Following Fiction- an Online Book Club Experience

"Before Anne After"

2012-01-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

Before Anne After by James R. Paddock

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVED this book!! I read it free on my Kindle Fire through Amazon Prime's Lending Library and it ROCKED! This is a science fiction book about time travel. It is soooo much more, though. I loved the character of Anne Waring. She could seriously be my hero. What a strong woman! The book grabs ahold of you and is impossible to put down. Seriously- it is worth more than most full-price books out there. The fact that I read it for free is just a bonus. AND- as if that's not enough, I found out today that the author who wrote this in 2003 (don't quote me there... I am pretty sure that's the year...) JUST wrote a sequel in 2011!! It is one that I am super excited to read. So glad I happened upon this great book!

View all my reviews

Promise Me

2012-01-02T16:18:00.001-08:00

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this RPE book!! I usually love his books, so this may not come as a surprise. I thought it was a venture away from what he usually writes. He was very careful in this writing. He pulled off a supernatural genre while staying true to who he is. Lovely job!

View all my reviews

Henrietta Lacks

2012-01-02T16:14:00.001-08:00

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great true story of a woman who changed modern medicine for just about everybody who is living today. I thoroughly enjoyed the way this book was written. Easy to read and a page-turner. What a winner in my book!

View all my reviews

The Book of Tomorrow

2012-01-02T16:08:00.001-08:00

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really cute story by an author who is moving up my list. She has done books that have turned into movies, and is simply very girly and wonderful! This particular book held my interest as I wanted to know how the protagonist would end up (and who she would end up with!!) Great read for a light-hearted girly book.

View all my reviews

2011-11-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book. This was one of my favorite books I've read in awhile. The characters were so real to me that I didn't want to finish the book because I didn't want my "relationship" with the characters to end. I forced myself to finish the book today because my book club meets tonight and I am in charge of leading the discussion on this book. Will Tweedy came alive to me and Rucker struck a chord with me as well. I love the way the author develops the characters.

View all my reviews

Left Neglected

2011-09-18T14:06:00.001-07:00

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pretty good. It did leave me wondering what would happen to the family throughout the story. Also, I was surprised at the meaning behind the title of the book. I didn't read the jacket before I picked it up because it was recommended through a friend. I would venture to say that if you liked "Still Alice" then you would like this book equally as well.

View all my reviews

2011-08-16T17:32:00.001-07:00

The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I LOVE this author. I just couldn't really get into this book. I ended up skimming the last 75 pages or so. Honestly, I didn't really care what happened to this people. Blah... Try again Anita Diamant!!

View all my reviews

2011-08-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book! The author did a fantastic job of keeping your interest. Hghly recommend to friends and family!!!

View all my reviews

Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer

2011-07-27T08:40:00.001-07:00

Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I seriously LOVE this author!!I have read all her books except the "Fortunate WIves" and the "Bubbles" series. She reminds me of Emily Giffin "Something Borrowed" author. Her way of writing is so clear and fun to read. She is definitely chic lit, but with a little more substance in my opinion. Anyone wanting a good fast chic lit read, I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews

I'm Back...

2011-04-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great intellectual read. I was unaware of the majority of Muslim practices regarding women. This was very eye-opening.

View all my reviews

2010-08-30T14:05:00.001-07:00

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great ending to a great series. Would recommend to anyone!!

View all my reviews

2010-08-11T18:43:00.001-07:00

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great read. Not typically my kind of book, however, I am glad I read it. I recommend it to people who really like pioneer stories, love stories, historical fiction, or Christian lit. The love story was great.

View all my reviews >>

Book Blog Questionnaire!!

