I got this biography a while back on sale at bookoutlet.com. I love biographies no matter who they are so I added this one to my collection.
This biography is what you would expect from Kris Jenner - fluffy and bubbly and fast paced. You don't read this expecting to change your life or receive life changing advice; you read it because they're an interesting family.
This novel was written pre-Caitlyn Jenner so in here Kris is still raving about the wonderful man she married. It's also pre Kim and Kanye.
Kris moves quickly from topic to topic, because if she went in depth on all the exciting events of her life she would have a 1000 page novel. There are affairs, divorce, several moves, entrepreneurial adventures, heartache and happiness. She breezes through the events in her life with a bubbly effervescence. There's no dirty gossip, no backstabbing, no throwing anybody under the bus. It sounds like she lives her life being accountable for the mistakes she made and being open minded about her loved ones.
Surprise takeaways are that I didn't realize Kris was a spiritual woman. I've never seen Keeping Up With the
the Kardashiens, so I don't know if she's discussed her faith on the show, but it sounds as if it's always played an important role in her life and her decisions (well, except for that dalliance during her marriage, but in the larger scope of things she's a very Christian woman.)
The book also deals with her friendship with Nicole Brown Simpson and her earlier friendship with OJ and how the family dealt with that tragedy. Kris took it hard because she had been close friends with Nicole, but at the same time it must've was devastating when someone you had been friends with for so long like OJ is charged with your best friend's murder and you also lose trust in him during the process.
All in all, it's a fun read. Kris brings her exciting and nonstop life to us like a 302 page US magazine article - Great section of family photos and fizzy fun dialogue.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Seventeenth Summer by maureen Daly
My Autumn of Retro Books continues with this little gem written in 1952 and on it's eighth printing by 1974. Again, like with Love is Never Enough, there is such an authenticity of the era to books actually written as modern day romances of that time. Angie falls in love with a boy who delivers bakery goods in his truck, they sweat it out all summer in a house with no air conditioning, they eat hot dogs on 'rolls' with 'tomato sauce' at the county fair.....There are scenes and settings in these classic romances that can take you back to that time like no other.
Seventeenth Summer is all about 17 year old Angie and her summer before college, as she meets Jack and falls in love.
Books written before the 70's tend to be pretty long winded. Beautifully written with detailed scenes and descriptions of everyday life but they are light on action. This book is 285 pages of small print and nothing more exciting happens than watching Jack court Angie, but because of the incredible descriptions it feels more real than modern romance novels.
If you find this on Ebay - buy it. ( By the way, the price for it in 1974? 75 cents.)
Seventeenth Summer is all about 17 year old Angie and her summer before college, as she meets Jack and falls in love.
Books written before the 70's tend to be pretty long winded. Beautifully written with detailed scenes and descriptions of everyday life but they are light on action. This book is 285 pages of small print and nothing more exciting happens than watching Jack court Angie, but because of the incredible descriptions it feels more real than modern romance novels.
If you find this on Ebay - buy it. ( By the way, the price for it in 1974? 75 cents.)
Love is Never Enough by Bianca Bradbury
There is nothing I love more than a good paperback from the 70s, that delicious tea yellow color of the pages and he retro covers...
Love is Never Enough was published in 1971 by good old Scholastic Books. When I got it (from somewhere, I don't know where!) I didn't realize it was a YA novel for those times but it is.
Love Is Never Enough features a very young couple (she's 17, he's still in college) who unexpectedly have a baby and have to get married. The book is through the eyes of the young mother who feels isolated in their small trailer, doesn't feel like she fits in with her husband's college friends, and feels the general malaise of being a housewife without a purpose.
The book has a wonderful retro tone and definitely speaks from the early 70s, but the theme could just as well be suited today's young mother's who are not ready to give up their lives to focus entirely on a baby and marriage.
I don't believe you would find this book anywhere but on Ebay - maybe - but this post is mainly about snatching up these retro novels when you find them. Books today can replicate the 70s tone, but you feel the authenticity in a romance actually written during that time.
Love is Never Enough was published in 1971 by good old Scholastic Books. When I got it (from somewhere, I don't know where!) I didn't realize it was a YA novel for those times but it is.
Love Is Never Enough features a very young couple (she's 17, he's still in college) who unexpectedly have a baby and have to get married. The book is through the eyes of the young mother who feels isolated in their small trailer, doesn't feel like she fits in with her husband's college friends, and feels the general malaise of being a housewife without a purpose.
The book has a wonderful retro tone and definitely speaks from the early 70s, but the theme could just as well be suited today's young mother's who are not ready to give up their lives to focus entirely on a baby and marriage.
I don't believe you would find this book anywhere but on Ebay - maybe - but this post is mainly about snatching up these retro novels when you find them. Books today can replicate the 70s tone, but you feel the authenticity in a romance actually written during that time.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Reincanation Blues by Michael Poore
You've got to admire people who think differently and write differently and this book is one big Different. It was not my cup of tea, but good for him for trying to think outside the box.
Reincarnation Blues. Where do I begin.
