Tag: Review

In the dead silence,

all the details suddenly fell into place for me

with a burst of intuition.

Something Edward didn’t want me to know.

Something that Jacob wouldn’t have kept from me…

It was never going to end, was it?

This is the third book of the Twilight series.  I think it was better than book 2 (New Moon) but not as good as book 1 (Twilight).

It is great to have Edward back in the picture full time… however as the book goes on I am starting to find Bella… in a word…

annoying.

What is setting me off (and probably well intentioned by the author) is this love triangle with Jacob… (who, even though I dislike romance books, dislike even more Jacobs too strong and pushy attitude and now Bella’s ridiculous weakness against him is making me a bit nuts too).  Edward is probably the sweetest, most patient, loving, adoring, attentive, supportive, forgiving, giving, generous, gorgeous male character, to have ever graced the pages of a book in the history of paper making….  and Bella’s careless handling of his heart and his non stop adoration for her makes me want to bite her.  On the neck.

Ok – perhaps I am getting a bit worked up over this work of fiction… but as with any great work… there will be critics.  And Yes, I get that as the reader, Stephanie Meyer probably has me right where she wants me.  Totally frustrated with the Jacob and Bella “confused love” storyline to the point that there is no way I will skip out on book 4 (breaking dawn) as I must ensure that everything ends as I feel it should… that all my fictitious Twilight characters will be safe inside these four books and not running around in a mass amount of confusion and frustration for eternity.

Over all rating of this book – a strong 4.

I knew we were both in mortal danger.

Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again. My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off of his skin. It was like there had never been any hole in my chest. I was perfect- not healed, but as if there had never been a wound in the first place.

This is book two in the Twilight series. My friend Cindy picked it up for me at Wal-Mart in Little Falls last Friday evening.  I completed it on Thursday of this past week.

I had heard that this book was harder to get into, but to plug on as the third picks up speed again.  I did not necessarily find that the case.  I think the anxiety caused by Edwards absence in much of the book must be the reason for the overall reader disappointment, but what the author is doing is developing the relationship and a new up and coming lead character, Jacob Back.  All who have read these books should agree, having Edward around during this segment of the book development would not have worked as well.  We needed a wounded yet free Bella, a “caution be damned” Bella… and that’s what we got.

I enjoyed the intensity of this book just as much as the first and while some of the Jacob/Bella dialogue tended to drag in parts, I pressed on, knowing that this was essential material to get us where we were going.

I for one, was not disappointed.

While New Moon may not turn out to be the best in the series, it is an important piece to the puzzle that is Twilight.

5 Rating – still an A+ read.  (Oh yeah ….  I am now ahead of Justin!)

About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him—-and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be—-that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Not since the Harry Potter books have I been so excited about a fictional set of books…. well, I still rank Harry above Twilight… but it is a good fantasy second…

So let me back up… way up.  I first seen this book about a year ago in a suitcase of a fellow traveler while I was in Honduras.  Being a Bookie (always) I looked closely at the book and at the mention of vampires, had no interest whatsoever.  However, I did mention it to my son, Justin who also enjoys reading, thinking it may be more to his liking… he declined.

As 2008 rolled on, the word started to spread about Twilight and the follow up books.  At a garage sale this past summer I found a copy and put it on my book shelf as a possible some day I may read… maybe.

Then I heard about the movie… hmmmm…. and  friends who read (the FWR -ha ha) started mentioning that while Twilight would not have been something they thought they would enjoy – they actually did.  “It ranks up there with the Harry Potter Books” I heard.  Well, they had my attention.

“I never thought I could read about vampires but really, the way it is written it is not a gorey vampire book… its really a love story.” another said. Still listening.

So I picked it up.  And I opened it.  And…

I really, really liked it.  Not a fan of romance stories, it wasn’t a strong love story in the sense that you wanted to gag.  No – it was more sweet, young love.  A teenage boy totally head over heels in love with Bella and yet so afraid that he may hurt her with his nature.  Bella – totally falling for Edward… the gorgeous boy…. to the point that she wants to be with him no matter what.

Maybe aimed for a younger reader?  Yes… sort of.  But I would argue this for Harry Potter as well when I say that if you enjoy good writing, have a vivid imagination, and firm grasp of reality, all at the same time… you may surprise yourself with this book.

Currently I am now on book 2… New Moon.  I am enjoying the pace, the familiarity of the characters I have come to know and love.  But hey, that’s another review.

A high 5 rating.  This is a great discussion book and the authors story of how the book came to be is quite interesting as well.

