Virtual Shelf: I am what I read.

"Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford

2011-12-26T08:52:00.001-08:00

Some of the ladies in our new ward have a book group and I have been trying to participate as much as I can - which so far means I've read two of the books, but haven't attended any of the monthly meetings. I figure I'll get there at some point.

This is the book we're reading for January and although I struggled to really get into it - the beginning is very slow - I ended up liking it.

The story is about a young Chinese boy, Henry Lee, living in Seattle during WWII. He befriends a Japanese girl, Keiko, and an innnocent love develops between the two of them. His father, however, adamantly disapproves of the friendship because the Japanese are the enemy. Henry, however, refuses to give up his friendship with Keiko, but the two of them struggle to maintain contact after her family is sent to an internment camp in Idaho.

Jumping back and forth between 1942 and 1986, the story slowly pieces together what happened with Henry and Keiko. The book also explores the relationship between Henry and his ultra-Chinese father, as well as the relationship between Henry and his own son, Marty. Despite my dislike of the writing style, I did enjoy reading about the cultural conflicts taking place right here in the United States during WWII. The perspective of the Chinese Americans during that time is something I never thought about before. It was a difficult and confusing time for many of them, especially those like the fictional Henry Lee who didn't see any difference between themselves and their Japanese friends.

Overall, it wasn't my favorite book, but I'm glad I read it.

"Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

2011-12-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, when I'm not completely bogged down with reading for one of my many English classes, I find time to read something just for fun.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to grab "Into Thin Air" off the shelf at work. I remember when it first came out and my brother Brian read it (being a climbing enthusiast) and told me how good it was. So all these years later, I finally decided I should give it a try.

Most horrifying story I have ever read in my life.

I cannot believe what people go through to climb Mount Everest. It's true that you have to have some level of craziness to even want to attempt it. I never realized how incredibly difficult (is that the world's greatest understatement?) it is for people to do this. And reading about a climb where so many people died was heartbreaking.

Jon did an amazing job describing the events of that fatal Everest climb. Despite being horrified the entire time, I couldn't put the book down. Jon writes it in such a way that you have to keep reading because you have to find out what happens to everyone. I admire his courage in writing such a difficult and personal story, especially since so many of the survivors have had to deal with countless problems because of their experience on the mountain.

I don't regret reading this. It took me long enough and now I know why people always say how good it is, but also seem to shudder when they say it.

Most of all, I am very, VERY grateful that none of my loved ones have dreams of climbing Everest.

"Middlemarch" by George Eliot

2010-09-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Did I really forget to write about this?!

I read Middlemarch in one of my English classes last semester and absolutely fell in love with this story, its characters, and George Eliot.

George Eliot is actually Mary Ann Evans writing with a male pen name. She is brilliant and this story is beautiful. All about the people living in the English town of Middlemarch, Eliot somehow offers an intimate view of everyone, rather than just one or two characters. The book is over a thousand pages long, but I promise you it's worth the time and effort.

Of all the classics I've read... THIS is my favorite! Eliot blows Jane Austen out of the water. Sorry all you Austen fans (I happen to be one myself), but I personally believe she does. I hope you enjoy her style and depth as much as I do.

"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-08-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

The incredible true story of Elizabeth Gilbert and her year-long journey around the world to find, essentially... God. She visits Italy, India, and Indonesia - spending four months in each place and spending that time to find the important pieces missing from her life.

Liz (I feel like she's a friend of mine) tells her story with so much honesty and warmth. Her experiences make me want to have more wonderful experiences of my own. I want to explore the world and discover those things that she discovered. I think that if I didn't have the Gospel in my life, I would be Liz Gilbert in a way! A friend once told me, "I don't know what souls are made of, but whatever it is, so-and-so's soul and mine are made of the same thing."

That's how I feel about Liz Gilbert! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You can skip chapter 100 if you want, but other than that a little bit of language you shouldn't feel too nervous. The story is beautiful, the people are beautiful, the places are beautiful. But most of all, Elizabeth Gilbert is beautiful and talented and I appreciate her life and her story for so many reasons.

Besides, I love eating, I love praying, and I love loving!!!

"Shattered Silence" by Melissa G. Moore

2010-03-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Wow. This is a memoir by Melissa G. Moore, the daughter of the notorious Happy Face Killer. She tells the story of her childhood, her experiences of growing up in a tumultuous family and social situation, and the shock and shame of discovering (at the age of 15) that her father was a serial killer.

I read this entire book yesterday. It's on the shelf at work and one of my coworkers had been telling me about it, so I picked it up during some down time yesterday and read here and there throughout my shift. And then decided that I didn't want to stop reading, so I took a copy home with me and couldn't put it down!

