tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23953984061693462012024-03-13T09:38:32.108-07:00The Reader's ChatA chat about books, faith, and familyKristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-54937084239756266072010-02-28T13:18:00.000-08:002010-02-28T13:18:27.050-08:00I'VE MOVED!!!!!Due to technical difficulties, my blog has moved locations to <a href="http://www.thereaderschat.wordpress.com/">http://www.thereaderschat.wordpress.com/</a>. Please follow me there for a review of <em>Brava, Valentine</em> by Adriana Trigiani.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-30568282429852528022010-02-23T11:41:00.000-08:002010-02-23T11:41:21.295-08:00"Fat Cat".. a Different and Delightful Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli5D5E5DF2nJXhEYwnK7vI55v7T_ZA0oX1YQpLxL6kGKl4056Lus0siSvsAVt3fxx5J6C3EizFNXuKN8idwwcB9k4TzLlIHPWU8diS_GHyo2CbDQpz6DyHSKCDzpKpTF6XI92r_CL0ird/s1600-h/39165487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli5D5E5DF2nJXhEYwnK7vI55v7T_ZA0oX1YQpLxL6kGKl4056Lus0siSvsAVt3fxx5J6C3EizFNXuKN8idwwcB9k4TzLlIHPWU8diS_GHyo2CbDQpz6DyHSKCDzpKpTF6XI92r_CL0ird/s200/39165487.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>I have a hard time finding books to read. I visit my favorite book blogs each day and if their is a book that gets a good review, I will read that. I am a picky reader and not a fan of some genres which is why you will NEVER see a science fiction or mystery book on here. It is one of my weaknesses as a reader and book blogger. I tend to pick the same "types" of books and I guess I am not very well-rounded in that regard. When goodreads.com raved about Fat Cat, I knew I had to check it out for myself. I was not disappointed at all! This book is different from my usual "chick lit" books and even though it is classified as YA, there is plenty of substance to interest adults. The science project aspect in this book makes it different from others books and allowed it to stand out from similar YA novels. Catherine Locke is required to participate in science fair for Mr. Fizer's science class. Not only does she have to participate, but the entire project is based on a picture that she pulls from his stack. So, imagine Catherine's dilemma when she ends up with a picture of an early Neanderthal. Cat knows she needs to find inspiration for this picture to devise a truly great experiment, not only to win the science fair, but to fulfill her long quest to beat her rival and former best friend, Matt McKinney. I loved how Cat jumped at the challenge before her with so much determination and grit. She used the science assignment to begin a year-long quest to determine how her body would respond to living life like the early hominis. This experiment meant she had to give up modern technology, walk everywhere, and eat only what could be produced. As an overweight teen, she wanted her experiment to improve her physical state and return her body to its "natural condition." The author uses a clever journal format in the novel that allows the reader to see how the experiment progresses while she reveals pieces of Catherine's life. As the pounds started melting off Cat, I could not stop reading because I really wanted to see how the experiment concluded. I was impressed with the author's ability to drop little hints and use foreshadowing to keep the reader interested. As soon as I decided to put the book down and do something productive, I would get to a cliffhanger line and of course, I would have to keep reading. This put the book in the category of "has to be read in a night." My advice is not to start it unless you have a few hours to read it from start to finish. I thought this book was going to be a typical makeover story but it involves a much deeper message about beauty and how to discover and love who we are on the inside.