(Oh and as for Justin…. he read Twilight before I had even picked it up – LOVED IT and is ahead of me on book 2…)

Yes! This was our book club pick for December. It has been in the running for two years now and this year was selected. I am thrilled! I have never read the book but find myself in recent years wanting to read some of the greats –
I know the story of course, but to read the words…. that has always been my way.
After this book was selected I ordered a beautiful hard cover copy from Amazon. I knew this book would be a keepsake and after reading it I wished to put it in my library and use this very copy to one day read to my grandchildren.
And so – I opened this book like an excited child and began…. with Marley being dead.
I found it interesting that I had forgotten about Marley and really without him, you have no story. And as I read about Marley – I find that he too, was much like Scrooge in his life… and it is Marley who comes to warn Scrooge of his ways.
I think in this book the biggest visual I got out of it was when Marley shows Scrooge to the window and you see all the spirits carrying with them the same burdens – or choices they made in life. By choosing to live for the wrong things (money, possesions…) they are still with these spirits as they passed on. Now too late to have a generous caring heart, they willf orever carry these “chains”. I had to stop and think a minute what chains I carry….
The book I found to be very enjoyable and perfectly light for this time of year. It was a pleasure to read, to know a little more about Charles Dickens was also a treat. For book club tomorrow evening I am hoping to make a bowl of Smoking Bishop – which is in the final chapter of this book.
A+ read…. don’t miss out on reading this!

I was so excited to get to this book!  In the begining when the book opened with an ape named Shift and a donkey named Puzzle… I was discouraged to see the direction the book was taking.  I didn’t like the ape, and the donkey needed a self esteem shot…

Yet – very quickly, I picked up the rythym of C.S. Lewis’ final installment of this series and was excited again to see the quick and brilliant mind of this man, this author, go to work in ways that astound me!  In the Last Battle we also encounter Tash and followers of Tash (Tash being the devil).  As people of Narnia choose sides Aslan or Tash – and some real confusion as the ape, Shift, tells those who are listening that Aslan and Tash are actually one and the same… we come to a great comparison to Matthew 24: 7 (where we know there will be a great deception at the end of times…)

As this book continues the level of energy and excitement stays high all the way to what possibly may be one of the best book endings I have ever read, and here is where C.S. brings Aslan back and through a great doorway, He brings His followers, and turns others away… and in great detail we see Narnia as we knew it, pass away and the new world begin (Isaiah 65: 17 – 25).

I ended this book with a great appreciation for C.S. Lewis, a man who passed out of this world before I was born… and all these years later I feel privledged to have read his works and spent a little time dwelling in his incredible mind.

An A+ rating on the books and I highly recommend these books not only for children…. but for yourself.

Ok, first of all, yes I have been reading…. I have just been busy with additional projects on my plate lately and the book blog has gone to the wayside…  I hope to remedy that now and catch up here over the next day or so…

Nights of Rodanthe was our book club read for September.  I was not entirely thrilled as this is a Sparks, and I tend to find him a bit light in his writing style and little plot development.  He is also considered one of America’s favorite author of love stories and well, that may be another reason he doesn’t stand out as a favorite of mine… I have never been much of a romance reader.

Yet, I ventured into this book because – it was a book club read … and the movie was coming out and that is something our group likes to do, see the movies that come from books.

I found the book to be …. Sparks.  While I really enjoyed Paul’s character, I felt he could have been so much more.  He truly felt like a great character, that never was fully developed…. mainly – because the story to me seemed… rushed.  By rushed I mean, it starts out strong (love the framing around a Bed and Breakfast) but then off the book races to – feelings, relationship, feelings, its over, the promise, the end.

I felt, and really, Paul should too, cheated.

I will rate this book as average, because for Sparks… thats what I expect.  This book, could have said so much more and really could have been well written by adding “more” and about 150 more pages.

As for the movie – a few of the girls seen it and said not to bother.  So I didn’t.

Book 6… complete.  This is the first book (and I believe the only book) that none of the Pevensie children are in.  Eustace, along with a new companion named Jill Pole, is brought back to Narnia. The pair are told by Aslan they must search for King Caspian’s missing son, Prince Rillian.

While I missed the Pevensie children, it was kind of fun to see the new and improved Eustace back for another try at Narnia.  In this book., Jill is given a clear list of instruction from Aslan on how to get thngs done, but in  the process of adventure. Jill often forgets what she was told and instead does things her own way.  (How often is this true in my own life?)

