Tag: Review

The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

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Ellen O’Farrell is a hypnotherapist with an at home office inside her inherited beach front house.   She uses her training of hypnotism to assist people with their relationships, habits, and hang ups.  Ellen herself has never had a serious relationship… at least not until she met Patrick.

Patrick is everything she liked in a man.  He was attractive, fit, held a good job and the fact that he had a son from a marriage where his wife died of cancer was not a deal breaker.  Ellen found herself falling for Patrick until one day he told her they needed to talk.

The dreaded talk.

When Patrick explained that an ex girlfriend stalked him, Ellen, always the therapist, found this to be a bit intriguing.  What Ellen did not understand was that this woman followed Patrick everywhere… refusing to let go… and you would just be surprised at where she shows up…

and…

that it turns out, Ellen already knows her.

 

 

 

It is no secret that I enjoy Liane Moriarty’s books.  It has been a little over a year since I discovered this author, and I guess in a way… I have stalked her books.

The Hypnotist’s Love Story is engaging.  With a twisted theme of a stalker it was a little different from anything I had read before.  I enjoyed the alternating chapters between Ellen and Patrick… and then the stalker’s chapters.  How the stalker justified her actions are a bit hilarious.  It is like she knows she is crazy to do what she does, but then twists it to (in her mind) completely innocent.  “Oh, I just happened to be here at the same time as you!”

I did enjoy this book on audio.  Tamara Lovatt Smith was excellent.  She managed all the characters flawlessly.  I felt the book went on a bit longer than it needed to.  At the point that I felt the story was complete, it goes on.  By that point I was satisfied with the book and would have been happy for it to end.  The rest was like bonus material, it was ok, but I was ready to be done.

 

 

  • Audible Audio Edition
  • Listening Length: 13 hours and 6 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Penguin Audio
  • Audible.com Release Date: June 14, 2012

 

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

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Kelley and Mitzi Quin are the owners of Winter Street Inn in Nantucket.  Kelly has three adult children from his first wife, news anchor Margaret Quin;  and together he and Mitzi have one son, Bart who recently joined the Marines.

As the holiday season approaches and Kelley anticipates having the Inn filled with his children and grandchildren, Kelley walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus.  Literally kissing the man they hired each year to be the Santa for the Inn…

let the dysfunction begin.

Each of the three Kelley’s children coming to the Inn come with their own troubles.

Patrick is a hedge fund manager that may have made some deals that are not all on the up and up.

Kevin has secretly been seeing the French housekeeper of the Inn, Isabelle.

Ava is in a relationship which makes her heart pound, but has the inkling that he is not as committed as she is.

All of this as well as the news of Mitzi is going to make for a very interesting Christmas at the Winter Street Inn.

 

 

I read very few Christmas related stories mainly because they tend to be a little too sweet and a little too neat for my liking.  I decided to give Winter Street a try because I have enjoyed this author in the past, and by reading the synopsis I felt this book might just have some meat to it.

And Winter Street does have meat.  Dysfunction surrounds this family as they gather for the Christmas weekend.  Relationship statuses change like the wind and do not blink because a break up one second is a new (or renewed) relationship the next.

While I did enjoy the story line, I found the books pacing to be too fast.  As things fell apart on one page they were fixed by some thing else on another.  On one hand someone may be heartbroken over a messy breakup and the next minute they are welcomed to dinner.  I had to wonder how deep love went within this family as relationships truly were interchangeable.

The book also leaves you right on a horrible cliffhanger.  You know there has to be more to this story and I imagine that there has to be a sequel as things are no where near being wrapped up.

Personally I am not sure if I will pick up the next book.  Some of the characters are not very likable and one in particular I wanted to slap.  I know life is messy but the Quins have more stock in messiness than most.

Delightfully narrated by Erin Bennett.