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-47973927382514627712010-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:28:15.084-08:00Not my Favorite Zarr Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNz-FEzCiu7xz5GPdIfn6W4bLWvf5KcmvjRzusRYLaSkZmjP0JG6u4z-WBNkomfmFoFXkehvaaFwSiL44fFtt8OWjkkUpJySV0A8JzluHK-wgJs99bYg8N9ZFTsvEYVYu8Rv-B60JShfR/s1600-h/33332377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNz-FEzCiu7xz5GPdIfn6W4bLWvf5KcmvjRzusRYLaSkZmjP0JG6u4z-WBNkomfmFoFXkehvaaFwSiL44fFtt8OWjkkUpJySV0A8JzluHK-wgJs99bYg8N9ZFTsvEYVYu8Rv-B60JShfR/s320/33332377.jpg" /></a></div>As I have said before, I am a HUGE Sara Zarr fan. Along with Sara Dessen, she is one of the most talented young adult writers. I thought I read everything by Zarr until I saw this book at the library and realized I somehow missed it. I felt like I had won the lottery! <em>Story of a Girl</em> delves into the consequences of one incident and how one mistake can ruin an entire reputation. It tells the story of Deanna, a thirteen year old who was caught by her father in the backseat of a car with her older brother's seventeen year old friend. Years later, she still carries the label of school slut and her father has yet to make eye contact with her. She carries the burden of making one mistake and having to pay a huge price. To make matters worse, she has feelings for her best friend, who happens to be the boyfriend of her only other friend. This book was probably my least favorite Zarr story. I really did not like the character of Deanna and I had a hard time feeling bad for her because of it. I felt like she was totally consumed with self-pity and that if she could find a way to move on with her life, maybe others would too. She seemed to want her friends to pity her for what happened and her entire existence revolved around her obsessing over her sad life. I wanted to scream at her to get over it or do something about it. Deanna further irratated me by making all the wrong choices, and failing to learn from her mistakes. Even after her life is "ruined" by Tommy, when she reunites with him at her job in a pizza place, she picks up where they left off, in the backseat of his car. This drove me crazy! When she makes a move on her best friend, I wanted to throw the book. Despite the decent story, Deanna irritated me for the entire story and I was glad to be rid of her when I finished the book.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-51768769752465242112010-02-12T13:04:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:04:29.966-08:00On the Fence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel901La3ppMAmzK2KnTTM4w00zf1BQEsczQEG-a2U6QW8F3jinEHs3djeEpMC6Ck8SUAClcI_oV6FWUx-EWWNEgB6lII27FTi5Dqbcs6JDUIRvOHA4SiMdzpVeCcGOb97A4Zm6dF-Ypsd/s1600-h/40170847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel901La3ppMAmzK2KnTTM4w00zf1BQEsczQEG-a2U6QW8F3jinEHs3djeEpMC6Ck8SUAClcI_oV6FWUx-EWWNEgB6lII27FTi5Dqbcs6JDUIRvOHA4SiMdzpVeCcGOb97A4Zm6dF-Ypsd/s200/40170847.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>I just finished reading <em>Commencement</em> by Courtney Sullivan and I am still not sure whether I liked it or not. Did you ever read a book like that? There are elements of it that I really liked and then aspects that I hated so that leaves me totally undecided. I really need to make a pros and cons list and then leave it at that. In the pros column, the story was tender and sweet and I enjoyed reading about the close friendship between the four female characters. I have a few really close girlfriends and I could relate to the bond that the four held. The book starts out really strong and uses effective flashbacks to build the story. However, it loses steam about a quarter of the way in and then drags until the ending. This left me loving the beginning and ending and hating the middle! Back to the positive qualities of the book, the female characters are well-developed and interesting. I liked how each character tells a different chapter of the novel and I felt like this allowed each of their voices to be heard. I enjoyed the differences in the women's personalities, from sweet and naive Sally to tough-as-nails April. I also felt like the book enabled me to see into the culture of a women's college and experience some of the traditions of a one-sex college. Now, onto the negative elements. I thought the book went overboard on the coverage of feminism and I was bored by the barrage of feminist discussions between the characters. I also could not get past the lesbian relationship between Bree and Lara and despised reading about their love life. I don't know much about Smith College but I think the book would offend graduates of the school by making light of the achievements of the graduates. So, having written some of my likes and dislikes of <em>Commencement, </em>I am left where I started...on the fence. I hope some of you will read it and leave a comment so I can see what you think! In other news, I just saw that my VERY favorite author, Adriana Trigiani, has the next book out in her series. I rarely spend money on books and prefer to support my local library, but his is one that I am going to have to buy.