Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

A few months ago, my boss gave me Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell to read and insisted that I would love it. He was absolutely right. With last weekend being Memorial Day weekend, I decided it was the perfect time to pick up the book as we remembered all of the people that serve our country.

Marcus Luttrell, a decorated Navy SEAL, writes his story in two parts. The first part of the story gives a detailed explanation of the training of a Navy SEAL, which was fascinating and very eye opening. The second part of the story is about Operation Redwing, a desperate battle in the mountains of Afghanistan. Luttrell speaks of the valiant and heroic efforts of his teammates as they fought against the Taliban.

The book opens with "..my name is Marcus. And I'm writing this book because of my three buddies Mikey, Danny and Axe. If I don't write it, no one will ever understand the indomitable courage under fire of those three Americans. And that would be the biggest tragedy of all."

This book is amazing and powerful. I have always had high respect and reverence for the United States military and for all that they have sacrificed. Lone Survivor gave me a better understanding and a deeper appreciation for the men who fight so valiantly and then face consistent criticism from some of those back home that they are sacrificing their lives for.

I will give the caveat that there is strong language throughout the book. If you are not comfortable reading the book, I suggest that you at least read about Marcus Luttrell's story somewhere, it is amazing.

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl

A year ago, I reviewed Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl. Recently, I was given the opportunity to review Lis Wiehl's new book Heart of Ice, which will be released tomorrow.

Heart of Ice is a continuation of the story of three friends, one a crime reporter (Cassidy), one a federal prosecutor (Allison), and the third a FBI special agent (Nicole). Each woman is handling personal hardships and struggling in their individual ways.

Cassidy loves her job as a crime reporter but feels threatened by the new beautiful intern that will do whatever it takes to get the story. Cassidy turns to the friendly new boot camp instructor at her gym, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is conniving and knows exactly how to get what she wants by using people. But Elizabeth has much deeper and darker secrets that she is hiding. Secrets that will bring Cassidy and her two best friends into a dangerous game.

Allison is still struggling with her miscarriage when her delinquent sister shows up on her doorstep. Allison is caught between her need to help her sister start a new life and her fear of being taken advantage of. She is worried to bring her best friends into her problems and feels alone as she deals with her struggle for a child.

Nicole finds a lump in her breast and knows in her gut that it is breast cancer. She has always been independent but has a strong difficulty letting anyone into her trust after she was raped several years ago. She reacts by distancing her self from everyone who loves her and refusing to tell anyone of the lump, including her best friends and the man she hoped for a future with. She wonders if those around her will look at her with pity if they knew what was going on and prefers to just deal with it all alone.

I also really enjoy reading about the friendship between the three main characters because I think we all have moments that we are just like each of them individually. We have moments of wondering if our friends really care and if it better to just deal with things alone. We then have moments where we are selfish and demand all of the time and attention. And we have moments of caring so much that it hurts. But through it all, our true friends love us and handle our craziness. This is how these three women are and I love it.

I really enjoyed the book and I wish that the next book in the series was being released much sooner. If you like James Patterson novels or the like, I recommend this series.

Here's the thing.

I think about books. A lot. My mind is constantly whirling with story ideas that aren't really my own because all the books I've read become absorbed into my person. I think that's weird.

But that's not even what I have to say. I have an issue with books that have a brilliant title and then a not-as-brilliant plot. I just saw a title on Amazon and thought, "Ooh, baby. I want to read that like RIGHT NOW." And then I read the synopsis and found out that the novel is set in Ohio. And nothing happens in the book. I won't be reading it.

And, I received a book in the mail to review which has a scintillating title (Priests In the Attic) and it isn't at all what I expected. It was very self-serving, and in my English teacher brain, very poorly constructed.

So, if you're going to have a good title, make sure the book is good. Or else you just wasted a good title.

That is all.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

 

(Isn't the cover SO great?)

Favorite quote: "do you really understand what it means to be in love with an unsuitable woman?" "is there really any other kind?"

