Book Nook Club: April 2010

April 28, 2010

I Will Carry You by Angie Smith

There are some books you probably shouldn't read in public. This is one of them. Not because I was ashamed or embarassed to be seen reading it (quite the opposite, in fact), but because people who saw my face as I read probably wondered what was wrong with the woman reading the book with the baby on the cover.

I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy tells the story of Audrey Caroline Smith, fourth daughter of Angie and Todd Smith (the latter being the lead singer of Selah). Those of you familiar with the blog Bring The Rain already know this story, but this book discusses in even more heart-wrenching detail the journey the Smith go through after discovering through an 18 week ultrasound that sweet Audrey had condidtions which made her "incompatible with life." Choosing to put their trust in the Great Physician, Angie and Todd carried Audrey until her birth on April 7th, 2008 when they got to spend two precious hours with their sweet baby girl.

Despite the fact that I bawled my eyes out for the duration of the novel (even though I already knew the story from Angie's blog), I found such hope in the pages that Angie has created. It is so easy to trust in God when the sun is shining, when all is right with the world and life is good. But God calls us to rely on him, to trust him, and especially to praise Him even in our darkest hours. It is this aspect of the novel that makes it so inspiring and important. The Smiths were in agony, hoping against all hope the the Creator would heal their Audrey. Flawlessly incorporating Scripture, the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and her own blog posts, Angie Smith has produced something incredibly uplifting. Her honesty, sincerity, and passion for the Lord flow out of the pages and directly into the reader's heart.

Thousands of people read Bring the Rain and it's impossible to know just how many have found Christ because of it. Countless others have had their lives changed by Audrey. I can only pray that scores more will find solace, hope, and peace that can only be found in Him through this book. I highly recommend it to anyone, especially mothers, but particularly to those who have suffered the loss of a child. 5 Stars.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 27, 2010

The Gettysburg Approach to Writing & Speaking like a Professional by Philip Yaffe

In other reviews of Writing and Speaking like a Professional, one reviewer enthused, “This book is really fun to read.” I have to disagree. If Tomorrow Comes, The Girls from Ames - those books are fun to read. I would describe this book was informational, well-written, and helpful but not fun or anything close to it. I did read it quickly and was intrigued by the ideas, but I think a lot of that comes from being an English major and doing a lot of writing on a daily basis.

For me the best part of this book wasn't about the writing, it was about the public speaking. I've read quite a few books on writing and really have yet to see something that I haven't heard before. Every book says it a little different, but it's all similar. Do I use what I've read? Not so much. The difference between this book and other writing books was that this book married writing and public speaking/giving presentations in a way I haven't seen it before. It used the same prescription (with just a few little tweaks) for writing that it did for public speaking, and I plan to use the ideas written out in the book for my next presentation.

My recommendation? Read this book if you do any writing or public speaking in any form. The advice is sound and will work for really any environment. If you've read many books on writing, don't expect a lot of brand new material but read it so you can learn how becoming a better writer helps you become a better speaker as well. 4 stars.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 26, 2010

Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace by Dianne Sweeney

Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace is a funny and insightful look at online dating. It's full of witty stories written from Dianne's adventures on websites like Match.com and eHarmony. It reads more like a diary than a instructional how-to or how-not-to use online dating services, and I really enjoyed it. I luckily have never dealt with online dating, but I could imagine Dianne's pain with the guys who wanted just a physical relationship or the guys who wouldn't post a recent photo because looks just don't matter. And most of all, I got connected into Dianne and was really rooting her for as a "character" (even though she's not a fictitious) to find her true love be it in a bookstore or an online chat room.

If you've ever experienced online dating, I'd pick this one up for a good laugh. It definitely had me chuckling and glad that I haven't had to go through the horror stories that others have. This book is a quick read, quirky, and a lot of fun. 4 stars.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 25, 2010

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Have you ever been broke enough that you'll do something completely desperate? I have. Giving plasma my freshman year of college to pay off a $200 speeding ticket. Bad idea. Meet Stephanie Plum. A lingerie salesgirl become bounty hunter to buy a car that doesn't leak oil. A girl who wears biker shorts with oversized t-shirts and somehow looks great in them. And a girl who you root for and want to read more about.

One for the Money is a book that I've heard about for years and have had on my shelf for months. I finally read it on my flight back to DC this weekend (it's that quick of a read), and it was worth the read. Apparently I'm a sucker for strong women trying to do their own thing because I fell for Stephanie Plum just like I fell for Tracy in If Tomorrow Comes . Stephanie made me laugh as she ended up in situtations like being handcuffed naked to her shower that only she could get stuck in. The entire book is light-hearted and fun, and I'll probably pick up another Stephanie Plum story if I see one. 4 stars.

