MY SISTER'S KEEPER

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

What it's about: (taken from Amazon.com) New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

What I thought: I now officially love this author! This is the second book of Picoult's I have read and all I can say is wow! Both books I've read have definitely made me think. This book makes you explore the world of a teenager who you think is simply saying "what about me"...but in reality is just trying to carry out the wishes of someone else. And the end of the book...what a turn of events! Another must read on my list! I'm going to look for more books by this author...well as soon as I finish the stack of unread books next to me :)

Two favorite quotes from the book...
"I realize then that we never have children, we receive them. And sometimes it's not for quite as long as we would have expected or hoped. But it is still far better than never having had those children at all."

"When I first became a parent I used to lie in bed at night and imagine the most horrible succession of maladies: the bite of a jellyfish, the taste of a poisonous berry, the smile of a dangerous stranger, the dive into a shallow pool. There are so many ways a child can be harmed that it seems nearly impossible one person alone could succeed at keeping him safe. As my children got older, the hazards only changed: inhaling glue, playing with matches, small pink pills sold behind the bleachers of the middle school. You can stay up all night and still not count all the ways to lose the people you love."

ANOTHER BOOK REVIEW

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

What its about (taken from amazon.com): Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

What I thought: I read this book after being very hesitant about it...I don't do vampire stories...but, after much persuasion from my sister in law and hearing people rave about it I had to see what the hype was all about. I'm so glad I decided to take the plunge! This book was amazing! It was definitely not what I was expecting. I'm now hooked on this series...can't get to the next book fast enough. I don't want to give anything away so all I'm going to say is that this book is a must read...even if you don't do vampire stories!

ANOTHER AMAZING READ!

CHANGE OF HEART


WHAT IT'S ABOUT (taken from Doubleday Book Club)
New Hampshire’s first death-row prisoner in more than a half century, Shay Bourne has just a few months to go until his execution when word of miracles he’s performed in front of stunned inmates and prison officials catapults him into national headlines. No less extraordinary is his last request: to donate his heart to his victim’s desperately ill sister.

Called in as the condemned man’s spiritual advisor, Father Michael Wright is moved by Bourne’s sincerity but can’t help asking himself whether it’s possible that a convicted murderer could actually be a messiah. It’s a question Bourne’s lawyer, Maggie Bloom, has little time to contemplate as she tries to find a way to make her client’s wish come true. But is there anyone who can convince June Nealon, a woman tormented by grief and rage—and countless dreams of vengeance—to allow the man she hates a clear path on the road to redemption?

This powerful, emotionally wrought novel raises questions with no easy solutions as Jodi Picoult “forces us to think, hard, about right and wrong” (The Washington Post). But Change of Heart leaves no doubt why this #1 bestselling author is acclaimed as “a master of the craft of storytelling” (AP Newswire).

WHAT I THOUGHT...
This is the first book by this author that I have read and it has compelled me to find more of her books...yes I loved it that much! This book definitely makes you think many times over and over again about how you feel, or would feel if put in a situation, about certain issues. Yes this is a long read but it is also a quick read. This is definitely being put on my list of favorite books! I found myself rereading many passages just to let them sink in. Here are two passages that stuck with me...

(taken from page 184)
...I fitted myself around Claire's body, stretching beside her on the couch. In her sleep, she curled against me, a puzzle piece fitting back where it belonged. I kissed my daughter's forehead, unconsciously reading it for fever. This was my life now, and Claire's: a waiting game. Like Shay Bourne sitting in his cell, waiting for his turn to die, we sat imprisoned by the limitations of Claire's body, waiting for her turn to live.
So don't judge me, unless you've fallen asleep on a couch with your ill child, thinking this night might be her last.
Ask instead: would you do it?
Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love?
Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

(taken from page 279)
...It was so damn hard to find love in this world, to locate someone who could make you feel that there was a reason you'd been put on this earth. A child, I imagined, was the purest form of that. A child was the love you didn't have to look for, didn't have to prove anything to, didn't have to worry about losing.

If those passages made you stop and think for even a second you need to read the book. There is so much more to enjoy!

MARLEY AND ME...the book and the movie

THE BOOK...
WHAT IT'S ABOUT (taken from Doubleday Book Club)
Putting a whole new spin on the notion of “puppy love,” John Grogan’s funny, light-hearted chronicle of how an overactive yellow Lab changed the lives of a young Pennsylvania couple has become the year’s biggest sleeper hit. Slobbering toward superstardom and onto the New York Times bestseller list, Marley & Me has touched the hearts of people all over the country by asking a simple question: What happens when that adorable new family pet turns out to be a bad-mannered problem child?

