by: Gavin Edwards
Publisher: Random House
Dates Read: October 13 - December 10, 2017
Pages: 313
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
It was October. I was in Chapters. I saw a book about Bill Murray and I bought it simple as that.
The Tao of Bill Murray is a one-of-a-kind book depicting one of my favourite people on this planet: Bill Murray. I realize I read this more than two years ago and am just writing the review on it, but it deserves it's own review. I love Bill Murray. Do I know him? Of course not, but he is a very special person to me. It's crazy, but sometimes when I watch a Bill Murray film I don't hear Bill Murray talking, I hear my dad. He's just special to me so the world has to put up with my great love with the genius.
Bill Murray does what he wants, when he wants. He comes and goes as he places and can be found in the oddest of places wearing the oddest of things. This book is written in two halves: The Ten Principles of Bill and the Films of Bill. Edwards interviewed numerous people who have come into contact with Murray from costars to interviewers to the random people he has surprised on the street. Through that he shares how a person could live a life like Bill Murray. In the introduction Edwards shares a conversation he had with Melissa McCarthy (who starred with Bill in St. Vincent - an EXCELLENT film). He shares that he feels like Bill Murray is teaching us how to live and McCarthy agreed. The ten principles are shared through numerous stories of how Bill seems to live and, you know what, it's not bad advice.
After this Gavin goes through every film Bill has been in, talks about it, and talks about the part he played in it. I mean it, they are all in there, from starring roles to cameos (yes, even Agent 13 in a tree in Get Smart is in there). This part of the book is so good. The only reason I watched Zombieland is because of this book talking about his insanely epic cameo. It's just all so good.
Rating: 4.5/5 (Come one...it's Bill Freaking Murray)
Recommendation: Does anyone I know love Bill as much as I do? No. Does that mean I won't recommend this book to you? No. Read it. Bill Murray is the greatest. He doesn't have an agent. You have to call a 1-800 number, that is very hard to get, in order to get a hold of him, maybe. Sometimes I think about working at a wine store or Kinkos in New York City so that I can receive a script for him. I consider attending the Pebble Beach celebrity golf tournament to catch a glimpse of him in person. I look at trips to Charleston, South Carolina for a one-in-a-million chance to have Bill Murray cover my eyes and say "guess who." Just read about this quirky, whimsical, one-of-a-kind man!
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Some Audiobooks I Have Missed
As I said last week, it has been a while. Oops. I have listened to quite a lot of audiobooks as I drive a lot. It will become evident that I really like to listen to celebrities read their autobiography. Let's jump right in!
The Bassoon King
By: Rainn Wilson
Narrated by: Rainn Wilson
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing
Dates Listened: Dec 22, 2017 - Jan ??, 2018
Length: 8hrs 49mins
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
I love 'The Office' and Dwight is awesome. That's all.
The Bassoon King follows Rainn's life from a nerdy Dungeons and Dragons, bassoon playing kid to The Office and beyond. It was really enjoyable to here about his time in university, his crazy times in New York City, and, best of all, his time on The Office. Rainn also talked a fair bit about his Baha'i religion and the work and organizations he has started with that. It got a little weird in there for a short time, but overall I learned about something I had never even heard of and it was Rainn so, who cares?
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: If you are an office fan, go for it. If a whole chapter on Baha'i is really going to throw you off, skip it. Overall it was funny and quirky and I enjoyed it.
Scrappy Little Nobody
By: Anna Kendrick
Narrated by: Anna Kendrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Dates Listened: Jan ?? - March 4, 2018
Length: 6 hours
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
I like Anna Kendrick.
Again, here we are following Anna Kendrick from her childhood, to her Oscar nominee, to Twilight to Pitch Perfect and beyond. Honestly, hearing about her time on Broadway as a child was likely my favourite part. I have always wondered about the kids on Broadway and we got just a little peak through Anna. A lot of it was just enjoyable stories from her life surrounded by her films. I enjoyed it.
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: If you like Anna Kendrick, give it a listen. She's a funny gal and it was enjoyable hearing her tell all her stories. Also Broadway.
My Happy Days in Hollywood
By: Garry Marshall
Narrated by: Garry Marshall
Publisher: Crown
Dates Listened: March 7 - July 20, 2018
Length: 11hrs 6min
Source: Audible
Why did I read it?
If you ask me who my favourite director is, I'll say Garry Marshall. Do people laugh at me for that? Yes. But he has such a light, bright, magical touch and I just love it.
Every chapter in this book is based on a specific work he has done. There are a few chapters at the beginning around his childhood and then we move into him writing for TV shows (including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show), creating shows (like Happy Days), and directing films (Overboard, Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Valentines Day, etc. etc.). Honestly some of my favourite movies are Garry's. Beaches?? If you haven't seen Beaches get out of here and go watch it. It wasn't until I was an adult that I put together all the films that he made and I loved. Every project had a chapter dedicated to it where he would just talk about how it came about and some things that happened during each project. I really liked that it was laid out like this and it allowed us, the fans, to here all about our favourite shows and films.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: This just may be my favourite autobiography that I have listened to thus far. The late, great Garry Marshall himself reads it. Which means you get the Bronx accent and the joy emulating through it all. I am very glad I bought it on audible because sometimes when I watch one of his films, I go back and relisten to the chapter about it. Highly recommend if you like anything he has ever made. I did not realize he had worked on so many things until I listened to this and I think everyone should know the work he has had a hand in making.
