We Both Like Reading

We both like reading and will post reviews of books as we read them.  for all our book reviews, check out our shelves on Shelfairi at http://www.shelfari.com/kzemek and http://www.shelfari.com/gzemek

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen is a young adult fiction book about a Jr. High girl who has lost her foot in an accident and finally gets accepted at school when everyone hears about her saving two whales.  The story delves into her feelings about her parents separation, school, fears of what others think about her and how she finally accepts herself.  In reading this book, I learned a bit more about whales and liked the theme that was not to judge people by how they look on the outside, but to look deeper at who people really are.  Her special relationship she had with the whales was interesting.  I enjoyed this light, fast read very much.  I think the author did a fantastic job at getting inside the head of a young girl.

The Associate by John Grisham

The Associate by John Grisham is definitely a page-turner that kept my interest all through but was a bit of a let down in the end.  Kyle, a first-year associate at a big New York law firm was being blackmailed to steal confidential information from the firm he worked for and struggled to find a way out.  It demonstrates how one's past can come back to haunt them.  I enjoyed this book even though the story line seemed far-fetched to me and there were several loose ends.  I recommend this to anyone who likes some suspense and enjoys reading about lawyers.  Since I work for a law firm, perhaps that's why I could relate to the main character and got into this book.  I found it to be entertaining.

Love Dare by Stephen & Alex Kendrick

Love Dare is a handbook that I think would benefit any marriage.  After seeing the movie, "Fireproof" I was curious to check out the book that was used in the movie.  It gives a scriptural basis for 40 practical things to do to strengthen your marriage.  The idea is to do one of the challenges each day and then of course continue to integrate them into your life.  Some I found to be hard, others easy and most we already do.  I especially liked the 20 questions listed in the back to help me get to know my spouse better and assist me in discovering his needs.  I recommend this to any husband or wife. I think anyone could improve their marriage if they followed the suggestions in this book.  

Related Posts:

Fireproof and the Love Dare

Movie "Fireproof" and Dinner

When The Game Was Ours by Jackie MacMullan

This is a slam dunk winner!  (500 stars)

When The Game Was Ours by Jackie MacMullan follows the lives and basketball careers of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.  I did not expect this book to be this good.  It's awesome!  There is lots of inside stuff about Bird and Magic that I did not know and lots and lots of opinions from Bird and Magic and the players and coaches with whom they had contact!  Very interesting!  I really encourage you to read this book if you like basketball.  It's one of the best sports books I've ever read!

--Gerard

How To Speak Cat by Sarah Whitehead

How To Speak Cat by Sarah Whitehead is a colorful, easy-to-read book with lots of good information on how to get along with cats including some games to play with them and some things you can teach them with simple step-by-step instructions.  Great for kids to learn how to treat and understand cats.

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer tells the story of Pat Tillman, the NFL player who gave it all up to join the fight in Afghanistan.  The two best parts of this book to me were the early years of his life, which I knew nothing about, and when he got to Afghanistan.  The author really gives great insight into Pat.  His thoughts especially make for very fascinating reading.

--Gerard

Prairie Tale by Milissa Gilbert

Karen's Review:

Prairie Tail by Melissa Gilbert is a real eye opener.  The adopted child actress who was in the hit show, "Little House On the Prairie," shares her personal moments, feelings, struggles and triumphs in her own search for identity.  I learned so much about her as a real person and was shocked at some of the things she did.  Her life had lots of ups and downs, all of which contributed to who she is today.  This book gives the reader a look at the acting profession and Hollywood from the inside.  Melissa Gilbert is a great actress who got sucked into the wild life of drugs, alcohol and sex but was able to finally get the help she needed to overcome it.  I enjoyed learning who she really is.

Gerard's Review:

What an amazing story!  When I found out Melissa had written a book, I knew one thing--I had to read that book!  It took awhile for me to finally get it from the library but it sure was worth the wait.  Whatever you think you know about Melissa, trust me, you don't.  But the good news is you will after you read this book.  What a story Melissa has to tell!  To say I was surprised would be an understatement.  You will laugh and cry; all emotions are in play in PRAIRIE TALE.  One thing you won't be is bored!  My two favorite parts of the book are her Little House years and her relationship with Rob Lowe.  The ending is just outstanding too.  Super job, Melissa!  My expectations were met and then some!   

