From the back of the book:
Paris, July, 1942: Sarah, a ten-year-old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door-to-door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard--their secret hiding place--and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released.
Sixty Years Later: Sarah's story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist investigating the roundup. In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own romantic future.
Review:
The story of Sarah is amazing, and heartbreaking, and haunting. I found myself waiting as Julia's story unfolded to learn more about Sarah and the fate that had befallen her and her younger brother. Sarah's story twists and turns through an oft-overlooked roundup by the French police.
Julia's story seems more like the vehicle through which Sarah's story is told, although Julia's story has its own twists and turns. I honestly think that if Julia's story had been told seperately from Sarah's story it would have seemed more compelling.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Review #21: A Stone Creek Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
Synopsis/Review:
Olivia O'Ballivan is a vet in Stone Creek, Arizona. Her ability to communicate with animals makes her quite successful at her chosen profession, which she throws herself into with abandon. Tanner Quinn, a friend of Olivia's brother, has moved to town to complete a building project (a new vet clinic that Olivia's brother commissioned.) Olivia and Tanner meet under auspicious circumstances when Olivia's dog leads Olivia to Tanner's barn. There Olivia meets Butterpie, Tanner's daughter's horse, and proceeds to help the horse heal from emotional trauma.
The book also includes Tanner's daughter, Sophie, who desperately wants to come live with her father, not stay at boarding school, a lost reindeer, and a Christmas tree salesman named Kris Kringle.
This book is a fast-paced, traditional romance novel. There is just the right amount of suspension of belief required. And it has the right amount of Christmas fuzziness. I would recommend reading this book during the holidays to help bring a dose of Christmas cheer to a dreary winter day.
Olivia O'Ballivan is a vet in Stone Creek, Arizona. Her ability to communicate with animals makes her quite successful at her chosen profession, which she throws herself into with abandon. Tanner Quinn, a friend of Olivia's brother, has moved to town to complete a building project (a new vet clinic that Olivia's brother commissioned.) Olivia and Tanner meet under auspicious circumstances when Olivia's dog leads Olivia to Tanner's barn. There Olivia meets Butterpie, Tanner's daughter's horse, and proceeds to help the horse heal from emotional trauma.
The book also includes Tanner's daughter, Sophie, who desperately wants to come live with her father, not stay at boarding school, a lost reindeer, and a Christmas tree salesman named Kris Kringle.
This book is a fast-paced, traditional romance novel. There is just the right amount of suspension of belief required. And it has the right amount of Christmas fuzziness. I would recommend reading this book during the holidays to help bring a dose of Christmas cheer to a dreary winter day.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Review #20: When We Were Romans by Matthew Kneale
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
His latest novel features only a single voice yet is an equally impressive act of ventriloquism. The voice belongs to Lawrence, a 9-year-old British schoolboy on whom the reader is entirely dependent. That dependence requires us to hack through a narrative environment thick with run-on sentences, erratic spelling and a child's-eye view of turbulent and sometimes disturbing circumstances with his loving but chaotic protector, his "mum," Hannah.
"Mum is really clever," Lawrence confides, so when she suggests rather suddenly that they pick up and drive from their English country cottage to Rome, where she lived before her marriage, Lawrence unquestioningly complies. He packs up as many precious items as he can fit in Mum's "renno," wedging in his hamster, his Tintin and Asterix books, his Lego and Hot Wheels and his 3-year-old sister, Jemima.
The journey, while exhilarating, is far from a lark. As Lawrence describes it, their "adventure" is an attempt to flee the vaguely articulated menace posed by Lawrence's estranged father, who, according to Mum, has been spying on them, breaking into their cottage and turning their neighbors against them. "I will help mum," determines Lawrence, who assumes the role of the little husband and allows himself to feel angry or scared only during the brief lulls in Hannah's periods of manic desperation. "I cant get upset too actually or there will be nobody left," he says plainly, wringing our hearts.
Many things go wrong once they reach Italy: Their car breaks down; Mum periodically breaks down ("One moment she was all fine and then it was like a big ray just shon on her and made her go wrong"); she loses her passport and runs out of money; they wear out their welcome at the homes of Mum's old friends. Yet while these setbacks and the accompanying hum of anxiety are unnerving, the trip is not entirely a calamity.
For every mishap, there is a taste of elation: the "lovely fountains" at the "Piazzer navoner," a surrey ride at the "viller borgasey," the scrumptiousness of chocolate "crussons" and "spaggetties," the purchase of toy Roman soldiers, with which Lawrence makes plans to build a fort. These highlights shine with relief and even grandeur: "I thought 'hurrah hurrah, now we are real Romans' I thought 'now we will really be safe.' " If only that were true; if only the threat of his dad's encroachment did not devolve into a nightmare of his mother's paranoia.
During one of her manic episodes, Mum and Lawrence build a cardboard Roman fort together, an activity that lives in his memory as a magical event. "It was like we were solders in a battile," he says. Their enemies might be real or they might be imagined, but what's absolutely true for Lawrence is his unshakable belief in the conspiracy of his and his mother's love. "Conspire" means "to breathe together," and so he does with Mum, and so we do with him.
Review:
I include the above synopsis because I think that the snippets of the story are so delightfully characteristic of this book that I couldn't resist. Lawrence is an amazing narrator, one you won't encounter again. His child's voice and perceptions add to the bittersweet quality of the novel. Lawrence loves his mother with a fierce devotion that I think many children have for their parents. His mother, however, suffers from severe paranoia. This limits her ability to care for Lawrence and his little sister. I think the most heartbreaking aspect of the book is the ending, which I won't spoil here. But, really, I think that you should do yourself a favor and read this book.
His latest novel features only a single voice yet is an equally impressive act of ventriloquism. The voice belongs to Lawrence, a 9-year-old British schoolboy on whom the reader is entirely dependent. That dependence requires us to hack through a narrative environment thick with run-on sentences, erratic spelling and a child's-eye view of turbulent and sometimes disturbing circumstances with his loving but chaotic protector, his "mum," Hannah.
"Mum is really clever," Lawrence confides, so when she suggests rather suddenly that they pick up and drive from their English country cottage to Rome, where she lived before her marriage, Lawrence unquestioningly complies. He packs up as many precious items as he can fit in Mum's "renno," wedging in his hamster, his Tintin and Asterix books, his Lego and Hot Wheels and his 3-year-old sister, Jemima.
The journey, while exhilarating, is far from a lark. As Lawrence describes it, their "adventure" is an attempt to flee the vaguely articulated menace posed by Lawrence's estranged father, who, according to Mum, has been spying on them, breaking into their cottage and turning their neighbors against them. "I will help mum," determines Lawrence, who assumes the role of the little husband and allows himself to feel angry or scared only during the brief lulls in Hannah's periods of manic desperation. "I cant get upset too actually or there will be nobody left," he says plainly, wringing our hearts.
Many things go wrong once they reach Italy: Their car breaks down; Mum periodically breaks down ("One moment she was all fine and then it was like a big ray just shon on her and made her go wrong"); she loses her passport and runs out of money; they wear out their welcome at the homes of Mum's old friends. Yet while these setbacks and the accompanying hum of anxiety are unnerving, the trip is not entirely a calamity.
For every mishap, there is a taste of elation: the "lovely fountains" at the "Piazzer navoner," a surrey ride at the "viller borgasey," the scrumptiousness of chocolate "crussons" and "spaggetties," the purchase of toy Roman soldiers, with which Lawrence makes plans to build a fort. These highlights shine with relief and even grandeur: "I thought 'hurrah hurrah, now we are real Romans' I thought 'now we will really be safe.' " If only that were true; if only the threat of his dad's encroachment did not devolve into a nightmare of his mother's paranoia.
During one of her manic episodes, Mum and Lawrence build a cardboard Roman fort together, an activity that lives in his memory as a magical event. "It was like we were solders in a battile," he says. Their enemies might be real or they might be imagined, but what's absolutely true for Lawrence is his unshakable belief in the conspiracy of his and his mother's love. "Conspire" means "to breathe together," and so he does with Mum, and so we do with him.
