2011 Book Review

Alas.....it is once again time for the yearly book review.  Okay, way past time, but at least I'm doing it.  And mostly for my dear friend Ashlee, because I know she is probably the one person who reads this post all the way through each year.  But in case anyone else out there needs a good recommendation, (or perhaps wants to know what to avoid) here it is.

This year I read:
Husband Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth by Robert A. Bradley- Good book.  Obviously for a very specific audience but should anyone be looking for a book of this genre.....Did it help me?  In the end, not at all.  I don't know that anything could have prepared me for that experience.  I do think that if you're interested in attempting this the key is to get your spouse, or whomever you choose to be as a support, to read it.  Because when it comes right down to it, you don't give a flip what a book said.  It hurts.  And that's all I could deal with.  I knew what the book said to do, but gosh dang it I couldn't do it on my own.

12 Steps to Raw Foods:  How to End Your Addiction to Cooked Food by Victoria Boutenko- Again, good book.  Lots of good info.  It wasn't quite what I was looking for however.  I wanted an itemized list of things I actually needed to do to really get into raw foods.  How to grocery shop, meal plans and ideas, preparation techniques.  There was nada of that.  Okay, to be fair there was some of that.  A recipe section at the end.  But really this was a 12 Step program in the true sense of the words.  Like AA 12 Steps.  How to emotionally deal with food addiction and what not.  Just not what I wanted, but again it did have some good info on why raw food is good for you.

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman - 4/5 stars.  It really was a delightful read.

The Thorn by Beverly Lewis, (the first of The Rose Trilogy) - My first piece of Amish fiction.  And I loved it.

Alex & Me:  How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. Pepperberg - 2/5 stars was what I gave it on goodreads.  Looking back I'm not even sure why I gave it the two.  Really folks.  Here was my goodreads review:

 "A book I never would have chosen on my own, but rather read as a result of a book club. While I think it was good to branch out and read something a little different, this just didn't leave me caring to recommend it to others.      The author starts out by sharing her intense feelings of grief and letters of condolences for the passing of the bird she studied professionally for many years. While I felt some form of sorrow for her - there wasn't enough of an established connection for the reader to the bird to share these feelings right away. For me, someone who does value life in all it's forms...but in a more circle of life sort of way, it was a bit over the top and seemingly dramatic. The book then goes on to narrate the research done and time spent with the bird. This was all very interesting, but left me feeling a bit....."so what's the point?" The conclusion was also lacking for me. While I respect the author as a scientist and a professional, I just didn't get the vibe that one needed to be shown her research to be able to value life in all it's forms or to be able to respect animals and their capabilities or the planet itself. This book didn't leave me with any changed perceptions about animal treatment or the world we live in. My religious beliefs are enough to give me a respect for these things."

And to be completely honest with you, that was being nice. I won't even go there with what I really think.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua - Again, my goodreads review:

"This book isn't quite what I thought it would be.....I was expecting a discussion of parenting techniques, including both a "how-to" and a "why this is better" sort of thing. Instead it was really just a narrative of one mother's experience with a conclusion that to me seemed rather inconclusive. It didn't leave me feeling any different than before about either "western parenting" or "Chinese parenting". However, it was entertaining enough to read through to the end."

I've decided I'm a picky reader.  As for this book, I find myself wishing that the author would have taken a stance about her parenting one way or the other and argued a point.  Just as a narrative it didn't leave me wowed.

The Judgement by Beverly Lewis - The next installment of The Rose Trilogy.  I will say that as the series went on I liked these stories less and less.  The story became a bit predictable.  But it was still entertaining to be drawn into a world so different from my own.

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin - This book was VERY comprehensive and I would recommend it to anyone looking forward to the birth of a baby.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin - (Can you tell we had a baby?!) Mixed feelings about this book.  I for one did not enjoy the birth stories at the beginning and skipped to the next section.  Maybe that's just me?  Also, this book really sets out to vilify birth with an epidural.  It describes out of date medical practice in detail as if that is how things are still done.  Couple that with the over-sexualization of the birth process and I was quite put off by most of this book.  There was however some good information in the last portion of this book particularly relating to diet, and overall health during pregnancy.

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall-Smith - If you haven't read any of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, you should.  They're nothing epic, but they are entertaining.

The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall-Smith - Another of the delightful No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - FIVE STARS!!!  For once I am glad I didn't not read a book based on it's popularity.  This one deserved every bit of attention it got.  LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!!!  If you haven't read it you should.  And no, the movie is not quite as good.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - Get a box of tissues first, but read this book.  An insightful look into the world of a woman suffering from early onset Alzheimer's disease.  (I feel compelled to warn any sensitive readers, there MAY have been a swearword or two??  If I remember right??)

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drumond - Tee hee hee!!  Totally a brain candy read.  But a delightful one.  It's like kicking back with your girlfriends and a big ole bowl of cookie dough while you giggle over each other's love stories.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill - FOUR STARS FOR ONE REASON ONLY.  THE ENDING STUNK LIKE A BIG FAT PILE OF MANURE.  Thank you BBC for improving upon the ending.  The rest of the story is fabulous.  I actually marked passages because they literally made me swoon.  Which was all the more reason for the let down at the end.  GAH!!!!

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas - Meh.  Brain candy.  Kept me reading, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.  Some parts didn't flow smoothly and some of the story wasn't really well developed.  Or maybe my brain was just a bit bored with it and I didn't keep up with the story well?

The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy - If you read The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society skip this.  You get the same history without this trashy fiction that wasn't believable anyway.  The GLPPPS was a thousand times better.  If you haven't read TGLPPPS do so.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - 4/5 stars.  I enjoyed this book.  It was real.  That is all I ask from a book.  Make me feel a real emotion.  Make me believe the story you tell.  This one did that.

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flag - 3/5 stars.  If you are DYING (ka-ching!) for something to read....go ahead.  But don't have too high of hopes.  It's funny, it's quirky, but it isn't anything fabulous.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy - Add this to the list of classics that have been profoundly improved upon by the theater.  Not well written, the characters weren't terribly well developed.  I seriously prefer the storyline of the movie to that of the book.  And what a shame!!  The concept of the story is fabulous!!  In reference to the movie - the Jane Seymour version to be specific.  A MUST SEE.  Perfect for Valentine's Day in fact.  If you don't mind a little French Revolution in the midst of your love story.  But Percy Blakeney is on my list of fictional characters to be in love with.  Right up there with Mr. Darcy of Pemberly.

Kind of a hodge podge list of books when you look at it.  But all in all a good year of book reading I'd say.  Some good variety, and while it may seem meager to some, I'm proud to say I read 20 books this year with everything else we had going on.  Here's to more and better books this year!!  Got any recommendations??