Month: June 2017

Book Review · Books

My Glory Was I Had Such Friends

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Memoirs are my favorite genre to read. When I was asked if I wanted to review My Glory Was I Had Such Friends I said, “Yes,” without even reading what the memoir was about. As long as it’s a memoir I’m down for reading it. When I got my ARC copy in the mail the hummingbirds on the cover stood out to me in their different colors. Now that I finished reading Amy’s story I know the symbolism behind the hummingbirds.

Amy’s memoir takes you on a front seat tour of what life is like living with a heart transplant and realizing it’s time for needing a new one. Her descriptions of procedures are not for the squeamish, but are important to fully understand what her life and many other’s lives are like who have a donor’s heart. Amy is candid, funny, grumpy and strong-willed. She will make you laugh and cry throughout this gem of a book.

This book is not only about Amy, but about her assortment of close girlfriends who rally around her to help her out while she is staying in the hospital waiting for a second heart transplant. The one she’s had since age 25 is waving its white flag now that she’s 50. That feat in and of its self is a miracle. Each of Amy’s close girlfriends are depicted in all their uniqueness, quirks and all. One of her best friends puts together a spreadsheet of whose coming to stay with Amy when and each time someone stays they email the circle of friends to update them on Amy.

I received an ARC copy of My Glory Was I Had Such Friends courtesy of TLC Book Tours to review and give my honest assessment. This book shows how friendships change through the years, but close friends are vital to our lives. It’s sad to me that superficial friends seem to be the norm. I don’t know how many girlfriends in my life would do what Amy’s friends did for a weeks and sometimes weeks at a time. These women had their own families and obligations, but they made Amy their priority even when it wasn’t easy or pretty. May we all have the depth of friendship Amy is blessed with. Thank you for blessing me with your memoir. To get your copy click here to purchase from HarperCollins.

Book Review · Books

The Truth About Goodbye

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When searching for a title to read, The Truth About Goodbye, stood out to me. This novel follows the story of Sebastian whose learning how to live life without his husband Frank, who had passed away almost a year prior when the story begins. Thankfully he has Frank’s cat Arthur who keeps him company along with his best friend Chloe.

Sebastian struggles with anxiety, self-esteem and trusting people. He lost his parents years ago, so Sebastian feels even more adrift after loosing Frank. He misses Frank and at times is positive Frank’s ghost has been visiting him. One night Chloe introduces Sebastian to her new apartment friend Reid. Sebastian hasn’t thought of dating because he’s still mourning his husband’s loss. Reid is patient putting up with Sebastian’s mixed signals because of course Chloe makes friends with an attractive man.

This novel covers the important topic of grieving and what that can look like for different people. It also, discusses how difficult it can be to move into a new relationship when the previous one might not have had the closer it needed or was cut off prematurely.  I think the biggest topic this novel handles is learning to allow others to love and care for you when it’s hard to be motivated to love yourself when you are immersed in grief.

If you are looking for a sweet, thoughtful read I recommend this book. I appreciate NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Mr. Ricard for writing such a sweet novel about relationships, family and how to get through surviving the death of a loved one.

Book Review · Books

Death Awakening To Life

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The title Death Awakening To Life describes the author’s experience that dying doesn’t mean you don’t exist any longer, but that you aren’t housed any longer in your body. Her life changed the day she had a forbidding sense something big was going to happen. Her husband at the time had been researching the warning signs of a heart attack. She expressed her sense of unease. Even in his research her husband didn’t realize Christine was starting to have one. This book is the author’s experience of what it was like having her heart attack and what happened afterwards. Christine’s journey after dying and then coming back to life is unique. This experience helped shape what her life’s mission has become today.
I received an ARC of Death Awakening To Life by Christine Contini free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This book covered a lot of topics that were over my head. Some of them have to do with how the author helps people who are either passed on or in the processing of crossing over. Quantum physics was mentioned, as well as the author being able to hear people’s thoughts of those who have passed on.

