Book Reviews

Yay! Finally got a few new books reviewed on my book blog. I've had them on the back burner of my mind for a while as I've been too busy to write about them. I finally had a somewhat quiet Saturday afternoon to put some thoughts down. Jump over there and take a look if you'd like. Both were very interesting in their own way. Enjoy!

Someday....

I love this chair. Someday I'd love to have a quiet reading room in my house where I can curl up in a cozy spot in a chair similar to this and just read away, enjoying some peaceful relaxation for a little while.

Maybe in a room that looked like this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or this:

I know lots of women dream of craft rooms and huge walk in closets in their ideal home.

I dream of walls and shelves filled with books in all of their different beautiful colors.

And cozy lights to read by.......

New Blog

Pretty much everyone who knows me has an idea of how much I like to read. Because of my love for reading and books I have started another blog just for that purpose. I'm excited to have another outlet for putting some of my thoughts and opinions down without doing it on my family blog. So if you share my passion for reading, or are just looking for some ideas for new reading material you can visit me at The Book Addict. (I even made my new header all by myself, you can take a peek at some of my favorite books.)

Books

Looking for something to read? Here are some books I've read recently. I seem to be on a good book roll lately. Here's my thoughts:


The Looking Glass Wars

By Frank Beddor

Synopsis:

The "true story" of Alice in Wonderland! Princess Alyss Heart is brutally cast out of Wonderland by her vicious Aunt Redd, who beheads Alyss' mother (Off with her head, she cries!) and begins to rule over Wonderland with an iron fist. Alyss escapes from Wonderland and is exiled to another world entirely - Victorian London - where she is adopted into a new family, renamed Alice, and befriended by Lewis Carroll. At age 20 she returns to Wonderland to battle Redd, reclaim the throne, and lead Wonderland into it's next golden age of imagination.

I loved this book for 4 reasons:

1. I am enthralled with the story of Alice in Wonderland and anything related to it.

2. This book takes the story we all know and invents it in a totally new and exciting way.

3. It has a map inside the beginning of the book. I love maps!

4. It is a series.

This is the first book in the series. The writing is creative and the characters are interesting. In Beddor's story, the most dangerous weapon that Alyss and Queen Redd can possess is their imaginations, which is how they battle each other and what sets them apart from the rest of the Wonderlanders. They don't physically pick up weapons, they imagine throwing daggers or large objects and it happens. When Alyss returns to Wonderland after her long time away, she has to learn from scratch who she is and how to become the Queen she was meant to be. There is a little bit of everything in this story - action, adventure, and a budding love story. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and find out what happens! I would recommend this book for young adult and up.

Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer's Daughter

By Mellisa G. Moore

Synopsis:

Melissa always knew that her family wasn't perfect, but she never suspected the shocking truth...

In Shattered Silence Melissa Moore shared the true story of her life as the daughter of the notorious "Happy Face" serial killer. As she slowly realized the full extent of the gruesome crimes her father has committed, Melissa also begins to realize that she cannot change her father -- all she has control over is her own life and deciding how she will move on.

Told with heartbreaking sincerity, this uplifting story of optimism and finding joy, even in the face of overwhelming adversity, will inspire you to face your own challenges with a similar attitude of hope.

This book does contain adult themes of murder, rape, and abuse, but don't be turned away by how it sounds. It doesn't contain gory grisly details about the murders or other offensive material. The author had a sad life, but was determined to become something better despite her circumstances and the unthinkable acts of her father. She grew up here in Washington and most of the story takes place in the Yakima Valley and in Spokane. I found it interesting that she later got married and joined the church. She writes about how there were many times in her life where she felt like she was guided and protected. This book really puts out a good message that you do not have to become a victim of your environment or give up on life when it seems you have nothing to live for. I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of 14.

Witch and Wizard

By James Patterson

Synopsis:

You are holding an urgent and vital narrative that reveals the forbidden truth about our perilous times...

This is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remain missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared -- for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic...and the pursuit of being a normal teenager.

