One night, Melba Burns is driving home and witnesses a horrible accident. The accident so completely affects her, that Melba changes her life style in that second of life and death. The quits her job, removes herself from the rat race, and even gives up driving. She retreats to her Farmhouse, which to her means comfort and security, Melba over her doors to a roommate who is a trouble magnet. And as Melba adjusts to her new life, of guests who are real and flawed, she becomes someone different, stronger, and richer.
I have to admit, this book is total cover love… I mean look at. Go ahead. I will wait.
…………………………………..
As this book opened with Melba peering into the windows of the for sale by owner farmhouse, a line in the book catches my breath:
Is it lunatic to believe a property actually needs you?
That one line hit home for me… but that… is a different story.
Melba’s story moves along in a steady pace with a rapid introduction of characters that left me backtracking to keep track of who is who. Yet, with a witty sense of humor and colorful well-developed characters, the book started to take on a life of its own and I soon felt like a guest in Melba’s farmhouse.
Thanks to the writing talent of Barbara Richardson, a book that could have been considered heavy is not. Instead I found myself taken for a pleasant reading experience that as I turned the pages of the book, I became deeper and deeper into the read.
Book Journeys map has been updated to include Guest House
When in Portland Oregon (besides checking out the old stomping grounds of my friends Brett and Kate Richmond)… rumor has it Elephants Delicatessen has a cup of coffee to die for and deli foods as well!
218 pages
Cover Story: Seriously fabulous. I want to print it out on photo paper and frame it.
I received this book for review from The Book Report Network
So here’s the story…. in the midst of the Twilight series, Eclipse to be exact, Bree is one of very few newborn vampires introduced by name. Ten pages later she is killed off during the war between the evil vamps and the Cullen/Werewolf battle. In this book, the short second life of bree tanner, Bree is already a newborn when the pages open and this is told from her point of view up until where she meets Bella and well… you know…. dies…. again.
I’m not giving anything away, seriously…. it’s in the title!
Honesty time. I did not remember Bree Tanner from the book. I had to go back and find her. Bree was a back ground character at most, and I never imagined I would see or hear from her again, obviously – because I forgot she ever existed. ;D
When I heard about this book coming out I was really excited. I thought it was brilliant of Stephenie Meyer to bring in another book that could add to the already phenomenon that is all things Twilight. (I could only dream that J K Rowling would try such a book!) Once the book was out I snatched it up from the closest B & N and brought it home waiting for the right time to read it and this week with the opening of Eclipse, I knew the time to read was now.
Honestly time again. I didn’t love it. And… here is why: I am not really a vampire reading fan. Yes, I read the Twilight books and yes, I enjoyed them… but to me that was not a vampire read. The Twilight series to me is a YA love story. It involves a High School, a new girl who is attractive, a hot guy, and a second hot guy – that are both interested in the new girl. The fact that ones a vampire and one is a werewolf, that is just a new twist on an old story. One I really feel is an incredible idea. They don’t really go into any detail of killing, in fact the Cullen’s hunt animals – not humans. Yes – there are “baddies” but you don’t really see too much of what they are doing, as this is Bella’s story, told from Bella’s perspective. If Bella doesn’t see it – it may as well have not have happened.
I personally have a tough time with the whole blood sucking thing and no offensive to Bree, after all that is the way that her and her kind roll.
I think this book is going to be loved by many that enjoy the true vampire reads. Stephenie Meyer made a smart move by publishing the book and from what I have heard the book has done well, and I am very pleased to add that the book sales that donate $1 of the purchase price to the Red Cross (which is also such a brilliant idea), has raised over 1 Million dollars for the Red Cross International Response Fund.
When in Forks, Washington – I am told by a coffee connoisseur, that Espresso Vivace Roasteria is the place to go for a great atmosphere and an awesome cup of coffee.
192 Pages
Cover Story: If a cover can be perfect – this would be one that is. Seriously, an hour-glass filled with red sand, representing how quickly time is passing and running out? Once again – brilliant.
