#20 - Visions in Death by J.D. Robb

It's been awhile since I have listened to a J.D. Robb novel in my car but, after the break, this book was a breath of life into a series that was getting stale after 19 books in the series.

One of the things that is sometimes slow to develop in the Eve Dallas series is the slow character development but in this addition almost every character experiences great leaps in personality and depth.  Eve digs a little deeper into the meaning of friendship despite her past, Peabody and McNabb develop in their relationship, even Mavis, Nadine, and Charles make appearances that have meaning.

I'm glad to have these characters back in my rotation.  It has been fun to see the progression and hope that it continues.

Goodreads rating: 4 stars

On Deck (audio): The Client by John Grisham
In Progress: Is This Tomorrow by Caroline Leavitt

#19 - Motherhood by Erma Bombeck

I received a free copy of this collection of essays via NetGalley as it was republished as an ebook in January 2013.

I have read Erma Bombeck mostly in just short story or quotable format in the past so it was interesting to have a collection available to read in chunks while waiting for kids to get out of practices, between appointments and as I was drifting off to sleep at night.  It's interesting to me that a book originally published when I was barely potty trained would still be so poignant now that I am raising my own children.  The stories contained are full of little things that we mommas think but don't always say.  Having this collection of stories altogether make you realize that the things that fall from your mouth aren't exclusive to you, that we are all in this together and need to have a little fun while we are doing this thing called Motherhood.

This book is great to read in small bites if you are waiting to pick up kids, in a doctor's waiting room or just before bed.  Keep it in your handbag or on your ereader for a quick fix when you need it ;)

Goodreads rating: 4 stars

In Progress (audio) Vision in Death by JD Robb

In Progress/on deck: Cutting for Stone (this is my week with this I can FEEL it) In the Body of the World by Eve Ensler.

#18 - Hacker Mom by Austen Rachlis

I received this as a goodreads promotional copy. 

Well - that was one of those kinds of books that was kind of just there. I didn't love it - didn't hate it. I took me a really long time to read through. It was sent to me as a .pdf file so it limited my reading to the computer and my phone.  I would put it down and then pick it back up but I guess it didn't engage me as much as I hoped it would.

Some of the characters and connections got really convoluted and I wasn't quite sure why we got so much back story on some (James for instance) and virtually none on others (Ego). I understood and even related to the protagonist, Becky, who was a stay at home mom and looking for some adventure in her life so she took on a role as a volunteer with a whistle-blowing organization.  Some of the twists that happened, especially near the end at the final confrontation I didn't quite buy into and actually went back to reread the last chapter to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Recently, I discovered that Hacker Mom was initially a Kindle mini-series, released in parts and then consolidated into one book.  That would explain the somewhat choppy flow of the reading, the bouncing back and forth didn't seem seamless in novel format but it would may have made more sense if you were reading it as four separate parts.  

Overall, I would recommend Hacker Mom as a weekend/summer/on an airplane kind of read.  It's fairly short so shouldn't take much time if you don't nibble on it in little pieces like I did.

Goodreads Rating: 3 stars (rounded up from 2.5)
On Deck: In the Body of the World by Eve Ensler (on PAPER even - and yes I am still eating the elephant of Cutting for Stone a bite at a time)
In Progress (audio): Visions in Death by JD Robb.

#17 - Fast Food Vindication by Lisa Tillinger Johansen

Thanks to my friends at NetGalley I was able to obtain a publisher's copy of this book for my nook.  The theory intrigued me as I am on a weight loss journey of my own and my husband and kids seem to be a little more than obsessed with McDonalds and Pizza Ranch so I bumped this read up in line and I'm glad that I did.

Fast Food Vindication by Lisa Tillinger Johansen spelunks into the dark cave of the American diet to reveal all of the secrets that nobody wants us to know.  Her perspective is unique because, not only did she work for McDonald's corporate real estate offices but she also went back to school to become a Registered Dietician which leans credibility and weight to the discussion she sparks.

In case you think that this book is just a knee jerk reaction to the recent slams on fast food or a propaganda tool to get you back in the drive thru lane while you have been avoiding the BK/KFC/Taco Bell scene, think again.  The effect that Fast Food Vindication had on me is examining every food choice whether it be home cooked, purchased out or driven home in a bag.  Just because you think you are making the healthy choice, doesn't necessarily make it true.

For example, you sit down at a restaurant like Chili's or Applebees and think you are making the healthy choice by selecting a salad or wrap.  Unbenownst to you, by the time you finish the salad (which is three times bigger than a normal salad) you have consumed nearly your entire calorie allocation for the entire day! And that's just in a salad! If you had driven through the McD's your calorie count for your salad purchase would have been about half...

