Review: The Actor and the Housefwife

Title The Actor and the Housewife
By Shannon Hale
Genre Adult Contemporary
Pages 352
Recommended by Book Club

First sentence Becky was seven months pregnant when she met Felix Callahan.

Synopsis from Goodreads
Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity hearththrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened…though nothing has happened. It isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. Her children roll their eyes. Her neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it? A magical story, The Actor and the Housewife explores what could happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything.

What it has going for it
Shannon Hale knows how to write a fun engaging book that keeps you glued to the story...even if it is a dumb one. Honestly, I don't have anything else nice to say.

What's lacking
Besides being way too long, this one just felt so ridiculously pointless. I had no idea why I read over 300 pages for nothing. I heard you either love or hate this one...I felt neither emotion. I just shrugged this one off as a boring story with a point I could care less about.

Favorite moment
Nothing really stands out. I do enjoy how Shannon can evoke some emotion with her writing, though.

Yea or Nay?
Meh, I'd pass on this one. It has a fake portrayal of Mormon's and was just boring and pointless. 

Review: Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Title Getting Over Garrett Delaney
By Abby Mcdonald
Genre YA contemporary
Pages 336
Recommended by Jessica

First sentence You have to understand: I've been madly, hopelessly, tragically in love with Garrett Delaney for two years now-ever since that fateful day when I looked from my list of the Top Ten Couples of All Time and saw him sauntering into the local coffee house.


Synopsis
Sadie has been in love with Garrett for far too long. When he gets into a writing camp and she doesn't and he goes away for the summer her heart is broken. Things get more and more out of hand as the summer progress but with the help of new friends and old Sadie is going to get over Garrett once and for all.

What it has going for it
I read this one several months ago and I remember liking it well enough but as I reflect on it now I realize how much I really did like it. The truths learned in this book are amazing! Yeah, it's a ridiculous fun story disguised as fluff but as I look at it now I can see how many deep thoughts there were. I won't go and list them all but I will name a few...the ones that made me love the book. First of all, I loved watching Sadie learn who she really was. Up until her friends point it out and help her out she never realized that much of who she was, was merely a shadow of what Garrett wanted her to be. She didn't even know who she was. I think...well I know that girls struggle with this no matter their age and I loved that Sadie was set free and learned who she was. Secondly, I loved the way a little distance and perspective made Sadie see things more clearly. This too is a truth that I'm learning myself. So, yeah, the book was fun and entertaining but if you like a little depth to your reading pick this one up!

What's lacking
Meh, slightly predictable and a rather neat ending but the journey was worth it.

Favorite moment
When Sadie has her full blown meltdown in the coffee shop and really realizes she has a problem.

Yea or Nay?
Yep, definitely would recommend this one.

Too Much Reading?!

 

Is it possible?! Can you really read TOO much?! No, no that can't be true...or can it?

OK. I know other people have written about this very subject but I notice they pointed things out that I could care less about. Sorry it's true. They pointed out that it can be bad for your eyesight and draw you away from studying (kids and teens) or make you shirk responsibilities. See? Those are pathetic reasons. ;) I tease, I tease. I just hadn't thought of those as being reasons not to read. 

Anywho, the whole reason I'm writing this post is because, as you are well aware, I have been completely out of the blogging world for most of this year. Not only has my blog reading and writing been nearly obsolete but I haven't been reading that much either. In fact, I've only read 8 books since March...that used to be my average per month! Eeesh! And I've come to realize something. The less I read the more I enjoy what I read. Now that's not completely true. I enjoy reading no matter how many books I put away per month but it seems like I become completely nit picky, anal and judgmental of books when I'm constantly reading. 

Now when I read a book, some where in the back of my mind I know it might not be the best book in the world but I get to read so little these days that almost any book is a good book...a great book! You know what I mean? Is this just me? I don't think so. At book club every month we all take turns reporting what we read since the last meeting. Some of us read so many books that when we report, there are those who just stare at us with mouths gaping, admitting the only book they managed to read was the book for book club...and they consider that a good reading number. 

So, yeah, I often wondered if reading too many books was making me picky. Now, after taking a "forced" break I realize that for me... it was and there just might be such a thing as reading too much. Not that, that is going to stop me. Don't worry. ;)  

Maybe what it really comes down to is this: Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

Review: Agnes Grey

Title Agnes Grey
By Anne Bronte
Genre Adult classic
Pages 272
Recommended by Book Club

First sentence All true histories contain instruction; though, in some the treasure may be hard to find and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut.

Synopsis
Agnes leaves home to be a governess and learns many lessons from two different families finally finding a happy ending of her own.



What it has going for it
A friend of mine and I have been talking about reading this one forever so when my book club decided to read it I was excited to finally get to it. I hated (LOATHED)  Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights is just ridiculous so I was curious what the other sister had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised. This one is so much more calm and down to earth. Sure, Agnes is rather boring and pretty self righteous but in comparison to Jane and Cathy...Oh, so much better. This one took me a whole month to read. Mind you, I was getting married and honeymooning but, still. I think it reflects how dull the book was. It was fine just not much happened. However, if you read the first sentence of the book again...we are warned. Maybe Anne Bronte just wanted to write something dull because her sisters ridiculous stories drover her as crazy as they drive me. The reason I liked this one, though, despite it's dryness and dull story, was because Agnes' little crush and her ponderings and feelings reminded me of *ahem* someone. *cough cough me cough cough*. I actually laughed out loud at those chapters.

What's lacking
As I mentioned, this one was rather dull. If it wasn't for the romance in it I seriously would have felt like the whole book was a complete waste. Sure, Agnes goes through some crazy families that make the reader think but I never felt like Agnes grew up. I felt like she assumed she was perfect and everyone else outside her family was horrible and has low morals. *shrugs* It wasjust a little demeaning. Thank goodness for the romance. That's all I can say.

Favorite moment
The entire chapter where Agnes muses about hope. I giggled the whole way through it.

Yea or Nay?
There's only a few classic books I'd warn you away from reading but most are usually worth a read.