Just for fun...

I composed this last night at 10:30...it's pretty long, and I think I was a bit too ambitious when I wrote it! I found a website of other people's bucket lists and they listed things like, "Make homemade ice cream" and "Swim with dolphins." I've already done both of those things (hahaha that's another story for another day). I actually had quite a bit of trouble coming up with the things on my list, but I was pretty satisfied when I finished. So, without further ado... tada!

My Bucket List (in no particular order)

1) Become a bestselling author

2) Visit New York City (and consider living there for a bit)

3) Tour Europe (Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain)

4) Visit Hawaii

5) Go on a mission’s trip

6) Climb Kilimanjaro

7) Learn photography

8) Volunteer at an orphanage in India

9) Visit Israel

10) Become fluent in a different language

11) Go to Carnival in Brazil

12) Live in San Francisco

13) Retire at Hilton Head

14) Live in Boone, NC

15) Teach English to middle school

16) Get married

17) Have six children

18) Live in England

19)  Collect books and compile a library in my house

20) My life long wish: To serve Christ with every ounce of my being every day of my life J

Try writing your own!

Thought for the day

Today after church I stopped by Harris Teeter. As I was checking out, I glanced up at the magazine rack. People’s Magazine screamed at me, in big yellow letters, “Kim’s engaged!” It had a picture of Kim Kardashian, America’s top leading socialite, and some hunky guy she is currently into. I was reminded of my conversation of Facebook with a friend about how marriages fail because of selfishness. As Miss Kardashian’s heavily make-upped (and probably photo shopped) face smiled at me, my first thoughts were, “Well, that’s not going to last long.” Then my eyes flitted down to the bottom of the magazine. A little corner about 2”x 2” held a photo of two distressed and homeless victims of the tornados that leveled Joplin, Missouri just days ago. My heart sank. A terrible natural disaster has taken homes, possessions, and lives and all we’re concerned about is the engagement of some celebrity (might I say, an engagement to a marriage that probably won’t even last two years, if that long)? How can we be so heartless? Sometimes it really shames me to be an American.

Oop!

Almost forgot! Here's a link to a discussion Plugged in Online had with the creators of To Save a Life. http://www.pluggedin.com/upfront/2010/savinglivesisyourjob.aspx

And here's Plugged in Online's review for the movie. http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2010/q3/tosavealife.aspx

Just in case you wanted some more info. =)

A tough one...

This book was hard to review. It's a Christian book, but it deals with some really raw issues. Just a warning- it's not for the squeamish or those who can't handle a lot of tension or emotion. But I suggest you give it a try...it's an amazing story, and Jim and Rachel really faced it head on. Happy reading! =)

Book review for To Save a Life by Jim and Rachel Britts

            Jake and Roger were inseparable. Best buds. They did everything together. Roger even saved Jake from certain death once, paying for the cost. But high school was a whole different ball game. Jake climbed to the top of the social ladder, but Roger stayed several rungs beneath him. Their friendship deteriorated to nothing- it was like they didn’t even know each other. One day Roger brings a gun to school, and ends his life right in front of Jake. Jake had no idea what Roger had been going through. Jake’s life had been perfect- wealth, popularity, a hot girlfriend, and a college scholarship. He had been blind to the pain he had caused Roger in rejecting him. Until it was too late.

            To Save a Life is honestly one of the most awakening and touching stories I’ve ever read. The book was based on the movie, which I plan on seeing soon. I loved seeing Jake evolve from a heartless jerk to a caring and loving person. The tragedy that happened to Roger seemed so dramatic and surreal, but I know it’s quite prevalent in schools today. Something that also surprised me was the fakeness of Jake’s youth group. I’ve gone to church every Sunday my whole life, and I’ve always thought that the church was filled with kind, loving Christian people. But this story opened my eyes to the lie I’ve believed. I look around now, in my youth group, and wonder how sincere these people are. Who puts on a façade each Sunday? How many of these teens are “Dannys?”

