What I've Been Reading Lately

I use "lately" very loosely here.  I should say, what I've read over the past 6 - 8 months, which is how long it has been since I've posted a bookish review post.  Since it has been so long, I have a whole slew of books to talk about, so let's get crackin!

Beloved Emma - The Illustrated Life Story of Emma Smith

By Lori E. Woodland

Danny gave me this book for Christmas.  It had been on my bookshelf for awhile and one day, while looking for something new to read, I picked it up and I'm so glad I did.  I've been fascinated with Emma Smith's life and have wanted to learn more about her.  The book covers from Emma's childhood to her death and uses firsthand accounts, letters and other sources to describe what her life was like.  There is plenty of church history and stories about Joseph Smith as well, to give context with what Emma was facing at the time.

The author, Lori Woodland, is a religion professor at BYU-Idaho and she has done her research when it comes to Emma.  She shares a lot of stories I had never heard before from Emma's children, which were from archives from the Community of Christ Church.  I appreciate that Woodland doesn't glorify nor demonize Emma. She shares the facts.  She also debunks some Mormon myths. (Like the one of Emma pushing Eliza R. Snow down the stairs that people share from time to time.  It is highly unlikely that this occurred.)

I really look up to Emma Smith.  She had a hard life. She sacrificed much for her family and faith. She wasn't perfect, which is the same for all of us.  I really felt this book gave me more insight into her life and personality and respect her all the more for it.

Jan's Rating:





The Harry Potter Series
By J.K. Rowling

Apparently, I like getting books for holidays, because Danny got me the whole Harry Potter book set for my last birthday.  I decided to read them all this summer, which ended up running into the fall as well.  It has been years since I've read any of the Harry Potter books.  Honestly, how can I really do a book review of Harry Potter, since pretty much everyone knows the story?  I can say it was a fun ride to read the whole series again and there were some details I had forgotten.

I also have to hand it to J.K. Rowling for creating this different world, including its history, customs and languages.  It really is quite impressive.  Plus, her characters are so dynamic.  I do admire her creativity.


Jan's Rating: 






Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
By Mindy Kaling

This book was recommended to me by a friend who said it was hilarious.  I thought the first few chapters where Mindy discusses her childhood were pretty funny.  However, about halfway through the book, I got bored.  It was interesting to hear about how the show "The Office" came about, but the rest of Mindy's ideas on dating, friends and such, meh I wasn't too impressed.  She does describe herself as a "vain flake" and that really comes across in the book. In a lot of reviews for this book that I read, many women were saying how Mindy reminded them of a best friend.  It made me grateful for my best friends, who have a lot more depth than the topics in this book.  There were some stories that she shares that were amusing, but overall,  in my opinion you don't miss out on much if you pass on this book.

Jan's Rating:

I am the Messenger 
By Markus Zusak

Maybe I had too high of expectations for this book, since Markus Zusak wrote The Book Thief, which is one of my favorite books.  This book is about an underage cab driver named Ed Kennedy who spends most of his time drinking and playing cards with his friends.  He happens to be in the right place at the right time and stops a bank robbery.  After this happens he starts getting face cards in the mail that lead him to people that need help.  He finds he becomes a messenger of sorts to those that he sent to help.

The main message that I liked from this book is that helping individuals isn't necessarily what appears to be on the surface and it isn't always giving them what they want. Some people were assisted by hearing the painful truth, others tough love, and others just need a friend or a simple minute of praise to let them know they don't go unnoticed.  I liked that realistic idea that actually helping people in life isn't always as sugar coated as people make it out to be.  At times you really have dig in deep to really understand someone first before you can reach out to and help them. Sometimes the thing that will help individuals the most might be the very thing they don't want to hear or face.

On the other hand, I felt like the characters were kind of flat.  I didn't find any of them very likable. I had a hard time cheering for the main character, Ed.  I'm not trying to give anything away, but while I know some people would think the ending was creative, I thought it was a cop out.  It didn't really give any closure for the story for me.

Jan's Rating:

Austenland
By Shannon Hale

I think I had the opposite experience with this book than with I am the Messenger.  I had low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by the writing of Shannon Hale.  I liked her writing style, she came up with interesting characters.  I did see the movie Austenland first, which admittedly, I found hilarious.  The book is much more toned down than the movie.

The story is about about Jane Hayes who loves Jane Austin literature, particularly the idea of Mr. Darcy.  Her great-aunt sends her on a trip to Austenland, a manor house in England where everyone dresses in Regency-era clothing and acts as characters from those time.  It's like one big play for a few weeks.  However, the lines between acting and reality start blurring for those in attendance.  Love triangles ensue, which can be expect in any chick lit. book.  (Note:  I don't actually like the term "chick lit." Perhaps we shall just call it fluffy romance.)

This book is your typical love story, but with some twists.  I think you need to be a Jane Austen fan (which I am) to really enjoy the book, since Hale makes many references to Austen's different stories.  I wasn't so sure about the main character, Jane, messing up her love life because she was waiting for her Mr. Darcy, that was a little stretch for me.  I did liked how Hale brought some reality to how boring that era could be for women, which we tend to glamorize in the Austen-era movies. Overall, I thought it was a cute story and it's quick read.

Jan's Rating: