Weekend Reading

The weather here was gorgeous this past weekend and with a clean house and with my (entire!) family out of town, I got to concentrate on just reading!

I ended up finishing two books this weekend ( both from my never ending  GR TBR list = double score).

First up is my fiction choice:

Should Have Known Better
Grace Octavia

My sister picked this book up first and I though it sounds interesting and it didn’t appear to be one of those drama for drama’s sake books. Plus the author is attending my Alma Mater, so I had to support Ms. Octavia.

Should have Known Better introduces us to Dawn Johnson a devoted wife, mother and librarian living in Augusta, GA. Dawn exemplifies the working mom struggle which is increased by the fact that her son, has Autism. One day she gets a call from an old college roommate who is in town for a conference and wants to come hang out like old times.  Sasha is Dawn’s sorority sister and once best friend who is now an acclaimed journalist living the fast life in the Atl. While Dawn is excited, she also has some reservations about Sasha coming to visit because she knows that Sasha has never approved of her relationship/marriage to her husband Reginald a blue collar worker who never finished college. Reginald has his own issue with Sasha and her BUPPIE lifestyle. Putting all that aside, Sasha comes to visit and after she and Regional initially but heads,  things soon swing quickly in the other direction. Dawn is never able to put her hands on it, but she sees things changing and her gut tells her that Sasha is desperate for a man and a baby and will do anything to get it.

The story reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend recently. I wanted to visit her and her family in their new military duty station( which for reference was outside the continental U.S.). During the planning process she told me that she would was fine with me staying with her. I remember being taken aback because the only way I could afford this trip was because I didn’t budget a hotel. My friend went on to explain that her mother had warned her not to have her friends staying in her house with her husband unless she could trust them( no clarification on if them included the husband). Apparently, I had made the cut, but many others had not and it caused a riff in the friendships. That conversation stayed with me for years and pops in my head from time to time. After reading this book, I wonder if Dawn could have benefited from a similar conversation.

I really wanted to like Dawn, but I had trouble with the plot. It’s completely plausible, but Dawn was just so slow to act and clueless it was annoying.  Now we have all been in a situation where our gut tells us one thing, but the way Dawn took a back seat was just annoying.

I really enjoyed the writing, and the way that Ms. Octavia addressed some really big A’s- Adultery, Alcoholism and Autism and because of her smooth writing, I kept reading even if I didn’t really connect with Dawn and wanted to reach into the book and shake her. Sometimes the sequence of events just seemed over the top and the ending was pretty abrupt which I guess means we can anticipate a sequel. I know love and lust are crazy things, but Sasha and Reginald just seemed far-fetched. Had it not been for the great writing, I probably would have given up on the book halfway through, but the writing flowed so well, it was easy to just keep going. 

The College Experience

The Marriage Plot
Jeffery Eugeinides

One of my favorite literary niche genre’s is coming of age stories- specifically that occur during college. It doesn’t take a psychologist to see where my love of this genre comes from. I loved my undergraduate days that I never left college (sorry a little Student affairs professional humor). I enjoyed my college experience but what I really remember were the people that helped mold and guide me both academically, professionally and even personally. I wanted to be that person and so I re-entered the Ivy Tower, pursued a Masters in Higher education Administration and Student Affairs and have been working the field for 5 years in a variety of positions. So when I see a book about a student’s “coming of age” during college I automatically pick it up. That’s what primarily led me to Jeffery Eugeines- the Marriage Plot (well that and the fact the I loved the Virgin Suicides). The Marriage Plot started showing up on all the “Best of” or “Can’t be Missed books of 2011 so I had high expectations going into the story.

The main character in the book is Madeline, a college senior who is graduating from Brown University in the 1980’s (I believe it was the wonderful and exciting year of 1983). The title of the book comes from Madeline’s Thesis and it follows Madeline as she graduates and moves into the “real world” with her group of friends and boyfriend

I enjoyed this book but I also struggled with it. The first part reads like a literature class which was a little difficult for me to follow. I kept wondering if I had reverted back to my undergrad days. I kept slugging through because this is supposed to be one of the best books of 2011 and I wanted to see what all the hype was about.

