The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini

                I have been getting lots of use out of my new library membership!  I finished The Quilter’s Apprentice last week while travelling for work and I have mixed feelings about the book.  Off the bat I was not a fan.  It reminded me of a poorly written romance novel except for that there was no romance.  Everything was very simply written and not in the best way.  I was reading and kept asking myself why I was still reading.  That is where things get complicated.  I would like to say I didn’t enjoy the book but I kept reading.  I don’t want to say I couldn’t put it down because I did but I always went back to it.  Plus, when I was returning other books to the library I checked out the next in the series.  We will see how that goes!  The plot is a young couple that is adapting to moving to a new town and Sarah, the main character is taken in by a grouchy old lady.  Of course, they become friends and Sarah learns how to quilt, saves the day in a few situations and in the end all is hunky-dory.  That is a quick overview of the book but really, it doesn’t get much more complicated beyond that.  Maybe I could relate to being new in town and using quilting as an escape as I have did when I moved to Texas/New Mexico.  Make your own decision on if you want to try this series or not.  Reviews from amazon are raving, I wouldn’t trust everything I read though.

224 Pages

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

I was so sad to finish The Language of Flowers as I enjoyed it from start to finish.  This was a compelling read that had great detail and life to it.  It is the story of Victoria Jones and her life full of struggles.  Victoria was passed through the foster system and at 18 is emancipated and must find a way to survive.  This is where the real story begins as she meets people from her past and works towards a new and fresh future.  We get to know Victoria as a young girl through her memories and also as a young woman as she tries to make something for herself.  Victoria’s most comfortable way of communicating with people is through flowers and the symbolism that they have.  She uses this skill as she tries to survive and also make connections with the people she meets.  This book is difficult to describe but I would highly recommend it.  There wasn’t a thing I didn’t like about this book!  If you need more reassurance check out the reviews on Amazon.com, they will sell you for sure!

 

352 Pages

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

I finished up The Mermaid Chair while travelling for work and overall I found this book enjoyable.  First off, you may recognize the name of the author.  Sue Monk Kidd also wrote The Secret Life of Bees which I just happened to love.  Unfortunately, I did not love The Mermaid Chair as much as her first work.  The story follows Jessie Sullivan, a woman who is in what I would describe a mid-life crisis.  Her mother is ill so she escapes her monotonous and vanilla life to go and take care of her.  While visiting her mother (who lives on a small island with few inhabits besides the monks that run the monastery on the island) she falls for a monk that is just months away from taking his final vows.  The story winds together issues Jessie has with her mom and their past together, Jessie’s relationship with her husband back on the mainland and her new fling with the monk from the island.  I thought the book was a little slow but it kept me reading so there is always something to be said for that.  The last ¼ of the book was when it got more interesting.  I especially liked a few twists that I did not see coming at the end.  I think that some of the situations were a little unreal and I had a hard time believing that there would not be more consequences for some of the things that went on.  I think many would find this book enjoyable and I would most likely recommend it to others.  I borrowed it from the library and was glad as it is one that I don’t think I will read again but sure enjoyed it the first time.

368 Pages

Some Girls; My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren

“Some Girls; My Life in a Harem” by Jillian Lauren

I borrowed this book from Mom (Cindy) and she has already reviewed it so I don’t feel as if I need to bore you with more about the storyline of the book as she has already described it.  This book fell into my “just ok” category.  I thought the storyline was interesting and something different however I did not click very well with the author’s style of writing.  She wrote well, it just wasn’t my style.  The details and points that she focused on left me wanting more/different information from her experience.  With that being said I believe that this book would be appealing to others and would be enjoyed by most.  It was a fairly quick read and if you are interested in a different storyline that may be about a new subject to you then I would recommend it.

The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss

What a lovely book this is!  I borrowed it from Meredith some time ago but only now got around to reading it.  I think I could describe it as a "gentle read".  The language is descriptive, the characters are well developed and there is something that just calms you as you read this book. 

The story centers around a young girl named Martha who leaves home at a young age looking for work breaking horses.  She terms it "gentling wild horses".  Many of the young men and hired hands are off fighting the war as the year is 1917 so Martha follows her heart not only to escape and abusive and cruel father, but to find work doing what she loves.  The story weaves through a long and hard winter but Martha discovers friendships and a place in the community.  There is a richness to the story that describes how people and animals touch each others lives in the most unexpected and profound ways.   

I recommend this book for a heartwarming and pleasant read.

289 pages

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

I borrowed this book from a friend and it was a fairly quick read.  It is the true account of Carolyn’s (the author) life and growing up in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   She was raised in the faith in a polygamist family and openly shared the stories of her life growing up and adulthood in the church.  At 18 she was married to a man that was nearly a stranger and also 32 years older than her.  She continues to recount her life as she went on to have multiple sister-wives and eight children of her own.  The story is chilling at times as you learn about the cruelty and abuse Carolyn and her family experienced.  The story twists as she realizes the extreme danger that she and her family is in and thus starts her plan for escape from her high powered and controlling husband.  Some of the book felt a little bit repetitive to me but I also realize that the cruelty and abuse she experienced happened constantly throughout her entire life, thus it is a strong theme in the book.  I have read a few different books about the fundamentalist church but this self-account of her experience was new and eye opening.  If you have any interest in the workings of the fundamentalist church or the lifestyle they lead then I would definitely recommend this book.

 426 Pages

Outlander by Diana Gabadon

What a great read!  Aunt Mary recommended this book while we were visiting in Colorado and I was skeptical, but enjoyed every page!  This is the first book in a series of a genre I didn't think I would cotton up to, but I did and can't wait for the next book.  There is time travel involved and I thought "oh-boy" but it is well done.  The year is 1945 and Claire, a former combat nurse, and her husband are enjoying a second honeymoon in the British Isles.  She is out walking alone, learning about natural healing herbs when she comes across a Stonehenge like circle of boulders.  She innocently touches and peers through a cleft in one of the rocks and poof!  She is Sassenach - an "outlander" in a Scotland torn by warring clans in the year 1743.  I know it sounds sort of goofy but it is so well done that it just becomes a delightful story full of great characters, history, and of course passion. 

I recommend this book whole heartedly - I couldn't put it down!

850 pages