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-24642930614128896142010-02-08T12:13:00.000-08:002010-02-08T12:13:50.174-08:00I really want more!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX6C849XHGRZ6oRrGQq2ME0q8k4xlNo0lC7RzCSeGYePK-JnBD1eRmT2T_K1AsSm7ACqVJrU27xkaYTb_vvhUZlFc4uD_c5SKLBtcILfNvkHAM5g6JXlzMoNoLEEeuCDrE09uqYAf5OQb/s1600-h/The+Amanda+Project+Invisible+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX6C849XHGRZ6oRrGQq2ME0q8k4xlNo0lC7RzCSeGYePK-JnBD1eRmT2T_K1AsSm7ACqVJrU27xkaYTb_vvhUZlFc4uD_c5SKLBtcILfNvkHAM5g6JXlzMoNoLEEeuCDrE09uqYAf5OQb/s200/The+Amanda+Project+Invisible+I.jpg" width="135" /></a>I first heard about <em>Invisible i</em> by Mellissa Kantor on <a href="http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/">Susan's</a> blog when she posted an interview with the author. If you want to read a really good book review or find a new book, you should check out her site! Of course, I worry that you won't come back here because she does an incredible job! I tried to win this book in one of her frequent giveaways but sadly, I had to wait for my local library to get it. This book ranks up there as one of my favorite YA books! There was so much to love about this book! I was immediately drawn to the character of Callie, who is a popular <em>i</em> girl at her high school. Even though she has a clique of popular friends, she doesn't feel like they truly accept her for who she is and most of the time, she has to pretend to be someone she is not to fit in with them. Callie seemed so real to me and every description of her clique of friends brought images to mind from my own high school experience. I love the lessons about being true to yourself that are woven into this book. I hope the teens who read it will see that real friends are more important than their social ranking. I am in awe of the author's ability to create so much mystery and suspense in this book. As Callie joins two outcasts on the search for her missing friend Amanda, I found myself creating my own theories on her disappearance. You know a book is really good when you start creating possible scenarios while cooking dinner! Even though I was disappointed that the ending left reader's with more questions than answers, I was also extremely excited that there will be more books in this series. I know I am already dying to read the next one. It has been a long time since I read a book with this much creativity, warmth, humor, and style. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-34031175582563802222010-01-25T11:37:00.000-08:002010-01-25T11:37:50.053-08:00Once Was Lost...Just Okay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD8p4kjectWUEDmr2M6a-znguL4O02hqPVqXbSzf5Fuu__ny0r5VqLCF1OnYpkuL-n9w3_jjTMlKyzl_rdqas6PZsRinw3GIh7_m9e3RFOV-58VnogCCwbM8Clhnyu68iPYfE7kUeY6Nl/s1600-h/38040618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD8p4kjectWUEDmr2M6a-znguL4O02hqPVqXbSzf5Fuu__ny0r5VqLCF1OnYpkuL-n9w3_jjTMlKyzl_rdqas6PZsRinw3GIh7_m9e3RFOV-58VnogCCwbM8Clhnyu68iPYfE7kUeY6Nl/s200/38040618.jpg" width="131" /></a><br />
</div>I am a big fan of Sara Zarr's work. Having read her first two books, I could not wait to read <em>Once Was Lost.</em> This book was a quick read but it was just average in terms of storyline and character. It did not draw me in or have any elements that made me want to keep reading. I would say the one redeeming quality is that it asks some big questions about God that most teens ask, such as "does God really care," and "why does God allow bad things to happen." It also does a good job of showing teens that it is okay to question God and faith as a part of establishing a personal belief system. The main character, Samara, struggles to understand her mom's alcoholism and her dad, the town pastor's, response. I could easily feel her frustration but I thought Zarr could have developed the main character with more personality and depth. Her father, who never seems to have the right words for Sam, comes across as shallow and a little self-righteous, but again, his character is not fully developed. I wanted more emotion and substance from each of the characters in this book. I also felt the plot was weak and predictable and I knew how the book was going to end half way into it.