Favorites

Nineteen Minutes

1 Comment / 2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction /

I should disclose the fact (to new readers or those wandering in from Google) that I am a Jodi Picoult fan. I have liked everything she’s written and I think I’ve read everything she’s written except her new Wonder Woman comics (and I am going to get those!). Some of her books I’ve liked more than others. The Pact is and probably always will be my favorite. Nineteen Minutes has no surprises if you are a Picoult reader, you probably figured out the ending long before you finished the first half of the book.

Nineteen Minutes does what all Picoult novels do – it takes a very very difficult subject involving teenagers and parents and spins it hard. It isn’t a feel good book, though there are moments when you will feel good. It doesn’t have a happy ending, none of her books really do. How could books about teen suicides and school shootings even have a happy ending? They can’t and they shouldn’t and that is why I am a Picoult fan. She takes those horrible difficult things that can and do happen to good people (and good teens) and she tells the stories that come along with them. She puts a parent’s worst fears on paper.

Nineteen Minutes Read More »

So what if I’m not Jewish!

2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction, Religion /

Is it weird that I was really excited to see The Modern Jewish Mom’s Guide to Shabbat on the BlogHer HarperCollins Virtual Book Tour? Is it even more weird that I was really really excited to find a copy on my doorstep 3 days after I requested a copy? Is it crazy weird that I really enjoyed the book? Nah, you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy the book or to find value in its message.

The first thing I need to say is not positive – I hated the paper the book was printed on. I hated it so much that I had a hard time turning the first few pages. I almost put it down because I really hate that scratchy paper in a book. But I persisted and fought back the shuddering and found ways to balance the book so I only had to touch the paper when I turned a page.

The next thing I need to say is very positive – Meredith Jacobs is very readable. I had only read a few paragraphs and I was smiling. TW was reading over my shoulder and said “She’s very readable, isn’t she?” Why yes, yes she is! And I love that in a self help book.

Now, about the content. I mentioned I’m not Jewish, right? Well it just doesn’t matter. Shabbat is about being together as a family, making that connection sacred. The religion is icing on the cake and I don’t need icing, I need cake. The very real ideas about how to juggle real life issues and still come together for Shabbat can be used by anyone. They’re simple and reassuring.

I found the religious instruction pieces excellent. Very interesting and not, umm, preachy! Heh. I love religious education of all forms but I don’t like religious education that screams at you, makes you feel guilty or attempts to make you feel wrong if you don’t believe exactly what the writer believes. Jacobs doesn’t do any of these bad things. She’s straight-forward and honest and not pushy.

When I requested the book, I thought I’d read it and then run a contest on ClubMom and give it away. I’ve changed my mind! I don’t want to give the book away. I want to keep it. I want to find a spot in the PURPLE section of my bookshelf and let it live there. I want to pull it down and try all of the Challah recipes (I love Challah.) I want to pull it down and hand it to a kid to read bits and pieces of the Torah section. I want to pull it down after a particularly Jewish service at the UU Fellowship and let the kids look through it and choose a recipe or a craft project or an idea to talk about. Nope, I’m not giving this one away. I might, however, buy another one and run a contest anyway.

I think I need to go and buy some fresh yeast. And think about how to incorporate some of these ideas into our lives REGULARLY.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

So what if I’m not Jewish! Read More »

365 Cow Jokes Later

Daily Dose, Favorites, Personality /

OK OK it’s another book, I can’t trick you and pretend it isn’t. I like books. I also like cows. Last year was a good year for cows because of The Cartoonist They Call Stik.

You may remember last year I won a cow tshirt that’s been quite popular around here. You’ll also remember that I really wanted a Flamencow tshirt. You’ll be very pleased to know that I bought myself the t-shirt and I won a free 365 Cow Jokes Later book.

Cows are good to me.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

365 Cow Jokes Later Read More »

The Broke Diaries!

3 Comments / 2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction, Women /

How did that happen? I almost forgot to blog The Broke Diaries. Crazy since it’s one of the better books I’ve read over the last week or so. In fact, I’m going to toss it into the “favorites” category because I really loved it.

It reads like a blog, or an online journal, which is just how it should read since Nissel is an online kind of woman and started posting her “broke diaries” online. I love a book that reads like a blog rather than one that TRIES to read like a blog.

I’m off to reserve her latest book, Mixed, from the library now. Anyone read it? Is it as good as Broke Diaries? It is, isn’t it?

Technorati Tags: , ,

The Broke Diaries! Read More »

New Moon

1 Comment / 2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Young Adult /

OK so I said I was reading What the Dead Know and here I am blogging New Moon instead. I wasn’t in the mood for missing girls, vampires and werewolves seemed like a much better idea. Besides, New Moon was another book I started but didn’t finish around the time of our trip to London and I was disappointed that I didn’t manage to get through more than the first 50 pages or so before I had to return it.

So, I read the rest of it in about 3 hours. It was just as good as Twilight – in some ways it was better. I really loved Jacob and I loved Emily, I’d like to know more about Emily and how she adjusted to living with the werewolves. And while I thought running off to Italy there at the end was a little much, I appreciate why the story went that way. I’m anxious to learn more about Bella’s “immunity”. When’s the next book due out? Oh, August 2007, cool! I can wait that long. Anyone getting a preview copy????

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

New Moon Read More »

The Expected One

2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Women /

I started reading The Expected One while we were in London but had to take it back to the library when we got home because it was over-due. I picked it up from the library a couple of weeks ago and finally made time for it yesterday. I made time for it by ignoring the chores on my “to do list”. I didn’t want to put it down!

I love “Mary” stories, and this was one of the better ones.

Technorati Tags: , , ,

The Expected One Read More »

Sweet Potato Queens

2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Queer, Women /

A whole lifetime ago my friend Janet was ga-ga over the Sweet Potato Queens. Being the most excellent friend that I am (quit laughing), I picked them up and read them in a show of support and encouragement. I wasn’t nearly as thrilled by them as Janet was. They were no “Ya-Yas” and they weren’t even “Red Hat” quality. But, I could see how Janet would be so taken with them and I encouraged her fixation as best I could.

Yesterday, I was wandering through the library stacks while TW searched for new knitting books and I stumbled upon The Sweet Potato Queens First Big-Ass Novel. Feeling nostalgic, I checked it out. Since it is such a new book it is due back to the library in two weeks, so I went ahead and started it last night. And I have been reading it all morning. Not because I’m trying to avoid cleaning the bedroom or the yardwork on me “to do list” but because I was enjoying the book so much.

If you read the other Sweet Potato Queen books and weren’t overly thrilled with them, I think you’ll like this one better. If you’re a Ya Ya fan or a Red Hat fan, you’ll probably enjoy this one a good bit. The gay boy Sweet Potato Queen is a nice touch, by the way. I’m not usually a fan of “token gay characters” but this one works.

I hope there’s a second big-ass novel in the works.

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Sweet Potato Queens Read More »

Elegant Gathering of White Snows

2007, Books in Bed, Favorites, Feminism, Fiction, Queer, Women /

Someone on a message board at my place of business recommended Kris Radish’s books and she suggested I start with Elegant Gathering of White Snows. Gee, I wonder how she knew this would be the perfect book for me?

It’s sort of like The Red Tent in that female energy sort of way. Fantastic female characters and of course they’ve experienced pretty much every single issue/problem a woman can face. Just go read it, and enjoy it.

Elegant Gathering of White Snows Read More »