Review:
I include the above synopsis because I think that the snippets of the story are so delightfully characteristic of this book that I couldn't resist. Lawrence is an amazing narrator, one you won't encounter again. His child's voice and perceptions add to the bittersweet quality of the novel. Lawrence loves his mother with a fierce devotion that I think many children have for their parents. His mother, however, suffers from severe paranoia. This limits her ability to care for Lawrence and his little sister. I think the most heartbreaking aspect of the book is the ending, which I won't spoil here. But, really, I think that you should do yourself a favor and read this book.
Review #19: The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
Sisterly rivalry is the basis of this fresh, wonderfully vivid retelling of the story of Anne Boleyn. Anne, her sister Mary and their brother George are all brought to the king's court at a young age, as players in their uncle's plans to advance the family's fortunes. Mary, the sweet, blond sister, wins King Henry VIII's favor when she is barely 14 and already married to one of his courtiers. Their affair lasts several years, and she gives Henry a daughter and a son. But her dark, clever, scheming sister, Anne, insinuates herself into Henry's graces, styling herself as his adviser and confidant. Soon she displaces Mary as his lover and begins her machinations to rid him of his wife, Katherine of Aragon. This is only the beginning of the intrigue that Gregory so handily chronicles, capturing beautifully the mingled hate and nearly incestuous love Anne, Mary and George ("kin and enemies all at once") feel for each other and the toll their family's ambition takes on them. Mary, the story's narrator, is the most sympathetic of the siblings, but even she is twisted by the demands of power and status; charming George, an able plotter, finally brings disaster on his own head by falling in love with a male courtier. Anne, most tormented of all, is ruthless in her drive to become queen, and then to give Henry a male heir.
Review:
This book is incredibly dense with story. I had a hard time getting through the first 200 pages because the story moved so slowly. The last half of the book was much more swift moving. What I did appreciate about this book was the way Phillipa Gregory was able to convey a woman's position in Tudor-Stewart England. And whatever you feel about Mary and Anne, Gregory makes it clear that they are very much the pawns of their family's ambition. It's an interesting read overall.
Sisterly rivalry is the basis of this fresh, wonderfully vivid retelling of the story of Anne Boleyn. Anne, her sister Mary and their brother George are all brought to the king's court at a young age, as players in their uncle's plans to advance the family's fortunes. Mary, the sweet, blond sister, wins King Henry VIII's favor when she is barely 14 and already married to one of his courtiers. Their affair lasts several years, and she gives Henry a daughter and a son. But her dark, clever, scheming sister, Anne, insinuates herself into Henry's graces, styling herself as his adviser and confidant. Soon she displaces Mary as his lover and begins her machinations to rid him of his wife, Katherine of Aragon. This is only the beginning of the intrigue that Gregory so handily chronicles, capturing beautifully the mingled hate and nearly incestuous love Anne, Mary and George ("kin and enemies all at once") feel for each other and the toll their family's ambition takes on them. Mary, the story's narrator, is the most sympathetic of the siblings, but even she is twisted by the demands of power and status; charming George, an able plotter, finally brings disaster on his own head by falling in love with a male courtier. Anne, most tormented of all, is ruthless in her drive to become queen, and then to give Henry a male heir.
Review:
This book is incredibly dense with story. I had a hard time getting through the first 200 pages because the story moved so slowly. The last half of the book was much more swift moving. What I did appreciate about this book was the way Phillipa Gregory was able to convey a woman's position in Tudor-Stewart England. And whatever you feel about Mary and Anne, Gregory makes it clear that they are very much the pawns of their family's ambition. It's an interesting read overall.
Review #18: McKettrick's Choice by Linda Lael Miller
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
Holt McKettrick leaves his mail-order bride at the altar when a rider appears at the Triple M Ranch in the Arizona Territory with the news that John Cavanagh, the buffalo soldier who raised him, is being forced off his land and that his friend Gabe is about to be hanged. Riding hard, Holt reaches San Antonio just as Lorelei Fellows torches her wedding dress. The daughter of the judge who sentenced Gabe to hang, Lorelei refuses to marry a sleazy lawyer and takes refuge on the tiny dilapidated ranch left to her by her mother. Holt has to head to Mexico to bring back the evidence to free Gabe and the cattle needed to keep John Cavanagh's ranch from being taken over by a greedy schemer. And what a posse Holt assembles: Cavanagh's sweet, mentally challenged daughter; Gabe's very pregnant lover; and Lorelei.
Review:
This book started quickly and slowly at the same time, which is confusing I know. What I mean is that the action hits the ground running as Holt leaves his mail order bride at the altar to head back to San Antonio to help save his friend and help his foster father. And the action never really stops.
However, the romance in this book crawls from the very beginning. Even at Holt and Lorelei's first meeting I didn't feel the connection that is present in a lot of Miller's books. What I did appreciate about this romance was how very realistically Holt and Lorelei's feelings developed for each other over time.
Holt McKettrick leaves his mail-order bride at the altar when a rider appears at the Triple M Ranch in the Arizona Territory with the news that John Cavanagh, the buffalo soldier who raised him, is being forced off his land and that his friend Gabe is about to be hanged. Riding hard, Holt reaches San Antonio just as Lorelei Fellows torches her wedding dress. The daughter of the judge who sentenced Gabe to hang, Lorelei refuses to marry a sleazy lawyer and takes refuge on the tiny dilapidated ranch left to her by her mother. Holt has to head to Mexico to bring back the evidence to free Gabe and the cattle needed to keep John Cavanagh's ranch from being taken over by a greedy schemer. And what a posse Holt assembles: Cavanagh's sweet, mentally challenged daughter; Gabe's very pregnant lover; and Lorelei.
Review:
This book started quickly and slowly at the same time, which is confusing I know. What I mean is that the action hits the ground running as Holt leaves his mail order bride at the altar to head back to San Antonio to help save his friend and help his foster father. And the action never really stops.
However, the romance in this book crawls from the very beginning. Even at Holt and Lorelei's first meeting I didn't feel the connection that is present in a lot of Miller's books. What I did appreciate about this romance was how very realistically Holt and Lorelei's feelings developed for each other over time.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Review #17: The Man From Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller
Synopsis:
Lawman Sam O'Ballivan heads to Haven, Arizona posing as a schoolteacher so he can help to catch a group of outlaws causing trouble in the area. Running a school full of rough and tumble ranch kids requires a strong hand, and Sam has no problem doing that. What he didn't expect was that one of the students most in need of discipline would lead him to a woman who would change everything.
Maddie Chancelor runs the town general store as a way to provide for herself and her younger brother. She longs to own the store outright, but the wealthy landlord refuses to work with her. When Sam O'Ballivan drags her brother home with a stern reprimand for her as well, Maddie is furious. She can't stand the overbearing new schoolteacher, who seems nothing like what a schoolteacher should be.
Gunslingers, train robbers, fiances dying of outbreaks, secret sons, and shoot outs keep Maddie and Sam busy and on their toes. Still, this doesn't stop their undeniable connection and smoldering passion. As their love grows and they surmount obstacle after obstacle, it becomes clear that they must be together.
My review:
The action in this book starts quickly. In the opening pages, Sam O'Ballivan arrives at his teaching post to discover the students tormenting their current teacher. He rescues the man and reprimands the students. This one scene sets the stage for the whole book, starting a chain of events that prove exciting for the duration.
Sam O'Ballivan is a strong character, who, despite his necessary toughness, has a good heart. Maddie Chancelor offers a strong contrast to Sam's rough exterior, with her dedication to her younger brother and her job at the store. They share a sense of obligation to their promised duties, even when their hearts urge them to find a different path.
The minor characters in the book fill out the world of Haven, Arizona Territory so convincingly that it becomes a wholly believable world. Linda Lael Miller also makes the setting in the book take on the life of a character. Arizona Territory actually breathes and moves with the characters.
My Thoughts:
I have read a lot of Linda Lael Miller books, and this is by far my favorite. The story moves quickly, the love feels real, and the historical context seems right. Unlike many other romance novels, this book departs somewhat from the standard formula. Miller delves richly into the history, which makes the story live in my imagination even now as I write this.
If you love historical romances and are looking for something with a different flavor, I highly recommend this book.