Talking as Fast as I Can
By: Lauren Graham
Narrated by: Lauren Graham
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing
Dates Listened: March 18-20, 2018
Length: 4hrs 38mins
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
I like Lauren Graham. I love both 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Parenthood' so what more could you ask for?
Again, we follow Lauren Graham through life. It is actually advertised as from Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, which is true, but we also get a look at childhood, university, etc. Did you know she always dreamed of being on the Great White Way (aka. Broadway) and she was? Lauren was in lots of commercials and some short spoofs on shows before 'Gilmore Girls' and then 'Parenthood'. This book includes some special chapters about those shows and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. It was a nice read.
Note: If you listen to this book, go to a Chapters and flip through and look at the pictures. It is a major con that she talks about them as though we can see them, but we cannot.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: This book is extra special for two reasons. The first, Broadway. It's enough. The second, it gives you a really special look at A Year in the Life and how magical it was to go back to the characters we love. She said that she purposefully wrote down as much as she could during that experience because she wrote nothing the first time around. This book is worth a read/listen if only for the fact that you wish you were a Gilmore. #teamJess
Uncommon Type: Some Stories
By: Tom Hanks
Narrated by: Tom Hanks
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Dates Listened: March 30-April 25, 2018
Length: 10hrs 5mins
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
Tom Hanks is one of my favourite humans on this planet. He is America's dad and I love him.
This is the only non-autobiography on this list of things I have missed. It is a collection of short stories. I quite enjoyed them. I won't lie, there were a couple that just didn't feel right having Tom Hanks read them to you. He is like our dad and their are just some things you just don't want to hear your dad tell you (some of it is a little...PG-13 and it just felt weird). I liked how some stories came back to characters we had already met. Some were simple about a girl buying a typewriter. Some were outrageous about a group of friends building a spaceship and going to space. Some were pure entertaining like when a man bowls a perfect game and then becomes famous for it. Unlike other celebrities writing short stories, these were all enjoyable AND Tom Hanks read them to you. There could be nothing better (although I still wish he got someone to read the romantic ones about young people. Come on dad!).
Also, it is very important to note that Tom Hanks loves type writers. I didn't realize until I was pretty far in, but I think that every story has a typewriter in it.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Do you love Tom Hanks? Listen to this. In fact, I would lean towards listening over reading just to hear his voice read it to me. Also, the central theme appears to be typewriters so who can complain about this?
Where Am I Now?
By: Mara Wilson
Narrated by: Mara Wilson
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Dates Listened: July 22, 2018 - January 29, 2019
Length: 7hrs 22 mins
Source: Audible
Why did I read it?
Do you remember Mara Wilson? The little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda? Yeah, she was a big part of my childhood so when I saw her 6 year old self on the cover of a book I listened.
If you are a child of the 90s, maybe you feel a little bit like you grew up with Mara Wilson. I did. Then she disappeared for around 15 years and only resurfaced quite recently. She shares about her time on and off set as a child, losing her mom at a young age, mental illness, and what she's up to now. It was good but I found the focus a little too much on artsy/hipster stuff that I just don't know or understand. She is now based in New York doing what seems to be a lot of indie plays and playwriting.
Rating: 2.5/5
Recommendation: It was kind of nice to hear where Mara disappeared to (also learning her name because what child would know that?). It just seemed like she was trying to put her whole serious adulthood art into her childhood art which just didn't really add up to me. The stories through her childhood and teens were overall enjoyable and then she lost me a bit in her adult years. Still, 90s kids, feel free.
The Bassoon King
By: Rainn Wilson
Narrated by: Rainn Wilson
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing
Dates Listened: Dec 22, 2017 - Jan ??, 2018
Length: 8hrs 49mins
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
I love 'The Office' and Dwight is awesome. That's all.
The Bassoon King follows Rainn's life from a nerdy Dungeons and Dragons, bassoon playing kid to The Office and beyond. It was really enjoyable to here about his time in university, his crazy times in New York City, and, best of all, his time on The Office. Rainn also talked a fair bit about his Baha'i religion and the work and organizations he has started with that. It got a little weird in there for a short time, but overall I learned about something I had never even heard of and it was Rainn so, who cares?
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: If you are an office fan, go for it. If a whole chapter on Baha'i is really going to throw you off, skip it. Overall it was funny and quirky and I enjoyed it.
Scrappy Little Nobody
By: Anna Kendrick
Narrated by: Anna Kendrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Dates Listened: Jan ?? - March 4, 2018
Length: 6 hours
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
I like Anna Kendrick.
Again, here we are following Anna Kendrick from her childhood, to her Oscar nominee, to Twilight to Pitch Perfect and beyond. Honestly, hearing about her time on Broadway as a child was likely my favourite part. I have always wondered about the kids on Broadway and we got just a little peak through Anna. A lot of it was just enjoyable stories from her life surrounded by her films. I enjoyed it.
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: If you like Anna Kendrick, give it a listen. She's a funny gal and it was enjoyable hearing her tell all her stories. Also Broadway.
My Happy Days in Hollywood
By: Garry Marshall
Narrated by: Garry Marshall
Publisher: Crown
Dates Listened: March 7 - July 20, 2018
Length: 11hrs 6min
Source: Audible
Why did I read it?
