Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

by Mitch Albom

Hyperion Hardcover

ISBN 9780756989989

196 pages

Release Date: January 28, 2003

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? This was a bookclub selection. 

When did you read this book? before 2007

Who should read this book? bookclubs

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Five People You Meet in Heaven' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.70 stars.

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him, as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"

My Review 

This was one of the first books I read for a bookclub. I remember it being a quick read. I read it for a book club in a day. I enjoyed it and it kept my interest. It got rave reviews, but it wasn't a 'life-changing' book for me. Read it once and then passed it on. Interestingly, I just read ‘Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven’ by Fannie Flagg for my current bookclub. The experience in heaven in that book reminded me a bit of this one.

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Review: Lost Light

Lost Light

Harry Bosch #9

by Michael Connelly

Warner Vision Mass Market Paperback

ISBN 9780446611633

416 pages

Release Date: March 1, 2004

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? I found this in a box of books I ‘inherited’ and decided I should read it before giving it away. 

When did you read this book? May 2007

Who should read this book? readers who enjoy mystery/thriller

Here is a synopsis of Barefoot' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.90 stars.

"Only the money was real. Four years ago, LAPD detective Harry Bosch was on a movie set asking questions about the murder of a young production assistant when an armored car arrived with two million dollars cash for use in a heist scene. In a life-imitates-art firestorm, a gang of masked men converged on the delivery and robbed the armored car with guns blazing. Bosch got off a shot that struck one of the robbers as their van sped away, but the money was never recovered. And the young woman's murder was in the stack of unsolved-case files Bosch carried home the night he left the LAPD." Now Bosch moves full bore back into that case, determined to find justice for the young woman. Without a badge to open doors and strike fear into the guilty, he learns afresh how brutally indifferent the world can be. But something draws him on, past humiliation and harassment. It's not just that the dead woman had no discernible link to the robbery. Nor is it his sympathy for the cops who took over the case, one of them killed on duty and the other paralyzed by a bullet in the same attack. With every conversation and every thread of evidence, Bosch senses a larger presence, an organization bigger than the movie studios and more ruthless than even the LAPD. The part of Bosch that will never back down finds as fatal an opponent as he's ever encountered - and there's no guarantee that Bosch will survive the showdown ahead.

My Review 

I thought the book got off to a slow start and it took me awhile to get interested. I have never read a 'Harry Bosch' book, so maybe if I had, I would have gotten into the plot a bit sooner. I'm not normally a reader of this genre, but I have to say, once I got past the slow start, they book held my interest. A lot of suspense, a lot of mystery and a bit of 'revenge'. The solving surprised me a little, but it was a nice change from what I've been reading lately, where everything is predictable. If you are a fan of crime solver mysteries, you will enjoy this book.

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Review: Barefoot

Barefoot

by Elin Hilderbrand

Little Brown and Company Hardcover

ISBN 9780316018586

416 pages

Release Date: July 2, 2007

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? I like the cover. It was the middle of winter when I read this and the beach seemed like a nice place to be. 

When did you read this book? February 2011

Who should read this book? readers who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction

Here is a synopsis of Barefoot' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.58 stars.

Three women arrive at the local airport, observed by Josh, a Nantucket native home from college for the summer. Burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues, the women—two sisters and one friend—make their way to the sisters' tiny cottage, inherited from an aunt. They're all trying to escape from something: Melanie, after seven failed in-vitro attempts, learned her husband was having an affair, and then discovered she's pregnant; Brenda embarked on a passionate affair with an older student that got her fired from her prestigious job as a professor in New York; and her sister Vicki, mother to two small boys, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Soon Josh is part of the chaotic household, acting as babysitter, confidant, and, eventually, lover.

My Review 

This is a story about 3 women who escape to Nantucket Island one summer. Vicky is the mother of 2 young boys and has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She wants one last summer of normalcy and fun before giving in to the diagnosis. She invites her friend, Melanie, along. Melanie is escaping her life at home, where she has learned her long hoped for pregnancy is a reality....and her husband is cheating! Vicky also brings her sister, Brenda, who is escaping her own problems. Brenda was recently fired from her position as a professor, after being caught having an affair with one of her students. She is being sued for destruction of school property. There is tension between Brenda and Melanie, as Brenda feels threatened by Melanie’s close relationship with Vicky. Into this mix, come Josh, a young college student home for the summer. He is hired to babysit the boys, and becomes a virtual member of the family. He also develops an attraction to the women, and they to him. 