This book is targeted for young adult readers, but I found it entertaining anyways. It has the basis for a great storyline and had the potential to be great, but I found it just good. I found the writing to be a bit choppy and didn't go as in depth as say, Harry Potter. Nonetheless it was a quick read and I liked the ideas that James Patterson had. The main characters, Wisty and Whit have to become the hero's of their own lives to save their parents, friends, and their world as they know it. The prologue interestingly enough, begins with the details of their planned public execution. "The One Who is the One" and his cronies "The New Order" commonly referred to as the N.O., are the leaders of a new political and cultural oppression and are targeting anyone suspected of or actually possessing magical powers. Whit and Wisty discover they are children of a prophecy who are meant to take down the N.O. This book contains themes of war, power, discrimination, teamwork, young love, and good and evil. There is some violence, but not in detail. It has a cliff hanger ending and continues into a series.

The Hunger Games Series

By Suzanne Collins

Book #1

Synopsis:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Book #2

Synopsis:

Katniss Everdeen continues to struggle to protect herself and her family from the capitol. (Didn't want to give too much away if you haven't read them yet)

I read a LOT of books, and these have quickly become a favorite. My friend Julie recommended them to me and let me borrow her books and I could not put them down. I loved them and can't wait until the third book is released! I am calling them the new "Twilight" because it seems all my lady friends are reading them, although I like this series SO much more. Katniss the main character is smart, strong, brave and beautiful. She is forced to fight in the Hunger Games and play along with the politics of the capitol, if not there will be dangerous actions taken against her, her family, and the people of the districts. The people of the outlying districts are forced to live in poverty and highly restricted conditions while the residents of the capitol live an indulgent and glamorous lifestyle. (ring any bells?) These books have just about everything -- action, adventure, romance, a love triangle, intrigue and suspense. I think the premise of the book is genius and one of the most original I've read in a long time. {There are rumors that it might be made into a movie.} Read - these - books!

If I could pick any way to spend a quiet afternoon, it would definitely be reading a good book!

Distraction

Something to take my mind off the crazy week I've been having:

I was number 25 on the waiting list at the library, or something like that. Finally got it over the weekend and haven't had much time to get to it. While Morgan is resting off some of his flu bug this afternoon, (fingers crossed) I'm going to ignore the loads of laundry waiting to be folded and my floor that needs to be mopped and sit in my comfy chair and lose myself in an interesting adventure for a while. Washington D.C. here I come.

Summer Books

I've been fortunate to keep stocked up on lots of good books so far this summer. I've had quite a few that I've been waiting to read and here are the ones I would recommend:

"Sarah's Quilt" and "The Star Garden" by Nancy E. Turner
If you loved Turner's first book "These Is My Words", you will also love these two follow up books about Sarah Agnes Prine and her family in the Arizona territories. I'm fascinated by the strength and endurance the early settlers of the west had to have to overcome hardships and trying times. Though these books are fictional, the author does a wonderful job of interweaving many factual historical people, places, and events. I never tired of reading about her family's day to day survival on their hot Arizona homestead. Sarah Agnes Prine has quickly become one of my favorite literary characters. These books are filled with adventure, heartbreak, romance, and so much more. I think they would make great movies or a mini series.

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
This book is set in Jackson, Mississippi during the tense times of the Civil Rights movement. One of the main characters who is set on becoming a writer, decides to interview several different maids in her town and publish a book about their struggles working for white families and their many experiences good and bad - doing so forever changes their town. It was a dangerous thing for them to do, yet they wanted their stories to be told. Although this story is fictional it is also intermingled with factual events and public figures during that time. The interesting thing that drew me to this book, was that the writer herself was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi and taken care of mostly by her family's maid who was like a second mother to her. This book gave many different perspectives from these characters point of views and is spiced up with some sassy humor.

"The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley
The main character in this book is Flavia who is a feisty, witty, science loving 11 year old - but as you read the story you will soon forget she is only 11 since she has the smarts and sleuthing skills of someone much older. The writing by the author was rustic and engaging, the story is set in 1950's England. After someone is murdered in the garden at her family's decaying English mansion, Flavia sets out to solve the crime and have some unexpected adventures of her own - all the while trying to clear her father's name and find the true criminal. This was an entertaining and fun read.

"The Book Theif" by Markus Zusak
This book is narrated by death, which sounds quite confusing at first but I thought it was quite brilliant as I got farther into the story. This story centers around the life of Leisel Meminger a foster girl living outside of Munich during World War II. After learning to read and write she soon finds a love for books which keep her sane and become her most prized possessions during a tumultuous time of Nazi's, secrets, and hardships. One of the saddest parts of the story comes from the aspect that many Germans were appalled at that time of what was happening in their country and Europe but were afraid to speak out or make a difference, for those that did were punished. Leisel discovers that words are have a powerful ability to influence people for good and evil alike. I thought this was unique storytelling.

"The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton
I have been waiting weeks for the library to finally get this book in as it was a fairly new release. This is written in one of my favorite styles - a story, within a story, within another story. It has such an intriguing premise, I will share a snippet of the synopsis from the cover of the book:

"A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book — a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dock master and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-first birthday they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and with very little to go on, "Nell" sets out on a journey to England to try to trace her story, to find her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell's death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. At Cliff Cottage, on the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, Cassandra discovers the forgotten garden of the book's title and is able to unlock the secrets of the beautiful book of fairy tales."

Not only is this book filled with the twists and turns of a good mystery, but it explores family history and relationships and the decades that separated them. It shows how one decision made by one of the main characters forever changes the futures of her descendants.


Hope you can pick up one of these books and enjoy a good read too.

I get giddy over children's books

Today while perusing the books at Target, I picked up a book to stick in Kendle's Easter basket.

The title is:






















They also have one for boys. They are similar to the Daring Book for Girls and the Dangerous Book for Boys series, (both of which I'd love to buy) except these are smaller - about 120 pages.

I figured for a girl like Kendle who seems to have an endless thirst for knowledge, this would be great. It includes such fun how-to's as:

• How to host the best sleep over
• How to train a dog to shake hands
• How to make a kite
• How to grow your own tomatoes
• How to travel with just one bag (guess I need to read that section too)
• How to blow the biggest bubble gum bubble
• How to win a staring contest
• How to make a camp in the wilderness
• How to eat with chopsticks
• How to survive in the desert
• How to find the North Star
• How to french braid
• How to send a message in Morse code
• How to survive an alien invasion (hey, you never know right?)

Those are just a few, there are some really cute ideas. I think books like these are a fun way to get useful information to girls about topics like survival and life skills, which can sometimes come off as boring, but are still so important to teach them even at a young age. And, you never know - maybe I'll learn something new and useful too.

Making Books into Movies

Sometimes taking a good book and turning it into a cinematic experience is a wonderful thing, other times it leaves you hugely disappointed.

I found out that two of my favorite children's books are being adapted for the big screen and will be coming to theaters this year.

If you have never read "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" by Judy Barrett, you must put it on your list to check out the next time you are at the library.











The book is about the town of Chewandswallow where the people don't shop at grocery stores, they eat the food that falls from the sky. Soup, pancakes, and even hamburgers land in their town and everything is great until the weather takes a turn for the worst. This story has been a family favorite of ours since I was in grade school. It is just one of those funny books that I never get tired of reading and the illustrations are fantastic.

[Who knows, with this crazy weather we've been having lately, maybe hamburgers will be the next thing to fall from the sky.]

The movie adaption which is scheduled for theaters in September, uses a different take on the main plot of the book. Here's a short description:










"Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. Bill Hader will voice Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of creating something that will improve everyone's life. Anna Faris takes on the role of Sam Sparks, a weather girl covering the phenomenon who hides her intelligence behind a perky exterior. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint's technophobic father. Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully who has plagued Flint since childhood. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne, who figures out that Flint's invention can put the town, and more importantly himself, on the map. Mr. T plays the by-the-rules town cop Earl Devereaux, and Tracy Morgan takes on the role of Earl's rule-breaking son, Cal."

I understand that to make a movie out of the book, they had to come up with some main characters who live in the town, but I hope it doesn't stray too far from the fun and outlandish tall tale that made the book so great.

Another favorite book being turned into a movie, is "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. I'm pretty sure everyone knows that story, and if you don't - crawl out from under the rock you've been living under and go check it out at the library.












