okay, so this is my mad dash back to the bookstore at the airport book. i chose it because i liked the poisonwood bible so much. this is definitely mu...moreokay, so this is my mad dash back to the bookstore at the airport book. i chose it because i liked the poisonwood bible so much. this is definitely much different, and if i would have read the inside cover reviews (calling the novel "sexually exuberant") i wouldn't have bought it. however, i'm not all the way done with it, but i've been kind of sucked into the storylines now and i can't NOT finish it. so, the jury's still out.
okay, so i just finished and i was bugged by the ending. it didn't have the kind of resolution that i wanted. overall i'm not sure if i agreed with the type of female empowerment it was trying to portray. i'm not really an outdoorsy person, per se, and seeing as to how the whole book was kind of one big commune with nature, i guess it isn't surprising that i didn't love the book. (less)
i have to admit that i went into reading this book with a mental rolling of the eyes. perhaps its because i've heard so much about how great the book...morei have to admit that i went into reading this book with a mental rolling of the eyes. perhaps its because i've heard so much about how great the book is before reading and therefore i was already predisposed to dislike it simply from a devil's advocate perspective, but i actually really liked it. i think that even if you feel like you have a great marriage (or any type of relationship) its still something to think about as far as which type of "love language" you predominately "speak." even great can be improved upon and enriched. i actually found it really interesting to think about in terms of my children and which love language they respond to the best. (less)
i REALLY liked this book. however, because it is such fluffy, escapist entertainment reading, i can't give it more than 3 stars just on principle. i j...morei REALLY liked this book. however, because it is such fluffy, escapist entertainment reading, i can't give it more than 3 stars just on principle. i just thought it was a fun read, although as a disclaimer there is definitely some language and "scenes" that some might find offensive. (less)
same as with "something borrowed," i loved this book. it was really fun to see things from the other perspective, and it was just as enjoyable in its...moresame as with "something borrowed," i loved this book. it was really fun to see things from the other perspective, and it was just as enjoyable in its own right. again, i'll issue the disclaimer that some of the language and "scenes" might offend some people i know. (less)
i liked these books, but then was disappointed with the way the whole series ended. i think the concept of the books is very intriguing and probably a...morei liked these books, but then was disappointed with the way the whole series ended. i think the concept of the books is very intriguing and probably a good one for a teen audience, although by the end, i'm not really sure what his message was supposed to be. because i don't even think it was about the importance our society places on looks. i think the books are vaguely reminiscent of other futuristic type books/stories such as orwell's, "1984," vonegut's "harrison bergeron," and even the movie "gattica". although these books (the "uglies" trilogy that is) are not nearly as well written in my opinion. still they provide interesting food for thought and were good for a book club discussion.(less)
fantastic. this book is one of the best resources i've read. after checking it out from the library and reading it, i went ahead and bought the book j...morefantastic. this book is one of the best resources i've read. after checking it out from the library and reading it, i went ahead and bought the book just to have it on hand for reference whenever i need it.
basically what this book did was validated to me that my kids ARE "more" -- as the title explains. being aware of their "spirit" has helped me to realize that what might work with handling other kids might not necessarily work with mine. and thats okay. it doesn't mean they are bad kids or that i am a bad mother.
the book includes a quiz that you can take for your kids to help you determine if they are spirited and in what areas they are spirited. the book then goes on to outline you can do to help control your kids and teach them how to cope with everyday life. there is just a bunch of really practical advice on how to diffuse potential battles, melt-downs, and freak-out sessions.
i just can't say enough how much this book spoke to me. i was literally nodding my head along with so many of the examples. its always nice to realize you're not alone. (less)
i LOVED this book. i thought it was fascinating, intriguing, thought-provoking, and i could hardly put it down. the book is basically a case study on...morei LOVED this book. i thought it was fascinating, intriguing, thought-provoking, and i could hardly put it down. the book is basically a case study on what makes a person successful. just really, really interesting. and unlike my slight qualms with his other 2 books and i did not end this one thinking "well that was interesting, but so what?"