The book picked up a little and then slowed down (at least for me) and it took me a lot longer to finish it because some parts were tedious to read. I enjoyed most of the characters but fount Mitchell's narrative to be rather slow. I found Madeline a little infuriating, but I'm sure I was too when I was 21.

Overall, I enjoyed the book but, I also have to say that I am glad to be done with it.

Nearlyweds

Nearlyweds
Beth Kendrick
***** (5/5)

So this was my second book by Beth Kendrick this summer. I read tried to read My Favorite Mistake, but I just couldn’t really get into it* this one however was a totally different story and I read it all in one evening.

Nearlyweds is about 3 women who have their dream wedding one weekend only to find out weeks later that the officiant died before signing the marriage certificates so they aren’t legally married. To make matters even more complicated, the honeymoon period is long over and the women are wondering if this legal loophole isn’t a blessing in disguise. One evil step-daughter an even eviler mother-in-law, a crazy dog an self-insecurity are just some of the themes that makes Nearlyweds one of my favorite books of the summer.

First, I enjoyed it because it was an extremely original idea and interesting. The characters were varied and not all the clichéd characters you usually read about in chic-lit. The story is extremely fast paced and I got so into the book that I finished it in one evening. I really couldn’t put it down without knowing what happened to the women and their men. There were ups and downs, I was excited, happy, angry and sad, and in the end I was satisfied. I spent the evening reading a great book, with a great ending.

Sometimes I did wonder in the women were acting a bit childish and running away from their problems instead of facing it, but I think ms. Kendrick did a good job with character development and their history to make us really see the women’s side of the story. But I would have really enjoyed discussing that at a book club meeting to get someone's else take on the situation(s).

If you like chic-lit you’ll definitely like this book; however, even if you don’t care for the genre too much (but still enjoy it from time to time) you’ll enjoy it as well, because in my opinion it came off as a little more than just chic-lit.

*I think I couldn’t get into My Favorite Mistake because I was also reading Flies on The Butter and they had similar storied- women who ran away and were now reluctantly returning home to face something and blah, blah, blah. I’m really tired of that story line at the current moment.

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine

Anna Quindlen

I waited awhile to get this book for paperback swap and I have to say this book was definitely worth the wait.

Rise and Shine is the story of two sisters Megan, a married mother of one, Katie Couric-esuqe morning show host (popular, lovable) and Bridget a single, dedicated social worker. One day Meghan utters something on air that changes her life and those around her. That’s the book in a gist. Check out the amazon.com for a better written one. I had trouble writing one, without giving away too many plot lines and this book is better going in blind.

My thoughts on the book:

• The prose and insight was wonderful. I loved the introspection on NYC, her observations about class & race in NYC and the beautiful descriptions of a Jamaican vacation.

• I loved the interaction between the sisters- it felt real, and I enjoyed reading it from Bridget’s (the younger one) point of view. (I’m the older sister).

• I loved the characters from Leo (Megan’s son) to Tequila (Bridget’s secretary) Irving ( the boyfriend) and Aunt Maureen. They were likeable and familiar. Even Leo who sometimes sounded almost too good to be true.

• Toward the last third of the book the plot got away from me a little bit. While the events were not completely unfathomable or anything likes that- they way they were brought together made me almost roll my eyes. However who am I to say it can’t happen? Up until that part the books is relatively fast paced and insightful. After that, I felt a little dazed.

• I like endings where unanswered questions are answered and this one does that. Not necessarily neatly and perfectly but answered. I hate books where I am left saying “WTF does that mean”?

