Becoming Sister Wives by The Brown Family

Book:  Becoming Sister Wives 

Author:  Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown

Grade:  A solid B -/C+ 

Recommended To:  Fans of the show, polygamists. 

This is one of those books that I just felt compelled to read.  The Browns might say that I received a "testimony", and that I was "called" to read this book.  Ha!  Actually, I just watch the show on Sunday nights and wanted to see if they included any dirt that wasn't on the show in the book.

This book actually had a lot of detail that I was surprised to read.  These polygamists are refreshingly honest about their lives and relationships.  Kody, Meri, Janelle and Christine all tell the story of how they met Kody and how they all struggled with becoming a plural family when they initially got married.  I really liked how each wife told her own story of how she met Kody and how she became a part of the family.  Those are details that you never hear about on the show.

Robyn also tells her portion, which also includes some details not seen on TV, for example, the show makes it look like she met Kody while they were filming and that perhaps Robyn was even drawn to the Browns because she had seen them on TV.  Apparently this was not the case, and Robyn met Meri and Kody before the show was taped and then had to extend her own engagement to Kody in order to not be the focus of the first episode of the show.

If I have one complaint, it is that Kody comes off as somewhat preachy.  He's a twat on the show, so I expected some of this.  I buy that he had a calling to have a plural marriage (because seriously who would put up with all of these people, if not for a calling).  But, I don't buy that he had a calling to come out to the world on TV - I think TLC waived some flashy bucks and maybe a new sports car in his direction which enhanced his "calling" about going public.

Also, all of the wives frequently write about how great of a father Kody is and how they were all drawn to a plural marriage with Kody because of his attitude toward children.  They must all have missed the episode where Kody's daughter falls off a horse and on camera, after the incident, Kody says "My first priority is to get that horse calmed down, and make sure the horse is okay."  Yes, Wives.  That sounds just like a father-of-the-year award winner.

Either way, this book was worth it.  I liked reading about their lives before television and how they overcame  their differences.  I also liked that unlike Farrah Abraham's book, it was reasonably well written and clearly edited.

Happy Reading and Happy Happy New Year!

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Book:  A Dance with Dragons 

Author:  George R.R. Martin 

Grade:  B

Recommended to:  Everyone in the whole universe, especially my hubs, so I can talk about the plot with someone!  

I promise there won't be any spoilers in this review because this series is so good and so exciting and so many things happen (except in book four) that I would be wretchedly pissed if someone spoiled it for me.  So, I pledge that I won't spoil anything.

First, why is the projected release date for Winds of Winter (book 6) in the year 2014?  That is so far away it barely sounds like a year.  How could the projected release date of the paperback version of Dance with Dragons still be three months away?  Ughhhh.   I'm just generally pissed at George.  He leaves a few cliffhangers that are essentially the most massive cliffhangers of all time and then he won't get down to the business of writing fast enough, so I have to wait at least another year to read about my faves again.  It's like Harry Potter all over again, except Rowling had the good sense to finish it.

Second, the HBO series is only a small consolation.  Small.

Third, have you seen how old and decrepit-looking Georgie is?   He had better not conk-out and leave this series unfinished.  Allegedly he's told HBO how the whole things ends, so even if he can't finish the series, at least HBO will finish it.  Again, small consolation. Very small.

If you haven't jumped on this bandwagon yet, I suggest you do.  The HBO series is wonderful, the books are wonderful and apparently there are some good companion novels, which I never read, but if you are into that, then cool.

See, no spoilers.

Happy Reading and Happy Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas Books!

Merry Christmas Eve!

At my parents house, we have our Christmas "morning" on Christmas Eve so that we can accommodate four Christmas celebrations in two days.  It is tiring, but wonderful.

So, this morning I was surprised with Kindle Books!  In my email! Hooray!  First, I'm excited about the books and second, I'm thrilled that my technologically challenged mother figured out how to send me digital books!

Here's what I got:

Hooray!  Now I just have to pick the book that I'm going to read first (probably Sister Wives.  Duh)

Merry Christmas!!

Happy Reading!!

Wired by Douglas E. Richards

Book:  Wired 

Author:  Douglas E. Richards

Grade:  C 

Recommended To:  People who will not be minding passive voice. 

Let me just say this, I'm glad I got Wired for free.  I just signed up for a super cool Amazon Prime membership and for 80 bucks a year, I get a free Kindle book per month, a TON of streaming movies and shows (like Varsity Blues, remember that movie?!), and free two day shipping.  With Christmas coming up, I've probably gotten my money's worth on the shipping alone.

Wired has potential.  The story is interesting, the action is quick without lapse and the characters, although basic and flat have interesting back stories.  But, Wired has a very serious problem:  the writing.  The writing is often basic, stream of conscious type writing.  And the author uses visual cues like exclamation points and italics to emphasize his point.  It is distracting!   This book makes me sad, because with the benefit of a good editor, some honest friends, and maybe a writing class or two, Wired could have been excellent.

This book is about a woman who has created some pills that enhance intelligence when she, or anyone else takes them, can solve pretty much any problem in the world.  She has used her enhanced intelligence to solve the problem of aging and of course the evil character has stolen her secrets and some of the pills in order to become powerful.   Of course she finds this hot ex-Delta Force man to come to her rescue and there are ridiculous twists and turns that kept me guessing, but also made me laugh out loud on occasion.  I don't believe the book was intended to be funny...

Either way, this book is a solid C, it gets some serious knocks for the crap writing style, but bonus points for the somewhat original plot.

Richards has another book called Amped that purports to be a sequel to Wired.  I will not be paying for that book, so unless Amazon gives it to me for free, or I find a copy on the ground, I will not be reading it.

Happy Reading!!