins walking. The people he meets on his journey change his life.

My Thoughts

Sort of The Shack (spiritual/philosophical) meets The Unnamed (the main character starts walking and keeps on walking).

I enjoyed the spiritual message in this book. The character, Alan, was likable and loving and pathetic all at the same time. Reminds me of Job in the bible with everything he endures. Alan contemplates suicide at one point, but then remembers what his wife, before she died, asked him to promise her to do: "Live." On his journey Alan sleeps in shacks on the side of the road and walks in the rain and snow. He suffers from hunger and pain, and feels lonely and sad. He encounters people along the way who change his life in the most beautiful way. Lovely, inspiring book.

Do I Recommend?

Yes, for everyone.

Source

Library

My Rating

4/5

Other reviews

Thoughts of Joy
Seattle pi Books

Review: Making Toast

2010-05-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

by Roger Rosenblatt
Memoir (2010)

My Synopsis

True story about the author's 38-year-old daughter, Amy, a pediatrician, who died unexpectedly of an undetected heart problem and how he and his wife moved in with their son-in-law and three grandkids to help raise them.

My Thoughts

I really wanted to like this book. I had read about it and just knew it was my kind of book. The 5 on my keyboard was begging to be used.

Instead I pushed the 2. Two stars! I haven't given a book a 2 star rating in a long time. In fact, I don't usually finish a 2 star book. But I forced myself.

Why didn't I like it? I didn't like the author. Have you ever felt that way? I felt that way about the author of This Lovely Life. I didn't feel a connection to her or to this author, Roger Rosenblatt. He was unlikeable. To me anyway. He bragged about who he knew, what famous people came to his daughter's funeral, what articles and other books he's written, who he has worked for, and what awards he's received. I know he discussed more than that, but I couldn't get past his arrogance.

When talking about his daughter's wedding:

We had asked Amy what sort of ceremony she and Harris wanted, and she said they'd like the cartoonist Garry Trudeau, a close family friend, to marry them.

And this:

The morning of the wedding, Amy, Ginny, and Jane Pauley, the television journalist and Garry's wife, were having their hair done at the Quogue beauty parlor...

It went on like that throughout the book, and each time he mentioned someone he knew or a book or article he had written in the past, I disliked him even more.

I didn't like the incomplete, random thoughts and choppy writing. After reading a paragraph I would think, "Huh? Where did that come from?"

I thought the book was a nice keepsake to give to his family. And by naming every friend and family member who sent flowers, said a kind word or helped out in the days after Amy's death, I felt it served as a giant thank you card. That's it.

Do I Recommend?

No. But I know others enjoyed it so be sure to check out more reviews. Obviously this is just my opinion :)

Source

Library (thank goodness)

My Rating

2/5

Other Reviews

Caribousmom
Bibliophile By the Sea
Killin' Time Reading
A Bookshelf Monstrosity

(Everyone above loved it except Killin' Time Reading)