  • Listening Length: 6 hours and 51 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Hachette Audio
  • Audible.com Release Date: October 14, 2014

The Year Of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

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Nearing the age of 40, Author Andy Miller has a family and has a job.  His life is full and he has no time to read.  Yet, for some reason he can not let go of all the great reads that he has never taken the time to experience himself.  Andy decides to take on a self-inflicted project, a year of reading.  A year that he will spend connecting with the books that have stood the test of time, the books that are whispered and shouted about “you must read.”

 

 

 

Both a memoir and a list of detailed book reviews, The Year of Reading Dangerously was funny and interesting.  I imagined, going into this read, that I would find within this book a book or two that I must read myself.  In the end, I am not sure if that happened, but I sure did get a funny take of Andy Miller’s thoughts on some of the books that I myself had not read.

Among the 50 titles that Andy read in that one year time were: Middlemarch by George Eliot, Post Office by Charles Bulowski, The Sea The Sea by Iris Murdoch, War and Peace Tolstoy, Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Anna Kerenina by Leo Tolstpy, and Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky by Patrick Hamiloton.  *The entire list is at the end of his book/audio

The titles that Andy chose are for the most part heavy reads, many of which that are considered classics, and some I admit, I have never heard of.

Andy discusses his reads some in more details than others, some he struggles with and then amazingly goes back and reads again, some he doesn’t get at all and others he finds to be the greatest works of our time.  At times, his comments cracked me up.  Andy is totally real on his thoughts on the books and thoughts on the authors.

I listened to this on audio.  Andy Miller narrates this himself and while all the books did not appeal to me or my future reading wish list, his narration is delightful and made it well worth the listen.  If you have ever made a wish list of the great reads you hope to one day try, I suggest you give The Year Of Reading Dangerously a whirl… it may have you adding (or dropping) books from your own list.

 

 

  • Narrated by: Andy Miller
  • Length: 9 hrs and 1 min 
  • Unabridged Audiobook

 

The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell (excellent gift idea!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

Jen Campbell, The Bookshop Book, Book Journey

What first attracted me to this book was the title… mention “book store, book shop, book club,” and I want to know more.  Yet this book was so much more than I had anticipated and I am still gushing all over it.  ~ Sheila

Many (most?) of us know book stores as to be lovely buildings filled with treasures, or a space in a large mall, or along the downtown streets of your own home town…. however…

what about a book store on a boat?  Or a book lending that involves books being shared by way of donkey? A bookstore made entirely of cardboard?  Or built inside an old train station?

These amazing books stores and so much more is what you will read about within this book.  Highlighting book stores from all corners of the earth and including those that may very well be closer than we think, The Bookshop Book is a must have for any bibliophile.

I feel like a telemarketer as I chat up this book, but if you know me… if I gush about a book.. I have good reason too.

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This book is not only filled with interesting stories of unique as well as famous book stores, it also has gorgeous pictures, author interviews and quotes, and fun facts.  Here are just a few of the amazing facts that are scattered within this books pages:

In 2010 to celebrate the thirtieth birthday of their signature furniture piece,the Billy Bookcase, IKEA lined thirty of them along Bondi Beach and filled them with books, making this the world’s largest outdoor bookcase.  Surfers and sunbathers were able to swap a book from the shelves with one of their own, or make a donation to buy one. All money raised went to the Australian Literary and Numeracy Foundation.

Part of the M6 toll road in the UK is made out of pulped Mills and Boon novels.  A reported 2.5 million recycled books were mixed in with asphalt and tarmac to create the road surface.

In earlier times, the maiming of authors was not an uncommon practice.  In the sixteenth century, critics would often cut off the nose, the ears, or the hands of authors whose books they felt were too outspoken.  Following the thirty year war in the seventeenth century, Theodore Reinking wrote a book whose anti-Swedish sentiments caused such outrage in the country that he was thrown in jail and given an ultimatum: eat your words, literally, or we’ll cut off your head.  Theodore was smart and decided to eat his own words.  He turned the book into a paste, and drank the whole thing down.