Lawman Sam O'Ballivan heads to Haven, Arizona posing as a schoolteacher so he can help to catch a group of outlaws causing trouble in the area. Running a school full of rough and tumble ranch kids requires a strong hand, and Sam has no problem doing that. What he didn't expect was that one of the students most in need of discipline would lead him to a woman who would change everything.
Maddie Chancelor runs the town general store as a way to provide for herself and her younger brother. She longs to own the store outright, but the wealthy landlord refuses to work with her. When Sam O'Ballivan drags her brother home with a stern reprimand for her as well, Maddie is furious. She can't stand the overbearing new schoolteacher, who seems nothing like what a schoolteacher should be.
Gunslingers, train robbers, fiances dying of outbreaks, secret sons, and shoot outs keep Maddie and Sam busy and on their toes. Still, this doesn't stop their undeniable connection and smoldering passion. As their love grows and they surmount obstacle after obstacle, it becomes clear that they must be together.
My review:
The action in this book starts quickly. In the opening pages, Sam O'Ballivan arrives at his teaching post to discover the students tormenting their current teacher. He rescues the man and reprimands the students. This one scene sets the stage for the whole book, starting a chain of events that prove exciting for the duration.
Sam O'Ballivan is a strong character, who, despite his necessary toughness, has a good heart. Maddie Chancelor offers a strong contrast to Sam's rough exterior, with her dedication to her younger brother and her job at the store. They share a sense of obligation to their promised duties, even when their hearts urge them to find a different path.
The minor characters in the book fill out the world of Haven, Arizona Territory so convincingly that it becomes a wholly believable world. Linda Lael Miller also makes the setting in the book take on the life of a character. Arizona Territory actually breathes and moves with the characters.
My Thoughts:
I have read a lot of Linda Lael Miller books, and this is by far my favorite. The story moves quickly, the love feels real, and the historical context seems right. Unlike many other romance novels, this book departs somewhat from the standard formula. Miller delves richly into the history, which makes the story live in my imagination even now as I write this.
If you love historical romances and are looking for something with a different flavor, I highly recommend this book.
Friday, June 4, 2010
On reading Linda Lael Miller books
If you have glanced through this blog or my "books read" list, you may have noticed an abundance of Linda Lael Miller books. And maybe you even wondered why on earth someone would want to read so many books by the same author. Especially a romance author. Aren't all those books basically the same anyway?
Yes and no.
I started reading Linda Lael Miller last year when I read A Creed Country Christmas. (This might be a good time to mention that romance novels have been my guilty pleasure since high school.) Before reading this book, it had been quite awhile since I had read a romance novel. A Creed Country Christmas made me remember how much I loved this genre, and I found that I really liked Linda Lael Miller's style. So I decided to read more.
The more books I read by Miller, the more I liked her characters and the world she had woven. Yes, it is a bit excessive, but it is such fun. I plan on reading more of her books. And I really recommend her books to any romance fans.
Yes and no.
I started reading Linda Lael Miller last year when I read A Creed Country Christmas. (This might be a good time to mention that romance novels have been my guilty pleasure since high school.) Before reading this book, it had been quite awhile since I had read a romance novel. A Creed Country Christmas made me remember how much I loved this genre, and I found that I really liked Linda Lael Miller's style. So I decided to read more.
The more books I read by Miller, the more I liked her characters and the world she had woven. Yes, it is a bit excessive, but it is such fun. I plan on reading more of her books. And I really recommend her books to any romance fans.
Review #16: A McKettrick Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
Miller's perfunctory McKettrick franchise Christmas spinoff begins with Lizzie McKettrick's trip home with beau Whitley Carson getting derailed by an avalanche that stops their train. Lizzie and handsome doctor Morgan Shane care for the injured and scared passengers, and soon Lizzie develops feelings for the doc while realizing her affection for Whitley is not as serious as she first thought. As passenger fears mount and Lizzie waits for her family to rescue them, the stranded passengers appreciate Christmas in small moments shared with strangers.
Review:
A nice Christmas story, especially for anyone who has read Linda Lael Miller before.
Miller's perfunctory McKettrick franchise Christmas spinoff begins with Lizzie McKettrick's trip home with beau Whitley Carson getting derailed by an avalanche that stops their train. Lizzie and handsome doctor Morgan Shane care for the injured and scared passengers, and soon Lizzie develops feelings for the doc while realizing her affection for Whitley is not as serious as she first thought. As passenger fears mount and Lizzie waits for her family to rescue them, the stranded passengers appreciate Christmas in small moments shared with strangers.
Review:
A nice Christmas story, especially for anyone who has read Linda Lael Miller before.
Review #15: Sierra's Homecoming by Linda Lael Miller
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
When she moved to her family's ancestral ranch, single mom Sierra McKettrick was disconcerted by the Triple M's handsome caretaker, Travis Reid. But when her son claimed to see a mysterious boy in the house, and an heirloom teapot started popping up in unexpected places, Sierra wondered if the attraction between herself and Travis might be the least of her worries.
In 1919, widowed Hannah McKettrick lived at the ranch with her son and her brother-in-law, Doss. Her confused feelings for Doss and her son's health problems occupied all her thoughts…until the family teapot started disappearing.
Could Sierra and her ancestor, Hannah, be living parallel lives?
Review:
This was a typical length romance novel, which translates to a very quick read. The difference between this book and typical romance novels however was it's inventiveness. The parallel stories of Sierra and Hannah were wonderfully woven together. Not only were the stories parallel, but Linda Lael Miller touched on a paranormal element of the two women being connected by a family album through which they were able to write notes back and forth, and a teapot. The teapot was a nice touch because one woman would move it and the other would find it in a strange place. It added to their connectedness.
The characters were likable. The story moved quickly, and provided another link in Miller's McKettrick storyline. Overall a very nice read.
When she moved to her family's ancestral ranch, single mom Sierra McKettrick was disconcerted by the Triple M's handsome caretaker, Travis Reid. But when her son claimed to see a mysterious boy in the house, and an heirloom teapot started popping up in unexpected places, Sierra wondered if the attraction between herself and Travis might be the least of her worries.
In 1919, widowed Hannah McKettrick lived at the ranch with her son and her brother-in-law, Doss. Her confused feelings for Doss and her son's health problems occupied all her thoughts…until the family teapot started disappearing.
Could Sierra and her ancestor, Hannah, be living parallel lives?
Review:
This was a typical length romance novel, which translates to a very quick read. The difference between this book and typical romance novels however was it's inventiveness. The parallel stories of Sierra and Hannah were wonderfully woven together. Not only were the stories parallel, but Linda Lael Miller touched on a paranormal element of the two women being connected by a family album through which they were able to write notes back and forth, and a teapot. The teapot was a nice touch because one woman would move it and the other would find it in a strange place. It added to their connectedness.
The characters were likable. The story moved quickly, and provided another link in Miller's McKettrick storyline. Overall a very nice read.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Review #14: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
Perennial bestseller Picoult (Change of Heart) delivers another engrossing family drama, spiced with her trademark blend of medicine, law and love. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe's daughter, Willow, was born with brittle bone disease, a condition that requires Charlotte to act as full-time caregiver and has strained their emotional and financial limits. Willow's teenaged half-sister, Amelia, suffers as well, overshadowed by Willow's needs and lost in her own adolescent turmoil. When Charlotte decides to sue for wrongful birth in order to obtain a settlement to ensure Willow's future, the already strained family begins to implode. Not only is the defendant Charlotte's longtime friend, but the case requires Charlotte and Sean to claim that had they known of Willow's condition, they would have terminated the pregnancy, a statement that strikes at the core of their faith and family. Picoult individualizes the alternating voices of the narrators more believably than she has previously, and weaves in subplots to underscore the themes of hope, regret, identity and family, leading up to her signature closing twists.
Review:
Having read Jodi Picoult books before, I had a sense of how this book would unfold. In soume ways I was surprised to find plot twists I had not expected, and in some ways I was unsurprised to find things exactly as I expected.
Picoult chooses topics that lead to serious life-altering changes for her characters. In this case, the birth of a child with a rare bone disorder. The book takes place five years after the birth, and each of the narrators (the mom, the sister, the obstetrician/mom's best friend, a lawyer, and a few others) address the story to the little girl with the disorder. It's an interesting technique, having each narrator telling the story of the little girl's life to the little girl.
