The Skinny Rules

The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper

Over the years I have enjoyed watching The Biggest Loser, at times. It's always inspiring to see people change through dedication and hard work. Bob Harper is an amazing trainer. I picked up this book and really enjoyed his simple tips on making choices that count.

A recommend for the reader looking to lose weight or just live a healthier life.

Random note: A picture of a shirtless Bob wouldn’t have been a bad advertising technique…I’m just saying. J

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Amazon Description:

“Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .After. Nothing is ever the same.”

My Thoughts:

I fell in love with John Green with “The Fault in Our Stars.”

Going back to the beginning of Green’s list, “Looking for Alaska” is his debut novel. It was good…but I didn’t love it. It moves a bit slow and then gets very redundant “after.” However, Green clearly has a keen talent and I look forward to reading more of his work.

Never Knowing

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

Stevens is a newer voice in suspense. I find her writing style to be unique and refreshing. I really enjoyed her first novel "Still Missing" and this one reinforced my opinion of her work.

The main character, Sara feels like an outsider in her adopted family. She begins a search for her biological parents, hoping to discover where she came from. What Sara finds is devastating. Digging into the past almost causes her to lose everything, including her life.

I thought the characters could have been better developed and I didn't like the "twist" at the end, but the story moved quickly and overall, I enjoyed it.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen Covey

Amazon.com Description:

“In his first major work since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems--large and small, mundane and extraordinary--that confront all families and strong communities. By offering revealing anecdotes about ordinary people as well as helpful suggestions about changing everyday behavior, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families shows how and why to have family meetings, the importance of keeping promises, how to balance individual and family needs, and how to move from dependence to interdependence. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families is an invaluable guidebook to the welfare of families everywhere.”

My thoughts:
My family is everything to me. Covey presents good advice on how to engage your family and build strong relationships. Everything he discusses is really common sense and easily applied. The importance is simply in the reminder to put effort into growing and maintaining these relationships. A recommend for parents!

In My Father's Country

In My Father’s Country: An Afghan Woman Denies Her Fate by Saima Wahab

Wahad pens a beautiful memoir with a powerful female voice. Born in Afghanistan, later forced to flee to Pakistan as a refugee, her family decides to send her and her siblings to Amercia to live with their Uncles. Wahab struggles to conform to American culture and she describes the clash between Afghan and American ideals.

Continuing to discover herself, as an adult, Wahab returns to Afghanistan as an interpreter. In an honest voice she reveals her struggle to break away from the traditional role of an Afghan woman and create her own place in the world. She is fair to both cultures—American and Pashtun. She is complex and beautiful. I appreciated her voice.

Catching Fire AND MockingJay

Catching Fire AND MockingJay by Suzanne Collins

This is a VERY long post…because these books really moved me. Collins has an amazing talent.

Warning: SPOILERS!! If you haven’t read the trilogy, and have plans to do so, don’t read this post! I can’t write my thoughts without some spoilers.

Starting with “Catching Fire”---After “Hunger Games” I wasn’t sure the sequel could possibly compare. Katniss and Peeta had survived the games, so what could be next? Collins penned a sequel that, in my opinion, surpassed the first. 

Katniss and Peeta are forced back into the games for an “all-star” season. I couldn’t stop reading. How could they both end up surviving again? Would Peeta sacrifice himself for Katniss? Or would Katniss somehow allow Peeta to survive, ensuring her own demise? New, interesting characters are introduced. I was enthralled with the plot and the characters. 

I had a hard time really engaging with Katniss in “Hunger Games.” I liked her…but I didn't. “Catching Fire” enables the reader to see new depth in her character. She starts to see that life is not always black and white as she becomes a figurehead for something so much larger than herself, something she struggles to even understand.

 

On the other hand, I loved Peeta from the beginning and my feelings for him grew even stronger. He is the pivotal character (more on this below). In this book Collins starts to contrast Peeta and Gale.  I was firmly in the Peeta camp! While both male characters are loyal to Katniss you can see how Peeta is the perfect contrast to her character. Her rock, if you will. Katniss is blind to this (her age, I think), but begins to rely on him, put her trust in him. And was "love" for you at 16? Some complaints on the book asked for more romance, but you have to remember that these characters are teenagers. Katniss is confused. Her friendship with Gale is solid and they are so much alike. Yet, she also fiercely protects Peeta, even making a deal with Haymitch that she will die in the second games so that he can live. Is that not love? 