2010-06-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

1) Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favorite reading snack?
- I would have to say lightly salted cashew halves. They are great protein and super yummy!!
2) What is your favorite drink while reading?
- Water bottle with Lemonade flavored Crystal Light...
3) Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
- I usually post my books for trade on a website called "PaperbackSwap.com" and so I generally do not write in them.
4) How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
- I bought a $10 bookmark at Barnes & Noble that is a ribbon with a fleur-de-lis on one side and my initial on the other side. I ALWAYS use this bookmark!!
5) Fiction, Non-fiction, or Both?
- I tend to read way more fiction, hence the title of my blog....but I enjoy parenting books, biographies, and self-help as well.
6) Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
- I have three kids under 8!! I can stop anywhere!!!
7) Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
-Um...NO! Do people really do that? Get a grip!
8) What are you currently reading?
- "The Postmistress" by Sarah Blake
9) What is the last book you bought?
- Actually, I "bought" seven books today from the library sale. The cool part is that I had "library bucks" to cover the cost. It's a summer reading program they have here. One of those books was, "Something Blue" by Emily Giffen.
10) Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
- I can't read more than one book at a time...unless one of them is non-fiction.
11) Do you have a favorite place/time to read?
- I LOVE to read at night in my bed.
12) Do you prefer series books or stand alone?
- I actually like both. If I have a lot of books to read, then I don't enjoy reading series books. However, if there is not a lot out there to catch my interest, a series of books is a great way to pass the time!!
13) Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
- When people ask about my favorite book of all time, it would be "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. If people are in a girly fun mood, I suggest anything by Sarah Strohmeyer. I just love her writing style and her humor!!
14) How do you organize your books? (Genre, title, author's last name, etc.)
- I have one bookcase with four shelves. I organize them by author's last name.

Among the Hidden

2010-06-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great series of books that are YA. I would let my 8 yr. old read these. In fact, I might force her to read these so we can have a book to discuss. This is the first in a series called "The Shadow Children." The author did a great job with this book and for some reason it reminds me of "The Hunger Games" series... only for younger readers. I want to get the next in the series and see what develops. The story line is amazing!!!

View all my reviews >>

Little Bee

2010-04-03T20:29:00.001-07:00

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
WOW!! That is all I can say about this book. It definitely makes you think, "What would I do in that situation?" This is my type of book- all the way. Great character development and wonderful "relationship" book. The only thing I didn't care for was a few f-bombs.

View all my reviews >>

The Last Song

2010-03-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a good book. Before I got to around pg 100, I couldn't stand Ronnie, the main character. After a little way in- the character changes and you find out why she has the attitude problem. It makes it a bit more tolerable, however, I still think she is a brat. The ending was appropriate and a bit predictable. I really like the spiritual aspect of this book. I read it a week before Easter and really enjoyed reading it around Easter time. Defintiely read this book before seeing the movie. I haven't seen it yet, but I can imagine it being good. I always find the books better than the movies though. Heads up- this is a tearjerker. I recommend a box of Kleenex towards the end. You'll need it!

View all my reviews >>

The Hunger Games

2010-03-12T18:55:00.001-08:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved this book! Totally unique from anything else I've read. It did remind me of Total Drama Island a bit, but only in really funny ways. Other than that- totally unique. What a great writing style. Easy to read. Easy to pick up where you left off. Hard to put down!!! I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you live in a bubble and haven't read it yet- please do. You'll be glad you did!

View all my reviews >>

To Kill A Mockingbird

2010-03-07T16:54:00.001-08:00

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is definitely not a quick read. It took me a long time to get through it. However, I am not sure whether it is because I didn't want it to end or if it was poorly written. A classic- definitely. A favorite? Not necessarily. Although I found it interesting, it was just too slow for me to really call it a favorite. Definitely a must read though. How can you not read a classic?

View all my reviews >>

50 Rules

2010-03-07T16:51:00.001-08:00

50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School: Real World Antidotes to Feel-Good Education by Charles J. Sykes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I randomly picked it up from the library one day when I was in the mood for a self-help book. I found this one very entertaining and all so true. I plan on reading this book with my children once they are a bit older. I think all children would benefit from this book and it's "rules."

View all my reviews >>

The Cinderella Pact

2010-02-17T10:53:00.001-08:00

The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Cute book. I actually liked her other book, "The Penny-Pincher's Club" better, but this one was fun too. It has to do with weight-loss in a comical sense as well as deceit, love, romance, etc. Definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting a light read and a hearty laugh.

View all my reviews >>

The Penny-Pincher's Club

2010-02-14T19:25:00.001-08:00

The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked this book. It is not typical of me to read "girly chic lit," but I absolutely would recommend this book to others. It has some money-saving ideas wrapped around a fictional story. Awesome ending BTW and not what I expected either.

View all my reviews >>

Tuesdays with Morrie

2010-02-09T14:48:00.001-08:00

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom

I read this book in half a day.It is almost 200 pages, but it was a snow day. What can I say? It had really good parts to it. Lots of ideas on how life should be. My favorite part was on pages 124-125 which read,
"We've got a form of brainwashing goig on in our country," Morrie sighed. "Do you know how they brainwash people? They repeat something over and over. And that's what we do in this country. Owning things is good. More money is good. More property is good. More commercialism is good. More is good. More is good. We repeat it-and have it repeated to us-over and over until nobody bothers to even think otherwise. The average person is so fogged up by all this, he has no perspective on what's really important anymore.
"Wherever I went in my life, I met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. And then they wanted to tell you about it. 'Guess what I got? Guess what I got?'
"You know how I always interpreted that? These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.
"Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness. I can tell you, as I'm sitting here dying, when you most need it, neither money nor power will give you the feeling you're looking for, no matter how much of them you have."