The characters are an interesting mixture, and for the most part their complexities seem spot on. However, in places the characters do go to extremes that seem unrealistic, but luckily these few places don't hamper the overall impact of the story.
This story touched on some rather controversial issues, such as, if the mother had known early on in her pregnancy that her child would have such a debilitating disease would she have chosen to terminate the pregnancy? I think Picoult does an interesting job dealing with the issues she raises.
And yet...the reactions of the mother didn't always resonate with me.
The book ended much as many of Picoult's books do, and I found it quite unsatisfying.
Perennial bestseller Picoult (Change of Heart) delivers another engrossing family drama, spiced with her trademark blend of medicine, law and love. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe's daughter, Willow, was born with brittle bone disease, a condition that requires Charlotte to act as full-time caregiver and has strained their emotional and financial limits. Willow's teenaged half-sister, Amelia, suffers as well, overshadowed by Willow's needs and lost in her own adolescent turmoil. When Charlotte decides to sue for wrongful birth in order to obtain a settlement to ensure Willow's future, the already strained family begins to implode. Not only is the defendant Charlotte's longtime friend, but the case requires Charlotte and Sean to claim that had they known of Willow's condition, they would have terminated the pregnancy, a statement that strikes at the core of their faith and family. Picoult individualizes the alternating voices of the narrators more believably than she has previously, and weaves in subplots to underscore the themes of hope, regret, identity and family, leading up to her signature closing twists.
Review:
Having read Jodi Picoult books before, I had a sense of how this book would unfold. In soume ways I was surprised to find plot twists I had not expected, and in some ways I was unsurprised to find things exactly as I expected.
Picoult chooses topics that lead to serious life-altering changes for her characters. In this case, the birth of a child with a rare bone disorder. The book takes place five years after the birth, and each of the narrators (the mom, the sister, the obstetrician/mom's best friend, a lawyer, and a few others) address the story to the little girl with the disorder. It's an interesting technique, having each narrator telling the story of the little girl's life to the little girl.
The characters are an interesting mixture, and for the most part their complexities seem spot on. However, in places the characters do go to extremes that seem unrealistic, but luckily these few places don't hamper the overall impact of the story.
This story touched on some rather controversial issues, such as, if the mother had known early on in her pregnancy that her child would have such a debilitating disease would she have chosen to terminate the pregnancy? I think Picoult does an interesting job dealing with the issues she raises.
And yet...the reactions of the mother didn't always resonate with me.
The book ended much as many of Picoult's books do, and I found it quite unsatisfying.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Review #13: The McKettrick Way by Linda Lael Miller
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
Meg McKettrick longs for a baby—husband optional. Perfect father material is gorgeous Brad O'Ballivan, old flame and new owner of his family's ranch in Stone Creek. But Meg—as strong, proud and stubborn as her ancestors on Indian Rock's Triple M ranch—wants to do things her way…the McKettrick way. And Brad feels just as strongly about the O'Ballivan way…
Love, marriage, babies and a lifetime to share—that's what Brad wants. Not a single night of pasion, an unexpected pregnancy and a woman who won't budge. For a rugged rodeo cowboy who never gives up, it's a battle of wills he intends to win…and nothing matters more than claiming Meg's wild McKettrick heart.
Review:
The above synopsis fails to give all of the plot, although for a simple romance novel I suppose it really doesn't need to. Part of the plot that I enjoyed (but don't get spoilery here) was the fact that Meg and Brad had a history together. They had been childhood sweethearts. I also liked that Linda Lael Miller used Meg and Brad to link two of her big romance novel families together.
As far as a romance novel goes, it was sweet, light fare. The plot was typical of romance novels: boy and girl meet (again), the attraction is undeniable but something keeps them apart, they struggle through the obstacles, and ultimately declare their love and live happily ever after. Did I spoil it for you?
Meg is a fairly likable character, although flat in some areas. Her emotions did not always seem fully developed, while Brad almost always seemed to get the author's full attention. Brad was allowed to work his way through a myriad of issues, while Meg got shorted. Still, you can't fault the author entirely because there is only so much you can do in 60,000-ish words.
I liked the plot elements that linked several of her books together. That was a nice treat for anyone who has read several books in her series before. However, the book can stand alone. If you are looking for a fun, light read, I recommend this book.
Meg McKettrick longs for a baby—husband optional. Perfect father material is gorgeous Brad O'Ballivan, old flame and new owner of his family's ranch in Stone Creek. But Meg—as strong, proud and stubborn as her ancestors on Indian Rock's Triple M ranch—wants to do things her way…the McKettrick way. And Brad feels just as strongly about the O'Ballivan way…
Love, marriage, babies and a lifetime to share—that's what Brad wants. Not a single night of pasion, an unexpected pregnancy and a woman who won't budge. For a rugged rodeo cowboy who never gives up, it's a battle of wills he intends to win…and nothing matters more than claiming Meg's wild McKettrick heart.
Review:
The above synopsis fails to give all of the plot, although for a simple romance novel I suppose it really doesn't need to. Part of the plot that I enjoyed (but don't get spoilery here) was the fact that Meg and Brad had a history together. They had been childhood sweethearts. I also liked that Linda Lael Miller used Meg and Brad to link two of her big romance novel families together.
As far as a romance novel goes, it was sweet, light fare. The plot was typical of romance novels: boy and girl meet (again), the attraction is undeniable but something keeps them apart, they struggle through the obstacles, and ultimately declare their love and live happily ever after. Did I spoil it for you?
Meg is a fairly likable character, although flat in some areas. Her emotions did not always seem fully developed, while Brad almost always seemed to get the author's full attention. Brad was allowed to work his way through a myriad of issues, while Meg got shorted. Still, you can't fault the author entirely because there is only so much you can do in 60,000-ish words.
I liked the plot elements that linked several of her books together. That was a nice treat for anyone who has read several books in her series before. However, the book can stand alone. If you are looking for a fun, light read, I recommend this book.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Review #12: McKettrick's Luck, McKettrick's Pride, McKettrick's Heart by Linda Lael Miller
Why, yes, I am lumping three Linda Lael Miller books together for a second time. I'm doing this because the three books form a trilogy and I feel like they belong in the same review.
So without further ado, synopsis for McKettrick's Luck (from amazon.com):
The first installment in Miller's new trilogy features the present-day descendants of the heroes from her earlier McKettrick novels; fortunately, the new generation fills in admirably. Cheyenne Bridges makes a reluctant return to her hometown of Indian Rock, Ariz., her job hinging on whether she can persuade her high school flame Jesse McKettrick to sell some of his land for her employer's condo development deal. Jesse, a confirmed bachelor and committed poker player, refuses outright to sell his land—at the same time he refuses to acknowledge the feelings that Cheyenne stirs up in him. Miller's ability to bring a cast of characters to life is on full display here, as Cheyenne must decide whether to use whatever means necessary to get Jesse to sell the land or surrender to the hunky rancher and join his team. Though her plot twists are somewhat predictable, the veteran romance author doesn't disappoint in her sizzling love scenes and fine sense of place.
Synopsis for McKettrick's Pride (from amazon.com):
The only wide-open space Rance McKettrick wants to see in his future is his hometown in his rearview mirror. The down-to-earth ex-rancher is determined to make a fresh start with his two young daughters—and leave his heartbreaking loss and family's successful corporation far behind.
He sure doesn't need Indian Rock's free-spirited new bookstore owner Echo Wells confusing his choices—and raising memories he'd rather forget. But her straightforward honesty and reluctance to trust is challenging everything Rance thought he knew about himself. And when their irresistible attraction puts their hearts on the line, Rance and Echo must come to grips with who they really are to find a once-in-a-lifetime happiness.
Synopsis of McKettrick's Heart (from amazon.com):
In the third in Miller's McKettrick Men series, Keegan, divorced from his cheating wife, meets Molly Shields, a literary agent who gave up for adoption the son she had by a married man, when Psyche Ryan, the adoptive mother of Molly's son Lucas, summons Molly to Indian Rock, Arizona. Widowed Psyche has terminal cancer and wants Lucas to be raised in her home by his biological mother. Molly jumps at the chance. Keegan, Psyche's lifelong friend and executor of her estate, wants to raise Lucas and doesn't trust Molly, so he is appalled when Psyche imposes the requirement that Keegan and Molly marry. Love and blazing sex ensue in this satisfying romance.
