The Things We Do for Love Summary:
The youngest of three daughters, Angela DeSaria Malone was always "the princess" of the family, a girl who thought she knew how her life would unfold. High School. College. Marriage. Motherhood. That was how it had gone for her sisters, her cousins, her friends. But it didn't work out that way for Angie. She and her husband tried desperately to have a child; year after year, their perfectly decorated nursery remained empty. Finally, their marriage collapsed under the weight of lost dreams.
After the divorce, Angie moved back to her hometown and rejoined her loud, loving, slightly crazy family. In West End, a place where life rises and falls in time with the tides, she will find the man who once again will open her heart to love…and meet the girl who will change Angie's life.
Lauren Ribido lives in a rundown apartment in a bad part of town with a mother who cares more about her next drink than about her daughter. At seventeen, Lauren knows that her aspirations in life may never come to pass.
From the moment they meet, Angie sees something special in Lauren. They form a quick connection, this woman who is desperate for a daughter and the girl who has never known a mother's love. When Lauren is abandoned by her mother, Angie doesn't hesitate to offer the girl a place to stay.
But nothing could have prepared Angie for the far-reaching repercussions of this act of kindness. In a dramatic turn of events, she and Lauren will be tested in a way that mothers and daughters seldom are. Together they will embark on an intensely moving, deeply emotional journey to the very heart of what it means to be a family.
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Amy's Review:
This book was a page turner for me. It captured my curiosity from the beginning and kept me turning the pages. I was impressed by Lauren's strength and passion and how she strived to not become what her mother was. It was heartbreaking that her mother thought of her as just a duty and something that she could just throw away when it suited her. It opened my eyes that there are people out there like that and that this is a common occurence in today's world. Same thing with Angie. There are people out there that desperately want to have a child and for whatever reason they can't. They are not bad people they just can't. It pulls at your heart strings because you know that there are people out there having babies that probably shouldn't and doing bad things to them and then there are people like Angie that want a child so badly but can't have one of their own. This story was a very moving story and I had three endings in my head about how it was going to end and none of them happened. I'd have to say I was surprised at the end and did like the ending. It was a fitting ending. Another good book for me. This one is also in my top 5.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Same Kind of Different as Me
Same Kind of Different as Me Summary:
Same Kind of Different As Me is an unusual autobiography in that it combines the lives of two disparate men, a wealthy, disaffected art dealer and an angry, black homeless man, with that of the woman whose love for God drew them together.
Ron’s wife, Debbie Hall was a woman called of God to step outside the boundaries of $1000 per plate charity dinners and high society to take follow in Christ’s steps and take His love to "the least of these". Devoting herself to working with the homeless community of Forth Worth, Texas, she related to those she met as individuals and people with a purpose, loving them for who they were.
This flowing, authentic love was much more difficult for her husband Ron Hall to grasp hold of. Coerced into joining his wife’s ministering efforts, his initial attempts were stilted. Focused more upon assuaging guilt and generating a warm, fuzzy sense of do-gooding, it was only when his friendship with Denver Moore blossomed that he experienced the depths of true compassion.
Raised in informal, modern-day slavery, Moore worked hard growing and picking cotton until some time in his late twenties when he left the only life he knew in search of a better one. The new life he found resulted in thirty years on the streets, homeless and without work. Over these years he became angry, his heart hardened and he slipped into darkness. When God placed the Halls in his life he resisted their tapping at his heart. Survival skills learned from years on the streets launched his automatic defense system. Through prayer, persistence and love the lives of these three individuals would weave a new story that would inspire and touch the lives of thousands.
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Amy's Review:
This books makes you think. In a way Ron and Denver have some of the same characteristics. They both do what they have to do to make it. The difference is that Ron is doing what he has to do to make more money and attain a better way of life. Denver on the hand is doing what he has to do to survive. Denver believes in God and it not afraid to share what he believes with others. Ron's wife is the connection between the two and from there a very powerful story is created. This book inspired me. It reminded me that it is good to help out other people and not expect anything in return. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives that we over look our friends and neighbors and the fact that they themselves may need a little help. Because of my busy life it took me a while to read this book. I didn't finish it until this past Sunday night and I am glad that it took me that long to read it because during the time that it took me to read this book we found ourselves needind some help with our bathroom and I had posted a request on facebook but only received one response. The response led us to someone that was able to help us and didn't ask for anything in return even though I tried to give him something. My payment to him came this past friday in the form of a pay it forward. I must admit that I didn't want to help but I did. And I am glad that I did because I came away from it with a thought that if that was me I hope that I am blessed enough that someone will help me if I ever find myself in that situation. I also came away from my pay it forward with a very good feeling, one that I can't describe. I then finished Same Kind of Different as me on Sunday and I got the same feeling that I felt on Saturday. I would definately recommend this book to people. It reminds you of who you are and what you have and to not take anything for granted as well as to remember that it is good to do something nice for someone and not expect anything in return. And when the opportunity comes to pay it forward you should not turn it down.