This is a fun, lighter read with a good ending. Great for the beach or a cold winter’s day under a blanket!

My Rating:  ★★★★ 4 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Review: Pilate's Wife

Pilate’s Wife

by Antoinette May

William Morrow Hardcover

ISBN 9780061128653

368 pages

Release Date: November 1, 2006

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? The book was sitting on the ‘new book shelf’ at my local library and I liked the cover. Once I saw it is historical fiction, I was sold!

When did you read this book? February 2010

Who should read this book? readers of historical fiction of the biblical era who do not mind a long read

Here is a synopsis of ‘Pilate’s Wife' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.56 stars.

A daughter of privilege in the most powerful empire the world has ever known, Claudia has a unique and disturbing "gift": her dreams have an uncanny way of coming true. As a rebellious child seated beside the tyrannical Roman Emperor Tiberius, she first spies the powerful gladiator who will ultimately be her one true passion. Yet it is the ambitious magistrate Pontius Pilate who intrigues the impressionable young woman she becomes, and Claudia finds her way into his arms by means of a mysterious ancient magic. Pilate is her grand destiny, leading her to Judaea and plunging her into a seething cauldron of open rebellion. But following her friend Miriam of Magdala's confession of her ecstatic love for a charismatic religious radical, Claudia begins to experience terrifying visions—horrific premonitions of war, injustice, untold devastation and damnation ...and the crucifixion of a divine martyr whom she must do everything in her power to save.

My Review 

I read this a couple of years ago and don’t really remember too much about it, but I don’t remember it was slow moving and not a book I would choose to read again. 

I really did not like the main character, Claudia who goes on to become the wife of Pilate. She is headstrong and willful, and while she started out as honorable and brave, by the end of the story she is just self-centered, doing whatever she wants no matter who she may hurt, She also does not learning from either her mistakes, or those of others. 

Also, it seemed to me that the book crosses the line from historical fiction, which though embellished, is usually based in fact, to fantasy. Apparently little is known the real Claudia, so the author took great liberty with her imagination. One of Claudia's best friends is Miriam (Mary Magdalene) and Claudia attends the wedding of Miriam to Jesus. Miriam spends the night of the crucifix in Claudia's quarters in Pilate's palace. It just felt more like 'name dropping' than good fiction

I really don't recommend reading this book unless you have unlimited time for reading. It is an ok book, but it is JUST an ok book and there are so many better books out there. 

My Rating:  ★★ 2 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Zipporah, Wife of Moses

Zipporah, Wife of Moses

Canann Trilogy

by Marek Halter

Crown Hardback

ISBN 9781400052790

288 pages

Release Date: July 5, 2005

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? I read, Sarah, the first book of this trilogy and really enjoyed it.

When did you read this book? October 2006

Who should read this book? fans of historial fiction, biblical era fiction

Here is a synopsis of ‘Zipporah, Wife of Moses' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.70 stars.

"In the time of the Pharaoh, a tiny infant is rescued from the banks of the Red Sea. She is named Zipporah, "the little bird." Although she is a Cushite by birth - one of the black people of the lands to the south - she is taken in by Jethro, high priest and sage of the Midianites. Jethro adores his adopted daughter, and she is an honored member of his family. But the blackness of Zipporah's skin sets her apart and will decide her future: she will be an outsider, and the men of her adopted tribe will not want her as a wife." "But when she becomes a young woman, Zipporah's destiny changes forever. While drawing water at a well one day, she meets a handsome young man, a stranger. Like her, he is an outsider, a foreigner. His name is Moses. A Hebrew raised in the house of the Pharaoh, Moses is a fugitive, forced to flee his homeland of Egypt after murdering one of the Pharaoh's cruel overseers. Zipporah knows almost immediately that this man will be the husband and partner she never thought she would have." At first Moses wants nothing more than a peaceful life with the Midianites. He is content in his role as Zipporah's lover and the honarary son of Jethro the sage. But Zipporah refuses to let Moses forget his past or turn away from what she believes to be his true destiny. Although he is the love of her life and the father of her children, Zipporah won't marry Moses until he agrees to return to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and free his people. When God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush, his words echo Zipporah's, and Moses returns to Egypt with Zipporah by his side. A passionate lover and a generous, thoughful wife, Zipporah becomes the guiding force in Moses's struggle. With the help of her powerful father, she teaches the rebellious young man about the rule of the law and the force of justice. Because of Zipporah - the outsider, the black-skinned woman - Moses becomes a defender of the oppressed and a liberator of the enslaved.