Dog days
Hoping to test the waters of parenthood, Grogan and his wife Jenny adopted a cute, exuberant yellow pup they dubbed Marley. Loyal and loving, this affectionate mutt was also a naughty, neurotic basket case who massacred furniture, terrorized sitters, and devoured anything it could wrap its whiskered mouth around—including stereo speakers and an 18-karat gold necklace. Booted out of obedience school for chronic noncompliance, the maddeningly high-strung Marley nevertheless endeared himself to the Grogans, comforting them after Jenny’s miscarriage. Whether you’re a dog lover or not, this tender, touching story of animal misbehavior will leave a big, fat pawprint on your heart forever.

WHAT I THOUGHT...
I have read this book twice now and absolutely love it. The adventures and emotions that this book take you on cannot be expressed in words. I have wondered each time I read this book why on earth they kept this dog considering all that he destroyed. I do understand that some people seem to make their dogs a part of their family (my husband and children included); however in my mind a pet is simply that...a pet. Simply put, a dog like Marley would not last long in my house! I definitely recomend this if you're looking for a quick and enjoyable read!

THE MOVIE (click here to go to the movie's website)
Definitely a cute movie...but I was a bit diappointed. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson did an amazing job in this movie (as did Eric Dane...but would you expect any less from McSteamy?). What disappointed me the most was the lack of consistency the movie had with the book. Owen Wilson, who plays John Grogan, states at the beginning of the movie that him or Jennie ever owned a dog as a child. Anyone that has read the book knows that this is a true discrepency...in fact they both owned dogs as children that were amazing dogs; I believe they classified them as Saints in the book. The movie continued to have discrepencies with the book from how they got the dog, how they named the dog and many more. I don't even remember there being a Sebastian (Eric Dane) in the book. Had I not read the book prior I probably would have enjoyed the movie more than I did. My advice; if you've haven't seen this movie but have read the book...watch it but with an open mind, if you've seen the movie and liked it...read the book you will like it even more, if you haven't seen or read either you so need to!

ANOTHER WONDERFUL BOOK

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas
By James Patterson

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: (taken from Double Day Book Club)
Dear Katie,
No words or actions could begin to tell you what I'm feeling now. I'm so sorry about what I allowed to happen between us. It was all my fault, of course. I take all the blame.
Maybe this diary will explain things better than I ever could. If you have the heart, read it. It's about my wife and son, and me. I will warn you, though, there will be parts that may be hard for you to read.
I never expected to fall in love with you, but I did.
Matt."
Katie Wilkinson longs to turn back the clock for some clue to explain why, after 11 joyous months, Matt Harrison has left her. Now the answer is in her hands. With foreboding, Katie opens the diary she doesn't want to read, but knows she must. She learns the writer is a woman named Suzanne, speaking to her baby son, Nicholas, of the dreams and joy he has brought her. They are Matt's wife and child.
In this stunning departure from his blockbuster thrillers, James Patterson proves that raw emotion is still his m.o. As we learn of Matt's other life and the secrets that bind him to the past, we are filled with heart-wrenching sympathy. And we wonder whether Katie's love will prove strong enough to free him.

WHAT I THOUGHT:
What a sad love story...entwined with a wonderful love story. I've read this book multiple times (and will still probably read it again) and love it. It's a nice, quick, easy read that makes you thankful for all that you have and sad for all that can be lost. This is my favorite passage from the book..."I love watching you grow, but at the same time I don't like seeing time fly by so fast. It's hard to explain; I don't really know how. But there's something so precious about watching your child day after day after day. I want to hold on to every moment, every smile, every single hug and kiss. I suppose it has to do with loving to be needed and needing to give love." That passage made me look at my two boys and just smile...that's exactly how I feel about them. Definitely a must read if you're into sentimental stuff...but don't be afraid to let the tears flow.

BOOK REVIEWS

It's been awhile since I've posted on my reading. Here's the latest of my reads and my reviews...