I love memoirs so much. They are definitely my favorite because I learn so much from the experiences and life lessons of others. Melissa lived through some extremely terrifying moments in her life, but she has a great lesson to share with the world - one of faith and of standing up to the trials we face. I was so moved by her optimism and her reliance on God even before she realized the role He could play in her life. I truly believe that this women was given her specific set of trials so that she could share her story and help others to overcome the terror in their own lives. I am so thankful that I've never had to live through any of the experiences that Melissa dealt with from a very young age, but I am also very thankful for her story.

If you're interested at all, don't hesitate to read this. The details of Melissa's life are given with tact and as un-graphically as possible. If it was good enough to read in one day, well... there must be something there, right?! I loved it. And I think I'll hug Melissa when I meet her on the other side someday.

"The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck

2009-12-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Read this one.

Just do it!

I absolutely love Glenn Beck and this book is on our shelves at work, so I finally picked it up and started reading it one day. But eventually I got tired of only getting through a few pages or a chapter every a couple of days, so I bought a copy and took it home. And I have to say...

This story is beautiful and amazing. It's a story based on people and experiences from Glenn's life, but isn't a story of an actual experience. If that makes sense at all. Eddie (aka Glenn as a boy) just wants a red Huffy for Christmas, but instead receives a sweater from his mother. And from there he learns the true meaning of Christmas and why it is important to love those around us.

This book is a new favorite and I really wish everyone would take the time to read it. I was so touched and want to share this gift with all of you. You're welcome to borrow my copy - that's just how much I want you to read it!

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte

2009-12-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

We read "Jane Eyre" for my Literary Criticism class this semester and even though I had already read it (a few years ago), I really enjoyed it the second time through.

I like to think of Charlotte Bronte in the same terms as Jane Austen. Their books come from the same time period and although I've only read this one Bronte in comparison to several of Austen's, they have so many similarities.

"Jane Eyre" is romantic and captivating. Jane plays the role of "every woman" which is what I think makes her so appealing to female readers. She's a classic heroine and has bits of wisdom that I think I should apply in my own life. Like striving to be honest at all times and living according to a clear conscience. It is also a love story and a pretty powerful one at that!

I will admit that the Old English writing style can be a bit boring at times. I had a hard time getting through the first 100 pages or so the first time I read this one, and struggled the entire way through the second time since I already knew the ending and wasn't driven forward by the suspense. But if you haven't read it, give it a try. And don't give up if you're a little bored in the beginning. It gets better and hopefully you'll love it!

"Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine

2009-12-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

"Ella Enchanted" is another childhood favorite! Like "Walk Two Moons," I've probably read "Ella" about a dozen times. I will admit that I still haven't seen the movie so I can't tell you how it relates, but I can tell you how much I love the book.

Ella is a classic Cinderella character, but with a little twist to the original story. Ella is cursed. She was given the gift of obedience as an infant by a well-meaning but hapless fairy. The "gift" however, creates more trial than blessing for Ella. She has to be obedient when given a command, so if someone told her to jump off a cliff... well you get the idea.

This might be my very favorite Cinderella story ever. It makes the classic fairytale princess seem real and even flawed. Ella is wonderful and I love reading about her over and over again. I think I read this book every year for a long time. It's been a while, but I read it again about a month ago and fell in love with Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother all over again. Not to mention Ella!

"Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech

2009-12-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

Let's see if I can catch up on my book reviews a bit. How about one of my all-time favorites first?

My childhood friend Katie Casteel gave me my first (and only) copy of "Walk Two Moons" when I was eight or nine. At first I thought it was a little strange that she gave me a book for my birthday, but read it anyway and absolutely loved it! I can't tell you how many times I've read it since then. In 13 or 14 years I have probably read it 13 or 14 times. It is beautiful beyond words.

The story of Salamanca Tree Hiddle (yes, that is her name) is mysterious, heartwarming, and hilarious. Sal is a young girl looking for truth and direction in her life, which I think everyone can relate to. And I'm always surprised by how anxious I am to get to the end - as if the words on those well-loved pages might have changed since my last reading. And I'm always touched when the end comes. It doesn't matter how well I know what's coming. I'm always moved.

If that doesn't tell you that Creech is a fantastic writer, then I don't know what will. Read this one. It will always be one of my favorites and one that I always want to share! Let's see how many more readings I can get through before my book falls apart...