I saw a review for this book at Natasha’s blog, Maw Books. Her review and her gushing over the book, Dovey, and the author, caused me to quickly reserve this at my library….
~Sheila
Dovey Coe us 12 years old and is wise beyond her years. She spends much of her time doing things with her brother Amos, who is deaf, but certainly not dumb.
And Dovey Coe is not liking Parnell Caraway hanging around her very pretty, older sister Caroline. He isn’t good for Caroline, she senses that, and she sees how Parnell weasels his way into her families good graces, and it looks like he may even be making his way into Caroline’s heart as well. As angry as all of this makes Dovey…. she still swears she did not kill him.
I didn’t give away anything here that you can’t read on the back cover. It’s true…. Parnell does wind up dead. And it is also true that Dovey is there when it happens. What this fast paced story is about is centered around this plot as told by Dovey Coe.
Dovey speaks in a distinct twang that I found really added to the story. While her family doesn’t have much, they make do with what they have and are not lacking for anything. Parnell Caraway however comes from the flip of this scenario…. he is one of only a couple of kids in town who actually have seen and owned a dollar bill. He has a car and nice clothes. Parnell is used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Caroline Coe.
It weren’t a pretty picture out there on the porch. Oh the stars was shining, and the crickets was playing their little tune, and the breeze washed the good smell of honeysuckle across the evening. But the pleasure of all that was ruined by the sight of Parnell Caraway’s arm around my sisters shoulder.
I really enjoyed this read. I couldn’t help but love Dovey’s character, this strong, intelligent, little girl. I have not read this author before, but I am certainly interested in seeing what else she has to offer.
Imagine with me for a minute…. you have a Grandmother who owns a priceless vintage clothing collection and she has just passed it on to you. Suddenly boxes are arriving on your doorstep every day like Christmas and you are opening up treasured gorgeous dresses from different periods, 1790 – 1995… dresses that will make you drool. And then imagine among the Dior and Chanel, there is a book – a book that tells the story of each dress…. and the book itself is almost a bigger treasure.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Now – you don’t have to imagine. What I just described – is this book. THIS BOOK. Author Charlotte Smith did inherit these dresses and the book, and this book is the stories that Charlotte discovered about the dresses. In this beautiful hard cover and oddly heavy book (which seems appropriate for what is between the covers) are pictures of dresses and with each picture…
is a story…
For the record, I am not a girly girl. I prefer jeans and t shirts, to dresses and skirts. I would rather be a part of a floor hockey team then go to a fancy dance…. but….
occasionally…
I can’t say that some of the dresses did not make me picture what it would be like to own such a beautiful piece. I poured over the pages and like a teenager does with a fashion magazine, I went through and picked out a few of my favorites.
I loved the stories behind the dresses. The parties, the heads that turned, the ones that got the guy – and kept him. Some of the dresses have been to ballrooms and danced with people who’s names you will recognize; others made their way to weddings, and travels…. and you wish that you could have gone with the dress.
This book is a keeper. A treasure that I will take off the shelf time and again.
Meet Samantha “Sam” Kingsley. She’s popular, she’s pretty, she has “the guy” and she has the friends who back her up. She’s the girl in high school you wish you were, and if you couldn’t be her, it would be really nice for her to know you. Knowing Samantha…. meant you were in.
Now when I said meet Samantha, I mean do it now. Because life for Samantha is about to change drastically. In fact… I think it is safe to say without spoiling anything – that Sam’s life is about to stop… and in a flash of a few words – Sam’s life is over.
Or is it?
It seems that for some freakish reason – Sam keeps waking up to that last day. The alarm ringing at the same time… her little sister comes rushing in to greet her… her friend Lindsey waiting impatiently outside to driver her to school. And what starts out as what seems to be a second chance to change things to save herself… becomes something so much more.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
Ok … let me be honest. I met Lauren Oliver in New York when I was there in May and enjoyed talking to her about her writing and this book. While I loved the thought and the idea behind the book I really didn’t know if it was one I would enjoy and with so many “bookortunities” at BEA, I passed this one up.