if nothing else, my mindset has been changed as to what creates success. seriously, everyone should read this book.(less)
i really loved this book! it "captured" me from page 1. everything about it was delightful and refreshing and the characters were just so kooky i coul...morei really loved this book! it "captured" me from page 1. everything about it was delightful and refreshing and the characters were just so kooky i couldn't help but like them. scott always says he can tell how much i like a book i'm reading just by looking at me and this one tickled my fancy for sure. i didn't love the ending, but at the same time i think it was the RIGHT ending. all in all, i was surprised by how modern and current the story felt given that it was written in 1948 and set during the 1930's in england. (less)
this book was kind of a weird one to me. i picked it up because it was in a display of newberry medal winners at the library and i had never read it....morethis book was kind of a weird one to me. i picked it up because it was in a display of newberry medal winners at the library and i had never read it. granted it was written in the 1970's but i still think much of her description of "eskimos" (or at least of the main character who is an eskimo) seems vastly over-simplified and in some instances borderline offensive. the very term "eskimo" is insulting from what i've heard, and seeing as to how the author is not a native herself, the portrayal didn't feel quite authentic. and then the ending was just plain confusing to me. i didn't get why after spending most of the book building up julie's communion with the great outdoors and living with the wolves that she would turn back to civilization. especially once she had already left her father's house upon realizing that he was the one who had killed her beloved wolf. i just didn't get it. definitely not my most favorite book i've ever read, but it was still kind of interesting to see how she was able to survive on her own for so long with only the help of wolves.(less)
another newberry winner i picked up at the library and this one i really liked! i loved the time-travel mystery aspect of the book as well as the deve...moreanother newberry winner i picked up at the library and this one i really liked! i loved the time-travel mystery aspect of the book as well as the development of each of the characters. a quick and good read.(less)
so this book wasn't really all that great. i didn't even finish it because it was due back at the library and i didn't think it was worth renewing. ba...moreso this book wasn't really all that great. i didn't even finish it because it was due back at the library and i didn't think it was worth renewing. basically what it made me realize is that i don't really care why other people love "to kill mockingbird." all i really care about is why i love it . and while it was kind of interesting to hear from the people who actually knew harper lee, in the end i found the book a bit repetitive and (dare i say) slightly boring. (less)
this is definitely a book for a young audience, but i thought the writer did a really good job with the story and feelings in it. the main character's...morethis is definitely a book for a young audience, but i thought the writer did a really good job with the story and feelings in it. the main character's parents are getting a divorce and she processes her reality through an assignment in fiction for her social studies class. perhaps it's a bit simplistic, but nevertheless i thought the emotions portrayed felt real and raw. (less)
to be honest, this book was not that great. it definitely had some parts that were funny, and a few that definitely held some poignancy, but overall i...moreto be honest, this book was not that great. it definitely had some parts that were funny, and a few that definitely held some poignancy, but overall it was a bit crass and crude in a junior high boy kind of way. which is i guess what the main character is, but still. i probably wouldn't really recommend this to anyone. so maybe the rating would be closer to 1 1/2 stars? also, i'm not sure if the author is actually an american indian or not, but his descriptions of the culture SEEM highly stereotypical. i'm no expert, so i don't really know.(less)
i'm kind of a sucker for retellings of older stories or fairy tales. the thing about fairy tales or whatever else you want to call them is that they'v...morei'm kind of a sucker for retellings of older stories or fairy tales. the thing about fairy tales or whatever else you want to call them is that they've stood the test of time for a reason. and for whatever reason that is they still resonate with readers who encounter them today. so whenever i see a retelling of one of these "classics" i can't help but want to see how someone else has re-envisioned it. i actually did like this book (which is a retelling of "rumplestiltskin" set during the beginning of the industrial age) although i thought things were wrapped up a bit quickly in the end and i didn't find her relationship with her husband to be very realistic in parts. i did like the way the story ended, however, and overall i enjoyed reading it.(less)
