Plain Truth

I was taken deep into this one.
I think it is because I can remember going to the Amish parts of Pennsylvania, and not understand as a kid, why these people were so different. This story explains why they believe what they do, and what is the family dynamic really like in an Amish Home.
It was sad to know that a young woman in this kind of town would go through so much to hide a baby. Also it was a contrast to see the "city slicker" lawyer who thought she knew it all, but was able to get to know and become part of the family. The book touched on the idea of forgiveness in their community versus in the courtroom. It showed also that the Elders of the community have a strong hand in every one's daily actions.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I didn't know what was the truth and who was "to blame" but it was a very interesting and well written and descriptive book.


Read - August 2008

The Pact

I feel like The Pact was similar to 19 Minutes, which I loved. It is hard to imagine living in a jail for 7 months as an 18 year old, with your life in someone elses hands.
However Emily and Chris, held each others lives in their hands. Is it possible to love someone so much that you become part of them and them part of you.. yes I think so. However, where do you draw the line? I find the idea of offering up the gun for someone else to take their life gut wrenching and sad. I do not think that I could have ever done that.
Picoult's writing is beautiful. The pages fly by, and the story is engrossing. There are so many things I liked about this book, the bond between two families, the relationship between Chris and Emily, from childhood to their late teens. I was surprised by the truth. I was expecting something different. I think that the events that lead to Emily wanting to take her own life could have been avoided. I don't know if I can agree with the role that Chris played in her life, as well as death.

Read April 2009

The Red Tent

I read this as the second choice for book club. I was highly skeptical at first about this book, then I was quickly wrapped up in the story. This story is taken from a quick blurb in bible, about the daughter of Jacob. It starts before Dinah's birth and takes you on the journey of her entire life.
The book talks about the relationships between families and what ties one person to another, and how connections are made. It had so many layers to it that it is hard to explain in a review. I was wrapped into the story of a girl growing among women.
There are graphic and sad accounts of peoples lives through out this book also. I cried a few times through out reading. It gives you insight into the roles of women and men in one period of time, but how they differ in different regions. I also enjoyed how it played into the relationship between women, and how they view each other.
At first I had trouble remember the intricate relationships of the characters and found myself looking at the family 'tree' in the front of the book. But with in the first 100 pages, I understood all their importance in Dinah's life.

Read April 2009

Re-visiting "The Virgin Blue"

After meeting and discussing "The Virgin Blue" with the women in the book club, there were elements of the story that really changed for me. Although I think my feelings on this book are still the same- I was able to gain some new insight to the story.
We discussed what happen to Isabelle- did she die, was she murdered, or did she just leave her husband a family? It seemed to me she was murdered. In the novel the last thing that is written from her point of view was that she discovered the new Hearth and then "everything went black".
Was Ella's affair acceptable being how she was treated and the lack of love from her husband. Also the similarities of the husbands and their role in Isabelle and Ella's lives. There was discussion of the view of the mid-wives and paganism.

I gained a lot more understanding of every ones roles in the story. I still feel that their was a lot of jumping around and it was hard to understand how much time past in the characters lives.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was a book that was chosen for an online book club that I have joined. This book was almost abandoned be me a few times. I wasn't getting sucked into the story about this poor family and their hardships. However when I mentioned to a few people that I was reading it, they all told me it was one of their all time favorites. I can not say that I feel the same. I was happy to done with the book and although I did find a couple of laughs and tears in the book, it is not something I would pick up and read again.
The women in the book are all very different and yet the same. They are doing all they can to help get their families by. I think that it is a good book, and written beautifully, however, it just wasn't something I could say was a favorite.

-Read March 2009