While Eustance and Jill are not the strong characters like Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy, C.S. instead gives us this round the Marshwiggle, Puddleglum… who is a scarecrow meets Eyore type of fellow who I would think would be delightful to the audiance these books were made for.

The children go about their search for the Prince and find yet another beautiful Queen (who turns out to be another witch like in the first book).

The ending is rather good – I can’t give it away so you’ll have to read it for yourself.  I would say that this was not my favorite of the books, but I am guessing it a necessary book to get us to where we are going…  The Last Battle….

This book first came to me in a conversation, “The Shack, ” they said, “Amazing – it really made me think…”

Another said, “It is at Bethany Book Store, but it has a warning on it…”

Then I seen it in our local book store – in the top ten no less.  “What kind of book is sold in the Local Christian Book Store with a warning label, and is also on the top ten list on the fiction list in a secular section,” I wondered.

Then a friend said, “Read it if you want to – but I hated it.”

Such strong emotions… all from the same book.  What could that be about?  I had to read it.

The Shack is a Christian Fiction book that is written from a  third persons perspective on what happened to Mack.  Mack’s story is one that is sadly all too common, growing up in a home with an abusive father, who eventually drives Mack out of the home at a young age.

When Mack becomes a father, he is loving and generous and nothing like his own father.  His wife, Nan, refers to God as “Papa” which Mack struggles with as the word Papa does not hold within it the sense of security and love for him as it does for Nan.

On a camping trip, while saving one child who becomes entangled in an over turned canoe, his youngest daughter Missy is kidnapped from the campground and later confirmed to be murdered.  Mack is beside himself with grief and years later receives an invite in his mailbox to go to the shack where they had found Missy’s dress and meet God.  A confused Mack makes the trip back to the shack without his family’s knowledge and that is where the book really takes off.

This book makes you think about how you (I) perceive God.  Now let me clarify, this is a FICTION book.  It is not causing me to rethink my beliefs – however, instead it just makes me wonder how many of us have God pictured as one way, when He really can be so much more than we have ever imagined.  The pages that tell the story are turned faster and faster as you are right along side Mack as he bears his grief, his anger, and yes, even his shame, as he learns right beside God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit about his daughter, about forgiveness.. and at the same time I find myself learning too.

Through tears I battled with a tough decision that Mack has to make at the end of the book… have a chance to see his daughter again, even be with her on a day to day basis… or return back to the world as he has always known it – to his wife and children and continue on with his life until the day comes to return again…  this is the part of the book that touched me the most.

I had to consider this question for myself… how hard to be right there – where your deepest desire is within your reach and suddenly you have to decide… it pained me to even think about it.

Through reading this book, I was… enlightened.  Intrigued.  And thoroughly impressed with the writing, the words, and even though at times it was tough – I give a lot of credit to the author for putting this on paper for all to have a chance to think beyond the walls of our own mind.

Breathe in me… deep

That I may breathe … and live

And hold me close that I might sleep

Soft held by all you give

Come kiss me wind and take my breath

Till you and I are one

And we will dance among the tombs

Until all death is gone

And no one knows that we exist

Wrapped in each others arms

Except the One that blew the breath

That hides me safe from harm

Come kiss me wind and take my breath

Till you and I are one

And we will dance among the tombs

Until all death is gone

Note from the author

I picked this book up, Footprints of a Pilgrim, at the Library Fall Sale.  I mainly picked it up because it had a beautiful cover and was .50 cents.  I thought it would look lovely in my library… but I really had no intension of reading it.  The book was about Billy Graham’s wife and I didn’t think it would be anything I would be interested in.

I brought the book home and considered offering it on Swaptree as like I said, it was a beautiful book.  I started thumbing through the pages making sure all pages were clean and no writing in the book.  As I skimmed through the book I was capturing parts of this story, ” Ruth being late for curfew, sneaking in windows, dating 52 men in college, breaking her arm ski diving and trying to hide it from Billy…”  This actually sounded interesting.

I started reading this magnificent book which is filled with stories of Ruth’s carefree spirit and at the same time showed me a side to Billy Graham that I did not know was there.  He’s funny, he’s real… and maybe if I would ever listen to a thing the man has said I would have known that – and his wife – well she was a real firecracker!  With great stories about their children, and stories written by their adult children about life with this incredible mom it was hard to put down.

I really enjoyed this book and I know I want to read more about this amazing couple.  I want to loan it out to people just so I can share the funny stories!  An A+ read and a real wake up call for me and my preconceived ideas of who someone is.