First of the Month Book Review - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had heard that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson was a bit slow in the beginning, and it is. And it never turned into a serious page-turner, although it kept my attention sufficiently. The book demanded focus in order to keep the numerous Vanger family characters straight, and honestly with my disjointed reading intervals - stealing a few minutes here and there - and the author's switching from using first names to last names, I found myself getting some of the characters mixed up at times.

The story is about a journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who investigates the 40-year old disappearance of a wealthy Swedish scion with the assistance of Lisbeth Salander, who is an investigative prodigy/computer hacker (and the girl with the dragon tattoo). There are interesting twists and turns, and a lot of violence, so it's not for the faint of heart.

Along with a slow start, I felt the ending dragged also. Once the murder mystery case is resolved, the novel continues with a wrap-up of sub-plots, and there are just too many remaining pages of reading after the central story ends.

Overall, I liked the story well enough, but it didn’t live up to all the hype.

1st of the Month Book Review – 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker

29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life was recommended by my pastor, and I’m so glad I read it. It’s full of wisdom and insight, including advice from the author’s mother on the secret to a long-lasting marriage, who said “’It’s very simple. We never break up. No matter what.’”

The story is written by Cami Walker who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) shortly after her wedding. Seeking relief from her resulting depression and her suffering from the disease, a “medicine woman” named Mbali prescribes that Cami give away 29 gifts in 29 days. This book recounts how that prescription changed Cami’s life and began a gift-giving movement.

Through 29 days of giving, Cami redirects her focus from inward thinking and preoccupation of her disease to outward generosity. She moves from self-centeredness to selflessness, and the positive results on her body and mind are amazing. She is happier and healthier, more capable of accepting assistance for herself, and is more “engaged in life.” Her attitude shifted from one focused on what she lacked, to one of altruism and gratitude, seeking opportunities and new paths.

I enjoyed reading about the various gifts Cami gave, both large and small, and how each one impacted her. And as I post this review, I just signed up for the challenge myself on the 29 Gifts website, http://www.29gifts.org. Before signing up, I highly recommend you read the book first, even if just to get a feel for what constitutes a “gift.”

29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life is inspiring at the least. Through her book and website, Cami is trying to ignite a global goodwill movement and renewal of the giving spirit. Just imagine our world if everyone took the challenge!

1st of the Month Book Review - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What I liked best about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was that I was able to share the excitement with BOTH my daughters, pre-teen and teen. They both loved the book and it was fun to share our thoughts about the characters and everything that happened. We had lively discussions of the characters and events - it was as though they were real.

And while it was easy enough to put down when I first started the book, once Peeta and Katniss arrive in the Capitol of Panem to begin training for the games, I was hooked. I didn't want to put the book down until it was finished, I had to know what happened next and how it would all end. Fortunately, it is a quick and easy read and now I look forward to reading the sequels.

Set in the future in the ruins of North America, I thought it clever that the author televised the games in each of the 12 districts. It was interesting how they prepared the tributes to make an impression (including Haymitch's encouraging of the romance between Peeta and Katniss), and how important that would be to sponsors. The similarity to today's reality TV is striking.

What I liked least about The Hunger Games was that it is a young adult novel, but is a story about kids killing kids. Even the thought is repelling. Until I read it, I worried that the storyline would be too violent and disturbing for younger readers.

It IS violent, but it's survival and intuition and friendship too. And it's a really good read!

Now about the movie:
The Hunger Games movie is good also, but there are differences as is so often the case in movie versus book. (Spoiler alert...) For example, in the book when Katniss sings to Rue as she dies and then adorns her dead body with flowers, the people of District 11 thank Katniss by sending her a gift of bread, while the movie versus reflected only a rebellion. Also in the book, Katniss loses her hearing in one ear after the loud explosion she caused to destroy the stored food supplies of the career tributes. The movie didn't mention any hearing loss. The movie also didn't quite match the book in the relationship between Peeta and Katniss, and particularly how Katniss pretends to have feelings for Peeta in order to gain sponsors and receive needed gifts. That was really downplayed in the movie. And there are more. But one thing I thought superior in the movie was the burning capes worn by Katniss and Peeta in the opening ceremonies. It exceeded even my imagination! It was a well done movie adaptation!

Book Reviews - The Time Traveler's Wife and The Giver

Since I am behind on numerous book reviews, I'm going to bundle a few together and keep them brief so as to get these posted as quickly as possible.


The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What I liked - the fascination with time travel and the relationship between Henry and Clare at various stages/ages in their lives.