Overall : 4 and something stars. I enjoyed the book itself, the characters and the plot (minus the 3-4 penultimate chapters. I actually kind of skimmed through them, read the last chapter, and then returned to the ones I skipped to see if I missed anything, which I didn’t. A good read and an excellent addition to any bookshelf. It’s a mixture of intelligent chic-lit and little city lit ( books about the upper middle, upper class in NYC) This was my first Quindlen book and I am looking forward to more. This is one of those books I wish I could/would read in a book club setting and discuss it.

* Side note: I disagreed with so many of the reviews on amazon.com that my original review sounded like a defense of the book. This type review flowed much easier.

Death Around The Corner

Death around the Corner

C-Murder

***** ( 5/5)

I am not a fan of street-lit, worse yet I am not a big fan of rappers trying to act, much less writing. When I heard that C-Murder wrote a book- fiction no less, I rolled my eyes, hard. Then I happened to read an excerpt from the book in one issue of Vibe magazine and gasp! - It actually sounded good. Well written, grammatically correct, interesting. I was shocked and but still put off actually purchasing the book for a while. I mean any excerpt could sound good and be grammatically correct. Plus I didn’t’ think I could handle the looks on my friends faces when I would tell them what I was reading. However, that excerpt was good, it has a solid 5 star amazon.com rating, and so eventually I broke down and bought the book and all I can say is WOW.

At times I wondered if there was a ghostwriter (nope- at the end he tells the story of how, when, why he wrote the book) besides I’m not sure anyone at Vibe could write this well. I’ll admit, I went into this book very skeptical, looking for mistakes and anything I could find and I didn’t find anything. This book has it all character development (great character development) a good, solid plot, a good style, a viable theme, great , realistic dialoige, all that other stuff from HS English. However, most importantly it has a ( realistic) story and a purpose. It's not just glorifying like some of the other street trash lit that is polluting the shelves.

Death around the Corner introduces us to Daquan. Born and bred in the Calliope (CP3), Daquan gets an early and real introduction to the streets. He continues on this path as one of the youngest and most respected hustlers in NOLA, until he finds his passion, in music. DATC follows Daquan as he tries to make this transition from the streets to the studio. It’s a coming of age story for a totally different set. We had Flyy Girl & Coldest Winter Ever, I believe DATC will slip on the shelves right between those two as the quintessential ‘hood coming of age story. It’s a book cross between Boyz in da hood an ATL (that’s the best I could do- its closer to Boyz in da hood, but updated and for a different part of the world- A southern Boyz in da hood!)

It was a pleasant surprised by this I truly enjoyed this book. C-Murder is very talented writer I am actually looking forward to future works by him.

http://www.deatharoundthecorner.com

Please not that this is an urban book. The language and the descriptions are very real and gritty. This book is not for the faint of heart. That being said- this book is not vulgar either- Just real. Real talk, real language (profanity, use of the n-word and the h-word, street slang), real vivid streets scenes ( drugs, sex ext.) if you listen to rap music or are from the streets, hood, inner-city or whatever you call it- you will not have any problems, otherwise be warned.This book is probably rated R.

I am NOT looking forward to future Vibe books ( I read the excerpt from the next book- that is exactly what I was expecting). Maybe another publisher will pick up C’s next work.

*On another note I once wrote a homage to No Limit Records and my love for them circa 1998, on my now defunct LJ blog. Please click here to read it.

What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal?

What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal?
Zoë Heller

I did this backward, and saw the movie first, mostly because I did not know that there was a book. I netflixed the movie and loved it. I think Judi Dench was excellent and the Academy Award was well deserved. She played Barbra, but she added her own uniqueness to it. Usually I don’t like the movie version of books, but this one I enjoyed both almost equally (I’m still a book geek, so I liked the book a little bit better.)

