kapachino

Category: books & reading

  • what i read : january 2012

    In the interest of simplifying my life I’ve decided to move away from my separate book blog for now because I can’t keep up with it very well. So I’ll be incorporating my reviews here on a monthly-ish basis. I’ll give you a 1-2 line summary, review, and rating for each book. I’ll provide a link to my Goodreads review as well, if you’re interested in seeing more of my thoughts about it. I’m also participating in a couple of reading challenges this year, and I’ll tell you about those soon. Sound good? Okay.

    Here’s what I read in January.

    (Click on the titles below for full reviews.)

    Fablehaven books 3 and 4 by Brandon Mull.

    It’s about: The continued adventures of Kendra and Seth and their family and friends as they attempt to stop the evil Society of the Evening Star from opening the demon prison.

    I thought: I’m not really reviewing this because it’s the middle of the series, but let me just say that if you like juvenile fantasy, you should give this series a try. I loved it and didn’t want it to end. The audio version is excellent.

    Rating: 4 of 5 stars.

    The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.

    It’s about: Madeleine, just graduating from Brown with an English degree and no idea what to do with her life, navigates her early twenties caught between two significant relationships: her boyfriend Leonard who is a manic-depressive, and her good friend Mitchell who feels destined to end up with Madeleine and embarks on a spiritual journey across the globe.

    I thought: The writing was superb, the early twenties were represented accurately, the characters were real, and the “marriage plot” well-adapted to the modern age. Although it will probably only appeal to a specific audience, that audience was me and I really enjoyed it.

    Rating: 4 of 5 stars.

    Lady Susan by Jane Austen.

    It’s about: An infamous flirt, Lady Susan, her daughter that she cares nothing for, her romantic life, and how she causes turmoil in her own family and others. Written as a series of letters.

    I thought: It would be a good introduction to Austen’s style and themes, the epistolary format worked well, but the ending was rushed and unsatisfactory.

    Rating: 3 of 5 stars.

    Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli.

    It’s about: How real Christianity is imperfect, unfinished, and messy; written for those who feel unworthy or like they’re not doing Christianity right.

    I thought: Although I love all the concepts in this book, the writing is extremely average and at times trite, so it didn’t inspire me as much as it should’ve. A short and easy read.

    Rating: 3 of 5 stars.

    The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank.

    It’s about: A funny and humorous account of Jane as she grows up and finds her way in the world, especially when it comes to work, family, and love.

    I thought: It was an enjoyable read, Jane was sweet and funny, and pretty much everyone in her life has something endearing about them. I liked the message of “just be yourself.” Overall not my favorite genre and I found it good, not great.

    Rating: 3 of 5 stars.

  • Review: Just In Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado

    I’m trying to build Meredith’s book collection because I want her to love reading as much as I do. So I was really happy when I saw that BookSneeze had a children’s book up for review, especially one by Max Lucado. I’m a fan of his other children’s books but this one was new.

    The book is told by the point of view of a parent who is telling their child the story of how God made her special and chose just the right home for her. Then it looks back on the child as a baby, happily reminiscing and then commenting on how she’s grown. But mainly it emphasizes that the parent loves the child very, very much and will always be there for her. Just the kinds of things that are so important for children to hear.

    I really love reading this to Meredith and I almost always tear up at some point. Even though she doesn’t understand the words yet, I hope she understands that she is loved and safe with us. I love that it teaches her about God, and that it tells her to trust us. I’m looking forward to when the words will have more meaning to her.

    Be aware that it does talk about heaven, which might lead to thoughts or questions about death, so some kids might need to be a little older to understand. (Although I’m not sure – I only have a baby, what do I know!) Also, it goes into some things that the child might be afraid of or sad about, and although the purpose is to provide reassurance, I can see how it might put ideas into a young child’s head. But again, I only have a baby and I don’t know how she’ll react to it when she gets older.

    Overall I think it has a wonderful message and one that I feel very strongly about. I’m keeping this one around for sure.

    ***

    Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

  • BlogHer Book Club: Love At First Bark by Julie Klam

    “I had always felt that any dog I took care of would’ve done the same for me if it could, and in fact by rescuing them they filled my heart in such a way that I was rescued right back.” –Julie Klam

    ***

    I’m a dog person through and through. We have three of them, and I’ve talked about them several times here, but I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that they are all rescue animals. My husband got his dog Eddie as a puppy in the shelter, and I got Cleo as a 2-year-old from the same place. Oliver was a stray from the street with a limp that we really shouldn’t have taken on, but then we saw his big eyes and adorable tongue and his obvious need for affection and we couldn’t say no.

