Review – Page 42 – Book Journey

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Published on May 25, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

When 9-year-old Valerie Adler moved in across the street from 9-year-old Addie Downs, the two become inseparable friends. Addie, who has always been on the heavier side, does not make friends easy, unlike Valerie who’s fun personality, natural good looks, win her over many friends through the years. Val moves easily into the popular crowd where Addie, always insecure in her looks, waits by the wayside.

As the girls near graduation, a major incident shatters the girls friendship and they go their separate ways.

Some bonds can never be broken…

15 years later, a much thinner and self-assured Valerie still lives in the town she grew up in. She paints pictures for cards, works from her home and is very satisfied how her life has turned out. She knows Valerie has done well for herself as she sees her on TV as the weather girl. On the weekend of her class reunion, Addie of course skips out on the event and instead goes on yet another unfortunate date. Her 6th in recent months. Upon arriving back home, she soon after receives a knock on her door and opens it to find Valerie looks worse for the wear and blood on her coat…

“Something terrible has happened, and I need you help!”

Just a couple of weeks ago I reviewed another Jennifer Weiner audio book, Fly Away Home and I gushed about it. I was excited to jump into another read by her and I had this one in-house as well from a recent Barnes and Noble shopping spree. I listened to this with my son on the way to our cabin this past weekend and home. A 7 hour trip.

At first the book was sounding very good. The two best friends meeting again after all these years, Addie having turned her life around so she was no longer this shy overweight girl she once was, and of course there is the little fact that Valerie is covered in blood…

sounds like a good start to me!

But soon… things in the book start to fall apart for me. I cringe when I see how easily Valerie walks back into Addie’s life and takes over, making Addie an accomplice to her personal troubles, and it angered me how easily Addie herself fell into step in what was probably a comfortable spot for her…. following Valerie.

From there… the story gets a bit ridiculous. For those who may wish to read this I will skip the details but seriously I shook my head often throughout this listen going “WHAT? WHAT? Noooooo….” I never felt like I fully could imagine what these two main protagonists looked like – their characteristics are revealed slowly and late throughout the book. When they say Addie is heavy you picture overweight… when the book is almost at the end, it is revealed that after high school Addie had been around 350 pounds. “WHAT?” There were just a few parts that were so unrealistic.

Is the story all bad? No…. there were some good moments. Justin (my son) and I had a good time with the part where they make fun of a Minnesota man who drags out his words in a Minnesotan way.

“Awwwwwwesome. Vommmmit”

Justin and I said “awwwwwwesome” that was all last weekend and I am still doing it. 😀

I do have to say overall though, this audio was an unfortunate pastime. The ending was odd… Justin and I just looked at each other and were like “really?”

Now I know Jennifer Weiner can write and I know my thoughts on this book is just my opinion. I will definitely read her again as I know she has good ones out there. Best Friends Forever for me was a hit and a miss.

Amazon rating

Goodreads review

audible.com

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Published on May 24, 2012May 24, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

S many things are right in Anne Blythe’s life… she loves her job working for a respected magazine, she enjoys great friends, and has a book deal coming together….

so why for the love of all that is good and holy – can she not find a decent boyfriend?

After yet another disastrous breakup and the announcement of her best friend engagement, Anne feels it is time to take drastic measures…. obviously her criteria of “dark hair, steely blue eyes, and perfect build” in a man in getting her nowhere. When she finds a business card to what she believes is a dating service she feels this is divine intervention telling her to take a chance on a different method to happiness. Upon making a meeting with this service she discovers to her shock that this is an exclusive, by appointment only – arranged marriage service. AND $10,000 at that.

At first Anne balks the idea – the cost is out of her price range, and marrying a guy you have never met (the services rules – they believe that when you choose a partner by looks first you are setting yourself up for failure) is crazy. Yet, her best friends overwhelming happiness and her book advancement of $10,000 makes her decide to give it a try… after all, what does she really have to lose and she can always pull out of the program before the final and largest payment in made.

But there is that nagging… what if? What if all these testings and therapy sessions, graphs and life styles actually could lead up to the man of her dreams? What if she too could be gushingly happy like all those married couples she is surrounded by? Would it work?