            This book is definitely worth reading, for both teens and adults. But since Jake and his friends don’t really have any morals, there are some words. Also, Jake’s relationship with his girlfriend, Amy, is not exactly pure. But I know that the authors only put that in to make it all seem real. Just be aware that this book deals with very gritty issues when deciding if younger tweens (middle school age) should read To Save a Life. Personally, I think kids should be a little older (like in high school), but it’s your call. J To sum it all up, I loved this book, and I’m sure it’s lessons will never leave me. It shouts a message that the world is desperate to hear. Before it’s too late.

Quick Content Review:

Profanity- Mild (Jake cusses out the fakers in his youth group, but nothing too heavy. A few words scattered elsewhere, but God’s name is not abused.)

Violence- Minor- (When they are young boys, Roger pushes Jake out of the way of a car and takes the hit himself. Roger commits suicide. Johnny is a cutter, and Andrea admits she once was, too. Jake jumps in front of a police car, but only gets scratched. Nothing is described at all.)

Sexual- Mild (Amy flirts seductively with Jake; the two kiss frequently and have sex at a party; Amy becomes pregnant, but Jake persuades her to keep the baby. Jake’s friends act like high school guys, whistling at girls and making some comments. Nothing heavy or over the top…all negative language/bad content was added to make the story seem real. Jake’s behavior is not glorify in the least, but rather used as a warning of how consequences can affect your life.)

Other negative content- Jake goes to a couple parties where there is under-age drinking.  It’s discovered that his dad has cheated on his mom. Danny, the pastor’s son, smokes pot with a group of other church-going kids.

           

Book review for Heist Society by Ally Carter

When I read the summary for Heist Society, I thought that it was about this girl, Kat, and her friends who return stolen art. But that’s only half the story…they are actually thieves who are forced to re-steal stolen art to save Kat’s father’s life. Kat is not thrilled about the life her family leads, and escapes it by attending a ritzy boarding school. But she’s forced to become a thief again when her father is wrongly accused of pilfering a billionaire Arturo Taccone’s famous artwork. Kat soon finds out that the artwork is not Taccone’s after all. Filled with action and plot twists, this book will keep you guessing until the last page.

This book was entertaining but not spectacular. Kat’s character wasn’t very unique, and neither was Nick’s. I loved Hale and Gabrielle, though. The plot wasn’t predictable or unrealistic. The only problem I had was the guys’ (Simon, Hamish, and Angus) infatuation with Kat’s chest. That part was unnecessary and (thankfully) brief. Heist Society was a good read, just not a great read. If you’re looking for a light read just to keep your mind occupied and entertained, then I suggest you try this book.

Quick Contents Review:

Profanity- None (not that I can remember; nothing serious, maybe “shoot” or “dang”)

Violence-None

Sexual- Minor (Nick and Kat kiss once to cause a distraction. Kat dresses in a more form-fitting outfit to rob a museum, and Angus, Hamish, and Simon notice and comment. Nothing crude, very brief)

Other negative content- To be frank, Kat’s family is a family of thieves. Stealing art, jewelry, and other expensive objects is their livelihood. Stealing is not portrayed in this book as something wrong.

A thoughtful reflection

Summer: What is it that makes us wild for it?

            When May rounds around each year, there is one thing on everyone’s mind. Summer. No school. Sleeping in. Cooling down at the pool. Late nights with friends. Fireflies. Shorts and flip flops. Tanning on the beach. Every aspect of summer is appealing. We hunger for summer. Dream about it all throughout the last semester of school. We party when it arrives. What is it that makes us long for summer? I believe the answer to that question is freedom. In summer, we have freedom from school or college. Freedom from stress. Freedom from pressure. Freedom from schedules and due dates. Freedom from worry and anxiety. Freedom from reality. In summer, we can temporarily forget all about our worries and problems that bombard us during the year. We can let it all fade away as we have fun with our friends. It’s an escape, a hideout from the troubles of life. All good things happen in the summer. We get summer jobs. We go on vacation. We fall in love and have summer romances. Everyone gets summer fever at least once in their lifetime. I…I think I’ve caught it too. J

Short story =)

It's the first one I've ever written, so it's rather insipid. I'll probably revise it when I get a chance, but here's the first draft! =) Enjoy!