What I didn't like - at times it became confusing and I found I would have to look back in the book to reorientate myself with the timing.

I do want to see the movie now that I've read the book.



The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this classic young readers story about 12-year old Jonas, who is selected to be the Receiver of Memory in a community where roles are assigned and everything in life is orderly, predictable, same, and perfect. Or so the community believes. As Jonas receives memories of generations; pain and pleasure, warmth and cold, even color, he learns about and makes a life changing decision. Unfortunately, the ending is unclear and left to interpretation, the only reason I didn't give this story 5 stars.

Double thumbs up - it's kid friendly and a book I can enjoy even with my 10-year old!

Book Review - The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best books I've read in ages, and the first fiction by Sue Monk Kidd! The Secret Life of Bees has it all - excellent characterization, moving description, realistic dialog, and a real good coming of age storyline.

Lily Owens learns about love and forgiveness when she finds her way into the home of three black beekeeping sisters in Tiburon, South Carolina. It’s set against a civil rights backdrop in the 1960s, and captures many of the emotions surrounding this turbulent and misunderstood time.

What I liked best about The Secret Life of Bees is the writing itself. Sue Monk Kidd delivers very well developed characters and outstanding description. The people are as real as if they lived down the road, and the description vivid. I highly recommend this book.

Book Review - Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering by David Gregory

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger sounded interesting enough. A man, Nick Cominsky who is consumed by work and the demands of life, is invited to and has dinner with Jesus. Initially, Nick believes it to be a prank. But their conversation touches on everything from faith, religion, punishment of sin, and more, and leaves Nick a changed man.

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is a very quick and easy, sometimes thought-provoking read. It was relatively basic and not terribly deep, and some of what was presented I do not completely agree with. In fact I almost quit reading when on page 52, Jesus said "...God has to punish sin, because if he doesn't, he lets all creation be sabotaged." But in the end, I am glad I read on.

Book Review - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honestly, I couldn't remember if I had read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was younger or not. Having just finished now, I know that I clearly had not previously read this book.

The small fault I found with To Kill a Mockingbird is that it is a bit slow to start. There were pages upon pages of story that occurs before the real story starts for me - and that is when the lawyer, Atticus, is called upon to defend the black man charged with raping a white girl. But then, the story comes alive!

What I enjoyed most were the true to life characters and strong emotions, it's portrayal of the racial prejudices in the deep south, and the overall message that most people, if you just take the time to know them, are good.

Book Review - The Shack by William P. Young

The Shack by William P. Young

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Weird. But good.

The Shack is a book that will make you think about God and your relationship with God, as well as your relationships with other people. It will get you thinking about what is truly important in life. You just have to get past some of the imagery – for instance, I have never contemplated God as a black woman flipping pancakes. But somehow William P. Young pulls it off with an entertaining, thought-provoking story.

Reading The Shack wasn’t “life changing” for me, or the best book I’ve read this year, or any of the other myriad of descriptions I’ve heard. It isn’t a preachy book, although there are some sections of long dialog that come close, and it certainly isn’t the Bible. What I really enjoyed most about The Shack is how real and authentic God’s relationship is with the character Mack.

Packed with emotion, this is a comforting book and full of hope. It leaves you feeling good and yearning for the simplistic love portrayed.

Book Review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What's left to be said? (Most everyone has already read this book). J.K. Rowling does a remarkable job of wrapping up the loose ends in this final book of the Harry Potter series. Like the rest of her work, this is a page turner full of incredible imagination, suspense, and true-to-life characters.

My favorite part is finally knowing the true allegiance of Severus Snape. He has been an interesting character throughout the series, and his swaying between good and bad is finally explained.

For anyone left out there that hasn't yet read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, this is a great read! For everyone else, what was your favorite part of this final book in the series?

Book Review - The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer

The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Initially confusing, this novel has multiple characters that at first seem disassociated, but later are pulled together and explained through multiple identities. Perhaps because of the multiple identities, I never felt as though I got to know any of the characters well. They felt superficial.

The storyline was compelling however, and I did find myself wanting to read more to understand who these people were and how they were all connected. Heath Sommer opens the book with an interesting prologue and first chapter that make the reader instantly begin searching for answers.

The Manufactured Identity was provided to me complimentary in exchange for a book review; however I have never met the author who I understand has a 2nd and 3rd book forthcoming. My thanks for the opportunity to read The Manufactured Identity.

