One Summer

I have very little to say about this book. I read it for my book club and hated it. The writing was boring, the story line was OVERLY predictable and it seemed like a romance novel gone bad. 

I would not recommend it to anyone. Ha!

Read September 2011

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

 Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

I read this book for my Book Club. I was very skeptical at first and did not think I would like it at all. I had a hard time getting into the book, but then all of a sudden it just picked up!

The book focus is on 5 women who were wives and mothers living on the same street in the 60's. The women decide to start a book club to give them some adult time and female companionship. The author picked moments out of their lives and narrated it through different characters. The book continued on until the late 90's and the readers were able to learn of so many things in these women’s lives. Religion, politics, gay children, abuse, and adoption to name a few.

I loved the book. It gave such insight to the times the women lived in and what true friendship means. Being in a book clubmyself it really touched home with me. I recommend the book for anyone in a book club or adult women of any age!

Read July 2011



Room

Heads up: This review is going to be full of spoilers!

Room is written from the point of view of a 5 year old. As most 5 yr olds are sheltered, Jack has only lived in a 12x12 room for his entire life. There is no outside world except thru the TV. He was told that everything on the TV is made up and knows no better. Jack's mother is only know through the book as "Ma". We know there has to be reasons that they live in this small space and why there is delieveries from an older man named Old Nick.
Room was hard to understand at first. The reader has to understand what Jack means when he describes objects and events. He sees things as Ma has taught him and has had no exposure to other people. He even stays in the wardrobe when Old Nick comes in to Room. Ma plays games and tries to occupy their time so that he will be an smart young man. She tries to keep her mind busy to pass the time. She does the best that she can do with the little that they have.
When they do leave Room and head out into the real world the book really picked up for me. I read most of that with in one sitting. It was interesting to see them (especially Jack) adapt and learn what the world is like. There are many family members and doctors introduced into Jack's life. He has trouble understanding how big the world is and how things work. He doesn't understand why it can not just be him and Ma all the time and has severe detachment issues. We do see Jack take some small steps into a new life but not everything always goes as planned.
I really suggest this book to anyone. It is an interesting read and hard to read at some points.

The Art Of Racing In The Rain

This was a Book Club pick. I have seen this at book stores before but never picked it up. I wish I would have read this book sooner. It is a fantastic read for anyone who has a pet!

Being a dog lover and having a dog all of my life this book hit home with the idea of, “What are they thinking?" I loved the way that Stein told the story through Enzo's (the family dog) perspective. This was not a happy story. It starts on the last day of Enzo's life and is a look back on what happened in his 11 years.

Denny, Enzo's master is what the book focused on. We learn about the relationship between Master and pet and what a man with a family can endure. But the reader also learns the daily activities and desires of Man's Best Friend. 

I cried a few times, felt anger and happiness. What more can you ask for from a book? This was a great read.

Read March 2011

The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes

This book was a pick from my Book Club. I have never heard of Chamberlain before but she has it written over 15 books. This book was a fast read. The story of Cee Cee was beautifully written and interesting.
In the beginning of the book I was not sure that I would enjoy the story. The beginning plot seemed overly explained and there was so much detail that I felt as if I knew every thing about the character and would not learn more. I was wrong.  By the middle of the book I found my self thinking of what was going on with the characters when I was not reading the story. I was putting myself in the main characters and secondary characters shoes.
Chamberlain raises a lot of questions on the right way to "parent" and raise a child? What do you do when the truth is unfolding in front of your eyes? Also who are you when you have no family? I think this is a great book and a good read for just about any woman. The book raised a lot of great discussion questions for the book club and I find myself recommending it to others.
Read January 2011

Eat, Pray, Love

I read this book a few years ago, but my Book Club picked it for this month. I did not like it the first time, and I didn't like it again. I thought I would give it a second chance and start fresh. I could not get into it and it just annoyed me to no end.
I think the idea of a woman who took a self indulgent year off to travel whines way too much. I think the book is interesting, however I found many phrases repeated. I think many women who have gone through a divorce would love some time off and travel. But I think for this to be a 'true' story there are too many lucky breaks and coincidences in it. I feel like Liz's marriage to her husband was 'the next step', she made a bad choice getting married and knew it. Her husband had his heart broken and wanted ALL of the money they had. I can understand her wanting out, but I can understand his wanting the money.
Liz herself says that she is taking a year off from men. Then ends the book in a relationship. It seems to me that the author doesn't like to be alone.
The best part of the book for me was Italy. Liz's description of Loneliness and Depression was great. Her time in the Ashram was repetitive but it was interesting to an extent. I wouldn't say that I would not recommend the book, but it would not be something I would be suggesting people read.
August 2010