this book was written a long time ago -- like 1909, i think -- so it definitely has an old-fashioned feel to it. i thought it was a sweet story of a y...morethis book was written a long time ago -- like 1909, i think -- so it definitely has an old-fashioned feel to it. i thought it was a sweet story of a young girl growing up through adversity and becoming a strong, confident and truly exemplary woman. i liked the book even though i am not at all a naturalist like the main character.(less)
to be honest i read these books awhile ago (and all in a row in about a day and a half), so the plots all kind of meld together for me. this is book 3...moreto be honest i read these books awhile ago (and all in a row in about a day and a half), so the plots all kind of meld together for me. this is book 3 in the series and if you liked the first 2 then i'm sure you'll like this one as well.(less)
another good read. although this one ended a bit darker to me somehow. i still really liked it an i'm sure i'll go on to read the next one whenever it...moreanother good read. although this one ended a bit darker to me somehow. i still really liked it an i'm sure i'll go on to read the next one whenever it comes out. there was just something about the ending that left me a bit down, though. i'm not really sure why.(less)
i liked this book. the main character is a former art thief who reverts to using her skills to steal some artwork BACK in order to save her dad. or so...morei liked this book. the main character is a former art thief who reverts to using her skills to steal some artwork BACK in order to save her dad. or something like that. i'm not really summarizing all that well. this was a light and entertaining read -- kind of like an ocean's eleven type story but with young adult characters. solid 3 stars for me.(less)
i kind of really liked this book. i really liked the 2 main characters even though they both drove me crazy at different points. i hate it when there...morei kind of really liked this book. i really liked the 2 main characters even though they both drove me crazy at different points. i hate it when there are such obvious miscommunication issues at hand. but i kind of liked the fact that it's a romance novel about a heroine who wants to write romance novels. there was something kind of hilarious about that to me.
anyway, this IS a romance novel, so there are some descriptions and "scenes" which are not quite PG-13. so be warned if you're going to read it. but as for the story itself i did kind of like it. (less)
solid 3 stars. maybe even 3 1/2. i thought this was a really well-written sequel to pride and prejudice with caroline bingley as the heroine. definite...moresolid 3 stars. maybe even 3 1/2. i thought this was a really well-written sequel to pride and prejudice with caroline bingley as the heroine. definitely predictable, but that's okay. i love me a happy ending. i really enjoyed this one.(less)
i found this book fascinating. it was a definite page turner. in my heart of hearts, i always wanted to be an olympic gymnast when i was a kid. that w...morei found this book fascinating. it was a definite page turner. in my heart of hearts, i always wanted to be an olympic gymnast when i was a kid. that was never going to be an option but i loved watching gymnastics nonetheless. when dominique moceanu bounded onto the scene at the atlanta games, her charisma and charm practically oozed out of the television screen. she was like a nadia comaneci for a new generation. i have always wondered whatever happened to her, and this book filled in those blanks. it was eye-opening in so many ways. i really enjoyed reading it.(less)
i really liked this book, but i liked the first book more. something about this seemed different to me and i can't even put my finger on what it was....morei really liked this book, but i liked the first book more. something about this seemed different to me and i can't even put my finger on what it was. at first i was wondering if maybe a different person did the translating of this one but i don't think that's the case. it would have helped if i could have read this one right after finishing ruby red, because for the first half of the book i was so totally confused because i couldn't remember what was happening with everyone. that being said, i still did really like it and once again, the cliffhanger at the end left me wanting more! (less)
this book was okay. ish. possibly closer to 1 1/2 stars. things that bothered me the most were 1.) it purports that if you love downton abby, you'll L...morethis book was okay. ish. possibly closer to 1 1/2 stars. things that bothered me the most were 1.) it purports that if you love downton abby, you'll LOVE this book. (not true). 2.) it just tried way too hard. 3.) there were just too many scenes that were pushing the envelope simply for the sake of being titillating. and 4.) i just don't think this was an accurate sampling of the historical era it was trying to capture.
so, there you have it. i can't say i'd recommend it to anyone. (less)
i liked this one okay, but i think that because i was comparing it (unfavorably) the whole time i was reading it to a DIFFERENT lds retelling of the s...morei liked this one okay, but i think that because i was comparing it (unfavorably) the whole time i was reading it to a DIFFERENT lds retelling of the story ("delicious conversation"), i couldn't let myself just read this one and enjoy it completely.(less)