Before I Go To Sleep

 Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This book was okay. Not the greatest, but overall good. I definitely got bored during the middle of the book though. The beginning starts out really strong and you are definitely drawn in and interested. Then it kind of fizzles in the middle. The last 50 pages or so it picks back up and is actually kind of intense.

Anyways, the book is about Christine. About 20 years ago Christine had a traumatic brain injury and lost her ability to retain memories. Now every time she falls asleep she forgets everything about her life. When she wakes up she doesn't know where she is, how old she is, and who this man is who is claiming to be her husband. Every day she tries to figure out her world and slowly she is remembering strange events. Events that don't exactly match up to what her husband is telling her. Is he keeping things from her? And if he is, how much of what he tells her is the truth?

Happy Reading!!!

Still Alice

 Still Alice by Lisa Genova

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Alice, a Harvard professor, wife and mother of 3 has just been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Throughout the book we follow her on her journey of figuring out how to live with this awful disease. We see how she is slowly loosing herself and forgetting everything that once was so important to her.

I don't think I will ever look at Alzheimer's the same way. This was a great book! I thoroughly enjoy Lisa Genova's books (she also wrote Left Neglected) and am looking forward to reading more of her.

Beastly

 
 Beastly by Alex Finn
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars

This was okay. I liked the idea of a Beauty and the Beast spin off type thing, but I just found this book to be a little boring. Maybe it is the fact that I already have seen the movie, although it was awhile ago. Anyways....

The book follows Kyle Kingsbury, a rich, good looking, perfect, spoiled teenager. His mother is not in the picture and his father has taught him that good looking people are worth everything, and ugly people are worth nothing. Kyle and his group of friends are ruthless at school to anyone who is less then perfect. But one day all of that catches up with him. A witch cast a spell on him and turned him into a beast. He is now as ugly on the outside as he was on the inside. The only way to break the spell is to kiss a girl who has fallen in love with him.

This was a cute, easy read. Not the best, but it was okay. The movie is entertaining but predictable also.

I Will Cary You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Wow! What a incredibly sad book. Literally every time I picked this book I would soon be in tears. But I absolutely loved the faith, hope, love and relationships in this book. I can not imagine going through something like Angie did and I truly admire her strength, courage and faith during such a heartbreaking time.

In this true story, Angie and Todd discover when they are 18 weeks pregnant with their 4th child that the child is not compatible with life. This tragic news throws them through an emotional whirlwind but their strong faith carries them through. They continually look at God and know that He has a plan. Although this plan is not what they want, they have faith in Him. I found it very refreshing to see that even though Angie had a strong faith, she definitely had times with doubt and hatred. How could this be happening to her? I am definitely inspired by this story and even though it is extremely depressing, it is also uplifting.



Heaven is for Real

 Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

Wow! What a great, uplifting, remarkable story! But let's backtrack a little. I was a little hesitant to read this book. I don't read a ton of non-fiction, and I haven't had much experience in this genre. I am Christian but I have a hard time with "preachy" books, etc. So it took a couple of people recommending this book before I decided to give it a try. And I am so glad I did. I didn't love the writing and actually found myself skimming some parts but overall the message is amazing.

This story is about Colton Burpo who at three had a appendix rupture. While in surgery he visited Jesus and had a remarkable experience. The story is told by Colton's dad, who also happens to be a preacher. I didn't love how he told the story, and got somewhat bored when he would talk about his own health scares and such. I just wanted to hear about Cotlon's experience! Colton's parents gradually asked Colton about his brief stay in Heaven over 5 years, which I found a little odd. Why didn't they just keep the conversation going once Colton brought it up 4 months after the surgery? Anyways, I loved hearing about what Colton saw and how he explained it in his own words. I don't know how a 3 year old boy would know about this stuff without experiencing it for himself. I am so glad I read this! I can't wait to talk to my husband about the book!

Happy Reading!!!

Bet Me

 Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Cute! I have been in the mood for a good, quick chick lit book, so this was perfect. I enjoyed both of the main characters, and even though their relationship was a bit predictable, it was fun to watch it all happen. I have to say that the last few chapters are a bit scandalous, but honestly, I didn't mind. Actually, throughout the book I was surprised how little sex there was, but that thought changed by the end.

We follow Minn Dobbs as she rudely get dumped by her boyfriend while at a bar. We quickly find out that Minn is not the skinniest of girls and her mom definitely lets her know it. She hasn't had much luck with men and she leads a somewhat boring life, especially since her career is to assess and avoid risk. Then we meet Calvin, a handsome man who has a reputation of getting woman to fall in love with him and then high tailing it out of there. Minn and Calvin don't exactly hit it off but they keep running into each other and weirdly enough can't get each other out of their minds.

Happy Reading!!!

World Book Night

I am lucky enough to get to hand out The Book Thief today for World Book Night.  Can't wait!  I hope some of the people who get these books will fall in love with reading like I have.