Oh and apparently this is being made into a movie with Katherine Hiegl playing Stephanie.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 24, 2010

Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean

If you like books that have good character development, this book is not for you. Palace Circle was supposed to be, "A novel that will sweep Phillipa Gregory fans off their feet." As you can probably tell from my two reviews of Phillipa Gregory books, I like a good novel mixed with history, romance, and royal betrayal. Palace Circle had potential, but for me, it missed the mark on all three.

It's a book written about an 18-year old Southern beauty who is swept off her feet by an older English Vicount before World War II. She moves into the palace circle, finds out that affairs are the norm, and is moved with her husband to Egypt just as she finds someone to start her own with. And her story ends right there. The book could have been great if the author would have just followed Delia's story for the rest of the book but instead it is broken into three different "books." The first follows Delia (the Southern beauty), the second follows her oldest daughter, and the third follows the son of an Egyptian leader. A hundred pages is not long enough to develop any store well enough in my mind, or at least not in this book. After Delia's story was over, I lost all interest and just skimmed through to get to the end.

Potential, yes. Delivery, not even close. 2 stars.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 22, 2010

Disrupting Grace, by Kristen Richburg

I received a free copy of Disrupting Grace to review.

Disrupting Grace is the true story of Kristen Richburg and her family. After two children, her doctors told her a third pregnancy would be too risky, so Kristen and her family chose to adopt. They adopted a little girl from Thailand, and over the course of five years, they worked to welcome their new family member.

The road was not what any of them expected. Staying grounded in their faith, the Richburg family made the difficult decision to relinquish their daughter. The book is a fascinating account of the other side of adoption -- the side that doesn't end in happily ever after.

First, let's get a few things out of the way since I am relatively new here at the Nook. I'm not one for Christian novels/books. Not that I'm not Christian or religious -- in fact, I am -- it's just that it has never been a genre I've been particularly interested in.

So, one may ask why I chose this book.

Several years ago, I had a kidney transplant due to a genetic illness I was born with. As I've pondered my options for starting a family, adoption has always been in the mix. I'm still years away from any decisions, and I haven't done a ton of research on the subject. But, I felt this book might be a good start because I was intrigued by its unique viewpoint. I wasn't disappointed.

Enough about me -- onto the review!

Plot: Another confession: non-fiction and I aren't good friends. But as I've mentioned, this plot really interested me and it sucked me in from the start. I have never heard of an adoption gone awry, and it makes me wonder if it's a more common truth than we realize. As a potential adopter, I also believe it's critical to hear stories from all sides and this story truly fills a void.

Characters: I really felt for Kristen and her family. I understood where they were coming from, and yet I can't imagine the range of emotions they went through. I actually wish it would have been a full family experience -- with perspectives from Kristen's husband and her two biological children. Told from Kristen's point of view, it covered their emotions, but I'm sure there's so much more that only they could tell.

Structure: The structure was fantastic. At a short 136 pages, it was a quick read. Kristen also structured the chapters in a digestible way that left me wanting to keep reading. Her writing was simple and very effective. Instead of clogging the book with flowery writing or too many facts, Kristen shares her story in a way that made me feel like she was telling it over coffee at my kitchen table.

Overall, a good book for anyone interested in something a little different, and a must-read for anyone considering adoption. 5 stars.

Disclaimer: While I received a copy of the book free of charge, I was not paid for the review. My thoughts are all my own!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 21, 2010

Giveaway: The Girls from Ames

Meet Karla, Kelly, Marilyn, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Cathy, Angela, Sally, Diana, and Sheila. Eleven girls that all grew up together in Ames, Iowa and forty years later are still friends today. Jeffrey Zaslow spent a year visiting each of these women in their homes and listening to their stories. Voted as one of the top 10 books of the year by People Magazine, The Girls from Ames is a true story about these women and the lives they have shared together from childhood to now into their forties.

I loved this book. Because they are real women, I could relate to each one of them in their own way. Zaslow throws in a well-balanced mix of the triumphs, heartbreaks, and miniscule details that don't seem to really matter but are what really make up a great friendship. I laughed at moments and cried at others. And I fell in love with the girls from Ames.