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-66534615361781103782010-01-21T11:22:00.000-08:002010-01-21T11:22:56.638-08:00And I may have found my favorite book of 2010...already!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4lKMzUwyCQRPLyOEMXU3wxGf1GS05zOcXD7dU5GaWy11w-6q_IE4bDPWgZ0KIc_fyWQthkCXQ-F_NEZr2veUQGperiTGgC6_XaiPZf5or6noyyJjXEjsdY5Nn2XUQzPRSJgRLW0y_DIe/s1600-h/36268588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4lKMzUwyCQRPLyOEMXU3wxGf1GS05zOcXD7dU5GaWy11w-6q_IE4bDPWgZ0KIc_fyWQthkCXQ-F_NEZr2veUQGperiTGgC6_XaiPZf5or6noyyJjXEjsdY5Nn2XUQzPRSJgRLW0y_DIe/s320/36268588.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>A few months ago, I started reading <em>The Help</em> by Kathryn Stockett. I got about five pages in and decided that I hated it. I didn't like the incorrect grammar (I am an English major!) and I thought I would hate reading a book about maids. When the list of the best books of 2009 came out, and this book was on it, I decided that I better give the book another chance. I am so glad I picked this book up again because it will likely be one of my favorite books of 2010. I am so impressed that this is the first book by this author and I she writes another soon. There is so much to like about this book. The book is written from the perspective of different women which gives it a depth and allows the reader to connect to each of the character's. This book also has an intense story that deals with how African American maids deal with their relationships to their bosses during the Civil Rights Movement. However, this intensity is artfully balanced with humorous moments and characters that are just downright funny. I found myself experiencing a huge range of emotions while reading this book, which is quite an accomplishment for the author! Another feat of this author is how well she makes the book come to life. The descriptions of the characters and setting enabled me to create a clear picture in my head. It made the book even harder to put down because I felt like a part of the story. One reason I especially loved this book is that it subtly teaches deep lessons to the reader that hold true today. I came away from the book remembering that there are no "lines" and that people are just people, regardless of race, class, or color. I have heard rumors that the book is being considered for a movie and I know I will go see it.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-10194697754329444152010-01-13T11:07:00.000-08:002010-01-13T11:07:10.126-08:00Waiting to Surface...a book to read!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpj2nYXseCYjXY2_sGUY_98v7a2p7nglXY9I1pKfhJzbLq5ZJHkWRhj1vFrOWNbr92AaxAe_3AsYigLxRKNqQtyi_H8AWuzm7eEcZ0rMH3NDOydPdiXOSVCqTMZ2HGyeHTophQDUyNUEy/s1600-h/29998141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpj2nYXseCYjXY2_sGUY_98v7a2p7nglXY9I1pKfhJzbLq5ZJHkWRhj1vFrOWNbr92AaxAe_3AsYigLxRKNqQtyi_H8AWuzm7eEcZ0rMH3NDOydPdiXOSVCqTMZ2HGyeHTophQDUyNUEy/s200/29998141.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>It has been a long time since I read a book that I could not stop reading. If you follow my book reviews, you will see that I am a tough customer to please! I was so impressed with <em>Waiting to Surface</em> by Emily Listfield. This book had me so captivated that I would take it with me in the car and hope for a traffic jam so that I could read. I was that crazy lady in the car next to you reading at all the red lights. From the beginning, this book draws the reader in with a phone call that informs Sarah that her husband has disappeared. He was visiting a woman "friend" in Florida and either drowned, intentionally or unintentionally, or just decided to vanish. Although separated, Sarah has to cope with the unanswered questions that her husband leaves behind. It is impossible not to be drawn into this story, especially when you know it is based on a true story. It literally haunted me and had me up at night wondering what happened to the husband and coming up with my own theories. The characters in this book are so real and deep and their pain is something the reader can feel. It will make any married woman question how well she really knows her husband and whether he has any hidden secrets. I was truly sad to finish this book and plan on reading more by this author.