View all my reviews >>

Good Harbor

2010-02-09T08:36:00.001-08:00

Good Harbor by Anita Diamant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book started out slow and I was really unsure if I'd be able to finish it. I knew I loved "The Red Tent" by the same author, so I made myself keep going. The story revolves around two friends that meet at the beach and help each other go through trials in their lives. It was actually a great book. I would have loved to be AT the beach when reading it, but it really makes me look forward to Florida that much more. The main characters captivated my attention as they make choices, albeit not the wisest of choices, and reap the reprecussions. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship factor in this book and it made me reminisce about the friends I have met in my life. If you were going through your hardest trial, who would be there for you? Just a warning... there is some sexual scenes in this book as well as a few swears. Overall- great book....just not as great as "The Red Tent."

View all my reviews >>

The Bean Trees

2010-02-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love Barbara Kingsolver. I was first introduced to her through a book suggestion to read, "The Poisonwood Bible," which I LOVED!! After finding "The Bean Trees" existed, I immediately bought it. I just had a feeling that I would like this one as much as the first. Honestly, this story is very different than other works by Kingsolver. The tie that binds all of her works is the way she develops her characters. She gives me the ability to delve into each character's mind. I couldn't imagine a better writer than Kingsolver when it comes to developing characters. The story was believable. I could imagine the movie in my head. Just waiting for someone to discover this diamond in the rough. It definitely is on my list of TOP TEN BOOKS.

View all my reviews >>

If I Stay

2010-01-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really liked this book because it was a quick read. I miss those. It seems that I have been attracted to books lately that take weeks to read, so it is a nice break to read a book in a day. With only 199 pages, fast dialogue, and likeable characters, I would recommend this book to adults that don't mind a few swear words. Really happy with the characters decision in the end. Everytime I read about her boyfriend, Adam... I could only picture Adam Lambert from American Idol last season. Kinda disturbing in that way, but it fit the description(except the sexual preference obviously!!)

View all my reviews >>

The Bell Jar

2010-01-28T10:01:00.001-08:00

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was recommended to me by my sister. I can totally see why she likes it. It is a good book, just a bit depressing for me. It is really haunting since the author killed herself and wrote this book loosely based on her life. She was disturbed. I don't even get how she could think of some of the things she did to herself. It was a bit crazy.

View all my reviews >>

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

2010-01-24T14:55:00.000-08:00

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I really did not like this book. It is hard for me to read British literature anyway, but I found myself at page 106 and thinking..."I really wouldn't be too upset if I never finished this book." So then I perused the rest of the book so I could get a gist of what happened. It is not a series that I will embark upon reading.

View all my reviews >>

Shutter Island

2010-01-21T08:30:00.001-08:00

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a GREAT book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the language. Lots of f-bombs. It's a thriller book with a lot of suspense. It is also going to be turned into a movie starring Leo DiCaprio which is believable as the character, Teddy. I love the premise and the ending is superb!!

View all my reviews >>

2010-01-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. Any book that tells a saga of friends through time is a winner everytime in my book. The setting is amazing. I felt happy at times, sad at times, and just excited to be reading this amazing book. I'd recommend it to Ladies' Book Club anyday.

View all my reviews >>

2010-01-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was really just okay for me. Great writing made it easy to get through relatively fast, but the overall plot I probably won't remember by tomorrow morning. Not a "haunting" book overall.

View all my reviews >>

2009-12-28T06:58:00.001-08:00

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great read. Something different than I normally read, but it had all the good elements to it. Suspense, love, supernatural, and emotional elements made it hard to put down. Loved the book. Overall, would have given it a 3.5 if it let me. Loved Swede and her relationship with her family! The dad was interesting and kept me involved in the story.

View all my reviews >>

Get Ready for the 2010 Chunkster Challenge Book Reviews

2009-12-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

I just recently joined my first "official challenge" and wanted to share with you.
http://chunksterchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/12/welcome-to-challenge-2010.html
If you go to this website, it will take you to the rules of the challenge. Stay tuned...

