Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

This is officially the last book I was able to read on my summer vacation.  :(  It's tragic.  I still have quite a long list of books I want to read, and I hope that I can do a better job of finding time to read during this school year!

Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. I actually finished it in a couple of days. The Fault in Our Stars brought tears to my eyes. I feel that an author has done his or her job when your emotions flow! I was able to connect with Hazel and follow her on her journey. 

I bought this book with the intention of adding it to my classroom library because I had heard students talk about it in the past. I will NOT be adding it, though, there is content that I do not find appropriate for 6th grade students, and I will leave those decisions up to their parents. 

I did find that Hazel and Augustus are perhaps too smart or wise for their years. They do seem like adult versions of teenagers, quoting difficult material, and being almost philosophic. I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm just saying it's not quite like any teenagers that I've even known! 

I would certainly recommend this book, though, and I would like to see the movie! 

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Book Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Here is the summary from Goodreads.com:

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” 
 
Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!
 
In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.



Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I enjoyed this book, but I can't say that I loved it. I did have a few quiet chuckling moments, and I'm glad I read it. I definitely liked Mindy's voice and humor in her writing. I'm thinking I might have given this 4 stars if I knew more about Mindy beforehand and/or watched "The Office".


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I will also note that I bought both this book AND Bossy Pants with the intention to read and sell.  If I had really truly loved either of them, I would probably keep them to read again.  To me, neither of these are books I will reread (though, I would listen to the Bossy Pants audio book).  This one sold on Amazon pretty quickly.  Bossy Pants is still listed if you're interested.

Have you read this book?  What did you think?  

Book Review: Bossy Pants

I have heard more than one person say great things about Tina Fey's Bossy Pants!  Actually both of my friends named Kristin (from Kristin's kNook & from Life's an Adventure) have recommended it.

Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.

She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)



Bossypants by Tina Fey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book! It's not often that you get to read a story that literally makes you laugh out loud...not just type it on a keyboard without even cracking a smile....

I would definitely recommend this book for a laugh. I'm not a super fan of Tina Fey or anything, so I only knew a bit about her from what I've seen on TV, but this was really a great read.

I especially loved the chapter called "Amazing, Gorgeous, Not Like That" about what it's like to go to a photo shoot. It was seriously HILARIOUS.

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I couldn't believe how many times I was laughing so hard that I had to stop reading!  While this isn't a book I would reread (it's just not that type of book, in my opinion), I do absolutely recommend that you pick up a copy or borrow it from your local library!  (OR as Kristin from Kristin's kNook would do, listen to the audio book.  I've heard that it's read by Tina Fey herself, which would make it even more hilarious.  In fact, I WOULD definitely listen to this book again!)

Have you read anything good lately??

Book Review: Redeeming Love

I know that it's Tuesday.  I should be hosting Dinner Time Tuesday right now, but I'm not for two reasons:

1) We don't really have any food.  So I haven't really been making dinner. (ie. I ate tortilla chips and salsa for dinner yesterday.)
2)  It's usually only Kristin and I linking up anyway, so I figured it could wait until next week.....or until I buy some food, whichever comes first! :)

Instead, I share with you my review of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. 

Here's what Goodreads.com has to say: California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.

But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does ... the One who will never let her go.

I cannot even put into words how good this book is!  I'm so glad Julie sent it to me during our Book Swap with Ashley way back in April!

This book is an amazing story of God's redeeming and unconditional love. Rivers creates a beautiful love story, not just between the characters and God, but between man and woman. It is a story of hope and love, and it reminds us that no matter how awful we may be, God will forgive us. 

I feel like I could go on and on about this book, but at the same time, I can't find any more words than the ones above because I feel like it just sums it up so well.  If you're looking for a book to finish off your summer reading or a book that's just simply amazing, I highly recommend this one!

Book Review: The Giver, Gathering Blue, & Messenger

Today's book review is a three book review for the price of one! 

Aren't you lucky?? :)

The Giver, Gathering Blue, & The Messenger are all books written by Lois Lowry.  I had remember that I read The Giver in 7th grade, but I really didn't recall anything about the story.  Once I found out that The Giver is one of the novels available for me to use with my 6th grade students, I decided I needed to read it again.  As it turns out, The Giver has three companion books: Gathering Blue, The Messenger, and Son.  Apparently, Son was just released in October of 2012, but I was fortunate enough that the first three were available through Scholastic's book orders, and I promptly used some of my bonus points to purchase the set.  I just finished The Messenger Last Night.

Here is an overview of each book from Goodreads.com:

The Giver
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Gathering Blue
Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truth about her world and see what places exist beyond.

Messenger
For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.

These books are not really like your typical books in a series.  Gathering Blue really has nothing to do with The Giver at all.  On more than one occasion, I found myself questioning if these were really companion books.  However, each book is good in its own right, and Messenger really ties it all together.  Lois Lowry has a way of ending each book that is not really much of an ending at all.  She leaves you wanting more.  So I will say, it was a little frustrating starting on Gathering Blue while I was left wondering about what happens to Jonas.  By the end of that book, you're left wondering what will become of Kira, and by the end of The Messenger, you want to know more.  Thankfully, there is a fourth and final book that I hope has a conclusion that does not leave you thinking there must be more to the story!  I will definitely have to seek that book out soon!

Even if you're not a teacher of Middle School Reading or Literature, I think these are enjoyable books.  :)

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Book Review: Gilt

I am working my way through my summer reading list (AND running out of time to do it!).  After The Poisonwood Bible, I read Gilt by Katherine Longshore. 

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.com:
In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--and love comes at the highest price of all. When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.com. 

In previous posts, I have shared how much I love historical fiction centered around the court of King Henry VIII.  This story is told from Katherine (Kitty) Tylney's point-of-view.  She is a figure mentioned in testimony about Catherine (Cat) Howard.  Longshore takes this character and creates her to be a close friend of the king's 5th wife.  I enjoyed Longshore's writing style, and I loved Kitty's loyalty.  If you love reading about this time period in England and/or historical fiction, this is book is a must!

Book Review: The Poisonwood Bible

I have finished my 5th book of 2013:

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Here is the synopsis from amazon.com: 
The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it—from garden seeds to Scripture—is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

My partner, Julie, from a Book Swap hosted in April by Ashley from Being Ashley sent me this book.  I didn't have time to read it until now.  When I started reading, it took me awhile to really get into it. It was not one that captured me right away, and I was able to put it down for days at a time.  BUT I kept telling myself that I needed to keep reading because a few people had commented on my Book Swap Reveal post, and said it was a good book.  PLUS, I trusted Julie's judgment. 
It is a good thing I persevered because the more I read, the more I liked. I enjoyed that the story was told from the perspectives of the mother and her daughters. I eventually felt like I was sharing in their struggles against their stubborn man of the house.  Without revealing too much, Nathan Price's dream was to baptize the people and children in Africa.  The problem is that he just couldn't understand that he wasn't reaching them.  He wasn't meeting them where they were.  He would not listen to the council of others, and rather than turning them to Jesus, he was confusing them or turning them away.

The thing I liked the most was following the girls through their journey and being able to read about their lives after they were grown.  I was surprised by the choices some of them made!

I would definitely recommend The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver if you're looking for a book to add to your summer reading list!

You can view my updated Summer Reading List here.

Book Review: The Casual Vacancy

I received The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling for Christmas.  I am ashamed to say that it was only the third book I've read this year.  The first book I read and reviewed here was The Little Book by Selden Edwards.  Then I was asked to read Most Unlikely to Succeed by Nelson Lauver for work.  That was an amazing memoir written by a man in a county not far from where I live.  We were also fortunate enough to have him come to speak at an in-service day, which was totally amazing. 

This brings me back to The Casual Vacancy.

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Here is the book description from Amazon:

When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…. Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the town’s council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations? Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

I'll be honest. I wanted this book because J.K. Rowling wrote it. I'm pretty sure every adult Harry Potter fan hoped that this book was secretly "Harry Potter: The Adult Years." I knew it wasn't. That made it hard to get into at first. I really do not think the plot is interesting. We are introduced to many characters, and the story bounces around between them. It was confusing at times. As I read, I started to enjoy making the connections between the characters and how they all weave together to tell the story. What kept me reading is that I really did want to see what happened in the end. I would have liked the book more, perhaps, if there had been fewer characters (some of whom seemed rather unimportant) AND if the story was about something interesting.

Don't let the election part scare you away, though.  This wasn't overly political.  It didn't center on the election itself.  There was a lot more to the story than that.

Overall, I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't love it either. I would recommend that J.K. Rowling's grown up fans read this, though, because it is SO different from anything even remotely related to Harry Potter....except maybe that it takes place in England. ;)

Book Swap Reveal!!

So the wonderful Ashley from Being Ashley set up a book swap for her readers.  I couldn't resist signing up!

I was paired up with Julie from Love, JulieBug.  I am so happy that Ashley paired us.  Since we were "set up," I've been getting to know her, and she's great!  I enjoy reading her blog and learning more about her.  We shared a little about our reading preferences, set up our price limit, and then we got to work! 

So here's what came in the mail for me:

I can now add The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers to my summer reading list.  Based on the back cover, both books sound amazing!  :)  In fact, I am thinking of getting my summer reading list off to a start sooner rather than later. 

Thank you, Ashley for setting up the swap, and thank you, Julie for the books!! :)

Speaking of swapping....is anyone interesting in swapping blog buttons with me??  It's totally free!
 

Is it time to read yet?

I miss reading. 

I have no time to sit down and read a good book right now.  I am so desperate for warm weather, summer vacation, and reading!

I thought I'd share my reading list.  I've also updated my Recent Reads page.  I decided it was time to get rid of all of the crossed off books and start with a fresh list.  So...basically, what you see here will also be on that page.  You can always feel free to check back to see how I'm doing or what I've added! :)

1. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone ~J.K. Rowling
2. Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets ~J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban ~J.K. Rowling
4. Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire ~J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix ~J.K. Rowling
6. Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince ~J.K. Rowling
7. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows ~J.K. Rowling
8. The Hunger Games ~Suzanne Collins
9. Catching Fire ~Suzanne Collins
10. Mockingjay ~Suzanne Collins
11. Gilt ~Katherine Longshore
12. Casual Vacancy ~J.K. Rowling
13. The Beatles: A Hard Day's Write (The Stories Behind Every Song) ~Steve Turner
14. The Giver ~Lois Lowry
15. Gathering Blue ~Lois Lowry
16. Messenger ~Lois Lowry
17. The Great Gatsby ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ok, don't be mislead.  I have OBVIOUSLY read the Harry Potter books.  I have also read The Hunger Games trilogy.  I reread Harry Potter every summer, and I want to read The Hunger Games books again, too.  Everything under that, are new additions to my list.  I know that I read The Giver in middle school, but I don't remember it.  It is also part of a trilogy.  So I used my bonus points from Scholastic and ordered the set with the last book order I submitted.  :)  (The perks of being a teacher.)  I also read The Great Gatsby in high school, but I just didn't get it.  With the movie coming out, I thought now was a good time to read it again.  Maybe I'll understand it this time. 

Anyone else have a summer reading list?