The Last Summer (of you and me)
by Ann Brashers

WHAT IT'S ABOUT(from author's website)...
In the town of Waterby on Fire Island, the rhythms and rituals of summer are sacrosanct: the ceremonial arrivals and departures by ferry; yacht club dinners with terrible food and breathtaking views; the virtual decree against shoes; and the generational parade of sandy, suntanned kids, running, swimming, squealing, and coming of age on the beach.
Seat against this vivid backdrop, The Last Summer (of You and Me) is the enchanting, heartrending story of a beach-community friendship triangle among three young adults for whom summer and this place have meant everything. Sister Riley and Alice, now in their twenties, have been returning to their parents’ modest beach house every summer for their entire lives. Petite, tenacious Riley is a tomboy and a lifeguard, always ready for a midnight swim, a gale-force sail, or a barefoot sprint down the beach. Beautiful Alice is lithe, gentle, a reader and a thinker, and worshipful of her older sister. And every summer growing up, in the big house that overshadowed their humble one, there was Paul, a friend as important to both girls as the place itself, who has now finally returned to the island after three years away. But his return marks a season of tremendous change, and when a simmering attraction, a serious illness, and a deep secret collide, the three friends are launched into an unfamiliar adult world, a world from which their summer haven can no longer protect them.
Ann Brashares has won millions of fans with her blockbuster series The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, in which she so powerfully captured the emotional complexities of female friendship and young love. With The Last Summer (of You and Me), she moved on to introduce a new set of characters and adult relationships just as true, endearing, and unforgettable. With warmth, humor, and wisdom, Brashares makes us feel the excruciating joys and pangs of love.

WHAT I THOUGHT...
Once I got thru the beginning (which started slow) I truly enjoyed this book. This book took me thru a mix of emotions from laughter to sadness. I don't want to give anything away but it definitely took a turn that I wasn't expecting. I'd say this was the best book I've read since reading The Beach House...not sure it's as good but definitely comparable. I would definitely recommend this to others.



Sam's Letter's to Jennifer
by James Patterson

WHAT IT'S ABOUT... (taken from Double Day Book Club)
Despite Jennifer’s growing fame as a Chicago newspaper columnist, the untimely death of her husband followed by a devastating miscarriage has made pain her constant companion. The only family she has left is her beloved grandmother Sam, who, Jennifer has learned, is in a coma. The news is almost more than she can bear….

Jennifer rushes to her idyllic hometown of Lake Geneva, frantic to be by Sam’s side. Alone in her grandmother’s house, she comes across a packet of letters—addressed to her—in which Sam reveals the shocking news that her dashing, debonair husband, Jennifer’s grandfather, was abusive. Like most women those days, Sam accepted her fate…until she fell desperately in love.

When not reading the letters or keeping vigil at her grandmother’s bedside, Jennifer becomes reacquainted with Brendan Keller, an old childhood friend. Brendan is the well-muscled stranger Jennifer has seen swimming in the lake late at night, and who, she’s guilt-ridden to admit, fills her with longing. But while the story of Sam’s grand passion inspires Jennifer to open her heart, will the letters give her the strength to survive when more unthinkable anguish comes her way…?

WHAT I THOUGHT...
I loved this book!!! I read it in just a few hours. This was one that I just could not put down...I just kept wanting to know what would happen next. This book has actually made me go back and reread Suzanne's Diary to Nicholas...another Patterson favorite of mine. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a quick easy read that will pull you thru a string of emotions.

PROMISE THE MOON

Bantam Books, Inc./ Div Random Hous
May, 2008
What it's about (taken from Double Day Book Club)
When war and its tragic aftermath take Josh from Natalie and her children, she begins writing letters from him that she hides for young Anna and Toby to find—notes of comfort and wisdom from heaven. But her eldest child, Anna, isn’t easily fooled. When Anna suddenly reveals that her father has been speaking to her, divulging stories only Josh could know, Natalie’s concern leads her to seek to uncover secrets of her husband’s past.

As Natalie’s search brings her closer to her own parents and reunites her with a long-ago love, she and her children will discover just how much of a hero Josh actually was—and that only by finally revealing the truths they’ve hidden from each other can they find peace, and the promise of a hopeful future.

What I thought...
This book was good...one of the better reads I've had lately (still doesn't compare to The Beach House). Without giving too much away I'll just say that I was disappointed in the ending...it seemed like there was alot of time put into character development thrughout the book, until the end. Some of the characters just seemed to have disappeared with no explination. This book was extremely long and I just expected a better ending with more explination and answers. Overall I'm glad I read it and would reccomend it to others.
I can say that I'm enjoying reading books "with" my sister-in-law. It makes the books so much more interesting when you have someone to talk about it.

BOOK REVIEWS

I've been reading nonstop lately...which i'm enjoying soooo much. Unfortunately I haven't been able to keep up with my book updates...so here's 4 book reviews. Enjoy

Publisher: Dell Publishing Co./Div Of Random H
Publication Date: February, 2008

What it's about: (taken from Doubleday Book Club)
Join Danielle Steel in her newest breathtaking escape to Hollywood and Paris for the glamour, the glitter—the heartache waiting in the wings for a beloved actress.