To that last fact I say, we have come a long way baby!

Leakey's Bookshop, Inverness, UK
Leakey’s Bookshop, Inverness, UK

This is a book that will definitely have a spot in my library so I can refer to it again and again as well as share with other book lovers who visit my home.

Author Jen Campbell is also the author of “Weird Things Customers Say In Book Stores.”  A book I have on my shelf and still need to read!  I imagine, after this great experience I will be reading that one soon!

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Constable (October 2, 2014)

 

Deciphering: Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets by J K Rowling

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

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There is a reason this series comes up time and again when book lovers are asked “what books would you consider reading again?”  The Harry Potter books are timeless, and each time I experience them I walk away with something more.  ~Sheila

This probably is a book that need no introduction but because I enjoy writing synopses and because I think it is fun… here we go.

It is year two and as it is summer time Harry is back home with the Dursley’s.  Not a lot has changed since his acceptance into Hogwarts, Harry is still treated like dirt – the only difference is the Dursley’s do not know he is not allowed to use magic outside of school so they are a bit cautious.

When Harry does finally get back to school (and what a fun roller coaster of an event that it!)  He discovers that this year too will bring along its own trials.  With a new dark arts teacher that is so full of himself you want to puke, a first year who idolizes Harry to the point that he is practically Harry’s shadow, Malfoy still up to his old tricks, and now something about a hidden chamber that has been closed for fifty years….

life is anything but dull.

Ron and Harry in the Weasley Car

I have read the entire Harry Potter series once before as they came out.  A few years after that I listened to the entire series on audio one after another.  This is my first time however picking up each book and reading them in order within weeks of each other.

I am re-reading this time for the Harry Potter Re-Read I am hosting.  I am thrilled to say that 50+ other book lovers and bloggers have signed on to do this with me.  It has been fun watching the posts go up, the twitter feed (#hpreadalong), and enjoying the books with veterans of the series as well as newbies.

Chamber Of Secrets brought out many themes I had not thought about before in previous reads.  For one, the child neglect that Harry goes through as the Dursleys’ lock him in his room as a punishment, not letting him out and pushing his food through a slot.  I don’t think I had thought about that so closely before but this time it really sat with me that the Dursley’s really need Child Protection Services called on them STAT.

I also picked up on J K’s strong theme of friendship and what that means when you filled beloved, as well as when you feel hated.  True friends are hard to come by and the friendship that Ron and Hermione show Harry is a tribute to friendships in general.  With a good friend, you are not alone to fight your battles… and battles, Harry has.

As I read this second book in the series I thought about the books as a whole and realized that while Hogwarts is cool, the years – all of them really… are hard on Harry.  This is the second year in a row where Harry has to handle a hard situation.  From reading the series I know as most of you do, there are more hard years to come…

yet Harry, as I, can not wait to see what the next year holds… and maybe this next year…

he wont miss the train.  🙂

Chamber Of Secret fans, I created a quiz you are welcome to take.  Those signed up for the readalong will win House Points for participating in the quiz, and possibly a gift card.  Either way, test your knowledge of the Chamber! 

The Look Of Love by Sarah Jio

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

Sarah Jio, Book Journey, Audio, Audiofile, Look Of Love

Jane Williams runs a flower shop, and in her day-to-day dealings she sees all sorts of customers making purchases for different reasons… celebrations, apologies, condolences, and yes – for love.  On her 29th birthday Jane learns that she has a special gift of being able to see love between two people, yet oddly she can not see it for herself.  She has been tasked with one year to find and record the six types of love, if she fails she will never find her own true love.

At first Jane finds this information insane, until she starts to feel her vision cloud when she is in the presence of two people who are in love.  Of course the opposite is true as well and Jane can see when married friends or relationships are not about love at all.

 

 

The Look Of Love is a unique twist of a love story.  I liked Jane and I enjoyed the characters that surround her in this read.  I enjoyed each relationship that was introduced and seeing through Jane’s eyes if it was really love or something else – for better or for worse.