I'll be honest. I read a few chapters and said, "I'm Out." I didn't finish the rest. This doesn't happen to me very often, but sometimes a book is just so....weird and Out There, I can't go any further. I have other books to read that I know I'll enjoy more.
It starts off with this man who owns a fishing boat business; he's been reincarnated 9,995 times and he's about to get devoured by a shark. Luck isn't on his side, and he is soon down to 4 lives. When he goes to 'heaven' , he is told he only has these last few lives left to understand the meaning of life. If not, his soul disappears forever.
Death is woman named Suzie who he is having an affair with. He thinks back to some of his other lives and there's inappropriate swearing that doesn't fit with the characters of that time period, strange stories, 'Universe Women'.......Oy...
Don't get me wrong, it is expertly written, but.... good luck to the person takes this book off the library free book table when I leave it there, May you enjoy it more than I did.
Reincarnation Blues. Where do I begin.
I'll be honest. I read a few chapters and said, "I'm Out." I didn't finish the rest. This doesn't happen to me very often, but sometimes a book is just so....weird and Out There, I can't go any further. I have other books to read that I know I'll enjoy more.
It starts off with this man who owns a fishing boat business; he's been reincarnated 9,995 times and he's about to get devoured by a shark. Luck isn't on his side, and he is soon down to 4 lives. When he goes to 'heaven' , he is told he only has these last few lives left to understand the meaning of life. If not, his soul disappears forever.
Death is woman named Suzie who he is having an affair with. He thinks back to some of his other lives and there's inappropriate swearing that doesn't fit with the characters of that time period, strange stories, 'Universe Women'.......Oy...
Don't get me wrong, it is expertly written, but.... good luck to the person takes this book off the library free book table when I leave it there, May you enjoy it more than I did.
A Baby's Cry by Amanda Stevens
Anybody remember the Babies & Bachelors USA series of Harlequin books?? This book comes from the series and goes all the way back to 1996 and the tagline was "Unexpected parenthood and the promise of love." I'm not sure when Harlequin quit this series, but it was a popular theme in the 90's. Each state got a book in the series, and A Baby's Cry takes us to the state of Tennessee.
Here we have Taylor Robinson, a young woman who had a baby after her man left town, driven away by her rich family. Taylor was told her baby died during childbirth....or did it?? She starts to hear some shady stories about the 'clinic' where she gave birth and begins to ask questions. When her ex, Dillon - now a detective - returns to town, she finally goes to him to tell him about the child they lost...or did they??
Harlequins are unabashedly dramatic and soapy. I pick them up whenever I see them at a garage sale because they're a flat out good read. You might not be able to track down A Baby's Cry any longer, but you can still find these books from the series floating around. Pick them up, then pass them along.
Here we have Taylor Robinson, a young woman who had a baby after her man left town, driven away by her rich family. Taylor was told her baby died during childbirth....or did it?? She starts to hear some shady stories about the 'clinic' where she gave birth and begins to ask questions. When her ex, Dillon - now a detective - returns to town, she finally goes to him to tell him about the child they lost...or did they??
Harlequins are unabashedly dramatic and soapy. I pick them up whenever I see them at a garage sale because they're a flat out good read. You might not be able to track down A Baby's Cry any longer, but you can still find these books from the series floating around. Pick them up, then pass them along.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
A Daring Venture by Elizbeth Camden
It's time for my latest blog for Bethany House and this months pick is A Daring Venture.
Upon a quick skim you might think that a story with a background about water purification and chlorination in the late 1800's would not seem like a very romantic backdrop - But! I hope you give this book a chance. While the background is not so exciting, it holds the main story together in inricate ways.
Rosalind is a biochemist intent on proving to the skeptical public that chlorination is a safe chemical for use in water systems to help stop the spread of cholera. Nicholas is an outspoken proponent of filtration systems only and wants nothing to do with chlorine. The two are thrown together as Nicholas is the new Comissioner of Water and Rosalind needs to convince him that her system is safe. This is where the romance kicks in! Nicholas starts to see the smart and successful woman Rosalind is. Rosalind is torn between going forward with her secret plan with a fellow doctor to chlorinate the town's water supply without them knowing so she can prove her heory, and knowing that if she does she will anger Nicholas if he ever finds out.
Very well written. It occasionally drifts toward boring when the water commissioners have to meet, but sparks back up when both Rosalind and Nicholas have to make their stand. I enjoyed this book and recommend that you don't assume the entire plot is based on chlorination, there is romance, revenge, and family dynamics too.
Upon a quick skim you might think that a story with a background about water purification and chlorination in the late 1800's would not seem like a very romantic backdrop - But! I hope you give this book a chance. While the background is not so exciting, it holds the main story together in inricate ways.
Rosalind is a biochemist intent on proving to the skeptical public that chlorination is a safe chemical for use in water systems to help stop the spread of cholera. Nicholas is an outspoken proponent of filtration systems only and wants nothing to do with chlorine. The two are thrown together as Nicholas is the new Comissioner of Water and Rosalind needs to convince him that her system is safe. This is where the romance kicks in! Nicholas starts to see the smart and successful woman Rosalind is. Rosalind is torn between going forward with her secret plan with a fellow doctor to chlorinate the town's water supply without them knowing so she can prove her heory, and knowing that if she does she will anger Nicholas if he ever finds out.