"Left to Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza

2009-08-26T09:22:00.001-07:00

This book, "Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust," is one of the most powerful memoirs I have ever read. Immaculee lived through one of the worst genocides in the history of the world and, in my opinion, the most heartbreaking.

The Rwandan Genocide took place in 1994 when one of the three tribes in Rwanda rose up against another. One million Tutsi citizens were killed by their Hutu neighbors, coworkers, and friends. Immaculee tells her story in this book and shares how she made it through the terror and tragedy of that event by relying on her faith in God.

This book is beautiful. It is very graphic and absolutely heartwrenching, but in its pages, I developed a great love and appreciation for Immaculee and her family. My sister Kelly tried to get me to read this for months and months and I'm so glad I finally did. Just to see such beautiful faith and to truly feel the connection that this incredible woman has with God. I hope to be able to hug her, and her brother Damascene, as well as the rest of her family someday. And to thank her for sharing her story with me.

A dear friend of mine always tells me that he has a list of people that he wants to see first when he gets to the other side. I want to see Immaculee Ilibagiza if I don't have a chance to meet her in this life!

"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult

2009-06-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

As this movie just came out and the theatrical trailer looked great, I decided I'd better read the book before I allow myself to watch the movie. Unfortunately, all the copies at the library were checked out. So...

I bought a copy for myself at Borders on Tuesday. And finished reading all 400+ pages this morning.

Beautiful. I was so impressed by the reality of this novel. At times I forgot that it was a novel at all. Jodi Picoult did her research to make sure that all the medical lingo and situations were very true to real life. It was phenomenally written and even though EVERY book I read lately seems to have too much cursing in it, I would still recommend this one. I wonder what it is. Media, in every form, is becoming more and more corrupt. Regardless, this story is fantastic.

I'm looking forward to the movie. I want to see how it is presented on the big screen and I really, really hope they stay true to the book. I loved it, even if it was a little on the slow side. It's a very serious story, so I guess slow is the way to be. Slow, but beautiful. Laughter and tears. Thanks, Jodi Picoult!

"The Secret Life of Bees" on my TV

2009-06-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

Good news, everyone. I finally indulged in the film version of "The Secret Life of Bees" and was very pleased with how the interpreted the book and played it out on my screen. They chose really great actors for each of the parts (except Neil, who was described as "the tallest black man I'd ever seen" in the book, but wasn't that tall in the movie) and they stayed true to so many important details. Like any other movie based on a book, there were various changes made to the story, but overall . . . great job, Hollywood!

Read the book first. Then watch the movie. Thanks, thanks, goodnight!

"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch

2009-06-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most moving books I have ever read. Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon and was asked to give a "Last Lecture" to the students there. These lectures are meant to be an opportunity for the speaker to reflect on their life and to say what they might say if they were preparing for their own death. For Randy Pausch, though, this really was a final speech.

He was dying of cancer. And gave his Last Lecture with that in mind, but spoke of optimism and joy and accomplishing hopes and dreams. This book was compiled after his lecture and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. He presents so many little gems of wisdom and his positive attitude was an inspiration to me as I read about his life and the love he had for his family.

It's a quick read, so don't hesitate to pick it up. I've found that ALL I want to read lately is memoirs. I wonder if that means I should write mine someday... but I hope you enjoy this one!

"The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan

2009-06-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

If I was going to recommend one book this year, Kelly Corrigan's memoir would be IT. It has been a long time since I have so completely fallen in love with not only the people in a story, but the way the story was written.

Kelly Corrigan is a breast cancer survivor and "The Middle Place" is her collection of memories from that battle, as well as from her childhood, adult years, and motherhood. I was completely hooked by the end of the first page and couldn't put it down until I finished - a very short time later.

Corrigan presents her story in such a real way. And it was so easy to become attached to each "character" and to laugh and cry along with them as they went through good times and bad. I was in tears through the story of her husband's proposal, couldn't stop laughing at her father's antics, and truly felt like I knew those people as if they were my own friends and family. I know I read this in March and that there is a lot more 2009 to come, but I really think that this will be my book of the year. If I could be as brilliant a storyteller as Kelly Corrigan... well then my work would be cut out for me, wouldn't it?

Word of warning to the rest of you: There is quite a lot of strong language in this book. I recommended it to my mother and she said, "I wish she didn't use the F word so much!" but I think next time I read it I'll go through with a black marker. And I really wouldn't let that drawback stop me from experiencing this wonderful story.

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

2009-06-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

This was my first Sue Monk Kidd novel and I loved it! Now a "major motion picture" starring four amazing actresses, this is one of the most wonderful stories I have ever read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a moving and thought-provoking read.

