The Book Was Better

  One of the things I love the most about this collaborative anthology is that it's real. These are real women, facing real struggles, achieving real successes, in the real world.  I was lucky enough to receive my copy from one of the authors and I was blown away by the non-preachy authenticity of these women's tales. From dealing with medical issues and loss, to climbing the corporate ladder and discovering their authentic selves, these stories are indeed inspiring -- and enlightening, engrossing, and powerful.  In a world where it's very easy for women to tear each other down, these women exemplify the great things that happen when we cheer each other on and celebrate our mutual successes. These are the type of women I want in my life.  https://www.amazon.com/Inspiring-Women-Unstoppable-Purpose-Passion-ebook/dp/B0DV6J1KPD 

  This book popped up as a recommendation based on my reading history and I'm a sucker for a cozy mystery, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I wanted to like it. The premise is intriguing enough -- set during WWII, undercover agents being picked off one by one. But... I know that it is common practice to set the scene for a series during the first book. But, when that first book just shows what's unlikeable about the characters until a tiny bit of growth at the end, it makes for a really tough read. The characterization was so flat that not only did I not really feel like I knew them, I also didn't care about them. I could see the potential in the last couple of chapters, and I'm guessing that Dixon will show both personal and relationship transformations in upcoming books, but the result was a rather lackluster opening that didn't really make me want to keep reading. (Unless it's about Benson. He seems like an interesting chap.)  Additionally, I didn't r...

  My book club's theme is to read books that are becoming movies. That way, we have fun reading the book together, and later get the double-whammy of enjoying the movie together, too. In the case of Verity , this is one time that I actually hope the movie is better than the book.  This one goes in my DNL (did not love) pile. In a book that should have been twisty and turny, the twist was not even all that twisty -- predictable even. But my biggest issue -- and biggest bookworm pet peeve -- was that the characters were just not likable. It's hard to root for a hero or heroine that you don't like. They were all terrible people doing terrible things, which is not my jam.  Did I keep reading because I wanted to know what happened next? Yes. Was I satisfied with the ending? Meh. 

 It's been a minute. 14 years to be exact, since I last penned a book review. Goodreads tells me I've read over 1000 books since then; probably more. I thought it about time to revive the conversation -- not just consume the books, but share and talk about them.  First up...one of my favorite new cozy mystery series: The Homefront Sleuths.  From the dynamic father-daughter duo that brought us the Sherlock and Lucy series, this WWII countryside set is like a warm blanket on a cold day. It has just enough intrigue to keep you guessing, a smattering of romance, and vibrant, budding friendships.  So far, I have read up through The Valentine Cipher , which was one of my favorites. Romance is in the air, but so is espionage.  Evie, Nigel, Harry, and the crew always seem to have different pieces to the same puzzle. Part of the magic of this series is the way those pieces eventually fall into place in a non-forced, collaborative way. Every member of the team brings thei...

By this point, nearly anyone who has any desire to has devoured Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga. Though intended as a young adult series, Meyer’s tales have captivated young and mature, creating a frenzy rivaled only by Ms. Rowling. Rather than echoing the countless reviews of those who have loved or despised the series, I ask the question: why? What is it about these supernatural tales that has captured our hearts and inspired all-night, breathless page-turning sessions? My observations have led me to conclude a three-fold appeal: We all feel a little abnormal. Bella Swan’s character is insecure, fallible, and ordinary – easily relatable. But more, Bella feels that she has never quite fit in – there’s something just a little different about her. From adolescence to present I can recall feeling this same striking displacement. No matter our situation in life, we tend to think we’re just a bit unusual compared with those surrounding us. For some, this becomes a crutch, an excuse, but...

 Last night, my daughter was practicing some skills she’s been learning in kindergarten: same and different, sorting, patterns. She held up two dolls and said, “Mommy, what’s different about these two girls?” just like she was a little teacher. I glanced over from where I’d been sitting next to her, reading The Help and noticed she was holding up a Caucasian doll and an African-American doll. Here we go , I thought, our first discussion about race relations . “Well, they have on different colored shirts,” I noted. “What do you see that’s different?” “Very good, Mommy,” pronounced my little instructor. “What’s different is, one girl has ponies in her hair and the other has a barrette.” I simply looked at her for a moment, stunned and proud. “But they’re both little girls, right?” I asked. “Yes, that’s why they’re the same.” Growing up in the south, race is something that has always been a sensitive subject for me. Fortunately, my mom felt very strongly that her chi...