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Children on 25 Words or Less

2009-12-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was great. Possibly the best non-fiction book I've ever read. It reads as a fiction book, full of stories and really dives into the life of the mother. I absolutely recommend this book to any stay-at-home mom who is trying to contribute to the household while staying home with their children. Also- any person over age 40 will thoroughly enjoy reminiscing about the days of "contests". Overall- a terrific read.

View all my reviews >>

"Day After Night" by Anita Diamant

2009-12-07T12:26:00.001-08:00

Day After Night: A Novel by Anita Diamant

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved this book. From the author of "The Red Tent" of which I also LOVED. Good to read a book that is so wonderfully written. Caution though- it does say a word, c#@&, which is typically very offensive, but in this circumstance, didn't really bother me. WWII book that speaks to the reader as we enter the mind, thoughts, and feelings of four seperate characters which take you on a journey that you will never forget.

View all my reviews >>

The Guernsey LIterary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-11-29T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Usually if I get to page 50 of a book and I'm still not interested, then I won't read on. I'm soooo glad that I chose to stay on with the book. About page 100 and on, it became good- real good!! After reading the authors afterword, I understood why. She became ill and couldn't finish the book and asked a family member who is the author of the Ivy and Bean books to finish this novel for her. I believe that once that new author started writing, I flew through the pages. It was a strange read that way. I hope you'll give it a fighting chance like I did. It's worth it in the end.

View all my reviews >>

The Graveyard Book

2009-09-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

Okay...so this book is aimed at young adult/older children. I'm assuming 5th grade-10th grade. If that is so, it is extremely inappropriate in my opinion. The first chapter of the book walks you through a murder of an entire family minus a baby. The murderer actually tries to stab the baby, but instead ends up stabbing a teddy bear. The baby escapes and crawls to a graveyard. He is then raised by ghosts of the graveyard, hence the title. It is a FANTASTIC book for ADULTS around Halloween time... kinda spooky, but not too much. I would NOT let my children read this until they can handle scary stories, know the difference between fiction/nonfiction, and are able to make right decisions On Their Own. Until then, "The Graveyard Book" is off limits.

Okay Already!!

2009-08-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

I know.... it's been awhile. But, guess what! I'M STILL HERE!! Just a bit busy getting the kids back into school and finishing up some really good books! I am finished reading Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. It is an amazing book that I will try to talk about on the next post. Right now, I am venturing off my list of books to read so I can finish up "The Time Traveler's Wife" before I go see the movie. (It's one of my many rules to self). Stay tuned because a new review is coming up!!

The Thirteen Clocks

2009-07-26T19:33:00.001-07:00

I just finished a children's book called The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber. It was quite different. It was a fairy tale of sorts. It was a tad bit scary for children under 12 though. The characters were the best part of the book. I would recommend reading it if you have about 1 hr. It is a "chapter book" but is quite small with illustrations. From a scale of 1-5, I would give it a 2.

2009-07-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

1. When Alice becomes disoriented in Harvard Square, a place she's visited daily for twenty-five years, why doesn't she tell John? Is she too afraid to face a possible illness, worried about his possible reaction, or some other reason?
Yes...all of the above.

2. After first learning she has Alzheimer's disease, "the sound of her name penetrated her every cell and seemed to scatter her molecules beyond the boundaries of her own skin. She watched herself from the far corner of the room" (pg. 70). What do you think of Alice's reaction to the diagnosis? Why does she disassociate herself to the extent that she feels she's having an out-of-body experience?
Alice feels like a part of her has died. She probably feels like one of those people you see in the movies in a hospital scene floating above her body and looking down at herself. I think Alice hearing the diagnosis was one of the hardest parts of the book. She knew in her heart that something was wrong, but to actually hear someone tell you a diagnosis is a whole other thing.
3. Do you find irony in the fact that Alice, a Harvard professor and researcher, suffers from a disease that causes her brain to atrophy? Why do you think the author, Lisa Genova, chose this profession? How does her past academic success affect Alice's ability, and her family's, to cope with Alzheimer's?
I believe that Alice was fortunate to have her brain as healthy and intelligent as she did before Alzheimers set in. I wish I could be a professor at Harvard!! Not too many people can say that they teach Harvard students. I do believe that because of her academic success, this disease is much harder for Alice and her family to cope with.
4. "He refused to watch her take her medication. He could be mid-sentence, mid-conversation, but if she got out her plastic, days-of-the-week pill container, he left the room" (pg. 89). Is John's reaction understandable? What might be the significance of him frequently fiddling with his wedding ring when Alice's health is discussed?
I think John felt as though his marriage was already over. He felt like he already lost Alice as soon as her brain started deteriorating. I truly think that he couldn't bear to help Alice or talk about her health.