I think the reason I loved it the most is because it shows that race should not be a barrier to love or companionship. A young, white girl born and raised in South Carolina (I think that's right... correct me if I mixed up my North and South!) finds herself living with four wonderful black women, each of whom is unique and special in their own way.

Just like any other story that truly takes me away, this one made me laugh and cry and love the characters for who they were and for what they were going through. I still haven't watched the movie (I wanted to read the book first), but I'm excited to see it, especially since Sophie Okonedo is in it. Kelly and I saw her on the London Underground last summer and she's one of my favorite actresses anywhere.

Read it first. Then come watch the movie with me!

Coming Soon

2009-05-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

I know I'm behind, but I promise I'll soon be posting reviews for the following books:

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
"The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch

And I recently picked up several books that I want to read as soon as possible... in addition to the seventy zillion titles already on my "To Read" list. Don't worry. It'll happen. And I'll review.

"Dean & Me (A Love Story)" by Jerry Lewis

2009-02-13T05:44:00.001-08:00

If I wasn't a fan of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis before, I definitely am now!

I just discovered that my boss had this book and was totally sucked in by the very first page. It changed my entire view of the comedic duo, but only for the better! There's something about getting to know the people playing characters in a play that makes the act just that much more enjoyable to watch.

Their story is an interesting one and I love the way that Jerry writes - as if he's having a conversation with you and telling you exactly what happened and how he felt about it. It's a very honest, down-to-earth representation of a pretty incredible journey. If you're a fan at all, I'd definitely recommend reading this one. Except for one thing...

There is a lot of swearing in this book. Not surprising coming from an Italian (Dean), a Jew (Jerry), all of New York and Hollywood, the mafia, and everything in between being thrown into the mix. Jerry writes things exactly as they happened - and exactly as they were spoken. If you can't handle reading that kind of language (it's pretty frequent), then you might just want to ask for a more extensive review of this one. But other than that!

Top notch! Five stars! Or at least four and three quarters . . . a quarter off for strong language. I think Jerry would approve!

Under Construction . . . again.

2009-02-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

I'm reformatting my page. Hold tight for a better look and for more book reviews.

"Atonement" by Ian McEwan

2008-12-15T20:45:00.000-08:00

Out of sheer curiosity, I finally read "Atonement," and am happy to say that I made it through the entire book. Unfortunately, it's not one that I will pass on or recommend to others - it's pretty depressing and quite slow for the first half. But! As I have done so many other times, I have to commend the author for writing a novel that really made me think, and for writing characters that I truly fell in love with.

McEwan uses an interesting literary technique, where the final chapter is a sort of glance back at the rest of the book. I haven't seen the movie, but have heard that it does the same thing. The entire novel is in third person, but in the end, the main character, Briony, narrates in first person, revealing that she had become a novelist and had written the account of the horrible mistake she made as a child and the effects it had on her family. It's a technique I have seen before - though not often - and love!

It took me a long time to finish and had some pretty graphic parts that will keep me from reading it again, but everyone knows I can't resist WWII novels . . . and I especially loved reading the passages that took place in London. How amazing to be able to picture the places being described and to remember being there myself! It was an interesting read. Don't hurry to buy it or pull it from the shelf at the library, but trust me when I say it's not the last book on earth I would read. I was happy to get to the last page and am looking forward to my next read. Still undecided . . .

"The Pelican Brief" by John Grisham

2008-10-23T13:49:00.001-07:00

What an amazing book!!! I've loved every Grisham I've ever read and "The Pelican Brief" doesn't fall short in any way. It's probably the most political one I've read of his, and I have to admit not my favorite, but that might also be because I saw the movie first. And loved that! The book exceeds the movie (of course!) in intensity and content, but knowing what happens in the end when I started the book made it drag on more than I think it would have otherwise.

If you haven't seen the movie, read this first! And then take yourself over to Blockbuster Video and prepare yourself for a thrill!

My next John Grisham will probably be "Runaway Jury," which I have also seen (with John Cusack - of course I've seen it!) but am looking forward to reading. In the meantime, stay posted for more reviews and please, KEEP READING BOOKS!

"The Trial of Mary Lou" by Ron Carter

2008-10-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start posting reviews on a weekly, or at least semi-weekly basis. My goal is to read two books a month, but for the weeks when I don't reach that goal, I think I'll just post a review for one of my favorites.

So! "The Trial of Mary Lou" by Ron Carter. If you haven't read this, please pick up a copy today at your local Barnes & Noble. Don't borrow it from the library, or from your sister, or from anyone who doesn't allow you to leave it on your shelf permanently. It's definitely worth having in your collection!