General review of this series:
I love Linda Lael Miller's books. She creates characters who you can really care about. Sound cheesy? Why yes, it is. That's the best part about romance novels, isn't it?
My favorite book in the series was the second, McKettrick's Pride, about Rance and Echo. Horrible names, yes, but truly lovable characters. Simply put, the opposites attract element in this book hooked me from the beginning. The minor characters in this book also made it a richer experience for me.
My favorite character in the series was Jesse from McKettrick's Luck. He was just my favorite romance hero type. Bad boy turned good with a heart of gold. And a cowboy. Read the book. I promise you'll understand what I mean.
My least favorite element of the series was the story in the third book. I found Keegan's affections switching from one woman to another confusing. His devotion to Psyche was sweet, but it made it hard to focus on the love story between Keegan and Molly.
Overall, this was a great series full of fun characters and lots of steamy romance.
So without further ado, synopsis for McKettrick's Luck (from amazon.com):
The first installment in Miller's new trilogy features the present-day descendants of the heroes from her earlier McKettrick novels; fortunately, the new generation fills in admirably. Cheyenne Bridges makes a reluctant return to her hometown of Indian Rock, Ariz., her job hinging on whether she can persuade her high school flame Jesse McKettrick to sell some of his land for her employer's condo development deal. Jesse, a confirmed bachelor and committed poker player, refuses outright to sell his land—at the same time he refuses to acknowledge the feelings that Cheyenne stirs up in him. Miller's ability to bring a cast of characters to life is on full display here, as Cheyenne must decide whether to use whatever means necessary to get Jesse to sell the land or surrender to the hunky rancher and join his team. Though her plot twists are somewhat predictable, the veteran romance author doesn't disappoint in her sizzling love scenes and fine sense of place.
Synopsis for McKettrick's Pride (from amazon.com):
The only wide-open space Rance McKettrick wants to see in his future is his hometown in his rearview mirror. The down-to-earth ex-rancher is determined to make a fresh start with his two young daughters—and leave his heartbreaking loss and family's successful corporation far behind.
He sure doesn't need Indian Rock's free-spirited new bookstore owner Echo Wells confusing his choices—and raising memories he'd rather forget. But her straightforward honesty and reluctance to trust is challenging everything Rance thought he knew about himself. And when their irresistible attraction puts their hearts on the line, Rance and Echo must come to grips with who they really are to find a once-in-a-lifetime happiness.
Synopsis of McKettrick's Heart (from amazon.com):
In the third in Miller's McKettrick Men series, Keegan, divorced from his cheating wife, meets Molly Shields, a literary agent who gave up for adoption the son she had by a married man, when Psyche Ryan, the adoptive mother of Molly's son Lucas, summons Molly to Indian Rock, Arizona. Widowed Psyche has terminal cancer and wants Lucas to be raised in her home by his biological mother. Molly jumps at the chance. Keegan, Psyche's lifelong friend and executor of her estate, wants to raise Lucas and doesn't trust Molly, so he is appalled when Psyche imposes the requirement that Keegan and Molly marry. Love and blazing sex ensue in this satisfying romance.
General review of this series:
I love Linda Lael Miller's books. She creates characters who you can really care about. Sound cheesy? Why yes, it is. That's the best part about romance novels, isn't it?
My favorite book in the series was the second, McKettrick's Pride, about Rance and Echo. Horrible names, yes, but truly lovable characters. Simply put, the opposites attract element in this book hooked me from the beginning. The minor characters in this book also made it a richer experience for me.
My favorite character in the series was Jesse from McKettrick's Luck. He was just my favorite romance hero type. Bad boy turned good with a heart of gold. And a cowboy. Read the book. I promise you'll understand what I mean.
My least favorite element of the series was the story in the third book. I found Keegan's affections switching from one woman to another confusing. His devotion to Psyche was sweet, but it made it hard to focus on the love story between Keegan and Molly.
Overall, this was a great series full of fun characters and lots of steamy romance.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Review #11: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.
Review:
There is so much more to this book than the above synopsis alludes to. This book is not only about the way we treat one another and the decisions we make, but also deals directly with the issue of suicide and those left behind. I think the biggest question that those affected by a suicide is why? Why did it happen? Why did it happen? What led to the person's choice to take his/her life? And maybe most of all, what could I have done to stop it from happening?
All of these questions are going through Clay's mind before he even receives the tapes. He had a crush on Hannah, and he didn't ever really act on his feelings, although she apparently liked him as well. Upon listening to the tapes, Clay gets the answers he so desperately wanted, no matter how hard they are to listen to.
This book was a fascinating read, and incredibly well done. The subject matter may not appeal to everyone, but if you give it a chance, I assure you it will be well worth your time.
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.
Review:
There is so much more to this book than the above synopsis alludes to. This book is not only about the way we treat one another and the decisions we make, but also deals directly with the issue of suicide and those left behind. I think the biggest question that those affected by a suicide is why? Why did it happen? Why did it happen? What led to the person's choice to take his/her life? And maybe most of all, what could I have done to stop it from happening?
All of these questions are going through Clay's mind before he even receives the tapes. He had a crush on Hannah, and he didn't ever really act on his feelings, although she apparently liked him as well. Upon listening to the tapes, Clay gets the answers he so desperately wanted, no matter how hard they are to listen to.
This book was a fascinating read, and incredibly well done. The subject matter may not appeal to everyone, but if you give it a chance, I assure you it will be well worth your time.
Review #10: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Synopsis (From amazon.com):
The numb voice of a teen who has been devastated by five years of captivity and compliance, a girl who has been named "Alice" by her abductor, relates her grim story. At 15, she still believes the threat by which Ray controlled her when she was almost 10 and he walked her away from a school field trip: he's made it clear that if she bolts he will kill her family. The trauma of multiple rapes on a child is portrayed, as is Ray's ongoing need to control her and his daily, multiple demands for sexual submission. Now that she's a teen, Alice is being starved; his disordered logic tells him that this will keep her a little girl. His control over her is so absolute that, although she can leave his apartment during the day and goes on her own to have a wax job, her only rebellion is to steal small amounts of food. When Ray decides it is time for a new little girl, Alice complies by locating a likely next victim. In the process she meets a needy teen boy and a police officer, both of whom suspect she is in trouble and want to help her, but all does not end happily.
Review:
This book was extremely hard to read because of the subject matter. I think Elizabeth Scott took on an enourmous task when tackling this topic. When I got done with the book, I definitely had a lot to think about.
I am linking to another blogger's review because I think she does a fantastic job explaining why it is one of her favorite books.
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-living-dead-girl.html
The numb voice of a teen who has been devastated by five years of captivity and compliance, a girl who has been named "Alice" by her abductor, relates her grim story. At 15, she still believes the threat by which Ray controlled her when she was almost 10 and he walked her away from a school field trip: he's made it clear that if she bolts he will kill her family. The trauma of multiple rapes on a child is portrayed, as is Ray's ongoing need to control her and his daily, multiple demands for sexual submission. Now that she's a teen, Alice is being starved; his disordered logic tells him that this will keep her a little girl. His control over her is so absolute that, although she can leave his apartment during the day and goes on her own to have a wax job, her only rebellion is to steal small amounts of food. When Ray decides it is time for a new little girl, Alice complies by locating a likely next victim. In the process she meets a needy teen boy and a police officer, both of whom suspect she is in trouble and want to help her, but all does not end happily.
Review:
This book was extremely hard to read because of the subject matter. I think Elizabeth Scott took on an enourmous task when tackling this topic. When I got done with the book, I definitely had a lot to think about.
I am linking to another blogger's review because I think she does a fantastic job explaining why it is one of her favorite books.
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-living-dead-girl.html
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Review #9: Julie/Julia by Julie Powell
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously.
Review:
My desire to read this book came after I saw the movie. Normally I like to read a book before I see the movie, but in this case I just really wanted to see the movie. After I watched it, I got curious about the book.