On top of the stories about the women, he also random information about studies on friendships between women and how having close friends can have a very positive impact on your life. And how as great as it is to have friends that know you now, sometimes it's just nice to see those "old friends" who knew you when you were just getting started in becoming who you were. It definitely made me want to put down the book the moment I was done and pick up the phone to start calling all of my best girl friends.

A 5 star book, I highly recommend this book to everyone and luckily enough, TLC book tours has offered to giveaway one copy to one of my readers just for leaving a comment on this post with your favorite thing about your best friends. Giveaway ends Sunday, April 25th at midnight EST.

**I was given this book to review as part of TLC book tours. This is my honest opinion.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 20, 2010

Texas Roads by Cathy Bryant

I was given a copy of Texas Roads by Cathy Bryant to review. The novel grabbed my interest from the very beginning of the book. I started the book before work, read on my lunch break and then picked it up as soon as I could that evening and finished it, in other words, I loved it.

Texas Roads is a Christian novel about Dani Davis, a woman from the big city of Dallas who embarks on a trip to visit her aunt, that she has never met, in small town Miller's Creek, Texas. Dani is searching for a place to call home and for any type of peace after her father dies and her already unhappy marriage ends when her husband is killed in a car accident.

As she nears Miller's Creek, her car runs out of gas, she locks her keys in the car and a Texas rain storm makes the situation even worse. She is saved by a cowboy who she instantly alienates with her city attire and her sour attitude. She doesn't realize until she arrives at her aunt's home that the cowboy, Steve, is a pseudo son that watches over her aunt and she will have to work to change her first impression. As time goes by, the relationship with Steve goes through several bumps as they struggle with the tension and mistrust of each other as they develop a friendship.

During her stay in Miller's Creek, she falls in love with the town and wants to help revitalize the town, which has been struggling since the railroad cut the route through town. Just as she begins to feel peace and feel like she is needed, malicious rumors begin in town and she is alienated from the town and people she has grown to love. She continues to fight for the town but feels the pain of loneliness return.

Cathy Bryant has an exceptional writing style that skillfully develops lovable characters, highlights so many traditions of small town Texans, and tells a dramatic story of a woman who struggles with trust after being betrayed by her husband and searches for meaning in her life and a place to call home. The story is inspirational and very well written, I highly recommend it! 5 stars!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 19, 2010

The Journey to Truth by George F. Garlick, Ph.D

Though each of us has a unique subjective perspective, the truth regarding questions of reality outside our control is not dependent upon what we believe. It's our goal to find and then form beliefs in and around the truth. - George F. Garlick Ph.D

I've recently become aware of and very interested in the subject of apologetics. If you're not familiar, this term does not refer to a group of people who feel remorseful, but to those who use science and philosophy to explain and defend a position. Specifically, this term currently applies to scientists, Christian and otherwise, who have stumbled upon proofs they wish to share with a world that on one hand demands it, and on the other hand completely rejects it without even looking at it.

And there is a lot of this proof. I am one of many who was raised in a Christian home by Christian parents who were afraid to even define the word "evolution" for me. As a result, when I went to college, I was completely bulldozed by professors who were more than happy to define it and use it to dismantle my faith. If my parents had given me vital information, I could have stood strong against this onslaught, but they didn't have it themselves and felt threatened by it. Now there are many, many books out there on the subject, notably those by Lee Strobel. I just finished reading The Case for a Creator by Strobel and it was incredible.

I thought The Journey to Truth would be basically an abbreviated version of The Case for a Creator, but while in the same vein, it offers a slightly different inoculation. The author, George F. Garlick (Ph.D), was a pioneer in the field of Holographic Ultrasound Technology, used in imaging. An intimate knowledge of the science involved and the study of physics gave him a unique perspective on the relationship between science and God. He chose to share these insights not out of a desire for fame, as he is well known as both a scientist and a philanthropist, nor for fortune, as all profits from the book are being donated to charities, but out of a genuine desire to enrich the lives of others.

I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this book for review purposes, because it has absolutely given my rational brain a greater understanding of God in a way I never thought possible. We live in an empirical world, a world that demands evidence, and often even that isn't enough. Many Christians believe that those of us that crave such proofs are weak, that we ought to accept spiritual truths at face value. And they're probably right. On the other side there is the secular world, which has been given the mistaken impression that Christians are unintelligent because we're afraid of science.

Well Christians, there is no basis to this fear of science. If you seek, you will find, as I have, that science will actually bolster your faith to a degree you never thought possible. In fact, I think every Christian ought to read these books, I don't think it's possible to evangelize in this day and age without this vital information.