My Review 

I enjoyed this book, though at times it 'dragged' a little. Obviously it is only very loosely based on the Bible. It is an imaginative work.  Because I'd read other reviews before reading this book I was expecting to be disappointed. It is true that I did not find this book to be as good as the first book, Sarah, but it was still an enjoyable book for me. Though there was some 'racism' in the book, I didn't find this to be as large a factor in the book as I'd been led to believe by other reviewers. Zipporah was treated as an outsider by her inlaws, with much jealously displayed, and this was attributed to race, but the bottom line was that her sister-in-law and her sisters (by adoption) didn't like her; they were jealous of her (she was daddy’s favorite!) and racism was as good an excuse as any to mistreat her. They would have found another reason if this one weren't so convenient. The one thing I didn't like in this book was how Moses' siblings came off as so petty. 

Having said that, I DID enjoy the book right up until the end. It ended much too abrubtly. Not wanting to give away the end,I will only say I found it disappointing. In general, if I don't like the way a book ends, I won't like the book, but I still found this one to be worth reading. 

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Before the Blog: Stolen Innocence

Stolen Innocence

by Elissa Wall with Lisa Pulitzer

Harper Collins Publishers Hardcover

ISBN 9780061628016

436 pages

Release Date: May 13, 2008

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? I found this one right after I got my ereader and was trying out my library’s ebook access. Most books were on reserve, but this one was available and looked interesting.

When did you read this book? August 2010

Who should read this book? readers of memoirs, 

Here is a synopsis of ‘Stolen Innocence' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.72 stars.

In September 2007, a packed courtroom in St. George, Utah, sat hushed as Elissa Wall, the star witness against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, gave captivating testimony of how Jeffs forced her to marry her first cousin at age fourteen. This harrowing and vivid account proved to be the most compelling evidence against Jeffs, showing the harsh realities of this closed community and the lengths to which Jeffs went in order to control the sect's women.

Now, in this courageous memoir, Elissa Wall tells the incredible and inspirational story of how she emerged from the confines of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and helped bring one of America's most notorious criminals to justice. Offering a child's perspective on life in the FLDS, Wall discusses her tumultuous youth, explaining how her family's turbulent past intersected with her strong will and identified her as a girl who needed to be controlled through marriage. Detailing how Warren Jeffs's influence over the church twisted its already rigid beliefs in dangerous new directions, Wall portrays the inescapable mind-set and unrelenting pressure that forced her to wed despite her repeated protests that she was too young.

Once she was married, Wall's childhood shattered as she was obligated to follow Jeffs's directives and submit to her husband in "mind, body, and soul." With little money and no knowledge of the outside world, she was trapped and forced to endure the pain and abuse of her loveless relationship, which eventually pushed her to spend nights sleeping in her truck rather than face the tormentor in her bed.

Yet even in those bleak times, she retained a sliver of hope that one day she would find a way out, and one snowy night that came in the form of a rugged stranger named Lamont Barlow. Their chance encounter set in motion a friendship and eventual romance that gave her the strength she needed to break free from her past and sever the chains of the church.

But though she was out of the FLDS, Wall would still have to face Jeffs—this time in court. In Stolen Innocence, she delves into the difficult months on the outside that led her to come forward against him, working with prosecutors on one of the biggest criminal cases in Utah's history, so that other girls still inside the church might be spared her cruel fate.

More than a tale of survival and freedom, Stolen Innocence is the story of one heroic woman who stood up for what was right and reclaimed her life.

My Review

This was a pretty good book and hard to put down. At times, it came across as a little whiny, when she complained about some 'everyday' type stuff we all deal with from time to time. But then you stop to think that she has no idea we all deal with some of it because she was brought up so isolated. And certainly, things happened to her that she has reason to whine (and more) about! 

