A great summer book, this story is a fun, quick read. The heroine of the story, so to speak, is in a very close relationship with her homosexual male best friend. So close, in fact, that most of his family and friends believe they are dating seriously and will be married. He is closeted with them, and afraid to tell them who he really is for fear of rejection and because they have roots outside the country. Her relationship with him is so close that it hampers her having any others besides a few close female friends who know what the “real story” is.
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The Walk-In Closet by Abdi Nazemian
August 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal
August 2, 2014 by 2 Comments
If you are looking for a quick summer read, let me suggest “My Last Kiss” by Bethany Neal. This is a one-sitting kind of read, perfect for those vacation days by the pool or lounging on the beach. I read it on a series of train rides while traveling throughout Norway, and it was great because it was easy to pick up and put down without losing momentum or getting aggravated about “what was next”. Fun, easy reading with no heavy brain work required, this is exactly what the doctor ordered.
A young girl dies, but is not able to move on. Only her boyfriend, who she was on the fritz with when she passed away, can see her. She is flooded with memories, sometimes literally, that carry her away. She can see everything and everyone, but they can’t see or hear her. She can’t remember what or who exactly caused her death, but she and her friends are going to try to figure it out.
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After I Do- Relatable Book About Marriage
August 2, 2014 by 2 Comments
We all know that marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. It has it’s good days, and it’s bad days. What do you do when your marriage hits one of those spots, that will either end in divorce or madness? This is the decision the characters in the book “After I Do” face- what now? I think those of us who have been married a while all know the feeling and have been there. Do I stay or do I go? How will we ever get over this? And do I really want to with this person. Marriage is hard. People often forget that. Choosing to fight is not always the best decision, but it is usually the harder one. What would you do- fight harder? Or let it go when you feel you have nothing left to give? This couple chooses to go to the mat in an odd way- one full year of absolutely no communication. What happens at the end, and they journey they both walk during that year, is pretty intense. Lots of soul searching, and the little things that you love, hate, and might not even think about come to the surface and make them think about what they really want to do with their marriage.
The book is touching, sometimes tearful and gut wrenching, and makes you think about what matters to you and how far you would go.
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‘Brer Rabbit’ Books Provide Interactive Learning for Children
June 27, 2014 by 2 Comments
Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. Please see “Disclose” tab for more info.
My son loves Brer Rabbit, and after a visit to the Brer Rabbit Museum in Georgia recently, his love has only increased. His enjoyment of the fuzzy scoundrel grew with each story we read, and now these new books just put him over the moon. He’s not an independent reader yet, so the read along with me version is perfect for him. The “see and say” pictures are fun and also helpful, and encourage him to read, which is his most difficult subject. It’s made that much easier with one of his favorite literary characters.
The “Brer Rabbit” series illustrated by Lesly Smith, tells the exciting adventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends. Each book contains two of Joel Chandler Harris’s classic tales about the wily Brer Rabbit; parents will recognize beloved stories from their own childhood. Perfect for beginning readers, the books contain specific picture words for children to read out loud, building their recognition and understanding.
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Hiberate- a series of short stories
May 21, 2014 by 2 Comments
I received a copy of this book to facility my review. All opinions are my own and honest.
This book was quite short, but not the quick read I was expecting. The short stories were complicated and varied, jumping all over the globe and the gamut of human experiences. Some seemed like you could know the person Eslami was writing about, the stories seemed familiar and ordinary. Ordinary people, as well all know, do live interesting and often convoluted lives, and these were full of vibrant details and backstory. She painted a picture for you with her words and descriptions, intertwining the labyrinth of past and present and different characters’ tales together into one several page anecdote. Some stories were metaphors, such as the title story “Hibernate”, which made you think while you read. Actually, most of the book made you think, which was why it was not the short summer read I had thought it would be.
Most of the short stories had no concrete or “firm” endings, which I don’t like. Perhaps it’s unevolved of me, but I like my books (movies, TV shows, etc) to have sure endings.
This was a very interesting read, very unusual, and a good book if you are looking for something entertaining yet not mindless this summer. Pick it up when you get the chance.
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National Geographic Kids Books
March 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
National Geographic Kids releases a steady stream of interesting books. We are going to be looking at a book of George Washington tips and tricks for manners as well as something a bit deeper about slavery called Stolen into Slavery.
First we will look at the light hearted George Washington’s Rules to Live By: How to Sit, Stand, Smile, and Be Cool! A Good Manners Guide From the Father of Our Country. This book takes actual tips and hints by George Washington and adds silly illustrations and characters to prove the point of the rules in both a memorable and fun way. All the rules are fun and are most most definitely a worthwhile lesson to learn. One which stands out i, “When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.” or in layman’s terms don’t pick pick anything on yourself in public.George Washington’s Rules to Live By is available now, is a 128 pages hard cover book and retails for $14.99.
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