Let's Pretend This Never Happeend (A Mostly True Memoir) - Jenny Lawson ★★★★

Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson....I don't even know what to say about it. You read through the intro, then the first chapter and all is fine...then you get to Chapter 2 - My Childhood: David Copperfield Meets Guns & Ammo Magazine and Jenny Lawson talks about wearing a dead like a sweater. You think to yourself....ok this girl has got to be making this stuff up, because seriously? But then I recall my childhood and what we saw hanging in the garage and although, I've never done it, I could see the potential of running inside a carcass as well. So then I was like..Alright, that's believable. So naturally, if wearing a deer for a sweatshirt is possible, then I guess the rest of her story is too. 
At times, Lawson tends to go off subjects and on rambling tangents that really have nothing to do with the story and one could possibly get confused or uninterested in the book but 1. you get use to it and 2. if you have a sibling (sorry, to through you in here sister) that has a similar personality to Lawson then you understand completely how blurting out your own credit card number (incorrectly) and polar bears tie together. Some stories were very disturbing (chasing vultures with machetes) and some were hilarious, that even when I look at the picture, I still crack up like crazy (Knock, Knock Motherfucker). I'd most likely read Lawson's second book because what other shenanigans can she get into? And major props to Victor, for not murdering her yet. Jenny - He's a keeper!

Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo ★★★ 1/2

Heaven for Real by Todd Burpo (with Lynn Vincent), is the true story of 3 year old Colton Burpo, who underwent emergency surgery and during that time he ended up going to heaven for 3 minutes. The story then continues over the next few years of Colton telling more about his experience in heaven - who and what he saw while he was there.

Heaven is for real did hold my attention. It is understandable that there were a lot of bible references, not just because its about Heaven/God/Jesus, but because Todd Burpo is a Pastor - so he relates a lot of what Colton saw to the Bible. That part helped me a lot because for me not being very religious, I don't really understand what certain bible scriptures are about, but Burpo explains what each bible reference meant or at least pointed out the main point that he was trying to get across. It helped me understand what the importance of why the Burpo's were in jaw-dropping shock when Colton mentioned certain things. For instance, Colton mentioned Jesus not having wings but moves like an elevator. I didn't find that to be of any importance. Then Burpo explains that how in the book of Acts, the scripture has a part that says, "Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight..." then two men dressed in white stood beside the people and said "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Todd then writes, "Jesus went up. And will come down. Without wings. To a kid, that could look like an elevator." After reading those paragraphs, it made more sense of the importance of Coltons' description.
I would probably suggest this book to a few people I know that are into this topic. I did mark this as a book that I would "eventually" read, but it wasn't anything on the top of my list. However, after a summer reading program at one of our local libraries, I ended up getting this book for free and that is the only reason why I read it as soon as I did. I kept debating on whether to give Heaven is for Real, 3 or 4 stars, so I finally decided on 3.5 only because Colton mentions rainbows and for personal reasons, rainbows mean the world to me, Since they are a representation of my Grandma who has passed - When I see a Rainbow, its my Grandma<3 telling me Hello.

Moose - Stephanie Klein ★★★★

Moose is the true story of Stephanie Klein from when she was 13 and had a summer of firsts...at fat camp. When you think of things that happen at camp, stereotypically you think band camp. American Pie even popularized the phrase, "one time, at band camp..." but the things that Klein writes about... band camp has nothing on fat camp. Stephanie reminisces about new friendships, hickeys, and finally fitting into goal jeans....I liked how she wrote the story with a no holds bar. She didn't hold much back or sensor what went on. You can tell she wrote the truth. She made Fat camp seem so much fun, (sans food limitations) and although there were a few times Klein wished she could go home, she still had a summer she'll always hold close to her heart. I wish I had that. Despite all the sexual festivities, I wish I could of gone to a summer camp. The way Klein wrote this, with everything descriptive just enough, it makes you feel like you were bunk mates with her, kate, ham and the rest of the girls.  Here's ★★★★ to fat camp champs!

Light From a Distant Star - Mary McGarry Morris ★★★

I have been torn between giving Light From a Distant Star by Mary McGarry Morris ★★★ or ★★★★.  Since I am uncertain, I will have to go with the lesser of the stars. I do admit, it was a good book and it held my attention, however it seemed like it dragged on.  I want to point out that there were to many "events" that took place that really didn't need to be included in the book in the first place. They just seemed pointless and didn't have any significance to the story. I felt that they were just page fillers. Finally (after half the book) you get to the point that you've been waiting for and it drags on. Nellie tells both her parents about what she knows and they don't believe her, or won't believe her. A good man ends up being punished for another mans act, and its not until AFTER everything that the truth finally comes out. A little to late.

I was rooting for Max the whole time. I feel that he was just a troubled man who was trying to turn things around. Although, he is now long gone and out of the picture, I still hope the best for him.