050 — **Finland Minnesota, the deck to our cabin.**

I first read Catherine McKenzie’s book SPIN and really enjoyed it. What I thought would be a light fun chick lit book actually had bite. Again, in Arranged, Catherine McKenzie sets the bar a little higher with a book that has more to discover within its pages than one may first think.

Anne (named after Anne Of Green Gables, and has a brother named Gil…) is a protagonist I could relate too. Driven to succeed but tired of hitting that wall of “let’s try that again!”. I enjoyed her immensely and can even imagine in a similar situation how I may be tempted to take that leap or “fast pass” to happiness (as in do not have a dating period, do not pass memories and proceed directly to the altar!).

There is actually so much more than what I share in the synopsis but honestly as I thought of what else to write it all felt a little “spoiler worthy” to me and none of us want that. This is one of those reads that so many interesting things are happening that I fear saying too much.

I just dove into this book. I was at the cabin this past weekend and read off and on as I had time through the weekend, finishing this last Monday morning sitting on a sunny deck, telling my son we would start the 3 1/2 ride back home once I finished this book.

Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this book, it was a different concept than I had ever really considered so it was fun to live in that world for a few days.

Thank you TLC Book Tours for allowing me to hang out

with Anne Blythe on a whirlwind adventure!

Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

Published on May 23, 2012May 23, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Color me a litle wackadoodle… but ever since One Flew Over The Coocoo’s Nest, I have had a little thing for books and movies centered around insane asylums. And if you also are drawn to such topics… you know they are few and far between. Nobody…. quite literally…

wants to go there.

Well, until now. When Iris Dunleavy during Civil War time is convicted of madness for being willfull (and yes, I should watch my back!), she is sent to Sanibel Asylum – not a nice little r and r at a local country club, nope… a full fledge asylum with a plethora of interesting, and colorful, characters.

The plan is that Iris is to work the program and be restored to the obedient woman her hubby thinks she should be and then she will also be restored to her wifely duties. Iris of course knows she is not mad, simply strong willed and standing up for her rights. However… mad may be preferable to her life she had…

And then there is Ambrose Weller, a war-haunted Confederate soldier who is calmed only by the color blue. Iris finds herself drawn to him and as she plans a way out of this dreadful place she ponders if she could possibly make a break for two, bringing Ambrose along with her to a life she knows nothing of…

I have been reading a few lighter more “summery” reads as of late and Blue Asylum is quite a bit different from that genre. Quite truly Historical Fiction Blue Asylum is a book with a back bone, and that backbone is named Iris Dunleavy.

I was happy to meet the strong and witty Iris within the pages of this book. She is just the type of female character that keeps me turning pages. Having heard how well Kathy Hepinstall writes, this brilliant protagonist did not surprise me… however, what did, was the surrounding characters who also felt three-dimensional, and actually made me feel for them. I like that.

Feeling.

A cast of fun characters burst forth from Hepinstalls mind – a woman who like to swallow things… really anything… rings, whatever. Another who believes her husband is beside her as she talks to him and walks with him day in and day out… another, a man whose feet are too heavy to move… and of course Ambrose, who is haunted by a war that only the color blue seems to sooth…

What I really enjoyed is how Iris interacted and even helped each person in a way.

a little bit historical… a little bit romance… for me a pleasant mix that left me thinking after that final page was closed.

Little bonus for Asylum enthusiasts…. I found this site for famous Asylums

Thank you TLC for sending me this review copy

that kept me reading and cheering Iris on!

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Published on May 19, 2012May 19, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

You would not recognize that Sylvia at 17 in Bohemian clothes and long flowing loose hair was the same Sylvia 38 years later who was a pressed suit wearing, hair dying, prim and proper politician’s wife. Life was a ritual of making her husbands schedule, getting his coffee and being by his side as the perfect cookie cutter political wife.

Then a very public scandal rips Sylivia’s marriage wide open and make’s her question everything she has become. Retreating to her mothers unoccupied seaside home, Sylvia works at distancing herself from the mess her life has become and creating a life she can move forward in.