Why Can't U Teach Me 2 Read? by Beth Fertig

Why Can't U Teach Me 2 Read? by Beth Fertig tells the story of three people who got out of the school system barely being able to read at all.  They finally get help.  Some of the book is dry reading but the part that deals with the three people trying to read and understand what they read makes for riveting reading. (30 stars)

--Gerard

Game Six by Mark Frost

Game Six by Mark Frost is an awesome book!  Being a diehard Red Sox fan, I just had to read this book.  It’s about the greatest World Series game ever played:  Boston vs. the Reds.  The whole book focus is on this game.  What makes this book for me is the background on the players who played in this game.  The writing is superb!  It feels like you are right there.  I really enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it to any Red Sox fan.

--Gerard

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks is an interesting romance involving a single mom who took care of her elderly mother and helped her with the kennel, and a vet who felt the photograph he found of her in Iraq brought him luck so wanted to find her because he felt he owed her.  He walked across the country with his dog to find her and had a little run-in with her ex who happened to be the Sheriff.  He also had a dog who traveled with him which added to the interest of the story for me.  This was a good read if you’re looking for a light family type story with some suspense tossed in.  I liked it!

Life's That Way by Jim Beaver

A POWERFUL BOOK!  DON'T MISS IT! (800 stars)

Before I get started on my review, please pray for Jim Beaver and his daughter, Maddie.  Life's That Way by Jim Beaver is probably the most emotional book that you will ever read.  Do not expect to just breeze through it because it is too emotional and gut wrenching.  It’s also a fantastic and tender love story.  There are so many reasons to read this book.  This book is a collection of emails that Jim sent to family and friends when his wife, Cecily, was diagnosed with lung cancer.  It got turned into a book!  You will feel so many emotions while you read this book.  Anyone will be able to relate to what Jim went through and is still going through.  You will remember this book long after you finish reading it.  I highly recommend you read Life's That Way!

--Gerard

Our Boys by Joe Drape (50 stars)

I really enjoyed Our Boys: A Perfect Season On The Plains With The Smith Center Redmen by Joe Drape.  It is about the Smith Center Redmen led by their coach, Roger Barta.  It is located in a small town of Kansas, but this book is so much more.  You see how the whole town gets behind "Our Boys" and you get to know the players and the assistant coaches as well.  You will get caught up in this book right from the start and feel the excitement all the way to the end!  It's a good read and I recommend it.

--Gerard

Old Dogs Are The Best Dogs by Gene Weingarten

I LOVED OLD DOGS ARE THE BEST DOGS by Gene Weingarten!  If you have a dog, thinking of getting a dog, or unfortunately, just lost your dog, read this book!  It’s wonderful!  The pictures alone are enough for you to get this book.  They are fantastic and in the stories about each dog, you can just feel the love the owners have for their dogs!  I’m so glad I read this book and you will be too!

--Gerard  ( I give it 138 stars, one for each page!)

Spooner by Pete Dexter

Spooner is a novel about a boy named Spooner.  I especially enjoyed the early part of his life through his high school years.  This book hops around a bit after that, but overall, it’s quite a remarkable fiction story!  The other characters in the book are very interesting for the most part.

--Gerard (10 stars)

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

I would think The Neighbor is more of a woman's book, but I read it and enjoyed it.  It's a fiction story about a woman who disappears one night, all signs point to foul play and to her husband.  This book is a real page turner!  The characters are very believable.  I have to admit, the ending surprised me very much!  I highly recommend you read this book.

--Gerard

Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

First off, this is a MUST READ for all dog lovers.  "Big Little Life" is a true story of the author, Dean Koontz, who gets a C.C.I. dog by the name of Trixie.  You will know what kind of special dog these are when you read the book.  you will fall in love with Trixie and also learn things about Dean Koontz that you did not know.  The book moves pretty fast and I found it very entertaining.  Enjoy!