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-45704408166884530182010-01-04T11:11:00.000-08:002010-01-04T11:11:56.900-08:00A new year, a new book, and resolutions!!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNn8EO7FRUqlXptBSjVOnWXc1J3YdVkCk-Ufnrm037M0UX-WqM55PkDSofxKvxP6Sjftf5EfE1rkDB9B3nrfCzgrhyc05WRujAtd7ZorWHSIpHfCC0hTOTrhK1OXdhpoOthNNHvL0YKEy/s1600-h/100_7062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNn8EO7FRUqlXptBSjVOnWXc1J3YdVkCk-Ufnrm037M0UX-WqM55PkDSofxKvxP6Sjftf5EfE1rkDB9B3nrfCzgrhyc05WRujAtd7ZorWHSIpHfCC0hTOTrhK1OXdhpoOthNNHvL0YKEy/s320/100_7062.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>I apologize for my long absence! It has been a little crazy around here with the holidays and my two boys! As one of my New Year's Resolutions, I have resolved to do better with my little blog here! I am going to blog at least once a week, even if it is not a book review. I really want to try to build some readers to my site so I have to provide content to make that happen! If you have stuck with me in my absence, please share my address so I can get some more readers! I hope you all had as blessed a holiday as my household did! Did anyone else make a resolution? Please feel free to share it here. You have to let the world know what your resolution is to make it real, right? That way, you have some accountability! Over the last two months, I read every Sara Dessen novel written! If you have not read her books, you must check them out! My favorites were Lock and Key, and Just Listen. Her books are very quick reads! I also began and did not finish Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty. I liked her other books but I just could not get into this one. I felt like she was trying to hard to be funny and it came off as just cheesy. It had very little plot from the beginning and I guess I could have given it more of a chance, but I have to many other books waiting! I am about to start reading Waiting to Surface, by Emily Listfield. I hope it's a good read! Please check back for a review in a few days..I promise! Thanks for sticking with me and I will do better with my posts in the new year!Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-19137073437047579132009-10-02T12:08:00.000-07:002009-10-02T12:08:51.889-07:00Happy 2nd Birthday, Noah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XXPiil6qLXVE-Alx17-HAQ8yfheFpu9JAzjMoPlGumhrbsGbw8ycplUzqQ4Iwtoqfc9MD5pchDAaujvL9Y0VnvimV35m7F81KZezlFkNI08dYu7_eBf_fKaKu-J8J-pw5N4MqpRS9f7b/s1600-h/100_6491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XXPiil6qLXVE-Alx17-HAQ8yfheFpu9JAzjMoPlGumhrbsGbw8ycplUzqQ4Iwtoqfc9MD5pchDAaujvL9Y0VnvimV35m7F81KZezlFkNI08dYu7_eBf_fKaKu-J8J-pw5N4MqpRS9f7b/s320/100_6491.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>My little boy is two years old today! I can hardly believe it. Even though this day is very special to us and we do all the usual celebrating, it is not as important to our family as October 10th. On this day, we were honored to meet Noah for the first time. After many, many years of trying to have a baby, and going through all the pain associated with infertility, we finally called it quits and decided that God was leading us in a new direction. So, we began the adoption process. It took about a year and then we were told that we would wait approximately three years for a newborn. Well, four days after submitting our paperwork, we were overwhelmed to learn that Noah's birth mother chose us to be his parents. To this day, we are extremely grateful to this brave, young women. I cannot imagine the strength it must take to choose the path of adoption. I know for her, the easiest solution would have been abortion. One quick procedure and she could be done with the whole thing. But, she chose to carry, care for, and nourish this life for nine long months and for this selfless act, I will never forget her. I hope on this day, she is able to feel a huge sense of pride and what she did for us. Noah has been the greatest gift imaginable. I have so many people ask me if I feel cheated that after all we went through, and spent, to get him, he would end up with brain cancer. I can honestly say that I had I known he would get this horrible illness, I would still choose to adopt him. No matter how long we have him for, he is a gift from God and he makes every day worth it. If you would like to read more about my dear son or his battle with brain cancer, please log into <a href="http://www.carepages.com/">http://www.carepages.com/</a> and look for NoahS.