Tuesday's Book Review

Because I am reading "John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace" by Jonathan Aitken, and last week was a temple weekend plus a holiday weekend, I have not completed as many books as I usually do. "The Apothecary's Daughter" by Julie Klassen was a free download on my Kindle (as is the John Newton book). I thoroughly enjoyed "The Apothecary's Daughter" and have in fact ordered the other books by Julie Klassen. It was a fun book - written in the Regency period. It did have few very blatant quotes from Jane Austen but who cares. It was fun and clean and delightful. What more do you need in a book?

"M. C. Higgins, the Great" by Virginia Hamilton is a Newbery Award winning book. It was not my favorite book that I have ever read. However I am probably a better person for having read it. I also ordered "The Slave Dancer" by Paula Fox. It turned out I had read it somewhere along the way. Probably something Carianne had brought home years ago. Also a bit of a downer. I need to read these kinds of books in summer and not when we are getting snowed in and there is no sun.

I Love the Jaine Austen Books! Laura Levine is a wonderful author and I find myself laughing out loud while I am reading a murder mystery. I got "Killing Bridezilla" from the library and loved every minute of it. I think part of the reason I love the books is in the last few, Laura Levine has a sub-plot going of emails from her parents in Florida that are really funny. They lighten up an already funny book. I do wish though, that Jaine wasn't quite as hard on herself and accepted her for who she was. But then it took me a LONG time like me for who I am.

I really enjoy the 'Mossy Creek' Books. "Reunion at Mossy Creek" was not a disappointment. It was written by a few different authors than "Mossy Creek" but the original flavor is still there. The thing is, even though it is a series of short stories, there is a plot that runs throughout the book. It is really a well devised and well written book. It is great 'trip' book because you can pick it up and put it down - the plot is retold in every story but not to the point where you get tired of it. It is just retold in a new voice. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hopefully I will finish the biography of John Newton this week. It is quite a long book but it is fascinating to know that the man we can credit the hymn 'Amazing Grace' heard 'The Messiah' at its premiere and listened to Isaac Watts preach and sing his amazing hymns as he wrote them. It is a 'heavy' book - so I cannot read it very long before I literally fall asleep. But it is written from his journals and sermons so I think I can believe it. More on it next week.