The book is mainly a nonfiction memoir of a year of obsessive cooking. There are little elements of creative nonfiction interspersed throughout when Julie Powell imagines dialogue and scenarios that Julia Child lived based on her husband's letters and such.
The contrast between Julia Child's life and Julie Powell's life is not so great in the book because the book is mainly just about Julie Powell. And while I definitely enjoyed the Julia Child part of the movie, I sincerely enjoyed getting to know Julie Powell through the book. She was much more entertaining in the book with a much fouler mouth. Reading her descriptions of some of the cooking situations, like trying to get the marrow out of a cow bone or making a beef aspic, made the book grossly hilarious.
I would say to anyone who enjoyed the movie that the book is a must read.
Review:
My desire to read this book came after I saw the movie. Normally I like to read a book before I see the movie, but in this case I just really wanted to see the movie. After I watched it, I got curious about the book.
The book is mainly a nonfiction memoir of a year of obsessive cooking. There are little elements of creative nonfiction interspersed throughout when Julie Powell imagines dialogue and scenarios that Julia Child lived based on her husband's letters and such.
The contrast between Julia Child's life and Julie Powell's life is not so great in the book because the book is mainly just about Julie Powell. And while I definitely enjoyed the Julia Child part of the movie, I sincerely enjoyed getting to know Julie Powell through the book. She was much more entertaining in the book with a much fouler mouth. Reading her descriptions of some of the cooking situations, like trying to get the marrow out of a cow bone or making a beef aspic, made the book grossly hilarious.
I would say to anyone who enjoyed the movie that the book is a must read.
Review #8: Faking 19 by Alyson Noel
Faking 19 by Alyson Noel
Review:
I know that some of these reviews are short, but I'm mainly writing these for myself as a way of remembering the 100 books I am reading this year. If anyone happens to read them, I'm sorry if they aren't more detailed.
I read this book because I was reading other books by Alyson Noel, and I had read some favorable reviews comparing this book to Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty.
While both books do deal with teens with broken lives and how each teen struggles to fix those lives. However, Faking 19 fails to bring depth to her main character, Alex.
Alex does a lot of whining and even when she sees that her friend, M, is in a terrible downward spiral she doesn't take action. Even after M lets her mother think that Alex stashed drugs at M's house, Alex doesn't do anything. She simply floats through the book.
I really didn't enjoy this book much. It felt flat, and unconvincing.
Review:
I know that some of these reviews are short, but I'm mainly writing these for myself as a way of remembering the 100 books I am reading this year. If anyone happens to read them, I'm sorry if they aren't more detailed.
I read this book because I was reading other books by Alyson Noel, and I had read some favorable reviews comparing this book to Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty.
While both books do deal with teens with broken lives and how each teen struggles to fix those lives. However, Faking 19 fails to bring depth to her main character, Alex.
Alex does a lot of whining and even when she sees that her friend, M, is in a terrible downward spiral she doesn't take action. Even after M lets her mother think that Alex stashed drugs at M's house, Alex doesn't do anything. She simply floats through the book.
I really didn't enjoy this book much. It felt flat, and unconvincing.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Review #7: Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Review:
I'm not going to post a synopsis for this book because I don't know that I could find or write a synopsis that would adequately explain this book.
The main character in the book is a girl named Micah, who tells you right off the bat that she is a pathological liar. That said, she promises that she is going to tell the truth to you, the reader, because it is important that you understand what happened and that you believe her.
What happened? Well, that's the main mystery of the book. Micah's supposed boyfriend (secret boyfriend actually) was found dead in the park after he had been missing for several days. As the story unfolds, Micah tells you that he was murdered.
The narration is told in Micah's voice in an extremely conversational tone. The plot jumps back and forth between the present and the past, adding to the confusing nature of the story.
I have never read a book before where I doubted everything the narrator told me. It was a fascinating experience as a reader. By the end of the book, I will admit, I really began to doubt everything Micah said because there was just so much about it that wasn't even plausible. And yet...there was a part of me that desperately wanted to believe her.
I highly recommend this book even if you aren't into thrillers or young adult books. It's just a fascinating read.
Review:
I'm not going to post a synopsis for this book because I don't know that I could find or write a synopsis that would adequately explain this book.
The main character in the book is a girl named Micah, who tells you right off the bat that she is a pathological liar. That said, she promises that she is going to tell the truth to you, the reader, because it is important that you understand what happened and that you believe her.
What happened? Well, that's the main mystery of the book. Micah's supposed boyfriend (secret boyfriend actually) was found dead in the park after he had been missing for several days. As the story unfolds, Micah tells you that he was murdered.
The narration is told in Micah's voice in an extremely conversational tone. The plot jumps back and forth between the present and the past, adding to the confusing nature of the story.
I have never read a book before where I doubted everything the narrator told me. It was a fascinating experience as a reader. By the end of the book, I will admit, I really began to doubt everything Micah said because there was just so much about it that wasn't even plausible. And yet...there was a part of me that desperately wanted to believe her.
I highly recommend this book even if you aren't into thrillers or young adult books. It's just a fascinating read.
Review #6: Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
Synopsis:
Rio Jones is the new girl at an exclusive southern California private school. She is drawn to kids in the art crowd initially including Jas, who quickly becomes her romantic interest. When the most popular girl in school decides to befriend Rio, her life quickly spins out of control.
Review:
This book was a quick, snappy read, and definitely enjoyable for the most part. The characters were a little two-dimensional at times, and a great deal of the plot seemed lifted directly from "Mean Girls." Still if you aren't looking for total originality, this is a fun read.
Synopsis:
Rio Jones is the new girl at an exclusive southern California private school. She is drawn to kids in the art crowd initially including Jas, who quickly becomes her romantic interest. When the most popular girl in school decides to befriend Rio, her life quickly spins out of control.
Review:
This book was a quick, snappy read, and definitely enjoyable for the most part. The characters were a little two-dimensional at times, and a great deal of the plot seemed lifted directly from "Mean Girls." Still if you aren't looking for total originality, this is a fun read.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Review #5: TMI by Sarah Quigley
TMI by Sarah Quigley
Synopsis (from product description on amazon.com:
Friends call Becca the Overshare Queen, but her tendency for TMI never seemed like a problem to her until she blabs about her sweet band-geek boyfriend’s sloppy kisses—and gets dumped! Realizing it may be better to resist the temptation to overshare face-to-face, Becca decides to blog anonymously about everything instead. On her blog, Too Much Information, Becca unleashes her alter ego, Bella. Bella tells it like it is . . . though perhaps with a bit more drama. After all, no one’s going to read it, right?
Review:
Despite the fairly simple plot, this book was wonderfully fresh and original. Becca is a truly likeable character, who doesn't mean to open her big mouth as much as she does. Verbal diarrhea is just her nature.
Sarah Quigley gets the teenage angst just right without going over the top into melodrama. Another thing that impressed me about Quigley's writing was her spot-on portrayal of high school theater. Becca's interaction with her friends also reminded me a lot of some of the high schoolers in my youth group.
I think Quigley also hits the nail on the head with her themes of privacy on the Internet/blogs, or the lack thereof.
This is a book that I definitely recommend for its' funny, fresh take on the intense need of our culture to share everything about our lives with immediacy and pretend anonymity.
Synopsis (from product description on amazon.com:
Friends call Becca the Overshare Queen, but her tendency for TMI never seemed like a problem to her until she blabs about her sweet band-geek boyfriend’s sloppy kisses—and gets dumped! Realizing it may be better to resist the temptation to overshare face-to-face, Becca decides to blog anonymously about everything instead. On her blog, Too Much Information, Becca unleashes her alter ego, Bella. Bella tells it like it is . . . though perhaps with a bit more drama. After all, no one’s going to read it, right?
Review:
Despite the fairly simple plot, this book was wonderfully fresh and original. Becca is a truly likeable character, who doesn't mean to open her big mouth as much as she does. Verbal diarrhea is just her nature.
Sarah Quigley gets the teenage angst just right without going over the top into melodrama. Another thing that impressed me about Quigley's writing was her spot-on portrayal of high school theater. Becca's interaction with her friends also reminded me a lot of some of the high schoolers in my youth group.
