Review: The Almost Moon

From Goodreads:
A woman steps over the line into the unthinkable in this brilliant, powerful, and unforgettable new novel by the author of The Lovely Bones and Lucky.
For years Helen Knightly has given her life to others: to her haunted mother, to her enigmatic father, to her husband and now grown children. When she finally crosses a terrible boundary, her life comes rushing in at her in a way she never could have imagined. Unfolding over the next twenty-four hours, this searing, fast-paced novel explores the complex ties between mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, the meaning of devotion, and the line between love and hate. It is a challenging, moving, gripping story, written with the fluidity and strength of voice that only Alice Sebold can bring to the page.
My review: I wanted to like this book, I really did. I liked The Lovely Bones. To say that this book was a disappointment would be an understatement. I want to know what the hell Alice Sebold was thinking when she wrote this book. We all know she can write. So how to explain the travesty that is The Almost Moon?
The main character was unlikeable. I don’t need them to be likable to like a book. This one was so one dimensional that it was hard to see past what she did to garner any sympathy for her. The secondary cast were not fully developed so no connection there either.
One thing that really irritated me, especially as a person with mental illness is that it seems she to failed to research what a real live person with the condition really acts like. I kept reading and was like you are making it sound all bad. As if we are one dimensional beings without any other traits. I really wish she had done more research or yet spent time with someone who has a mental illness to see how we really behave and such. I was offended to be honest with you.
I tried to find something that I liked about this book. That is why I kept on reading til the end. I kept thinking, there has to be some redeeming value. I will give it this it was short so I don’t feel as if I wasted to much time on it.
I am willing to give her one more shot. I hope she writes another book that is on par with The Lovely Bones.

Review: Bad Girls of the Bible

I have to admit it was the cover and the title that got my attention on this one. So often in the realm of Christian books we get titles that say that we need to become more Holy. This title grabbed my attention because well it had “bad girls” in the title. I had to know who the bad girls were and what their story was.

This book chronicles ten of the books bad women. Lot’s wife and the women at the well and the sinful woman among them. It gives a modern day retelling of each then gives a verse by verse commentary on what the story on the whole means and what it means for us today.

I liked this book and especially liked the way Liz Curtis Higgs added her own commentary style to it. I loved the modern retelling. It put a new fresh spin on ages old stories. I had read the stories in the bible but had not truly understood what they meant until I read them in this book. What I mean by that is that is that the lessons had not sunk in that you are supposed to take from them.

This is an easy read. Liz writing style is chatty and she added touches of humor to each story. I found myself highly amused by what she had written. Another thing I liked is that she does not talk sown to the reader but rather gives them hope. She adds bits of her own story so you can see that she is just like many woman out there today. It does not feel as if she was always holier than thou but like every person has made mistakes and was given God Grace to help other woman know that they too can find God and life a better life no matter what their background.

Even if you don’t like inspirational books Liz storytelling makes this book fun to read.Highly recommended

Sunday Salon

                               

Good morning everyone!

I ran across this website Read All Day and thought it was captivated. I will try this while I am waiting until I go back to school. I also cant wait to read the authors book Tolstoy and the Purple Chair when it comes out. It sounds like a book I will love.

I was also captivated but Google plus. I finally scored an invite. Click here if you want to connect with me. I love how you can control who sees what. That was my biggest gripe with Facebook. I always felt paranoid about who was going to have to my inner ramblings. Now I can put everyone in circles and I feel like I can rest more easily. I hope it catches on but only time will tell.

This was a slow week on my blog but I did review

Springs Renewal

The Artist Way

I have noticed that since taking the advice in the Artist way my writing has been more easier. I guess getting out of the house and getting everything that bugs you out of your system really helps.

This has also been a slow reading week for me. I hope it is not another slump because there are so many books I want to read. I am curious when you hit a slump what do you do to pull yourself out of it?

Today I will be reading and hopefully finishing The almost moon by Alice Sebold. I loved her previous book and I am loving this book also.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Review: Spring’s Renewal

When I said I like all sorts of books. I really meant all sorts. I have always been interested in how people of other sub-cultures live. When I saw this on a friends book shelf I knew that I had to borrow it. After all one way to learn about different people is to read about them right?

Tim is visiting his Uncles farm in Ohio. He did not want to go at first but his family encouraged him to go. He had a sweetheart he left back in Indiana so he wasn’t looking for anyone to love. Until he met Clara. Clara is different in that as a child she was badly burned. Many people in the community look down on her or pitied her but not Tim. He wonders why no one is courting her. As they get to know each other Tim must make a decision. Will he continue with his sweetheart Ruby Lee back in Indiana or will he go to Clara?

As a deaf reader I could sympathize with Clara. I know how well meaning people can make you more self-conscious about something than not.

I had to admit I was surprised by some of the things in this book. Like the romance part. I guess I had stereotyped the Amish into one big group with all adhering to ridged values instead of a group with its members having varying degrees of which they conform. Which is a mistake that a lot of people tend to make.

The romance in this book however was much more believable than romances in other books the author showed the up and downs a couple has before they finally realize their true feelings. I like the breadth that she took to show this.

Clara is shown as a strong woman in her own way. She made peace about her disfigurement and did not let it interfere with her love of teaching. This is a vital message for anyone that has something different about them. Through Clara we could see that what is “wrong” with you does not necessarily have to define or limit who you are.

This is not the only theme in this book although it is the main one there are many other side stories to hold and grip the readers attention. I will defientily be pick up the other books in this series.

Review: The Artist Way

I had been having serious writers block for the first half of the year. I tried everything I knew to combat it but to no avail. Then while reading book blogs I began to hear of a book called the Artist Way. I decided I had to check it out.

I have to say I was not disappointed with this book. It has been three weeks since I started the cornerstone of the book which is Morning Pages and Artist Dates. I can already see an improvement.

The book takes on a 12 step aura to help combat “creative blocks” It is not only for writers but for anyone who wants to live more creatively. That means even if you do not pursue any of the tradional creative outlets than this book can still help you.

Some people might be put of by the spiritual aspect of this book. I read some reviews where this was the case. I do not feel it is overly spiritual in in that case the spiritual overtones actually added a dimension to the book.

Overall people who are looking to be more creative  will enjoy this book.

                                 Happy 4th of July everyone!!

                             

Sunday Salon

It is July already!! Where has the time gone?  We are at the half way nark and I have to say I am disappointed with how my blogging and reading resolutions have turned out. Although once my dr finally gave me something for my adult ADHD symptoms it has improved. I am hoping that my reading will pick up speed and my blogging will fall into a regular pattern.

One thing I realized is that I often fail to plan. And I know the most dedicated bloggers plan for every eventuality so that’s what I am going to start doing also. I set up a Google calendar with what post I want when and I am hoping this helps me keep to a regular posting schedule and not go weeks without posting anything,

Yesterday was fun I read most of the day then when dark came I had frount row seats from my house for the firework show. It lasted longer than I thought it would around 30 minutes. I was surprised because I do live in a small town so I thought it might be 5 mins tops but nope they had a really good 30 minute show.

Today I am going to church, then after church since it is raining here again, I will spend reading “Bad Girls of the Bible” and catching up with other blogs.

I hope everyone has a happy Sunday!!