If you ask me who my favourite director is, I'll say Garry Marshall. Do people laugh at me for that? Yes. But he has such a light, bright, magical touch and I just love it.
Every chapter in this book is based on a specific work he has done. There are a few chapters at the beginning around his childhood and then we move into him writing for TV shows (including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show), creating shows (like Happy Days), and directing films (Overboard, Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Valentines Day, etc. etc.). Honestly some of my favourite movies are Garry's. Beaches?? If you haven't seen Beaches get out of here and go watch it. It wasn't until I was an adult that I put together all the films that he made and I loved. Every project had a chapter dedicated to it where he would just talk about how it came about and some things that happened during each project. I really liked that it was laid out like this and it allowed us, the fans, to here all about our favourite shows and films.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: This just may be my favourite autobiography that I have listened to thus far. The late, great Garry Marshall himself reads it. Which means you get the Bronx accent and the joy emulating through it all. I am very glad I bought it on audible because sometimes when I watch one of his films, I go back and relisten to the chapter about it. Highly recommend if you like anything he has ever made. I did not realize he had worked on so many things until I listened to this and I think everyone should know the work he has had a hand in making.
Talking as Fast as I Can
By: Lauren Graham
Narrated by: Lauren Graham
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing
Dates Listened: March 18-20, 2018
Length: 4hrs 38mins
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
I like Lauren Graham. I love both 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Parenthood' so what more could you ask for?
Again, we follow Lauren Graham through life. It is actually advertised as from Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, which is true, but we also get a look at childhood, university, etc. Did you know she always dreamed of being on the Great White Way (aka. Broadway) and she was? Lauren was in lots of commercials and some short spoofs on shows before 'Gilmore Girls' and then 'Parenthood'. This book includes some special chapters about those shows and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. It was a nice read.
Note: If you listen to this book, go to a Chapters and flip through and look at the pictures. It is a major con that she talks about them as though we can see them, but we cannot.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: This book is extra special for two reasons. The first, Broadway. It's enough. The second, it gives you a really special look at A Year in the Life and how magical it was to go back to the characters we love. She said that she purposefully wrote down as much as she could during that experience because she wrote nothing the first time around. This book is worth a read/listen if only for the fact that you wish you were a Gilmore. #teamJess
Uncommon Type: Some Stories
By: Tom Hanks
Narrated by: Tom Hanks
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Dates Listened: March 30-April 25, 2018
Length: 10hrs 5mins
Source: Overdrive
Why did I read it?
Tom Hanks is one of my favourite humans on this planet. He is America's dad and I love him.
This is the only non-autobiography on this list of things I have missed. It is a collection of short stories. I quite enjoyed them. I won't lie, there were a couple that just didn't feel right having Tom Hanks read them to you. He is like our dad and their are just some things you just don't want to hear your dad tell you (some of it is a little...PG-13 and it just felt weird). I liked how some stories came back to characters we had already met. Some were simple about a girl buying a typewriter. Some were outrageous about a group of friends building a spaceship and going to space. Some were pure entertaining like when a man bowls a perfect game and then becomes famous for it. Unlike other celebrities writing short stories, these were all enjoyable AND Tom Hanks read them to you. There could be nothing better (although I still wish he got someone to read the romantic ones about young people. Come on dad!).
Also, it is very important to note that Tom Hanks loves type writers. I didn't realize until I was pretty far in, but I think that every story has a typewriter in it.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Do you love Tom Hanks? Listen to this. In fact, I would lean towards listening over reading just to hear his voice read it to me. Also, the central theme appears to be typewriters so who can complain about this?
Where Am I Now?
By: Mara Wilson
Narrated by: Mara Wilson
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Dates Listened: July 22, 2018 - January 29, 2019
Length: 7hrs 22 mins
Source: Audible
Why did I read it?
Do you remember Mara Wilson? The little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda? Yeah, she was a big part of my childhood so when I saw her 6 year old self on the cover of a book I listened.
If you are a child of the 90s, maybe you feel a little bit like you grew up with Mara Wilson. I did. Then she disappeared for around 15 years and only resurfaced quite recently. She shares about her time on and off set as a child, losing her mom at a young age, mental illness, and what she's up to now. It was good but I found the focus a little too much on artsy/hipster stuff that I just don't know or understand. She is now based in New York doing what seems to be a lot of indie plays and playwriting.
Rating: 2.5/5
Recommendation: It was kind of nice to hear where Mara disappeared to (also learning her name because what child would know that?). It just seemed like she was trying to put her whole serious adulthood art into her childhood art which just didn't really add up to me. The stories through her childhood and teens were overall enjoyable and then she lost me a bit in her adult years. Still, 90s kids, feel free.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Some Books I Have Missed
So it has been a while. Oops. To be perfectly honest, over the past couple years I haven't had as much time to read and thus it suffers. This blog is just as much for me to remember what I've read and what I thought about it as it is to maybe give some ideas of what to read (or what not to). So let's just take a look at some books I have read over the past couple years that never made it on here. I will try to be as concise as possible but honestly, let's just see.
An Abundance of Katherines
by: John Green
Publisher: Speak
Dates Read: April 18-June 1, 2017
Pages: 215
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
Long story short: I went on vacation to Seattle and was robbed. Away went my luggage including the book I was reading. I had a long time to sit at the airport, so I bought the cheapest book I could find that wasn't a children's book. Maybe I should have spent some more money
It was a while ago, but in a nutshell, An Abundance of Katherines follows a boy who has dated 19 Katherines. They all have broken up with him/broken his heart. He decides to make a math equation that will help him to predict what will happen in any future relationship based on the data he has gathered by dating 19 Katherines. Along the way he meets a girl who is not named Katherine.
