"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."— Mark Twain

Tag Archive: 1.5 stars

Review: Faith by Jennifer Haigh

FaithSummary: When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself.

My Thoughts: I almost considered bowing out of this tour, because I just could not get into this book. I only finished it because I had agreed to read it as part of a tour. I am quite disappointed, because it sounds really good – and I’ve read many positive reviews. I guess this one just isn’t for me. For what it’s worth, it did keep me more interested through about the last quarter (maybe a little less), but my that point I was tired of reading it.

If you’re even remotely interested in this book, don’t let me dissuade you from looking into it. Find other reviews (this is part of a tour, so check the tour page for links), check it out from your library. Ask someone. (Anyone who has read this book is welcome to add their comments below, including a link to their own review, if one exists.)

Favorite Quote: Oddly, I did find one quote that I absolutely love.

Faith is a decision. In its most basic form, it is a choice. ~ page 160 (ARC)

I hadn’t ever thought about faith this way, but it’s true. At the very beginning, one chooses whether or not to believe. And it doesn’t just apply to faith associated with religion, but faith of any kind. Faith in someone to make the right choice about something. Faith in your spouse to stay true to you. Or any number of things.

My Rating: 1.5 stars

Source: Received from publisher for review to use as part of a blog tour promotion on TLC Book Tours.

Jennifer HaighAbout the Author: Jennifer Haigh is the author of the New York Times bestseller Baker Towers, winner of the 2006 PEN/L. L. Winship Award for outstanding book by a New England author; Mrs. Kimble, which won the PEN/Hemingway Award for debut fiction and was a finalist for the Book Sense Book of the Year; and The Condition.

Her fiction has appeared in Granta, Ploughshares, Good Housekeeping, and elsewhere. She lives in the Boston area.

Visit Jennifer at her website.

Tour Info: For the main page for this blog tour, including more reviews of this book on other blogs, visit TLC’s post.

Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011.

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Review: Here Lies Bridget

Here Lies BridgetHere Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Summary: Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved–Liam Ward–can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough.

***SPOILER ALERT***DO NOT READ IF YOU DON’T LIKE SPOILERS!***

My Thoughts: I really did not like this book at all. The main character leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I just couldn’t get over how spoiled, rude, selfish, thoughtless – I could go on and on – she was. She was so very bad, so very clueless about just how HORRIBLE she was, that I couldn’t find it in me to have ANY sympathy for her. None at all, not even once she had to see things from others’ perspectives. I didn’t see much change in the way she thought between the beginning and the after parts. Everything was still all about HER. While I think she might have learned her lesson about how her actions affect others, I didn’t get the feeling that she had truly changed. While she said it wasn’t the case, I got the feeling that she was feeling the way she was and doing what she did more for HER own benefit than anything. Sure, she’ll set things right because she feels bad about what she did. And maybe she’ll be more thoughtful in how she acts in the future. What really would have made this a redemption story, in my opinion, would be if she stopped thinking so much about herself.

Fortunately, this book is short and a quick, easy read. I don’t feel like I wasted too much time on it. I kept reading, hoping the end made it all worthwhile, but I don’t feel it did. I wanted more remarkable change from her. And, at the very least, I wanted her to wake up in the hospital after her accident, and picking up where she left off. I didn’t like things continuing as if nothing had happened. I had a hard time placing her after she came back. I’m guessing it was maybe the Friday before she had thrown the party in the beginning of the book, but I’m not entirely sure about that. I don’t like feeling confused at the end.

In all, I’m glad I got to read this as an ARC – glad I didn’t spend money on it. Glad I get to send it on. Hopefully those after will like it better. And, no, I don’t intend to read this one again. Once was more than enough.

My Rating: 1.5 stars

Source: Received through Book It Forward ARC Tours for review.

Find me on Goodreads.com >>

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2012 Books of the Month
January February March April
May June July August
September October November December
Favorite Series
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies The Blood Journals by Tessa Gratton The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting The Chemical Garden by Lauren Destefano Codex Alera by Jim Butcher The Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory Darcy & Rachel by Emily Giffin The Dark Divine by Bree Despain Delirium by Lauren Oliver The Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver Everlasting by Angie Frazier The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton Fallen by Lauren Kate Firelight by Sophie Jordon Goblin Wars by Kersten Hamilton Gods & Monsters by Kelly Keaton Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare Kendra Chronicles by Alex Flinn Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin The Mark by Jen Nadol Matched by Ally Condie Mer Tales by Brenda Pandos Newsoul by Jodi Meadows Nightshade by Andrea Cremer Paranormalcy by Kiersten White The Pledge by Kimberly Derting Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes River of Time by Lisa T. Bergren The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini Stork by Wendy Delsol Talisman by Brenda Pandos Unearthly by Cynthia Hand Winterhaven by Kristi Cook Witch by Carolyn MacCullough The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater
May June July August
September October November December
Team Peeta ♥ Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Team Ren ♥ Nightshade by Andrea Cremer The Chemical Garden by Lauren Destefano Delirium by Lauren Oliver The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare Matched by Ally Condie Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Unearthly by Cynthia Hand