Book Reviews
1.) Emma by Jane Austen
I love reading the classics and they just don't get better than Jane Austen. Emma was a fun read (re-read). It is funny, charming, witty, and delightful. It is a great book for people who want to start reading classics or Austen. I loved Emma although Pride and Prejudice remains my all-time favorite. Emma with all of her naivete and spoiled self-centeredness is a wonderful character with her well-meaning but misdirected match-making. It was fun to watch her grow and mature. And...of course...there is the dashing Mr. Knightley!
From Goodreads:
Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work.
This book is beautifully written, has a lovely setting, and a funny cast of quirky characters. It is wonderful social satire. This is a great novel about growing up and finding love despite the societal norms and complications of the English social class.
My Rating: Clever and Enjoyable. I loved it!
2.) Shadow of the Night by Deborah Harkness
Okay, I didn't love the first book in the trilogy but a lot of people did. I thought it was pretty cheesy. Despite that I read the second one in the series. Ironically, a lot of people didn't like the second book but....guess what...that one I did like. What does that say about me? I guess I like things that *seem* more like historical fiction even if it is about a paranormal witch/vampire love story.
From Goodreads:
Picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night takes Diana and Matthew on a trip through time to Elizabethan London, where they are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana seeks out a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey.
I liked that there was more character development in this book. I really enjoyed the characters of Philippe and Gallowglass. Philippe totally redeemed the book in my opinion. He was complicated and twisty and therefore much more interesting than any of the other characters...especially the main characters of Diana and Matthew. I was much more interested in the story of Philippe and Ysabeau...which we didn't get much of unfortunately. I will say that Diana is a bit less dull in this book. She was some how able to stay awake in Elizabethan England unlike all the sleeping that she did in modern day Oxford. What was up with that? Finding out more about Matthew's back story was great too. Both main characters are much more likeable in this book.
There was also more of a plot although the book was far too long and drawn out. Did we need to go to Prague? Boring. That whole section could have been cut from the book. I also liked the unexpected twist that occurred. All in all, I liked it more than the first book and I have moved on to the final book in the trilogy.
My Rating: Better than the first book.
3.) The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
Yep. I finished the trilogy. I didn't like the first book but the other two were better. These are definitely paranormal fluff. Good for a summer read. This series has some seriously devoted fans. I don't really get it although I found the series entertaining enough.
From Goodreads:
In The Book of Life, Diana and Matthew time-travel back from Elizabethan London to make a dramatic return to the present—facing new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home, Sept-Tours, they reunite with the beloved cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency.
This book has some definite issues...disjointed plot being the major one and multiple dropped story lines. I was left with questions about various plot points and characters. I read the book quickly as I wanted to see what would happened in the end and was left a bit disappointed. The huge climax that the series was building towards fell a bit flat. I was like... Oh...that's it?! There were many loopholes that I would like to know more about including secondary characters and their different story lines. This book was fairly entertaining but also at times rather frustrating.
My Rating: Okay
4.) Kind is the New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure
Let me preface this review by saying that I love Candace Cameron Bure. She is a class act. I follow her on social media and I have read several of her books. She is inspiring and encouraging. A book about being kind and classy?! Yes, please!! This world needs more of both and definitely more conversations about both!!
From Goodreads:
As a woman in today’s world, you know what it’s like to feel pressure on all sides from clashing cultural expectations. How can you stay true to who God has uniquely created you to be in the face of the script you’ve been given? What’s more, how can you stand your ground with grace? The classy confidence you know and love—whether it’s on set at Full House or Fuller House, Dancing with the Stars, The View, or Candace’s Hallmark films—is no act. But it hasn’t come easy. In fact, learning to stay true to herself with grace has been one of the biggest fights of Candace’s life.The secret, she has learned, is kindness: it’s classy, unexpected, even counter-cultural, and ultimately wins the day.
The first thing that you should know is that Candace is bold in declaring her Christian faith and beliefs. I, personally, love that. This is something else that we need more of in the world. If you aren't interested in reading about those things then this book is not for you since faith, God, and scriptures are talked about and quoted throughout.