Sylvia’s daughter Diane is dealing with her own marriage issues. Her husband Gary’s whiney nasally voice has trampled her last nerve. He wants nothing more than to stay at home and play games on his laptop while Diane thirsts for more… and more is what she finds in a man she works with at the hospital who seems to be everything that Gary is not.Lizzie, the youngest daughter has already led a troubled life. Having battled addictions already of drugs and alcohol at her young age, she fights to stay clean and sober, when a man comes along who seems to good to want someone the likes of her. Eventually, all three women wind up at the seaside home… each dealing with major curve balls in their life and trying to process through what the next step should be.

I think somewhere along the line of mountains of books and authors I enjoy, I forgot how much I enjoyed Jennifer Weiner (pronounced Why-ner). Listening to this audio just reminded me that she is not an author to miss.

Usually when a book has several strong protagonists, I usually find myself favoring a story line and going with that. That is mainly because when you split the top billing character, many times they lack depth and development.

In Fly Away Home, I have to say I enjoyed all three-story lines. Sylvia’s story was painful and honest and I loved how she handled herself, even allowed herself to change out of that stiff molding she had placed herself in. Diane’s story also felt real and captivated me wondering what she would ultimately do, and Lizzie, who never really seemed to live up to anyone’s expectations suddenly finds her own worth.

Really, Fly Away Home is an impressive heartwarming read that does not end with everything tied up in a neat little bow. Instead it feels real that some questions remain to be answered – and some choices, are still being processed through. Yet I was satisfied with the way it all ended.

I recommend Fly Away Home as an excellent summer read or listen.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Audible.com

Check out these great bloggers thoughts:

Write Meg!

The Girl From The Ghetto

Confessions Of A Bibliophile

An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer

Published on May 18, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Naomi Feinstein is afraid of losing. She is afraid of losing her parents – her dad with a weakened heart…. her mom who is deeply depressed. She is afraid of losing her friend Teddy who she confides everything…

Setting her mind on becoming a doctor, Naomi buries herself in her books, hoping to be accepted into the college of her dreams, Wellesley. When Teddy does (as she had feared) departs from her life, the blow is too hard and too deep, and seems larger than she can handle – even when the hopeful acceptance letter from Wellesley arrives.

Hoping that college will fill all the gaps in her life where fear and loneliness seep in, Naomi heads straight into the school she believes will become her security. But, college is not what she had dared hope, and while Naomi finds herself surrounded by hundreds of other young women… at the same time she feels unreachable and alone.

When Naomi witnesses a girl fall into a freezing lake, things began to change. She learns of a mysterious society – called the Shakespeare Society with all the lure a secret society would have – rituals and secret meetings, and students with a canny passion. Finally Naomi believes she has found something that makes her feel a part of life and fills all those gaps. As Naomi grows into this new person, hard lessons are brought forth and Naomi is about to learn the most important lesson of her life.

Does anyone remember Dead Poet’s Society? It was a movie from the late 1980’s starring Robin Williams as an unconventional Professor of English, John Kleets. While I adore this movie and love all that John Kleets stood for, the best part of the movie to me, was the secret society of The Dead Poet’s. (Even as I type this my mind is thinking… do I still have this movie in my collection? Is it DVD or VHS? Please be DVD….)

I mention this now, because when I first read the synopsis of this book… that is what stood out to me. An ancient secret society…. sorry, I never went to college – I think I crave the whole secret sorority thing….

In An Uncommon Education, Naomi’s back story (prior to college) is a slow tedious start. I picked the book up. I put it down. I picked it up again. I believed it had a story within its pages that I wanted to read. I just had to find that story.

I hung in there. I found the book detailed, well-developed, I had a good feel for who Naomi was and what she stood for. I liked her. These are the things I clung too while I slogged through the first part of this book.

And then…

Wellesley.

Bringing Naomi to the school, the book picked up more of a heartbeat pace. It had rhythm… it had life. More importantly, I no longer wanted to sett he book down and move on. I think Naomi as well finds her heartbeat. When things get rough and a scandal is resented – Naomi then is forced into some hard truths that really bring this book full circle.

In a few words: Give the book some time to warm up, it is worth the wait.

In a word: WOW.