5. When Alice's three children, Anna, Tom and Lydia, find out they can be tested for the genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer's, only Lydia decides she doesn't want to know. Why does she decline? Would you want to know if you had the gene?
Lydia probably feels like she would disappoint her mother if she knew that she inherited it as well. Lydia also was more of the wandering soul that would rather live life than live knowing that you were going to end up with Alzheimers.
6. Why is her mother's butterfly necklace so important to Alice? Is it only because she misses her mother? Does Alice feel a connection to butterflies beyond the necklace?
The butterfly necklace symbolizes a change. Alice does change once diagnosed with Alzheimers, however, the butterfly can also symbolize freedom which Alice also gets when diagnosed with Alzheimers in the aspect that she is freed from her obligations at Harvard. She is freed from the expectations that everyone forced on her during her life. She was all of a sudden free to enjoy life and do as she wants to.
7. Do you enjoy this book? Rate it on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the best. Why?
I would rate this book a 3. It was an easy read but had a disturbing topic to me. My own grandfather had dementia and it was incredibly hard to read some of the deteriorating moments for Alice. I imagined how my grandfather felt when he didn't recognize us or remember something correctly. I would recommend it to anyone entering the health field that will be dealing with people with Alzheimers.

Book List for Summer...

2009-06-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

Please reply to this post if you would like to see a favorite book be discussed in this online book club. I originally had a list of books I wanted to review for the summer, but have unfortunately deleted that post without meaning to. I have a few that I've recently read and wanted to review. I will list them below. As for suggestions- I'm ALWAYS open!!

The Tenth Circle- Jodi Picoult
Nineteen Minutes- Jodi Picoult
These Is My Words- Nancy E. Turner
The First Hour I Believed:A Novel- Wally Lamb
The Last Summer (of you and me)- Ann Brashares
The Help- Kathryn Stockett
What the Dead Know- Laura Lippman
The Lace Reader- Barry Brunonia
Plain Truth- Jodi Picoult
The Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingsolver
Outlander- Diana Gabaldon
The Sleeping Beauty Proposal- Sarah Strohmeyer
Sarah: Women of Genesis- Orson Scott Card

That should keep me busy for awhile. I do appreciate good book suggestions.

Next Book to Review...

2009-06-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Still Alice
By:Lisa Genova

Synopsis: Fifty year old Alice Howland, a world-renowned expert in linguistics and a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Still Alice is the story of the unraveling of Alice's life as her disease progresses.

"Good in Bed" Book Review

2009-06-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

1. With Good in Bed, Jennifer Weiner has garnered a lot of early praise for her alternately hilarious and poignant dialogue, and also for her pitch-perfect ear in rendering the conversational rhythms of Cannie's first-person narrative voice. Looking back through the novel, what is it about the dialogue that works so well? In what ways does it serve to subtly develop each character's motivations and idiosyncrasies?
The dialogue of this particular novel is what makes it an easy read. You feel as though you are Cannie's best friend, seeing into her life more so than her actual best friend in the novel, Sammantha. You feel like Bruce broke up with YOU...he called YOU fat. You literally step into Cannie's life and it is refreshing to escape from your own life to do so. Yes, Cannie has problems...(big problems- and no, that's not a pun). As I tried to figure out how Cannie felt, I realized I was actually figuring out how I felt. Overall, it really worked for Weiner to tell this story from Cannie's perspective.

2. Discuss, in connection with the previous question, the specific tone and quality of Cannie Shapiro's voice. What techniques does Weiner employ to make Cannie's musings and descriptions come across so intimately? What sets the author's style apart from that of other contemporary authors? To which novelists would you say Weiner bears the closest comparison?
To put it simply, Weiner doesn't hold anything back. Cannie messes up just like we would. She speaks freely which is so refreshing. The vocabulary didn't require the reader to pick up a dictionary. She was a down-to-earth character with real-life issues/problems. Of the recent books I have read, Jennifer Weiner most closely resembles the work of Adena Halpern who wrote, "The Ten Best Days of My Life." Although I like Jennifer Weiner's work much better.