--Gerard

Raining Cats and Dogs by Laurien Berenson

Raining Cats and Dogs by Laurien Berenson is a murder mystery with some dog and cat stories tossed in which added some humor.  The main character has five poodles and a neighbor who has a bunch of cats.  Her private life relating to her neighbor was the humorous part of the book.  She and her poodle went to a dog obedience class which invited her to join them on their visit to the nursing home.  Although they weren't therapy dogs exactly, many of the residents enjoyed seeing the dogs. I was interested in this aspect of the book because it's something I would like to do with Abby some day.  The murder was committed while they were at the nursing home and the Poodle owner is the one who just started her own informal investigation and discovered who did it.  The highlight of the book for me was the cat lover lady who didn't like dogs but tolerated the poodle during the visits at the nursing home. 

I liked it overall, but it was very slow moving.

The Siege by Stephen White

The Siege by Stephen White is about a terrorist plot on the Yale campus. The first few pages set the tone for the book and got my attention. Then I just kept turning pages. The Siege is a novel but reads like a newspaper story. I enjoyed it a lot. I connected with the characters and cared what happened to them.
--Gerard Zemek

Public Enemies: ...Birth of the FBI by Bryan Burrough

Public Enemies:  America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough and Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan are so far tie for my number 1 books of the year.  This book is about the gangster era of the early 30s featuring Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger and a few more.  The stories about these people are so fascinating that it made me want to keep reading.  A ton of research went into making this book come alive.  I really, really enjoyed this book and plan to see the movie based on it one day.  I think this book would appeal more to men than women though--a great read!

--Gerard Zemek

Angel Dogs by Allen & Linda Anderson

Angel Dogs by Allen and Linda Anderson is a fascinating non-fiction book of amazing stories about dogs from different people.  One of the most uplifting and fun stories was from a family sharing about how they celebrate “Dog Day.”  All day, they focus on their dogs and make it a very fun day for the whole family.  I thought this was a wonderful idea!  The stories range from how people’s dogs brought joy to their lives to amazing things they did to revisiting their owners after they died both in dreams and in signs and one even appeared to wake his owner up when he fell asleep on guard duty to save his career!  It certainly is comforting for any dog owner in that it gives us hope of seeing our pets again who have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  Who knows?  Read it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

New Tricks by David Rosenfelt

New Tricks by David Rosenfelt is a murder mystery that is a good fun read.  It goes fast, I got into it right away and it has an unbelievable ending.  What more can you ask for?  I recommend you read this book.  I give it 7 stars.

--Gerard

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton was 700 pages in a large print book and I hated to see it end.  It's a great book!  This is going to be the BEST BOOK I read all year!  I just wish this could be made into a movie.  It is an amazing story of a group of men who are special forces who, after 911, go to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.  I don't want to tell you too much because I want you to read this book!  You will be proud to be an American after you read this.  Mr. Stanton, thank you for putting this story in print--fabulous job!  I also thank the men of the special forces in this book for your service!  God Bless!  I give this one 700 stars!

--Gerard Zemek

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a story of a family coping with a daughter who has Cancer and the sister who is destined to be the donor for her.  It also has an interesting subplot of romance between the lawyer Anna hires and the lady appointed to make a recommendation to the court as to what she thinks is in Anna’s best interest.  This would be a great book for a book club to discuss.  It’s about feelings, ethics, motivations and relationships.  It kept my interest all the way through and as usual in Picoult’s books, has a surprise ending.

Still Growing by Kirk Cameron

I liked reading Still Growing by Kirk Cameron because I liked him on the sit com, "Growing Pains," and also know he is a Christian.  I was curious to find out more about his personal life. I was surprised to find out he had an atheist belief through is teens until he became a believer at age 19.  

In his autobiography he shares how he got into acting, how he was used to having anything he wanted, how he began to ask the questions about life, how his beliefs changed and how they affected his career and decisions. 

I found it interesting that he is one of few actors who has only been married once to an actress and has six children and has been married 17 years as of when the book was written.  It was so refreshing to read about his love for his wife and family.  