I think Quigley also hits the nail on the head with her themes of privacy on the Internet/blogs, or the lack thereof.
This is a book that I definitely recommend for its' funny, fresh take on the intense need of our culture to share everything about our lives with immediacy and pretend anonymity.
Review #4: Real Life Homeschooling by Rhonda Barfield
Real Life Homeschoolingby Rhonda Barfield.
This was my first nonfiction book of 2010.
Whatever your feelings about homeschooling are, this book is a good read simply for its' own sake. The book highlights the lives of 21 families who homeschool. The families are all different with different reasons for teaching at home. Some families homeschool for religious reasons, while some families are completely secular. Some families are large, while others only have one or two children.
I think that this book helps change people's views of homeschoolers from weird, unsocialized freaks, to regular people. The author tries very hard to let the families and their experiences speak for themselves.
If you are a family considering homeschooling, this book helps to show what options are available to homeschoolers as well as some glimpses into the struggles and joys of teaching your children yourself.
I higly recommend giving this book a try.
This was my first nonfiction book of 2010.
Whatever your feelings about homeschooling are, this book is a good read simply for its' own sake. The book highlights the lives of 21 families who homeschool. The families are all different with different reasons for teaching at home. Some families homeschool for religious reasons, while some families are completely secular. Some families are large, while others only have one or two children.
I think that this book helps change people's views of homeschoolers from weird, unsocialized freaks, to regular people. The author tries very hard to let the families and their experiences speak for themselves.
If you are a family considering homeschooling, this book helps to show what options are available to homeschoolers as well as some glimpses into the struggles and joys of teaching your children yourself.
I higly recommend giving this book a try.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Review #3: Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel
This review is of Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel.
Review:
The plot is actually a fairly simple one to follow: Echo's older sister, Zoe, was murdered and the book is about Echo's struggle to come to grips with her death.
Alyson Noel uses Zoe's final diary entries to provide insight into Zoe's character, and as a vehicle to facilitate Echo's healing. Zoe's diary entries are a little hard to swallow at times because they are not written like a real diary would be written.
Overall, the story had more believable moments than not, which I often find lacking in Noel's writing, so that was a pleasant surprise. However, there were parts that didn't seem to fit with the story. And ultimately, Echo never quite seems to connect with her sister as Noel hopes she will.
This was an incredibly quick read, and more enjoyable than not. So, if you are willing to overlook some unbelievable moments, I would recommend this book.
Review:
The plot is actually a fairly simple one to follow: Echo's older sister, Zoe, was murdered and the book is about Echo's struggle to come to grips with her death.
Alyson Noel uses Zoe's final diary entries to provide insight into Zoe's character, and as a vehicle to facilitate Echo's healing. Zoe's diary entries are a little hard to swallow at times because they are not written like a real diary would be written.
Overall, the story had more believable moments than not, which I often find lacking in Noel's writing, so that was a pleasant surprise. However, there were parts that didn't seem to fit with the story. And ultimately, Echo never quite seems to connect with her sister as Noel hopes she will.
This was an incredibly quick read, and more enjoyable than not. So, if you are willing to overlook some unbelievable moments, I would recommend this book.
Review #2: L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
I haven't posted in over a month, and if anyone is reading this blog, I apologize for that. Real life conspired to make this book blog quite low on my list of priorities. However, I am hoping to get caught up over the next week or so. My reviews will be short so that I can acheive that goal.
So up next is Lauren Conrad's L.A. Candy
Synopsis:(Courtesy of amazon.com product description)
Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun.
When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!
Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara—free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres—and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight.
In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.
L.A. Candy is a deliciously entertaining novel about what it's like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a girl who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.
Review:
I read this book mainly because I was curious to see what sort of book a reality star could write. And as much as I hate to give a bad review, I have to say that overall this book was generally a disappointment. Like candy, the book was almost sickeningly sweet. (And how was that lovely cliche that I just used? Hee.)
The narrative jumps back and forth in third person point-of-view between sweet, rich, girl next door, Jane, and her non-conformist, beauty queen best friend, Scarlett. After moving to L.A. both girls get discovered at a club, and suddenly find themselves on a new reality show. Jane comes across as a major Mary Sue character for a good two-thirds of the book. Everything about her is so good. And Scarlett is supposed to be her counterpoint, more of the bad girl. For example, the book opens with Jane finding a guy in her bed who turns out to be Scarlett's boy du jour.
As far as the plot goes, it's a lot of fluff. The problems revolve around the girls handling sudden fame, and all that comes along with that. I almost didn't finish this book because the first half started off so slowly. The second half picked up and helped me want to finish.
Overall, this book felt like Lauren Conrad was indulging her desire to write her own experiences into a memoir of sorts without actually going the nonfiction route. So, if you have a burning desire to find out what living The Hills was really like for Conrad, I would recommend this book for you.
So up next is Lauren Conrad's L.A. Candy
Synopsis:(Courtesy of amazon.com product description)
Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun.
When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!
Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara—free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres—and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight.
In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.
L.A. Candy is a deliciously entertaining novel about what it's like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a girl who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.
Review:
I read this book mainly because I was curious to see what sort of book a reality star could write. And as much as I hate to give a bad review, I have to say that overall this book was generally a disappointment. Like candy, the book was almost sickeningly sweet. (And how was that lovely cliche that I just used? Hee.)
The narrative jumps back and forth in third person point-of-view between sweet, rich, girl next door, Jane, and her non-conformist, beauty queen best friend, Scarlett. After moving to L.A. both girls get discovered at a club, and suddenly find themselves on a new reality show. Jane comes across as a major Mary Sue character for a good two-thirds of the book. Everything about her is so good. And Scarlett is supposed to be her counterpoint, more of the bad girl. For example, the book opens with Jane finding a guy in her bed who turns out to be Scarlett's boy du jour.
As far as the plot goes, it's a lot of fluff. The problems revolve around the girls handling sudden fame, and all that comes along with that. I almost didn't finish this book because the first half started off so slowly. The second half picked up and helped me want to finish.
Overall, this book felt like Lauren Conrad was indulging her desire to write her own experiences into a memoir of sorts without actually going the nonfiction route. So, if you have a burning desire to find out what living The Hills was really like for Conrad, I would recommend this book for you.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Review #1: The Montana Creeds series by Linda Lael Miller
I am going to lump all three of these books into one review. Not because they don't each deserve their own reviews, but because I want to catch up on reviewing the books I have read thus far this year.
The Montanta Creeds: Logan:
Synopsis(provided via amazon.com product description):
Descendants of the legendary McKettrick family, the Creeds are renowned in Stillwater Springs, Montana—for raising hell…
After years of wandering, Logan Creed, a cowboy with a dusty law degree, has returned home. To put down roots, to restore his family's neglected ranch…to have kids of his own proudly bearing the Creed name.
Divorced mom Briana Grant has heard the stories about her gorgeous neighbor. So Logan's kindness with her young boys is a welcome surprise, especially when her ex reappears. And when an unknown enemy vandalizes her home, Logan shows Briana—and the folks of Big Sky country—just what he's made of.
The Montana Creeds: Dylan.
Synopsis (provided via amazon.com product description):
Hailed as "rodeo's bad boy" for his talent at taming bulls and women, Dylan Creed likes life in the fast lane. But when the daughter he rarely sees is abandoned by her mother, Dylan heads home to Stillwater Springs ranch. Somehow the champion bull rider has to turn into a champion father—and fast.
Town librarian Kristy Madison is uncharacteristically speechless when Dylan Creed turns up for story time with a toddler in tow. The man who'd left a trail of broken hearts—including her own—is back…and this time Kristy's determined to tame his wild ways once and for all.
The Montana Creeds: Tyler.
Synopsis (provided via amazon.com product description):
Whether winning championship belt buckles or dealing with Hollywood types for endorsement deals, former rodeo star Tyler Creed can handle anything. Except standing on the same patch of land as his estranged brothers. Yet here they are in Stillwater Springs, barely talking but trying to restore the old Creed ranch—and family.