"The adventures of a young boy named Max who, after being sent to bed for misbehaving, imagines that he sails away to where the wild things are. Max is loved by the wild creatures who make him their King, though he soon longs to be back home with his family."

Spike Jonze, an Academy Award-nominated director and producer in film and television, most notably the 1999 film Being John Malkovich, is at the helm for this movie and it has been receiving some mixed reviews. I'm not really sure at this point what age group this movie will be targeted for, I've read that it is a little bit of a darker take on the story. It is set to open in October and the cast includes: Max Records, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Dano, Tom Noonan, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine Keener and Michael Berry Jr. Here are some production pictures:

I always think it's interesting too see a story that I've imagined in my mind come to life in a movie. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's not so good. I'm intrigued about these two movies either way.

Twilight

*If you have not watched the movie yet you might not want to read this.

3 Things I disliked about the movie:

1.)Horrible hair and makeup.

2.)All of Kristen Stewart's gasps, breaths, and random pauses during her and Edward's conversations. The hospital scene at the end seriously had me digging my fingernails into the palms of my hand it was so hard to listen to.

3.)Not enough of a buildup of Edward and Bella's relationship (but for time's sake I guess they couldn't fit it all in).


3 1/2 Things I loved:

1.)Edward. The part in the movie where he picks Bella up for school and is wearing those groovy sunglasses basically sealed the deal for me.

2.)The baseball scene. Probably my favorite part of the whole movie. Maybe it's because I love sports, or maybe because it was fun to actually see the Cullen's interacting with each other and not being so serious. I loved when Edward and Emmett went for the same ball and tackled each other in the air. That was FUN to watch. Awesome.

3.)Bella's truck, house, school and the overall location shots of the forests and gloomy, rainy days. It was pretty much exactly how I imagined everything in the book.

3 1/2). Clean language for the most part, not including some stupid teenage banter. I don't remember any swear words. Correct me if I'm wrong.


3 Things that I thought were odd:

1.)Did they have some sort of sponsorship with Rainier Beer? Every scene of Charlie had a close up of his can of beer or a six-pack.

2.)Jacob Black's whiter than white teeth.

3.)All of the Cullen's looked odd, and the other vampires - James, Laurent, and Victoria looked pretty normal (as normal as being buff and extremely good looking can be). Their skin didn't look chalky and their hair looked more natural. Is it because the Cullen's are "vegetarian" vampires? Maybe we'll never know. Give me your theories.


Overall I liked the movie and Riley liked the movie. I'm glad I went with him because he has a totally different take on the books than I do, and it was fun to compare our favorite parts of the movie and what we thought of the characters. I was actually surprised at how many guys were in the theater when we went to see it. I went into it knowing it wasn't going to be the best movie ever, I knew they had a small budget and it wasn't going to be on the same level as Batman. My little sister actually compared it too something akin to an after school special on the special effects front. But in my humble opinion, I was still pretty happy with it, and I think if they are able to make the rest of the books into movies (which it sounds like they will since Twilight had the amazing opening weekend that they needed) they should most likely keep getting better. Riley and I discussed how the first Harry Potter movie was pretty cheesy when you compare it the more recent ones that have been made, and hopefully that will be the same case with the Twilight series because I could definitely take three more movies with Edward Cullen.

Next time you head to the library.....

A few weeks ago my mother ( another fellow book lover ), gave me a wonderful book recommendation. The book is titled, "The Good Thief" and is written by Hannah Tinti. I just finished reading it this evening, and felt that it was worth the time to share some of my thoughts about it.

First of all, I have to say that this was an extraordinary book. It has a classic feel similar to Charles Dickens or that genre, but a bit spicier. I have not read a novel with storytelling like this one in a long time. When I am reading a book and I can imagine the characters, the scenery, and the plot line coming to life - that says something. If I finish it and think - "wow, that would make an awesome movie" I give the author even more props. So Hollywood, if you're looking for a great book to adapt into a movie anytime soon, (coincidentally there already was a movie made back in 2002 starring Nick Nolte with the same title) here's a real winner. And I say that as if any Hollywood screen writers just happen to check in on my blog every day.