 

Haymitch also fleshes out in this sequel into a valuable character. He was unlikable in the prequel, but here he comes alive.

A unique and riveting plot, emotionally charged characters, love, horror, sadness, politics, war…it’s all here. And the ending…masterful.

“MockingJay.” –

I started this book looking for Peeta on every page. I have to admit that, about halfway through, I skimmed through the last 2 chapters because I just couldn’t stand it.

Fast moving, I couldn’t stop reading. Added to the previous plot lines, this third and final book focused almost completely on revolution, politics and war. There are important messages to take away.

I think a lot of people felt that Katniss would fight, the revolution would end, she would pick a boyfriend and everyone would live happily ever after. I respect Collins for not going that route. She suffers…they all do. Life is not a happily ever after. For you to be happy, right now at this very moment, many others have to suffer. Collins forces you to strip off your blinders about that fact. In a war there are no winners…everyone loses something. Katniss discovers that she is a pawn in a much larger game.

What happens with Peeta was hard for me. Katniss loses her rock. And in losing it discovers that she needs it more than ever. All of the survivors have to cope on their own. They sacrifice for everyone else, but that doesn’t protect them from the aftermath. Countries demand this of their soldiers every day, to give their all without reward. To leave their families, leave their homes and not count on coming home.

In the end we see Katniss completely broken. But she rises from the ashes and, with help, builds a new life. The cycle of life…it’s bigger than every individual person.

This book brought me to tears. The end was phenomenal and I absolutely loved it.

Overall Trilogy thoughts:

For me, personally, Peeta was the star of this series. He is the character that kept me reading. He represents what is good in life--love, compassion, kindness. He is the gold standard. At one point, in book three, I was a little angry that Collins took that away from him. I think his character could have gone another direction and still fit into the plot, even in a stronger way. But you see him, a prisoner of war, broken and damaged, coming back with absolutely nothing and his goodness still redeems in the end.

So that is the one thing that I didn’t like; Collins really backed off the theme of Katniss and Peeta in book three. I didn't like the "love triangle" aspect so much. It didn’t seem there should really be a choice between Gale and Peeta. I wanted Katniss to be stronger for Peeta. But maybe that was the intention…in life you skate a thin line between fire (anger, hatred, being oppressed--Gale) and water (calmness, love, contentment--Peeta).

Beyond the dystopian fantasy these books have deep meaning. You have to look for it, but it’s there. Peel back a very thin layer and you can see a world that we all live in today—the alarmist media, reality television, suffering of many, the power of money, revolution, corruption in politics…it’s there. Look into the symbolism of birds, fire and bread...I could go on and on. Brilliant.

I feel like I should mention again that these books are incredibly violent and disturbing. I’m still surprised that young kids are reading them. The second and third both grow more violent. Parents should take into account when their children want to read this trilogy.

I hope you made it through my lengthy thoughts! I could discuss for hours.

McKnight in Shining Armor

McKnight in Shining Armor by Tami Hoag

There have been several Tami Hoag mystery novels that I really enjoyed. "McKnight in Shining Armor", however,  is an earlier novel of hers in the romance genre. I didn’t find it appealing. It was a mundane romance with shallow character development and a slow moving plot.

I may try another romance by her, but I’m thinking her talent lies more in mystery!

The Tipping Point

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

Amazon.com Description:

“The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.”

My Thoughts:

Interesting study on behavior patterns. Gladwell provides a plethora of statistics and examples of how small changes in behavior can create large changes on a much larger scale. If you enjoy sociology and/or science, this is for you!

Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine

Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine by Ann Hood

Amazon.com Description:

“In 1969, as Peter, Paul and Mary croon on the radio and poster paints are splashing the latest antiwar slogans, three friends find love. Suzanne, a poet, lives in a Maine beach house awaiting the birth of a child she will call Sparrow. Claudia, who weds a farmer during college, plans to raise three strong sons. Elizabeth and her husband marry, organize protests, and try to rear two children with their hippy values. By 1985, things have changed: Suzanne, now with an MBA, calls Sparrow "Susan." Claudia spirals backward into her sixties world—and into madness. And Elizabeth, fatally ill, watches despairingly as her children yearn for a split-level house and a gleaming station wagon.”

My Thoughts:

One of Hood's talents is character contrast. I enjoyed this story, finding pieces of myself in each of the three main characters.

The Shortest Way Home

The Shortest Way Home by Juliette Fay

Amazon.com Description:

“Sean has spent twenty years in Third World war zones and natural disaster areas, fully embracing what he’d always felt was his life’s mission. But when burnout sets in, Sean is reluctantly drawn home to Belham, Massachusetts, the setting of Fay’s much-loved Shelter Me. There, he discovers that his steely aunt, overly dramatic sister, and quirky nephew are having a little natural disaster of their own. When he reconnects with a woman from his past, Sean has to wonder if the bonds of love and loyalty might just rewrite his destiny.”

My Thoughts:

I enjoy Fay’s writing style. She has a talent for crafting real people with genuine emotion. “Shelter Me” is still my favorite of hers…but this one is good, too.

Brazen

Brazen by Maya Banks

Notice...this book is not for the faint of heart. To set the scene—I am blushing profusely while I write this post, just remembering what I read.

I had previously tagged Banks as an author to read more of. The previous book I read was a romantic suspense and the love scenes were pretty intense, but overall the book was more suspense than sex. Picking this one up, I had no idea what I was getting into.

Lesson learned: I should have read the entire back cover before diving right in. I did read the description; it says “One woman’s campaign to win the hearts of the two men she loves. ….She wants them both, but Seth has no intention of sharing his woman.” I glanced over that, thinking it would be a book about a girl who thinks she is in love with two guys, but realizes she really only loves one of them. This Seth guy would set her straight!

I skipped the smaller blurb entirely (my comments upon reading later in parentheses)—“Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex (ok), graphic language (ok), menage a trios (oh dear), handcuffs (so), a committed menage relationship (what?!?)”

I was reading along thinking…surely she will realize soon that she only loves Seth in that way, not Zane too, right?  Then BAM! Naughtiness with Zane in his truck…well, that’s going to be an issue to get over before she can be with Seth...I'm still thinking...but no, it just got crazier from there. She really DID want to be with both guys (at the same time, even)!

Basically, this was not really my cup of tea, but none the less it was interesting! I’m still a little flabbergasted about it, honestly. I hadn’t really considered this type of rrelationship being about love or permanency before...seems messy.

Beautiful Lies

Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

I enjoy a good thriller…but this one was neither good nor thrilling.  I have read other books by Unger that I liked, but this one was just bad.  First, the pace is incredibly slow. The narrator is that annoying person you know who draws every story out and never gets to the point. Second, the writing is just below average. Poor character development and conflicting plot points. The final nail is that there isn't even a modicum of suspense.

I wouldn’t recommend this one to suspense readers, or any other readers. I will give Unger another chance though!

Bossypants

Bossypants by Tina Fey

I haven’t closely followed Tina Fey’s career. I do remember a few things she has created--I loved her days on the SNL Weekend Update and also when she came back to impersonate Sarah Palin.

I picked up this book and, through her life story, I really grew to like her. I enjoy her point of view on being a woman in a male dominated profession and also being a working Mom.

I have this recurring fantasy about moving to a farm and making jam. Don't judge...it’s my happy place! I had to laugh when Fey shares her version of my fantasy. She says, “I always fantasize about quitting my job. ‘We don’t need a lot of money’ I tell myself. ‘We don’t live extravagantly; we just live in an expensive city. If we moved to a little house in the middle of Pennsylvania we could live like kings for much less! And we’d all be together all day and we’ll make cupcakes and plant a garden!”

If you are a Tina fan, or even if you aren’t, this is a good read.