So now you are scratching your head and thinking, “But Sheila… you are reviewing it. What changed?”
Thank you for asking. There were a couple of factors. One was Reagan at Miss Remmer’s Reviews. She was on Twitter gushing about this book. G-U-S-H-I-N-G. It was annoying. 😉 She was one of my roommates while in New York. She knew I passed on the book. She should stop the gushing. STOP IT! Secondly, it was Jay Asher. Jay is the author of Thirteen Reasons Why. Which, honestly? Blew me away. I read it. I reviewed Thirteen Reasons Why (with “gushsto” – yes, my word) and then I interviewed him. Jay Asher is the author quote on the front of Before I Fall and he says, “You’ll have no choice but to tear through this book!”
So between Reagan and Jay… merely days after I returned from New York with loads of books traveling my way by UPS, Fed Ex, and the post office…. I made my way to our local book store and purchased this book.
When I started reading it I still wasn’t sure. As I said, the book breaks in to the same day, again and again. Seven times to be exact. And the first couple times I wasn’t seeing the point. The characters were developed well and I could picture the scenario…. but what was the benefit of rewriting the same day over and over?
And then things changed. Samantha changed. And a light bulb went off for me. Each day Sam relived again…. she was different. She went through all the phases of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance.
I’ve never really thought about it before but it is a miracle how many kinds of light there is in the world, how many skies: the brightness of spring, when it feels like the whole world is blushing; the lush, bright boldness of a July noon; purple storm skies and a green queasiness just before lightning strikes…
~page 187
Sam grieves. For what was lost, for what could have been, for what she had and didn’t realize… she grieves.
I stayed up late into the night, and was up early the next morning and finished the last pages in bed, refusing to get until I knew how it all ended. There is so much more I would like to share about what this book brought up in me… but to have that conversation, you will need to read the book. When you are done, pop back this way and join me on the Spoiler Page.
Book Journeys map has been updated to include Before I Fall
When in Connecticut, make a stop at The Vanilla Bean, rated one of the top three coffee stops in Connecticut.
480 pages
Cover Story: The first time I seen it, I was unsure if I liked it. Although it works well with the book, and it definitely is noticeable, I am still not sure if it is the best fit for this book.
me and Lauren Oliver
I purchased my copy of this book at Bookworld in Brainerd, MN
Other thoughts:
One thing I would like to share is this book made me think of near misses in my life. One instance that comes to mind is back when I was 16. My best friend Traci and I were in my car. It was nighttime and winter, and we were cutting it close to making curfew. I was speeding down a back road trying to get us home on time. I even remember what was playing in the car – Prince: I Would Die For You. We were belting this out at the top of our lungs… young and invincible.
The main highway came up faster than I had anticipated and as we rounded a corner the stop sign was there and I hit my breaks. The road we were on was ice-covered and I went into a slide heading straight through the stop sign. A semi went by inches ahead of us as I Dukes of Hazard style hit the highway and launched over 4 lanes of traffic into the ditch on the other side. Hearts pounding we couldn’t believe we were alive.
Through the years, Traci and I have referred to that story. I sometimes wonder why I survived that and am content in knowing it wasn’t my time and there are other plans for me. This is one instance. I have others. If you think about it you probably do too.
Imagine you are a mother who lost your young son to a terrible accident a little over a year ago. Your grief has been this aching ever with you passenger in your life but you have done everything you can to move forward. You have closed his room, unable to deal with putting away your sons things, so instead you leave his room – just as it was. Then one day you are sure you see your son in a passing car, and then messages start showing up on a chalk board in his room:
Not Dead… Not Dead… Not Dead…
Dean Koontz was one of my favorite authors when I was in my late teens and early 20’s. At this time I had a handful of authors I read. He was the author I could not wait for his next book to come out. As time went on and I widened my reading horizons, Dean still held a spot in my heart. Not as intense as Stephen King, and not quite as light as Harlan Coben, Koontz writes books that I usually enjoy.