I probably would have never picked up this book without seeing the movie and it is sad that I could have missed out on such a great book. The premise of the story is about a young woman who has an affair with her much younger male student. I’m kind of over that whole scenario with all the double-standards and media attention about that sort of thing but this book is not completely about that. The narrator is Barbara, a much older teacher at St. George’s (the novel is set in London) who takes an interest in the new, younger, prettier Bathsheba (Sheba) Hart. The form a friendship and Barbara takes us on a time line from the moment Sheba arrives, to the beginning of their friendship and everything until when the affair is discovered and the aftermath. The book alternates between the past and present (after the affair is discovered). The best part of the book is that in answers the question in the title- we know exaclty what Sheba was thinking. I think that the answer could only be told be an outsider and someone like Barbara. If it was told by Sheba herself, it would loose the umph of the story/scandal and we would all hate Sheba, but through Barbara- it is a masterpiece.

Barbara is one of my favorite narrators. Her tongue-in-cheek humor and dry sarcasm had me laughing out loud at times and her honesty and writing was superb. This book is worth 5 gold stars.

The movie is good (well of course - that is why it was nominated and won Academy Awards) - but my advice is read the book before the movie. Either way, the book is great.

Flies on the Butter

Flies on the Butter

Denise Hildreth
***** ( 5/5)

The first thing I have to say about this book is a note to the publishers. Please do not put realistic looking flies on book covers. Had they been actually on the butter- that’s would have worked, but just randomly placed… well that invites people to interrupt you to tell you that there is a fly on your book.

Denise Hildrith's latest is a break from her Savannah from Savannah series (which I review the first two here and here). Rose Fletcher is on a thirty something lobbyist from Mullins, South Carolina. As she is on her way back home, she preps herself to deal with her family, particularly her mother, whom she hasn’t seen in ten years and to mull over the mess her life is and the rift between her and her husband. Told alternating in Flashbacks between her childhood growing up in the south and her current anxiety driving car trip, complete with “perfect” strangers who give her a little guidance and lots of blessings as she goes on her way.

I knew I would enjoy this book, don’t ask me how but I did. Denise writes with such feeling that you can understand exactly where Rose is and how she got there. I could feel her loss and her frustration at being out of control. I also enjoyed the nature of the book- each chapter alternating between her childhood and the present and I loved the “strangers” at the end of each “present” chapter. Of course I loved the southern feel on this book. In fact, I even went in search of some good ole boiled peanuts for myself ( man, how I missed those when we used to live overseas). The only thing that bothered me was that I didn’t feel we got the full story on what happened, what exactly it was that made Rose run. There was a lot of leading up to, some foreshadowing but the resulting story/ discovery lacked punch, kind of like the air going out of a balloon really fast. Denise writing is very touching and she was able to deal with some heavy subjects without making it feel to preachy. Her words felt the words coming from you favorite aunt or big momma, or Mamaw- soothing, soul stirring and just right. Aside from that, it was a great, touching story about whether or not you really can go home again.

*In the reviews I read (Publishers & Booklist also on Amazon.com), there was some criticism about contradictions (a child lobbyist- not wanting to have children, driving instead of flying ECT). I felt that those contradictions are what make Rose and what makes her so lost. Everyone is a contradiction in their own way and when you are on the run from your past or your demons or yourself- you usually ARE a big contradiction. Just think back to the last time you were confused, scared and running.

Body of A Girl

Body of a Girl

Leah Stewart

**** ( 4.3/5)

When a young woman is found dead (body of a girl) in the middle of a Memphis summer, what starts out as usual for crime reporter Olivia Dale, but somewhere there is more to this girl and Olive sates out to find out what. However the investigation into Allison Avery soon becomes a self investigation into Olive’s life.

In two reviews, I’ve seen this book is listed as a thriller which in my opinion it is far from. There is a mystery and a good one at that. Stewart is very good at crafting mysteries and stories, but a thriller this is not. It’s a very good book, a short read and interesting story. I can proudly say I haven’t read this story line before. I think a lot of female heroines (not all) fall between Kinsey Millhone and Stephanie Plum and Olivia Dale was neither, which I enjoyed ( basically this isn’t chick-lit or a full blown mystery, but somewhere perfectly in between). At times, I wondered why Olivia was so into this story and I never really figured out why, and many times I wanted to shake her because she did some stupid things in search of the truth, even though that’s the only way you really ever find answers or the truth. In the end Olivia redeems her story- and the story of the young woman.

