The Christmas Shoes

The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere is an inspiring story that can be read during the holidays or any day of the year. The story tells of the family life of two separate families that intersect one Christmas Eve. The stories of a well to do Layton family and the Andrews family from the other side of the tracks shows us that life brings us unexpected happenings that will change our lives forever. Robert Layton is about to lose his family due to his long hours at the office has given his family all the material things of life but not family unity. Nathan Andrews an eight year old boy who is struggling with the fact that his mother is dying and desperately wants to give her a gift before she leaves this earth. Fate brings Robert and Nathan together on Christmas Eve as both are looking for just the right gifts. This chance meeting makes Robert realize that even the smallest things in life are what really matter and he realizes he needs to make some changes in his family life. Nathan is able to give his Mother a wonderful gift of beautiful shoes before she passes away. The Christmas Shoes reminds us all that we should be grateful for all the joys and shared memories that we have in everyday life. It is a story of hope, faith and love. It has been made into a movie as well. A great read.

Mommies behaving badly by Roz Bailey

A quick and entertaining read. Raised on the East Coast, Jack and Ruby Dixon move to Portland Oregon for his job. Ruby wasn't sure she wanted to go until she went to get her car and found that it had been stolen - again! The city suddenly lost its appeal and she was all for moving the family out West. Leaving her in-laws behind was also appealing. Anyone who has moved to a new place will empathize with Ruby as she tries to find new friends while missing her old ones. Her marriage also hits some rough times.
I would rate this book pg - no bad language or sexy scenes. You won't be any smarter after you read this book but you will have been entertained!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Jacob, now a 90 or 93-year old man (he can't rightly remember) recounts his life in the circus as a vet. He talks about life on the train, stopping and starting unexpectedly, and the elephant they acquire that requires the working men to go without their wages. The politics and attitudes of each of the circus riff-raff Jacob comes into contact with are vividly portrayed on every page. There is drama, a love story, adventure, and danger at every turn.

Water For Elephants is a well-researched fictional piece of work. Gruen has pulled events which actually happened in circuses around the country, especially during the 20s and 30s. The pictures included at the beginning of each chapter help illustrate the story being told, and the chapters that alternate between Jacob's present and past are great opposites. A fascinating read.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This book is a follow-up to The Kite Runner, the author's first novel. It is the story of two women, whose lives become intertwined in Afghanistan. With life in Afghanistan as the backdrop, this novel shows how the lives of Mariam and Laila, neighbors who become friends and allies, are affected.

I enjoyed the book for the insight it gave me into a current topic. Sometimes it was difficult reading but worth it in the end.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Dashti is a mucker who has had a hard life. Her father gone, her brothers abandoned her and her mother, shortly before her own mother passed away. Dashti must now learn how to fend for herself. As she heads into town, she sells her possessions to gain employment, and learns how to be a lady's maid.

But on the day she is to enter Lady Saren's service, something awful happens. Lady Saren's father is very displeased at Saren's refusal to marry Lord Khasar, and locks her in a tower for seven years--Dashti along with her. As three of those years pass, Dashti decides no one will save them, and they must do it themselves. With her determination, she is sure they will survive.

This story is based on Maid Maleen, a fairy tale recorded by the Grimm brothers. There are elements of fantasy at play, but the majority of the story is about a girl's determination to overcome circumstances out of her control. The beginning is slow and not well developed, but the rest of the story is worth the beginning.

Jinx by Meg Cabot

Jean, who hates her name, has moved from Iowa to New York to live with her aunt, uncle and 3 cousins. We later find out that she was basically running away from "problems" she was having back home in Iowa...

This story was slow at first, but as I continued listening to it (audio books are wonderful) I found that I couldn't stop until I knew how it ended (a good ending by the way). The story is about a girl finding her true self and accepting it completely. A good listen (or read for those that like paper books).

Marley & Me by John Grogan

If you are an animal lover (and perhaps even if you are not) you will enjoy this wonderful book that takes you through the life of a young couple who adopted a dog. What a dog! Large, rambunctious, loving, gentle, and all dog Marley kept his family on their toes all the time. From eating anything in sight to being tender with children Marly will invade your life as he did the Grogan's. This big yellow lab has many adventures from getting kicked out of obedience school to auditioning for movie. You will laugh until your sides split and cry with the Grogan's in the tough times. The story of this energetic much loved canine is a terriffic read.

No time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

This is the only book we have by this author but it was a good one! Lots of suspense and totally unforeseen events. It is a mystery but without the blood and gore. The characters actually have dialogs! After my recent disappointment with James Patterson's You've been Warned I was a bit worried that this book might also end with a stupid explanation for what has gone on.
This book kept me reading eagerly because I had to know what happened. Maybe you would like to know too!