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-82585183432842685602009-09-29T12:43:00.000-07:002009-09-29T12:43:58.779-07:00Review of Hungry: A Mother and Daughter Fight Anorexia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMG3mV6pyWEkeK6m2Bte4fgwrXnQ4cgLPp-0Cy18N5KIU-Vui-ba9eyOfQplMigTNyy2m1CkC1NCujiIBFvFDRsRG9u8GT8uSlAuctK9pFBvnWudSnmzhLovFjGRKv1kazMK6KjU5n3w0/s1600-h/37221787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMG3mV6pyWEkeK6m2Bte4fgwrXnQ4cgLPp-0Cy18N5KIU-Vui-ba9eyOfQplMigTNyy2m1CkC1NCujiIBFvFDRsRG9u8GT8uSlAuctK9pFBvnWudSnmzhLovFjGRKv1kazMK6KjU5n3w0/s200/37221787.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Knowing that it would be hard to read, and even harder to write about Lisa and Sheila Himmel's book dealing with anorexia, I still knew that it was something I needed to do. This subject is a very personal one for me. I spent many years battling anorexia and continue to struggle with body image issues. However, because I feel that it is so important for women and girls to be open and honest about the subject, I knew that I needed to read the book and discuss it on my blog. Too often, I feel like women are afraid to admit that they worry about weight, like it makes us somehow weaker. Maybe it is because as a mom, we have this need to appear that we have it all together, you know, like we are "super mom." Admitting to a problem would smudge this image for others. However, I know that many women battle eating disorders, whether bulimia or anorexia, and one of the roads to recovery is to acknowledge the problem and then seek help. I am in no means a professional but I do hope to offer encouragement through my blog. Although I did not find Lisa's book helpful as a recovery tool, it does not seem that the book was intended to serve such a purpose. However, it is an extremely worthwhile read for any mother, especially one with a daughter, or son for that matter, since eating disorders strike both genders. It is eye-opening to read the warning signs and to sympathsize with Lisa for missing some of the early ones. It will definitely help you to keep your eyes open for some of these in your own children. As a parent, it is so easy to empathize with Lisa and her husband as they try to determine the best course of treatment for their daughter. I found myself thinking of my own son and the hours I spend wondering if the plan of attack we have chosen is the best possible. Any parent who has watched their child suffer will relate to the pain that Lisa feels at watching her daughter basically wasting away. One of the worst feelings is to watch your child suffer and have no tools to do anything to make it better. This is a hard book to read and definitely not something to tackle if you want something light and fluffy, but it is very worthwhile and unforgettable. Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-89149560644776363942009-09-22T05:48:00.000-07:002009-09-22T05:48:49.659-07:00Am I all Alone??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1yR2_a4_ipDkizI6F9dFTc7ngcOipGiLT1J_wvtVv0FoGvvFEGFpDmGqFo8x3CRmrjibF0N-twzm6DEyT1Wy4-t466PXUBjaoIG5QbllpXnmD9mWEuNl5o451kZfBlmdWYg_80nXdNMv/s1600-h/100_6474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1yR2_a4_ipDkizI6F9dFTc7ngcOipGiLT1J_wvtVv0FoGvvFEGFpDmGqFo8x3CRmrjibF0N-twzm6DEyT1Wy4-t466PXUBjaoIG5QbllpXnmD9mWEuNl5o451kZfBlmdWYg_80nXdNMv/s200/100_6474.