Same Kind of Different As Me is an unusual autobiography in that it combines the lives of two disparate men, a wealthy, disaffected art dealer and an angry, black homeless man, with that of the woman whose love for God drew them together.
Ron’s wife, Debbie Hall was a woman called of God to step outside the boundaries of $1000 per plate charity dinners and high society to take follow in Christ’s steps and take His love to "the least of these". Devoting herself to working with the homeless community of Forth Worth, Texas, she related to those she met as individuals and people with a purpose, loving them for who they were.
This flowing, authentic love was much more difficult for her husband Ron Hall to grasp hold of. Coerced into joining his wife’s ministering efforts, his initial attempts were stilted. Focused more upon assuaging guilt and generating a warm, fuzzy sense of do-gooding, it was only when his friendship with Denver Moore blossomed that he experienced the depths of true compassion.
Raised in informal, modern-day slavery, Moore worked hard growing and picking cotton until some time in his late twenties when he left the only life he knew in search of a better one. The new life he found resulted in thirty years on the streets, homeless and without work. Over these years he became angry, his heart hardened and he slipped into darkness. When God placed the Halls in his life he resisted their tapping at his heart. Survival skills learned from years on the streets launched his automatic defense system. Through prayer, persistence and love the lives of these three individuals would weave a new story that would inspire and touch the lives of thousands.
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Amy's Review:
This books makes you think. In a way Ron and Denver have some of the same characteristics. They both do what they have to do to make it. The difference is that Ron is doing what he has to do to make more money and attain a better way of life. Denver on the hand is doing what he has to do to survive. Denver believes in God and it not afraid to share what he believes with others. Ron's wife is the connection between the two and from there a very powerful story is created. This book inspired me. It reminded me that it is good to help out other people and not expect anything in return. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives that we over look our friends and neighbors and the fact that they themselves may need a little help. Because of my busy life it took me a while to read this book. I didn't finish it until this past Sunday night and I am glad that it took me that long to read it because during the time that it took me to read this book we found ourselves needind some help with our bathroom and I had posted a request on facebook but only received one response. The response led us to someone that was able to help us and didn't ask for anything in return even though I tried to give him something. My payment to him came this past friday in the form of a pay it forward. I must admit that I didn't want to help but I did. And I am glad that I did because I came away from it with a thought that if that was me I hope that I am blessed enough that someone will help me if I ever find myself in that situation. I also came away from my pay it forward with a very good feeling, one that I can't describe. I then finished Same Kind of Different as me on Sunday and I got the same feeling that I felt on Saturday. I would definately recommend this book to people. It reminds you of who you are and what you have and to not take anything for granted as well as to remember that it is good to do something nice for someone and not expect anything in return. And when the opportunity comes to pay it forward you should not turn it down.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.
Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.
In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.
Amy's Review:
This was a great book. I am surprised that she got rejected by 45 publishers before it got published. I found myself cheering the maids and skeeter on. I must say that each time I eat chocolate pie I will think of this book! I didn't like Hilly one bit. I am not fond of that type of person. I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around and I found myself hoping throughout the book that she would get what was coming to her. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so I won't say if she did or if she didn't but I sure got a big laugh out of what happened to her! My favorite character in the book was Minnie. It is said in the book that she can't keep her mouth shut but she can cook. Which is why she doesn't keep a job very long. I am glad that she stood up to Hilly. As I said earlier I really didn't like Hilly. She was a good mom to her kids but a nasty employer. I also like that Minnie found an employer that she could stick with regardless of her mouth. I loved the ending but again won't give it away. I by no means think that the book was based on a true story but it is a good fiction book that gives you some insight into what it was like back then. I recommended this book to my mom on the phone last night and I would recommend it to others. It was a good book and falls in my top five list!
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.
Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.
In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.
Amy's Review:
This was a great book. I am surprised that she got rejected by 45 publishers before it got published. I found myself cheering the maids and skeeter on. I must say that each time I eat chocolate pie I will think of this book! I didn't like Hilly one bit. I am not fond of that type of person. I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around and I found myself hoping throughout the book that she would get what was coming to her. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so I won't say if she did or if she didn't but I sure got a big laugh out of what happened to her! My favorite character in the book was Minnie. It is said in the book that she can't keep her mouth shut but she can cook. Which is why she doesn't keep a job very long. I am glad that she stood up to Hilly. As I said earlier I really didn't like Hilly. She was a good mom to her kids but a nasty employer. I also like that Minnie found an employer that she could stick with regardless of her mouth. I loved the ending but again won't give it away. I by no means think that the book was based on a true story but it is a good fiction book that gives you some insight into what it was like back then. I recommended this book to my mom on the phone last night and I would recommend it to others. It was a good book and falls in my top five list!
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