I was particularly interested in reading about her stint on the tv show The View. She does talk about her experience there but not as much as I would've liked. I truly dislike that program and her experiences have done nothing to change my mind although I did like reading about her interactions with Whoopi Goldberg.
This is a book about CHOOSING to be kind...and it is a choice...even when we don't feel like it or feel like it is appreciated or deserved. Candace talks about extending kindness, grace, and compassion even when it isn't returned. This is a great life lesson. Kindness, class, compassion, courtesy, and manners seem to be falling by the wayside in today's society and because of that I found this book to be especially thoughtful, encouraging, and uplifting.
My Rating: A good reminder that kindness can and does change the world.
5.) Body Love by Kelly Leveque
I heard about Kelly Levque on the Rachel Hollis podcast Rise. Her take on nutrition, healthy eating and the science behind it made great sense to me. It's all about controlling blood sugar and insulin levels. I was so intrigued listening to her that I couldn't wait to read her book.
From Goodreads:
Celebrity favorite health and wellness consultant Kelly LeVeque shares her secrets for losing weight, attuning ourselves to our bodies’ needs, and freeing ourselves from food drama in this essential wellness guide, which includes 88 delectable recipes!
I found this book highly informative. The first third is basically all research. It makes sense to me that the key is to elongate your blood sugar curve. Excess insulin causes inflammation, hormonal imbalances, less liver detoxification, higher blood pressure, cholesterol, and fat. I am on board with the Fab Four way of eating: proteins, greens, fat, and fiber with every meal.
My Rating: Highly Informative
6.) The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
Elin Hilderbrand books come highly recommended as fun beachy summer reads. They are rated high on Goodreads too. I have no idea why. I HATED this book. I only kept reading it because I have a Goodreads reading goal that I want to achieve otherwise I would've abandoned this book about 50 pages in. It was terrible.
From Goodreads:
Nantucket is only two and a half hours away from Martha's Vineyard by ferry. But the two islands might as well be worlds apart for a set of identical twin sisters who have been at odds for years. When a family crisis forces them to band together — or at least appear to — the twins slowly come to realize that the special bond that they share is more important than the sibling rivalry that's driven them apart for the better part of their lives. A touching depiction of all the pleasures and annoyances of the sibling relationship, Elin Hilderbrand's next New York Times bestseller, THE IDENTICALS proves once and for all that just because twins look exactly the same doesn't mean they're anything alike.
I found this book to be absolutely pretentious and annoying. The characters were all extremely unlikeable and the plot a complete snooze. This beachy chick-lit is NOT for me.
My Rating: I hated it and it was a waste of my time.
7.) The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
This was our book club pick for July 2018. I was dubious about reading it. I don't like fantasy and I especially don't like fairytales and folklore type books. The book is also set in medieval Russia...again not something that was calling to me to read; but this is exactly why I love being in a book club. I read books that I never ever would pick up and read on my own. Some are good and I end up being pleasantly surprised and some are not. But even if I don't love book club books I always learn something from them.
From Goodreads:
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind--she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed--this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.
There were several positive aspects of this novel. The writing is beautiful and lyrical. The setting is intriguing and atmospheric. The characters were even interesting. It was the plot that I didn't love. It started off fairly promising but then it slowed way down and lost its momentum and I lost interest. There were a lot of loose ends with subplots and secondary characters. This book is part of a trilogy so maybe they get returned to in further books?
All in all, it wasn't a favorite nor a page turner but I did learn something about Russian folklore and that counts for something, right? Our book club liked it for the most part. A couple of people said that they will go on to read the rest of the trilogy but I won't. I will stop here.
My Rating: Not for me.
8.) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Jane Austen is a delight. I adore her books. They are all fantastic and I highly recommend them. This one surprised me though by being one of my least favorites. I was shocked. It is just slightly above Mansfield Park for me. Why? I just couldn't get behind Marianne nor did I much enjoy Edward Ferrars.
From Goodreads:
Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.