Eyes of Darkness was an interesting listen on audio. I was hit with the plot almost immediately with Tina sighting of her son, Danny. The book continues with Tina juggling her career and ex husband as strangle things begin happening. First it is the sighting, then the messages on the chalk board, Tina is hearing noises at night and the temperature during these activities, seems to drop in the room.
While listening to this audio I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but this book did not have the Dean feeling to it. It almost felt amateurish compared to what I am used to finding in his books. The scenes were a bit unreal, the characters a bit underdeveloped.
It wasn’t until the end of the audio when Dean did one of the things I love about his books, that I figured out what was missing. Dean Koontz always has a little synopsis in the back of his books as to how the book came to be. He is funny and quick-witted and I really enjoy that. What I discovered is that this is actually one of his older books, this one came out even before I had started reading him all those years ago. He had not yet developed his flare, and says so in this end piece. He also said that the book was re-released because it was going to be made into a movie. Was. The story behind this – the development team, the agents, all of it, is told in hilarious Koontz fashion. This alone made the time I spent in the audio worth while.
In typical Dekker fashion… we enter a book about a serial killer who murders his victims by breaking their bones, but not their skin. A killer who stems from his own feelings of abandonment. After not being heard from for over two years, suddenly he re-emerges and abducts 16-year-old Bethany Evans. Bethany’s father, Ryan has recently returned from Iraq, after having been captured and tortured. As Ryan tried to find Bethany he is still dealing with his own emotional scars he caries with his from the war and this not only hinders his efforts in finding his daughter, but causes the authorities to wonder if Ryan is not The Boneman.
I do enjoy Dekker’s books finding the suspense filled stories to cause my heart to beat a little faster as I try to get behind the author’s pen and guess where he is going this time around. The Boneman’s Daughter was different than some of Dekker’s books that I had read, but similar in ways to his recent book,The Bride Collector.
The theme of this book is centered around abandonment, Bethany’s history with her parents have caused her to build her own protective wall around herself… and in turn reflects on how many people reflect on their faith, at times feeling as though God has abandoned them. Dekker again sends a clear message of God’s love in his own unique style.
Boneman’s Daughter was a good read, yet not my favorite of Dekker’s as I found parts to be increasingly “horror filled” and not as tame as some of his other books. While not gory – I felt Dekker pulled away from the message he started out to portray but going too far into the fear factor.
Book Journeys map has been updated to include Boneman’s Daughter
416 pages
Cover Story: It is a great cover and pulls me in.
I received this book as part of our Spring 2010 Library Sale
Let me refresh your memory. In this third installment of the world of Harry Potter compliments of J K Rowling, Harry finds himself back with his aunt and uncle – The Dursley’s. When Aunt Marge comes to visit and starts putting down Harry parents in front of him calling his father a no good drunk and his mother – well, let’s just say Harry decided enough was enough and there is ummm…. an incident.
Harry leaves the safety (if you call that safety…) of the Dursley’s home and sets out on his own. He is picked up by the “night bus” and makes his way back to Hogwarts… but this time, something is watching him, and as the pieces come together Harry learns about Serius Black and his escape from Azkaban, and the rumor on the street (or at least at Hogwarts) is that Serius is coming after Harry…
If you have not had the pleasure of sinking your eyes or ears into this book, I highly recommend you do. having read through the entire series twice, and this time trying the audio…. I can’t stress enough how brilliant these stories still are to me. The more I think of all the details – all the pieces that come together to make these books work together – I am still amazed.
And this one carries within some amazing things –
The Marauder’s Map (such a smart idea for this book and plays so well into the plot)
The Time Turner is another item that makes this book come together
Finally, let me just say if you are thinking that you read the books and you have no need to listen to them on audio, I have to tell you that you are missing out. Jim Dale reads with such a flare that I am amazed how clearly I fall into the rhythm of the story. I am anxiously awaiting to continue my audio journey with book 4….