I listened to this on audio, honestly drawn into the fact that Cassandra Campbell was one of the narrators, but also Julia Whelan (she narrated Delicious which I LOVED!) as a second narrator.  Both were fantastic for this book.

The Look Of Love is my first dabble into Sarah Jio’s work but it will not be my last.  I hear this supernatural twist included int his book is a different take for her and I am curious about her other books.

 

Fun Fact: The Look Of Love is based off the popular song, and the song is playing in a scene within the book.

 

 

  • Audible Audio Edition
  • Listening Length: 8 hours and 45 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Audible.com Release Date: November 25, 2014

 

Moving The Needle by Joe Sweeney

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

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Moving The Needle is all about putting yourself in the right frame of mind to get moving on your dreams, your goals, and your life.   By setting goals and taking steps that are recommended in this book, you can start making the positive move towards your ultimate dreams.

 

 

Disclaimer:  I am not a self-help book person.  I have to say that because it is easy to look at a book like this and call it “self-help”, and maybe it is… but to me, and for my purposes here, I am going to call it as I see it, a book on stepping up in your dreams from someone who knows.

Moving The Needle is the type of business related book that I do enjoy as I usually find tips on furthering my own career dreams and staying motivated to do so.  If you know me, you know I recently left my job of ten years to pursue a career in writing which is my life long passion.  When making such a leap it is real easy to get in your head and think “What am I doing?”  and “Am I taking the right steps?”

I enjoyed Moving The Needle in audio format.  It worked with my schedule to listen while I accomplished other things.  Christopher Price’s narration is perfect and in an upbeat tone that keeps the listener motivated to know more.  I liked that the audio version of this book came with PDF’s of several worksheets that are discussed in the book.  Sheets I can print out and work along with the tasks that are recommended, and I do love the visual output of such tasks.

There was much to take away from Moving The Needle.  I think in any book like this there are things that we know we should be doing (or are already doing), but I also learned a few things that excited me to get working on which was exactly the point of listening to this book.  I liked that many other interesting books are mentioned to look into, some sounded wonderful and I jotted them down.

My only complaint (a mere grumble really…) was that by the end of the audio I felt there were so many tasks recommended that I felt a bit overwhelmed, feeling as though implementing such habits as described in the book would leave me doing nothing but tasks all day long.  I had to remind myself that not everything needs to be implemented at once (or at all).

I would recommend this book for those looking for direction in a new job or stepping out to run your own business.  There is much worth reading/listening to and I know I will more than likely listen to it again.

 

 

  • Audible Audio Edition
  • Listening Length: 6 hours and 5 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Audible Studios
  • Audible.com Release Date: November 17, 2014

 

 

The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

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My new author craze continues with yet another awesome book by Diane Chamberlain – she is like crack for my eyes!  ~Sheila

In 1977 Genevieve Russell was kidnapped from her home.  Genevieve was very pregnant at the time of her kidnapping.  She will never return home.

Twenty years later, Genevieve’s remains are found but there is no sign of the baby.

CeeCee Wilkes watches this unsolved crime unfold on the tv these twenty years later.  She is all too familiar with the case because she was there when it all went down.  Well, CeeCee was there, now CeeCee is known as Eve; and the beautiful daughter she raised and loved since that fateful day… is not her own.

This is my third book I have listened to on audio by this author and each time they simply amaze me.  As though ripped from the headlines of a story too crazy to not be true, I start listening and do not want to stop.

Admittedly, The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes did not grab me right away.  In the beginning, the very young and naive 15-year-year old CeeCee and her relationship with an older man bothered me.  I am glad however I stuck with this one as once you get into the heart of the story you understand why this relationship is in the book.

I was thoroughly roped in once again to a story of deception but with good reason… in the end, you really do not know who you should be cheering on as there is so much at stake for all involved.