Thank to to TLC Book Tours for a gorgeous, thought provoking read

Viola In The Spotlight by Adriana Trigiani

Published on May 16, 2012May 16, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

It is no secret that I adore Adriana Trigiani’s books. While I have read Viola In The Spotlight and LOVED it, I have yet to get to this one. Thank you to Camryn who spied it on my shelves and took it out on loan and now having reviewed it… I want to read it right away! ~ Sheila

Viola in the Spotlight

Viola in the Spotlight is written by Adriana Trigiani. Viola Chesterton just came home from her school year a Prefect Academy, a boarding school in South Bend, Indiana. When Viola finally comes home to her Brooklyn, New York, she is relieved and more than ready to catch up with her best friends, Caitlin Pullapilly and Andrew Bozelli. Even if Viola is surprised that her BFFAA (Andrew) and Caitlin don’t have a totally free summer, she still feels like this summer will be the best yet. Trouble arises when Caitlin falls in love with the son of Viola’s parent’s tenant, Maurice. Maurice’s dad, Les Longfellow, is in Brooklyn only for the summer to direct a Broadway play, featuring Viola’s grandmother (Grand) and her boyfriend (George). Caitlin’s strict mom would never approve of Caitlin’s relationship with Maurice, so they keep it a secret. Viola gets an internship with the lighting designer of Grand’s play, which Grand got for her so Viola would have some way to spend her time that summer. Problems occur when Viola’s BFFAA, Andrew, starts acting weird around her. Viola brushes it off as nothing, but starts to second guess her judgement later on. As Caitlin and Maurice start getting closer and closer together, Viola knows it’s not right to keep this from Caitlin’s mom, but keeps the secret against her better judgement.

Viola decides to invite her Prefect roomies, Suzanne, Romy, and Marisol to the opening night of Grand’s play. After a few exhilaratingly happy days, they give a tearful goodbye and go their separate ways. When a sad tragedy hits Viola, she is forced to realize that she has the best of friends, and the best family she could ask for. With many not-so-easy decisions ahead of her, Viola realizes that this could be one of her most exciting summers, ever.

I ♥loved♥ this book. I read the prequel, Viola in Reel Life, a year – or a couple – years ago. I don’t remember exactly. I would recommend this book to anyone who read the first one. Or who wants a good series to read. It was a really great book, and the prequel was even better.

Camryn is 12 years old, soon to be thirteen and enjoys reading YA books of the fantasy and romance genre. A few of her favorite books are “Hourglass” by Myra McEntire, “The Other Countess” by Eve Edwards, “Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick, “The Immortals” series, the “Marked” series and the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” series. When she’s not reading she enjoys watching Gilmore Girls or going to book sales for more books to add to her ever-growing collection.

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

Published on May 15, 2012May 15, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)64 Comments

Louise Brooks was going to make it big. She just knew it. Kansas, was not big enough to hold her, and in 1922, on her 15th year she leaves for New York for her big break. To her annoyance, a 36-year-old woman named Cora Carlisle is sent along with her as a chaperone for the free-spirited Louise.

For Cora, this is hopefully going to be the adventure she felt was missing in her life, and she also has an underlying reason for wishing to go as well. Yet Cora had no idea what an undertaking she was in for… Louise is a beautiful young girl who is arrogant, lacks respect, and is used to getting her own way. Louise’s constant flirting with older men to get her way, and leaping before she looks, keeps Cora on her toes, and complicates her own reasons for coming to New York.

For five weeks, these two women are together and as time goes by, they are changed by what the other brings to the table.

Open this link in a new tab for some back ground review music….

I love modern-day New York. This June will be my third time there and I just love it. Now, saying that, I try to picture New York in 1922 and how it would differ from my experience. Thanks to author Laura Moriarty, I don’t have to stretch my imagination far! This well detailed book leaves me feeling like I could walk down the streets of 1922 New York and feel right at home.

Maybe part of my love for this book is the fact that it is set in New York. Maybe part of that draw is that in a few weeks I will be walking where Louise Brooks one time did as well. Maybe part if the draw is that I will be meeting author Laura Moriarty in New York, and although it is 2012 (details, details), it will be like stepping into the book itself.