*Spoiler*...
I loved Colonel Brandon and Elinor. I wanted THEM to end up together. Despite that, Sense and Sensibility is wonderful. Beautiful writing and fantastic wit. I adored Mrs. Jennings and Mr. Palmer. So funny! Austen is an absolute treasure and remains on the top of my favorite authors list!
My Rating: Good!
9.) The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
I had heard about this memoir for awhile. I kind of wanted to read it and I kind of did not. You know...polygamy. I also wasn't terribly interested in reading misinformation about the LDS faith nor reading about child abuse. But...I finally decided to give it a read and I am glad(ish) that I did. This memoir will stay with me for a very long time.
From Goodreads:
Ruth Wariner was the thirty-ninth of her father’s forty-two children. Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. At church, preachers teach that God will punish the wicked by destroying the world and that women can only ascend to Heaven by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible. After Ruth's father—the man who had been the founding prophet of the colony—is brutally murdered by his brother in a bid for church power, her mother remarries, becoming the second wife of another faithful congregant.
In need of government assistance and supplemental income, Ruth and her siblings are carted back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where her mother collects welfare and her stepfather works a variety of odd jobs. Ruth comes to love the time she spends in the States, realizing that perhaps the community into which she was born is not the right one for her. As Ruth begins to doubt her family’s beliefs and question her mother’s choices, she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself.
I was happy to read that the author makes very clear distinctions between mainstream Mormons and the LDS faith and this abusive polygamist cult. Still, this book wasn't an easy read. There are a lot of triggers. The poverty, despair, heart-breaking conditions, child abuse, neglect, and tragedy were at times overwhelming for me. It was haunting. It caused me sleepless nights thinking about the conditions that the author grew up in and what her family experienced. This book reminded me quite a bit of The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls which was another book that wasn't an easy read for me.
I applaud Ruth Wariner for telling her story and for her honesty, courage, and strength. What she has endured is unfathomable. Her story is well-written...this is often not the case in memoirs from first time authors. She tells her story in a very straightforward manner without courting pity nor sentimentality nor sensationalism. The effect is raw and gut-wrenching. The desperate reality of this family was often so overwhelming for me that I would have to put the book down and walk away from it and come back to it later. I am so glad that Ruth Wariner has since found peace and happiness and that there was hope and light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
After concluding the book I went on to listen to Jen Hatmaker's For the Love Podcast where she interviews Ruth Wariner and her cousin Anna LeBaron (who has also written a book about her own experience). It was interesting and I thrilled at the triumph of both of these women over horrifying odds. I think this would be a great book for a book club to discuss.
My Rating: Compelling and complex also heartbreaking and raw.
10.) A Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for forever. Several years to be exact. I love Susanna Kearsley. If I want a fun escape read her books do the trick. This is my kind of "beach read". Although despite my love of Kearsley novels...this one just didn't sound that interesting. So it sat...collecting dust.
From Goodreads:
When Celia Sands arrives at a remote Italian villa to star in the first performance of a deceased playwright's masterpiece, she is instantly drawn to the mysteries surrounding the play -- and to her compelling, compassionate employer.
This is one of Kearsley's earlier novels and it shows. The plot is not exactly riveting. It's about actors, an Italian play, and a mystery that drags on and on. It took a long time to get things rolling. There were some great characters. I liked Rupert, Den, Bryan, Edwina, Poppy, and even Madeleine unfortunately it was the main characters of Celia and Alex that were lackluster. As was the mystery. The two timelines didn't seem to really relate to one another. The words of the ghost in the story made no sense to me considering the plot of that particular time line. There were just too many loose ends and the story line about the artifacts was just plain boring. But despite all of that, the novel was still fairly entertaining. There were a few twists which are always fun even though some of them left me scratching my head. But... I would read a Susanna Kearsley over an Elin Hilderbrand any day!!
My Rating: Ok.
8.) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Jane Austen is a delight. I adore her books. They are all fantastic and I highly recommend them. This one surprised me though by being one of my least favorites. I was shocked. It is just slightly above Mansfield Park for me. Why? I just couldn't get behind Marianne nor did I much enjoy Edward Ferrars.