Narrator Cris Dukehart is an excellent choice for this book.  With a bit of a southern twang she is a great fit. I think this is the first time I have heard her narrate.

  • Audible Audio Edition
  • Listening Length: 13 hours and 10 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Tantor Audio
  • Audible.com Release Date: March 25, 2013

 

Meritropolis by Joel Ohman

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

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It is three years after the Event, the year now known as AE3.  Meritropolis is a walled city of over 50,000 inhabitants.  Each inhabitant has a score on their arm, a test result they are given yearly based on their intelligence and ability to physically contribute.  Low scores are ushered outside the gates of Meritropolis where they are left to die with the elements and the odd creatures that now own the wilderness.

Charley, at a young age watched helplessly as his brother was sent outside the gates.  Parent-less, Charlie was at a loss to do anything but watch, but now that Charley is 17, and holding one of the highest scores of Metropolis, he s a force to be reckoned with and has never forgot what happened to his brother.

As Charley gains knowledge and strength to take on the system he would be naive to believe that he is not being watched… and groomed…

 

 

Meritropolis was an interesting read.  A dystopian world setting (which I love) with a mix of Maze Runner and a small taste of Harry Potter too.  There is a character in the book who reminds me of a stronger but still nice, Hagrid. 

I enjoyed the protagonist Charley and his desire to change his present world for the better.  The supporting characters are a good mix of the possible love interest, tough but pretty girl, the jealous boy, as well as the weaker but lovable best friend.  And that is just the group Charlie hangs out with…

Meritropolis is fast paced and engaging.  I found myself wanting to know more about Charlie’s brother and of course if there is any surviving beyond the gates.  This book brings you to a cliff hanger end leaving you wanting to know…

what will happen next?

I would recommend this read to Middle Grade – young YA Dystopian Readers, it is not as violent as Hunger Games

 

  • Paperback: 226 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (September 9, 2014)

 

 

Currently this books is 99 cents on the Kindle sale at Amazon

 

2Interview with Joel Ohman

 

 

Who or what was your inspiration to write about post-apocalyptic, dystopian sci-fi?

J.O.:  I’ve read a lot in this genre, so I would say it’s a mix of a lot of different things. I really just wanted to explore this question of, “What gives a person worth?” Is it their usefulness to society? Is it because someone loves them? Is it because of how they look? Is it because of their health or ability? As a Christian, I believe that all people have worth, because they are made in the image of God. I wanted to explore some different takes on this question. I think that the post-apocalyptic/dystopian/sci-fi genre was the best vehicle to tackle some of those deep philosophical questions in a fun and interesting way.

Why do you write? Is it for fun, or because you have something you need to say in your writing?

J.O.: Some writers are loath to say their writing has a message, because maybe they think doing so diminishes their art (not true, in my opinion), but I think that everyone has a message in their writing, even if they aren’t as consciously focused on it—and that’s a good thing. My message is in my epigraph: “Because everyone matters – Psalm 139”.

I wanted a short one word title that was a clever—or at least semi-clever—play on two different words. I like “Meritropolis” because it combines “Merit” and “Metropolis,” two words that are great for describing a city where each resident’s worth is measured by a score given to them.

In Meritropolis how were the animal combinations decided upon?  For example, I know you chose to write about a bion (bull-lion), as well as many other freaks of nature. So what I want to know is how did you decided which animals to meld together and why.

I have a big list of animal combinations that I came up with before I began writing the book, and I tried to work in as many as I could. Sometimes the only criteria was that I liked the way the name sounded. Look for many more in the following books!

Can you tells us about your characters and who/what inspired them?

I am a big believer in John Truby’s approach to building a “character web”, because this deepens the relationships between characters and helps to make each of the characters more complex. Absent building a good character web, it can be all too easy to fall into the not-very-true-to-real-life good-person/bad-person false dichotomy where your protagonist devolves into this I-can-do-no-wrong character and your antagonist is just pure evil. I was very much aiming to show the imperfections and brokenness in each of the characters. My thinking as a Christian influences this to some degree, given that the Bible teaches that we are all essentially the same; we are all sinners—only God is perfect.