Still stunningly beautiful at 50, movie star Carole Barber has played many roles not only on screen, but in real life as well. A mother, divorcee and sadly, widow, she’s now added novelist to the list. The only problem, the more Carole works on her book, the more she realizes it is her own life playing out on the page and suddenly, she wants to go back. It was in Paris that Carole forswore her one true love, and it is to Paris she returns, never suspecting she would end up hospitalized, a victim in a terrorist attack.

With her worried family gathered round, Carole awakens from a coma with no memory of her identity. Nor does she recognize her ex-husband, who rues the day his misguided affair destroyed their marriage. Her children, too, are strangers as is the handsome man whose searching eyes seem to look into her soul. Matthieu de Brillancort lost Carole once, years ago. This time, he won’t leave her side until this woman who owns his heart remembers their love of a lifetime

What I thought:
I've been reading Danielle Steele books for years and had to take a break...this was the first one I've read in awhile. It seemed like they all started to sound alike. This one was the same. I did like it but you have to respect the way Steele tells stories. All of her books seem to have the same scenerio...poor little rich woman / man / kid...then disaster strikes...then they all somehow live happily ever after. It did take me awhile to read, partly because I just didn't have the time and mostly because it was pretty hard to stay focused on. Towards the middle of the book it seemed to read a little easier. It was pretty easy to see how the ending would be. I will probably continue to read Danielle Steele books but have found other authors that interest me alot more. Overall I would say it's an ok read if you want something to just relax with but don't expect much from it.


Publisher: Warner Books, Inc.
Publication Date: September, 1999

What it's about: (taken from Doubleday Book Club)
When I was 17, my life changed forever. I'm 57 years old, but even now I can remember everything from that year, down to the smallest details. I close my eyes and the years begin to move in reverse. As if through someone else's eyes, I watch myself grow younger. My innocence returns as that eventful year approaches. My name is Landon Carter, and I'm 17 years old.
It is 1958, and in the small town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Landon just wants to have a fun-filled senior year. The last person he anticipates caring about is Jamie Sullivan, the plain, sweet and pious daughter of the Baptist minister, a girl who cheerfully volunteers at the local orphanage.
But after reluctantly playing opposite Jamie in the school's Christmas play, Landon sees her in a whole new light. Now Landon will discover truths about the nature of beauty, the joy of giving, the pain of loss and, most of all, the miraculous power of first love. And just as Landon grows to love Jamie, you'll lose your heart to Nicholas Sparks' wonderfully sentimental, unforgettably touching new tale

What I thought:
Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors...ok possibly my favorite. I have read this book many, many times and will probably read it again and again. I still laugh, cry and get very involved with these characters every time I read this book. This is a good sentimental read if that's what you're looking for. It will make you believe in true love again...


Publisher: Hachette Book Group Usa
Publication Date: April, 2008

What it's about: (taken from Doubleday Book Club)
This unforgettably emotional love story explains why James Patterson is one of the best known and bestselling authors of all time.

Jane Margaux is the only child of a divorced couple. She lives with her single, selfish mother whose sole focus is her flourishing Broadway theater company, and rarely sees her father, whose infatuation with his beautiful young girlfriend knows no end. Is it any wonder the lonely little seven-year-old turns inward and conjures up Michael, a handsome, charming companion who never fails to make her laugh or feel wanted? Of course, no one else can see her special, thirty-something friend, who always reminds Jane “when you grow up, you won't remember me.” But in her heart, she knows he's wrong.

Years later, Jane is as alone as she's ever been in her life, still living in the shadow of her dramatic, overpowering mother, when she catches a glimpse of the face she's never forgotten. But while this Michael is no figment of her imagination, is he her one true love?

Sundays at Tiffany's is a love story with an irresistible twist, a novel about the child inside all of us—and the surpassing power of love.

What I thought:
This book is kind of hard for me to write a review. I liked it but it was...different. The only way I can really explain it is to say it's an adult fairy tale. Very imaginative...and pretty interesting. I would recomend it if you can open your imagination a little. I did like one of the quotes from this book..."Love means you can never be apart"...how true that is.


Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
June 17, 2008

What it's about:(taken from Amazon.com)
Jane Green is one of the preeminent authors of women’s fiction today, and with each new novel, her audience grows. Green’s avid and loyal fans follow her because she writes about the true-to-life dilemmas of women—and The Beach House will not disappoint.