There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first is that the science is completely mind-bending, and while he tries, Garlick does not always do a very good job of making sense of it for the lay person. For example, when trying to explain the pre-creation state, he uses the example of an ice cube. When you heat it, it turns to water. Okay, I'm with you. Then gas. Still with you. Then an atom gas, then an ionized gas. Okay, got it. Then he says "Forces Unite With Strong" and then "All Forces Unite," without explaining what the heck that means. Lost me. The other drawback is that Garlick's abbreviated life story is mixed into the narrative. It's an interesting story, but it often seems totally random and distracts from the rest. If you aren't a science minded individual this will be difficult reading, but worth it. Even if you don't understand 100% of it, you will get the big picture, and that big picture is revolutionary and inspirational. If you're a book snob, the randomness will bother you at times, but you'll get past it.

Even with these drawbacks, I give this book five stars because of the enormous impact it has had on me, which overshadows everything else.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 18, 2010

A Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick

My mom recommended this book, so when I was looking for something to read recently, I borrowed it.

Sadly, my recommendation doesn't come as high as hers.

The book takes place in the early 1900s, and opens with a wealthy man who publishes an ad for "A reliable wife". Catherine Land answers the ad and travels to the wilds of Wisconsin to marry Ralph Truitt. Unfortunately, her plan isn't as sincere as Ralph's. Her aim is to kill him without anyone's knowledge and take his riches as her own.

Sounds good, right? Let's see how the book stacks up against my three criteria:

Plot: The plot sounds good and it was filled with twists and turns. The problem is that the twists and turns were rather predictable. And even when I predicted the wrong outcome, the true outcome didn't excite me. The plot sounded interesting, but once I got into it, I couldn't get into it. It wasn't the page turner I was expecting.

Characters: This had the potential to be an incredible character book. They could have had so many dimensions, and I suppose in some ways, those dimensions were shown. But it was at arms length. The characters always felt just out of reach and half-formed. Sure, they were detailed, but the details were explained

Structure: The structure was easy to grasp. The first couple chapters were difficult as I got used to the narration, but overall it was readable. I really think it was the plot and the characters -- not the structure -- that made it a difficult read.

I won't say I hated it, but I'm not rushing to recommend it. 2 stars.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 12, 2010

Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

I received a free review copy of Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze from the publishers. It is a thriller novel in which the main character cannot remember who she is or why she is terrified of a town...the very Florida town she winds up in after being carjacked in New Orleans. She knows people are after her, yet time and again, they spare her life. Her unknown identity is even more mysterious as she bears a striking resemblance to Ben Brandt's wife...the wife who was victim of an unsolved murder 3 years prior.

This wasn't bad, but it could have been so much better than it was. The worst thing was the difficultly in following the characters (and there are a lot of them)...they all have very vanilla names (and no nicknames), both first and last, and very few distinguishing characteristics. The most unusual name was "Chessman." Even in the last pages, I was still having to look back to figure out who was who.

The plot was decently interesting, which pushed me through. No real big surprises though, you could tell where it was going throughout.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this, but I wouldn't discourage it, either. Kinda "meh" if you ask me.

Note: This should be my last book review on the Book Nook. I've enjoyed my 2 years with you all, but it's time for a change. I'll still be reading reviews here!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Love Mercy by Lisa and Ty Samson

I was given Love Mercy by Lisa and Ty Samson to review as part of the Blog Tours. The back of the book says, "A Mother and Daughter's Journey from the American Dream to the Kingdom of God, having lived a life of plenty in suburban America, Lisa Samson and her eighteen-year-old daughter, Ty, thought they were traveling to Africa to minister to the people and chronicle the AIDS crisis devastating the continent. Their trip, they assumed, would be missional, merciful, giving. Instead, they experienced a life-changing, soul-rattling journey."

I really wanted to like this book and I feel heartless by writing this, but I just found this book boring and slow. While others may be touched by the stories of Lisa giving up her American dream to serve others all around her in the US and in Africa, I just never got into it. My favorite parts of the book were Ty's entries because they just felt more real to me. They were more like a journal entry of her experience rather than an analysis on the situation with AIDS in Africa or a sermon on not judging and following Christ.

