Book Opinion: The Other Widow

Book Opinion:  The Other Widow by Susan Crawford.

This was a book that I found while waiting for my kids at Target.  I always seem to head straight to the book section while my two kids are over by the video games and music.

I read the summary and decided to add it to my “To Read” list and checked it out the next time I went to our local library.  I was pretty excited to start this book because it sounded so good.  I was however, a little discouraged by its slow pace.  It took me awhile to really get into it.

Dorrie is having an affair with her boss Joe.  One night they are out for a drive and he tries to end the affair telling her it is not safe for them.  That drive turns deadly for Joe as his brakes fail and he crashes into a tree and his airbag does not go off.  Dorrie escapes from the accident with only a few scratches on her head.  She leaves the scene as not to ruin her own family and Joe’s family by exposing that they were together.

The story centers around Dorrie, Karen (Joe’s wife), and Maggie (an ex cop turned claims adjuster).  Each person is trying to figure out what exactly happened to Joe and why.  Dorrie starts to investigate and it does not become safe for her.  Not to mention her husband is acting a little strange (perhaps because he knows of the affair).  Karen is angered with Joe’s indiscretion but is trying to make sense of it all and is curious about their failing business that Joe never mentioned, and Maggie is trying to figure out whether it was truly an accident or not and her “cop senses” are working for her.

I wish I could say that I connected with one of the characters but I did not.  I felt bad for Karen as here was a woman who thought her marriage was fine and finds out after Joe’s death that he was having an affair.  I felt Dorrie was a woo is me, I am the victim character.  Maggie was the most interesting of them all.  I do wish the characters were built with a little more of a backstory then they had.

All in all I would recommend this book but just to let you know that it moves slow in the beginning.  Please check out the attached link to see what other books that have been written by Susan Crawford  http://www.susancrawfordnovelist.com/home.  Keep on Reading!

Here I Go Again!

I think the title of this post says it all…. Here I Go Again!

I’m sure you know where I am going with this title.  It has been an extremely long time since I blogged, a year to be exact.  So much has happened since then that blogging was put on the back burner.  I had grand plans to up my blogging last fall, as I worked (at the time) part time at a school.  However an opportunity opened up that I couldn’t pass up and it turned into a full time position!  I have always been lucky and stayed home with my kids, worked from home, and once I went outside of the home to work was able to have decent hours, summers off and all the days my kids had off.  So needless to say that when this opportunity opened up as all that would change was my hours I jumped at the chance.

The sad part of me taking this opportunity meant that I had to put a bunch of things, goals, ideas, etc on the back burner.  Blogging and reading being the main ones.  Plus I had to learn how to balance everything at home and start to throw in some exercise!  Needless to say it has been a very busy year of adjustments and balancing.  I still do not have it quite down, but I know in time I will.  I know that I have to make sure I carve out me time to read a book, blog and just find “me time”.

This is the second beginning at blogging.  I just want to say thank you to everyone that still followed me and did not give up on Books a Girls Best Friend!! You will be happy to know I currently have a stack of books to read and just finished one that I am working on my book review/opinion so watch out for a review on Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little.

Household Disagreement: Graphic Novels vs regular Fiction Books

So in our house my daughter (B) loves reading Fiction books while my son (P) loves to read Graphic Novels. The discussion they often have is can Graphic Novels actually be considered reading. B feels it is not actually reading because the books are in comic-like form while a regular Fiction book is in chapter form. P feels that although the Graphic Novels are in comic-like form there is still a story, plot, and characters so he would count it.

I have to agree with P on this. Of course I consider it reading. The book lover in me is just happy that he has found something to read that interests him. No longer are there days of just B and I heading out to the library, now the request to head over there often comes from P himself. I actually find the way he chooses a book intriguing. Where I just look at the titles and read the summary and stock up, he pulls a few out, finds a quiet corner and reads about 10 pages. He does this just to make sure that the book will keep his interest.

Not everyone has to agree on what types of books, magazines or even articles a person should read. To me, as long as something has captured your interest and has made you want to pick up another book or magazine then the written word (and the authors of course) has done its job. It has inspired you!! So I say keep reading!!

For The Love of Books!

Books….I can’t seem to read enough of them!!  A trip to the library starts with thoughts running through my head that I will only check out one or two books, nine books later I realize I have issues!  One has to ask themselves is having a love for books and reading a bad thing.  I would say no!  It also helps to know that I am not in this love by myself.  My daughter(B) and my best friend(A) seem to have the same problem.  Is this an addiction to books and reading?  If it is I definitely don’t mind it.  Bring it on I say!!  Bring it on!