A quick read, recommended. The subject matter and the story is a little dark (i.e. this is not a beach read) but it’s a wonderful compelling story nonetheless.

Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness

Life, Libby & The Pursuit of Happiness

Lydia Hope

**** ( 4.5/5)


Libby Marshall thought everything would come together when she received the promotion at work that she was promised 5 years ago. However, a corporate merger changes and all that and Libby is demoted to an administrative assistant. Her demotion is just the beginning of crazy things to come and suddenly Libby’s life is a big mystery, with her former boss missing and a huge secret which might be the key to her future career. Libby begins a journey to start living life in the moment AND trusting her faith.

I really enjoyed this book. Overall Libby was a great character. She wasn’t to cliché or overly anything (whiny, ECT) - just a normal girl who thought she had everything figure out, but didn’t factor in life. The themes ( faith, trusting God,) were not shoved at us but sprinkled into a few key passages that were very moving for Libby (and for me). The message and the passages felt very real, I felt as if it were my aunt giving them to me.

There were a few times, especially at the end that I rolled my eyes as how perfectly everything wrapped up. I know sometimes life is like that, but some things at the end were a bit too perfect, but overall it was a great read.

I highly recommended this cute and inspiring story.

AThousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini

*****( 6/5)

Can I really give a book six stars. Yep- my website, my rules and this one in my opinion deserves six stars. I cannot say how much I loved this book. It’s like The Kite Runner, but from a female perspective. This is a great book. One of the best of 2007 ( which is turning out to be a really great year for books , or for me at least).

In his sophomore novel, Hosseini takes us back to his homeland Afghanistan, beginning briefly in 1959 and takes us to almost present day ( the fall of the Taliban). He tells the story of two women Mariam and Lalia- two women who are drawn together. Told in almost alternating chapters we follow Mariam and Lalia through their respective childhoods and as the meet and are bound together as adult women. Hosseini gives us so much reality in the situation of Afghanistan over the last half a century, from a monarch to Society Rule to the Mujahdeen to the Taliban and briefly on life after the Taliban. He pains such vivid a clear picture that I sometimes felt as if is was with Maraim and Lalia and I felt their bond, their emotions, and their life’s so strong- for a book.

I could probably gush about this book all day but I won’t. I’ll just say that this is one of the top ten books of 2007 and is a must read. I’d also like to say that this book paints the history of Afghanistan in an excellent way, more interesting than say reading a non-fiction book. Between this , The Kite Runner and The Bookseller of Kabul, I feel like I could hold an intelligent ( factual) conversation about Afghanistan or at least am able to understand the culture a little more ( more than my fellow American to say the least). This book completely stops all over that Kabul Beauty School Book if you really want a light into Afghani women.

You HAVE to go get this book.!!!!!

Another Sad Love Song

Another Sad Love Song
LaJill Hunt
**** (4/5)


Since so many of her books are “street lit” I hesitantly picked this book up and was not expecting much, but this was one good book.

JaKoby is a young black man who seemingly has it all, A good job, a MBA, a new benz and great friends, all thats missing is the right woman to spend it with. Burned by love before, he wasn’t expecting much when loves( literally) smashed into his life in the form of Chryslyn Matthews’s uninsured Camry. As JaKoby maneuvers matters of the heart we learn that everything isn’t always what it seems. Will Chrys and JaKoby’s relationship be able to handle the storms of life in the form of crazy exes and live happily ever after?


I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one day. This brings me to the only thing I didn’t like about this book- it was too short( 219 pages- mass market paperback). Ms. Hunt kept everything short and sweet, but I would have liked to get to know JaKoby and Chrys a little more. Each chapter is titled with the name of R & B song- from Luther to Toni, which keeps you in the "love spirit", hoping that Chrys & JaKoby can make it. I enjoyed the drama and suspense that was in the book and the ending is one that can’t be beat- will this be just another sad love song?