3. Cannie Shapiro is, among other things, a woman struggling to emerge from the shadow cast by her father's emotional abuse and aggressive abandonment. How successful is she, finally, in doing so?
Throughout the novel, I felt as though Cannie never really played the "victim". She did not have "victim mentality" which was delightful to see. She goes through some pain. She holds onto the past. In the end, she forgives and moves on from her past. It is truly refreshing.

4. In what ways do we see the painful legacy of Cannie's early relationship with her father (whom she dubs "the Original Abandoner") at work in the action of this novel, affecting the tenor of Cannie's relationships, choices, and/or motivations? To what degree can we view Bruce as a stand-in for her father?
When learning of her "abandonment" from her father, I felt as though Cannie was a typical person. She was not Cinderella nor a "wicked stepsister". She was a normal person with normal problems and normal outcomes. Some days were harder than others. I do not feel that Cannie will EVER abandon her daughter although when her daughter was in the hospital for such a long period of time, I felt like she abandoned her a bit. She also abandoned hope for her daughter. In the end, she learned how to live life without holding the past responsible for the future though. It ended well. As far as Bruce goes, I feel like Cannie actually abandoned Bruce before he abandoned her. It was a good lesson to learn. You cannot always get what you want when you want it. Cannie had to learn this the hard way. Bruce did not come back to her, even though she needed him badly. He abandoned the baby but he did not abandon Cannie.

5. "Maybe," Bruce writes in his notorious Moxie debut, "it was the way I'd absorbed society's expectations, its dictates of what men are supposed to want and how women are supposed to appear. More likely, it was the way she had. C. was a dedicated foot soldier in the body wars....C. couldn't make herself invisible. But I know that if it were possible -- if all the slouching and slumping and shapeless black jumpers could have erased her from the physical world, she would have gone in an instant." With these lines, from the novel's opening chapter, Weiner begins to lay the framework for the larger themes that temper, texture, and lend weight to the comedy and romance propelling Cannie's story. What are these themes and issues, and how are they developed throughout the rest of the novel?
Accepting larger women, accepting yourself as a larger woman, depression and trying to disappear, and confidence and the lack thereof are the themes that I felt portrayed throughout the novel. In the beginning, we learn that Bruce noticed Cannie's lack of confidence in herself. She was a bright, successful person who didn't see anything in herself except a fat girl who could never be loved. She ends up going through quite a depression towards the end of the novel, which needed to happen in order for her to become the person that she could ultimately love herself and allow Dr. K to love in return.

6. The real-life specter of the Lewinsky-Clinton debacle looms in the background of this novel's fictional landscape. How does the Monica Lewinsky scandal -- and, more to the point, the witheringly cruel and petty reception that accompanied Lewinsky's emergence in media stories -- speak to the novel's portraits of male-female relationships in a body-obsessed culture?
I'm sure that I'm not the only one who thought, "What would a fat person NOT do in today's society to feel loved," when I heard of what Monica Lewinsky did with Bill Clinton. In today's society, larger women are looked down upon. I don't think it has anything to do with their confidence, their intellect, or whether or not they are well-off financially. Society cannot look past the fact that they are large. They automatically assume that they are lazy and just "do not care" about their bodies. That couldn't be farther from the truth. (At least in my perspective!)

7. How accurate is it to say that body fat has become, as Bruce writes in his column, "the only safe target in our politically correct world," the last "acceptable" object of societal prejudice? Where do we see this sort of prejudice at work? And in our advertising-drenched, consumer-driven society, where beauty and youth seem to be the chief signifiers of power and happiness, what are the implications and consequences of this prejudice?
It is EXTREMELY accurate to say that the last "acceptable" object of societal prejudice is based on how someone looks as far as body fat is concerned. Alot of companies offer "gym money" as a perk. They don't want someone "fat" representing their company. Fat=lazy and who would want to depend on a "lazy" person for anything in business? As far as the later part of this question- have you ever seen a "fat" person on the cover of any magazine unless it is making fun of them or commenting on how much weight someone had gained? I sure haven't.

8. How do Cannie's understandings of and feelings about her mother's relationship with Tanya evolve over the course of this story?
This was a hard part for me to tolerate in the story. I have nothing against people who are gay, but when you are affecting a family including children, or dissolving a marriage to be with your "partner," that is when I have a problem with it. Cannie comes around in the end as far as tolerating Tanya and the relationship she has with her mother, but I still don't feel as though Cannie absolutely comes to terms with it and is just fine with everything. She will always have feelings of confusion when it comes to her mother. It is just life. I would react the same way- so I completely understand Cannie's position on the matter.