Time for Jesus

Strangers rushed passed on the crowded sidewalk. Cars honked loudly as someone ran a red light. People came in and out of stores, restaurants, and coffee shops, laughing without a care, oblivious to the distress he felt. All the different smells of food made Tony’s stomach flip. The sun shone-he saw it glinting off the cars- but he didn’t feel its warmth or light.  The breeze blew-it felt cold. He tried to forget the last 2 years.  Everything had happened so fast. The late night rendezvous’ with his “friends.” The stealing. The drinking. Then the drugs- marijuana, heroin. He couldn’t even count all the regrets he had, all the mistakes he had made in his short 18 years. He was sick of his life. He was sick of failing. He was sick of this world. He wanted it to end. He stopped by a brick wall and slumped down on the concrete next to a trash can. Dejected. Alone.

Mandy strolled out of the Starbucks with a caramel mocha in her hand. The breeze rustled her hair as she walked along the sidewalk in New York City. People flooded past her- women chattering on cell phones, men hurrying along with briefcases. Rushing, running, bustling. No one has time, she thought. No time for sons. Or daughters. Or religion. No time for…Jesus. It’s true, I have put Him off many times, too, she mused. But I wish people had more time for Him. She peeked at her watch. 1:30. She only had 15 minutes to get to her young ladies’ Bible study. She quickened her pace. Suddenly, she felt a pull on her heart. She slowed down her fast clip. Not need to have a heart attack, she thought. But she felt it again, a little tug on her heart.  Glancing across the street, she sighted a man, dressed in shabby clothes, sitting on the sidewalk. His head was between his knees. He wasn’t moving. She peered closer and thought she saw his shoulders heave. Is he…crying? She thought. Oh my. I hope he’s ok. She suddenly felt compelled to go speak to him. No, no, I’m late as it is. But she just couldn’t walk away. Is this You, God? Mandy prayed. ‘Go speak to him.’ But God, what if he’s dangerous? What if he is drunk or drugged? What if he has a weapon? And I’m late! Mandy argued. Go speak to him, Mandy. It then dawned on her that just a few minutes ago she had condemned the busy New Yorkers for not having time for God. “The King will reply, truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” What a hypocrite I am, she chided herself. Pushing away her fear, she started across the street.

Tony sobbed once more and then wiped his eyes. He hadn’t tried to bite back the tears, knowing that nothing he did short of riding an elephant down the street would draw attention. “Excuse me, are you ok?” A clear voice came from above him. He glanced up just a bit. A young woman, maybe around his age, was standing next to him. Concern filled her eyes. “I’m fine,” he muttered, his head still between his knees. He scooted away from her a little. “Are you sure you’re ok?” He gave the slightest nod. He expected her to walk away now or at least leave a dollar or two by his side. That’s what most people did. But he heard her voice again, closer, softer. “Do…” Her voice trailed off. “Do you want me to pray for you?” He peeked out. She was kneeling beside him. Tears sprang to his eyes again. He ducked his head and hope she hadn’t noticed. No one had ever, in his whole life, asked to pray for him. “Listen, I don’t know your name, or what you’ve been through or even what you’re going through now, but I’m going to pray for you.” And she did, right there on the sidewalk. When she ended, Tony realized he had reached out and grasped her hand. Tears were running down his cheeks uncontrollably. She smiled the smile of an angel, and after he let go of her hand, she got up and walked away down the sidewalk.