Ms. Hunt is a very talented writer and after reading this one, I am curious about some of her other books and will give them a try.

The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro
Elin Hilderbrand

***** ( 5/5)

Aaah- what can me more relaxing then an Elin Hilderbrand novel, sunny skies and a deck chair- not much.

The Blue Bistro introduces us to, Adreinne Dealey, a 28 year old woman who is good a running away. After loosing her boyfriend and live saving in Aspen, she decides to head to Nantucket to get away. She ends up getting a job at the Blue Bistro, the most coveted restaurant in town and immediately get caught up in its part owner- Thatcher. Unfortunately this is the Blue Bistro’s last season and she sets out to find out the reason and to define the “friendship/ relationship" between Thatch and the other owner- recluse chef Fiona. What she finds is a lot more than she bargained for but she soon land you can’t run away from love- it will always find you.

I am a big fan of Hilderbrand; I love the Nantucket locations of all her books and would love to see these beaches for myself. Aside from the great imagery this book will make you hungry. In between the descriptions of the menu at the bistro, the orders called and the food that was described in each “family meal” I was salivating. I probably liked this book because she put three of my favorite things- love, food and the beach together and it came out to be a great story.

This novel was more romance than the previous Hilderbrand titles( The Beach Club, Nantucket Nights, Summer People) I’d read, but I enjoyed it just the same and would definitley recommend this to be in your beach bag this summer.

*I like this cover a lot better than the first one.

Finishing Touches

Finishing Touches

***** (5/5)

Finishing Touches by Deanna Krizis is a novel that explores something few novels (or at least ones that I have read) have touched. The story begins with twenty nine year old Jesse, and aspiring furniture designer living in L.A., working at mundane, sublime job with no dating prospects, but with her two best friends in tow. When one her best friend Cecile dies unexpectedly in a car crash, Jesse life is turned upside in more ways than one. Besides loosing a best friend, she also begins to Fall in love with her ex- fiancé with.

This book took on the subject of loosing friends. Books deal with loosing family members, husbands, wives and mothers and they deal with loosing friends to cancer, but many times the people in this book seem older. This was book deals with all the trials and tribulations of the twenties themselves AND what happens when you loose a friends. Many times there are no support groups or books on this, and people don’t pay attention to the friends even though the girlfriend bond is one of the strongest bonds in the world. Krisis deals with how everyone, from the ex-fiancé Zach, to the other member of the fabulous threesome, to Zach’s family and finally how Jesse, who has been wandering lost deals with the grief.

I thoroughly enjoyed this books which a book on life, love (lost and found), friendship, grief and growth. I highly recommended this book. Although the back makes this book seem like “light” chick lit- its not and is rather deep and doesn’t come with the requisite happy ending, although the ending is good and happy.

Other suggestion:

The Myth of you and Me- Leah Stewart

Then I Almost Came to the end...

Then We Came to the End
Joshua Ferris

undecided

This books is funny, but hard to read. I could sooo relate to the “office culture “and at times it felt like reading my favorite show “The Office” however, the writing is a little weird and it is hard to keep track of everything, not to mention the “cryptic” titles which made no sense, except to tell you kind of what was going to a happen in the chapter. To be honest I couldn’t really finish this one, but the part I did read was funny. Recommend (kind of). Wish I could have finished it.., I probably will later.

Here is a link to the advert for the book- which makes me want to start reading again.

No New Books- Just 2 old favorites

In between al the BBQ’s, hair appointments, brunches, church and friends, I re-read two of my favorite books this weekend. Something Borrowed & Something Blue by Emily Griffin.