Although Carter's writing is weak, this is one of the most hilarious books I have ever read in my entire life! I remember my parents reading it to us when I was a kid, but also remember falling asleep to the soothing sound of their voices . . . so I never did know what happened to Mary Lou in the end.

After a years of curiosity (and a few years ago now), I asked my Mom about it and she found a copy for me. We started reading it together (out loud - the best way!) late one night and ended up reading the entire thing, with tears of glee rolling down our cheeks and our bellies aching from laughter.

Read it! And then wait a few years and read it again. It's just as good the second time, as I'm sure it is the 27th.

"Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

Although I was so against reading this book, I finally caved and started this week. Tara had a copy in the car and I finally couldn't resist anymore, despite my dislike for Stephenie Meyer and her horrible (in my opinion) writing style!

And . . . well, I must say (as I've said before) that Meyer has her creativity going for her. Her story is great, her imagination far surpasses anything I could ever come up with. All things vampire and werewolf, and even things human, come into a fascinating light in her books. But . . . and here it comes . . .

I still think she sucks. My overly-critical mind, when it comes to any form of writing, once again pulled through for me. I found only one or two typographical errors the entire 754 pages (at least she has a good editor!), but I also found a couple of spots with GLARING inconsistencies. If you're reading this, and haven't read the book yet, please stop now because I'm not holding back anything for the sake of "review" or anything like that. If you have read it, then please continue.

There is one part in the book, after Bella becomes a vampire (at last!), where she speaks to her father face-to-face for the first time. I was nearly driven mad by that whole confrontation, because Meyer kept dropping in little lines about Bella holding her breath. She's immortal now, and it's already been established that vampires have no need to breathe. She's holding her breath so she doesn't smell her father's blood, which makes perfect sense, but then it says something or other about her oxygen supply running out, so she HAD to take a breath. Oh, come on now! If that's not glaring, I don't know what is. Of course . . . no one else in their right mind would probably even pick up on such a thing, but this is my forte. I can't help it.

I finished the book and am perfectly satisfied with the happy ending. Edward and Bella are together, as it always should have been. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get to that point. The story seemed to stretch on for eons, without any significant climax. There was just a LOT of deliberating . . . and more deliberating . . . and MORE deliberating . . . on the side of the good guys and the bad guys . . . LAME!

So, anyway. I should stop my ranting. It's true that I'm probably just jealous. A woman with my name and less literary skill (I'm not bragging, it's just how I feel) than I have, is now world famous. Ugh. Don't even compare her to J.K. Rowling or I might puke. J.K. is enormously talented. Meyer has some work to do.

Maybe I should write her a letter . . .

A few recent reads and favorites:

2008-06-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros:

We read this in my Sophomore English class, but I don't think I really read it at the time . . . so I read it for real recently. It's juvenile and delicious! And a quick read.

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho:

This book is INCREDIBLE! My friend Christian recommended it and although it took me a while to finally read it . . . it was well worth the wait! It's a beautiful story of self-discovery that I'm sure I'll read again and again.

The Firm, by John Grisham:

It's been a few years since I've read this one and I've read several other John Grisham books since, but this one was my first. And probably my favorite! If you haven't read it, get yourself to the book store or library IMMEDIATELY and be prepared for a thrill!!! I should probably read it again, too...

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, by Douglas Adams:

This is actually five books in one. I've only read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," but I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in a book (except for maybe in "The Trial of Mary Lou!" Check that one out, too!). I read this one while I was working at America First and my coworkers always laughed at me cause I would sit there and giggle out loud. It's the silliest, most wonderful book! I need to read the other five books in the collection!!!

A Child Called It, by Dave Pelzer:

This will depress you. I read that Dave Pelzer's story is the 3rd worst case of child abuse recorded in California. The 3RD worst! It's unbelievable what he went through as a very small child. And survived! Seriously don't read it . . . although I'm glad I did. It opened my eyes to the kind of abuse that really does go on in our society and made me even more grateful to have been raised by loving parents.

"Marley and Me" by John Grogan

2008-05-08T19:43:00.001-07:00

What a fantastic little book about a huge dog and the huge mess he created for his very patient owners, the Grogans.

Kimi recommended this book to me - she and Momma read it on their way to Kansas City last summer and as she describes it, laughed and cried the entire way through! I did that myself. It's a beautiful story and I really loved the writing style!

The only problem? This one didn't help me with my puppy hunger problem!!!

Read it for sure! I loved it!

CAUTION

2008-05-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

Please pardon our appearance while we are under construction. The Bookshelf is coming soon!