Why are we all still reading John Green? The Fault In Our Stars was meh and this was meh. I don't remember a lot of what happened because it just wasn't great and was not memorable. I didn't really enjoy it and yet I still own two more John Green books to read. Sigh. I will add that I thought it was funny because I know a guy who has dated two Katherines (back to back no less) and I thought "hey, 17 more to go man!"
Rating: 2/5
Recommendation: I want to say don't bother but the rest of the world loves John Green so proceed at own risk.
Love Lives Here
by: Maria Goff
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Dates Read: December 17, 2017 - January 15, 2018
Pages: 230
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
Maria's husband, Bob, is one of my favourite people on this planet. Have I met him? Of course not. I have read his book Love Does twice now, have been following him on Twitter before I even knew he was an author and want to be just like this man. He has spent all these days talking about Sweet Maria and when she released her book I had to get it.
Love Lives Here is a lot of stories from Maria's life that teach you about navigating life. Except navigating life without much of a map to do so. Her husband Bob is whimsical and Maria is more grounded and sensitive. It focuses a lot on making life meaningful and creating a space to love and grow alongside others.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Just read it. Go on.
The 100-Year-Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared
by: Jonas Jonasson
Publisher: HarperCollins
Dates Read: January 16, 2018-March 8, 2019
Pages: 384
Source: Own It
Why did I read it?
It was recommended by a friend, I saw it in a store, and I picked it up.
The 100-Year-Old-Man follows Allan Karlsson beginning on his 100th birthday where he, you guessed it, climbed out the window of his retirement home and disappeared. He gets into all kinds of shenanigans and makes some friends along the way. It also flashes back to a very interesting 100 years of life.
I really enjoyed this book. I love when movies, TV, books, whatever, inserts itself into history and folds a character into real things that happened. Which is exactly what happens with our good friend Allan in WWII, the Cold War, etc. etc. We find him in the presence of many dictators, the president of the United States, and lots of other people you learned about in your high school history classes. It's a crazy tale and I just really enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: If you have any knowledge of history and enjoy shenanigans, pick this one up. It's different then most other things I have read, perhaps because it is actually a Swedish novel translated. Don't let the outrageous amount of time it took me to read it deter you, it was a time in life. Give it a shot!
Uninvited
by: Lysa Terkeurst
Publisher: Nelson Books
Dates Read: March 8, 2018-February 10, 2019
Pages: 227
Source: Own
Why did I read it?
This book was really a fad in the Christian women community. I didn't plan to pick it up in the thick of it, but I found it brand new at Goodwill for $2 and figured the Lord sent it to me.
Uninvited explores what happens when you feel rejected, left out, and lonely. It talks a bit about why Satan leads us to feeling this way and the truths and promises God has for us that are far better.
I enjoyed the book. In fact, as I was reading it I made a mental list of people in my life who should also read it. We have all felt left out before. When we are being honest, probably way more often than we care to admit. This had some much needed reminders for life the way God designed it even amidst the chaos.
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: Honestly, if you are a woman, go for it. Again, do not let how long it took me to read it turn you away. This book was speaking so much truth and I was so in denial I put it down for a long while. It was so much truth I couldn't make it through at first. Make sure to pick it up (and if you are an underliner, buy it instead of librarying it...I highlighted many passages).
Lost in a Book
by: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Disney Press
Dates Read: March 8-April 16, 2019
Pages: 341
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
I wandered into a bookstore with some Christmas money, I saw a Beauty and the Beast book and I bought it. Simple as that.
Lost in a Book meets us right in the middle of the story we all know and love. Belle is given the library as a gift and stumbles upon a magical book that she can literally walk into. Only problem is that a bad witch lady wants to keep her in there so that she can't fall in love with the Beast. Obviously we all know how it ends, but it is extra love and magic added to one of my favourite Disney movies and I have no complaints.
Rating: 2.5/5
Recommendation: This book only gets a mediocre rating because it is most definitely meant for children. The writing is far from superb and there were some moments that were just a little cringey. However, if you love Disney and Beauty and the Beast or know someone under the age of 15 looking for a book, this is a nice one.
An Abundance of Katherines
by: John Green
Publisher: Speak
Dates Read: April 18-June 1, 2017
Pages: 215
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
Long story short: I went on vacation to Seattle and was robbed. Away went my luggage including the book I was reading. I had a long time to sit at the airport, so I bought the cheapest book I could find that wasn't a children's book. Maybe I should have spent some more money
It was a while ago, but in a nutshell, An Abundance of Katherines follows a boy who has dated 19 Katherines. They all have broken up with him/broken his heart. He decides to make a math equation that will help him to predict what will happen in any future relationship based on the data he has gathered by dating 19 Katherines. Along the way he meets a girl who is not named Katherine.
Why are we all still reading John Green? The Fault In Our Stars was meh and this was meh. I don't remember a lot of what happened because it just wasn't great and was not memorable. I didn't really enjoy it and yet I still own two more John Green books to read. Sigh. I will add that I thought it was funny because I know a guy who has dated two Katherines (back to back no less) and I thought "hey, 17 more to go man!"