Very well written. It occasionally drifts toward boring when the water commissioners have to meet, but sparks back up when both Rosalind and Nicholas have to make their stand. I enjoyed this book and recommend that you don't assume the entire plot is based on chlorination, there is romance, revenge, and family dynamics too.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
June/July Stack
I haven't had a blog in a while because I was working my way through three books and several audiobooks, but here's what I have gotten done so far:
In my fiction pile I have read The Rancher's Second Chance by Brenda Minton. A Love Inspired book from the Martin's Crossing series.
In The Rancher's Second Chance, Grace finds herself on the run from an abusive husband. With nowhere to turn, she ends up at the trailer of her ex - the man she left for his best friend (the abuser) He has conflicting feelings on whether or not he should take her back after the way she left him the first time, but when he finds out she's pregnant...he softens toward her situation.
The book has the usual meddling-for-good family who create a warm family unit around Grace. All of the characters are likable and the book features great fiction writing. Sit back and enjoy, it's a bit like watching a Hallmark Channel movie unfold before your eyes. I recommend this book (and the series!) for a great summer read.
Next up in my pile is a non-fiction book: Paul Harvey's America by Stephen Mansfield and David A. Holland.
I assume you know of the Paul Harvey radio legacy if you are picking up his biography. I'm included as one of his fans for many years. I grew up eating my breakfast and lunch to Paul Harvey news, and I remember the local furor when they removed his show from the local station to replace it with Fox News.
Paul Harvey was a one of a kind broadcaster. Like they say in the book, he let his listeners form their own opinions of the news he delivered. And there was no delivery like Paul Harvey's:warm, thoughtful, and just as curious as the rest of us. The right-wing jawers of today can't compare to his down home style and colloquialisms like "wash your ears out with this!" with the perfect tone of amazement in what he is just about to tell you.
This biography is a good read - particularly for older readers who grew up listening to him - It covers some personal history, some of his views on history, and a loving summary of his career in radio. The only thing I missed were some pictures. A biography isn't quite complete without some pictures of said person. Although the cover has a great pic of smiling Paul ahead of his beloved microphone.
Third on my list from this last month was a book called The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. Sort of a mix of autobiography that reads like a story with dialogue and characters from her real life.
The Middle Place is about a woman going through cancer at the same time she finds out her father has a potentially fatal cancer. Another great book that I would recommend seeking out. It is written with humor, hope, and love. The author travels back and forth in the story from her early days to her current days as it ties together the scene of her family life with her parents. I loved the pace and-don't worry- it's not devastatingly sad; it's Real and hilarious (like real life!).
In my fiction pile I have read The Rancher's Second Chance by Brenda Minton. A Love Inspired book from the Martin's Crossing series.
In The Rancher's Second Chance, Grace finds herself on the run from an abusive husband. With nowhere to turn, she ends up at the trailer of her ex - the man she left for his best friend (the abuser) He has conflicting feelings on whether or not he should take her back after the way she left him the first time, but when he finds out she's pregnant...he softens toward her situation.
The book has the usual meddling-for-good family who create a warm family unit around Grace. All of the characters are likable and the book features great fiction writing. Sit back and enjoy, it's a bit like watching a Hallmark Channel movie unfold before your eyes. I recommend this book (and the series!) for a great summer read.
Next up in my pile is a non-fiction book: Paul Harvey's America by Stephen Mansfield and David A. Holland.
I assume you know of the Paul Harvey radio legacy if you are picking up his biography. I'm included as one of his fans for many years. I grew up eating my breakfast and lunch to Paul Harvey news, and I remember the local furor when they removed his show from the local station to replace it with Fox News.
Paul Harvey was a one of a kind broadcaster. Like they say in the book, he let his listeners form their own opinions of the news he delivered. And there was no delivery like Paul Harvey's:warm, thoughtful, and just as curious as the rest of us. The right-wing jawers of today can't compare to his down home style and colloquialisms like "wash your ears out with this!" with the perfect tone of amazement in what he is just about to tell you.
This biography is a good read - particularly for older readers who grew up listening to him - It covers some personal history, some of his views on history, and a loving summary of his career in radio. The only thing I missed were some pictures. A biography isn't quite complete without some pictures of said person. Although the cover has a great pic of smiling Paul ahead of his beloved microphone.
Third on my list from this last month was a book called The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. Sort of a mix of autobiography that reads like a story with dialogue and characters from her real life.
The Middle Place is about a woman going through cancer at the same time she finds out her father has a potentially fatal cancer. Another great book that I would recommend seeking out. It is written with humor, hope, and love. The author travels back and forth in the story from her early days to her current days as it ties together the scene of her family life with her parents. I loved the pace and-don't worry- it's not devastatingly sad; it's Real and hilarious (like real life!).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)