Another thing that I found very interesting was the fact that after he married, he vowed he would not kiss any other woman, even if acting.  This has been something I've wondered about myself, how actors and actresses who are married can take those parts where they kiss in the shows.  Kirk shared that when he agreed to do a movie produced by the creators of "Facing the Giants" that these producers respected this and for the big kiss at the end, let Kirk's real wife step in and did a silhouette shot. 

An Appendix is included as well sharing some about his religious beliefs and books he highly recommends to the reader.  I liked Kirk Cameron before reading his autobiography and after reading it, I even have more respect for him.  His websites are:  www.kirkcameron.com and the Way of the Master ministry:  www.wayofthemaster.com.

For a review of the movie, see my other blog:  Fireproof and the Love Dare.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch is a popular book full of good advice for living written by a terminally ill cancer patient, a husband of 8 years and father to three young children.  Randy Pausch was a college professor who lived a full life and had an optimistic attitude.  He gives lots of tips that parents could find useful.  The book has lots of good advice in it and I highly recommend it.  The actual “last Lecture” can be viewed at www.thelastlecture.com.

The Candy Bombers by Andrei Cherny

It’s been too many years to count since I took a history class.  I knew of the Berlin Airlift but not really the whole story.  I know it now after reading this amazing book!  Don’t let the 550 pages scare you off.  It reads quick and for sure it is not boring.  Mr. Cherny tells the story as it happened and it’s a fascinating one of how America and Russia totally wiped out Berlin and then not so long after were at odds and we came to the people of Berlin’s aid.  A tremendous amount of research went into this book and it shows.  I really enjoyed this book and learning more about the history of our great country.  Job well done, Mr. Cherny, thank you!

--Gerard Zemek

The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler

The Reluctant Cowgirl  is a story about following one’s dreams as well as romance.  Basically the cowgirl leaves home at 18 pursuing a career on Broadway and returns seven years later to help take care of her family’s ranch. This is a Christian Romance that isn’t completely like a fairy tale as most.  My favorite part was when the little girl directed her dad and Crystal acting out “Sleeping Beauty” in the barn.  Although the ending is predictable, I liked it because there is enough tension and reality to keep things interesting.   The Reluctant Cowgirl addresses grieving, letting go of the past, making tough choices, love of family, and God’s love.  

Sworn To Silence by Linda Castillo

UPDATED 7/29/09:

"A Real Page Turner--You Will Never guess" (50 plus stars)

I really enjoyed "Sworn to Silence" by Linda Castillo a lot.  The story flows and you never get bored with it.  The last 60 pages or so I dare you to stop and put it down!  You will not be able to!!  I look forward to her next book.

--Gerard

"Sworn to Silence" is a gruesome thriller mystery about a woman with Amish background  Chief of police of Painters Mills, Ohio finally getting to the bottom of the rape/murders that have been going on for years by a serial killer with a little romance thrown in.  It has an unusual twist that I didn’t expect and the book builds tension along the way enticing me to stay up late to finish it.  The story line was super but because of the language and the horrific details of the torture that took place, I gave it four stars instead of five.  If you like murder mysteries and don‘t mind gory details, I recommend this one!

--Karen

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers is a very quick read that reminds us that actually spending time with our loved ones is important because life truly is short, shorter than we expect sometimes.  It is about a mother and daughter communicating with notes on the refrigerator because both are too busy to actually make time for each other.  I liked this book okay for a lgiht read.

Heart of the Game by S. L. Price

"Heart of the Game" tells the true story of Mike Coolbaugh, who spent many years in the minors trying to make the majors.  When he eventually gave up on that dream and decided to coach, he was hit by a foul ball and died instantly.  What lead up to that and the person who hit the ball is the story.  I will not soon forget this story!

--Gerard Zemek

Bottom of the Ninth by Michael Shapiro

First Family by David Baldacci

I know David Baldacci Has written a ton of books but this was the first of his that I read. First Family was pretty good but I thought it had a bit too many story lines. I didn't care for the ending, but the majority of it was very good. I cared about the characters and the main plot was well written and kept me turning pages. From now on I'll be looking for new books by him and maybe, probably read another one by him.