9. Are Tanya's cloying penchants for therapy-speak, rainbow flags, and "tofurkey" enough to justify the hostile attitude and relentlessly barbed humor Cannie directs toward her? Why or why not? In what way might the absence of Cannie's father be contributing to her animosity? What else?
Yes, Cannie had every right to deal with Tanya the way she did. Of course we are not to judge others...that's God's place. However, Cannie dealt with hardships by using humor. I found it hillarious and not at all offensive. Cannie is obviously still upset about her father's absense in her and her siblings' lives. She blames Tanya for this because it is the easiest way to deal with the circumstances.

10. Recalling a lecture from Psych 101 on the behavioral effects of random reinforcement, Cannie realizes that she's "become [her] father's rat." What is going on here? Unpack the meanings of Cannie's metaphor, and discuss how it relates to her subsequent relationships with men.
Her father always told her she was a second-class citizen because she was fat. It got to the point where her father actually left her and her family to pursue another family in hopes that he could just "quit" the old one. Cannie's metaphor means that she was the experiment for her father. He tried with her and succeeded with his new family. She was the trial run. Because she had such a difficult time with her father, she shut out men before they could leave her. That's what happened with Bruce.

11. Rate this book on a scale of 1-5. Write any comments below.
I would rate this book a 3. It touched me as I deal with some of the above-mentioned issues that Cannie dealt with. I laughed with her, got depressed when she did, and totally understood her every move. I really related well with her. I am not much of a chic-lit type of girl. That is why only a 3. However, this book is probably one of my fave chic-lit books I have read. Hope you enjoyed!!

Next Book to Review...

2009-06-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

It is a chic lit book with a trashy title...however not a trashy chic lit book (if that makes sense!!)

Welcoming... "Good In Bed" by Jennifer Weiner

Is Anyone Out There?

2009-06-24T05:29:00.001-07:00

Please comment and leave your name so I know if anyone at all is reading this blog... Thanks!!

First Official Review... "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult

2009-06-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

"Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult

This review will contain spoilers. If you have not yet read the book, please DO NOT READ until you are finished. Then share your thoughts and review of the book by posting a comment!!

1)If you were June Nealon, would you have accepted Shay's heart for your daughter?
Although I believe it would be terribly difficult, I would accept Shay's heart for my daughter. I believe that it would give her a prolonged life which would also be of good quality. I don't believe that the fact that the heart belonged to Shay would change the person that her daughter already was.

2)Why were so many people quick to believe that Shay was a messiah? Did you find the fact that people would deify someone on death row believable?
This question can really bring about alot of debate. It is controversial. That doesn't mean that we're not going to answer it though. This is a forum for stating your beliefs and your convictions. If you feel like you can't do that, isn't it similar to not having freedom of speech? Just a thought. As far as the question goes- I believe that people were so quick to believe that Shay was a messiah because they were looking everywhere for hope. Hope is a powerful thing. It can change people's lives. I believe that those that believed that Shay was a messiah were looking for an answer to their problems on Earth- whether that be their sick child or their own discouragements. Without hope there is fear. They are equal opposites. You cannot fear for death, yet be optimistic about fighting a fatal disease. Fear and hope can not coexist.
As far as people deifying someone on death row, I believe it is possible. Just because someone was convicted of a crime punishable by death, does not mean they are necessarily guilty. As Picoult showcases in this novel, Shay Bourne was NOT guilty in his mind. He was hung unnecessarily. It does go to debate though- Do you think we as mortal humans have the right to decide whether we are helping someone by killing them? Tough question to ponder.

3)Did June ever forgive Shay? Do you think she came to believe he may have been innocent?
I absolutely think that June forgave Shay. I know it did not come easy, however I also believe that she came to the realization that he was innocent.

4)Do you think Picoult did a good job developing the characters? Were they believable?
One of the many reasons I adore Picoult's novels is the mere fact that she wraps you into the characters as if you are actually in their shoes. She has a real knack for getting inside their heads no matter who the character is. The beginning of the novel was not quite believable. I later found out that the characters in "Change of Heart" were from a previous novel in which makes more sense. To think that June Nealon had gone through so much in the first chapter or two of the book was a stretch. I kept telling friends of mine that I feel as though she could have written a novel just about the first chapter. Apparently she actually did. Good.