Not only are sit down restaurants discussed but actually foods purchased for home consumption.  We try to be conscious and read labels but there are hidden dangers in the way nutritional information is displayed that make even cooking at home into a minefield of fat, sodium and calories.

The author gives us a great roadmap in order to get through these bumps and does a great job directing us to resources that will help us live healthier lifestyles and allow us to make good choices even when fast food dining becomes a necessity as it is for most of us. When it becomes available in your area, I definitely recommend picking up a copy!

Goodreads rating: 5 stars (rounded up from 4.5)

#16 - Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma

This was one of those books that I kind of backed myself into.  I had meant to transfer a light and fluffy book to my audiobook files but, for some reason, the sync to my iphone didn't go as planned.  As a result I turned to my library's online audiobook offerings and found "Cleaning House: A Mom's 12 month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement" by Kay Wills Wyma.  It was a God thing.  It had to have been.  This book addressed so many of the issues I had been struggling with between both my three year old and my eight year old.  The "I can't - you do it for me" attitude.  The whining, complaining, eye rolling and disrespecting of others and of their toys.  I was tired of yelling, cajoling, standing over them and finally doing it myself.  Until I read (listened to) this book.

Wyma takes you through an experiment with her and her five kids where she adds mandatory responsibility to each of her children each month for a year.  Each month carried a theme such as, cleaning rooms, cooking for the family, gainful employment, laundry and cleaning bathrooms.  All tasks that can overwhelm even the most organized moms and leave Stay At Homes exhausted at the end of bedtime.  Her story resonated with me because she, too, is a recovering slob.  I have always kept my spaces "clean but cluttered" so it really gave me the attitude as I went through this book that, if she can do it - so can I!

If you have kids - you need to read this book! If you don't have kids but are planning to in the future, read this as a preemptive strike! If you don't have kids and don't want any, read it anyway - it may just change your approach to work around your own home.

If you would like to see what my family is doing as a result, feel free to visit my personal blog at http://scrapandsniff.blogspot.com and click on the Tag word "Cleaning House"

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars
In Progress: Cutting for Stone (yes still)
On Deck: Lot's of things...I still have readers A.D.D.

Knees by Vanita Oelschlager

One of the great things about my membership to NetGalley is the ability to browse a large genre of books including Children's Books to share with my little ones.  Although I don't count anything below the YA rating on my books for the year, I wanted to give an honest review of Knees by Vanita Oelschlager from the perspective of myself, and the two little ones in my household.

Review #1: Momma (age undisclosed)
I loved the concept of this book, seeing the world through the perspective of a boy with dyslexia.  It's a hard concept to convey to kids who don't understand how people can "see" things different from how they perceive them.  So the first half of the book was really awesome.  The author then goes into a concept of "finding something that you are good at.  An equally good thing to teach to young children but I think I might have missed the transition somewhere.  The rhyme and rhythm kept things interesting throughout the book and overall I enjoyed the story and the interesting approach to the problem.

Review #2: Jackson (age 8)
I liked this book about the boy who sees things backward.  At the end he felt good that he could play basketball and that was good.  I felt bad that he could not see the right letters, sometimes I feel that way on my spelling test. I want my mom to put this book on my kindle not just hers.

Review #3: Joseph (age 3)
Sat through about half of it and then needed a 30 second dance break. Yeah not the target age range for "Knees"

Altogether a good little kids book.  Probably for an age range of 7-10 Thanks for the opportunity to screen it!

A few awesome updates!

No - its not that I finished another book but I am dangerously close to a couple more.  BUT I have discovered a couple of new loves that I wanted to share.  I am officially a "professional reader".  I know it makes me giggle too but it still makes me pretty happy. My title gets me some little perks though...

Another awesome paperback arrived in the mail today.  In the Body of the World by Eve Ensler.  Don't try to get on your Kindle account just yet - its not available until April 2013 so I'm excited for a little sneak peek - this just jumped up in my queue to be the next one I finish (after I finish Cutting for Stone that is)


My beautiful Insomniac Mandi also introduced our little posse to an amazing opportunity to do some advanced reading and feedback through a website called Netgalley where I have been granted access to  some really intriguing Advance Reader Copies (ARC's just in case I use the slang later in the blog) that are available for download.) Yeah I am having too much fun.

