Book Review: Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
February 15, 2010
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an another awesome book by Brandon Sanderson. Not quite as good as the Mistborn Series, but still a very entertaining read. Sanderson has such a talent for creating wonderful characters. He also keeps you guessing until the end of the book (again!) about how the story will end. Another original, not run of the mill, fantasy book!
Book Review: The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
February 12, 2010
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am still thinking about this book even though it’s been a few weeks since I’ve finished it. It is a very thought-provoking story. I liked how the different chapters were the voice of the different characters. It took me out of my own little sheltered world into Africa and reminded me how fortunate I am. We just don’t really think about people and how they live in other parts of the world.
If what this book says about the politics of our country and others it makes you wonder what you really know about what goes on and if international politics is really based as much on money as Barbara Kingsolver leads you to believe. Human beings can be so cruel to each other; even our own families, like the indifferent, unkind father in this book. This book will stay with me for a while.
Book Review: Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
February 12, 2010
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. It is such a great story with great characters! I love Dickens subtle humor and moral lessons. Listened to this on my commute back and forth every day and it made the drive enjoyable!
All My Intentions & Some Good Books
January 21, 2010
It’s a new year, a new decade. You’d think I’d come up with some good resolutions or something wouldn’t you? Like being a better blogger who actually posts once a week. I am always thinking of stuff to post, but then I procrastinate. Procrastination….I am an expert at that! If I could change one thing about myself it would be that. Getting rid of that alone would move me forward to meeting a lot of my goals, dreams, ideas, unfinished projects, losing weight, etc., etc. I always have such good intentions, but then that procrastination thing ruins them. I am always feeling like I live my life half finished all the time! I remember telling Dave’s mom once that I do a lot of things, but I don’t do any of them really well. I’m not sure if I’m just lazy or a perfectionist who knows it won’t be perfect so I get discouraged before I even try. Hmmmm…. maybe a little of both 
.
Anyway, here’s a couple of books that I finished reading. Feels good to say that “finished”. See I do finish some things! Although it’s taking me longer to read books as I just have to snatch a minute or two here and there. And I have this annoying habit of reading more than one book at a time. Here’s a couple I have actually finished:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved this book! Charming, witty, funny, and I loved the way it is written as letters back and forth between different characters. Takes place just after WWII and the German occupation of the island of Guernsey off the coast of England. A fictional story with a historical fiction setting.
My Antonia by Willa Cather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think what I loved most about this book was the lovely descriptions of nature and the awareness of the main character. I also liked the whole growing up story of Jim and his recollections and memories of things later in life as he looks back to tell the story.
I’ve also been listening to some books on tape in the car driving to work. I sure does help the time pass faster. There are actually quite a few free ones if they are public domain books. Right now I am listening to Charles Dickens Great Expectations. My awesome hubby got me a FM transmitter that works with my Blackberry and my Ipod so I can listen to either one. So cool!
Just a quick little update. I’ll be posting more soon about our Christmas and other things we have going on.
Book Review – The Lovely Bones
November 7, 2009
I knew this was coming out as a movie this winter so I decided to read it. Don’t know if I will watch the movie. Kind of ruins it for me because they don’t usually do books justice with movies. They miss a lot of the depth. This wasn’t always easy to read, especially if you have kids. You read it and just hope and pray nothing like this would ever happen, but then the book moves on from the murder and actually is the story of Susie watching her family from heaven and trying to help and be there and her family struggles with her death.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was totally caught up in the story of this book and the lives of the family and friends Susie Salmon leaves behind when she is murdered. Also caught up in Susie’s watching and “haunting” of those family and friends and her murderer. It’s interesting to read a story about how a violent death of someone affects the people around them and how they cope, or don’t, and how it changes them all. View all my reviews >>
Book Review – The Briar King
November 1, 2009
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this fantasy read. It was well written and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next to each of the characters. Some new and different things here from most of the fantasy I read which is a nice change of pace. Lots of flipping around to follow the differently characters, but I liked them all well enough that I didn’t mind. I will be ordering the rest of the series to read for sure.
Book Review – Wrinkle In Time
September 23, 2009
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s funny that I have read almost every Madeleine L’Engle book but this series. For most people I’m sure these are what they read first. L’Engle has always been a favorite of mine and reading these books was like returning to a childhood friend, and I remember the feelings reading her books has always given me. I was impressed in this book of her references to faith and spiritual things. I think I may set these aside for me to read the whole series this winter to my kids.
Book Review – The Graveyard Book
September 23, 2009
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great, imaginative story! At first I was a little worried by the opening chapter and wondered about how dark this book was going to be. (My 10 year wouldn’t even let me finish reading Coraline to her because she thought it was too scary.) This story is very charming with a great main character who is raised by ghosts and “others” in a graveyard.
Book Review – The Wednesday Wars
September 14, 2009
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great book. It had plenty of humor and feel good moments. I loved all the Shakespeare references and lines. It shows how a good teacher can really influence someone and help them to start to see their own possibilities.
Thanks to my Brother In Law Ben who recommended this book!
Recent Books Read
July 28, 2009
In spite of the crazy summer I have managed to get a few books read. Mostly during the times (4 weekends in a row) that we have been camping. It’s been nice to sit and relax and read, but then very distracting at home when I have tons of stuff to do and I’d rather sit on the couch and read. It’s always been a battle for me – read a book, or do the dishes….mmmmm….the dishes will still be there right?
Here are a couple of the books I have read. I received Olive Kitteridge through Goodreads First Read program which was cool. I actually won another to read and review and it is on it’s way. There are just so many books and too little time. Someone needs to create a job for me somehow as a professional book reader !
Olive Kitteridge: A Novel in Stories by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the simple direct prose and how it was written. I liked the concept of each chapter being a short story that was linked to Olive. Sometimes the stories weren’t really related to her but only to the town somehow.
However, I thought the book was sad and somewhat dark at times. When I finished I was wondering if I would feel that sad, unsatisfied, and regretful of my life. I found myself not wanting to be like Olive and some other other characters with a new resolve to be happy and appreciate what I have now. It was to me a story of unreached potential and what the characters could have done with their lives and relationships but didn’t.
I didn’t love the book, but it was definately thought provoking which is maybe what the author intended.
Here is another great young adult book that I read in a day.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had a good story and characters. I really liked Katniss and her personality. I can’t wait to read the next one.
