Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is one of the best books I have ever read. It breaks your heart in the first few pages, keeps you emotionally involved through the entire novel, and delivers a very powerful, emotional ending. Fantastic read that makes you laugh, remember your youth and cry out loud (downright sob, in my case).
Firefly Lane is about two girls who are very different from each other, but find their way to becoming best friends. The novel starts when they are grade school age in the 70s and takes you through their college years together and on through careers, relationships, marriage and kids. It is a novel about friendship at is core, but it is also about the relationship between girls and their moms, husbands and wives, and later about the relationship between moms and their girls. It gives insight into how our familial background shapes who we become as adults, and how our choices, even early on in life change the course of our lives.
The novel became very personal for me at the end. I found myself seeing the situations as a mother of a little girl who is the most precious thing to me, and also as a daughter of a mother with whom I have unresolved issues and very limited time to resolve them. I also found the model of the mother I hope to be in this novel. The passage of time in this book is marked by the fashions and music of the different eras and that was fun to relive.
It is a remarkable work that will remain with me for a very long time, and has become one of my favorite books. The characters and situations will not be easily forgotten. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this book was. I will be recommending it to all of my friends who also love to read. I borrowed it from a friend, but I will probably buy it so that I can add it to my collection and share it with my daughter when she is older.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Plum Spooky
Plum Spooky is a "between the numbers" novel in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. This book is one more of Stephanie's misadventures in the bounty hunter business. It is hilarious, laugh out loud funny. The cast of characters in these novels doesn't get any better. From Stephanie herself, to Diesel the uber bounty hunter with special powers, to her side-kick Lula, to the pet monkey she is babysitting, to her parents and grandmother, the people that surround Stephanie are quite the cast of characters.
This novel literally had me laughing out loud, and reading parts out loud to my husband. It is the kind of novel that has to be shared! The ridiculousness of the situations and characters, and the comedy behind the dialogue keep you laughing and entertained until the last page. Janet Evanovich just keeps getting better. I highly recommend this book and this entire series.
Happy Reading!
This novel literally had me laughing out loud, and reading parts out loud to my husband. It is the kind of novel that has to be shared! The ridiculousness of the situations and characters, and the comedy behind the dialogue keep you laughing and entertained until the last page. Janet Evanovich just keeps getting better. I highly recommend this book and this entire series.
Happy Reading!
The Expected One
The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan is a novel that makes you think. It makes you think about what you believe about Christianity. It makes you think about your own faith. It makes you think about "what if."
This book is about Maureen Paschal's journey to find the gospel of Mary Magdalene. Maureen Paschal is a professor and an author. She believes that the history that we have all been taught is not the truth, that those who were responsible for capturing that history changed it based on their own biases and politics. Along her journey she learns about secret societies, blood lines, and her own family's history. There are secrets buried at every turn and behind every painting. It is a fascinating look at the constant search for some sort of proof of what really happened in biblical times. It is reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, but without the action.
Part of the book then becomes the gospel of Mary Magdalene. You read about her life, the life of Jesus and the influential people that surrounded him and his disciples, all from her perspective. It was very interesting, and this part of the book was just as much of a page turner as the rest.
There are people that may say this book made them question what they believed or shook their faith. I did not find myself in that position. However, I did think a lot about what I was reading. It was an entertaining book, that makes you wonder, "what if." What if history really happened differently than historians have noted in history books? What if some of the key players in the gospels, as we know them, really acted differently? What if we their true intentions were different than what we believe them to be? What if a gospel written by Mary Magdalene really existed, or one by Jesus himself? What if the life of Jesus was lived a little differently than we have all been taught?
Kathleen McGowen's second book in this "Magdalene" series came out this month - The Book of Love. It is a search for the gospel written by Jesus himself. I have that on my list of books I want to read. And I would recommend The Expected One.
Happy Reading!
This book is about Maureen Paschal's journey to find the gospel of Mary Magdalene. Maureen Paschal is a professor and an author. She believes that the history that we have all been taught is not the truth, that those who were responsible for capturing that history changed it based on their own biases and politics. Along her journey she learns about secret societies, blood lines, and her own family's history. There are secrets buried at every turn and behind every painting. It is a fascinating look at the constant search for some sort of proof of what really happened in biblical times. It is reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, but without the action.
Part of the book then becomes the gospel of Mary Magdalene. You read about her life, the life of Jesus and the influential people that surrounded him and his disciples, all from her perspective. It was very interesting, and this part of the book was just as much of a page turner as the rest.
