BOOK REVIEW: Ask Me Why I Hurt by Randy Christensen MD with Rene Denfeld

Ask Me Why I Hurt by Randy Christensen, MD with Rene Denfeld

This book has been in my TBR pile for quite some time. I don't recall how the book was recommended to me but I'm glad that I got the name, where-ever, I got it from.

This is a memoir written by an amazing doctor by the name of Randy Christensen, or as in the book and known to the kids, "Dr. Randy". It's not often that you hear a story from a doctors point of view. This books goes into great depth about the homeless children epidemic in Arizona. Dr. Randy drive the "big blue" bus that parks in various places around Arizona and offer free medical assistance to children who are homeless or otherwise can't afford it. The stories of the children he meets tug at your heart strings for sure. SPOILER ALERT: The stories are also quite eye opening... especially the part about the coach roach found in their ears!

If you have any interest in the medical field and/or the type of medical situations you'd see in the homeless than this would be a good book for you. Actually, I think it would be a good book for anyone. It definitely is a page turner and also an eye opener if you aren't aware of the hardships of the homeless.

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Little Prisoner by Jane Elliott

The Little Prisoner by Jane Elliot

I've had this book in my TBR pile for quite some time. I don't recall where I got the name or how it was recommended to me.

The Little Prisoner is a very disturbing (true story) tale of one woman's years of abuse at the hand of her stepfather. While I've read plenty of books about abuse this one was really disturbing as not only did she suffer sexual abuse but severe mental abuse as well. Her telling of her story does a really good job of showing people why someone who has come of age still ends up continuing to get abused. I feel like a lot of people who haven't been abused in their life wonder why... why didn't she turn him in, why did she continue to let him abuse her in the way he was. This also acts as a tale of strength as she endures this abuse and how she rises above. Despite the book being hard to read (difficult subject matter) it was excellently written.

PSA:If you were abused as a child, sexually or mentally, than this book may trigger some bad feelings for you.
 

BOOK REVIEW: The Circle by Dave Eggers

The Circle by Dave Eggers

I went to see the movie Split with a friend of mine and one of the trailers that played before hand was for The Circle. I already owned the book but hadn't taken the time to dig into it yet. The trailer made the movie look like a scary movie so I was anxious to get the book read before the movie released so I could see it in theatres.

The Circle is the name of the worlds most power internet company and Mae, the main character has just gotten hired on as an employee. I was trying to think of a way to explain this book without giving away anything that might be considered a spoiler... and all I really feel I can say is that you are basically following Mae and her employment with this company and learning about it as she learns about it. This company made me kind of think of Amazon... its basically taking over the world.

I can tell you that after watching the trailer and then reading the book it is definitely not a scary book. Well, let me take that back... if you are someone with conspiracy theories and are afraid of a totalitarian society than this might be scary for you... but not scary in the way that first trailer made it look. Not scary as in a thriller. The book moved pretty quick for me and definitely held my attention. The ending, however; was extremely lame. It didn't end how I thought it would... and it just kind of ended in a hurry like the author was tired of writing the book. Endings like that annoy me... you get so invested in the story and the characters and then it's just over. Lame.

Anyways, I think it's worth a read. I haven't seen the movie yet.. actually not sure I even want to see it in theatre's now. I'll probably wait until it comes out in video and then just rent it for the sole purpose of comparing the book to the movie.
 

BOOK REVIEW: The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons

The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons

I received this book as part of a book subscription called Fandom Adventures which I signed up through CrateJoy. It's an awesome box to get monthly and this book was amazing.

What if everything you ever knew about Medusa (you know, the one with the snakes on her head) was wrong? This story leads you down a path of learning who Medusa was before she became a "monster", what her life was like while she was a "monster" and then what her life was like after she no longer was this "monster". It put such an interesting twist on the Greek Mythologies stories I'm sure you're used to. This book really gets down to the nitty gritty in how Medusa feels about life and of course it's not short of any awesome characters. Hermes, Hades, Persephone... Athena, Zeus... Death.. they are all touched on.

If you're into Greek Mythology and want a different take on Medusa and even all of the other Gods than I would recommend you read this book. I loved it! I wish there was a sequel.

BOOK REVIEW: God on a Harley by Joan Brady

God on a Harley by Joan Brady

I was given this book for my birthday from my Mom. A friend of hers that lives down in Texas recommend it. She advised that when she got divorced this book really helped her. While I've been divorced for almost 10 years and don't really need help in that area anymore... I do have to admit that I think this book would help ANYONE in ANY situation.

We learn the main character is Christine and she's suffered a horrible heartbreak in the first few pages of the book. The heartbreak was not fresh but as we come to find out (and she runs into the heartthrob) it's a lot fresher than she thought and hoped. This book takes you through Christine's relationship with God and how she comes to find herself again. How she's able to take back her life and build a new relationship with herself and God.  At one point in the book she has an angry conversation with God and asks him many questions on why the world is the way it is. These are questions I often find myself asking and it made the conversation she has with him very real in my eyes.

I'm not a super religious person so for those of you who are not as well don't be scared off by the title or the fact that Christine is renewing her relationship with God. There's other things that you can take from this book that you could use in your own life if you're struggling to find where you fit in and what's working and not working. This is a fairly quick read, I got through it in one afternoon. Check it out. I don't think you'll be sorry.
 

BOOK REVIEW: How One Attempts to Chase Gravity by Nicole Campbell

How One Attempts to Chase Gravity by Nicole Campbell

This is book two of a three part series (three part yes but 4 books total) and its the end of the love story between the main characters you've come to know and love from books one and one and half talked about here and here.  This whole story of Courtney and Ethan is so relatable. Anyone whose every been in love will be able to relate to the heartbreak, the tears, the happiness, and every other emotion you have when you're in love. This particular book made my heart swoon. I won't give away why but lets just say I said "awwwwww" really loud at home by myself and was forced to explain to my three dogs (who were now looking at me like I was crazy) what was going on in the book. They approved of course and agreed right along with me on the "awwwwww." I know you won't regret reading this series. I almost wish that these characters were real people and I could meet them. What a fascinating thought. Anyways, READ these books. You won't be sorry.
 

BOOK REVIEW: What Comes of Breaking Promises and Guitar Strings by Nicole Campbell

Breaking Promises and Guitar String by Nicole Campbell

 

 

This is book one and a half of this three book series (actually 4) and its written from Ethan's side. This mirrors the first book in the series which I talk about here.  Instead of hearing what's only going on with Courtney's side of things, you hear about what going with Ethan and what he's been dealing with. It's pretty amazing I have to say to read a book from one point of view and then basically read the same book but from a different angle is pretty amazing. I really felt like I was just one of the gang in the first book but now knowing what was going on in both the main characters lives and heads apart from each other, puts a whole new spin on things. If you read the first one you HAVE to read the rest! You won't be sorry!