    Julie Klam makes me feel better about our crazy dog ways. This truly “short and sweet” memoir about some of her experiences with fostering and rescuing dogs reveals Julie as a kindred spirit in that she has a heart for dogs and will go to extreme lengths to provide them with the best life possible, but she’s no expert on training. Now I don’t feel so bad that our dogs bark at every little thing, pull on their leashes, and don’t always get along with other animals. Also, Julie’s personality really comes through in her writing, and she comes across as funny, down-to-earth, and laid-back; basically, someone I would like to be friends with.

    Julie’s stories are so true in that you’d never realize how much of an influence dogs can have on you and your relationships until you’ve experienced it. Some of my best memories with my husband involve our dogs. Each of the three chapters focuses on one specific dog rescue, but it ends up being about so much more. Whether it’s bringing her and her husband together again, taking a step back from materialism, or learning about true sacrifice, dogs are at the heart of it all.

    Over the past several months, as I’ve given birth to and learned to care for my new baby, my dogs have been somewhat neglected. After reading Love At First Bark I’ve redoubled my efforts to give them extra snuggles and to reassure them that I still love them as much as ever. After all, we are their whole world.

    Read more reviews and join the discussion about your experience with animal rescue over at the BlogHer book club.

    ***

    Disclosure: I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

  • BlogHer Book Club: A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz

    When I found out that BlogHer was starting a book club, I got involved right away, especially once I saw the title and read the summary of one of the books available for review: A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz. Books about books are right up my alley! Not only that, but one of my most treasured possessions is my volume of Jane Austen’s complete works, not only because of the inscription my beloved grandmother wrote in it, but also because Austen’s novels are just perfect. Deresiewicz’s take on them also turned out to be a great read for me.

    Come read my full review at BlogHer!

  • Ten On Tuesday: Books & Reading

    Hosted by Chelsea as always, and this week’s questions were provided by Erin.

    1. When someone asks you for a book recommendation, what is your go-to book?
    It depends on the person, so first I’ll find out what they like. A fiction book I wish everyone would read is A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving. For girls I recommend Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  A historical Christian memoir that blew me away was The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I could keep going.

    2. Do you buy your books, or are you a library patron?
    I always check the library first, unless it is a book by one of my favorite authors or one I’ve read before that I know I want to own. Usually I can get a book from the library if I’m willing to wait a bit, and sometimes I procure books from swapping sites like Paperbackswap or BookMooch. I will also borrow from a friend if I have that option. If I need a book quickly (like for book club) and all of those outlets fail me, I’ll try to buy it used at my local bookstore or get it for my Sony Reader.

    3. E-readers, yay or nay?
    Yay. I have a Sony Reader Daily Edition and I love it. Although I will never quit reading paper books, I find that my Reader is a perfect companion. It’s convenient when I need a book fast, I can get many classics for free on it from Gutenberg.org (great for those long ones that you don’t want to lug around), and it’s extremely easy to get used to and read. I can even check books out from the library on it, although I do have to wait for them to become available.

    4. What was your favorite book as a child?
    Matilda by Roald Dahl. I read it over and over, and my copy is all beat up. I think it has a lot to do with the reason I love reading today.

    5. If you could be any character in a book, who would you be?
    Hard question! This may sound strange, but I just might pick Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories. Holmes is one of my favorite characters, and I’d love to be privy to the inner workings of his mind and go on his adventures with him. Also, Watson is a doctor which is right up my alley. If I had to choose a girl I’d pick the narrator from Rebecca (she is never named) because her story is so romantic.

    6. What book would you love to see turned into a movie?
    I would definitely enjoy seeing Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card as a movie. I am pretty sure that he’s serious about getting it made, and according to IMDb it’s in development for 2013, but we’ll see if it happens. For the record, I love movies that are based on books I’ve read. Yes, sometimes they are terrible, but I still look forward to seeing on screen the things I’ve imagined.

    7. What is your all-time favorite book?
    For me, nothing can top The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

    8. How many books do you read at once?
    Not too long ago I found myself strung out between five different books, and I decided I needed to make a change. These days I stick with one main book, one audiobook for my car, some supplemental reading every now and then about childbirth and parenting, and I’m going through The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin month by month. So although I’m “currently reading” four books, there is really only one main one.

    9. What is your favorite book genre?
    Literary fiction, but memoirs and narrative nonfiction are a close second.

    10. Which Harry Potter book is the best? Or haven’t you read them at all?
    I love Harry Potter, but it’s been awhile since I’ve read the books. I remember loving The Prisoner of Azkaban, and it’s also a good one because it’s number three which is before a lot of the heavy stuff starts to happen.