Do you have a favorite genre that you like to read?

I read pretty much everything! Fiction, non-fiction, you name it! I am of the opinion that, as an author, I can learn something from almost every kind of writing. Sometimes, it most definitely is a matter of learning what not to do—but, on the whole, I love to read a wide variety of writing styles, genres, etc.

Are there any books that have inspired your own writing?

I read A LOT so there are many different things that have shaped my writing over the years, but I wouldn’t say there was any particular book, or books, that I was consciously looking to for inspiration while writing Meritropolis. Looking back though I can definitely see different threads of influence in almost everything I have read over the years that contribute toward making Meritropolis what it is: the strong protagonist of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, the philosophical bent of C.S. Lewis’ fiction, the dystopian setting of Hugh Howey’s WOOL series, and many more.

Are there any authors that have emerged in the last three years that have caught your interest?

Hugh Howey is an author that I really like that has caught my attention lately. I would highly recommend his WOOL series!

Don’t forget!
Meritropolis is marked down from its regular price of $5.99, but only for a limited time. Feed your Kindle by picking up a discounted copy for just 99 cents, but make sure you do it before December 1st!

 

The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

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In 1992, the body of Chris McCandless was found in an abandoned bus in Alaska.  The book, Into The Wild (which I reviewed here) tells the true story of Chris’s restless life.  After graduating from high school he left in his car,giving away the $25,000 dollars he had in his savings for college never to be seen or heard from his family again.  Into The Wild shares what Chris’s life was like after his disappearance, pieced together through a journal he kept.  Into The Wild, as I mentioned, portrays Chris as someone who does not want no submit to the ways of the world; yet marches to his own drum.

Now, 18 years later, in The Wild Truth, Chris’ sister comes forth with more to the story.  With a forward from the Into The Wild author Jon Krakauer shares that Carine had showed him letters from Chris that back up some of his reasons for leaving, reasons that Carine asked Jon not to share in the original book and he honored this request.

The Wild Truth shares more to the story.  At the time of Chris’ birth, his father Walt was having an affair with Chris’s mother Billie who worked for Walt, while still married and having children with his own wife as well. There were times that both women were pregnant at the same time.  While Walt would have been happy to keep things as they were, seeing and having children with both women, eventually, his wife Marcia divorced him and moved away.  Walt and Billie had a second child, Carine.

Walt and Billie’s marriage was unhealthy.  They fought constantly and Walt was both physically and verbally abusive.  Chris and Carine were often called into the room to choose a parent which was a losing situation.  When Chris was in high school his father once hit him as hard as he could in the spine of his back.

In Carine’s account in her book, Chris’ departure was sad as she loved her brother but not surprising.

One of the final pictures Chis had taken of himself while living in the bus in Alaska days before he died.
One of the final pictures Chis had taken of himself while living in the bus in Alaska days before he died.

 

 

I have always been fascinated with the Chris McCandless story.  When I reviewed the book, I followed it up with the movie – both of which I would recommend.  In The Wild Truth, Carine paints a much different household picture as I mention above.

While the first part of the book is about their parents Walt and Billie; the affair, the fighting, the half siblings… it later goes into a mix of poor relationship choices that Carine makes throughout her younger years including two failed marriages.

I am glad I listened to this book, I did enjoy knowing more of the Chris McCandless story and Carine’s narration of her own book was excellent.  I do however find myself torn on how I feel about the book.  The information on Chris I liked and getting to know him more through his younger sister was nice.  Yet her own personal relationships and some of the books content left me questioning where I land on this.

I am glad I listened to it.  I understand after all these years she wanted the full truth to be known.  I just am left in limbo.

 

 

  • Audible Audio Edition
  • Listening Length: 8 hours and 47 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Harper Audio
  • Audible.com Release Date: November 11, 2014