Do you have time for Jesus? “The King will reply, truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40 

Book review of A Tale of Two Cities

This timeless classic by Charles Dickens revolves around sacrifice. It takes place in the mid-1800s, in France and England at the time of the French Revolution. The story follows the lives of four very different people: Lucie Manette, her father Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton. I found Dr. Manette’s obsession with shoe-making a rather thrilling addition to the already blood-chilling plot. Also, Sydney’s careless lifestyle and his odd love for Lucie Manette tied the story together nicely. His kind act of surrender on life at the end for the sake of Darney is one of the most touching things I’ve ever read. I believe it ultimately was for Lucie, not Darney. I love how we see his character change after he puts his plan into action- he goes from being a hard, careless, purposeless man and grows into an image of Christ, preparing to die in place of another. One thing that particularly delighted me was how tender-hearted he was to the young woman on the cart that took them to their doom. She surely wouldn’t have been able to be that brave in the face of death if it hadn’t been for Carton. You cannot read A Tale of Two Cities without it touching your heart and imprinting its memory on your mind forever.

Book review for Silas Marner by George Eliot

            I won’t try and lie to you- when I first started Silas Marner, I stereotyped it as the driest, most tedious book ever written. But as I got into the story and the plot thickened, I became more engrossed than I was going to allow myself to be. The Silas’ tragedy was typical; old man gets his hidden fortune stolen by a no-good trouble maker. But the entrance of Eppie into his life was more interesting and uncommon. She brought him joy and happiness like he had never felt before. His money had brought him what he interpreted as happiness, but it was fake. Eppie’s bubbly personality and cheerfulness turned out to be contagious, and spread to Silas. Her real father had failed her, but Silas, who had cared for her since the minute she came to him, was always a faithful parent. They were all they had in the world; each had been turned out by their kin. Although Silas Marner was a bit slow and boring at the beginning, the core of the story was thought-provoking and touching.

My Tuesday Morning

Well, this morning, I was just minding my own sweet business, when I looked down at my arm, and guess what I saw? Yes! Correct! I did see a cockroach perched peacefully on me. And guess what I did? Bingo! (You're good!) I did scream. Then freaked out inwardly for a minute or two, watching it scurry around on the counter. Then I ran to my mom's room, and she was like, "Why are you waking me up? It's 7:15! Just go kill the little pest!" So I ran and grabbed a shoe, then flung it at the cockroach repeatedly, and then thwumped it viciously, then starred at it's mutilated little body on the counter. =) And that was my morning.

Book review for Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

I was so eager to get my hands on this book when it first came out, that I was giddy with pleasure when I finally picked it up from the library.  Deeanne Gist is a fantastic writer, and I adore all her work, so I knew this one would be delicious, too. I have never been much into suspense, but I thought, “Why not?” and gave it a try. Let me say, it was so captivating, and it had the perfect blend of steamy romance and blood-chilling suspense, my mom had to nearly wrench it out of my hands! I love Rylee; she is so independent, feminine, and naïve at the same time. I wanted to be just like her- live in Charleston and walk wealthy people’s dogs for a living. Logan absolutely delighted me from the beginning. The way he was described challenged my image of a news reporter- scrawny, inconsiderate, and nosey. He was buff, funny, and cared about what he reported. He also was worried about Rylee’s safety, after he looked into her issue and after their initial bickering and despise for each other ceased. I was really pleased with their romance; it didn’t overpower the suspense. By the way, the suspense was great. I don’t really have anything to compare it too, since that’s not my kind of book, but I enjoyed it. The plot was well thought-out, and I honestly didn’t find anything too disagreeable with the book at all. One thing I would have liked to see more of Rylee’s and Logan’s Christian faith. It was implied that they both had Christian backgrounds, but the book wasn’t as saturated with Christian beliefs as much as Deeanne’s past novels. I’m guessing that’s because it was a collaboration. Still, it was a marvelous read. I searched for other romantic suspense novels at the library after I finished this book, and was disappointed to find there aren’t any! I was enthralled with Beguiled, and strongly urge you to give it a try if you haven’t.

Quick Content Review:

Profanity- None

Violence- None

Sexual- Minor (Rylee and Logan kiss once or twice)

Other Negative Content- Rylee and Logan go to a party on the beach at night. There is drinking.