This is an absolutely gorgeous book...It came to me in a bit of luck, one of the Buy 2, Get 1 Free books at B&N. And, wow, I couldn't have been happier with my free book. The writing is philosophical but lovely, the characters are just SO well-crafted I kept waiting for them to come over for afternoon tea, and the storyline is slow in a wonderful way. I wa...moreFavorite quote: "do you really understand what it means to be in love with an unsuitable woman?" "is there really any other kind?"

This is an absolutely gorgeous book...It came to me in a bit of luck, one of the Buy 2, Get 1 Free books at B&N. And, wow, I couldn't have been happier with my free book. The writing is philosophical but lovely, the characters are just SO well-crafted I kept waiting for them to come over for afternoon tea, and the storyline is slow in a wonderful way. I was very surprised by how many times I was moved to the point of underlining, which I don't typically do in novels about people my mom and dad's age. :) This book is truthful and generous in its descriptions of how to age well.

I will definitely be recommending this to my smart friends. :)

Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

While I don't generally fall all over myself for YA lit, this book was touching and human and delightful. It may have been so influential because there is an English teacher and a 7th grader and Shakespeare...It spoke to me. I loved Mrs. Baker becoming a human in Holling's eyes as he learned life lessons from Shakespeare. I despised Mr. Hoodhood and was sick over the bigotry (not to mention the bad parenting) he exemplified. I loved how dramatic Holling is because isn't that just 7th grade? I would suggest this throwback novel to anyone who loves teenage interpretations of life.

See pickwickreaders.blogspot.com for more details/reviews of this book.

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Luiz Zafron

Just finished this for my book club online (pickwickreaders.blogspot.com) and I was a little late to the party. It took me a while to get through it, but here is my Goodreads review:

Oh boy. What DID I think of this novel? SO many things, I thought. The writing is BREATHTAKING. Looking at my copy, you'd think this was a textbook with all the underlining and stars. It is phenomenal to think that this is a translation. It is beautiful. It is kind of spooky. It is very mysterious. And I have some complaints.
1) Without spoiling, I would just like to say, the end came too quick and was too tidy. I felt like he got bored with writing halfway through and the mystery was just kind of...resolved. Not ...........almostresolved......still not....then resolved. If you get what I'm screamin'.
2) I felt like Daniel's dad was WAY underdeveloped, and I loved him as a character.
3) I didn't finish it and then want to start at the beginning again. That would have earned five stars. But I was secretly just relieved when I finished.

2010 In Review

I kept track of all of the books I read in 2010 and I even met this goal. I was pleased. In wrapping up 2010, here is a list of my favorite books that I read during the year.

Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Hunger Games (the whole series really) by Suzanne Collins
Too Much to Carry Alone by Camille Fronk Olson
The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis
Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
In A Heartbeat by Leigh Ann & Sean Touhy
Juliet by Anne Fortier
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
Roses by Leila Meacham
Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Now I am compiling my list of what to read in 2011. Anyone have any recommendations?

Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush

I have always thought that Laura Bush was very classy and intelligent. I found her charming when she was the First Lady and I felt like she always showed her strength, even when the world was criticizing her husband. I really enjoyed her biography, Spoken from the Heart, and I felt like it was a great start to my book reading of 2011.

This book told the other side to so many stories that we all saw in the press and it was fascinating. In my opinion, regardless of politics and what decisions a president makes, he and the first lady are still people and deserve to be treated fairly. I think that President and Mrs. Bush showed class and I especially think it is great to see a strong couple that always had each other's back. Laura Bush comforted President Bush through a significantly hard period in our country's history. They faced 9/11 together, they faced war together, they faced Katrina together, and they faced an onslaught of public hatred towards President Bush and his decisions. Bottom line, I think she is an incredibly strong woman who provides an amazing example of a supportive and loving wife.

I also learned all sorts of random facts that I didn't know. For instance, did you know that the president and first lady have to pay for all of their personal expenses while they are in office? They are sent a bill for their food, dry cleaning, clothing, and all their personal expenses. They are also billed for any guests that they have at the White House or Camp David. They don't have a mortgage or utilities but they don't live free either. Never knew that!

I really enjoyed the stories she told as well as her devotion to her husband, her beliefs and First Lady priorities, and her family. I am thoroughly impressed. If you want a good biography, I wholeheartedly recommend it.