I didn't do very well with my webpage last year. I haven't been reading as much because of other distractions, namely computer and cross stitch, playing with little girls and life in general. I still have read several books. I am not sure what I will do with this site. I like having a place I log the books I read and the number of pages. In a couple of days I will post some other links I have found and maybe I will have an idea of what to do.
I have decided to make a web page where I will log the books I have read and the reviews. I decided that the way I have done this would be too cumbersome to continue in a blog format. I may still post reviews or thoughts about reading here from time to time. I will see.
I hope my readers will enjoy the new site.
I transfered my 2007 list to the new site, without the reviews.
Enjoy Tigersue's Bookshelf!
I really enjoy these three books by Traci Hunter Abramson. My daughter, a swimmer heard about them and wanted them for Christmas. Somehow I managed to find them, and this daughter, and young lady that does not care for reading too much, read them in less than a week. After she would read one, I would read it.
They are about a talented swimmer that is a witness to her boyfriends murder and is placed in the witness protection program to allow her to testify. The stories are easy to read, the author gets to the point rather quickly and for the most part I believe her research to be fairly accurate. She is an author that seems to write about what she knows, since she is a swimmer, and has worked for the CIA.
All in all, if you want a quick and enjoyable read. You can't loose too much with this set of books.
Undercurrents 4 bookmarks
Ripple Effect (my favorite of the three) 4 1/2 bookmarks
The Deep End 4 bookmarks.
Receiving the Gifts of the Spirit by Matthew Brown is written the wonderful style of Matthew Brown. He discusses various gifts by chapter, the importance of these Gifts to be seen the Christ's Church, and how the adversary can use the gifts in deception. He sites many references, eye witness and personal accounts of these gifts. He emphasizes that these gifts come through the power of the Holy Ghost and how these gifts will be properly utilized. There are promises, warnings and guides for each gift.
My greatest difficulty of the book was with the Chapter Casting out Evil spirits. Having had my own experiences with Evil spirits in my life it was somewhat traumatic for me, and I had a difficult time sleeping that night. This is not a problem of the book, (I would have liked to have seen that not be the last chapter before the conclusion and appendix.) but my own life experiences. I will keep this book because I felt that it teaches important concepts that I think we tend to ignore in the church. I think there is some fear about some of the gifts, or we tend to minimize them since many are not obviously observed since the beginning of the restoration.
4 1/2 bookmarks out of 5.
No Greater Love by Danielle Steel is a story about the Titanic. Although the wreck of the ship is only a small portion of the time and space of the story, the effects on the survivors in the novel is what the story is about.
There is a young woman left to care for her siblings on her own. She pushes aside her goals and dreams for her future in striving to give them a chance at the life she lost. She does it with out begrudging her lot but with willingness and love. It is an interesting read. I found when I started it that I really could not stop reading.
It is not one of my favorite books, the immorality as always is an issue for me, but at least not graphic sex. I long for the day when sexual activity is kept between husband and wife. My own personal values and I wish some of the popular writers would write characters with the same values.
3 1/2 out of 5 bookmarks.
I love High Deryni it is one of my most favorite of all the novels written by Katherine Kurtz. It continues the story of young King Kelson as he fights to save his throne, his kingdom, and stop the civil unrest that could hinder the former goals. He is battling intolerant clerics, a fanatic miracle worker, and a cruel and ruthless enemy poised to take control of Kelson's kingdom by any means necessary. This book has its twists and turns, leaves many questions for further novels, and answers questions that the reader does not even know are there. For me the first time I read it, as a young girl I was left breathless with the turn of events from the good and bad. My heart grieves at the same time it rejoices in the outcome. Kelson begins to learn the difficulties of being a king, with hard choices and choices taken from him. In this book he starts to cross that line that separates boy princes and kings, to an adult man that is leaning about the cruelity of the crown he wears. It is a journey just begun.
If you love historical fiction and fantasy combined the deryni books are for you. If you don't mind difficult and painful scenes, where beloved characters are tortured, abused and murdered than you can make it through the rest of her novels. The Deryni books are not for the faint of heart, for light readers, but are written with a depth that encompasses all that is noble and horrifying of the human race. If you can deal with these issues than you will enjoy these books as much as I do. If pain and loss is too difficult they maybe to much for the tenderhearted. High Deryni is one of the few books with a somewhat happy ending. Be prepared for great stories, with a richness I have found in few other books. If you can't tell, I love Katherine Kurtz, I really love her Deryni stories. There are very few books that I have read that teach me about the nature of humanity and the faults, cruelity, loyalty, friendship, and all vices of the natural man as this set of books.
5 bookmarks
Straken, the final book in the High Druid of Shannara, is again a pretty interesting read. Although I am not as attached to the characters as I am in The Elfstones of Shannara, its ending leaves you feeling a bit sad, and bit hopeful, and a bit in wonderment at the sacrifice, although not quite as selfless as Amberle's fate in Elfstones.
What I do like about the Shannara books is the idea that no one can do everything on their own. There needs to be help, and trust. Even when there are those that are not happy or like the main character, they are willing to do what they need to do for the greater good. Something we all need to learn to do in this life.
There is a demon to overcome, there are the twisted and power hungry druids to combat, and a character left behind in the forbidding, that lied one final time, a lie that I wished could come true.
I liked this book. If you enjoy Terry Brooks, this is a good conclusion to the series.
4 bookmarks out of 5.
