Book Reviews
I think this is self-explanatory, ladies and gentlemen.
We're all in this together!
Hi everyone! I pray you are all doing well, staying healthy, and keeping a positive attitude during this very difficult time all over the world. This COVID-19 pandemic is absolutely awful and devastating to so many families. I thought we could all pass on a positive thought or a favorite quote to help lift our spirits. I'll get things rolling... "HAPPINESS IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF PROBLEMS, IT'S THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THEM." -Steve Mariboli, author & behavioral scientist-
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
ReplyDeleteby Anthony Ray Hinton, Lara Love Hardin
Wow! Wow! What a powerful story about this innocent man being on death row for almost 30 years -- yes, I said 30!!! And such a loving, forgiving man. He is an inspiration to us all.
This was written in language that was pretty quick to read and the subject matter made me want to keep reading! I recommend this one to all :)
DEAD MAN WALKING by Sister Helen Prejean. I read this book after seeing the movie for the first time. The movie features a composite of characters and is well made. The book, however, is more of a memoir, so the story rambles at times. The story is a fascinating view of our capital punishment controversy. It is well balanced in that it presents both the victims' and the murderers' side, along with the reactions of the author. Sister Prejean was basically thrown into the position of counseling prisoners on death row, and the reader learns the facts along with her. It is a thoughful book, and it is worth reading regardless of your beliefs about capital punishment.
ReplyDeleteCrazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, 2013, 3★s
ReplyDeleteI had had this book on my TBR list for about three years and then suddenly the movie came out! I sometimes don't like to read books or see "book-based movies" because of all the hype. But since this was already on my list, I decided to go ahead and read it, but maybe skip the movie.
Well, as it turns out the book was pretty good, not great, just kind of fluff. But sometimes you might just be in a "fluffy" mood! So this is a pretty good one for that :) It was a sweet love story that kept my attention. But the overwhelming theme was over-the-top wealth, ostentation, and flamboyant displays of unbelievable amounts of money, along with many spoiled and entitled people of all ages, from 10 to 90! And it was really uncomfortable! That just goes against everything I believe, which, thank goodness, is how some of the main characters also felt. I guess that might have been the point of the book after all.
So, in the end, after liking but not loving the book, I have decided to watch the movie because I think it will be visually unbelievable, because of all the money these people want to show off. And, as crazy as it seems, I think I'm going to read the second book "China Rich Girlfriend"! Only because the ending of Crazy Rich Asians leaves you hanging a little bit, and I want to see exactly what happens with Rachel and Nick! I may not get to it right away, but I think I'm going to do it. Surprises all around! ;)
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy:
ReplyDeleteTolstoy's writing is deceptively simple and straightforward and the strength of his writing is the way that he enters the thoughts and feelings of his main characters so that his readers can understand their motivations and relate to opposing factions within the story. At it's centre is the love story between Anna and Vronsky, but all the other strands of the story are beautifully interlinked. I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 because from my perspective Tolstoy's interest in Russian agrarian politics of the day, via his character Levin, was given more weight than suited me.
This book would suit anyone who enjoys superb writing on a grand Russian scale.
THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL by Beth Morrey, 4****s
ReplyDeleteI'd like to thank NetGalley, Beth Morrey, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
I so enjoyed Missy Carmichael's "love story." It begins with Missy as a nearly 80-year-old, unhappy woman who feels unlovable. However, by accident she meets a couple of ladies who become her good friends. As the story opens up, the reader learns of Missy's earlier life over the past 60 years and is able to see why Missy feels so unhappy with herself. But slowly, over time, she learns that she is lovable and can be happy with the help of friends and opening up to her family about some of her deepest feelings.
It is a good story about how a person's life, lovability, usefulness, etc. are not over as long as there is love and a sense of community that bonds friends and loved ones. This is certainly a "feel-good" story and a "pick-me-up" if you need one!
THE BODY DOUBLE by Emily Beyda, 4****s
ReplyDeleteI'd like to thank NetGalley, Emily Beyda, and Doubleday Books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
A young woman is asked to secretly become Hollywood star, Rosanna Feld’s body double while Rosanna recuperates from her recent illness. No one really knows why she has disappeared. However, to keep her ‘brand’ alive until she returns, a replacement is needed. Max, Rosanna’s agent, trains this young look-alike to ‘become’ Rosanna, and the story continues with how Max controls her movements, thoughts of Rosanna get into her head, and what happens when she begins to go out into public imitating Rosanna, even to Rosanna’s closest friends. But where is Rosanna? When is she coming back? Is she coming back? This book keeps you guessing.
I rated it 3.5 and rounded up to 4 stars. It is a little wordy, describing everything that this woman (I don’t think her name is ever given!) thinks and feels. It kind of kept me off balance, messed with my mind – but maybe that was the author’s goal!
However, it kept my attention enough that I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen and how the story was going to end!
The Geometry of Holding Hands by Alexander McCall Smith, 4****s
ReplyDeleteI'd like to thank NetGalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Pantheon Books, for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
The Geometry of Holding Hands is the 13th book in the Isabel Dalhousie series and it certainly satisfies. The reader is updated on Isabel and her family: her husband, Jamie, and her two little boys, Charlie and Magnus, as well as their housekeeper, Grace.
As usual, Isabel gets in over her head with her commitments. A distant acquaintance asks her to be the executor of his estate – how can she say no? Cat asks her to work at the deli more – how can she say no?
But when Cat makes some life changes that affect Isabel, co-worker Eddie, and the family trust, Isabel becomes concerned. How can she make everything come out right?
After some thinking, she involves Jamie, and together they make honest, ethical decisions that seem to satisfy everyone – even the reader!
Even after 13 books, Isabel and her crew still feel like family members that the reader wants to keep up with and know that they are all OK. Another relaxing, satisfying visit to Edinburgh!