Speaking of fun! Although our Posse is made up of four friends who have known each other from childhood/high school, our recent interaction had been made up of Facebook messages and blog articles.  SO, when I got an impromptu night off last Friday we made last minute plans to meet up for drinks and appetizer at the local bar and grill.  TOTALLY worth it!  So in case you were wondering.  This is the P-Posse in action! What beautiful women if I do say so myself.
OK, I need to be reading - night to all and Happy Valentine's!

#15 - Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees

See, I told you that I was just at a bottleneck! Finally I am black in the flow of reading and spending some "me time" before I go to sleep at night.

I normally wouldn't have picked up a book like this, however, I have a hard time saying no to free literature and the lovely folks at BookBub alerted me to this free offering for my nook and I downloaded it.  As a twist of fate, I happened to be in the car and finished another book so when I flipped back to my library, there it was waiting for me so I gave it a chance.

I'm glad I did.  I've never been a big football fan but this book was thankfully light on the sports speak, with enough details to make sure you understand the stakes of each game and what was on the line for the team.

What struck me about the Brees story wasn't the athleticism, it was how Drew approached each challenge he was presented throughout growing up, his career and even his family.  He leaned on his faith in all situations and gave the glory to God.  He always believed that every time he was struck down; whether by an injury, a contract negotiation, or a personal problem, that his hard work and determination and faith would bring him back stronger than he was before.  Not only did he believe  it, but it worked! His road to having his own family and his very own Superbowl ring was inspiring to say the least.  Yes, there were plenty of cliche's but there were also so many moments (i.e. Drew's time with the Marine's in Guantanamo and his connection to the city) that really were good things to incorporate in your own life.

Drew leaves his readers with some tips to overcome their own situations and adversity.  While I wouldn't call it a self help book at all, it definitely gives you something to think about the next time life knocks you down.

Goodreads rating: 4 stars
In Progress: Hacker Mom by Austen Rachlis
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
On Deck (audio): Visions in Death by J.D. Robb  (just need a little brain candy)

#14 - The Pelican Brief by John Grisham

No - I haven't fallen off the reading wagon - I just got...um...bottle necked for a little while.  Lots of longer books in progress and several at a time due to crazy things like going to the gym without my eReader and starting a different book in iBooks.  At present I have three books still pending so look out last half of February, it's going to be a busy time for this blogger!

On to the review: Consistent with my lawyer theme of this year I got through the third John Grisham novel of the summer on audio.  Thank GOODNESS the narrator wasn't the same one who did The Firm.  I actually really enjoyed this book, the reveal of the characters and plot happened gradually, only spilling information when it was necessary to know it at the time.  The main character, Darby Shaw, was the kind of woman I would like to be. Smart and confident and cunning and beautiful.  I really enjoyed her journey from law school student to the person she became.

My one criticism was that some of the characters were a little hard to follow - mostly because I was listening to it on audio and some of the names were pretty similar (Gray Grantham and Gavin Verheek) it goes back and forth between the White House, FBI and the newspaper so sometimes it was a challenge to keep each set of characters  compartmentalized between the three entities.  Other than that though it was a really good little piece of casual literature.

Goodreads rating: 4 stars (rounded up from 3.5)
In progress: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (25%)
Hacker Mom by Austen Rachlis (60%)
Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees (set to finish tonight or tomorrow)

I WON!

I have never really entered contests on Goodreads before but I found this one for Jack Kerouac's "On The Road" - one of my all time favorite books so I entered because I would love to own a copy to read and make my kids read too!

Look what the UPS guy brought me today!!!

#13 - The Firm by John Grisham

The busy season for work has arrived early this year and sucked up all of my free reading time.  Even though I have updated my "currently reading" shelf on goodreads, the truth is, I have only gotten about four chapters into Cutting for Stone and half way through Hacker Mom.  It makes me sad.

Back to "The Firm".  Part of this review I blame on the narrator of the audiobook.  His tone was really uninteresting and bordered on being just completely bored.  It made the slightly uninteresting story even more uninteresting.

The book has a LOT(!!!) of slow moving exposition made even slower by the disinterested reader.  Lots of the book is "sitting in the office making copies" and very little centers around any type of action and the end was just a little bit too neat and tidy for all of the build up from the previous 450 pages.

I liked the concept of a kind of Stepford Law Firm hiding money for the mob but the book could have been about 200 pages shorter and still gotten the same point across.  It's worth a look if you enjoy Grisham but not at the top of my reading list for sure.

Goodreads rating: 2 stars (rounded down from 2.5)

On deck (audio): The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Currently reading: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese