Book Review: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

I read The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott at the request of a fellow blogger. She asked me to read it first to let her know if she should read it as well. So, it is with fear and trepidation that I submit this review. I actually don't know if I recommend it or not. I cannot say I LOVED it, but there was nothing in it that was especially objectionable or disagreeable (except, perhaps, the love scene in the middle of the book). I think I will let other bloggers say what I cannot seem to say about the book, then let you know where I agree or disagree.

Where I agree:

Lovely Little Shelf said: "I did read it fairly quickly and enjoyed it for what it was: a historical fiction version of brain candy. I didn’t have to think to read this and the story didn’t get me wrapped up. It was one of those books that I enjoyed while I read it and didn’t give it a minute’s thought when the book wasn’t in my hand."

Devourer of Books said: "I have to say, her father drove me crazy! Idealism is one thing, but he didn’t seem to have even a modicum of practicality."

Mrs O'Dell Reads said: "The love story was a little predictable, and the Louisa May Alcott character felt slightly one-dimensional. Fiery, temper-driven, myopic in her drive, this Louisa not only plays against assumptions about the woman behind the story but also reduces her to an archetype.


While it is not complex or probing, The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott is a nice, light read — perfect for the beach or an afternoon on the porch."

Where I disagree:

Life in the Thumb said: "There wasn't a flawed moment in this story. It was seamless, perfect, and convincing."

Luxury Reading said: "Though Joseph Singer was not a real person in Louisa's life, he felt incredibly warm and real to me; his pain and anguish at losing the love of his life was extremely authentic."

I think I would give this one 3 stars out of five. Good, but not wonderful for me.


So, there you are. For whatever it's worth.

(I checked this book out of the local library.)

I Have a Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to ntaylor228, the winner of the Indivisible giveaway!

ntaylor228, I have sent you an email.

Thanks to all who commented. I appreciate all of my readers and followers!


(The winner was chosen by Random.org, an online random number generator.)

Book Review: Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson

Many times throughout my life I have struggled with depression. I have tried to deal with it in my own strength, which does not work, at least in the long run. It's never gotten so bad that I have been suicidal, but I can identify with those who think things are hopeless and look for a way out of this life. I have had people in my life who have helped me to see that God is my strength and my joy. And because of Him, I can be content and at peace in this life, regardless of my circumstances or how much it hurts.

Kristen Anderson was 17 when she tried to commit suicide. She saw her life as unbearable and the only way she knew to "fix things" was to end it by lying down on the train tracks near her home. As a result, she lost both of her legs.

Thankfully, Kristen survived. In her book, Life, In Spite of Me, she describes how she struggled through her recovery and eventually came to understand that she needed Jesus as her Savior. She found hope in Him and is now serving God through her ministry to others.

This is an inspiring story of healing and second chances. God has done a wonderful work in Kristen's life. It is a great resource for those who are dealing with depression and for those who minister to them.  

To read Chapter one of Life, In Spite of Me, go here.

(This book was sent to me by Waterbrook Multnomah for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.)

Book Review: This Fine Life by Eva Marie Everson

I think one of the reasons that The Help is so popular is that it reminds many of us of our childhoods, especially those of us who grew up in the South. When I was reading it, I remembered some of the people in my hometown who acted just like the main characters. I also recalled statements made similar to the ones in the book. If you missed my review, you can go back and read it. It is one of my favorite reads of the year. 

So when I began to read This Fine Life, I had the same thoughts of my growing up years. Just like in The Help, this book gave a great sense of what it was like to live in the South in the 60's. I love how Ms. Everson painted such a realistic picture of the life of a new pastor and his wife. I could feel along with the main character, Mariette, the stares and the disapproving attitudes of the people of the small town where they lived. I also cheered when her husband, Thayne, did what he did in the last chapters of the book.

Although this book made me smile as well as cry, it is not just an emotional story. It is a story of growth in relationships, and a story of sweet marital romance. One of the best things about the book is that it depicted well the sober reality of how sin affects us, and how God enables us to gain victory over our sins as well as the sins of others. 

I plan on keeping this book to share with my friends and family. And I encourage you to get a copy and experience for yourself This Fine Life.

Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(This book was sent to me by Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Book Review: More Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias

About three weeks ago, I reviewed Kathy Macias' first novel, No Greater Love. If you read that review, you saw that I really liked it. I was hoping that when I read the second book, I would enjoy it as much.

Well, I can tell you now, I was not disappointed. The second book, More Than Conquerors, is also pretty amazing. Mrs. Macias has a way of making her characters come alive. They seem to be real people with very real struggles. I also like the way she writes about the Christian faith without being preachy. Her books flow smoothly from one scene to another. And, like in all good books (and real life), there is tragedy as well as triumph.

This story is set in Mexico. It is about three families whose lives intersect and who face many hardships in their attempts to serve others and to glorify God. As in the first book, some die, and some are brought to new life in Christ. It is a novel that depicts the Christian life realistically and helps the reader understand other cultures a little better. Both books are entertaining as well as challenging and encouraging.



I didn't want these books to end. I can't wait to read the next two books in the Extreme Devotion Series.

I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for a blog tour.

(I received no monetary compensation for writing this review. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.)

WWW Wednesdays

(Yes, I know it is not Wednesday, but I'm posting a review tomorrow, so I thought I would put this post in a day early.)

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: Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson - a story of a girl who tried to commit suicide by lying down in front of a train. As a rsult, she lost both of her legs, but found hope in Jesus and is now helping others who are comtemplating suicide.

I will be reviewing this one next week for Multnomah Publishers. 

What I recently finished reading: More Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias - This book is the second book in the Extreme Devotion Series. I think Kathi Macias is now one of my favorite fiction authors.

I will have a review of this book on this blog tomorrow.

What I'll probably read next: The Last Christian by David Gregory - This one is also a book I received for review. It is a "Christian futuristic" book from Waterbrook Press. It has quite an intriguing plot.

There will be a giveaway along with the review of this book (sometime during the week of May 24-28)!

What are you reading this week? Do you have any reviews to share, or comments about recent titles you have discovered? Let me know.

 

"You May Have Missed" Mondays

"You May Have Missed" Mondays is a meme where we share books that others may not have heard of, or perhaps ones that others haven't read. The only rule is that the books we share must have been published prior to 2009. If you have written a review of a pre-2009 book, or just want to tell us about one you have liked, please let us know in the comment section for this post.

I often hear of a movie I want to see, but if there is a book that the movie is based on, I will try to read the book first. I don't often find the movie to be as good as the book (see this post), but in some cases, I enjoy both equally. Most of the time, however, the book is better, probably because of the detail involved that you just can't duplicate on the screen.

Sarah at Small World Reads gives a review of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. If you would like to try the movie, click here to purchase on Amazon. I loved both the book and the movie. Be advised, though, that this one is a tear-jerker.

I normally don't read fantasy, but when the movie Eragon was coming to the theaters, my son convinced me to read the book in preparation for going with him to see it. I did, and to my amazement, actually enjoyed it.

However, the movie was a disappointment. And all I heard for days was how bad most people thought the movie was. I don't think I'll read any more of the series, but this one is one I can recommend, especially if you like fantasy and dragons.

Now, I'd like to hear from you. Have you written a review of a book published prior to 2009? If so, please share it with us. Or, just tell us of one you have enjoyed. It does not have to be a recent read, just one you would recommend. I'd love to make my TBR list even longer than it already is, even though it is already way too long!

I Have a Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to ibeeeg, the winner of the Radical giveaway!

Ibeeeg, I have sent you an email.

Thanks to all who commented. I appreciate all of my readers and followers!

(The winner was chosen by Random.org, an online random number generator.)

Book Review: It Had To Be You by Janice Thompson

It Had To Be You by Janice Thompson is book 3 in the series Weddings by Bella. The main character, Bella Rossi, runs a wedding facility in Galveston, Texas. When this book begins, Bella is planning the wedding of her Aunt Rosa (her mother's sister) and Uncle Lazarro (her father's brother). Since I haven't read the first two books of the series, I don't know the story behind this one, but it seems that the couple had been fighting for several years before they reconciled and decided to marry. The whole book is about their wedding and the anticipation of the nuptuals between Bella and her beloved, D.J. There are several fun characters, including a former mob boss and a crazy parrot who make for a lively story.

The fact that I haven't read the other books did not detract from my enjoyment of this one, though. It kept me entertained for several hours. I don't think I would have bought it to read, but if you like sweet Christian romance (and I'm not using that description in a derogatory manner), then you will probably like It Had To Be You.    

(Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.)

(This book was sent to me by Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Book Review: Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann (and GIVEAWAY!)

(Be sure and read at the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win a copy of Indivisible!)

This is the type of book that I have a love/hate relationship with. I pick it up, read the first few chapters, and then become increasingly frustrated as I learn facts about the characters lives that occurred several years in the past. These facts do not make much sense until more is revealed as the story progresses, then all is clear at the end of the book. I sometimes want to throw the book against the wall, then the next minute, I realize I am reading faster and faster because I want to find out what happens next.

Actually, I believe these are some of the things that make a good novel, especially a suspense novel such as Indivisible. I would rather be pulled into the story than be wondering whether I should continue reading because nothing is happening. Kristen Heitzmann seems to know how to do this really well. There was enough suspense and intrigue in the plot to keep this reader involved. There were some surprises and a satisfying ending. The romance in the story was not overdone, although I think the main characters were a little too selfish, which made the reading tedious in just a few places.

There were several places in the book where I wasn't sure what was being said until I read further or went back a few pages. I guess I was reading too fast, but this doesn't usually happen to me when I read a novel, so I became frustrated at times. I felt that there could have been more clarification in some of these places which would have made the story flow better.

In spite of that, I liked this book. I would probably give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Here is my favorite quote from the book:

"There is a fight going on inside of you, a fight between two hungry wolves. One wolf is fear, envy, sorrow and regret, greed, spite, arrogance, and self-pity. It is guilt, resentment, false pride, superiority, ego, and unfaithfulness. The other wolf is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, and forgiveness. It is integrity, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generousity, truth, compassion, and faithfulness. The fight goes on and on, each one trying for control. Which wolf wins? It is the one you feed."

So true.

You can download the first two chapters of Indivisible from the Waterbrook Multnomah website here.

And, you can go here to hear an interview with the author, Kristen Heitzmann.

Now, for the GIVEAWAY! Would you like to win a copy of this new novel? All you have to do is add your name and email to the comment section. I will choose a winner on May 21, so don't wait to enter!

(This book was sent to me by Waterbrook Multnomah for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.)  

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: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees

I am enjoying this one so far. It is a biographical novel. I can see how Ms. Alcott got her characters for Little Women. Her life reads like her novel. 

What I recently finished reading: Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann

I liked this one, but I thought it could have been better. See my review on this book in the next few days.

What I will probably read next: This Fine Life by Eva Marie Everson

I will be reviewing this one for Revell. Looks good.

Your turn. What are you reading?