Jenn

This series is cute and fluffy, and makes me want to learn more about the actual stories of Greek mythology. I like how they show strengths and flaws within each character, and how the characters grow morally as the stories progress. I'm not certain the “actual” Greek gods grew in virtue as these fictional versions do.

I think this one is my favorite so far, of the 5 books in the series that I have read. Mostly because the character of Hercules is not a jerk, unlike most of the other godboys (with the exception of Hades, who was actually pretty cool, as well).

Again, these books prove that I am woefully ignorant to Greek mythology. Alas. I will remedy that one of these days.

See my review here.

I first checked out this book as a suggestion from the library display. I didn't really expect to like it, and wondered if I would actually make it through the whole book.

Well, I did, and it was a much better read than I had anticipated. It made you think about a lot of things concerning the food that you eat: from how it got onto your table to the additives and alterations which are not always apparent.

I don't think that I have the capacity to do what the author and her family did, but certainly a better awareness of my food may lead me to making some changes in my day-to-day diet.

I would challenge you to read this book. Some people have said they think it's “preachy”, but I found that it was more this person's perspective. She didn't sound like I had to have her opinion, and towards the end, she demonstrated how she would accommodate guests who didn't share her views. Which was probably much more than one could expect from someone who lives their beliefs as much as she did. And, she has a point.

This was an interesting tale. I haven't yet read the Percy Jackson series, but will probably do that before I continue with this one. What it does best is make me want to learn more about mythology.

I loved this book. It helps in so many ways. It is not enough to read it once, but to keep re-reading it, savoring the insights, suggestions, and truths.

This book was interesting and creative. There is a lot of facts regarding Greek mythology interspersed in the tale, yet the story remains lighthearted and concise. The characters are well-written.

Probably the best thing about this book is that it makes me want to read the actual legends of the Greek gods. I have a deficit in classical education and I'm sure that I will enjoy the subtle nuances in the book even more once I'm more familiar with the Greek pantheon.

I think this series would be a good read for children. I like how accurately school rivalries are depicted and the ways in which they are resolved.

And, I liked Athena, because I happen to be an academic type myself. :)

This book could have been so much more interesting. It had a good premise, it had interesting characters, but in the end, it was just... meh.

The feelings of the characters wasn't explored. I don't think they responded as passionately as real teens would have. I don't think there were appropriate consequences for her actions. I don't think there was proper explanation of the reason why the skin started to malfunction.

Basically, I think the story needed another round of revision.

At least it was a quick read.

I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. I think it could have been developed more.

I think the tension between Bryce, her best friend and her old boyfriend could have been explored more. It was never fully resolved.

The extra senses that she had were never adequately explained. Either make them central to the story, or cut them out. I think it was just in there as a way to point to the ultimate problem that she has and the reason for the ending, but it's insufficient and annoying.

That ending. Ugh. Really? What was the point of it all then?

Perhaps I should have given this only 2 stars, but I did care about her and wanted to know what was going to happen. If only her fate were not in the hands of the author.

I guess this is what you get when you randomly pull a book off the shelf at the library.... :)

I loved this book so much that I ordered a copy for my best friend literally minutes after finishing it. :)

Aww! This was a cute, simple book. The drawings were endearing and Bella was gracious about sharing, both in giving the fairies her daisy chain and wanting to share her experiences with her friends and family.

My Favorite Picture:
They were all very cute, but probably the one with the fairy queen and the yellow bird.

I didn't really like this book. It took me two tries just to read through it and it is very short.

Throughout the book, the characters behave badly. They complain about how a friend's mooing bothers them. Then, when they devise a plan to try and help her, they squabble and fight and are generally annoying.

Reading the book with all of the animal sounds might be fun, but I think we can definitely find a better book that also includes fun animal sounds.

Also, I didn't think the pictures were that cute.

The book ended with someone complaining.

So. That's a big fat NO.

My Favorite Picture:
The sheep auditioning.

It has all the rhyme-y greatness of a Dr. Seuss book, a great story with a lot of tension (you really worry about what will happen to Horton and the egg), some necessary ridiculousness as the the situation (this wouldn't really happen in real life!), and a GREAT ending!

This would be a good book to read when your child is having a quiet time. I like how it conveys the anticipation of Christmas in a hushed fashion. A lot of parallels can be made between Santa and God, between this story and the reality of the Incarnation.

I'm not sure if Santa is a concept we will be introducing to BC, but if it is, I might keep this one in mind to check out from the library during Advent.

Favorite Picture:
Santa checking the children's names in his book.

I got this as an audiobook and chose it primarily on length. It's like 36 hours long! I listened to it through the night from Connecticut to Michigan, but unfortunately I let a lot of time pass between then and when I started listening to it again, so I had to start over. (Plus, I was half-asleep when listening to it the first time – Ssshhh!)

