For Justice or for Money?

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Here is the beginning of the Stephanie Plum books.  My friend Leighanne suggested this series to me and since I had a long drive ahead of me when I moved from Arkansas to Alabama, I bought the audio book.  The book was entertaining, funny, witty and I enjoyed Stephanie as a character.  The book was very short, which is refreshing after reading so many longer books.  I look forward to actually reading Two for the Dough, the second book in the series, I think they go all the way up to 19 books, I’m not sure how far I will go, but I know I will read at least the next book.

In brief, Stephanie Plum has lost her job, in order to make some quick cash, she becomes a bounty hunter for her cousin.  She is faced with a very large case that is way above her skills or knowledge set, which makes it very entertaining to watch her try and make her job a success. 

I don’t know if I would highly recommend this book, but it was a fun read and I will keep you posted on the next in the series.

Keep Reading my Friends!

The Last Book, I mean Song, The Last Song

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

This book, like all of his books was predictable.  Someone falls in love, someone messes up, and someone has to die.  I have not read one of Sparks books in a very long time.  Years even, but I was looking for a cheap audio book and found this one on sale for $6 at BAM.  I am not a Sparks fan, but I am however a Miley Cyrus fan and thought, I always wanted to watch this movie, so I decided to give it a chance and behold my surprise when nothing changed and everything was the same as all of his other books.  If you are a fan, this is not a horrible book, I however should have known better than to buy this.  I really don’t have much else to say about this book and don’t hate me forever if you are a fan, to each his own.  Keep Reading my Friends!

What Would You Do in This Situation?

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

When my long time great friend Leighanne gave me this book, she said, “I’m interested to know what you would do in this situation.”  With that in mind, I read thinking about what would I do in this situation?  Since I’ve been married for 10 years this year, I should have put myself in Tessa’s shoes, but I felt like Valerie was a more relatable character.  While the relationship between Valerie and Nick was growing, I just kept saying, no, please no, don’t do it Nick. 

Of course I have always been in the camp of once a cheater, always a cheater and if Simon were to cheat on me, it would be the end of our marriage and relationship.  But, as I read this book I don’t know if I would say I changed my mind, but hearing Tessa’s side of the story I can understand how she could feel in the situation.  There was a theme of one type of affair is more forgivable than another.  Tessa says that she could not forgive Nick if he loved her.  I don’t know if I agree with that, one night stand versus love, either way the trust has been taken out of the relationship and I would have a very hard and difficult time letting go or forgiving. 

All of that to say, I have not been in this situation and I praise the Lord for that.  I have had friends that have suffered after an affair and watched them hurt deeper than I thought possible.  And to watch their pain and anger vacillate and then the decision making process. 

The book was good, true to form for Emily Giffin.  Interesting characters with a fast paced story.  This is not going to be a mind blowing read, but it was thought provoking.  Enjoy and Friends, Keep Reading! 

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Classic.  I have enjoyed trying classics out since I was never forced to read them in high school or college, well not the cool ones like Bronte or Austen or Dickens.  This year it so happened that I didn’t have anything to read the week of Christmas and I realized that I had never read A Christmas Carol, a classic in all sense of  the word.  I have seen so many adaptations of this story in film version that I cannot keep count, but I have never even attempted to read the book.  I have seen it live, a somewhat poorly performed musical rendition in Branson MO many years ago.  I have watched the Mickey’s Christmas Carol, The Bill Murray’s Scrooged, and within the last year or so I saw Jim Carey’s A Christmas Carol, animated, sort of.  I have grown up around this story, but never read one of Dickens’ words and I have not known the story from reading it with my own eyes. 

I loved it.  It is the story of redemption, a story of second chances.  I think of all of the wasted years, Scrooge missed all sorts of chances throughout his life and will have to make up for all of his poor decisions late in life, but he got a second chance.  When I think about it, we all get a second chance each morning when we wake up.  We have another chance to live life to the fullest and how many of us waste it.  We waste it by being lazy, not thinking of others, or our search for money, career, or possessions.  I think that Dickens’ gives us a great reminder that even if we are not visited by spirits in the night, we can still wake up and live each day like it’s our last.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Bible Based Friendship

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Meet Denver, a homeless man in Dallas Texas and then meet Ron Hall an international Art dealer that allows God to move through himself and his wife to make a new friend.  Seeing both sides of the story, Denver grows up as a modern day slave in Louisiana that as an adult hops a train to escape and ends up in Texas.  He is homeless for eighteen years when in walks the Hall family in the local homeless shelter to volunteer their time.  Debby Hall is a prayer warrior who listens to God and pushes her husband to cultivate a friendship with Denver.