Rating: 2/5
Recommendation: I want to say don't bother but the rest of the world loves John Green so proceed at own risk.
Love Lives Here
by: Maria Goff
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Dates Read: December 17, 2017 - January 15, 2018
Pages: 230
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
Maria's husband, Bob, is one of my favourite people on this planet. Have I met him? Of course not. I have read his book Love Does twice now, have been following him on Twitter before I even knew he was an author and want to be just like this man. He has spent all these days talking about Sweet Maria and when she released her book I had to get it.
Love Lives Here is a lot of stories from Maria's life that teach you about navigating life. Except navigating life without much of a map to do so. Her husband Bob is whimsical and Maria is more grounded and sensitive. It focuses a lot on making life meaningful and creating a space to love and grow alongside others.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: Just read it. Go on.
The 100-Year-Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared
by: Jonas Jonasson
Publisher: HarperCollins
Dates Read: January 16, 2018-March 8, 2019
Pages: 384
Source: Own It
Why did I read it?
It was recommended by a friend, I saw it in a store, and I picked it up.
The 100-Year-Old-Man follows Allan Karlsson beginning on his 100th birthday where he, you guessed it, climbed out the window of his retirement home and disappeared. He gets into all kinds of shenanigans and makes some friends along the way. It also flashes back to a very interesting 100 years of life.
I really enjoyed this book. I love when movies, TV, books, whatever, inserts itself into history and folds a character into real things that happened. Which is exactly what happens with our good friend Allan in WWII, the Cold War, etc. etc. We find him in the presence of many dictators, the president of the United States, and lots of other people you learned about in your high school history classes. It's a crazy tale and I just really enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: If you have any knowledge of history and enjoy shenanigans, pick this one up. It's different then most other things I have read, perhaps because it is actually a Swedish novel translated. Don't let the outrageous amount of time it took me to read it deter you, it was a time in life. Give it a shot!
Uninvited
by: Lysa Terkeurst
Publisher: Nelson Books
Dates Read: March 8, 2018-February 10, 2019
Pages: 227
Source: Own
Why did I read it?
This book was really a fad in the Christian women community. I didn't plan to pick it up in the thick of it, but I found it brand new at Goodwill for $2 and figured the Lord sent it to me.
Uninvited explores what happens when you feel rejected, left out, and lonely. It talks a bit about why Satan leads us to feeling this way and the truths and promises God has for us that are far better.
I enjoyed the book. In fact, as I was reading it I made a mental list of people in my life who should also read it. We have all felt left out before. When we are being honest, probably way more often than we care to admit. This had some much needed reminders for life the way God designed it even amidst the chaos.
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: Honestly, if you are a woman, go for it. Again, do not let how long it took me to read it turn you away. This book was speaking so much truth and I was so in denial I put it down for a long while. It was so much truth I couldn't make it through at first. Make sure to pick it up (and if you are an underliner, buy it instead of librarying it...I highlighted many passages).
Lost in a Book
by: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Disney Press
Dates Read: March 8-April 16, 2019
Pages: 341
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
I wandered into a bookstore with some Christmas money, I saw a Beauty and the Beast book and I bought it. Simple as that.
Lost in a Book meets us right in the middle of the story we all know and love. Belle is given the library as a gift and stumbles upon a magical book that she can literally walk into. Only problem is that a bad witch lady wants to keep her in there so that she can't fall in love with the Beast. Obviously we all know how it ends, but it is extra love and magic added to one of my favourite Disney movies and I have no complaints.
Rating: 2.5/5
Recommendation: This book only gets a mediocre rating because it is most definitely meant for children. The writing is far from superb and there were some moments that were just a little cringey. However, if you love Disney and Beauty and the Beast or know someone under the age of 15 looking for a book, this is a nice one.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Jesus > Religion
by: Jefferson Bethke
Publisher: Nelson Books
Dates Read: April 8 - June 17
Pages: 202
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
A few years back Jefferson Bethke was speaking at my school and I volunteered to usher the event with my roommate because that meant you got in for free. It also meant I got a free, autographed copy and an opportunity to meet the guy. Super cool. It sat on my shelf for a while because of a lack of time and in the spring I decided I was going to start reading some Christian non-fiction before going to bed to try to enlighten my mind or something.
Confession: I do not understand the <> signs. I get their meanings backwards all the time. Thankfully, I had seen his youtube video and knew that it was Jesus is greater than Religion.
The book basically walks through the principals of Christianity and where the church tends to get them wrong. He shared his personal testimony and how the church's outlook on the faith affected his own faith as he was becoming a Christian.
I agreed with just about everything he said and had seen a lot of the same issues in the church. Bottom line, sometimes the church isn't really following scripture in the way they act or teach. I didn't find this book particularly ground-breaking. Someone once told me every Christian needed to read this book because it was a game changer. Maybe because of the way that I grew up or my religion minor or always having friends who were Christian but didn't believe the exact same thing has helped me out. I don't know, but it wasn't earth shattering. I do however think he makes some really good points that many Christians need to hear and at the very least be reminded of.
My only complaint is that sometimes Jefferson gets a little lost in his personal stories and talks himself in circles. A personal example to make a point is great, but five is overkill. Overall though, for a guy who isn't actually a writer, he did very well. I like Jefferson. I watch his videos on youtube and he has got a lot of really good stuff to say.