*sigh*

Seriously though, I did enjoy this book very much. I did not know prior to this read that Louise Brooks was a very real person, who shortly after 1922, made it big as a silent film star. She was, as Laura Moriarty tells in The Chaperone, very outspoken, and expected things to be her way. (I looked up some information on Louise and was fascinated to find that her father’s business took priority over raising children, and her mother felt that she gave birth to them, now they can raise themselves. An awful incident with a neighbor at a young age did not help Louise’s already wild state…. )

Ok, I digress, but what I can say about this book is that it was a page turner. I loved that while Louise Brooks is a fascinating possible protagonist, she actually plays second fiddle her to the real protagonist of the book, Cora Carlisle, The Chaperone. The story line, the secrets, WOW. Both women, I found be extremely interesting and I am going to highly recommend that fans of history, historical fiction, New York (YAY!), and strong female protagonists, snatch up a copy of this book.

The book releases on June 5th and is available for pre-order now. An excellent choice for a summer read.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for a review copy of this book

I bow before you with my 1922 Velvet Dress Hat,

This book was amazing!

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Published on May 14, 2012May 4, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Jenny Lawson, AKA The Blogress, shares what it was like growing up in a highly function dysfunctional home in Texas. Her father, a Taxidermist likes to stuff all sorts of animals, never passes by a road kill he can not think of a use for as well as raise a few animals of their own…. like chickens…. and goats….

From the school days, to her 15 year marriage to her patient but continuously confused husband, Victor, Lets Pretend This Never Happened is told in witty “this is what happened” chapters.

I mainly listened to this because Jenny Lawson is a Blogger and that is “Whoop worthy”. Although I admit, I was not familiar with her blog, I am almost always up for something that makes me laugh and occasionally makes pop come out my nose. Seriously, who would pass that up? 😛

After seeing a couple of reviews on this one, I decided I wanted to go with the audio version because I thought the book would come across better and because Jenny Lawson (author) was narrating this herself and that is usually pretty cool or AWESOME with a capital A. Or both. Yes, in this case both.

Jenny Lawson is an Awesome with a capital “A” narrator. She really does bring each story to life with her “yes this really happened” attitude. I enjoyed her telling of each story and her over use of the word “Ya’ all”, which makes me want to use it when talking with friends and when writing reviews… I have to be careful not to do that for the next couple of weeks until this gets out of my head so tell me if you see me using it.

There is no question that Jenny is funny and I am a big fan of dry humor and funny scenario’s. Some of the early childhood stories involving dead animal flesh, extremities, and other levels of “YUCK” were not my favorites of the audio. When Jenny gets more into her discussions with her husband Victor, I think those where the chapters I enjoyed the most. Victor’s bewildered “Seriously, what were you thinking?” to Jenny’s “Oh, but this will work and we should definitely patent this idea before it is stolen” counter is at times HILARIOUS.

Some of my favorite book/audio moments are:

Post it note argument with Victor.

The GPS – why do they give street names? Land marks would be so much easier “Turn left at that blue house where you once seen that bum passed out in the ditch”

The taxidermy Alligator on the airplane, (I laughed several times out loud when Jenny gave the Alligator a voice with a thick accent and had it talking to a much embarrassed and annoyed Victor.)

There are a couple of chapters that are pretty real too, so it is not all fun and games, Jenny’s attempts to carry a baby to term are heart wrenching, and when she openly speaks on her illness as well.

While Amazon says this is a good one to read if you are fans of Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants, I would say that Jenny Lawson’s crude language is far more frequent than Tina Fey’s was and if you are considering listening to this on audio you are going to overdose on the “F” bomb as well as a few other words. Did the language go to a point that it bothered me personally? Yes. I do not read Jenny’s blog so I am sure this is just the way she rolls, which is fine, but for me personally, I think it could have been just as good and maybe even better without all the language.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Audible.com

Other reviews to consider:

Caribou’s Mom

S Krishna’s books

Bermudaonions Weblog

Between The Covers

You’ve Got To Read This

Lots Of Cake, Plenty Of Candles by Anna Quindlen

Published on May 12, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quindlen now takes a realistic look at her 60th year in this memoir. Within, she talks of the past (growing up, parents, boys, dating, marriage, children..), the present (the importance of friends, not getting so worked up anymore, faith, loss) and the future (decluttering life, enjoying the moments…)

Anna talks to you in her memoir like she is talking to a friend hashing over the good, the bad, and the ugly while sitting in a sunny chair on her porch sitting ice-cold tea and the sampling of the occasional short bread.

