Life as I Know It by Melanie Rose

This was the 2nd book I read for the book club. Better than the first, but still a little lacking. This book is about a woman named Jessica who is struck by lightening. When she wakes up in the hospital, she finds herself in another woman's body. As a single woman, Jessica has to adapt to being a wife and mother of 4 children. My impression:

This was an interesting book. Like "Something Borrowed" the ending was a little too convenient for my taste, but the story and the process that Jessica went through to grow as a person is worth discussing.

The question of God was brought up, but it didn't seem to be resolved. Jessica thinks that there is some sort of supreme being out there somewhere, but she's unclear as to how it operates, what involvement is has in our day-to-day lives. Jessica determines that her soul has been brought into Lauren's body because her family needs Lauren. There is no specific reference to how it happened, but it seemed to be determined that the children needed a mother so much that Jessica was brought into Lauren's life. But that seems to be where the explanation ends, there is no specific reference to Jessica finding God, or some deeper understanding of a supreme being, through the experience.

One aspect of the book that I really liked is that Jessica is able to enter into this family of strangers and become the mother to the four children. She recognizes their needs and is willing to make sacrifices in her life as Jessica in order to be a good mother to the children, and the genuine interest she takes in their lives.

One of the aspect of the book that I found very disappointing (and I am starting to get the feeling that many modern books are like this) was Jessica's relationship with Dan. It was superficially based on love at first sight, tingling feelings, and sex. I didn't see anything that made me feel that they learned about each other's characters or really knew anything about each other, other than a few historical facts.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

I read this book as a part of an online book club I joined. It is about a woman who has an affair with her best friend's fiance. But she is the hero of the book and actually is the good guy in all of this. I'm sure the book jacket makes it sound much more interesting. Below is what I wrote about my impression of the book:

It only took me a couple of days to read this book, and it was interesting to read, I kept reading so much because I just wanted to find out what happened. However, I can't say that I really liked the story very much. The entire time, I kept thinking about how wrong everything was. I especially did not like the ending. It was a happy ending and everything, but then everything seemed to work out just right for everyone. A little too convenient.

I noticed at the end of the book that there is a sequel, the story's continuation told from the friend's point of view. I'm trying to decide if I should read it or not. I'm kind of interested to see what it's like, but at the same time I don't want to be disappointed.

(Since I wrote this, I decided that I definitely don't want to spend my time reading the next books. I don't think they would be worth the time it would take to read them, and I'm not convinced that they will prove to be better for my mind or soul than the first one was.)

The Last Sin Eater

This was a good one!

Set in the 1800's in the Appalachian mountains, a community of people place all their hope on the Sin Eater, a man who will come to their grave and eat their sins so they can have eternal life...and as he does this, he assumes their evil debt and accepts that he will go to hell for the sins of the community. Until...

This really was such a fabulous read by Francine Rivers. The children and the burden they carry. The sorrow of the community and the secrets that some would die for. I could not put this book down. And after everyone was in bed asleep, I would sit and read quietly out loud in my best Scottish accent.

I recommend this book!

The Finishing School

A small finishing school in Switzerland. Rich kids who believe they have the right to be there. A headmaster who is obsessed with writing a novel he cannot finish and a student who is able to get one finished. The headmaster's wife who does not love the man and is sure he is sleeping with other women. This is the beginning, the middle and the end.

Spoiled children, adultery and a final homosexual understanding.

I've heard that Murial Spark is a genius and I don't doubt it. I just don't get it.

By The Shores of Silver Lake

This book may so far be my favorite in the Little House series.

The Ingalls have moved to the Dakota Territory to make a go at a new land. The railroad really does change everything! Laura is now 13 and is in charge of the girls as Mary has gone blind. The responsibility and her mother's dream of Mary becoming a teacher has been shifted onto Laura and she reluctantly, yet silently, takes the lead just as her mother expects her to do.

This was a wonderful read. My daughter asked every night for another chapter and is excited to start the next one (after the 5th Harry Potter, of course).

My recommendation for all families is the read this series together. It really is quite wonderful.

The Wedding

Oh, how Nicholas Sparks does it again!!!

I loved The Notebook, the romance of Noah and Allie. And here we see Noah again, still very much in love with his wife who had died several years earlier. But this book is not about them, not entirely. It is the love story of their oldest daughter Kate and her husband of 30 years, Wilson.

It really was a wonderful read. I had it done in less than a day. I just couldn't put it down. And the third best part? No tragedy! Although I did have a few tears in by the second page, they only came as a result of a writer who knows how to spell out in words the deep love a husband has for his wife...even after 30 years.

Loved it!

Splitting Harriet

The preachers kid, who rebelled against everything her father taught and believed, was rescued. Eight years later, as she works at the church, lives in a mobile home retirement community, is a part time waitress and hangs around with people 40 years and older than her, Harri won't let go of who the bad girl was and where she would take her if she got out of the cage. So, she lives her life safe and predictable until a church consultant begins messing with her ministry, mind and heart.

This was a good book and forgiveness and what it means to actually let yourself be forgiven and live in that forgiveness. I think I like author Tamara Leigh.