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.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
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.
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