Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

 A first person narrative that held my attention...in the first section. The book was broken into three adventures in which the narrator searches for her meaning after a meaningless marriage. I fell for it in the first section but honestly forced myself through the second and third.    

And the movie was even worse. Maybe if I was in a place that needed a soul searching type book I would have enjoyed it.

Rating:2/5

The Thirteenth Tale: Diane Setterfield

 5 stars 

I know that is a lot of stars but this is one of the best books I have ever read! At first I was not really that into and thought, "thanks book club for picking a lame book". I was so wrong once I pushed through the initial set up I was hooked! I thought is was a thriller/ghost type book once I really got into it wrong again!! It took this odd turn and until the last sentence I was not sure where it was going to go. I highly recommend this book with the warming that you have to keep reading and you will not be disappointing!

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

Sara Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
4 Stars (I would have given it 5 but all the tears I cried washed away the 5th)

This book peaked my interest from the the first few words and held it the whole way through. For sure a fast read but not shallow. I have read several books that are based around the Holocaust and World War 2 but this one was different in that the setting was France and that the main character or I guess I should say "the story teller" is off today.  The links between the future and present were what made the story so real. history does not fade.

I would recommend this book to a fellow reader for sure and would also read more from De Rosnay and plan to!

My Sister's Keeper: Jodi Picoult

I will start by saying that in my previous post I talked about the books I read in a true review style but I wasn't putting my true thoughts and heart in to the thoughts and I want that to change. That is why I haven't really written a book blog in awhile. So here goes with a new look on reading......

I actually really enjoyed this book. I have read several Picoult books and liked most of them but like one of my other favorite quick read authors, Nickolas Sparks, many of her books are very similar. There is the main character in some sort of dilemma..ethical, medical, personal...and there are the other characters that are put in place to help the main character solve her/his dilemma.

In My Sister's Keeper, Anna seeks medical emancipation from her parents so that she is no longer being used as the in house organ/blood donor. Which is what she was "harvested" to do. Literally, her parents had her to save her sister, Kate, from a rare cancer and while she finds comfort in knowing that all her life she has been saving her sister it is time that this give take relationship ends. Her sister is tired and Anna is willing to take the fall for her. the whole family becomes invested in this lawsuit that ensues to emancipate Anna causing all members to look at their place in the save Kate campaign. 

Personally I put myself in every person's shoes. Isn't that the point of a good book and tried to find my answer and closed the book having not found the answer. As a mother it was easy to see how I would do anything to save my child...but at the expense of my other child? I loved the place this story took me and the thought provoking message I received. 

A movie of this book was also made and I will say simply...not good...but remember this is my blog and my opinion, you might like it :) 

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years- Donald Miller

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

Donald Miller

Have you ever reached that point in life where the place you just left is to far to return to and the place you are going is so far away you cannot even make it out. Donald Miller describes this as being in the middle of your story and he says this is the hardest part and should be because overcoming this part is what makes the overall story worth watching/reading. This idea of having a story worth watching or reading is the main theme of this book. Donald Miller has the opportunity to turn a memoir into a screenplay and while rewriting the memoir for screen he realizes that he needs a better story...therefore he sets out to make his story better.

Indirectly and with much subtlety Miller mentions that God sets up our story and we must live it. It will be scary and there will be times we will not understand where our story is going but if we push through this scary part we will see in the end that there is a great story there for us but we have to find it.

The book was very easy to read and had me laughing and then crying and then both at once. I would recommend this book and have already passed a copy on to others. 4 out of 5 starts from me.

Fearless

Fearless
Max Lucado

Is it possible to live a life less fear? According to Max Lucado it is if you trust in the Lord and place your fears in Him. Lucado shows that Jesus and his father can lead you to a fearless life through numerous examples from the Bible and stories from his experiences as a minister. In the times of recession and war and uncertainty it is so refreshing to have a book like this to remind us that we are not alone that we have Higher Power if we just trust in it. This is one of the best books I have read in long time. There are other books that speak on how to overcome the times but none that have showed us really how to do this. No other book uses the Bible in the manner that Max Lucado did. The book was such a quick read and left me as a reader with a great feeling and the need for more!

Rick and Bubba: Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage

Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage
by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey

I read and thoroughly enjoyed Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage. The book was a humorous look into marriage and the little quirks that come along with it. Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey explain the arguments and seemingly hard times that come up in a marriage in a funny yet realistic way by turning situations into jokes or by using examples in their own life.

I do have to say that after listening to Rick and Bubba on the radio that the book did not come across as funny as they radio show. However, the book is funny. I often times found myself re-reading parts to my friends and husband. The book is set up in several short chapters with lists and charts throughout to summarize the chapters. I liked this set up and found it made for a very quick read. I believe that the message that God and Christianity are a vital part of marriage was conveyed and easily understood. I would very much recommend this to friend or family member. I am looking forward to reading other books by Rick and Bubba.