Lily Kenyon knows all about family estrangements and secrets. The single mom has come home to set things right, to put down roots for her daughter. What she doesn't expect is Tyler Creed, whom she's loved since childhood. Now the handsome, stubborn cowboy who left home to seek his fortune just might find it was always under the Montana sky.…
Review of all three books:
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It was fast paced, sexy, and most importantly romantically real.
Book one in the series, Logan, is a very nice opener. Logan is an extremely likable character, and you really enjoy watching him try to do the right thing after a lifetime of not. His relationship with Briana and her sons is believable right from the start. You can feel the attraction between Briana and Logan, which helps the believability of the story for me because, let's be honest, the whole point of romance novels is a suspension of belief. I can only suspend my belief so far, though, before I want to put the book down. I also found Briana likeable. I enjoyed her role as mother trying to tough it out for the sake of her boys. When she did need to lean on Logan for support, I was actually rooting for her to let her guard down. The plot twists helped move the story quickly along, and by the end, I definitely wanted Briana and Logan together.
Book two in the series, Dylan, was by far my favorite. Something about the romance between Dylan and Kristy just enthralled me. Dylan is the most likeable Creed brother in my opinion. His relationship with his daughter is adorable, and he is the peacemaker between his two brothers. His history with Kristy makes it easy to believe the way they pick up again when he swings back into town. The only problems I had with this book were the portrayl of Dylan's ex (and daughter Bonnie's mother), and the portrayl of the daughter Bonnie. The little girl is supposed to be 2, but she's already completely potty trained while having very few words. Unrealistic portrayls of little kids always bugs me. That said, the portrayl of her mother, Sharlene, which I felt was fairly two dimensional. Overall, though, I was sad to see this book end.
Book three in the series, Tyler, was my least favorite book in the series. Tyler was the hardest character for me to like. And there were a lot of unresolved sub-plots. I almost feel like the author took on too many details, and summarily forgot about a handful of them. And Lily, the female protaganist, felt a little two dimensional. This book also had the most explicit lovemaking in the series. The problem I had with these scenes is that the connection between Lily and Tyler never quite felt real to me. Their attraction was all say so, and not so much on a deeper level. Still despite my problems with the book, I think it was well worth the read to wrap up the series.
The epilogue for the whole series was happily cheesy as one would expect, with marriages, babies, and happiness.
The Montanta Creeds: Logan:
Synopsis(provided via amazon.com product description):
Descendants of the legendary McKettrick family, the Creeds are renowned in Stillwater Springs, Montana—for raising hell…
After years of wandering, Logan Creed, a cowboy with a dusty law degree, has returned home. To put down roots, to restore his family's neglected ranch…to have kids of his own proudly bearing the Creed name.
Divorced mom Briana Grant has heard the stories about her gorgeous neighbor. So Logan's kindness with her young boys is a welcome surprise, especially when her ex reappears. And when an unknown enemy vandalizes her home, Logan shows Briana—and the folks of Big Sky country—just what he's made of.
The Montana Creeds: Dylan.
Synopsis (provided via amazon.com product description):
Hailed as "rodeo's bad boy" for his talent at taming bulls and women, Dylan Creed likes life in the fast lane. But when the daughter he rarely sees is abandoned by her mother, Dylan heads home to Stillwater Springs ranch. Somehow the champion bull rider has to turn into a champion father—and fast.
Town librarian Kristy Madison is uncharacteristically speechless when Dylan Creed turns up for story time with a toddler in tow. The man who'd left a trail of broken hearts—including her own—is back…and this time Kristy's determined to tame his wild ways once and for all.
The Montana Creeds: Tyler.
Synopsis (provided via amazon.com product description):
Whether winning championship belt buckles or dealing with Hollywood types for endorsement deals, former rodeo star Tyler Creed can handle anything. Except standing on the same patch of land as his estranged brothers. Yet here they are in Stillwater Springs, barely talking but trying to restore the old Creed ranch—and family.
Lily Kenyon knows all about family estrangements and secrets. The single mom has come home to set things right, to put down roots for her daughter. What she doesn't expect is Tyler Creed, whom she's loved since childhood. Now the handsome, stubborn cowboy who left home to seek his fortune just might find it was always under the Montana sky.…
Review of all three books:
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It was fast paced, sexy, and most importantly romantically real.
Book one in the series, Logan, is a very nice opener. Logan is an extremely likable character, and you really enjoy watching him try to do the right thing after a lifetime of not. His relationship with Briana and her sons is believable right from the start. You can feel the attraction between Briana and Logan, which helps the believability of the story for me because, let's be honest, the whole point of romance novels is a suspension of belief. I can only suspend my belief so far, though, before I want to put the book down. I also found Briana likeable. I enjoyed her role as mother trying to tough it out for the sake of her boys. When she did need to lean on Logan for support, I was actually rooting for her to let her guard down. The plot twists helped move the story quickly along, and by the end, I definitely wanted Briana and Logan together.
Book two in the series, Dylan, was by far my favorite. Something about the romance between Dylan and Kristy just enthralled me. Dylan is the most likeable Creed brother in my opinion. His relationship with his daughter is adorable, and he is the peacemaker between his two brothers. His history with Kristy makes it easy to believe the way they pick up again when he swings back into town. The only problems I had with this book were the portrayl of Dylan's ex (and daughter Bonnie's mother), and the portrayl of the daughter Bonnie. The little girl is supposed to be 2, but she's already completely potty trained while having very few words. Unrealistic portrayls of little kids always bugs me. That said, the portrayl of her mother, Sharlene, which I felt was fairly two dimensional. Overall, though, I was sad to see this book end.
Book three in the series, Tyler, was my least favorite book in the series. Tyler was the hardest character for me to like. And there were a lot of unresolved sub-plots. I almost feel like the author took on too many details, and summarily forgot about a handful of them. And Lily, the female protaganist, felt a little two dimensional. This book also had the most explicit lovemaking in the series. The problem I had with these scenes is that the connection between Lily and Tyler never quite felt real to me. Their attraction was all say so, and not so much on a deeper level. Still despite my problems with the book, I think it was well worth the read to wrap up the series.
The epilogue for the whole series was happily cheesy as one would expect, with marriages, babies, and happiness.
Challenge #3: My own self-imposed challenge
I am challenging myself to read at least one nonfiction book a month, for a minimum total of 12 during 2010.
If anyone out there is also reading nonfiction books, I'd love to hear what you are reading.
If anyone out there is also reading nonfiction books, I'd love to hear what you are reading.
Challenge #2: Romance Novel Reading Challenge
Okay, so romance novels have always been my guilty pleasure. If I have a reason to read them, you bet I will.
I am participating at the challenge over here:
Royal Reviews.
My goal is to reach the Addicted level of 12 books.
I am participating at the challenge over here:
Royal Reviews.
My goal is to reach the Addicted level of 12 books.
Challenge #1: J. Kaye's 100 Books in 2010
As I mentioned in my intro post, I am challenging myself to read at least 100 books in 2010 so this challeng is perfect for me.
My books read will be listed in my sidebar.
If you want to check out the challenge:
J. Kaye's Book Blog.
My books read will be listed in my sidebar.
If you want to check out the challenge:
J. Kaye's Book Blog.
Introductions and Such
I am a 30 year old happily married mom of two adorable little boys who works part time with teenagers as a youth director for a Lutheran church.
I love books. I don't know when I learned to read, but I don't have a time in my concious memory when I didn't have books in my life. I will pretty much read anything, although I do tend to read a lot of young adult books.
One of the greatest joys in my life is being able to pass my love of books on to my little boys. My three year old loves to sit through book after book, and my one year old loves to "read" books to us or himself.
The purpose of this blog is to record the books I read throughout this year (2010) complete with reviews. I am challenging myself to read at least 100 books this year.
Let the challenge begin.
I love books. I don't know when I learned to read, but I don't have a time in my concious memory when I didn't have books in my life. I will pretty much read anything, although I do tend to read a lot of young adult books.
One of the greatest joys in my life is being able to pass my love of books on to my little boys. My three year old loves to sit through book after book, and my one year old loves to "read" books to us or himself.
The purpose of this blog is to record the books I read throughout this year (2010) complete with reviews. I am challenging myself to read at least 100 books this year.
Let the challenge begin.
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