Rating: 3.5/5
I'm going to give this book a 3.5. It was good. It wasn't great or earth-shattering, but it wasn't bad and I do not feel that my time was wasted reading this book.
Recommendation:
I am going to recommend most every Christian to read this. We all need to be reminded of some stuff. If you're not a Christian, give this book try anyway. It pretty simply outlines what Christianity should be instead of what it sometimes is. If you have ever felt a little burned by the church maybe this book will help you to see that it was the people that were wrong, not Jesus.
Publisher: Nelson Books
Dates Read: April 8 - June 17
Pages: 202
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
A few years back Jefferson Bethke was speaking at my school and I volunteered to usher the event with my roommate because that meant you got in for free. It also meant I got a free, autographed copy and an opportunity to meet the guy. Super cool. It sat on my shelf for a while because of a lack of time and in the spring I decided I was going to start reading some Christian non-fiction before going to bed to try to enlighten my mind or something.
Confession: I do not understand the <> signs. I get their meanings backwards all the time. Thankfully, I had seen his youtube video and knew that it was Jesus is greater than Religion.
The book basically walks through the principals of Christianity and where the church tends to get them wrong. He shared his personal testimony and how the church's outlook on the faith affected his own faith as he was becoming a Christian.
I agreed with just about everything he said and had seen a lot of the same issues in the church. Bottom line, sometimes the church isn't really following scripture in the way they act or teach. I didn't find this book particularly ground-breaking. Someone once told me every Christian needed to read this book because it was a game changer. Maybe because of the way that I grew up or my religion minor or always having friends who were Christian but didn't believe the exact same thing has helped me out. I don't know, but it wasn't earth shattering. I do however think he makes some really good points that many Christians need to hear and at the very least be reminded of.
My only complaint is that sometimes Jefferson gets a little lost in his personal stories and talks himself in circles. A personal example to make a point is great, but five is overkill. Overall though, for a guy who isn't actually a writer, he did very well. I like Jefferson. I watch his videos on youtube and he has got a lot of really good stuff to say.
Rating: 3.5/5
I'm going to give this book a 3.5. It was good. It wasn't great or earth-shattering, but it wasn't bad and I do not feel that my time was wasted reading this book.
Recommendation:
I am going to recommend most every Christian to read this. We all need to be reminded of some stuff. If you're not a Christian, give this book try anyway. It pretty simply outlines what Christianity should be instead of what it sometimes is. If you have ever felt a little burned by the church maybe this book will help you to see that it was the people that were wrong, not Jesus.
Monday, April 10, 2017
Happily Ever Ashten
by: Erynn Mangum
Publisher: Self Published
Dates Read: March 31 - April 3
Pages: 325
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
It's by Erynn Mangum. 'Nuf said.
Happily Ever Ashten is the third and final book in the Carrington Sping series (see Katie in Waiting and Once Upon Eliza for the others). Ashten is a teacher who works at her family's very popular restaurant during her summers. Some people in her life, not by her choosing, are rubbing her the wrong way. Ashten learns, with us learning the lesson alongside her, how and when to forgive. To say much more would give away the plots of the first two books, so I will just jump right in.
This just might be Erynn Mangum's best book yet. I told you I was jumping in. It was well crafted and thought out. It was very Austenian without being overtly so or advertised as such. When I started the book I did not think it was going to go quite where it went. The first two books played into it perfectly without me even realizing they were playing into it.
The book was also incredibly relatable. When I read my first Mangum novel I was 17 and the main character was 23 and finding love without looking for it. It was what I wanted. Now I am 24 and these characters are 31, in the middle of their careers and doing life on their own (mostly). Lauren Holbrook, Mangum's first series, will always have a soft spot in my heart but I think Carrington Springs might have it beat.
Not only was the story impecable, but the editting was better. There were still some small mistakes but not nearly as often or as painful. Maybe now that her kids are a little bit older she has more time to sit and read it over. Who knows, it's better and I am happy about it. But girl, I would still gladly edit your books for free (just ignore the fact I started that sentence with a but).
Rating: 4.75/5
I cannot give it a full five because there were still too many mistakes - too many is any more than one. Great characters. Great story. Jane Austen would be proud. Way to go Erynn!
Recommendation:
I have said it twice before: If you are a female 14+ you will probably like her books. Now that the characters are a little older maybe the 14 year olds won't like it quite as much, but it is a light, fun read. I laughed, I pondered life, I learned about Jesus - what more could you ask for?
Publisher: Self Published
Dates Read: March 31 - April 3
Pages: 325
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
It's by Erynn Mangum. 'Nuf said.
Happily Ever Ashten is the third and final book in the Carrington Sping series (see Katie in Waiting and Once Upon Eliza for the others). Ashten is a teacher who works at her family's very popular restaurant during her summers. Some people in her life, not by her choosing, are rubbing her the wrong way. Ashten learns, with us learning the lesson alongside her, how and when to forgive. To say much more would give away the plots of the first two books, so I will just jump right in.
This just might be Erynn Mangum's best book yet. I told you I was jumping in. It was well crafted and thought out. It was very Austenian without being overtly so or advertised as such. When I started the book I did not think it was going to go quite where it went. The first two books played into it perfectly without me even realizing they were playing into it.