There are people that may say this book made them question what they believed or shook their faith. I did not find myself in that position. However, I did think a lot about what I was reading. It was an entertaining book, that makes you wonder, "what if." What if history really happened differently than historians have noted in history books? What if some of the key players in the gospels, as we know them, really acted differently? What if we their true intentions were different than what we believe them to be? What if a gospel written by Mary Magdalene really existed, or one by Jesus himself? What if the life of Jesus was lived a little differently than we have all been taught?
Kathleen McGowen's second book in this "Magdalene" series came out this month - The Book of Love. It is a search for the gospel written by Jesus himself. I have that on my list of books I want to read. And I would recommend The Expected One.
Happy Reading!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Forever in Blue (The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood)
This is the final installment of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. I read all four books back to back. My world was so entrenched with these four girls that they became my friends for a short time!
This book is not as entertaining as the first three. I think that the third and fourth in the series are not as good as the first two. However, it was still an okay book. I liked it. I thought it was a pretty good wrap up to the series. The storyline was fading and I couldn't really see where else the author could go that would offer the reader something new. So it is appropriate that the series ends here.
In this book, the girls are in finished their first year of college. They are each doing something related to school through the summer though. Three are staying at their respective schools and one is traveling abroad. The still send the pants on to each other, but they play a much reduced role in this book. The only time the four friends are together is at the very end of the book when an emergency brings them together for one purpose. It is a very fitting end to the book and the series.
The author comments that she might revisit these girls at a later point in their lives. She doesn't think she is finished with them yet. If she does complete another novel with these girls, as women, I think I would probably pick it up. It wouldn't be one I would rush to the store to get, but I would want to read it to see where their lives have taken them to satisfy curiosity.
Overall, I would recommend this entire series. Reading all four back to back was enjoyable for me.
Happy Reading!
This book is not as entertaining as the first three. I think that the third and fourth in the series are not as good as the first two. However, it was still an okay book. I liked it. I thought it was a pretty good wrap up to the series. The storyline was fading and I couldn't really see where else the author could go that would offer the reader something new. So it is appropriate that the series ends here.
In this book, the girls are in finished their first year of college. They are each doing something related to school through the summer though. Three are staying at their respective schools and one is traveling abroad. The still send the pants on to each other, but they play a much reduced role in this book. The only time the four friends are together is at the very end of the book when an emergency brings them together for one purpose. It is a very fitting end to the book and the series.
The author comments that she might revisit these girls at a later point in their lives. She doesn't think she is finished with them yet. If she does complete another novel with these girls, as women, I think I would probably pick it up. It wouldn't be one I would rush to the store to get, but I would want to read it to see where their lives have taken them to satisfy curiosity.
Overall, I would recommend this entire series. Reading all four back to back was enjoyable for me.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood/Girls in Pants
I am lumping these two books together, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and Girls in Pants (The Third Summer of the Sisterhood) by Ann Brashares, because I read them back to back. Literally; I closed one, picked up the next and started it. I finished the two of them in about 24 hours.
I enjoyed the Second Summer almost as much as the first. The girls, individually, get themselves all confused and messed up. Each one faces a crisis. The pants help sometimes and sometimes not. In the end, each girl figures something out about herself and grows a bit. One becomes more likable, one less so. But in some way, the reader can still identify with each of the girls.
The Third Summer is their last as "kids". They are all off to college at the end of this summer. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, but it was still entertaining and I would recommend it. In the third installment, two of the girls branch into each other's families a bit. One works for the summer babysitting another's grandmother. One comes to the rescue at a most important time for another's mother. It was an interesting twist and one that was quite realistic. You can't love someone as much as these girls love each other and not be involved with the other people that are so important in their lives.
The one thing that I love about these books is that nothing comes between these girls. They adore one another but are not so far into each other's business to hurt one another. They listen and help and support without jealousy or vanity. I don't believe that is typical of high school friendships; I believe it takes more mature individuals to love like that. I love that aspect of the book though because I can so completely relate to it, having a group of friends like that myself.
I am very interested to see where the next summer goes with the girls, and so I have already picked up the fourth and final installment.
Happy Reading!
I enjoyed the Second Summer almost as much as the first. The girls, individually, get themselves all confused and messed up. Each one faces a crisis. The pants help sometimes and sometimes not. In the end, each girl figures something out about herself and grows a bit. One becomes more likable, one less so. But in some way, the reader can still identify with each of the girls.
The Third Summer is their last as "kids". They are all off to college at the end of this summer. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, but it was still entertaining and I would recommend it. In the third installment, two of the girls branch into each other's families a bit. One works for the summer babysitting another's grandmother. One comes to the rescue at a most important time for another's mother. It was an interesting twist and one that was quite realistic. You can't love someone as much as these girls love each other and not be involved with the other people that are so important in their lives.