Promises to Keep

This book was a pick for my Book Club, but I wanted to read it on my own also.
The book had me sobbing at one point and laughing at another. Green revolved the book around 2 sisters and their family. Callie is married and living in a nice house with her husband and 2 kids. Steffi is a girl on the move, who is unsure of where life is taking her. These sisters have a beautiful relationship despite their differences.
In the book one sister becomes very sick and we see how her family and friends pull together for each other. The book touches on what marriage is to different people and what would you do if illness came to your family.
I really enjoyed the book. I think that some parts were a bit predictable. However it is a fun read and really touching. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to other people.
Read July 2010

The Help

What an amazing book! I loved this story as well as all the characters. Stockett did a great job of telling this story through many voices.
I felt like the story ended abruptly. The story made me want to learn more. I read this book for my book club and we all agreed it would be amazing to hear the story through the children that are represented in the book. Aibileen and Minny are two of the maids, who tell the story of this book. They show how different life is for a "Niggra" maid compared to Skeeter the young white woman that wants to write about their lives.
The book has a lot great historical references of the times. I loved these books and it was really a wonderful read.

Read May 2010

I'm So Happy For You

So glad to be done reading this book.

It was a quick read, but not a GOOD read. It was melodramatic and just not the kind of "chick lit" that I have enjoyed in the past. The story was ok. I mean there are a lot of women out there with 'friend-enemies". However this plot was just too much. I found it to be predictable and boring. It is not something I would recommend. I read this for a light summer read for book club.

Read August 2009

Chocolat

This was one of the strange times where I have seen the movie before I read the book. I liked the movie, yet I loved the book. I think the author, Harris, really caught me up in the 'voices' of each character.
This is the story about an outsider moving into a small town in France. The locals are curious however the town Priest is not happy about her arrival. The Priest seems to be trying (in vain) to get his parishioners to like him and come back to god. He views the woman and her child as sinners and possibly a witch. He believes that unless she is run out of town, the town will be come tarnished and indulge in immoral acts.
Vianne is a strong single mother. She is a business woman as well as a friend. The way that she is described and narrates her story through out the book you really get a sense of who she is as a person. In many ways she becomes a friend to the villagers and to the people passing through the town.
I think that the story is a quick read. I am glad I read the book after the movie. The movie is different from the book, yet both are a fun and fast story.
Read July 2009

Hunger Games

I found this story to be a quick read and very disturbing at the same time.

This book is about the country of Panem, which is the former United States of America. In the 12 districts that make up Panem, every year 2 children between 12-18 years old are sent to fight for their lives in the arena known as Hunger Games. Who ever makes it to the end.. after all the other 23 kids have been killed is the winner.

This 'game' is to remind the districts that the Government is in control and can take away anything they want to. The Game, which includes children murdering each other as well as other disturbing events is shown across Panem for the districts to view.

Katniss is the main character in the story and is the District 12 female tribute for the games. She is clever and rough around the edges. The stories that are shared about her childhood through the games really give you insight into the world to which she lives in.

I liked the book. I know there is a second book after this one revolving around the same story and I plan on reading that one too. This was a selection for one of my book clubs and I would not have read it other wise. I am glad that I did.

Read July 2009

Memoirs of a Geisha

I was highly reluctant to read this book. This was chosen as a Book Club selection. I thought that I had no interest in the world of a Geisha or Japan, with in 50 pages I was hooked!

I was quickly entertained and interested in the life of these Geisha. I had no idea of what being a Geisha involved. Although this book is not 100% accurate to what a Geisha would do or go through, I have learned a lot from it.The details of their daily lives and the struggles during the war were very interesting. I was very happy with the style of writing and the way that the story was told. You learned about a girl through most of her life until adulthood. Sayuri is faced with many challenges from when she lived in her crooked house with her family, till she made her way to New York.

This book was great! I know I will recommend it to my family and friends. I read it with in a few days and was shocked on how much I really did enjoy it.

Read June 2009

The Time Traveler's Wife

This book was not like any of books I have read before. I was confused by the dates and ages through out the book. However it was a story that makes you wonder about love and what life means to you. I was undecided if the main character, Claire was smart or a fool. We learn so much about her and her life through out the story. I wanted her to act out more or change her path.

It set the question in my head of what would you do now, if you knew what your future would become. There is a span of years in this book that reached from the late 70's to present day.

Henry, the other main character is sometimes sweet and polite, then switches to some one who is mean and angry. We see a man who has trouble understanding himself and the world around him. His only constant is Claire.

Read June 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

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