Maybe it's because I'm more of a fiction girl myself or because it was chapter after chapter of stories about different people rather than the same ones, but I just never got into the book. It does have a lot of good information about it, good ideas, and good writing though so I'll still give it 3 stars. But would I recommend it? Not unless you're planning on giving up your daily life to serve others or are particularly interested in Africa, which I'm not.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 8, 2010

The 7 Gifts that Came to Earth by John Mellor

I was given The 7 Gifts that Came to Earth by the author to review. Like the book, I'll keep this short and sweet. This book is broken into seven books with a small narrative after each. A young boy is tasked to reading all seven books and finding the gifts that have been bestowed to earth.

This book reminded me a lot of The Alchemist or TheLittle Prince. A book broke into quirky and at times, very strange, little stories that each have a hidden theme that all tie together in the end. It was a quick read and fun to try and figure out the gifts in each story before the little boy figures them out. Definitely worth picking up if you ever see it. 3 stars.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 5, 2010

An Absence so Great

Let me just start off by saying that I am a HUGE Jane Kirkpatrick fan. I really enjoy historical novels, and especially novels about strong, independent women who question and go against what society claims is "right" for them. While her novels are Christian fiction, Christianity is weaved subtly through the novels. This may make some people uncomfortable, I find it refreshing. While I am a Christian, I like novels that I can relate to, not something that feels like I am reading a devotional. If that makes sense.

Anyways, I was exited to receive a copy of this for review for two reasons. First, Jane Kirkpatrick! Second, the main character is a photographer and I am a photography nerd.

Here's from the back of the book:

Did photography replace an absence in her life or expose the truth of her heart’s emptiness?

While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

So while I enjoyed this book, I can honestly say it isn't her best. But it was good, beautifully written. Even though some parts were slow, and I found myself wanting to kick Jesse now and again, it definitely kept my interest, especially since she was writing about a family member. Jesse just isn't a character in a novel, she was her grandmother.

And I absolutely LOVED the way Ms. Kirkpatrick included photos of the characters in between chapters, along with notes on what Jesse was thinking and feeling when she took the photograph. I thought that was an awesome addition to the book and added depth to the story. It made the characters seem that much more real. That, and I really enjoy looking at old photographs of people. I find it interesting.

So yes, if you like nonfiction historical novels, I would recommend this book.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

To purchase this book, please visit WaterBrook Multnomah by clicking here.

But maybe you'd like the chance to win a copy? Just leave a comment saying you'd like to win it. The giveaway will be open now until Friday, April 9. Please make sure you leave a way for me to get in contact with you!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

April 2, 2010

Cardboard: A Woman Left for Dead by Fiona Place

When Fiona contacted me about reviewing Cardboard, I was a little hesitant because it covers such a sensitive subject - anorexia. As I'm sure we all have, I had a couple of friends during high school that struggled with eating disorders so I decided that I would give this book a chance.

It's been a long time since I've read a book that really put me into a life I've never known, into the shoes of someone whose path I've never traveled, and into a mind that I could both relate to and not understand at all. That's what Cardboard did for me. The book is written in what feels like stream of consciousness narrative from a woman who struggles with anorexia, which leads to other psychological and social disorders (e.g., afraid of employment, afraid of relationships with men). Parts of the narrative are written in paragraph form and other pieces are written in short chunks of what really feels like a random thought in the woman's mind. The different types of narrative mixed together perfectly matched what I imagined the main character's mind to be like. I love modern literature, and this fascinated me.

This is also one of those books that is both hard to read and hard to put down. I kept getting caught up in Lucy's almost recovery and then heartbroken as she continued to falter on that path. Even though it was fiction, the story felt very real, like it was written about someone in particular or from the author's own personal experiences. And even though I personally don't have an eating disorder or suffer from any other psychological disorders (that I know of), I could relate to Lucy's desire for control and her nervousness and fear when she sensed a loss of control. I probably wouldn't pick this book up to read again but I'm glad I read it in the first place because it was eye-opening, insightful, and definitely worth reading. 5 stars

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Green: Surviving the Murder of Self by D. Malone

Being a big memoir reader these days, I jumped at the chance to receive a review copy of Green: Surviving the Murder of Self.

While I wasn't sure what to expect, what I got was a memoir/self-help book encouraging the reader to live first for themselves. This is not a mindset that I think we really have a problem with doing, but even more, I think it is one that is unhelpful to ourselves and to those around us. Life is not about me, and it's not about you.

At one point early on Malone says, "There should not be the sacrifice of oneself for another, because we were all created equally."

On this Good Friday, I am SO thankful that that is not true...and I willing choose to follow my Savior's example and sacrifice myself for others. NOT that I allow them to "walk all over me," but still, I know that there will be times when they will sin against me.

I do not recommend this book.

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)