Twelve Sharp

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich is a very entertaining book. This is my second book I have read by Evanovich. I find her books amusing and easy to read. The heroine, Stephanie Plum, is a bounty hunter. Most people would not like to have this as career but might like to be one for just one day to find out what it is like. It sounds both exciting and scary at the same time. Hunting down people that have not shown up for their court dates could be very dangerous. It is not a job that you would suspect a woman being able to do effectively. Plum not only does the job but makes the situations entertaining as well as suspenseful at times. While the books are predictable they each have a different situation that makes them refreshing. For those like an easy quick read that does not take much thought or in depth thinking these books would be on the list of must reads. For those that have jobs that are stressful these books would be a great stress relief for light reading at home or on their lunch hours. They are easy to leave and pick up to read at any time. While they are not my favorite I do find them entertaining.

The Secret Life of Bees

Once again I found reading this novel difficult. I usually read for pleasure at night before I go to sleep. My life is so busy there is not much free time during the day for me to read at this time. I found my mind wandering probably because I was exhausted as much as anything. The literary elements were evident throughout the novel but I had to concentrate on them to understand and get the meaning behind them which made this novel more difficult for me. I also think that the underlying them of motherhood was a bit difficult for me since I have my own mother living with me at this time along with my daughter. The relationships between us can be strained at times with all that is going on in our lives. I am not just the mother to my daughter but I have found myself in the parent role with my mother as well. I can understand the overwhelming feelings that Lily's mother felt but at the same time do not understand a mother abandoning her child for any reason. I have chosen to take my mother under my roof since she is not able to take care of herself on a daily basis. I owe her that for taking care of me though as I have matured I have found that I am not the same type of mother that she is be that good or bad. I found it interesting that August knew all along who Lily was but was waiting for the right time to tell her. Lily had to come to appreciate, love and trust again before she was ready. I also found it ironical that she did not want Zach to have anger about his situation but she was full of anger herself. Aren't we all that way, sometimes we see things in others that we don't see in ourselves. I am not sure this is a book that I would recommend to someone for some light reading. I think that to understand the true intentions of the author you might need to be a parent.

The Lovely Bones

I hated this book and loved this book by Alice Sebold. I had nightmares the entire time I was reading it and sleep did not come easy like it ususally does after I read at night. I have always feared that one of my children will die before me. I can't imagine losing a child through death let alone a violent death. As a mother, my life for the last 24 years have revolved around keeping my children healthy, safe and happy. I have failed at times but they know that no matter what I have tried to do my best and love them more than anything. My son is in the Air Force and I could get that visit at any time. When he decided to join I was overjoyed with his decision but also fearful for the fact that he could get killed in action. He told me not to worry because he was not afraid to die doing something positive with his life. While that helped me some it still will not take away the pain should it ever happen. I have always felt that those left on earth were the ones mourning a death but this book showed me that maybe that might not be true. We really don't know. When I got divorced from my children's father I thought death might have been easier for us all but after reading this book I am not so sure. No matter what the lose it is always painful and a healing process must take place.
I am a bit of a control freak and during this book I just wanted to reach in and say let it go, but that is not always the right way. The characters had to each go through their own growth and transformation to get back to where they really wanted to be. Abigail had died a slow death before when she was not able to follow her dreams after becoming pregnant with Susie. With Susie's death came a guilt that she could not handle so she chose to heal by leaving and not burdening her family at that time with her guilt and healing. What she didn't know was that she made it more difficult for everyone including herself by running away. When she did finally come back she could finally face her life and transgressions by receiving the love and forgiveness of her family.
I could relate to Jack. I have said countless times, "There's no choice... What else can I do?" just as Jack did. (279) I could see myself in all the characters at different times of my life and in different situations. I think that is what this author did best. She made each character an individual that we as humans can relate to in a given situation. Maybe that it why it was so disturbing to me. If I would have been reading this for pleasure I probably would have stopped after a few chapters because I was not "enjoying" it. But I am glad that I had to continue reading it because it did truly make me think about myself and those I love and death. I plan on sharing this with my son and his wife. I am not sure my daughter is ready for it yet.

Jemima J

Jemima J written by Jane Green was difficult to read at first. I found switching from 1st to 3rd person difficult to keep my attention at the beginning. After a short time I became adjusted to the switching back and forth. I think most people can sympathize with JJ. We have all felt inadequate at sometime in our lives. Inadequacy can help us to mature if only we allow it to. JJ, like most of us, had an addiction that helped her through the tough times in her life. She was a much deeper person than most of the people that she was surrounded by not only in her personal life but at work as well. Maybe part of the reason was because she worked in a superficial industry. Looking back on my own personal life at that age I can see myself in her shoes. I remember my ten year class reunion. Everyone was still a bit like they were in high school. At the 2o year reunion many were trying to impress others by their looks, job, or possessions. There were some that were past that stage and it would be interesting to see if they are still trying to impress everyone at my 30 year reunion this summer. We all go through stages in our lives where we are unsure and insecure as JJ was. Her mother and the lack of a father figure played a big part in her insecurities as well. My own mother and father have always been a bit like JJ's mom. Appearances are always so important. I have found myself rebelling against that type of behavior as my own children have grown up and become adults. I have caught myself many times starting to say something judgmental about their choices or the way they look. Hopefully they will not experience some of the things that JJ has. JJ persevered and became the person of her dreams and was rewarded with love at the end. It was interesting that she did succumb to lust for a short time but realized how superficial it was in the end. I do wander if she had not lost the weight if Ben would have been as attracted to her or if she would have been so self conscious that she would not have allowed a relationship with him to happen. Her confidence definitely was appealing to him but her spirit and intelligence was what ultimately made him fall in love with her and she with him. They both realized that many of the people they met were not right for them but were not really sure why until they met each other again. Does this happen very often in real life or are we programed to take the first person that comes along that sparks that fire. I am definitely in favor of marriage but I think many times people marry too early (me for one) and then it ends in divorce when the two people do really grow up. I am going to recommend that my eighteen year old daughter read this book. She is very self conscious about her weight. She is beautiful and not overweight at all but like many of us does not have that perfect body. I look forward to discussing it with her.