From Goodreads:
Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.
*Spoiler*...
I loved Colonel Brandon and Elinor. I wanted THEM to end up together. Despite that, Sense and Sensibility is wonderful. Beautiful writing and fantastic wit. I adored Mrs. Jennings and Mr. Palmer. So funny! Austen is an absolute treasure and remains on the top of my favorite authors list!
My Rating: Good!
9.) The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
I had heard about this memoir for awhile. I kind of wanted to read it and I kind of did not. You know...polygamy. I also wasn't terribly interested in reading misinformation about the LDS faith nor reading about child abuse. But...I finally decided to give it a read and I am glad(ish) that I did. This memoir will stay with me for a very long time.
From Goodreads:
Ruth Wariner was the thirty-ninth of her father’s forty-two children. Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. At church, preachers teach that God will punish the wicked by destroying the world and that women can only ascend to Heaven by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible. After Ruth's father—the man who had been the founding prophet of the colony—is brutally murdered by his brother in a bid for church power, her mother remarries, becoming the second wife of another faithful congregant.
In need of government assistance and supplemental income, Ruth and her siblings are carted back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where her mother collects welfare and her stepfather works a variety of odd jobs. Ruth comes to love the time she spends in the States, realizing that perhaps the community into which she was born is not the right one for her. As Ruth begins to doubt her family’s beliefs and question her mother’s choices, she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself.
I was happy to read that the author makes very clear distinctions between mainstream Mormons and the LDS faith and this abusive polygamist cult. Still, this book wasn't an easy read. There are a lot of triggers. The poverty, despair, heart-breaking conditions, child abuse, neglect, and tragedy were at times overwhelming for me. It was haunting. It caused me sleepless nights thinking about the conditions that the author grew up in and what her family experienced. This book reminded me quite a bit of The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls which was another book that wasn't an easy read for me.
I applaud Ruth Wariner for telling her story and for her honesty, courage, and strength. What she has endured is unfathomable. Her story is well-written...this is often not the case in memoirs from first time authors. She tells her story in a very straightforward manner without courting pity nor sentimentality nor sensationalism. The effect is raw and gut-wrenching. The desperate reality of this family was often so overwhelming for me that I would have to put the book down and walk away from it and come back to it later. I am so glad that Ruth Wariner has since found peace and happiness and that there was hope and light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
After concluding the book I went on to listen to Jen Hatmaker's For the Love Podcast where she interviews Ruth Wariner and her cousin Anna LeBaron (who has also written a book about her own experience). It was interesting and I thrilled at the triumph of both of these women over horrifying odds. I think this would be a great book for a book club to discuss.
My Rating: Compelling and complex also heartbreaking and raw.
10.) A Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for forever. Several years to be exact. I love Susanna Kearsley. If I want a fun escape read her books do the trick. This is my kind of "beach read". Although despite my love of Kearsley novels...this one just didn't sound that interesting. So it sat...collecting dust.
From Goodreads:
When Celia Sands arrives at a remote Italian villa to star in the first performance of a deceased playwright's masterpiece, she is instantly drawn to the mysteries surrounding the play -- and to her compelling, compassionate employer.
This is one of Kearsley's earlier novels and it shows. The plot is not exactly riveting. It's about actors, an Italian play, and a mystery that drags on and on. It took a long time to get things rolling. There were some great characters. I liked Rupert, Den, Bryan, Edwina, Poppy, and even Madeleine unfortunately it was the main characters of Celia and Alex that were lackluster. As was the mystery. The two timelines didn't seem to really relate to one another. The words of the ghost in the story made no sense to me considering the plot of that particular time line. There were just too many loose ends and the story line about the artifacts was just plain boring. But despite all of that, the novel was still fairly entertaining. There were a few twists which are always fun even though some of them left me scratching my head. But... I would read a Susanna Kearsley over an Elin Hilderbrand any day!!
My Rating: Ok.
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