Friday, April 27, 2012

All That Is Bitter And Sweet By Ashley Judd


I really enjoyed reading this book.  I was not a huge Judd's fan but I did like Wynonna's solo albums a lot.  I remember when Ashley Judd was revealed as the second Judd sister and everyone was shocked to learn Naomi had a second child that no one had heard about up to that time.  Ashley's book explains all that and much more.

Ashley had a pretty rough childhood and suffered from emotional and physical abandonment issues the result of which was chronic depression.  She is pretty gracious about her mother but she tells it all like it is and as I read through the book, my respect for her grew.

Not only is she an accomplished actress, but she has moved into humanitarian work and her motive seems genuine.  It's not just an "I'm a cool actress and so here's my working with children" act.

What I appreciated the most in the book was Ashley's honesty and how she shares the emotional process she went through as she began to get involved with raising awareness for people all over the world.  She had to work through her childhood issues and she shares how tough you have to be emotionally to do that kind of work.

Ashley has a brave and courageous heart and her life is nothing short of inspiring.


Monday, April 23, 2012

The Help By Kathryn Stockett

 
 Suddenly it seems as if everyone is reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I avoided this book when it was at the top of the best selling lists and when the movie came out.  I was not able to see the movie either.  While everyone was raving about it, since it was marketed as being a "chick lit" book, I avoided it.  I do like chick lit but not a lot of it so I tend to be a bit picky about the books I choose in that genre.  

It's too bad that this book was marketed in that genre, because I truly felt that this book is not a "light and breezy girl story" and is a substantial literary work.  I was surprised at the depth of feeling it stirred in me.  In short, I absolutely loved this book and at one point I could not put it down.  The intensity of life in the south during segregation is so openly and clearly conveyed.  The idiocy and hypocrisy of segregation is captured well with a dose of humor and humaneness that gives all the characters dignity.

I got this copy for 50 cents at my library.  I will be giving it away to a friend who wants to read it. 



Thursday, April 19, 2012

Orphans by V.C. Andrews



I wanted to try a book by V.C. Andrews and so I picked up this copy of Orphans at our library used books sale for 10 cents because it looked interesting. I did some research and found that V.C. Andrews did not actually write this book but it was written by a ghost writer who was appointed by the estate to keep grinding out her "books." Failure.

That said, I can't say I didn't enjoy this book a little. It features the stories of four orphans who are adopted by couples with various mental issues and how they didn't fit into their homes and then ended up at the same foster care center. After the first two stories, the next two were not as interesting as the plot was exactly the same for each girl. Mixing up the individual stories and making them different would have made this a really interesting little read. As it was, I cranked through the last two stories at a fast pace, knowing what would happen.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Fifty Shades Of Grey By E.L. James



I just finished Fifty Shades of Grey and I need a cigarette.

In fact, all I can say is that if you plan on reading this phenom bestseller that's ranking up there with The Hunger Games and The Twilight Saga , go buy a whole pack of them......or maybe a bottle of wine.....or maybe some chocolate. You're gonna need it. Trust me.

This book features a psycho, stalking, overly sexed and screwed up "hero" who manipulates a sexually inexperienced and naive girl into a masochistic sex relationship.

This book is not a romance and those who think it is need their heads examined. I can't for the life of me figure out why it's on the bestseller list. Can someone please enlighten me?


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Secrets Of The Flesh by Judith Thurman



I have not yet read a book by Colette but have read many quotes from her over the course of my life and was interested in learning more about her. Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette was definitely the biography to read as the book is well researched, detailed and very readable.

I have ordered, The Vagabond through Amazon's used books for .01 and am anxiously looking for it in my mailbox every day!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

The Game By Brenda Joyce



Okay so I occasionally read a romance. Sometimes I need a great escape read. This is one of my favorites. It has a pirate, Queen Elizabeth 1 and there are people constantly thrown in and out of the Tower of London. Nothing but fun!