Deadline, by Chris Crutcher

About to be a senior in high school, Ben Wolf has a serious problem on his hands. His sports physical has come back, with extremely bad news. He maybe has one year left of his life.

Ben is torn between telling everyone in his life, or leaving it a secret until he can't anymore. But he's determined to make his last year the best one he's ever lived. That includes going out for the football team. Hitting on the best-looking girl in school. Antagonizing the government teacher. No matter what, Ben must face what will come. No matter what.

If you only read one book this year, make sure it's Deadline. This book will have you thinking about what you might do if you only had one year left. And what you might change.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

This memoir is fascinating. Having been raised in a traditional family (sure there were a few quirks) in the same town all of my growing years, I was in awe the way that some people lived their young lives. Of course it was not the children's choice - it was the parents'. Jeannette writes a book that will pull you in from the beginning. You know basically how it ends (after all she wrote the book!) but you want to know how she did it. I highly recommend this book!

Now and Then by Robert B. Parker

I've always loved the Spenser series by Robert Parker. (I have to admit that I haven't taken the plunge and tried any of his other series.) This newest one in the series lives up to its predecessors - snappy dialog, a plot that I can pretty much follow, and laughs along the way. Hawke, who was absent in the previous book, is back as Spenser's helpmate as they try to figure out why an FBI agent and his philandering wife were murdered. If you're looking for a quick read, this is the series for you - after carrying it around with me for a week, I managed to read almost all of it in a few hours on Thanksgiving Day!

Acorna Series by Anne McCaffrey

I started reading this series about 6 weeks ago, and have just started book 5 (of 7 - or 10 if you include the Acorna's Children series as well). The way McCaffrey has set up the characters and organized the setting I can find myself standing with the characters are they are progressing through the book. I find it hard to stop reading - I want to know what happens next!

Science fiction has always been something I enjoy. This series is a new addition to my favorite list.

Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and me / by Pattie Boyd and Penny Junor

What a fascinating read! This book refrains from being a tell-all expose, and the result is a thoroughly believable, heartfelt account of what is was like to be part of Beatlemania, and to be at the top of the social scene during the 1960's in London, including insights into the fashion world and drug culture. Amidst trips around the world, parties, and mansions, (all full of 60's icons) Pattie's story of fame, love, addiction and the struggles of all three is sincerely portrayed. It was a fascinating glimpse into a lifestyle that few tell.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler

Not full of substance, but an interesting, quick read. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict doesn't have the substance or dialogue that you might expect from an author who is sooo crazy about Austen's novels, but the premise of the novel, in which a 21st century L.A. working working girl is mysteriously transported back to Regency England, is enough to keep you turning the pages!

How Starbucks Saved My Life

This is a good quick non-fiction read. Like many other people Michael Gill finds out that loyalty to a company is not necessarily reciprocated - unless you choose the right company!
There are lots of life lessons to be learned from his journey. Also it's an interesting look into Starbucks and how they run their company.

a few thoughts on books I've loved and hated recently

Most books that I finish are rated good to great (by me). Otherwise I will quit at the point that I don't like it. With authors that I usually enjoy I'm willing to keep going in hopes that the end will justify my decision. Next time I might quit early!
James Patterson and his co-author du jour never create stories that are as good as Patterson's Cross or The Women's Murder Club series. But some of them have been okay. You've Been Warned was awful!! There are no sympathetic characters. I find it hard to like a book if there is no one in the book to root for. At the end I thought everything would be explained to my satisfaction. It wasn't. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone unless you are stuck in a doctor's office and there is no other reading material available.

Alice Sebold blew me away with her book The Lovely Bones. The Almost Moon was a bit of a disappointment. Again I found no truly sympathetic characters and some of the reactions and decisions of the characters seemed way off base. I would love to hear what other people thought about it.

I enjoyed reading The Faraday Girls by Monica Mcinerney. It is the story of a family of girls who had lost their mother years earlier. They live with their father. One of the girls becomes pregnant and it affects the family for years. It is not a real deep book but I liked it and was sad to see it end.

My New Favorite Author

A recent trip to Scotland increased my awareness of books by Ian Rankin. He is a Scottish mystery author and writes several series. The newest one in his John Rebus series had just been published when we were there so the book and his face were in every bookstore I went into. And then to make things even more fun, I heard him interviewed on the radio the week after I got back. Needless to say, I've been reading his books since!

I have to say that John Rebus is not a character I would normally like. As a police investigator, he is good but as a person he leaves a lot to be desired. He is flawed (alcoholic or not - you can decide) and resistant to authority. In spite of that, I like the character and the books and am almost always surprised by the way they end.

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