If I Stay by Gayle Forman
August 31st, 2013
This is a story about a girl that goes on a drive to visit her grandparents with her parents and younger brother, they get into a horrific accident, where everyone in the car dies but Mia. This story is strange as it is told by Mia, who is in a coma most of the story. It goes back to tell about her family, her love of the cello and classical music, her best friend and the guy she falls in love with.
All in all a very strange take on a given life changing situation. I know other people that have read this book and have given it 5 stars, I humbly gave it 3 and that was reaching. It wasn't a god awful read like the one by Jenny Lawson, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones
This was a great book in my opinion! It had a small town setting with many people that all came to know each other and their business. So Mayberry-ish. Their was a preacher and his wife and they had 5 boys (gulp), and then they meddled in everyone's affairs, and yes there were a few affairs.
With the hustle and bustle of so many books having so many plots and twists this was a real good feel good kind of read. I enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. It wasn't so predictable as some books tend to me.
I am growing by leaps and bounds in my reading material and can't wait to start reading my next book and see what adventure it will take me on.
Bloom by Kelle Hampton
I can't begin to imagine how it feels when you know you are having a second baby...and then you learn something is wrong with it. I am sure you imagine how healthy your firstborn is and all that this second baby will add to your family, but when you learn the baby has Down Syndrome your world seems to turn upside down. I can only suppose, as I have an only child.
Not really sure what I was expecting from this book, I liked it, and I hated it. Like I stated, I can not even begin to imagine being told something is wrong with your baby. To me the book had too much emphasis on the disappointment in finding out this news. Like it went on and on. I kept wanting to cheer for the 2nd baby--Nella. The story, thankfully, turned around and this couple loves both of their daughters, and for that I was thankful.
It was a hard read but I would definitely recommend it.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Patting myself on the back
With 2 months to go from today with my summer reading bucket list, I have read 10 out of the 20 books! I only hated one! Those are pretty good odds thus far.
I had to switch out one book, after reviewing the book list, Starting Now by Debbie Maccomber, I discovered is part of a series and #10 in the series. I don't like, usually, books in a series. I tend to lose interest, some are exceptions of course. So I switched out that book for Secrets over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones. Another author I have never read, and I found it on the Nook Daily Find for $1.99. So, I decided to give it a whirl!
I have so much fun in this reading adventure, it gets your mind off of every day things in life, and sets your mind free. I love it!!
I had to switch out one book, after reviewing the book list, Starting Now by Debbie Maccomber, I discovered is part of a series and #10 in the series. I don't like, usually, books in a series. I tend to lose interest, some are exceptions of course. So I switched out that book for Secrets over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones. Another author I have never read, and I found it on the Nook Daily Find for $1.99. So, I decided to give it a whirl!
I have so much fun in this reading adventure, it gets your mind off of every day things in life, and sets your mind free. I love it!!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Allow me to introduce to you....Mr J.R. Martinez
My review of Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirt by J. R. Martinez
When I first saw J. R. Martinez was when he played a role on All My Children. I thought at first, that he must have been badly burnt in a fire or a wreck. Later he wow'ed the audiences on Dancing with the Stars. I admit I never really got into the whole hype about Dancing with the Stars, but when he was on it was the first time I watched the entire season. Not just because of J.R. I liked Rob Kardashian, yep the cat is out of the bag, and a few others I don't remember now who all the cast was. But J.R. and his partner Karina managed to dance their way to the very end and win the title of best dance couple.
Recently, as I was perusing books to read, and by authors I have never read before, I came across his book. I have learned so much from his book. Not only did I find several quotes that I have thoroughly enjoyed and have pinned up in my cubicle at work, but that this young man had to go through so much in his life at a young age and to see all the obstacles he had to overcome.
Turns out when he was 19 he was in the Army in Iraq and had been there less than one month when he and his buddies drove over a roadside bomb and he was burned over 34% of his body. At age 19. All of the surgeries he had to endure, and he came out of all of this, a positive person and began motivating other burn victims. He could have easily sat in his hospital room and refused to eat or talk to anyone, he did for awhile and blamed the wrong people, but somehow, he managed to turn what had happened to him into a tool, and went to spread the message out to others that needed to hear the words he delivered.
I enjoyed the book. He now has a girlfriend and a daughter. :) Reviews I read said they hated the book because to some it sounded like he did a lot of bragging in his book. After all he has been through, I certainly think he is entitled to brag a little. One interesting thing I found, I thought he was a black man, turns out he was Mexican, the result of his burns and injuries really made him look completely different.
I would highly recommend this book. It will give you a new insight on your life and may just inspire you to motivate yourself and others in areas you may need that little pep talk!
When I first saw J. R. Martinez was when he played a role on All My Children. I thought at first, that he must have been badly burnt in a fire or a wreck. Later he wow'ed the audiences on Dancing with the Stars. I admit I never really got into the whole hype about Dancing with the Stars, but when he was on it was the first time I watched the entire season. Not just because of J.R. I liked Rob Kardashian, yep the cat is out of the bag, and a few others I don't remember now who all the cast was. But J.R. and his partner Karina managed to dance their way to the very end and win the title of best dance couple.
Recently, as I was perusing books to read, and by authors I have never read before, I came across his book. I have learned so much from his book. Not only did I find several quotes that I have thoroughly enjoyed and have pinned up in my cubicle at work, but that this young man had to go through so much in his life at a young age and to see all the obstacles he had to overcome.
Turns out when he was 19 he was in the Army in Iraq and had been there less than one month when he and his buddies drove over a roadside bomb and he was burned over 34% of his body. At age 19. All of the surgeries he had to endure, and he came out of all of this, a positive person and began motivating other burn victims. He could have easily sat in his hospital room and refused to eat or talk to anyone, he did for awhile and blamed the wrong people, but somehow, he managed to turn what had happened to him into a tool, and went to spread the message out to others that needed to hear the words he delivered.
I enjoyed the book. He now has a girlfriend and a daughter. :) Reviews I read said they hated the book because to some it sounded like he did a lot of bragging in his book. After all he has been through, I certainly think he is entitled to brag a little. One interesting thing I found, I thought he was a black man, turns out he was Mexican, the result of his burns and injuries really made him look completely different.
I would highly recommend this book. It will give you a new insight on your life and may just inspire you to motivate yourself and others in areas you may need that little pep talk!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Barnes & Noble Plug
Ever since I got my Nook Color almost 2 years ago, here lately I have been reading my summer bucket list of books on the Nook, and I love it! Sure, some books, like my Jackie Collins collection I will buy and own all hardbooks from her, but for the most part my Nook books are the bomb diggity!
With that being said, Barnes & Noble sends me something called "Daily Find" where they spotlight certain books from all genres and discount them graciously, some are 99 cents, and the most expensive I have seen are $3.99. I have gotten one book from this Daily Find deal so far, and am looking forward to reading it in the near future.
I also get excited when I see the Daily Find email pop up, hoping it is a book that I will find worthy of my time and my hard earned dollars. :) I am not sure if this is only for Nook readers, or if it is open to everyone. Look it up on their website, if you want to know for sure. If you are able to take advantage of this wonderful service, it is a great way to find your next favorite book or author. :)
With that being said, Barnes & Noble sends me something called "Daily Find" where they spotlight certain books from all genres and discount them graciously, some are 99 cents, and the most expensive I have seen are $3.99. I have gotten one book from this Daily Find deal so far, and am looking forward to reading it in the near future.
I also get excited when I see the Daily Find email pop up, hoping it is a book that I will find worthy of my time and my hard earned dollars. :) I am not sure if this is only for Nook readers, or if it is open to everyone. Look it up on their website, if you want to know for sure. If you are able to take advantage of this wonderful service, it is a great way to find your next favorite book or author. :)
Very Predictable
Review for: Beth Harbison's "Always Something There to Remind Me
This book I was intrigued by in a book store in Indy when I was there visiting my daughter, and since I had never read anything by this author, I decided to take a gander and read this book.
The story line is predictable, therefore, even though I liked it, I didn't love it. And the way it was written, where the author takes you back when she was a teenager, then all of a sudden she was living in the present again and the entire book was like that. I don't like watching movies like this, so reading a book with this same style was making my head swim.
I wouldn't mind reading another book by Beth Harbison, but something that puts me on the edge of my seat, or at the very least let's me form opinions on what I think might happen in the story.
With that being said, I am a sucker for a happy ending that is for sure. And true love finding two hearts that belong together. Awwww!
This book I was intrigued by in a book store in Indy when I was there visiting my daughter, and since I had never read anything by this author, I decided to take a gander and read this book.
The story line is predictable, therefore, even though I liked it, I didn't love it. And the way it was written, where the author takes you back when she was a teenager, then all of a sudden she was living in the present again and the entire book was like that. I don't like watching movies like this, so reading a book with this same style was making my head swim.
I wouldn't mind reading another book by Beth Harbison, but something that puts me on the edge of my seat, or at the very least let's me form opinions on what I think might happen in the story.
With that being said, I am a sucker for a happy ending that is for sure. And true love finding two hearts that belong together. Awwww!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Foxy Knoxy
My review on Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir by Amanda Knox
Everyone has their own opinions on whether Amanda Knox is truly guilty or truly innocent, no no one, however can say for sure, because quite simply we weren't there.
I have always been fascinated with this case, not sure why. I am not some crazy person that likes to hear or read about murders. I think it was more or less this young girl wanted to study abroad and thought she had her whole life in front of her. Then this tragedy took place and has changed her life forever.
I may be going out on a limb here, but I think she is innocent. Again, no one really knows for sure because we weren't there, but after reading her book, true, this is her side of the story and I haven't seen any of the victim's family come out to write to have their story heard, so I can only go what I have heard in the media and now having read the book.
I can't even begin to imagine, a young girl, such as Foxy Knoxy (her nickname she earned playing soccer, not anywhere that nickname suggests otherwise) what all she went through trying to survive in prision, then the countless hours spent with her attorneys and each time they thought she would go free only to be led straight back to her cell. What a let down that must have been!
Thankfully she didn't have to serve the entire sentence she started out with but I am sure she served more than she should have. Poor Amanda, and her family and the lives this destroyed overall. I think she simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
I know, as I stated above, some think she is guilty. That is fine, that is your opinion and now you have read mine.
I would give this book an A.
Everyone has their own opinions on whether Amanda Knox is truly guilty or truly innocent, no no one, however can say for sure, because quite simply we weren't there.
I have always been fascinated with this case, not sure why. I am not some crazy person that likes to hear or read about murders. I think it was more or less this young girl wanted to study abroad and thought she had her whole life in front of her. Then this tragedy took place and has changed her life forever.
I may be going out on a limb here, but I think she is innocent. Again, no one really knows for sure because we weren't there, but after reading her book, true, this is her side of the story and I haven't seen any of the victim's family come out to write to have their story heard, so I can only go what I have heard in the media and now having read the book.
I can't even begin to imagine, a young girl, such as Foxy Knoxy (her nickname she earned playing soccer, not anywhere that nickname suggests otherwise) what all she went through trying to survive in prision, then the countless hours spent with her attorneys and each time they thought she would go free only to be led straight back to her cell. What a let down that must have been!
Thankfully she didn't have to serve the entire sentence she started out with but I am sure she served more than she should have. Poor Amanda, and her family and the lives this destroyed overall. I think she simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
I know, as I stated above, some think she is guilty. That is fine, that is your opinion and now you have read mine.
I would give this book an A.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
An Excellent Read, IMHO
My review of: A Stolen Life, by Jaycee Dugard
I seem to be drawn to the autobiographies and memoirs lately. This one did not disappoint, for me. It, in fact, was one that I had a hard time putting down. I just cant begin to imagine being kidnapped at such a young age, and having to go through the awful things, Jaycee's captor put her through.
Things go on like this in the world, much more than we know, or realize, and it makes me feel that society lets these people down. Not all are killed, but are tortured day in and day out of their lives and we, think they are dead because they have been missing from the area they were last seen in for years, and we just kind of shake our heads after so long and get on with our lives so to speak.
I can't even imagine if this were to happen to Brittanee at any time. With that being said, to be raped at the age of 14 and living in a garage or shed and having to do your business in a bucket and hope your captor feels like changing or emptying this bucket after a few days, and having children with this young girl while your wife is a few feet away in the house with your sick mother!
More and more the world as we know it has become such a crazy place, but this book takes you through her horrible journey and how she managed to come out of as sane as she has (even though she and her daughters will need several years of therapy) is just remarkable. She is not hiding in her house, she is getting out more now and less media seems interested in bombarding her and the new life she is trying to make.
I would recommend this book, only if you can handle it. It's not that is graphic, but it may take you out of your comfort zone a little.
I would give this book an A. See you on the next book review, coming soon!
I seem to be drawn to the autobiographies and memoirs lately. This one did not disappoint, for me. It, in fact, was one that I had a hard time putting down. I just cant begin to imagine being kidnapped at such a young age, and having to go through the awful things, Jaycee's captor put her through.
Things go on like this in the world, much more than we know, or realize, and it makes me feel that society lets these people down. Not all are killed, but are tortured day in and day out of their lives and we, think they are dead because they have been missing from the area they were last seen in for years, and we just kind of shake our heads after so long and get on with our lives so to speak.
I can't even imagine if this were to happen to Brittanee at any time. With that being said, to be raped at the age of 14 and living in a garage or shed and having to do your business in a bucket and hope your captor feels like changing or emptying this bucket after a few days, and having children with this young girl while your wife is a few feet away in the house with your sick mother!
More and more the world as we know it has become such a crazy place, but this book takes you through her horrible journey and how she managed to come out of as sane as she has (even though she and her daughters will need several years of therapy) is just remarkable. She is not hiding in her house, she is getting out more now and less media seems interested in bombarding her and the new life she is trying to make.
I would recommend this book, only if you can handle it. It's not that is graphic, but it may take you out of your comfort zone a little.
I would give this book an A. See you on the next book review, coming soon!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Can't always judge a book by its a cover
So, I am still trying to get through my summer reading bucket list and have had to set a new deadline because I was crazy thinking I could possibly read 20 books in 2 months. Now the new extension will take me to October 15th, 2013. I sure hope I can accomplish this.
The book I am currently reading is "Let's Pretend this never happened, a mostly true memoir" by Jenny Lawson. I had been at Sam's one day and I usually peruse the book aisle to see what new and exciting treasure may be waiting for me to take home. I saw this said book and decided to add it to my bucket list, it sounded, let's say intriguing. Before buying it to read on my Nook, I also read many reviews. They boasted about this book being so funny it was hard to keep tears running down your cheeks while reading it and if reading it out in public getting weird looks when you were bowled over laughing so hard from this book.
With all of that under my belt so to speak, I decided to read it on my Nook. I was forwarned about the extensive use or over use in this case of the F bomb. That doesn't really bother me one way or the other, true, I don't like that word, but it wouldnt deter me of reading a book.
Let me just say this is by far the most unusual, NOT funny book, and as my mom likes to say "it has no hands or no feet." Basically it is a bunch of jibberish and I can't believe any publisher would want to have their name as an endorser of this book. I do not like this book, I would never recommend this book, and I won't be reading it ever again! But I put it on my bucket list to challenge me, for my upcoming writing debut, reading different authors. Getting a feel, if you will, of other writing styles not just the ones that I have been reading all my life. I broke out of my comfort zone and what an interesting ride this has been!
For instance this book goes into great detail in one chapter how this woman and her husband tried to have children, and many times because the woman has some kind of blood disorder she has several miscarriages. Then they find a medicine and put her on it and she is better and can have babies. So she gives birth finally to a daughter (yay for her) and then the next chapter tells all about her vagina. Seriously? Who cares about that subject and why on earth would you devote an entire chapter about that?! And then if that isn't bizarre enough it throws you into the next chapter where all she talks about is having an anxiety disorder. This I can totally symphathize with and is no joking matter! However, again another chapter devoted to on and on how she talks to herself, she doesnt like to ask for directions and gets lost easily even though her husband bought her a GPS and then she goes off in another direction and says that when she and her husband attend parties she stands in the corner talking to herself and never once mentioning her baby anymore.
True, I am not even half way through this awful book, and I am really trying to read 2-3 chapters of this per day. Sometimes it is hard to even read that. I am not exaggerating, this is the worst book EVER!!
The book I am currently reading is "Let's Pretend this never happened, a mostly true memoir" by Jenny Lawson. I had been at Sam's one day and I usually peruse the book aisle to see what new and exciting treasure may be waiting for me to take home. I saw this said book and decided to add it to my bucket list, it sounded, let's say intriguing. Before buying it to read on my Nook, I also read many reviews. They boasted about this book being so funny it was hard to keep tears running down your cheeks while reading it and if reading it out in public getting weird looks when you were bowled over laughing so hard from this book.
With all of that under my belt so to speak, I decided to read it on my Nook. I was forwarned about the extensive use or over use in this case of the F bomb. That doesn't really bother me one way or the other, true, I don't like that word, but it wouldnt deter me of reading a book.
Let me just say this is by far the most unusual, NOT funny book, and as my mom likes to say "it has no hands or no feet." Basically it is a bunch of jibberish and I can't believe any publisher would want to have their name as an endorser of this book. I do not like this book, I would never recommend this book, and I won't be reading it ever again! But I put it on my bucket list to challenge me, for my upcoming writing debut, reading different authors. Getting a feel, if you will, of other writing styles not just the ones that I have been reading all my life. I broke out of my comfort zone and what an interesting ride this has been!
For instance this book goes into great detail in one chapter how this woman and her husband tried to have children, and many times because the woman has some kind of blood disorder she has several miscarriages. Then they find a medicine and put her on it and she is better and can have babies. So she gives birth finally to a daughter (yay for her) and then the next chapter tells all about her vagina. Seriously? Who cares about that subject and why on earth would you devote an entire chapter about that?! And then if that isn't bizarre enough it throws you into the next chapter where all she talks about is having an anxiety disorder. This I can totally symphathize with and is no joking matter! However, again another chapter devoted to on and on how she talks to herself, she doesnt like to ask for directions and gets lost easily even though her husband bought her a GPS and then she goes off in another direction and says that when she and her husband attend parties she stands in the corner talking to herself and never once mentioning her baby anymore.
True, I am not even half way through this awful book, and I am really trying to read 2-3 chapters of this per day. Sometimes it is hard to even read that. I am not exaggerating, this is the worst book EVER!!
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