Here's a short synopsis from the inside cover of the book:

"Richly imagined, gothically spooky, and replete with the ingenious storytelling ability of a born novelist, The Good Thief introduces one of the most appealing young heroes in contemporary fiction and ratifies Hannah Tinti as one of our most exciting new talents.

Twelve year-old Ren is missing his left hand. How it was lost is a mystery that Ren has been trying to solve for his entire life, as well as who his parents are, and why he was abandoned as an infant at Saint Anthony’s Orphanage for boys. He longs for a family to call his own and is terrified of the day he will be sent alone into the world.

But then a young man named Benjamin Nab appears, claiming to be Ren’s long-lost brother, and his convincing tale of how Ren lost his hand and his parents persuades the monks at the orphanage to release the boy and to give Ren some hope. But is Benjamin really who he says he is? Journeying through a New England of whaling towns and meadowed farmlands, Ren is introduced to a vibrant world of hardscrabble adventure filled with outrageous scam artists, grave robbers, and petty thieves. If he stays, Ren becomes one of them. If he goes, he’s lost once again. As Ren begins to find clues to his hidden parentage he comes to suspect that Benjamin not only holds the key to his future, but to his past as well."


As I started reading, it took me a chapter or so to really get my hooks into the story. There are so many twists and turns that I never knew what was going to happen next. The main character Ren is very conflicted about the life he leads and has a good heart despite his shady companions. After every skirmish and predicament, he silently ponders the prayers and lessons he learned in his orphanage and hopes for forgiveness for the despicable shenanigans he's been drawn into. He longs to do the right thing, although it could very well cost him his life in most situations. All he's ever really wanted was a real family and a place to call home. There was just something about the way this writer created his character that really drew me in. And although the close of the story was a few shades shy of what I would consider a "happy fairytale ending", it resolves itself in such a way that makes the time spent reading more than worthwhile.

A new family favorite

A few weeks ago, we went to the library and brought home this book:

I had been wanting to read this with Kendle for a while, but I am trying to get out of my habit of buying lots of expensive books, therefore we had to wait behind many other requests from the library to finally get our chance to read it. And I am glad to say it was worth the wait.

This is a story about a china rabbit named Edward Tulane who belongs to a little girl named Abilene. One day, he is lost over the side of a boat into the ocean and his journey begins. He encounters many different people who take him in and care for him and fix him up. Edward is exposed to some of the harsh realities and cruelties of the world, but slowly learns what it means to really love someone and to never give up on love and being loved.

There were parts of this book that had me kind of choked up, but also other parts that made us laugh. Kendle really enjoyed me reading this out loud to her before bed and would beg for just one more chapter every time I would start to close the book. I always appreciate when a book is entertaining, but also teaches children good lessons and makes them think about life in a different way.

So if you're looking for a good book to read with your children, give Edward Tulane a try.

Questions Answered, Inquiring Minds Want to Know

On MTV's movie page section Stephenie Meyer did a sit down to answer some readers burning questions about her latest book "Breaking Dawn". If you haven't read the Twilight series yet, crawl out from the rock you've been living under and treat yourself to some fun reading.

Anyways, I finally I got my question answered about the book cover and the meaning behind the chess pieces. Here is her response to one readers question that was submitted for the question and answer piece:

Question: You said once you read "Breaking Dawn," you'll understand the cover of the book. So does it represent Bella and Nessie?

Meyer: No, it represents Bella and Bella. ... Bella starts out as the weakest player on the board, and she ends up as the one who decides the outcome of the story. She becomes the most powerful player, and I really liked that metaphor. I liked seeing her evolution in one picture.

















Until reading Meyer's explanation I had no idea that was what it was supposed to represent, but now it makes sense. I was under the assumption it had something to do with the Volturi, but now I can finally sleep at night. Am I the only one who couldn't figure it out?


To read the rest of the interview you can go here. If you are a big Twilight fan you can check back there every week for "Twilight Tuesday".

Great Book

Do you like a good adventure story? Have you been looking for an action packed book that's just as entertaining for your (older) kids as it is for you? One that teaches values and morals? I happened to be watching Glenn Beck one evening where he praised the storyline and writing of this book and interviewed the author, so then I was intrigued. I mean come on, Glenn Beck reading a children's book? I had to check it out.

