Synopsis:In Heart With Joy, fifteen-year-old Julian Hale’s life is turned upside down when his mother suddenly moves from North Carolina to Venice, Florida under the pretense of running her parents’ motel and finishing the novel she has been working on for years. While Julian has always been closer to his mother and wants to go with her, she tells him he has to stay with his father until the end of the school year.
Six weeks after his mother leaves, Julian’s father decides to run a marathon. This surprises Julian because he has never seen his father exercise, but once he agrees to help him train the two develop the sort of close relationship they’ve never had before. Also, with the help of an elderly neighbor, Julian learns that the most important thing in life is to follow your heart. And Julian’s heart leads him to a passion for cooking and a young cashier at the local grocery store. By the end of the novel, Julian is forced to choose between staying with his father and going to live with his mother.
My Review:
This book begs the question, "What fills your heart with joy?" This is what Julian Hale needs to figure out while he deals with his mother leaving, and living with a father he barely knows.
This novel seems to have a natural flow to it, and it read easily and quickly. It was interesting to read how Julian finds his joy, but also to look back at my own life and think about what fills my own heart with joy, and what fills my life with passion. I wasn't expecting the inward reflective outcome from this novel, but I welcomed it!!
Julian is hit with some major life changes in this coming of age novel. Not only is he dealing with his mother leaving, possibly for good, but also other sensitive issues, like death, teenage friendship, new love and parental relationships. The evolution of these issues, especially the evolution of the relationship between Julian and his father, make for a smooth and heart felt story.
I am excited to host a giveaway for Heart with Joy by Steve Cushman!! Just leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address, by Friday, December 2nd. I'll choose a winner using Random.org Sequence Generator, and announce on Saturday, December 3rd! Good luck to everyone and happy reading!!
A special thank you to Steve Cushman for sending me a copy of his touching novel!!
After our first story, we chanted Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat. Ok, so, it's really just a doctored up version of Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, but it totally worked for this theme!
Synopsis:Shortly after Jennifer’s diagnosis, Marine Captain Ed Haller loses his leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq. He comes home to rehabilitate while Jennifer wages her own losing battle with cancer and its treatment. Jennifer’s death leads the family to Fort Worth lawyer Grant Mercer, whom they hire to sue Jennifer’s neurologist.
As Mercer works the case, Julie Haller learns the results of recent tort reform efforts, including a $250,000 limit in medical malpractice cases. She and her husband realize that a quarter-million dollar price tag on a beloved eight-year-old girl is simply inconceivable. They have no interest in the money, focusing instead on their responsibility to honor their daughter by seeking justice for her death.
The murders of a lobbyist in Austin, a state senator on a remote country road, and an insurance executive in New York seem unrelated until Jennifer’s doctor is kidnapped. Mercer makes the disturbing connection between the victims and his case, and discovers how far some people will go when the usual avenues of justice are too sharply curtailed.
This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using eco- friendly paper, we hope to raise the awareness of book buyers and encourage everyone to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on "green" books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.
And now, time for the review!! The 30 Second Commute: A Non-Fiction Comedy about Writing and Working From Home by Stephanie Dickison is exactly what it says it is. While I expected the observations and comments about working from home, I was a little skeptical about the "comedy" endorsement. But, Stephanie Dickison, a journalist, essayist, and restaurant reviewer tells the story of her every day life with wit, humor and charm.
Stephanie Dickison tells us about the decision to finally quit her job and become a writer full time. She talks about time management, dealing with deadlines, and meeting the UPS and FedEx delivery men in her pajamas. As a reviewer, Stephanie is frequently sent products to try and review - such as lotions, face creams, CD's, alcohol, just to name a few (Check out her blog - The Knack). She also talks about her experiences as a restaurant reviewer (not a 'critic,' but a 'reviewer.' Other critics have said she is not critical enough to be considered a 'critic.'), and all the different foods, and new restaurants she gets to try.
But this book is not dry and mechanical. Stephanie writes in such a way where you feel like you know her, and like you could totally hang out and be friends. It's very conversational, which makes it for a nice, fun, light read. This book will definitely give you insight into a writer's world, work, and dedication to the creative self.
I am also very excited to say that this book, since it is part of the Eco-Libris Green Books Campaign, is printed on Recycled Paper!!! Even though e-books and such things are becoming more popular, printed books are still dominating the market. For these publishers to print books on Recycled or FSC Certified paper is a huge step towards keeping our planet green!! YAY!!!!
I am also hosting a giveaway with this campaign!!! Two lucky winners will receive a copy of The 30-Second Commute by Stephanie Dickison!!! YAY!!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post WITH your email address by Friday, November 19th, and I'll choose a winner using Random.org on Saturday, November 20!! YAY!!!!! Oh, and we're opening this one up to both US and International winners! HOOOORAY!!!!!
Thanks so much for reading, and good luck!!!!!
When I was contacted by Harper Perennial about reviewing The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor, I literally squealed and clapped my hands with excitement. First, I LURVE tattoos, I love looking at tattoos, I love hearing stories about tattoos, and I LURVE getting tattoos!!! I have five of my own, and I am ITCHING to get another one!!!!
And for your viewing pleasure...