Book Review - The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand


My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Beautifully set in Nantucket, this story encompasses the lives and lusts of four best friend couples. But when Greg and Tess MacAvoy die in a boating accident on their wedding anniversary, the three remaining couples have to sort through their emotions and relationships as they try to determine what happened on that boat.

Best friend characters, but perhaps too much alike as I kept losing track of who was married to whom and who was in love with whom, which one had the farm, who was the real estate tycoon, etc. About the only character that felt truly unique to me was the Chief. I kept finding myself flipping back to figure out who each character was when the point of view shifted in the story. The story itself had some interesting twists and turns, making it an enjoyable enough read.

I received this book complimentary. Unfortunately, I am not sure who sent this book to me, and the shipping label did not provide any information. Several other books were forwarded to me at around the same time, and I am very behind on posting my reviews. I hope to remedy that soon. My thanks to whomever sent this book.

Book Review - Son of a Dog by Jacqueline K. Howard

Son of a Dog by Jacqueline K. Howard

Son of a Dog is a work of fiction based largely on real-life events, but it reads very much more like a memoir or slice of life through a series of humorous, and sometimes outrageous, stories about a woman and her rescued Greyhound dog. While reading the book, I couldn't help myself but wonder what had actually happened to the author, and what had not.

Unfortunately, I did not feel a connection with the characters in the book, and so it was hard for me to stay fully engaged. Some of the tales in the book were so ludicrous that it was hard to imagine they were anything but true, and I kept questioning what was fiction and what was not. This was a big distraction to me.

An easy and quick read, Son of a Dog is a recounting of some quirky happenings between a dog and his owner.


                                                      
I received my copy of Son of a Dog as a complimentary gift from Story Institute for my participation in a community forum discussion (thank you!), and I am acquainted with the author through social forums including participation in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

Top 5 Books Read in 2009

Here are the top 5 books I read in 2009 that I would recommend, and the link to my review. (Note - these were read in 2009, but not necessarily published then).

Green by Ted Dekker

I loved the fantasy world created in this story.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Packed with emotion, this one was a true tearjerker.

Death by Dorlana Vann

Bonus book in that you get two enjoyable supernatural tales in one.

A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II by Colleen Sell

Warm tales of our four-legged friends, perfect for short reading intervals.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The characters come to life.






Also, worth mentioning:
Groundswell - winning in a world transformed by social technologies by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

What were some of the best books you read this year? What did you like most about them.

Book Review - A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II by Colleen Sell

A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II by Colleen Sell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you adore dogs and enjoy a light easy read, then this book is for you. A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II is a collection of short stories and essays that celebrate man's best friend, the dog. From heroic acts to plain silliness, these stories reflect the devotion we have for our four-legged friends and their unwavering love for us.

This is a heartfelt collection of fifty stories, well written by various authors, and edited by Colleen Sell. Some of the stories are serious, even sentimental, and others humorous, but they all share the magical ingredient of a dog’s devotion. This is a truly enjoyable collection of short stories.

While all the stories were good, a special acknowledgment goes to Susan H. Miller for her story, The Dachshund That (Almost) Conquered the World. Susan is a friend and fellow member of the Humble Fiction Café writers group. Her writing style and stories are an inspiration and joy to read.

Book Review - Green by Ted Dekker

GREEN: Book Zero: The Beginning and the End by Ted Dekker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What originally appealed to me about Green by Ted Dekker was that this book could be read either first or last in its series. Called the Circle Series, Green is both the beginning and the end; it is Book Zero.

Green is a Christian fantasy story, set in both present day 21st century and 2000 years into the future, a time when good and evil manifests itself in the physical. Thomas Hunter is leader of The Circle, a peace loving people who worship Elyon and faithfully await his return. However, dissent and impatience stirs in The Circle, and there are those who wish to put peace aside, take up their swords, and defeat the evil Horde. Thomas’ own son, Samuel, leads these rebels into a worldwide calamity.

Ted Dekker paints a world where the imagery is vivid, both the beauty and color of good, and the dark, horrific detail of evil. Green is a fast-paced, exciting read, only it left me wanting more. I especially wanted to know more about the characters and their motivations, and as such, wonder if it isn’t best read as the final book in the series.

In any case, I highly recommend Green for those interested in suspense or fantasy, or who like me, are looking for entertaining and good christian fiction. Enjoy the book trailer too...



This was my first Ted Dekker book, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to reading the other books of this series. Let me know in the comments if you have read any Ted Dekker books and your thoughts on this series.

I am a Thomas Nelson book review blogger.