The book was also incredibly relatable. When I read my first Mangum novel I was 17 and the main character was 23 and finding love without looking for it. It was what I wanted. Now I am 24 and these characters are 31, in the middle of their careers and doing life on their own (mostly). Lauren Holbrook, Mangum's first series, will always have a soft spot in my heart but I think Carrington Springs might have it beat.
Not only was the story impecable, but the editting was better. There were still some small mistakes but not nearly as often or as painful. Maybe now that her kids are a little bit older she has more time to sit and read it over. Who knows, it's better and I am happy about it. But girl, I would still gladly edit your books for free (just ignore the fact I started that sentence with a but).
Rating: 4.75/5
I cannot give it a full five because there were still too many mistakes - too many is any more than one. Great characters. Great story. Jane Austen would be proud. Way to go Erynn!
Recommendation:
I have said it twice before: If you are a female 14+ you will probably like her books. Now that the characters are a little older maybe the 14 year olds won't like it quite as much, but it is a light, fun read. I laughed, I pondered life, I learned about Jesus - what more could you ask for?
Monday, April 3, 2017
A Little Bit Wicked
[Audiobook]
By: Kristin Chenoweth
Narrated by: Kristin Chenoweth
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Dates Listened: January 20-25
Length: 6 hours 46 minutes
Source: Overdrive App
Why did I read it?
I was driving down to Three Hills and needed something new to listen to. I like Kristin Chenoweth well enough - she originated Glinda in Wicked on Broadway!
Kristin Chenoweth's memoir, A Little Bit Wicked, goes back as far as her childhood all the way to when it was released in 2009. We follow a little girl who used to sing in church to a young hopeful going to university to major in theatre and then get her masters in opera to an up and comer on Broadway and the television screen.
The thing about memoirs is they are not written by writers. I used to think when celebrities got help it was just sad, but now I moreso wish that they would more often. Without the help from an actual trained writer I find they jump around way too much. What is nice about audiobooks read by the author is how easily distracted you are from this. Hearing Chenoweth tell the stories makes the jumping much more bearable than reading it in a book. As far as I am concerned, if the person is alive, they should be reading their own autobiography/memoir. They will always get the intonation right which is very important.
When I chose to listen to this, I was thinking it would actually make me a fan of Kristen Chenoweth. I wanted to like more about her than Glinda. The book had the opposite effect. Not to say I don't like her at all, I just know I won't be a fan. I feel as though she wrote this book to explain some controversies that started coming out about 10 years ago. She dated a TV writer on and off for years and years and was getting a lot of flack about it, so she had to explain it all to us. Apparently there were rumours she and Idina Menzel did not get along while doing Wicked together, she beat around the bush with this one so I am guessing it is true. The biggest controversy of all is what I feel the whole book leads to: her appearance on an ultra-conservative Christian television show. Chenoweth grew up a Christian and still declares herself to be one. Her TV writer (ex?)-boyfriend is Jewish, she has posed for some risque photos, and her best friend is gay: this all exploded in one TV interview. The ultra-conservative Christians who watch the show say she's a damnable sinner. The LGBT+ community hates her for even agreeing to go on the show. Everyone hates her so she decides to write a book to fix it all. I feel like it is 6+ hours of trying to convince us she is a nice person and should not be hated by all. Not a good reason to write a book in my opinion.
Rating: 2.5/5
I'm in limbo again. I didn't not like it. Many of the stories were humourous and she really is a funny lady. It had me laughing and pulled in the entire time. I liked hearing about how she went from Oklahoma State University to Broadway to multiple television series. I was disappointed when I started getting the sense it wasn't about any of that though. It was all about winning people back after 10 minutes that didn't actually mean anything blew up into a catastrophe. Basically, everyone else should not have been so silly so the book wouldn't have ended with her plea of how nice she is.
Recommendation:
If you're a Broadway fan - go for it. I don't regret the drives I spent listening to it. I thought it was good enough, but I am sure the super theatre nerds who really want to know what it's like on the inside will like it even more than I did - and maybe they won't be annoyed by how it ends. Go ahead, give it a read!
By: Kristin Chenoweth
Narrated by: Kristin Chenoweth
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Dates Listened: January 20-25
Length: 6 hours 46 minutes
Source: Overdrive App
Why did I read it?
I was driving down to Three Hills and needed something new to listen to. I like Kristin Chenoweth well enough - she originated Glinda in Wicked on Broadway!
Kristin Chenoweth's memoir, A Little Bit Wicked, goes back as far as her childhood all the way to when it was released in 2009. We follow a little girl who used to sing in church to a young hopeful going to university to major in theatre and then get her masters in opera to an up and comer on Broadway and the television screen.
The thing about memoirs is they are not written by writers. I used to think when celebrities got help it was just sad, but now I moreso wish that they would more often. Without the help from an actual trained writer I find they jump around way too much. What is nice about audiobooks read by the author is how easily distracted you are from this. Hearing Chenoweth tell the stories makes the jumping much more bearable than reading it in a book. As far as I am concerned, if the person is alive, they should be reading their own autobiography/memoir. They will always get the intonation right which is very important.