Book review for The Lauren Holbrook series

Book review for The Lauren Holbrook series

Before I begin, I just want to say, I loved the covers of these books. They were cute and fun and attracted my attention. Now. Let’s begin. Erynn Mangum did an extremely good job on these books. They kept my attention the whole time and thoroughly entertained me. Lauren’s antics and whims had me laughing the whole time I had the book in my hands. I could barely put it down, and spent many nights reading it in the wee hours of the morning.  Lauren’s love (or should I say obsession?) of all things coffee and chocolate was one of the many things I loved about her, along with her match-making skills, of course. She was so spontaneous and I wanted to be just like her by the end of the book.

 First off, I actually know someone who is a living and breathing “Lauren.” She is hilarious, outgoing, and the sweetest person I know. She reminded me of Lauren because she doesn’t give up when she wants something. To be honest, I thought at the beginning of the series, “Oh, it’s so obvious that Lauren will get together with Brandon.” Wrong! He’s so sweet, but he and Lauren are more like brother and sister than husband and wife. He’s too serious and level-headed for her, and she would have driven him crazy had they gotten married. Ryan is so much better suited for her. But when Erynn introduced him into the scene, I was kind of confused. I thought that Lauren’s match would have sunlight glittering off him, and all mouths would drop at the sight of him. Nope. Lauren just plops down on the couch at the single’s meeting, stuffing Oreos in her mouth, almost steps on Ryan, and there he is. I loved their relationship-it was the sweetest thing! I really don’t know how else to describe it…

I laughed so hard when Hannah started working for Brandon, and Lauren had all those mean thoughts about her being a Barbie doll! I had absolutely no idea that they would become fast friends, and that Lauren would even drag Hannah into her match-making business. Another thing I didn’t see coming was Nick and Ruby’s marriage. Whoa. Once they both relaxed a bit (ok, Ruby had to relax a lot) they became a really cute couple. And I wanted to scream with ecstasy when Ruby announced that she was pregnant. Aaaahhh! How perfect!

The Lauren Holbrook series are definitely some of the most engaging, consuming books I have ever read. I loved the constant dialogue, Lauren’s hilarity, and the delightful romance that tied it all together. Go buy them and save them for a rainy day!

Quick Content Review:

Profanity- None

Violence- None

Sexual- Minor (couples kiss chastely)

And the covers are adorable! =)

Happy Mother's Day!

I just want to say, my mom has done so much for me and I don't even want to think about where I'd be without her today. She's the one who tells me stuff that must be said, even if I don't want to hear it. I love you, Mommy.

And here's another book reveiw...enjoy! =)

Book review for the All about Us Series

I picked up the first book in this series due to the fact that I was burned out of ideas of books to read, and the cover of this one was cute looking. I had never heard of the series, but knew it was Christian, so gave it a try. I’m glad I did.

These books follow the lives of five very different high school girls: Lissa, Gillian, Carly, Shani, and Mac. Each book is dedicated to one girl and some troubles she’s going through at the time. The first one, called It’s all about us, is about Lissa. She just started her first semester at Spencer High, and elite school for, well, elites. She immediately makes an enemy- semi-royalty Vanessa. But she also makes a friend in her roommate, Gillian, a Chinese smarty-pants who is on fire about God. Lissa only has eyes for hottie Callum McCloud. But Callum is after only one thing, and Lissa must decide between Callum and what she believes. In her confusion, jealous Vanessa tricks Lissa into embarrassing herself, big time. I loved the plot, the conflict that wars within Lissa about Callum, and the never-ending cruelty of Vanessa. When Vanessa’s tape was sent all over the school, I felt Lissa embarrassment and mortification. She had just begun at Spencer High- was she going to have to finish out her high school years with a horrible reputation? This book really whetted my taste for the rest of the series.

