http://www.goodreads.com/user/updates_rss/652191 en-US Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:24:42 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 32507042 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:24:42 -0700 Review28172786 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28172786 Death Swatch (Scrapbooking Mystery, Book 6) by Laura Childs
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32506840 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:23:27 -0700 Review28172615 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28172615 Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige (Hardcover) by Kathleen Gilles Seidel
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32506647 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:22:10 -0700 Review28172467 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28172467 Extraordinary Comebacks (Paperback) by John A. Sarkett
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32506344 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:19:59 -0700 Review28172220 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28172220 To My Dearest Friends (Hardcover) by Patricia Volk
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32227119 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:49:03 -0700 Review27955544 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27955544 Trashed (Hardcover) by Alison Gaylin
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> 31396910 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:15:16 -0700 Review27311563 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27311563 to: Rules for Renegades: 10 Secrets to Getting What You Want From a Buddhist Monk-Geisha Trainee Entrepreneur-Self-Made Millionaire (Hardcover) by Christine Comaford-Lynch
I used to review business books for a management magazine, so I've read a ton of books like this -- the "secrets" to getting ahead. Unfortunately, this book reads like more of a kiss-and-tell than a business how-to guide to success (the author lost all credibility when she started name-dropping about her affairs with Bill Gates and Larry Ellison).

I was eager to read this slim volume because the author -- a model-turned-monk-turned-programmer-turned-millionaire -- seemed to have a heck of a background to draw from. But instead of this being a concise instruction manual, it's a catch-as-catch-can recounting of various "rules" the author learned over her somewhat schizophrenic life. I wasn't sure if it was "do as I did" or "don't do as I did." Nothing was presented in any sort of cohesive fashion, so I found it nearly impossible to follow. Also, often major pieces of the story seemed to be missing (what was up with her guru-turned-criminal??).

I would skip this book unless you want a bit of an insider's look at how Bill Gates' mom used to plan his life (via whiteboard). ]]> 32167900 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:06:12 -0700 Review25266754 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25266754 to: Love the One You're With (Hardcover) by Emily Giffin
Ellen Dempsey is firmly entrenched in her perfect life with her perfect husband and perfect job and perfect best friend in the most perfect city of all when a chance encounter puts her face-to-face with "the one that got away." Suddenly, her life doesn't seem so perfect anymore, and she must decide whether what she has is worth saying no to what she once lost.

Though you could classify this book as "chick lit," I found Giffin's writing to be far more smooth and her characters far deeper than most chick lit. While it's still light reading, the emotions portrayed are raw and honest, and Ellen's character so true that the book should be seen as a great read, in or out of the chick lit genre.

The one thing that bothered me was the passing reference to Ellen's OCD... if it is mentioned in the first few pages of the book as a defining characteristic, I think it should be referred to more than it was (the old adage about if there's a gun on the set in Act I, it better be used by Act III). All the same, that's a minor gripe and one I'm willing to overlook.

Great read. ]]> 32092874 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:09:22 -0700 Review27853250 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27853250 to: Size 14 Is Not Fat Either (Heather Wells, Book 2) by Meg Cabot
Meg Cabot is always good for a fun and entertaining read. In this second book in the series, Heather Wells, ex-pop-tart a la Debbie Gibson, is still suffering with unrequited love with her landlord, is still being stalked by her ex-fiance, and is still discovering dead bodies in the New York College residence hall where she's assistant director.

While not quite as entertaining as the first book in the series, this mystery is still a fun, fast read with plenty of quirky characters and crazy mishaps, including the appearance of Heather's ex-con dad.

I kind of felt like this book was written on autopilot without the usual depth Cabot brings to her characters, but I still enjoyed it. ]]> 31531006 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:07:24 -0700 Review27414559 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27414559 to: Compulsion: An Alex Delaware Novel (Hardcover) by Jonathan Kellerman
So glad to see a return to the strong Alex Delaware books of yore after being disappointed in the last few entries in this series. Readers can expect psychological thrills, violence, mayhem, and some serious sleuthing by Delaware, Milo, and friends as they track an apparent homicidal "do-gooder" who takes it upon himself (herself?) to rid the world of those he (she?) deems unworthy of life.

I figured this one out early on, but still enjoyed the plot twists that kept me guessing. Great characters, even for those who make minor appearances. I still take issue with Robin's two-dimensional character -- I'd like to see her as more than a convenient helpmate who has no wants or needs of her own.

All the same, a good read for fans of Kellerman and psychological thrillers. ]]> 31405512 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:16:55 -0700 Comment1224214 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14950026 Christel's review of Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum Mystery)
by Janet Evanovich

Oh boy, how depressing. This is on my list but now I'm not rushing... I think she's become taken with her other series and is letting this one die a slow, painful death... ]]>