Known in Nantucket as the crazy woman who lives in the rambling house atop the bluff, Nan doesn’t care what people think. At sixty-five-years old, her husband died twenty years ago, her beauty has faded, and her family has flown. If her neighbors are away, why shouldn’t she skinny dip in their swimming pools and help herself to their flowers? But when she discovers the money she thought would last forever is dwindling and she could lose her beloved house, Nan knows she has to make drastic changes.

So Nan takes out an ad: Rooms to rent for the summer in a beautiful old Nantucket home with water views and direct access to the beach. Slowly, people start moving into the house, filling it with noise, with laughter, and with tears. As the house comes alive again, Nan finds her family expanding. Her son comes home for the summer, and then an unexpected visitor turns all their lives upside-down.

What I thought:
I saved the best for last! I seriously LOVED this book! I don't think that any other book I read will compare to this. The characters are so real and their situations so believeable. The author did an amazing job drawing me into these people's lives. This book was one that makes me want a sequel. I so want to know what happened with the characters...yes they became that real to me...and i wanna go to Nantucket!!! This book is a must read!!! The best one I've read in a long time!!!

MY LATEST READ...HOLD TIGHT

What it's about (from Doubledaybookclub.com)
Harlan Coben's new thrill ride, undisputedly his best yet, is a gut-wrenching cautionary tale of what can go wrong when the lines of communication between parents and children shut down.
Tia and Mike Baye never worried that their son, a hockey superstar and solid student, would become one of those sullen teens with “issues.” But after 16-year-old Adam's best friend Spencer Hill commits suicide, he becomes rebellious and secretive, giving them reason to install a sophisticated spy program on his computer. When a message orders their son to “just stay quiet” it sends ripples of fear down their spines. What has Adam gotten himself into?
Betsy Hill asks herself the same thing when, searching online, she comes across a picture of her son taken on the night of his death. She's positive she sees Adam Baye in the background. Yet didn't he swear to her and the police that he never saw Spencer that night?
When Adam suddenly goes missing, neither of these parents gets the answers they seek. All they know is that something deep and sinister has infected their community and they're quite correct in fearing that what they've experienced so far is only the darkness before the storm….

My thoughts...
I loved this book!!! As usual, Coben keeps you guessing until the very last page. It took me awhile to read this only because I just don't have the free time like I used to. I definitely did not want to put it down...it was very easy to fall into the character's lives and problems. I highly reccomend all of Coben's books.

A MUST READ

THE LAST LECTURE
by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow

Publisher: Hyperion Bks/Imp of Buena Vista Books
Publication Date: April, 2008

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: (from doubleday book club)
If you were going to die, and had one last lecture, what would you say to your students?
This question is the premise of an academic tradition called the “Last Lecture,” which allows professors to share their wisdom with their students. But for Professor Randy Pausch, it wasn’t a hypothetical scenario. Diagnosed with cancer, he only had months to live when he gave his Last Lecture this past September. It was the lecture of a lifetime. Titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” it encouraged people to dream big, to be strong in the face of adversity, to never lose the wonder and to help others achieve their own dreams. Wise, witty and incredibly moving, it became a global phenomenon: viewed online by millions, featured on numerous TV programs and linked to by legions of Websites.

Now, by popular request, Randy expands on his lecture, elaborating on his message and sharing how he learned each of the lessons outlined in his talk. As he says, “It’s not about how to achieve your dreams. It’s about how to lead your life. If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.”

MY THOUGHTS:
WOW!! This book is probably one of the best I've read in a long time. The fact that it is one man's true story about facing death head on with a positive attitude was enough to keep it a page turner. It's not really a story as much as it is a forceful way to make you evaluate your own life. For example: do you want to be an eeyore or a tigger? (if you don't understand this, you should read the book) The author states that he's thankful to have had warning about dying...but I feel that we all know that we're going to go sometime or another...so we all (in a way) have warning. To borrow a line from a coworker: "no one is promised tomorrow."

Has this book made me think? Absolutely. The main thing I think about is what my boys would remember about me if tomorrow was taken away. I've decided that I'm going to start writing "letters" to each of my boys. How often? I don't know yet. Maybe once a month. I'm going to make each of them a binder so that when they are older they will have all of these thoughts from their mom to page thru.

My final thoughts from this book...I hope I can live my life to be remembered as a tigger...I hope my boys do too.

I'm definitely going to read this book again...I'm sure there were things that I missed. I also plan on watching the author's "last lecture" online. (http://www.thelastlecture.com/) I think that everyone should read this book and see what kind of insight you can draw from it.