The Fruit of My Lipstick, the second book is about New-Yorker Gillian. Unlike some people, she’s gotten the hang of this being smart thing. She’s a math and science whiz, can play virtually any instrument in existence, and colleges like Yale, Stanford and Harvard are begging her to “pick me!” But she meets her match in Lucas Hayes. She falls hard for him, and struggles to keep up with her rigorous studies and have a relationship with him at the same time. He can sometimes be pretty moody, but she excuses it as pressure. Then she’s accused of selling cheat-sheets to test, and after a while, even her friends start to doubt her. How much can she handle? I enjoyed Gillian’s Christ-like attitude throughout the book, and I loved how strong her relationship with the Lord is. Lucas really got on my nerves from the start, and nearly flew into a rage when he got abusive with Gillian. I loved how her friends stepped in and rescued her- it reestablished the theme of the series: true friendship!

The third book, Be Strong and Curvaceous, is about sweet, charming Carly Aragon. She has the best fashion sense around, and loves to design fabulous gowns for the many premieres and dances her friends attend. She struggles with her parent’s divorce, but she can get through anything with Lissa and Gillian supporting her. She comes back from spring break to find the loud-mouthed, opinioned Lady Lindsay MacPhail as her new roommate. Mac swoops in and seems to take everything for her own. Not only does she relieve Carly of any privacy she had, she also starts dating jock Brett Loyola, Carly’s long-time crush! But soon after coming to Spencer High, Mac begins receiving creepy emails from an unknown stalker, and Carly must overcome her dislike for Mac so she can help her figure out this mystery. I have to say, this is my absolute favorite of all the books in this series. It was the most action packed, with life-and-death situations and a budding romance between Carly and Brett at the end (SPOILER!).  I love Mac’s attitude, and her tom-boyishness really sets off Carly’s girlyness. Also, although all the titles in this series are super creative, this one is the cutest.

The fourth installment in this series, titled, Who Made You a Princess?  is about Shani. She has just recently met Danyel, a super cute, super cool Christian surfer. But when she returns to school with her friends, they everyone in a frenzy over Prince Rashid al Amir of Yasir. He’s filthy rich and has moved to California to attend Spencer Academy in preparation for an MBA at Stanford. But that’s not his only reason for moving so far from home- he’s here to woo Shani, his future wife. Shani comes to find out that for several generations, both her family and the Prince’s family have intermarried, for the sake of custom, obligation, and to benefit both the families’ businesses. I love the Prince; he is so naïve and tries to do what is best for his family, even if he must set aside his wishes in the process. I laughed at how typical it was for Vanessa to be enthralled with him! I was so proud of Shani in the end when she gave up her family, her money, and her high social standing all because she and Prince Rashid weren’t in love.

The fifth book, Tidings of Great Boys, is about Mac, who goes back to her castle home in Scotland with her friends for the Christmas season. While there she strives to organize a Hogmanay Day dance, mend her parents’ broken marriage, and save Shani from Prince Rashid’s enraged parents, who threaten to endanger Shani’s safety. On top of all that, Mac is surprised to find out that the old castle is falling apart and her father is quickly running out of money. This book was not my favorite of the series, and it seemed to drag on and on. I don’t think the plot was very entertaining or engaging, and it kind of bored me. I would have liked to see some more romance between Mac and her guy friend (I forget his name). It really didn’t seem to add much to the series; it only really prolonged the last book. One thing that did perk me up was how Shelley showed Mac’s choice in friends. Her buddies in Scotland were of a much rougher, rebellious, trouble-making crowd than her sweet, girly, Christian friends in California. I liked how the reader can see the effects of Gillian, Shani, Carly, and Lissa’s influence rubbing off on Mac. 

The sixth and last chapters in this series, The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth, all the girls are back at Spencer High and gearing up for graduation. But if they aren’t busy enough as it is trying to decide on majors and colleges, life throws in some difficulties of its own. Lissa’s best friend Kaz hints that he might be crushing on Gillian, and when Lissa finds herself troubled at this turn of events, she must sort through her feelings for Kaz. Also, mean girl Vanessa has gone and gotten herself pregnant, and soon she’s the humiliation of the whole school. I liked this one. That’s about it. It summed up the whole series, it was good at the end, when Kaz and Lissa finally get together, but I felt unsettled when I finished reading it. It wasn’t fantastic, it wasn’t awesome, it was just good. One thing I did like, because it was unexpected, was Vanessa’s pregnancy. When I began reading, I had no idea how Shelley would straighten Vanessa out. I knew something humiliating and downgrading had to happen to her, but I didn’t expect THAT. I loved the romantic scene with Kaz and Lissa on the beach at the very end. That was a lovely ending to the series. 