The characters were very interesting and I did get invested in their stories. The story was good. I think it was just the sheer length that impaired it a bit, but the detail was not superfluous. I can imagine this being made into a movie... :)

I'm interested enough in the characters that I'll likely get the rest of the trilogy, although I still have to determine whether I like it enough to want to buy a copy (on audiobook), or just borrow it from the library.

Such a cute story! And doesn't bedtime go down just like this all the time? This is a great insight on the different perspectives of mama and baby. Plus, I love llamas!

Favorite Picture: Baby Llama nervously waiting for Mama Llama holding his llama doll.

I picked this story out because of your parents' interest in karate. What I like about it is how it brings Chip from a superficial liking of karate due to its glamorous portrayal by Chip's favorite celebrity, to a real understanding of the propert uses of karate and the deeper discipline and moral lessons that can be learned from the sport.

I also like how they teach you how to count to ten in Japanese. I learned this in grade school and it has always stayed with me.

Favorite Picture:
When all of the students are bowing to their sensei.

This was definitely a unique read. The characters aren't likeable in the standard way, and I don't necessary like all of the language and odd behavior and stuff, but it did make for a quick, entertaining read.

However, had I gone to school with Greg and Earl, I probably would not have been friends with them. They are just a little too weird for my taste. Although, Earl definitely had some potential there, as you got to know him.

Too often, it had me laughing ... especially when I really shouldn't be... :)

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But I'm the end, I didn't care. I drifted away and checked out just as much as the family members did, until all that was left was a goodbye.

I think I can be a tough reviewer at times. On a second look, the scrapbook-like illustrations are actually pretty great. However, the style of the book, which picked out a few phrases to express the atmosphere of the holiday, was a little too reflective for little kids, and I think not engaging enough of a story for bigger kids (or adults). So, this is why I rated it at merely, “Ok” and gave it two stars.

I was surprised that I couldn't really engage with this book. I typically like everything that Jodi Picoult puts out, but this one left me feeling kind of flat.

Perhaps it was because there wasn't some powerful issue or conflict driving the story. There was no mystery to figure out, really. The main unknown about Hadley was revealed in a less-than-climactic way, and the conflict between Jane and her husband wasn't really resolved.

I suppose real life can be this way at times, with issues not truly being resolved, but I had hoped for more for these characters. I wanted to like them; I really did. But they seemed a little flat as well. I put down the book quite a bit and it was a struggle to make it through.

I'm not sorry that I read it, but I am glad that I didn't purchase it and will not likely read it again.

I enjoyed this series. I “read” the audio version through Audible during my commutes to work and liked the way they were performed. In this last book, the trilogy ends and the loose ends are all tied up, including the ones I had forgotten about. :)

During the course of the story, I had changed allegiance a couple times between different characters and am not sure that the ending that was written is the one that I would have preferred. I also wish there had been a little more written; that the series didn't end where it did, but alas. I suppose I can always speculate on my own.

There are a few questions, though, that remain on my mind...

SpoilerThey never did tell us about the Other Lands. Did they actually exist? Are there people there? What does that society look like? Why don't people ever come back? Will they ever be able to reconnect with people who went there?

When I was getting ready to donate “HeartMate,” I realized it was a series. I wasn't all that taken with it, but checked and saw they had the second book at the library. I'm glad I have it a chance, because this book is much better than the first.

The beauty of this book is not in the fact that it is profound or gives amazing advice about abandonment to God, although it does. What is most beautiful is it's simplicity. It reveals to you things that you then realize that you already knew, deep inside. But, as soon as you are done, there is a longing to turn back to the first page and read it again.

I think this is going to be a great book to keep coming back to, especially at different times during the ebb and flow of our life of faith. The best part for me was the last section, where he described a level of abandonment where God works through you, instead of you trying to attain to God.

My natural disposition is to want to skip to the end, to overachieve, to jump right into the heart of the matter... But he tells us that this is not the way to do it. If we truly want to do well, we need to go through each stage of development.

After all, having God is not an event, but a life lived with Him eternally.

This was a lovely book to read. I started reading it about 2 1/2 years ago, at the suggestion of a friend, but became distracted and did not pick it up again until late this Lent. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday 2013, and I have finally finished.

Some people have complained about the overly descriptive text and the slow pace of the book. I think this is merely a symptom of our culture, which is easily irritated by things which are not graphic, fast-paced and constantly engaging. This book invites you to savor it instead of trying to conquer it. Read it slowly and enter into the story. See and feel what the characters experience. Imagine their emotions. This is how best to appreciate it.

While a very rich story and one which makes me want to read the Gospel of St. Luke and Acts again with a different perspective, what I found most interesting was the way in which this historical fiction made me think about our modern times. Much of what was said about Rome could be said about the United States today. There is much wisdom to be found in these pages.

Most of all, enjoy! You may find it becomes one of your favorite books, also! :)