I have not read a lot of Anna Quindlen. In fact, off-hand, I think other than this one, I have only read Every Last One (which is freaking me out now, as I just tried to search my blog for this review and can not find it. I know I listened to it on audio and now wonder if I forgot to review it last year. :shock:) However, I know Anna Quindlen can write, and I know her name as an author upon hearing it.

While I am no where hear the 60th birthday mark, I was still intrigued by a life memoir by a woman who is known for writing about realistic life opportunities in ways that make you think and care. I knew that writing a non fiction for Anna, would be an honest, even if it was brutally so, look at the life lessons she has carried.

I for one felt I too would get something out of listening to this book.

I used to think that surrounding myself with trusting girlfriends was just my own personal way of dealing with so much loss in my life. I like, and need “Go To Girls”. Listening to Anna, I am realizing that my need to hang out with my friends is not a unique thing, but really – a girl thing. As Anna points out, as we get older our girlfriends become all the more important to talk about everything, and to talk about nothing. I like that.

From dating to marrying to children of our own, Anna Quindlen covers all the topics with a matter of fact and confident tone. I enjoyed listening to her life lessons, smiling and laughing at times.

All in all, this book is not just for nearing or over that 60 years old mark. It is a read for any woman who feels they have lived much, but have more left to do. 😀

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Audible.com

Other thoughts on this one:

Lesa’s Book Critiques

Bibliophile By The Sea

Beth Fish Reads

Freedom Acres

I purchased this one from audible.com

Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published on May 11, 2012May 11, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

When Cassie called Lia, crying, begging for her to help… to talk to her, to be there for her…. Lia should have picked up the phone.

But…

she didn’t.

And not Cassie is dead and Lia is left with the “should have” and the “could have” of a moment in time that may have changed everything.

Then again…

maybe not.

After all, Cassie and Lia were once very close…. each of them part of the “Winter Girls”, each competing to be the thinnest… the smallest girl in school… in their town… everywhere. And really, would picking up the phone that night have helped Cassie? Or for that matter, have helped Lia?

Now Lia finds herself in a world where her parents watch her like a hawk… trying to get her to eat, trying to help her… but when Lia looks in the mirror she sees only the yellowness of oozy fat beneath her skin….

UGLY. FAT. HORRIBLE. DISGUSTING.

And so, Lia watched everything she eats….

6 almonds….. 42 calories

toast with no butter…. 120 calories

half an apple… 50 calories…

The goal… 500 calories a day… Or…. is that too much?

FAT. STUPID. LAZY. UGLY.

Her family begs her to gain weight…. but at 18 years old, Lia cant stand how being 97 pounds feels…. why do they continue to try to make her fat? Trying to make her eat like the gluttons they are? Do they not know that she will run on the treadmill for fours hours later, getting rid of it… all of it until that scale creeps down…. triumphantly to 90, then 87, then 85, then 83…. and then….

“The number doesn’t matter. If I got down to 070.00, I’d want to be 065.00. If I weight 010.00, I wouldn’t be happy until I got down to 005.00. The only number that would ever be enough is 0. Zero pounds, zero life, size zero, double-zero, zero point. Zero in tennis is love. I finally get it.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson, Wintergirls

Laurie Halse Anderson has done it again. Seriously! When I read SPEAK (a banned book by the way!) I was blown away by the powerful and brave topic of a teenager being raped at a party, and afraid to talk about it. Now, in Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson tackles another tough and heartbreaking topic, Anorexia.

Told in the voice of Lia, we are taken completely inside the mind of a young girl who feels she in always fat, even though everyone, EVERYONE (parents, doctors, counselors….)are telling her differently. As Lia fights to stay thinner and thinner, you experience with her hallucinations, lack of energy, the inability to get warm, and embarrassment from her siblings at her thinness.

I highly recommend you listen to this one on audio (yes, even those of you new to audio) – do yourself a favor as Jeannie Stith does an emotionally charged narration of this book… from the voices within Lia’s own mind, to the people that surround Lia’s small world. Listening to this one was a real treat.

Hey Lady! Watcha Reading?