--Gerard Zemek

How To Speak Dog by Sarah Whitehead

How To Speak Dog by Sarah Whitehead is very informative and practical for learning about dogs and how to train them.  It is geared to kids but I liked it too because it's easy to read and very attractive with lots of colored pages and pictures.  It gives step-by-step instructions for teaching dogs specific commands and  checklists to evaluate if the dog has mastered the trick.  It also includes some game suggestions for playing with your dog.  I give it 4 paws up!

A Lifetime of Wisdom by Joni Earickson Tada

I give A Lifetime Of Wisdom by Joni Earickson Tada 30 stars!

I haven't read a Joni book in a long time but found this one while browsing through the library.  I'm so glad I did!  What makes this book so good is that Joni goes back to how she thought about things when she was a teen and now shares 40 years later what she has learned since.  As always, the writing in Joni's books is superb.  This book is hard to put down.  It gave me sort of a spiritual bath, which I think we all need from time to time to reflect on the really important things in life.  Bless you, Joni!  I highly recommend you read this book!

--Gerard Zemek

Crazy For The Storm by Norman Ollestad

The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose

Karen's review posted 6/16/09:

The Unlikely Disciple is about a college student from Brown University going "under cover" to see what evangelicals were really like at Liberty University. He pretended to be a Christian in order to experience a semester at a very conservative Christian University and write about it. Being a Christian, I was interested in seeing his perspective on things and of course was hoping he would be converted along the way. Issues addressed in the book included classes, dorm life, dating, rules, homosexuality, Church, witnessing, judging. I did not get the impression that he was knocking the school. I think college students or people who are curious as to what Liberty University is like would enjoy this book.

An Inside Look At Liberty College (50 stars)

What an awesome book this is! It tells the story of Kevin Roose who spent a year at Liberty University, an Evangelical Christian college. He covers all the bases. There are a lot of funny moments in this book, but what you believe will also be challenged in this book. Kevin says it all out and you may agree or disagree with his opinion. That's what is so good about this book. You will also meet his fellow classmates and learn about their beliefs too.

I really enjoyed this book a lot! No matter your religious belief, I think you will enjoy this book as well and get something out of it!! Super job, Kevin, thanks for sharing your experience.

--Gerard Zemek

Why I Teach by Esther Wright

This is a short book of inspiring stories from various teachers (and some students).  I found it to be encouraging, inspirational and interesting and recommend it to any teacher.  I think it would make a great gift for someone who is just going in to teaching.

Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera

Gerard Says: 4 star Love Story

Karen Says:  Real World Romance From A Man's Perspective

I liked Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera, because it's not your typical romance. It's about Dio, a Latino gang member called Playboy, whose girlfriend, Jennifer, got shot six times in a drive by shooting meant for him. He was sent to prison boot camp and Jennifer was in the hospital. It's a good story about his struggles at boot camp and how he matured and learned to become a responsible citizen that Jennifer would want to marry. He thinks about her constantly and thinking about their future together is what keeps him going and motivates him to become a better person. The reader learns much about their relationship through the letters they exchange while he is detained. The warning label on the book which says "Parental Guidance, Explicit Language, Adult Situations" almost scared me off but I'm glad I read it. It has a bitter sweet ending. I came to like Dio and pulled for him throughout most of the book. I highly recommend this to both men, women and young adults.

The Ultimate Cat Lover by Marty Becker

This book was a delight to read!  It had many short stories that were by different people about their experiences with their cat that were entertaining and amazing.  The full-page color pictures of the cats interspersed in small sections throughout the book gives the reader a nice little break between the stories so it doesn't get monotonous and 29 pages are filled with expert advice about all kinds of cat related issues with recommended websites and other resources listed for further information.  My favorite story was about the homeless man with his cat.  I recommend this book to every cat owner!

 

Some of the recommended websites are:  www.bestfriends.org (pictures of the pet rescue of New Orleans after the hurricane); www.help4pets.com and www.thecenterforlostpets.com (both these have advice on how to prevent loss or find a runaway pet).  A foundation that is an identification system for pets in any emergency, such as lost, house fire, car accident, natural disaster, travel emergencies, can be reached at 1-800-HELP-4-PETS.