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Last night, I googled "moms and childhood cancer" to try to find some other moms with a connection. I came up with nothing. I know there are other moms out there who find themselves on this horrific journey with their child. I just need to find them. Lately, I feel myself slipping away from my friends with children. I listen to them complain about sleepless nights or teething troubles and I try to care. I really want to. The problem is, I would give every fiber of my being to share those concerns. I want to worry about the small things and not endure sleepless nights wondering if my child will make it to three when he can finally get the radiation he needs to give him a small glimmer of hope. It is exhausting trying to relate to other moms so I find myself avoiding them instead which leaves me feeling guilty and lonely. If you know of a mom that really gets what I am going through, send them my way. We just might be able to make this journey a little easier for each other.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-74810475671579945872009-09-21T11:54:00.000-07:002009-09-21T11:54:15.586-07:00Review of The Girl who Stopped Swimming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4uLKT_tltunyliIO1ZzZitt3WwkSXlmZAHcVg3MiIkqd9JbHT8BbBfD9AhO5vXHXWMSNX1IGFXzp3-OqMcRcYaqEgsFyDqsOX32Hw27_pbhhdmD0m5DJVoyVhJzApAMOuOOq_V6eTveE/s1600-h/38041224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4uLKT_tltunyliIO1ZzZitt3WwkSXlmZAHcVg3MiIkqd9JbHT8BbBfD9AhO5vXHXWMSNX1IGFXzp3-OqMcRcYaqEgsFyDqsOX32Hw27_pbhhdmD0m5DJVoyVhJzApAMOuOOq_V6eTveE/s200/38041224.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Finally blog readers, a book that I did not hate! I am pleased to report that I enjoyed reading <em>The Girl who Stopped Swimming</em> by Joshilyn Jackson. I was looking forward to reading this book because I liked her previous book, <em>Gods in Alabama.</em> I thought this book was another suspenseful and character driven novel by this author. I was pulled into the story from the first chapter when Laurel is visited by a ghost who ends up leading her to her own pool where she finds a thirteen year old girl, face down. Of course, I immediately wanted to find out whether she can really see ghosts and how the girl ended up drowning in the pool. Jackson manages to combine a few elements of a ghost story with enough mystery to entice readers. The novel moves between Laurel's present search for answers and hints of her difficult past. I have a difficult time getting into books that lack strong characters, but this was not a problem in this book. The character's possess memorable personality and quirkiness to add to the novel. I found myself addicted to this novel and reading as quickly as possible to see how the mystery unraveled.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-16547545333495689972009-09-17T11:21:00.000-07:002009-09-17T11:21:45.801-07:00Review of Speed Shrinking by Susan Shapiro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FV7ExadagQooKDS9hdzDqt9RBcm7r86sBOJSutcW4Nx14sxu_n5szpzZASolKaCI5KsFh0Q8h0mrKry4UVg9OTduHCP6DnvIpWQ1JC9Gub45vuJzscsC-jMuV_fVHuAXkMPSf4liHb72/s1600-h/39551678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FV7ExadagQooKDS9hdzDqt9RBcm7r86sBOJSutcW4Nx14sxu_n5szpzZASolKaCI5KsFh0Q8h0mrKry4UVg9OTduHCP6DnvIpWQ1JC9Gub45vuJzscsC-jMuV_fVHuAXkMPSf4liHb72/s200/39551678.jpg" /></a></div>I have to admit that the only reason I chose to read <em>Speed Shrinking </em>by Susan Shapiro was because there was literally no selection at the local library. It did not sound like a great book but I was hopefully optimistic that it would surprise me. Sadly, this was not the case. I forced myself to get through this book and hated every minute. The main character, Julie, spends most of the book whining about her life which, to me, sounds pretty great. She has a lucrative book deal, successful husband, amazing apartment, and plenty of money...what's so bad about all that? Geez...she should walk in my shoes one day! Her biggest problems are that her best friend and shrink have abandoned her. Her relationship with her shrink borders on disturbingly obsessive and her constant need to quote his advice makes the book even more annoying. The author's overuse of dialogue and snappy one-liners were enough to turn me off of the book. I feel bad that I have reviewed three books in a row and cannot say that I liked any of them. I seem to be in a rut of reading lousy books. Anyone have a suggestion for a good book to break my streak?Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-7622502193622842642009-09-16T12:00:00.000-07:002009-09-16T12:00:34.558-07:00A message on faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHoEeqiwbDRSJ5kl5Zc10ZoCuVpjbutEfx1SEpdkS1dfc9ULqSgbMkD32Cxl4oWOK664pv_yOr-JeUcZe5JRL6ctrBG6rEyMIwX20pB5N3q7Oet21S8BZYa57Y-ZjzNiSlL4nDHDuBS1e/s1600-h/100_3874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHoEeqiwbDRSJ5kl5Zc10ZoCuVpjbutEfx1SEpdkS1dfc9ULqSgbMkD32Cxl4oWOK664pv_yOr-JeUcZe5JRL6ctrBG6rEyMIwX20pB5N3q7Oet21S8BZYa57Y-ZjzNiSlL4nDHDuBS1e/s200/100_3874.JPG" /></a></div>Do you have faith? Do you believe that no matter what God throws at you, there is a reason? I always thought I believed that but then God gave my little boy a rare form of brain cancer 4 days after my other son was born. How do you have faith when that happens? I have found through this journey that I have MORE faith than before. You see, when there is absolutely nothing that enables you to get through the day, that is when you learn that you either lean on God or don't make it. Every day, I have people ask me how I manage to smile, read, and yes, blog....and I have to say that it is God's grace. I don't understand why God gave my boy cancer but I do know that He has a reason and He needs me to keep living...one day at a time..to find out. So, today's blog is a message on this faith to hopefully touch someone out there that is living through the same journey as me.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-55625588403243910472009-09-12T15:22:00.000-07:002009-09-12T17:12:39.173-07:00Review of Life Without Summer by Lynne Griffin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhWC_VSmEznMRcqJSjeb6Itw7uJkgN5yjhqpGiY1K5_e-XgT9FYMgbgz0Z5v7xaDpblTg0KL_-wCJZKCKqCvkChOdNTIRWDvhUH9rqEXm_JbS3TXd2p4iJvVfngnDnFDLyfRfyf-r0f7b/s1600-h/39556421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhWC_VSmEznMRcqJSjeb6Itw7uJkgN5yjhqpGiY1K5_e-XgT9FYMgbgz0Z5v7xaDpblTg0KL_-wCJZKCKqCvkChOdNTIRWDvhUH9rqEXm_JbS3TXd2p4iJvVfngnDnFDLyfRfyf-r0f7b/s200/39556421.jpg" /></a></div>Okay...here it is. I have a two year old with brain cancer. I say this now because it ties into the book "Life Without Summer." I knew reading this book would be hard. The mother in the story, Tessa, loses her daughter when she is horrifically struck by a car in a hit and run accident. Of course, I still have my beloved boy but I fear the loss of him on a daily basis. For this reason, I sort of dreaded reading this book because I can IMAGINE her pain. It was as hard to read as I thought. Even if you are not facing the loss of child, any mother would have a hard time reading this book. The pain Tessa feels at losing her only daughter is just heartbreaking. To be honest, I like to read books to escape life and this book was just too depressing. It is not a book you want to read unless you like to cry. It was hard to witness the downhill spiral of this mother and to experience that pain. I dreaded picking the book up each time. Okay...I confess here that I did not finish the book. It was just too sad and too hard for me. I have a rule that I have to finish a book once I start it and I am breaking that rule on this book. I promise not to make it a habit!Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395398406169346201.post-72987880998847059212009-09-12T15:16:00.000-07:002009-09-12T15:16:47.466-07:00Review of What I Thought I Knew by Alice Eve CohenI did not expect to like this book by Alice Eve Cohen. I tried for ten years to have a baby and I figured that I would despise reading about a woman who got pregnant, found out there was probably something horrifically wrong about the baby, and then contemplated aborting or giving the baby up for adoption. However, I really could not put this book down and enjoyed every second of it. The author was clearly torn between her choices for this unexpected baby. She wanted to love this baby from the beginning and that is where she evoked my compassion for her. She could not understand why she did not immediately feel a mother's love for her and she wrestled with the guilt that this brought. How many of us have at one time wondered if we really love that screaming newborn..especially at 2 am? I liked the honesty in the writing and the unique style the author used in listing what she "thought she knew" in each chapter. Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06691130252950916545noreply@blogger.com0