It's titled "Nick of Time" and is written by New York Times Bestselling Author Ted Bell. "In the grand tradition of epic novels like Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island comes a wondrous tale of time travel, adventure, and riches, in which twelve-year-old Nick McIver sets out to become the hero of his own life." -quote from the inside flap of the book. I love that last phrase: to become the hero of his own life.














If you have a boy (or girl, but I think boys would enjoy it more) run, don't walk and go get this book. It had so many great lessons that are not emphasized much in our society anymore, such as courage and bravery, having integrity, and doing what's right because that's what is required of you. The main character Nick is intelligent, trustworthy, and protective of his younger sister. One of my favorite things in this book is that when in danger, Nick will admit that he is scared but realizes he must press on and fight for what is right. There is a great quote in the book by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says: "A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer." I loved that! The setting for the story is England, 1939, just on the brink of WWII starting. Nick and his family live in a lighthouse on a tiny island in the English channel and without giving too much away here are some things this story entails:


-Pirates
-Time travel
-Nazi's and submarines
-A secret treasure
-Technology
-History
-Heroism
-Swashbuckling
-Secret Weapons

Are you intrigued yet? Also, I love when books provide a map for the readers to visualize where everything is taking place, and in the front and back covers of the book there is a very good one. That is always a bonus for me. If you loved the Harry Potter series, I think you will really like this book as well. It left me with a great feeling, and I think it will be a favorite for my own children in years to come.

Cold winter days make for good book reading

I love to read, always have. My parents are the same way and every time I visit them they are always in the middle of a new book. When I was little girl, before I even knew how to read, I would create a big nest of blankets and pillows and dolls and spend hours pouring over books and looking at their pictures. After I finish a book I am anxious to move on to another one and immerse myself in a new story with new characters. I could spend hours in a bookstore pouring over the newly released works and looking for something interesting. I've rubbed off on Riley and he's an avid reader now as well. In the winter I get to do quite a bit of reading when it's cold outside and I'd rather stay in. To me a perfect afternoon would be curling up in front of the fire with a blanket and some hot cocoa and reading to my hearts content. Even if I don't really like a book, I try and stick with it until the end just because I always hold out hope that it will get better. Sometimes they do and sometimes I absolutely can't read another page. Here are some books I've read lately:


-Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. I actually bought this for Riley for Christmas, but I couldn't resist reading it first because I'm a huge Grisham fan. This was one of his non-legal stories about a washed up NFL quarterback that ends up playing small ball football in Italy. This book was highly entertaining and talked not only about football, but about the Italian cuisine, history, and landmarks. The main character went from being an embarrassment to his U.S. team to a local Italian hero. This was a fun read.



-The Innocent Man by John Grisham. "In the town of Ada, Oklahoma, Ron Williamson was going to be the next Mickey Mantle. But on his way to the Big Leagues, Ron stumbled, his dreams broken by drinking, drugs, and women. Then, on a winter night in 1982, not far from Ron’s home, a young cocktail waitress named Debra Sue Carter was savagely murdered. The investigation led nowhere. Until, on the flimsiest evidence, it led to Ron Williamson. The washed-up small-town hero was charged, tried, and sentenced to death—in a trial littered with lying witnesses and tainted evidence that would shatter a man’s already broken life…and let a true killer go free. Impeccably researched, grippingly told, filled with eleventh-hour drama, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction reads like a page-turning legal thriller. It is a book that will terrify anyone who believes in the presumption of innocence—a book no American can afford to miss."-Book description from Amazon.com

Grisham's non-fiction writing is just as good as his fiction. This book really made me stop to think about every person who is put on trial and the power of DNA testing to solidify a perpetrators guilt. If you are interested in the legal system and crime solving you will like this book.


-Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. This book was about a man in a nursing home remembering his life in the circus where he met his true love. With all of the hype surrounding this book I expected a lot more. There were parts that I basically had to skip over because of the content. I would not recommend it.




- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Amazon.com says: "In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try. "

This book is an account from a man's perspective of Afghanistan and not for the faint of heart, but if you can make it through until the end you won't be sorry. This book had me in tears so many times, and opened my eyes to the racial struggles that exist in other countries. It felt more like a personal memoir than a novel the writer has created and made me more than thankful for the country I live in and how easy my life is in comparison. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the author's second novel "A Thousand Splendid Suns", which is from a women's perspective.

I just started a new book yesterday and can't wait until I have some quiet this afternoon to sit down and have a good read.

Another Fun Christmas Book

Last week Kendle brought home another library book, this time it was a Christmas story which I was excited to see. We just got around to reading it on Monday night and it was really cute. The title is "Santa Calls" by William Joyce. This author also wrote "George Shrinks" which is another family favorite.

Here is the Editorial review from Amazon.com:

Gather round for an Extraordinary Adventure, circa Christmas 1908, Abilene, Texas. The players are a boy named Art (devoted to "the making of inventions, the quest for adventure, and the fighting and smashing of crime"); his best friend, a Comanche boy named Spaulding; and Art's scorned little sister, Esther. One dusty December day, they find a huge wooden crate accompanied by a note that says, "Open the box. Assemble the contents. Come NORTH. Yours, S.C." The next thing you know, the intrepid trio sets off for the North Pole in the freshly assembled Yuletide Flyer, at Santa's cryptic request. Let the swashbuckling adventure begin! Santa's home is the glittering metropolis of Toyland, described as "the best of the old, the best of the new, and the best that is yet to be." But what's this? Dark Elves and their evil Queen? No one bargained for danger in the North Pole. After a dashing display of heroic and ingenious maneuvering, however, the three children are delivered back home in time for Christmas. But why did Santa call in the first place? He tells them, "Some secrets are best left unsolved." The real secret of this rollicking Christmas tale lies in two facsimile letters attached at the end of the book--Esther's touching note to Santa and his reply. Beloved illustrator William Joyce, creator of George Shrinks and Dinosaur Bob, has managed an unusual feat: an original Christmas story, breathtaking artwork, and adventure tale all rolled into one. (Ages 5 to 9)

So if you are looking for something a little different than Rudolph or Frosty, look this one up. I think your kids would really enjoy it.

Holiday Stories

This time of year I have a couple of books that I get out from the book shelf and either share with my family, or read quietly myself when I get the chance. You know the kind that leave you with that good feeling? They always put me in the holiday spirit and help me remember the true meaning of Christmas and not just all of the commercialism that is thrown in our faces every time we turn on the TV or run to the store. One that has become a Christmas Eve tradition to read is "The Fifty Dollar Gold Piece" by Roderick L. Cameron.















It is just a little Christmas "story card" and is only about seven or eight pages long. It is story about a wealthy family that decides to give away a fifty dollar gold piece to the first person to stand at their door on Christmas Eve morning. The only stipulation to follow the gold piece is that should the bearer come in contact with someone who is less fortunate, they must give it to them instead of keeping it for themselves. It is a very touching story and always reminds me of how fortunate we all are and how no matter the circumstance we can always find someone more in need than ourselves. This book never fails to touch my heart.


Another book that is a favorite of mine is "A Redbird Christmas" by Fannie Flagg.

Here is a short synopsis from the inside cover:

"After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird Christmas."

This book takes me away from the hustle and bustle and reminds me to slow things down and enjoy the season. If you are feeling even the tiniest bit "grinchy" take a break and read these books.

"The Road" by Cormac MacCarthy

For any of you bookies (in the reading sense, not the gambling sense) out there that are looking for a good read, I recommend the latest from Oprah's Book Club, "The Road". It is by Cormac MacCarthy who also is the author of "All The Pretty Horses" among several others. I just finished this book a few days ago and was left with many thoughts to ponder on, which is what I like getting from a good book - things to discuss with other people and thought provoking questions. Cormac has a unique writing style that he uses in "The Road", and manages to base a whole book on very vague circumstances with no names, places, or specific details. This story is a post-apocalyptic journey of a man and his son for pure survival and really makes you ask yourself what you would be capable of doing to keep you and your child alive at any cost. It can be a little depressing at times, but at the end it leaves you with the hope that good can triumph over evil and devastation.