Book Reviews by Today, I Read…

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

First line: When I was five years old, I walked down the aisle with [...]

Initial thoughts: This book looks adorable. When I read the description, I laughed out loud and shook my head in amazement. As someone who has sworn off love and men a time or two, this just seemed like it was bound to be an entertaining read.

Book description:

(Rather than a back cover blurb, I’m presenting you with the opening page.)

I, Penny Lane Bloom, do solemnly swear to never date another boy for as long as I shall live.

All right, maybe I’ll reconsider it in ten years or so when I’m no longer living in Parkview, Illinois, or attending McKinley High School, but for now I’m done with guys. They’re all lying, cheating scum of the earth.

Yes, every last one of them. Pure evil.

Sure, there are some that seem nice, but the second they get what they want, they’ll dump you and move on to their next target.

So I’m done.

No more dating.

The end.

Book Details: 320 pages; Point; Pub. January 2010

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

First line: Louis and I see you nearly at the same time. In the woods, [...]

Initial thoughts:

I’ve seen this book a few times when out and about and every time, I pick it up. For some strange reason, however, I never end up buying it. There’s something haunting about the cover and description and ever since reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, I’ve been somewhat wary of books which can leave me too emotionally haunted after reading them. (Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy them…I just have to build up my will first.)

After hearing so many good things about this book, and in general, feeling as though I need another deeply emotional and moving read, this topped my list. I’ve steeled myself and am ready to take this ride.

Book description:

It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn’s shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.

Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler. Calli’s mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, angry husband. now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter’s voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli’s best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

Book Details: 384 pages; Mira; Pub. July 28, 2009

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: Comfort Living by Chrstine Eisner

First line: Remember in "The Wizard of Oz" how Dorothy looked everywhere and asked everyone in her search to [...]

Initial thoughts: This book is gorgeous. When it arrived in the mail (along with its companion journal), I was stunned by its layout, colors, and formatting. Care went into its design and it shows.

So far, I’ve read a few of the pages and I’m pleasantly surprised. There’s a very approach to making changes around the home which means nothing is too jarring. In fact, I can’t wait to start applying some of the techniques discussed and seeing how well they work over the next couple of months going into the new year.

Book description:

Learn how little it takes to introduce positive change into day-to-day living!

People talk about comfort foods–foods that not only satisfy the appetite, but also nourish the soul. What about Comfort Homes and Comfort Lives? Comfort Living: A Back to Basics Guide to a More Balanced Lifestyle introduces a new way for people to think about, create and live with their physical surroundings and daily routines.

Author Christine Eisner demonstrates that creating a balanced lifestyle doesn’t have to be time-consuming, complicated or costly–and that living a good life is within easy reach. In Comfort Living, there are no rules or mandates; just some very simple and practical tools, presented in a casual, contemporary and relevant way.

• If you’re searching for your keys in the morning instead of sitting down for breakfast, this book is for you.
• If you envy the cozy nooks you see in catalogs and magazines but don’t have a clue about how to create your own, this book is for you.
• If you already enjoy fixing up your home with fabrics and furnishings but wonder if the look reflects who you truly are, this book is for you.
• If you are not able to enjoy your "decorated" home as much as you thought you would, this book is for you.
• If you simply want to make your house more of a home–a place that revives you each day–this book is definitely for you!

In these times, life isn’t about keeping up with "the Joneses," and it’s not about total deprivation either. Believe it or not, "the good life" is there for the taking. Just as with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it can be as simple as looking inward and saying, "There’s no place like home."

In Comfort Living, Christine is the reader’s personal guide, leading them through a process of self-discovery and creation. By translating inner priorities into physical surroundings and daily routines, each day can become a bridge to comfort, meaning, community and growth.

For each individual, this interactive book will ultimately become a personalized edition, customized to their particular needs and journey. Consider this book an 8-week investment in yourself and those who live with you–with lasting results.

Book Details: 84 pages; Lifestyle Design; Pub. November 15, 2009

Learn more:

• Official website

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football by Mark Oristano

First line: Well, I watched football for a living. I had a thirty-year [...]

Initial thoughts: When I was a little girl, I played peewee football. As I grew up, my love of football didn’t wane; instead it grew to near fanatical proportions. But, that was a while ago.

After a few anonymous meetings with other addicts, I swore off the stuff…until I was presented with an opportunity to read A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football.

I was just too curious to pass it up because I wanted to see what I was missing through my fanatical eyes and I’ve always been curious about the intricacies of the game.

Book description:

Want to know what everyone is cheering about? Learn to enjoy and understand the game with the football fanatic in your life. This book is the ultimate football guide for the novice fan. You will get answers to such complex questions as: What is that yellow line on the field and why does it keep moving? What down is it and why do I care? What is a ‘T formation’? Laced with hilarious and insightful anecdotes from Mark Oristano’s thirty-year career as a pro football sportscaster, A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football will turn you into a football-watching pro, or at least, let you fake it. Time Out: I was in the locker room before a game, and I saw an Oilers linebacker furiously drawing on his shoes with a permanent marker. This player, like many, had his ankle tape applied over the outside of his shoes instead of inside, which obviously covered the shoe logo. And he was drawing the logo of his shoe contract on the tape. "Wouldn’t it be easier," I asked him, "to get taped inside and not have to do the artwork?" "Yeah, it would," he replied, "but then I’d actually have to wear their damn shoes, and I hate ‘em. So I wear the brand I like and do it this way instead."

Book Details: 160 pages; Synergy Books; Pub. August 1, 2009

Recent Arrivals chronicles the books that have made their way onto the Today, I Read… bookshelf. Here’s the latest arrival: The Art of Meaningful Living by Christopher F. Brown and John Palmer

First line: The Art of Meaningful Living is about [...]

(Ultimate teaser, isn’t it? I should probably mention that the text layout is narrow columns, hence the seemingly clipped first line.)

Initial thoughts: After flipping through this book, I can’t wait for an opportunity to sit down and properly read it.

And although I’m not a huge fan of abstract art, from my brief perusal, I did enjoy most of the paintings provided. There was something about the color selections that caught my eye.

Book description:

"Meaningful living is choosing your passions over your fears. It is accepting what you cannot control and focusing on what is in your power." Too often our meaningful lives and the things we are passionate about are buried under disappointments and lost dreams. Christopher F. Brown, LCSW, MBA, offers a powerful book combining psychological concepts with beautiful, provocative artwork done by John Palmer to help us move beyond the pain in our present lives to something more valuable and joyful. Divided into four stages, Brown has put together this thought-provoking guide to transform a life filled with dissatisfaction to a life filled with true meaning. Open to any page and begin your own journey toward a meaningful life.

Book Details: 128 pages; Synergy Books; Pub. September 1, 2009