The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield ★★

I wanted to like this book. I read the reviews before I nominated it as one of our book club picks and it seemed like an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, I had to give The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield only two stars. The biggest reason I marked it down was because of the detail. Don't get me wrong...every book should have detail. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to create the fictional world and/or characters in our minds. Yet, this book just had WAY too much description. It took nearly two pages to describe a burnt down house.

There was so much description that I tended to get lost in what I was reading. I consider myself to be a very good reader. I'm fairly quick and I understand what goes on even if I were to skim the pages...but during the Thirteenth Tale, I caught myself having to go back and re-read what I read just to understand it. I also recall at least three times that I couldn't even decipher which narrator was telling the story. As much as I tried (I had to finish it for book club!) I just couldn't get into it. I think it was around chapter on page 280 (of 406) that I started to finally get into it. I don't know if it was because it got interesting, or because I saw that the end was near.

Then there comes the plot twist that didn't leave me in shock. It wasn't a scene stealing, "OMG" moment. To me, it was no surprise and almost expected. The Postscript section, although probably for some readers was needed as a point of closer, left me feeling that it wasn't really needed. Or at least it could have been better...like :::SPOILER ALERT!!!:::::

some freak mix up at the hospital and Margaret's twin, never really died at birth. Now that would of been a shocker and a jaw dropping end to an otherwise not very captivating (in my opinion) book.

Diane Setterfield also makes a ton of references to Jane Eyre, which is somewhat ironic only because this reminded me of a Jane Eyre story as it was a hard read. I thought Jane Eyre was a hard read only because of the early language. At least Jane Eyre was easier to follow because I didn't have to re-read details and details about Jane and Rochester just to get their story. I only had to look up definitions.

So again, as much as I would want to give The Thirteenth Tale at least 4 stars...I am sad to say that it was a two star book. 



Running Barefoot - Amy Harmon ★★★★★

At age nine, Josie has no other choice but to become an adult and takes care of her family. Her mother just died and she has to help her dad and brothers by doing housework, cooking, and balancing the checkboo...all still while going to school and learning to play the piano like the great pianists of all time. By age 13, she thought of herself as a loner and didn't really mesh well with others her age. After the bus driver creates a seating chart, she gets paired up with 18 year Samuel who is part Native American and very disgruntled. After riding the bus 40 minutes every day to and from school they discuss everything and anything like Beethoven and Navajos, Wuthering Heights and the Marines. Jose and Samuel became friends and it’s not till later that they realized how much their friendship means to one another. By the end of the school year, Samuel goes off to join the Marines and it leaves Josie heartbroken. She eventually moves on and no longer dwells on losing her once best friend. A few unfortunate events take place and Josie is again left heartbroken and alone. It’s not until a decade later; Samuel comes back into Josie’s world and repays the favor of showing her what it is like to feel again.


Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon was surprisingly a good book. As I read the first few pages I wasn't entirely sure I would like it. Once I finished the first chapter, I became hooked. I stayed up till 1 am one night and read 70% of the book. Once I finished it that next morning I was sad it was over.  I can’t' really explain why I was interested in this book so much. Maybe it was because it reminded me of something that would be on the Lifetime Movie network (Come on! We all LOVE the movies on lifetime!! Admit it!). It was compelling and at each chapter end, you wanted to find out how the next chapter started. Running Barefoot is a wonderfully written coming of age story, not for just one person of the story but for two, very similar but all very unique in their own way, charactors. Five stars to Amy Harmon on a job well done.

Wrecked by Elle Casey ★★★★★

Sarah and Kevin Petersons are the popular ones in school, The beauty and the jock. Jonathan and Candi Buckley are the complete opposite, the nerdy know it all and the quiet shy never noticed girl. They do not socialize with each other and they cannot stand each other. They have no choice in the matter and are forced to be in the same room with each other when their parents take them on a cruise together. After a vicious storm hits the Buckley and Peterson kids aboard their designated lifeboat. Once dropped in water they face rogue waves that take them farther out into sea and eventually on a peanut shaped island in the middle of nowhere. The Buckleys and the Petersons have to put all their differences aside and help each other survive. There are dangers around each corner and as each day goes by the four teenagers realize that they are their own hope. They must rely on each other.....the family they have left.

This is this second book I have read by Elle Casey and I highly enjoyed this book too. I must admit, although this is considered a "young adult" book, I am 28 years old and I still enjoyed it. Its the newest version of Swiss Family Robinson. Wrecked illustrates that despite social statuses, relationships form when you least except it. It was kind of obviously that certain relationships were going to build, but I enjoyed how each one discovered who they really are and not who their friends or family want them to be. I also know, that if i ever get stuck on an island, I'll at least know some of the basics. Wrecked isn't just entertaining, it was a learning lesson as well!
I do hope that there will be a sequel to Wrecked, because I'd really like to see what happens to group in following months.