It was interesting to read about how she was brought up to believe that marriage was her only 'entry into heaven' and that this 'fact' was used to manipulate young women into marrying whoever they were told to marry, and to obey there husband without complaint. And this was accepted by the women! It was also interesting to read about how many in her family had varying degree of questions and problems with the church leadership, and how they dealt with it. Very interesting.

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Before the Blog: The Dead Don't Dance

The Dead Don’t Dance

by Charles Martin

Thomas Nelson Mass Market Paperback

ISBN 9781595543271

326 pages

Release Date: September 4, 2007

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book? A friend at church lent it to me and highly recommended it.

When did you read this book? Oct 2010

Who should read this book? readers of Christian fiction

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Dead Don’t Dance' from Goodreads, where it rates 4.09 stars.

A sleepy rural town in South Carolina. The end of summer and a baby about to be born. But in the midst of hope and celebration comes unexpected tragedy, and Dylan Styles must come to terms with how much he's lost. Will the music of his heart be stilled forever--or will he choose to dance with life once more, in spite of sorrow and heartbreak?

The Dead Don't Dance is a bittersweet yet triumphant love story--a tale of one man's spiritual journey through the darkness of despair and into the light of hope.

My Review 

This was a pretty good book, though it didn't draw me in as much I had expected. It basically starts with a man sitting next to his wife's bedside while she lies in a coma. Their son has just died during birth and she hemorraghed during childbirth. He is very loyal, sitting by her bedsides almost 24/7. He is told that the longer she remains in her coma, the less likely her chances are of recovery. He sits with his memories grieves as everyone tries to move him on. He receives support from his best friend and former high school football teammate, the sheriff, who pushes him into teaching at the local community college. One of his students, an aide at the hospital, also lends support. The story tells of his interaction with his students, and his coping with his wife's condition and his attempt to move on as he learns to deal with his wife’s condition and broken dreams. I did like the book, but it is not on my list of ‘must read’s. At times the story moved a little too slowly and I was ready to put the book down. The biggest motivator for me to continue was to learn whether or not his wife ever regained consciousness. I’m not going to tell you, because that would ruin the book for you if you choose to read it. 

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.

Before the Blog: Hilda and Pearl

Hilda and Pearl: A Novel

by Alice Mattison

Harper Perennial Paperback

ISBN 9780060936938

304 pages

Release Date: October 1, 2001

Available for purchase 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

Why did you choose this book?  The cover was what attracted me to this one when I saw it at book fair. The fact that the book was in ‘like new’ condition made it irresistable. 

When did you read this book? September 2010

Who should read this book? fans of historical fiction, particularly the 1950’s, readers who enjoy stories of friendship

Here is a synopsis of ‘Hilda and Pearl' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.19 stars.

To Frances, an only child living in McCarthy-era Brooklyn, her mother, Hilda, and her aunt Pearl seem as if they have always been friends. Frances does not question the love between the two women until her father's job as a teacher is threatened by anti-Communism, just as Frances begins to learn about her family's past. Why does Hilda refer to her "first pregnancy," as if Frances wasn't her only child? Whose baby shoes are hidden in Hilda's dresser drawer? Why is there tension when Pearl and her husband come to visit?

The story of a young girl in the fifties and her elders' coming-of-age in the unquiet thirties, this book resonates deeply, revealing in beautiful, clear language the complexities of friendship and loss.

My Review

I picked this book up at the book fair because I was intrigued by the cover. Within the first few pages, I knew I was going to like the book. I found it difficult to put down. Sometimes the writing was a bit stilted, but the book was still entertaining.

The book is about 2 women who married brothers in the years before WWII, and the friendship they formed. The story begins during the McCarthy era in the 

50's, with one of the brothers having to worry about his job because of his political activities. Hilda has a daughter, Frances, who grows up believing she is an only child. Through bits and pieces of conversation, she learns there was a baby who died. The story back-tracks into the 30's as the women remember their past.

I believe the author's point is to show that friendship is a choice and you can make the choice to have a friendship that survives betrayal, tragedy, and disappointment. There were 2 separate events that would have torn most friends apart, yet these women chose to get past them and remain friends.

I didn't rate the book higher, because there were too many loose ends. I feel like I need to know when happened next. I don't want to give too much away so I won't tell you all the questions I had, but I did feel like there was a lot more story to be told. But even with these loose ends, this is a good story and worth your time.

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

Before the Blog is a meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out Karis' YA Litwit blog.