Book Review July 2014

“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be given when you can’t help it.” -Oscar Wilde

I am so excited, I will be taking a trip to go see one of my closest-I’ve-known-her-forever friends next week!!! We have been planning this trip for a few months now and I cannot wait to get there. I haven’t seen her daughter in two years, and it just so happens that I will get to help celebrate her third birthday while I’m there! We have some fun times planned already and then figure the rest we’ll figure out as we go! I am trying to plan what snacks and such to take – with my food allergies it’s always best to be prepared. (I really hope you read those last two words in a song from Lion King, because that’s how I typed it. only, I’m not planning on killing my brother, the king, in order to starve the whole kingdom… but anyway) 

So, because of the trip, I will be taking a week off from the blog. I have gone back and forth about prepping posts but I think it will be good to just take a break from so much time in front of this laptop of mine and enjoy the moments a little more. Although I am torn because I wanted to join the link up wit the flok

So, today we will have  our monthly book review a week early. ( and I hope you will forgive the lack of photos of the books I’m reviewing today, I have been in a lot of pain this week and do not have the energy to take the photos. enjoy this one from unsplash though!)

Take Hold by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz –  has it really been three months since I started this book? oy! I am determined to finish it, no matter how long it takes. It is a super interesting book, apparently, the difficulty is in my actually picking it up…. This book teaches about the unity and equality between Jewish believers and non- Jewish believers through Messiah;  the inheritance of non -Jewish believers through the covenants of Israel. As the back cover states “What is your relationship to the Land, the People and the Scriptures of Israel?” 

Your Older Dog  by Jean Callahan – I got this book because I realized, that yes, Lady Abigail is getting old. Once I read the chapter on signs of aging, I saw that a lot of her behaviors that she has recently ‘picked up’ are because she is old, not just being a pill. slow response times, sleeping a LOT more, wears out quicker on walks, etc… she’s old. The book had some great information in it, if you are thinking your dog is being a brat and she’s getting close to age 10, you might wand to grab this book! 

DIY Dog Grooming by Jorge Bendersky – I really only read one chapter of this book, but I did like that in the opening chapter it helps you determine what type of hair your dog has, so you can know how to properly groom them. For some reason, it took me a while to figure out, according to the book, what type Lady had…. Good book. Cover is a little off-putting. 

A Tiger in the Kitchen by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan – This was a ‘food memoir’ that i found at the library. it was very well written and interesting. She is Singaporean, so the food that she learns to cook is very different from what I grew up eating. I did a more thorough review in last month’s book review – book-review-june-2014

Finding Betty Crocker by Susan Marks –What a fun book! This is the one I kept by my bedside to read each evening. It contained recipes, photos of ‘betty crocker’ and her kitchens through the years and it was very interesting  to read how this person that transformed so many people’s lives, came to be! 

A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson – I loved loved loved this novel. Laura Rose White grew up with her brother on the Missouri river in a steamboat captained by her late father, who taught her how to pilot the steamboat. But, in 1867, a female pilot is unheard of so Laura struggles with only being a ‘cub pilot’ to her brother, Joe. But, when tragedy strikes, Laura must make the two month journey in order to save her home and her family’s legacy. The only way to survive, is by having her brother’s friend, Finn MacKnight, pilot the steamboat. The only problem? Laura fears he is still the drunk laze-about that he used to be before the war. —there is a lot more to the story of course, but hopefully that whets your appetite enough to get it and read it! I loved the twists and turns of this novel. Whitson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Boundaries in Marriage by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend – These two doctors show you “Why boundaries are vital for a thriving, productive marriage; how to protect a marriage from intruders, whether other people or personal idols ; why each partner needs to establish personal boundaries, and how to go about it ; how to work with a spouse who understands and values boundaries – and how to work with one who doesn’t.” This book has so many pearls of wisdom in it that I am taking notes as I read it. I am only in the 3rd chapter but already I think any marrieds’ should read this! I joined a marriage book study club on facebook  –meaningful marriage book study – and this is the first book that we are going through. And, apparently my OH has their book titled, “Boundaries”, which I have on my to-read list! 

The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun – Adam was on the road to wealth, when he decided to live for purpose, rather than money. He started a non-profit called The Promise of a Pencil, after having traveled and asking a child “if he could have anything in the world, what would it be?”, and the boy answered, “A pencil.” That started a dream to build a school, and it  turned into a thriving organization that stretched around the world. He was only 24 years old when he started and he encourages everyone to not let age stop them from doing what they want to change the world. -this book was such a wonderful read! I read 3/4 of it yesterday alone. It reminded me of the book I read months ago, Kisses From Katie (link to review I did of it in February). But somehow, this one was easier to read. Maybe because there was less heartbreak in it… For whatever the reason, I strongly recommend this book! It is very inspiring as well, so be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled.

The Heart’s Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher –  “A jilted bride, desperate to save her family from ruin. A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past. An arduous trek toward justice – or redemption.” Silver Matlock (great name for a woman in western times, I love it!) and Jared Newman travel together to meet their own end goals even though they knew it was a bad idea. Supplies dwindle, suspicions arise as secrets emerge and they end up at odds with each other when they need the other the most. The pair must learn to trust and face the question they haven’t asked yet ‘what happens next?’  – now, i’m only 3 pages in to this book , so i can’t tell you my opinion on it yet except that : i love the story line, i love the cover, and i haven’t yet read a book that Hatcher has written that I haven’t proclaimed to be on my favorite’s list. 

Climbing the Mango Trees  by Madhur Jaffrey – a memoir of a childhood in india. “Jaffrey grew up in a large family compound where her grandfather often presided over dinners at which forty or more members of his extended family would savor together the wonderfully flavorful dishes that were forever imprinted on Madhur’s palate.” I have actually not even started this book yet, but I know i’ll be starting it next week!  I’ll let you know next month what I thought of it, but i am excited about it as it is another food memoir!!!

                                  google book image

See you in August friends! And thanks for stopping by!

What have you been reading lately??