I don’t want to go into any detail of the story.  This book was an excellent read.  I laughed and cried and it made me think.  I couldn’t believe how things turned out, but as a Christian I have to believe that God is in control even as hard times come and life hands us all sorts of events that we don’t know how to react.  This thought provoking story was well worth the read and I would suggest it to anyone.

My favorite section of the book is where Denver is asking Ron about why white people go fishing and they “catch and release.”  Denver explained that when he has gone fishing, it was for food not for fun and Ron quickly realized he was not only talking about fishing, but Denver was concerned that Ron was going to catch Denver’s friendship and when he was finished with him he would release him.  I thought this was an excellent picture of what a pity friendship looks like.  I have seen it happen before and I have probably been guilty of this act of catch and release friendship.  A thought provoking concept. 

This was my last book club choice for Olive Books Book Club and everyone who read it, loved it.  What did you think?  Have you read it, or do you want to?  Keep Reading my Friends!

Team Jem or Team Will?

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Tessa Gray longs to know what she is.  She has a unique ability to become anyone in the world as long as she is in possession of a personal object of the person’s.  As she has taken refuge from the evil Mortmain with the Shadowhunters she has learned more about their way of life.  Of course there is a love triangle between Tessa, Will Herondale and Jem Cairstars.  She is attracted to both of the Shadowhunters even though Will is a pompous, egotistical punk and Jem is slowly dying.  As the story continues, the destiny of the Institute, the refuge in London for any Shadowhunters, hangs in the balance, Charlotte, Henry, Jessimine, Will, Jem and Tessa fight to find the location of Mortmain and work to discover his plans.

Of course if you look back on my previous blogs you will find that it is no surprise that I love Cassandra Clare.  I have read all of the Mortal Instruments and now the Infernal Devices.  Her writing captures and forces the audience to fall head over hills for her characters.  I can tell you anything you want to know about Jace and Clary.  They are exceptionally written and I can’t wait until their story comes to an end and then again I want her to continue the series forever.  Jem, Will and Tessa are much the same.  The characters are so developed and the plot is wonderful so I not only read these books, I devour them.  Who doesn’t want to read about half human half angel beings fighting demons so we mundains can have a demon free world?

I love Tessa, she is a reader and that is always fun for other readers to enjoy. 

This book’s conclusion is heart wrenching.  I could not believe everything that took place at the end.  Without spoilers, there is death, celebration, reconciliation, misery, surprise.  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.  If you are any sort of fan of fantasy or Young Adult literature, Cassandra Clare’s series come highly recommended from me!  Keep Reading my Friends! 

There are Definitely Perks

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a part of the everyday life of a boy who is a freshman in high school?  This book is a set of letters written to an unknown recipient that “Charlie” pours his soul to during the course of his first year of high school.  We experience a lot of his firsts, his first kiss, date, new friends, drugs, and alcohol and the audience grows to love his character throughout the entire book.

I loved Charlie.  He was an excellent, honest, true character.  Although I could not relate to any character in the book I still found myself routing for Charlie, wanting what’s best for him and hoping that nothing bad ever happens to him.  I loved his friendships and the person he became through his relationships with his new friends, his teachers and even his family. 

This book reminded me a lot of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, that is a book in a different style, but about a girl going through a horrible time starting high school and feeling that she has no voice in her struggles.  This had the same tone, but entirely different take. 

I also loved how it was a 90’s book.  I remember going to my oldest cousin and my step-brother’s high school graduation in 1993.  I remember the style of the clothes and the attitude of the students and I can picture these parties and dances and everything Charlie was talking about I could see it through his eyes even though I was quite young during that time.  Rocky Horror Picture Show was a consistent section of the book.  I also remember loving RHPS about this time even though I was too young to know what was actually going on. 

I loved the suit.  The secret santa gift from Patrick.  I loved that Charlie wore it to school and was teased without mercy but his friends thought he looked great.  I loved that he got everyone a gift that Christmas and it matched their personality perfectly because Charlie was an excellent Wallflower.  He knew them all and he had these great perceptions about all of his friends that made sense and even if they didn’t know it was something they needed or wanted it would sting them down to their bone marrow because that’s just how Charlie was.  He knew them through and through. 

I have no criticism about this book.  I loved it.  I read it in 24 hours and I wish that I could turn around and re-read it immediately, although I cannot because I have my ever growing shelf that can get out of control if I don’t do something about it.

Thanks for reading and I hope this blog makes you want to read this book immediately.  Keep Reading my Friends!