These are two of my favorite books (the one I missed my bus stop for back in 05), although Blue did not grow on me until this weekend. I read these books for the first time two summers ago and loved them then, passed them around my old office and still love both of them today. In fact, I’m not even sure if I could give a good review of these books. I can say that I have re-read them both several times and I started to notice a pattern of when I would pick them up- When I need a pick me up and need to believe in two important things:

1. Things always work out- no matter how messy- no matter how messy things are today, no matter how queasy your stomach feels when you think about that situation- things always work out. No necessarily for your own good- especially if you are doing wrong, but somehow things always work out for the best.

2. What Goes around does come back around

3. True love always wins ( or close enough anyway)

I don’t agree with man/ fiancé steeling. Rachel was still wrong- even though I routed for her and not just because she was “ the underdog” but because she truly loved Dex AND Darcy and after these past two years, I’ve realized that sometimes life puts you in these crazy situations and you have to deal with them and make the best of them.

After this weekend I can only hope that things work out- not even in the Rachel Dex way but in the Darcy/ Nathan way.

I’d like to think that in my life I’ve elevated past the superficiality of wanting Darcy to loose that I had the first few times I read Blue- to the “happiness” I felt for her while reading this weekend. Finally understanding and appreciating her growth by the end of the book. Although that made the book not as juicy as borrowed- I’m happy that I’m able to appreciate it at this point in my life.

So when I start to loose hope or have even lost it (as I have now) I go like to read these books to remind me of those two things. And hope that it traverses over to my life. AND SOON.

And maybe soon- I’ll post and honest review of both of these books.

*I also love her newest book (now in paperback) Baby Proof- for reasons # 1 & 3 above- mostly number 3. In fact it has given me more hope for number 3. That we can make a mistake, but if it’s what’s meant to be- it will be.

Redemption

Redemption

Jacqueline Thomas

**** ( 4/5)

Redemption introduces us to two unforgettable characters- Pastor Warner Brice and hot Hollywood actress Marin Alexander and what happens when these two from different world, find love and get married- uniting not only themselves but their two worlds together.

Soon after their idealistic courtship and marriage Marin discovers that something is missing and goes in search. She tries returning to her old career, but soon finds herself fulfilling her life with a dangerous passion that threatens everything she has and has worked hard to build.

Unable to beat this “passion” she soon fall victim to it. Her husband, children and parents struggle with watching her downfall. The person it hits the hardest is God- fearing Warner Brice who doesn’t question “Why?” but keeps in mind the promise that God made him and that he vowed before God. When everyone else looses hope in Marin, Warner doesn’t and stand up to the test- no matter how difficult it becomes, Warner will not fail.

Like the title, the overall theme in the book is redemption and the costs of forgiveness. Ms. Thomas weaves between the two world- Hollywood and the church which such ease and I loved how she though to bring them together in this book. Many times, we look down on Hollywood, but as Warner mentions in the book- it’s a battlefield that must be one as well. Jesus never committed something as a lost cause and turned his back.

Another by Ms. Thomas is that this book is not too preachy, when can often happen in the genre. She weaves the lessons between the bible and experience and it flows throughout the book.

Although I found a little of the book to unrealistic, Ms. Thomas portrayed the drug world with frightening reality, experienced only by someone who has watched a loved one fall down that trap ( or even been there themselves).

Redemption is an enjoyable read and would make a great book club read to discuss many of the issues it brings up (drugs, Hollywood, marriage, making marriage works, relationships (especially mother and daughter, forgiveness and most importantly REDEMPTION

Farther Than I Meant To Go, Longer Than I Meant To Stay

Further Than I meant to Go, Longer Than I Meant to Stay.

Tiffany L. Warren

**** ( 4/5)

“Sin will always take you further than you meant to go and keep you longer than you meant to stay”.

I read this book praying that I had not made this choice so this book was VERY relevant to me. Anyway.

