Book challenge - What should I read next?

This is challenge 7 in the Take a Chance Challenge 3.  In this one the What should I read next website picked the book for me.  The result: The Shop on Blossom Street.

Image from Amazon

Author: Debbie Macomber

Genre: fiction, romance

Published: 2004, 2005, 2010

Available: Hardback, paperback, eReaders

Length: 400 pages






This is the first in a series of books.  Some of the characters are carried throughout the series, others join along the way.  I realize this is not a new book, but I have not read any of this series and it seemed to make the most sense to begin at the beginning.  The shop is opened by Lydia, a single young woman who has survived two rounds of cancer, but has lost trust in love and relationships along the way.

The three other main characters in this book are introduced as they join Lydia's new shop and knitting classes.  Each woman has their own unique reason for wanting to learn to knit.  The four women are not likely to have become friends in another context, but over time and events find support and confort in each other and the knitting.

The three women include Alix, a early 20's woman on her own after growing up with alcoholic parents and a foster care life.  Jacqueline, a 50's married socialite with an only child who recently married someone she considers completely inappropriate.  Finally, Carol, who has been trying to have a child with her husband through any means possible, and sees the baby blanket starter class as a sign from God that her prayers will be answered.

My thoughts:  I was happily surprised by this book.  It is well written and the transition back and forth between the characters' stories worked for me.  I like that she provides enough detail to feel present in the story, but not too much to bog you down.  The characters are diverse enough to relate to a large group of people.  Also, the author gives them real life problems and issues, some big - some not so big, to deal with through the book.  Additionally, I appreciate that it is part of a series, which really works for me.  I look forward to reading the rest as the year progresses.

M.E.

Book(s) Review - The Book Seer Pick

Reading Challenge #6, The Book Seer Pick.  I am a Nora Roberts fan, especially when there is a series.  So the "Seer" suggested several options.  I read all three books in the Key Trilogy. 



The Key of Light begins the series.  You meet 3 women on different paths in life, that converge one night at the beautiful house on the hill.  They are given an opportunity to pursue a quest.  With success comes great spoils, but with failure comes great price.




The women, and the reader, must make a leap of faith into the magic of Gods and of friendship like they have never known.  Each woman must seek out a key to free the souls of the other world's King's daughters trapped by evil magic.  Only their understanding of their role in life, love and happiness will lead them to the key.

The three women are an artist (book 1), a librarian (book 2), and a single mother (book 3).  They each are given the choice to participate or not, with the understanding that all three must complete the task for the quest to be successful.  Along the way their lives become intertwined by work, love, friendship and family. 

These are written in modern times, contrasting with the fantasy of magical kingdoms.  They are romance novels, but with enough character development to carry you through the series with interest.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this series very much.  It makes for a good summer read.  Interesting enough to want to continue, but light enough to distract you from every day stress.  I enjoyed the differences in the women and the men that join them along the way.  Each book could stand alone, but makes much more sense as the series.  As with many of her more recent works, the mystery influence of her other writings peek into these romance novels a bit as well.  She creates people you would want to get to know and maybe become friends.

I realize I have not provided a very detailed description for this "review", but I would hate to give away components of the storyline that make it unique.  If you appreciate the type of writing by Nora Roberts or other similar writers, you will not be disappointed in this series.

Linking to the Take a Challenge 3 , The Book Seer pick. 

M.E.

Take a Chance Challenge - Book Review

This is another (brief) book review for the 12 month Take a Chance Challenge.  This choice fell under the category of Blogger's Choice - where a blogger has chosen it as a 'best read' book.  I found several bloggers have chosen it for a favorite read, so I thought it was time to read it myself.

 One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Published by Zondervan 2011

240 pages

Genre: Spirituality, Christian living

Available: Hardcover, eReaders, (I borrowed it from the library)







Brief description: The author describes her continued journey with God by sharing her life experiences, bible verses, a-ha moments, and joy she finds in counting her blessings.  She begins the book describing life altering events through her eyes as a very young child.  She explains how these events change the path of her family and how she finds her way back through gifts.  The gifts are every day things; a sunset, baby birds, her children running around the yard - not necessarily tangible things.  She brings the reader along through her moments of uncertainty as well as her moments of joy.  The book is presented in 11 chapters, each focusing on a theme she hopes to share and building on the points made previously.

My thoughts: I wanted to love this book, because so many people suggested it.  I love the idea of this book and felt the energy and passion for her experience through the many pages.  However, to me, she writes in a  stream of consciousness, as if you are in her head with her.  First her memories of her sister or how she met her husband, than a jump to a bible verse or spiritual reference, then back to working it all out in her head, but on paper.  I had to set it down for several days at a time and ponder it.  Maybe that was the point.  I was with her word for word through about the first third of the book.  Then I kept reading more to try and understand her point, even if I didn't catch every detail.

The important part of this book for me was counting your gifts from God everyday in some way.  They do not have to be large gestures, just something that reminds you that being here today is in itself, a gift.  Enjoy it, share it, rejoice in it and do something good with it.  So, in the spirit of 'counting my gifts', today's gifts were: getting a sunny day to clean out my car and make it sparkle again, making plans with my friends for a mini-vacation next week, and having delicious iced red tea as the sun sets.

M.E.