Review: For Women Only

For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men by Shaunti Feldhahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tons of statistics, lots of polls taken. Very informative.

But I would caution the author when writing "grounded in biblical hope" to MAKE sure you have the book FIRMLY grounded in the Bible. I searched and searched for some mention of what GOD thinks about all of this. Man can think all they want. And to a certain extent, all these polls and what men think, are so helpful to us women. BUT be very careful when you say you are grounded in the Bible, and then not really mention it!

I really found a lot of interesting. What we as women really miss out on, is well it is their problem if they can't keep them eyes to themselves and not think things they shouldn't. We, as women of God, should help by being modest. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Most of the things Shaunti mentions you will want to smack your head and say, duh I should have thought of that! If you are trying to be a daughter of God, and have a better relationship with your other half, then this book will certainly help. However, grab your Bible and do some research too. I also recommmend John Piper's This Momentary Marriage. BEST book ever!


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Review: The Grief of Others

The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well well. This book has so much emotion in it. I didn't expect to be affected by it. Although I have suffered a miscarriage, I couldn't imagine carrying a child, knowing the outcome and not telling anyone. With that being said, I totally understood how alone she felt and what her husband would have wanted her to do.

And what everyone does with their grief. Like it says, they are all on their own icebergs, drifting they feel alone, but really those icebergs can come together, if we let them.

Stages of grief. The grief of others. I loved every written word in this book. When the mom was driving and talking about going over the bridge, how it would feel, you could totally imagine being in the car, the icy, frozen Hudson.

I think out of everyone though, Biscuit was my favorite. I loved when Jess first came to the house, and was in Biscuit's room. She is just so darn cute and smart to boot!

Cohen has a deep sense of what readers like and how to make them feel it. Grab a box of kleenex though, I felt at times as if I was going to break into pieces more than them!

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Review: The Gap Year

The Gap Year by Sarah Bird
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing. Another one I am sorry I waited so long to read!

We alternate between mother/present and the daughter/past. Both come together colliding in such a glorious way, it made me KNOW this is WHY I read! For books like this.

I love how much emotion is with the mom, we all have been there, or in my case, am right there NOW! So I understand. But we can't see the big picture sometimes, what might not be, might be fore the best. And the daughter, searching for who she is.

Just beautiful. That is all I have to say. I completely loved the way this book was written, and its contents. Thoroughly enjoyable, every single word!

The fathert,the scientology and leaving. But even more beautiful what happens in the end. Life, messy but wonderful!

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Review: The Train of Small Mercies

The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whoa, lots of characters back and forth all at once -- I waa mildly worried when I first started reading, I think that is why I didn't pick it back up for so long.

But once I got to know each of the main 6 a little more, I was enthralled. All based around the train coming by with RFK's body on the way to Arlington -- everyone wanting a glimpse of the casket and of his family. Poor Ethel with all those children, and pregnant with another.

So many different things going on, Lionel's first day on the job, on the train no less! Edwin and his wife, both totally strange with their new pool and dysfuctional relationship! The story I really really liked, maybe because I am a mom myself was Delores and her daughter Rebecca. Delores' husband didn't like RFK and so she lies to her in-laws to get them to watch her unruly boys while her five-year-old daughter and her sneak around town for the day, waiting for the train to come by.

But Rebecca gets seriously injured during this wonderful day, and well, read the book and find out what happens to her! Mauve and her stories was another favorite. I do believe she had a real knack for telling stories! I hope her family loved her postcard!!

All in all, a really enjoyable book. Might leave you hanging a bit at the end, but that is good, in my opinion!!

I received this book free from Goodreads first reads program in exchange for an honest opinion.

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Review: Secret Keeper

Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty by Dannah K. Gresh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the perfect gift to give to each teenage girl you know or come in contact with!

Such great advice, all taken straight from the Bible! Really it is a sin to me immodest. To cause another to sin because of your own sin, bleck. Doesn't sound so good does it? But it's fashion. If we decide to follow ourselves and our own ways of thinking, do we truly love our God? Ugh. Hits home doesn't it?

I love the bullseye way of thinking. Really a good activity to do with teenage girls. Dannah Gresh really knows how to get some productive thinking and be proactive, before it is too late.

What a blessing this book is!


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Review: The Opposite of Art

The Opposite of Art: A Novel by Athol Dickson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing! -- So I must say I was blown away by this novel. My first Athol Dickson. I really liked the descriptions, but then the cover wasn't much, so I didn't pick it up for forever. But I did. Yesterday, 12 hours ago. And haven't been able to put it down except to do a few life chores!

Now I am in no way, shape or form really one to say really literal things about books. Deep, me not so much. This book is not to be read lightly, just skimming through. You will want to read, ingest, reread each sentence, savoring it. Some of the descriptions, like the sky was being pregnant, bloody brilliant in my book!

Once I really got into the book, I enjoyed each chapter, viewing the world from a different person's eyes. Some good, some bad, all enjoyabled!

I was so outraged when Talbot Graves hits Ridler with his van and then gets greedy and wants all the paintings and Ridler's woman, Suzanna, on top of it. But be careful, what goes around comes around!

I am sad this book is over, way too quickly for me! Please, if you haven't read this book, get it. You won't be sorry!

I received a copy of this book from the First Reads program on Goodreads, in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Review: The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society

The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so glad to get this book. I have been waiting a LONG time. It was so worth the wait. Connie and the goat she found, that she doesn't want to find the owners for and just her life in general. Isabel's husband left her when his lover, Ava, got pregant. But then Bill died. So now everything is a big mess.

These are just TWO of the stories, well really three, because you have Isabel's story AND Ava's, that you will read about and fall in love with. I so love the tea salon and I love how recipes are included in the back. Bill's spaghetti sounds so yummy I can't wait to try it. Just so you know, the mountain dew dumplings are to DIE for!!! Lots of vanilla bean ice cream on top makes them so delicious! My mouth watered every time they were mentioned.

Each person has their own quirks, but I love each of them. Grab kleenex though, between Bettie's story and Mei Ling's... you will need the whole box.

The ONLY thing I hate about books like these, are waiting for the next ones!!! Happy reading!

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