The book is about our protagonist, Charmayne, and overweigh, insecure, Christian woman who gets caught up with the wrong man. The book alternates between the past and the present as we get caught up on the story that has led Charmayne to loose everything she once had- her self respect, financially security her job and her pride. Charmayne is an active member of her church, a dutiful daughter and sister and a successful bank manager. Successful by most peoples standards, Charmayne feels anything but because she is

a. over thirty

b. single and

c. overweight- three common problems for hordes of women, of all faiths, backgrounds, races etc. . She then gets caught up in something that feels too good to be true and instead of following her heart and God’s guidance; she decides to keep going leading to disastourous results. Forced to pick up the pieces and put her life back together with the help of family friends and the Lord, this book not only questions us but teaches us Christian’s valuable lessons about thinking that you are in control.

Charmayne prayed every step of the way, however she did not listen and/or act upon the answers she received which is a problem that had faces all Christians and some point or another. Sometimes is not the answer we want or we thinking we can fix it, max it work or whatever instead of doing instructed. Charmayne’s tale is a tale of disobedience and what happens when we do not follow out what we KNOW is right.

But the good news for Charmayne is that God forgives and Charmayne learns that and HOW to forgive, ( another lesson us Christians sometimes forgets) and in the end finds that everything she was looking for – she already had- right under her nose.

The best part of the book for me was learning the Story of Rizpah (2 Samuel 21), whom Ms. Warren uses to parallel the story and the lesson. I loved learning a new story, espicially one I had never heard and I loved how Ms. Warren incorporated it into the story.

Of course there are some other themes within the book- Family relationships, marriage, armor bearers ( which pastor preached on this past Sunday) that merge together to create and wonderful read that is not too preachy, but gets the lesson across loud and clear.

Read for Book Club # 2 – May 2007-

( orginally read June 2006)

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Patricia Haley

*** ( 3.5/5)

In Ms. Haley’s sophomore novel she follows the story of a family with deep, dark secrets and what happens when those secrets come to the surface.

I enjoyed the story, however there were way too many characters and POV and not enough development on any of them. Also the ending of the story was tied up to quickly and nice, although sometimes I have to say – life does end just that way. The book was jumbled and I found myself having to put the book down a few times to stop from getting a headache from all the characters and plot points).

The book is Christian fiction but does not come off as overly preachy, but does adhere some aspects of the devout Christian faith.

This book is a the July Selection for Book Club # 2.

The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner

The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner.
Andrea Smith

The Sisterhood of Blackberry corner begins when the main characters husband finds a dead baby in the creek near their home. This starts ___ to wondering what would make a person do such a thing- abandon or kill their baby and more importantly is there something that could be done to prevent it. This leads her to decide that she will be that prevention. The last hope a woman has. The book weaves between “the present” (the 80’s) and the past- when the Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner starts saving the children and now (or rather the late 80’s) when one of those babies comes back looking for their past.

The weaving between the past and the present made this story a bit hard to read in the beginning, which was slow, but one into it- the reader can appreciate the telling of the story. Ms. Smith tells a wonderful, heartbreaking story about the difference between getting what you want and wanting what you get.

Read for Book Club # 1- May Selection

Adelaide Piper

Adelaide Piper-

Beth Webb Hart

**** ( 4/5)

Adelaide Piper is a “coming of age story” that follows Adelaide Piper thought her college years at a small liberal arts community in the late 80’s The focus of the book is on a traumatic event that robs Adelaide of her innocence and forces her to not only grow up but to contemplate. During this crisis, Adelaide has one of May spiritual awakenings that the author portrays through this book.

This book is a fast read and takes placed over a period of several years where we really get to do Adelaide Piper and the rest of her family, although some characters are more so than others. The book is a categorized as Christian Fiction, and themes of Christianity play an important role in the theme, it is not one where it is beaten down the reader’s throat. In fact, many of the references are rather subtle.

Although I did not go to college in the late 80’s, I could not truly relate to Adelaide college or life experiences, aside from the intricacies of southern societies which Ms. Hart touch on well ( Co-Cola being by favorite)

Overall, Adelaide Piper is a good book. Not a beach book, but perfect for a rainy afternoon.