Review: Paper, Scissors, Death

Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell-Slan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book. I do some scrapbooking, but not much (yet) so I found most of the tips to be helpful. Some of them may be helpful later, when I get more time (and money) for scrapping.

I loved the character of Kiki. I feel as though I am not far off from her - personality wise. I have felt like a doormat most of my life, and, like Kiki, I am making some changes in my attitude towards my own self-worth. When it comes to money - well, after George dies we're in about the same boat financially - figuring out how to stretch the paycheck to meet the bills is difficult in a single-income household.
I found the social commentary on class divisions in the USA to be bold and surprising for what I was expecting to be a fluff-murder-mystery book, but spot-on as well. These statements are made somewhat regularly, but within a chain of thought and not viciously - comments on how wealthy people have freebies showered upon them while poor people get nothing for free is not only true but helps to perpetuate the situation of the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer. It is very difficult to move up the food chain of class in the USA, but exceptionally easy to fall down. Kiki mentions feeling like a piece of furniture or scenery while at her job, and that is a very true-to-life feeling for someone working retail - even upscale retail like a scrapbook shop.



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Review: Wicked Appetite

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Same level of fluff and fun as the Stephanie Plum novels, and just as quick to read. Another series I am sure to enjoy. :)



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Review: A Gift of Grace

A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I loved this book - adored it - until the end. I will read the other books in the series because I enjoyed the characters enough to want to know what happens next. But I simply can't get over what happened at the end of the book that led to my disappointment.

As a woman who has struggled with infertility, it was surprising (and a little refreshing) to discover a book with an Amish woman who is also infertile - who has been told by a doctor that she can never naturally conceive. And I know that God can cure anything and everything happens in God's time. But after a 15 year marriage, the lack of fertility, while still painful, is something that one comes to accept. When everyone around her either has several children or are falling pregnant (because the Amish do not believe in birth control), Rebecca has to swallow her pain and show happiness for her family and friends. I could definitely relate to that.

So WHY is it necessary to have the infertile woman suddenly fall pregnant?? And after an estrangement with her husband that has left him sleeping on the couch for over a month? Suddenly, right when they're about to apologize to each other and make up - she discovers that she is pregnant?

It felt like a slap in the face. Rebecca's pregnancy upset me more than any of the other Amish women's pregnancies. I have a friend (also infertile) who usually likes these types of books. I will suggest that she avoid this one.



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Review: Switched

Switched by Amanda Hocking

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This was recommended to me by a co-worker who enjoyed it. I'm so glad she loaned me this book (and the two sequels in the trilogy).

Yes, it's a fluff piece. Yes, it reads at around a high-school level, and seems to be designed to appeal to high school girls. In some ways, it's reminiscent of the Twilight series in that way. However, that is what I like about it.

For me, it's a quick, fun read that lets me escape from reality for a short time. By having books like this available to read during my breaks at work, I am able to take my 15 minutes (or hour lunch) and read my fun fluff, and then go back to work slightly refreshed and ready to once again deal with the crazy people who are separated from me by a counter that is way too damn small.

Sometimes all you need is a little fluff.



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Review: The Plains of Passage

The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I really enjoy this series, but I would say that this is my least favorite of the Earth's Children series. The scenes where Ayla and Jondalar are with other people are great, and truly do carry the book. However, they are few and far between - with good reason. People were few and far between in that era, and when two people are traveling on horseback, they will not run into other people very often.

To fill the gaps, we are given a large amount of descriptions of plant and animal life (much of it repetitive - I did not count how often it's mentioned that different animals lived in different areas and therefore were able to thrive, but it is often enough to feel repetitive). When not marveling at the expansive view of flora and fauna, we are provided with overly descriptive sex scenes - sometimes of the animals, but usually of the people. I don't mind sex scenes in a book, but when I read two scenes that seem almost identical within the same chapter, I wonder if the author simply wanted to fill space. And no matter how wonderful of a lover someone is, the sex will not be perfect every time - yet in this book it is, of course, perfect every time. At times, I felt like I was reading a soft-core porn book - the level of detail provided is simply not necessary each time.

I truly feel that this book could have been much shorter and still have provided the pertinent information, and also been just as integral a book to the series.



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Review: The Red Queen

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book, but I have to admit that I much preferred the previous book in this trilogy, The White Queen. Margaret's attitude towards everything and everyone, especially as she ages, really grated on me. Regardless of whether that attitude is true to history, it still made it difficult to feel much sympathy for someone who is so full of her own "perfection" in the eyes of God. The first several chapters - before the birth of her son - were my favorites within the book.



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Review: Disney on a Dime: Money-Saving Secrets for Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Disney on a Dime: Money-Saving Secrets for Your Walt Disney World Vacation by Chris Carlson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The timing of me finding this book was a little off, as the trip we were planning was rather close and most of the tips and tricks for this book involve longer planning/saving times - at least 6 months if not a year.

That being said, the book was a great source of ideas to make a Disney vacation affordable on any budget, and several of the tips can be applied to other amusement park destinations, not just Disney.

I will probably get this book from the library again in about 6-8 months, because I am planning a Disney trip sometime during 2013.



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