5)What do you think about the death penalty? Did Change of Heart make you question your beliefs?
I am not for the death penalty. I believe that we cannot take the place of God and do not have the power to determine life. I have always felt this way. I feel the same about abortion. Who are we to choose to end a life. That's God's job. Also, I feel that we have free agency for a reason. It is to test us here on Earth so that we can learn to make the correct decisions. If there were no consequences for bad decisions, then why would anyone choose the tougher (and righter) way? Change of Heart did not make me change or question my beliefs. I did happen to think that Picoult was going to make Shay Bourne a saviour in the book. I was ecstatic with the way she chose to end the book. I truly hope they make this into a movie. It would be a great and suspenseful one!!

6)What role did Lucius play in the story? Do you think Shay healed him?
Lucius was an odd character. I didn't agree with his actions. I believed he did belong in jail. I think the way we see what goes on behind bars is through Lucius. Without his character, we wouldn't have been able to see the conflict amongst the other inmates, the remorse that Lucius had for Bourne, and the "miracle" that Bourne performed. As far as that goes- I think Shay healed him in the sense that he gave him hope. Again, without hope all is lost. Shay performing "miracles" allowed the inmates to have hope that he would help them. The mind is a very powerful thing. Lucius believed that he could be healed in the depths of his mind and was able to do so, temporarily. OR, another way to think could possibly be that everything was just awesome timing. Lucius was in a temporary remission that coincided with Bourne being an inmate. With the human mind, I truly believe that if one honestly told themselves that the sky was really white,(not blue) that they could believe it as if it were the only way for the sky to be. You can talk yourself into anything, which is what I think the people who believed that Bourne was a saviour did.

7)Picoult says she tried "to write about religion responsibly". Do you think she succeeded? Did Change of Heart make you question your beliefs?
I think Picoult wrote a terrific novel. It makes the reader question what they believe in. It talks about controversial topics such as the death penalty, rape, and social injustice. It speaks of the Bible amongst other "scripture" that I wasn't familiar with. She truly is a gifted author who researches her topics quite extensively and it shows.

8)Why do you think June invited Shay's sister over at the end?
I think June inviting Shay's sister over at the end shows her compassion toward Bourne and her forgiveness of the situation that took her daughter's and her husband's lives. It was her way of making the wrong, right. She was redeeming herself and it made for a terrific ending.

9)Rate Change of Heart on a scale of 1 to 5.
On a scale of 1-5, I would give "Change of Heart" a 4 1/2. I thought it was thought-provoking, well-written, and an honest-to-good suspenseful read. I would recommend it to anyone over 18. I thought the topics were not meant for a younger audience. Anyone who is going through trials would enjoy getting lost in this book, realizing that their trials are far less than others written about in this novel. Overall- Great job Picoult!! I will continue reading your books. You are my favorite author.

New Blog Site for Book Reviews!

2009-06-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start this website so viewers can see my reviews on certain books. I would love to see lots of followers to this site. I have recently become an avid fiction reader and wanted another outlet to vent about books and review them as well. I am a member of Goodreads.com which I would recommend to everyone. It is a great site similar to facebook where you can find your friends and post what you are planning to read, what you have read, and what you are currently reading. It also has the capabilities for users to read book reviews and rate the books that they have read. It will send you updates as your friends update their profile/status. I plan on using this website as a forum for a summer bookclub. If interested in joining, please reply to this post or email me at staceyro@insightbb.com. I will publish a post and then other book club members will be able to reply to the post with their thoughts and reviews. We can then have an ongoing conversation through post replies. Now that I have told you about the site, I am going to get together a group of books that would be fun summer reads. Look forward to hearing from you!!

Following Fiction- an Online Book Club Experience

"Before Anne After"

Promise Me

Henrietta Lacks

The Book of Tomorrow

Left Neglected

Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer

I'm Back...

Book Blog Questionnaire!!

Among the Hidden

Little Bee

The Last Song

The Hunger Games

To Kill A Mockingbird

50 Rules

The Cinderella Pact

The Penny-Pincher's Club

Tuesdays with Morrie

Good Harbor

The Bean Trees

If I Stay

The Bell Jar

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Shutter Island

Get Ready for the 2010 Chunkster Challenge Book Reviews

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Children on 25 Words or Less

"Day After Night" by Anita Diamant

The Guernsey LIterary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Graveyard Book

Okay Already!!

The Thirteen Clocks

Book List for Summer...

Next Book to Review...

"Good in Bed" Book Review

Next Book to Review...

Is Anyone Out There?

TOP TEN REASONS TO READ...

First Official Review... "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult

New Blog Site for Book Reviews!