The one thing that I love about these books is that nothing comes between these girls. They adore one another but are not so far into each other's business to hurt one another. They listen and help and support without jealousy or vanity. I don't believe that is typical of high school friendships; I believe it takes more mature individuals to love like that. I love that aspect of the book though because I can so completely relate to it, having a group of friends like that myself.
I am very interested to see where the next summer goes with the girls, and so I have already picked up the fourth and final installment.
Happy Reading!
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
I know, I am behind the times. Most of the best sellers that I read, I read WAY after they have been on the best sellers list. This is one of those. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares was published in 2001, eight years ago! I had wanted to read it but it just hadn't made it to the top of my list yet. Then a friend loaned the whole series to me - all four books. I picked it up and was hooked. Finished this book in two days and started the second one right away.
The Sisterhood is made up of four high school friends. The girls mothers were friends but as their lives changed the adults became distanced. The girls, however, remained best friends. They have spent their lives together and this particular summer will be spending their first summer apart. They are girls that most readers can identify with in some way. The "pants" are a consignment shop treasure that miraculously fit all four of the girls, even though they are different shapes and sizes. Hence, their magical nature. The girls decide to share the pants. They see it as a way to stay connected during their summer apart. They make rules that must be adhered to and document the things that happen to them in the pants. The book is, of course, about more than the pants and the adventures that happen when the girls are wearing them. The book is about the individual sisters and the group as a whole.
I loved the sisterhood that the girls share. Having three best friends myself and being a part of a group that shares that kind of love made me love this book all the more. These girls are so open about their feelings for one another and are always there to support each other. Even when that supporting means saying something that the other does not want to hear. Each of the girls has her flaws. That makes the characters more real. They are there for each other through everything - which anyone who has a best friend can identify with.
I absolutely loved this book and started the second one right away. I would highly recommend it. I can't wait to see where the girls second adventure takes them.
Happy Reading!
The Sisterhood is made up of four high school friends. The girls mothers were friends but as their lives changed the adults became distanced. The girls, however, remained best friends. They have spent their lives together and this particular summer will be spending their first summer apart. They are girls that most readers can identify with in some way. The "pants" are a consignment shop treasure that miraculously fit all four of the girls, even though they are different shapes and sizes. Hence, their magical nature. The girls decide to share the pants. They see it as a way to stay connected during their summer apart. They make rules that must be adhered to and document the things that happen to them in the pants. The book is, of course, about more than the pants and the adventures that happen when the girls are wearing them. The book is about the individual sisters and the group as a whole.
I loved the sisterhood that the girls share. Having three best friends myself and being a part of a group that shares that kind of love made me love this book all the more. These girls are so open about their feelings for one another and are always there to support each other. Even when that supporting means saying something that the other does not want to hear. Each of the girls has her flaws. That makes the characters more real. They are there for each other through everything - which anyone who has a best friend can identify with.
I absolutely loved this book and started the second one right away. I would highly recommend it. I can't wait to see where the girls second adventure takes them.
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Family Tree
I picked up Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky because a friend borrowed the other book I was reading and I didn't want to be without a book. I don't know much about Barbara Delinsky, but I expected not to be impressed. I expected it to be a trite romance. I was surprised.
This book was about a family that gets the surprise of a lifetime when their baby is born of a different race. They have to deal with the surprise and all of the feelings that go along with it: mistrust, anger, confusion, concern. They also have to look inside themselves and try to discover exactly where they stand on the issue of race. And they search for the missing link...where did this come from? It is a book about family history, and what exactly that truly means.
While the book was a little predictable, it was still highly enjoyable. Mixed in with the main plot are a few sub plots that keep the story moving and allow you more access to the main characters and their personalities. Overall, this was a fast, easy read and very entertaining. I would recommend it, and I will read more Delinsky in the future.
Happy Reading!
This book was about a family that gets the surprise of a lifetime when their baby is born of a different race. They have to deal with the surprise and all of the feelings that go along with it: mistrust, anger, confusion, concern. They also have to look inside themselves and try to discover exactly where they stand on the issue of race. And they search for the missing link...where did this come from? It is a book about family history, and what exactly that truly means.
While the book was a little predictable, it was still highly enjoyable. Mixed in with the main plot are a few sub plots that keep the story moving and allow you more access to the main characters and their personalities. Overall, this was a fast, easy read and very entertaining. I would recommend it, and I will read more Delinsky in the future.
Happy Reading!
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