A Widow's Story

A Widow’s Story: A Memoir by Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates candidly shares her story of grief and survival after losing her husband. I found her memoir moving and brutally honest. I simply cannot imagine being with someone for so long and then losing them. A beautiful tribute to her lost love.

Hellhound on his Trail

Hellhound on his Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin by Hampton Sides

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man willing to stand on the side of justice. If only there were more people willing to do that….I have read extensively about his life and his ideals, but very little, specifically, about his assassination.

Sides provides a well researched account of events leading up to, and following his April 4^th, 1968 assassination. Most of the detail surrounds the 65 day search for the assassin.

I was a bit put off by the alternating stories being told. One chapter is about Ray, the next about King. I found this was a bit confusing, since so much detail is being reported. I get that Sides was trying to show how they were on two paths set to converge, but it just didn’t work well, for me.

This was a little flat for me. I give points for detail, but deductions for being completely emotionless and sometimes too harsh. It was a struggle to finish, but I learned some new information, which is always a plus.

Simply Irresistable

Simply Irresistable by Jill Shalvis

Amazon.com Description:

“In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too. The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.”

My Thoughts:

I loved this one. Shalvis is good at creating realistic characters with strong emotion. Shalvis is a must try for all romance lovers.

Happiness Sold Separately

Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

Amazon.com Description:

“The New York Times bestseller about how marriage, love, and how sometimes falling in love with the wrong person at the wrong time can be the right thing. Elinor Mackey has lived her life in perfect order: college, law school, marriage, successful corporate career. But when she discovers that she and her podiatrist husband, Ted, can't have children, Elinor withdraws into her own world of heartbreak and anger. While Elinor falls in love with the oak tree in their front yard, sleeping under it at night, Ted begins an affair with Gina, the nutritionist at their gym. Ted, who may be the only one who can help Gina and her son, suddenly finds himself in love with two women at the same time. In the tradition of Anne Tyler, John Cheever, and Tom Perrotta, Winston's second novel looks beyond the manicured surface of suburbia to a world of loss, longing, lust, and betrayal.”

My Thoughts:

I was pretty engaged at the beginning of this book. But about a third of the way through Winston completely lost me. The characters were starting to blossom in the beginning and then they abruptly stopped being dimensional and became cliché and ultimately unrealistic. Ted was a total jerk…but painted sympathetically. He is the worst type of unfaithful husband…but it’s not really his fault, right? And then Elinor, instead of being a strong character, whittles down to an utter mess. I wanted to feel for her, but couldn’t. A good ending could have redeemed a bit, but unfortunately the ending was a complete let down. 

The Notebook

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I have to admit, I’m not a fan of Nicholas Sparks. I had previously read “The Notebook” and couldn’t get through it. I decided to try again, thinking maybe I would have a different opinion. Nope. I still hated it.

I don’t enjoy his writing style. In my opinion, he creates one-dimensional characters. This book, in particular, has no depth of emotion. What it has is superficial sappiness. Yuck. 

Usually a book is always better than the movie. In this case the movie is much better.

I have tortured myself enough trying to like something by Sparks. This was my last attempt. If you like one of his books, you will probably like them all…

Cry No More

Cry No More by Linda Howard

Mila is shopping at the local market in Mexico. She is a temporary resident while her husband volunteers at a local hospital. Suddenly, her six-week old baby is ripped from her arms. She fights back furiously, clawing out one of the kidnappers eyes…but she is stabbed and left for dead. Her baby is gone.

Years later Mila is still searching for her son. She has lost everything but struggles on, led by the hope of finding him. Everyone else has moved on and her loved ones wonder why she is unable to do so.

As Mila gets closer to the truth about what happened to her son, she puts herself in danger. She meets a man who is willing to help her and they connect emotionally. I loved both of the main characters; Mila for her intense love for her son and strong determination to find him, and Diaz for his strength and support of Mila.

I really loved this one. It was a difficult, emotionally, as I could feel Mila’s anguish. As a Mother, losing a child is the worst fear. There were definitely tears shed throughout this book! But isn’t that a mark of the great author?

In my opinion, this is a must read for the romantic suspense reader. I would also recommend to the regular suspense reader, as the romance is definitely not central to the plot.