WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

                                       


What I am currently reading: Stars Collide by Janice Thompson - I will be reviewing this book for Revell week after next. It is by the author who wrote the Weddings by Bella series. I wrote a review last year for the third book in that series, It Had to be You.

What I recently finished reading: Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson - I reviewed this book two days ago. As you can see by the review, I was disappointed.

What I'll probably read next: Marriage Matters by Winston Smith - I picked up a copy of this book when I went to the CCEF conference last fall in Virginia Beach. I have actually already started reading it. Pretty good stuff (but very convicting!).

What are you reading? How about telling the rest of us by posting a comment?
 
Thanks for coming!

Book Review: Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson

Synopsis of Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson (from the publisher's website):

"Summer is ending, and for once that doesn't seem like such a bad thing to Elise. She's hoping that starting fresh at a new high school will turn her first-kiss prospects around. New guys, new friends, and a new lease on life.

What she wasn't counting on was all the new pressure--to hang with the right crowd, wear the right clothes, and date the right guy. Just when it seems she's on top of the world, everything comes crashing down. Could one bad choice derail her future?"

I just finished reading a review on Never Been Kissed. I must say that I cannot agree with the author of the review when she says she thinks it is one of the best YA books she has ever read.  I have read many that are much better and more realistic. However, I can see some good in this book.

I have to start by saying that I hardly ever read YA books. That's because I usually find them to be shallow and the characters selfish. If most teens are like those found in books like these, our society is in a lot of trouble!

Since I knew this was written by a Christian writer, I thought maybe it would be different. But when, halfway through the book I saw that it was going to be only about boys, being popular and what the main character was trying to do to get her first kiss (before she turned 16), I struggled to finish. And the girl's prayers were all about asking God to give her what she wanted, not at all indicative of an intimate relationship with her creator and savior.

I did say that I saw some good in this book. I can see how it might help some teens identify with the struggles of some of the characters and the cultural issues that the author identified as problems today. And the way the subject was handled seemed fair and well executed. I know that many young people have these things going on in their lives. However, the ones I know and spend most of my time with are much more mature and do not focus so much on the things of this world. Call me naive and out of touch, but I'd rather see novels for teens that encourage them to be more godly and not ones that emphasize worldly pursuits.

The ending of the book is satisfying. Elise does realize her mistakes and there is a sort of redemption for her and a few others. But all in all, I do not recommend this book, especially for teens.

I give Never Been Kissed 2 out of 5 stars.  

“Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

(I received this book from Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.

Book Review: Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson has written a delightful Christmas book that speaks of redemption and hope. The love of God shines through as Lena, the main character, finds her way in a new town after being released from prison. There is betrayal, disappointment, and difficulty along the way, but in the end, God's grace triumphs.

Here is the description of the book from the publisher, Revell Books:

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret?

The setting for this book is a small town in northern Minnesota, present day. I like how Mrs. Carlson gives us that small town feel and makes it seem real. The characters are lovable, especially Moira, a sweet older lady who befriends Lena on her first day out of prison, and Jemima, a playful 6 1/2 year-old who lives in the boarding house where Lena finds her first home. I even enjoyed the character of Lucy, the hard-nosed, but soft underneath landlord of the boarding house.

This was simply a fun Christmas book, a story that just makes you sigh at the end, knowing that "God is in His heaven, and all's right with the world." Perhaps slightly sappy, but good.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great Christmas read. I give Christmas at Harrington's 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)