This book is definitely out of my spiritual comfort zone, though last year I read a book by a famous medium. If you are interested in reading more about paranormal topics this book might interest you. Christine writes in a very down to earth manner, so even if the topics might be a bit heavy she writes in a way you don’t feel talked down to. Thank you for sharing your journey Christine.

Book Review · Books

Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe 

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Aristotle is a loner whose content to keep to himself until one day Dante arrives on the scene. Aristotle who prefers to go by Ari is at his local neighborhood swimming pool. He doesn’t know how to swim, but at least he can stick his feet in the water. Dante notices him and offers to teach him to swim. This starts a new friendship for both teens. Dante is well liked, but doesn’t have any friends. Ari is the quiet, brooding type. Both teens learn to let their guards down and trust each other. Both of them are struggling with who they are in the world.

I can relate with Ari. His relationship with his dad is one of occasional conversation, but nothing too, deep. Ari’s dad is a veteran who won’t talk about the war, is very reserved and quiet. My dad isn’t a vet, but he can be quiet and reserved around me. I think the relationship between these two characters is a great picture of how through life’s challenges the wall between a parent and child can be torn down.

Mr. Saenz provides yet again a beautifully written book about friendship, love, figuring out who you are whether you like girls, boys, or possibly both. Ari’s story grabs you from chapter one. The cast of characters from Ari, Dante, their parents, Ari’s brother whose not mentioned at home and his extended family have all unique personalities. Ari and Dante’s friendship shows what true friends will go through for a best friend they truly care about. If you are looking for a story with funny, contemplative moments this is the book for you.

Book Review · Books

The Girl In The Red Coat

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I don’t quite recall which Youtuber recommended The Girl In The Red Coat, but one day I decided to buy it. The cover is a striking shade of red. As you read the story you get the significance of the red coat and the red shoes.

This book is about eight year old Carmel who decides to be naughty and wander off at a book festival with her mom, Beth. This story covers what happens to Carmel after she wanders off and the repercussions it has on her life, her mom’s life and her dad’s. The author wrote very poetically, but the novel felt dragged out. I give it 4/5. If it was a tad shorter I’d probably give it 5/5. It is a thought-provoking book and worth the read.

Book Review · Books

Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God

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This book cover depicts the scene from the prodigal son coming home to his father and being restored even though the son doesn’t feel he deserves it. This biblical story is of a son who asks for his father’s financial inheritance early. This younger son goes off and lives the glamorous life which ends up backfiring and he ends up eating slops out of a pig trough because he has run out of funds. He decides to go back to his father’s house to be a servant since it would be better than this. When the son returns home his father is thrilled his youngest has returned home. Rather than requiring him to be a servant, the father asks the older brother to get the fatted calf and to prepare a banquet in celebration of his son’s return home safe. The older brother is furious that his younger brother doesn’t get what he deserves for squandering his father’s inheritance. This cover has a modern art look to it. I like the color of blue that was chosen for the sky.

In Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God, the author, Brian Zahnd talks about the topic of Hell and if God is truly monstrous. His journey coming to terms on these matters all began with the similar titled sermon by Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” This very old American sermon describes God as a wrathful, angry God whose waiting to torture us for our sins uses different imagery comparison of us to spiders and snakes. Mr. Zahnd was raised to believe in a literal Hell afterlife, the traditional Christian view that only Christians arrive at heaven after they die while the rest burn in torment in Hell. For a time he prayed for God to give him an experience of actual Hell, but none came. Instead God called him to places of disease, war and poverty. Mr. Zahnd saw that life has its own types of Hell in the here and now. What helped the author change his view of who God is? Read his book to find out. It’d worth it. It’s short and precise.

I received an ARC of Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God  from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. If you want to read a nontraditional view of God, Hell and ultimately what and who true LOVE is I recommend this book. This book goes on sale 8/15/2017. For further information on the author click here.