Book Review - Groundswell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

For those of you interested in a business book review and discussion on Social Media, please visit New Business Pipeline where I recently posted my review of Groundswell, winning in a world transformed by social technologies by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff. Here is the link.


Social Media Effects on Filling the Pipeline « New Business Pipeline


Posted using ShareThis

Book Review – Death by Dorlana Vann

Excellent – a very quick and enjoyable read. Death is really two books in one. First is Jaclyn's Ghost, which I had read pre-publication, loved, and blogged about it here. This is the story about fashion model Jaclyn Jade, who has to find the reason she doesn't make it into Heaven after her untimely and murderous death. She enlists the help of a psychic that can hear ghosts, as well as a mysterious and intriguing ghost named Logan. An exciting adventure ensues and one that is sure to captivate readers – it did me!

The second story is Passage to Mesentia. Here, Dorlana Vann surprises the reader with twists and turns that test Wade and Bella's relationship as they search for answers to the murder of Bella's archeological parents. A mysterious and surreal stranger named Ben solicits their help in finding an ancient Egyptian artifact believed to be the reason behind the murder, all the while pulling in Bella with his romantic and tragic past.

Dorlana Vann is a newly published author, fellow member of the Humble Fiction Café writers group, and a friend. Read the book if you get a chance, and watch for more of her novels in the future.

Book Review - My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Jodi Picoult is an author that writes complex characters and isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects. She has an ability to get into the heads of her characters and make them come alive. And so it is also with My Sister’s Keeper.

My Sister’s Keeper is the story of a family in turmoil. From her birth on, Anna spends time in and out of hospitals as a donor for her sister Kate, who has leukemia. In fact, Anna’s whole existence resulted from preimplantation genetic diagnosis because her parents sought a donor match to treat Kate’s medical condition, and this role became Anna’s life within minutes of her birth.

The story starts when Anna is thirteen and seeks medical emancipation from her parents. In the process of discovering who she is and her role in life, Anna makes decisions that dramatically affect her family. My Sister’s Keeper explores family dynamics, motivations, emotions, and morality, and it does not disappoint.

I loved this book and was pulled in at it’s opening sentence,

“When I was little, the great mystery to me wasn’t how babies were made, but why.”

It is a novel that actually brought me to tears, so real the emotions.

Have you read My Sister's Keeper or other Jodi Picoult books? What did you like/dislike?

Book Review - A Soldier's Promise by Cheryl Wyatt

A Soldier's Promise by Cheryl Wyatt

Warning – this review contains spoilers.


This is the story of a U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper, Joel Montgomery, coming to grips with his broken past and helping a sick child get his most desired wish – that of a family.

While this Christian fiction story is heartwarming, it is also predictable. Joel fulfills the wish of a child with cancer by parachuting into the kid’s schoolyard, and then proceeds to fall for his beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who is trying to adopt the sick child. Joel and Amber each must overcome issues from their past before they can truly move forward.

This debut novel was an easy read with a happily-ever-after ending, but I prefer more flaws that provide depth and dimension to characters. Certainly they were Christians, but Joel and Amber seemed too perfect to feel real. Everyone was nice, polite, prim and proper, and that part felt contrived.

Upcoming Book Reviews and Contest!

Great news! I've received my copy of Death by Dorlana Vann (containing Jaclyn's Ghost and Passage to Mesentia) and A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II with a story by Susan H. Miller. I first mentioned these books in my post, WordProverb: Writers Group News and Success!

I'll be posting full reviews in the future!

In the meantime, I am pleased to announce my first ever giveaway/contest on this blog!

Da-ta-ta-da!! What will you win? ...drum roll, please

There will actually be two lucky winners. 1st place winner receives their choice; Death by Dorlana Vann or A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II. Second place winner will receive the remaining book. I'm working on getting the books autographed too, but can't promise that yet!

I'm so excited and I hope you will be too, because it is so easy to win. To enter, just leave a comment (yes, that easy). Here are the rules:

• Comments are eligible for the contest until midnight, July 16, 2009 Central Time zone.
• I will use the Custom Random Number Generator to pick 1st and 2nd place, and announce the winners on this blog on July 17.
  
• The winners will need to contact me by email before 10pm Central Time on July 27, 2009 or another winner will be selected.
• Sorry, only residents of the continental U.S. and APO/FPO and Canadian addresses are eligible.

Please note - to be eligible, your comment must appear on this post on the WordProverb blog. If you are reading this on Facebook or elsewhere, please visit the actual blog post to add your comment.

Thank you and good luck!