Book Journey’s map is updated to include Prisoner of Azkaban
Cover Story: I am sure this is an older cover and I do not like it. I feel this cover does not do justice for what you are about to experience. A picture of the Marauder’s Map would have been much more drawing.
I received my copy of this audio on loan from our local library
Have you heard of PPD (Post Potter Depression)? Apparently it is out there – and this article tells you more about it. (I am pretty sure I have symptoms….LOL
It starts with a package from UPS that arrives at Katherine Givens door. The timing is impeccable, Katherine’s favorite bra has finally after much use, developed a hole that is unrepairable. That’s just great. What else could go wrong? And why does a bra seem to bug Katherine so much???
Katherine opens the box and sees the unmistakable, always recognizable, red high tops of her friend Annie.
Annie.
Annie, Katherine’s oldest and dearest friend who touched the lives of so many. But Annie had died, and inside the shoes are Annie’s ashes and a note – that’s about to change everything – because in typical Annie style, Annie has one final request….
and she needs her best friends to be the “pallbearers.”
♥
I was drawn to this book as I always am to books on strong friendships. And a book on a friendship so strong that it even breaks down the barriers of death? Count me in on that read.
Katherine’s task (beyond purchasing a new bra), is to call the women that Annie has requested to gather in her name and take her ashes to the places she has mapped out for them. Everything is paid for, all the flights, hotels, food…. all they have to do is show up.
I loved the idea of this book. What a fun way to celebrate a life, and Annie did have a life as these women, who have never met before embark on this journey. It is a book about friendships – new and old, it is a book about healing, and a book about remembering. As the women travel to the places Annie has mapped out, not only do they learn a little bit more about who Annie was, but also about themselves.
The book…. had great potential. I imagined it would take me on a journey of friendships, the joyful parts, and the bitter-sweet. In parts, it did just that, but in other ways it missed the mark. Parts of the book were just too over the top for me. At times I just had to stop and think that the author had went too far and made some of the trip to unbelievable. I found this unfortunate because the idea behind the book is wonderful.
BOOKIES Review:
This book was also our book club read for June. For the most part, the girls agreed with what I mentioned above. For different reasons, most of us found something in the book that just went a bit too far.
There is a character in the book that is introduced mid way through the book and many of us felt that was an odd choice for the author, but on the other hand, maybe what was trying to be represented was an openness and grace that Annie would herself had extended had she been there.
On a scale of 1 – 5 (5 being the greatest), the Bookies as a whole rated this book a 2.5.
This book has been added to my Book Journey map (later today)
Amazon rating (coming soon)
Cover Story: The cover is truly eye-catching and draws you in wanting to know more.
So here is the setting. It is 2088. Missionary Abigail Caldwell leaves from New Guinea to help fellow villagers, who have come down with a mysterious disease. While the villagers can not be saved, Abigail, the sole survivor travels to America where she discovers that Christianity has died out. As she investigates the death of her grandfather who was the co-inventor of a silicon brain replacement, she discovers a message he left for her tasking her to bring the Christian Faith back to America.
I know, right?
A little bit more sci-fi to this book then I would normally read, and trying to keep up with the thought of the invention of brain transplants to keep the human race living forever – was a bit mind-boggling. And that is with my original brain I was born with. The point of course was to eliminate death all together, but at what cost?
While parts of the books were a bit too sci-fi for me, I was able to complete the book. David Gregory writes a fast paced novel that even the parts that made me go “huh?” were soon surpassed by a feeling of “oh yeah!”. The book filled that craving I have of a good mystery, suspense book that keeps me guessing. While sci-fi is certainly not on my genres to read list, I was still able to move beyond all the technical futuristic (admitting I had to skim some of these pages) and coming out the other side finding this an interesting read.
Book Journey 