While some of the books I review on my site are furnished by the publishers, authors, or publicists for the purpose of review all of my reviews are truthful, honest, and my sincere opinion.

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Friday 56

Thanks to Books and Needlepoint for this neat tidbit!

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of
Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Closest Book:

"It's a much tougher life on this side of the fence," Punjeeh replied, referring to the plight of the Palestinians. "Almost half of the inhabitants live below the poverty line, and a good job here pays no more than $100 per week."

Review: I'm Perfect, You're Doomed

Before I post my review I want to thank Melyssa and all the ladies at BookDivas for letting me get my hands on this one:-)

I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales From A Jehovah's Witness Upbringing I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales From A Jehovah's Witness Upbringing by Kyria Abrahams


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kyria Abrahams was born and raised as a Jehovah's Witness. For anyone familiar with the religion, her upbringing was fairly normal. She was not allowed to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday. She was also raised "knowing" that Christ's new way of things was on it's way and that the world was going to end at any time. Until her disfellowship she didn't think that she could survive without the hand of Jesus guiding her. This book takes an almost cynical look at her life. It also is complete with a glossary of common Jehovah's Witness terms the rest of us may not be familiar with.



I think the book was great. I lived part of my life with my grandmother and aunt who were Jehovah's Witnesses. Many of the things Kyria talked about in her book brought back some memories that I had all but forgotten. It was like I was taking a weird walk down memory lane. I think this was a great look at what life is like as a Witness, granted I had some "insider knowledge". Mrs. Abrahams uses wit and humor to explain some drastic events in her life. I loved the story, liked the writing, and I really connected with the characters. Overall it was a very good story!


View all my reviews.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

I'm thankful it's Thursday and not Monday....

Well I haven't really been reading the last few days. A page here and there, but not much (outside of school). For school I finished quite a bit:
  • Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn
  • A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway
  • The House on Mango Street (excerpt) by Sandra Cisneros
  • The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
  • Two Kinds by Amy Tan
  • A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
  • The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe
While this World Literature class has been taking up a bit of my free reading time, I'm glad that I'm taking it. I never really read any of the classics as a kid, and other than a few stories we would read in school I never was exposed to some great authors from history. So while I'm not LOVING every story I'm reading for this class I am enjoying being introduced to the authors that I feel have had a huge hand in shaping literature today.

I have an analytical essay due tonight, then I should be free to get some "pleasure" reading done. I have a whole stack of review books sitting here, plus I've been going crazy on paperbackswap so I have a big pile of those books sitting around to get finished and re-posted.

I'm also going to be away next week. I should be alone for most of the day Wednesday and Thursday then I'm on a 5 hour train ride Thursday night, then alone again Friday during the day and another 11 hour train ride Monday so I think I'll have lots to post when I get back home, if I can get good internet connection I'll post while I'm away :-)

And if you haven't already done so please enter my giveaway for Girls in Trucks I loved this book, it was great!