When I chose to listen to this, I was thinking it would actually make me a fan of Kristen Chenoweth. I wanted to like more about her than Glinda. The book had the opposite effect. Not to say I don't like her at all, I just know I won't be a fan. I feel as though she wrote this book to explain some controversies that started coming out about 10 years ago. She dated a TV writer on and off for years and years and was getting a lot of flack about it, so she had to explain it all to us. Apparently there were rumours she and Idina Menzel did not get along while doing Wicked together, she beat around the bush with this one so I am guessing it is true. The biggest controversy of all is what I feel the whole book leads to: her appearance on an ultra-conservative Christian television show. Chenoweth grew up a Christian and still declares herself to be one. Her TV writer (ex?)-boyfriend is Jewish, she has posed for some risque photos, and her best friend is gay: this all exploded in one TV interview. The ultra-conservative Christians who watch the show say she's a damnable sinner. The LGBT+ community hates her for even agreeing to go on the show. Everyone hates her so she decides to write a book to fix it all. I feel like it is 6+ hours of trying to convince us she is a nice person and should not be hated by all. Not a good reason to write a book in my opinion.
Rating: 2.5/5
I'm in limbo again. I didn't not like it. Many of the stories were humourous and she really is a funny lady. It had me laughing and pulled in the entire time. I liked hearing about how she went from Oklahoma State University to Broadway to multiple television series. I was disappointed when I started getting the sense it wasn't about any of that though. It was all about winning people back after 10 minutes that didn't actually mean anything blew up into a catastrophe. Basically, everyone else should not have been so silly so the book wouldn't have ended with her plea of how nice she is.
Recommendation:
If you're a Broadway fan - go for it. I don't regret the drives I spent listening to it. I thought it was good enough, but I am sure the super theatre nerds who really want to know what it's like on the inside will like it even more than I did - and maybe they won't be annoyed by how it ends. Go ahead, give it a read!
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Persuasion
by: Jane Austen
Publisher: Headline Review
Dates Read: January 8 - March 26
Pages: 267
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
It's Jane Austen. That is enough of a reason.
Persuasion is the last, completed novel by Jane Austen. Anne Elliot fell in love with Frederick Wentworth when she was twenty. They became engaged but after many persuasions from a woman very close to their family, Jane's mother had died, the engagement was broken as he was not seen to be suitable for her. Fast forward to eight years later the book begins and Jane still loves him. Now he is a captain in the navy and extremely suitable for her to marry, but she is convinced too much time has passed. Let the sexual tension begin.
Jane Austen truly understand the mind of women. Her books are timeless, I am sure, for this very reason. I have said for years, nobody writes love pentagons like Austen. It is always so much more than boy likes girl with one mild conflict. Boy likes girl but girl rejected him so he focuses on his work, makes some friends, realizes he may have given another girl the idea he likes her, she almost dies, he feels obligated, just barely gets out of that one, writes a wonderfully telling note and, finally, gets the girl. Her books continue to feel relatable even though they were written 150 years ago. They always will be because she just plain got it.
If I have to say one bad thing about Persuasion, it would be that it got a little slow in the middle there. The plot was not pulling me in and then BAM I thought for sure we were witnessing the death of a girl who landed head first on some rocks. That is not something I have seen in Austen before. It pulled me right back in and really helped to push us forwards. I was all in from there.
I cannot speak any more negatives than that. It's Jane Austen. She is a classic for a reason. Everything she writes is wonderful - pure felicity.
Rating: 4.5/5
As I said. It was slow until the girl almost died from a head wound. Jane Austen my friends. She knows how to write waiting and longing. She just gets it!
Recommendation:
Everyone should read this book. Everyone should read Jane Austen. Men, you want to understand how our mind's work? Read Austen. It will help. She just gets it! I really don't think their is a maximum number of times I can say that she gets it, so read it.
Publisher: Headline Review
Dates Read: January 8 - March 26
Pages: 267
Source: Own it
Why did I read it?
It's Jane Austen. That is enough of a reason.
Persuasion is the last, completed novel by Jane Austen. Anne Elliot fell in love with Frederick Wentworth when she was twenty. They became engaged but after many persuasions from a woman very close to their family, Jane's mother had died, the engagement was broken as he was not seen to be suitable for her. Fast forward to eight years later the book begins and Jane still loves him. Now he is a captain in the navy and extremely suitable for her to marry, but she is convinced too much time has passed. Let the sexual tension begin.
Jane Austen truly understand the mind of women. Her books are timeless, I am sure, for this very reason. I have said for years, nobody writes love pentagons like Austen. It is always so much more than boy likes girl with one mild conflict. Boy likes girl but girl rejected him so he focuses on his work, makes some friends, realizes he may have given another girl the idea he likes her, she almost dies, he feels obligated, just barely gets out of that one, writes a wonderfully telling note and, finally, gets the girl. Her books continue to feel relatable even though they were written 150 years ago. They always will be because she just plain got it.
If I have to say one bad thing about Persuasion, it would be that it got a little slow in the middle there. The plot was not pulling me in and then BAM I thought for sure we were witnessing the death of a girl who landed head first on some rocks. That is not something I have seen in Austen before. It pulled me right back in and really helped to push us forwards. I was all in from there.
I cannot speak any more negatives than that. It's Jane Austen. She is a classic for a reason. Everything she writes is wonderful - pure felicity.
"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope."
Rating: 4.5/5
As I said. It was slow until the girl almost died from a head wound. Jane Austen my friends. She knows how to write waiting and longing. She just gets it!
Recommendation:
Everyone should read this book. Everyone should read Jane Austen. Men, you want to understand how our mind's work? Read Austen. It will help. She just gets it! I really don't think their is a maximum number of times I can say that she gets it, so read it.
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