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this series. I love the close-knit friendship of Lissa, Gillian, Carly, Shani, and Mac. I desire the kind of trust, loyalty, and forgiveness that they had in my friends. Shelley did a wonderful job with these books, throwing in a good amount of humor, fashion, and God. I hated to see them end, and if you haven’t read them, I suggest you do. Happy reading!

Quick Content Review:

Profanity- None

Violence- None (In Be Strong and Curvaceous, Mac’s maniac step-brother threatens to blow up the school. In The Fruit of My Lipstick, Lucas gets abusive with Gillian, and pushes her into a soda machine.)

Sexual- Minor (In the first book, Callum pressures Lissa to have sex with him. She resists, but they do make out in Vanessa’s room. Nothing is described. In Be Strong and Curvaceous, Brett and Carly kiss (SPOILER!). In The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth, Vanessa finds out she is pregnant but don’t know who the father is.  Kaz and Lissa kiss.)

Reply from the author:

Hi Shelby,

Wow, this is one of the most comprehensive and incisive reviews of the books I've ever seen. My Kate Middleton-style feathery hat is off to you! :) I also like that you were honest but not hurtful--a quality that many reviewers out there would do well to emulate. 

Do you plan to post the review online? I hope so!

Take care and thanks again for your careful thought and enthusiasm for the books!

Shelley

Yay! First post!

This is my first review I ever wrote and I admit, it's a bit...lacking, but I promise, they get better. =)

Book Review for Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl

I have always been interested in WWII novels, and have been meaning to get my hands on this one for so long, but never got around to it until a few months ago. I started out reading it with a feeling of guilt in the pit of my stomach- what business was it of mine to be reading someone else’s diary?! How would I feel if my diary got published? If it became a classic and popular read? I would be truly mortified. But, as I was already rather engrossed, I continued to read. I realized that Anne wrote very well, which surprised me. I noticed a trend in what she wrote about- it was mainly food. But can we really blame her? What else was there to write about, stuck up in an attic with a handful of other people she didn’t get along with? She also wrote a lot about her feelings for Peter, which slowly developed over years of being in close contact with him. I doubt those feelings would have blossomed they hadn’t had to go into hiding. I also doubt the depth of her feelings for Peter. She claimed to have been in love with him, but from what she wrote (and from the fact that she was only about 12 or 13 at the time) I don’t believe that to be true. I didn’t find any real affection in their relationship aside from them enjoying each other’s company, and I imagine that they both had a bad case of loneliness. They were, as you know, the only young people in the attic those many years. I was disappointed to hear of the lack of motherly affection Anne received from her mom, and it nearly broke my heart to hear that her mother considered her more a friend than a daughter. Anne’s passion for Peter might have also attributed to the lack of male attention in her life. Her relationship with her father was not as shattered as her relationship with her mother was, but I felt that Mr. Frank was kind of spacey and disinterested in and towards Anne. But despite her gloomy circumstances, Anne’s writing was not at all depressed or troubled in the least. She had her share of low days, as any young girl does, but most of her entries were delightful, light-hearted, humorous, and hopeful. She never gave up on the idea of her family’s re-entrance into the world, even when bombs exploded outside her tiny window, or when the radio gave dismal reports of casualties. Although her life was short, her legacy speaks for all the Jews who suffered during WWII, and her memory will never fade from our minds.

Quick Content Review:

~Oh, how is one to critique a classic???~

Profanity- None

Violence- None

Sexual- None (Anne dreams of Peter but not in a dirty way)