xennicole's Reviews (2.27k)

Never been a fan of Saint Paul and always had issues with his letters considering I knew from History. But Karen Armstrong writes from a historical and cultural history standpoint an then adds the Bible as proof or as a concern. Most of the issues people have with Paul are from letters that have been proven were not written by him, but by people who wanted to be him or change his impact on the Gentiles in the Jesus Movement. Paul is a misunderstand player in the Jesus Movement that turned into Christianity.

It was a fun and quick Sunday afternoon read. The story ends when she becomes a Deputy Sheriff, but I wished it continued. Based on a true story.

There two sides to every story just as there is fate and fury to make life interesting. Marriage is two stories that are never truly told and what you see and believe of our significant other may be in fact just an illusion. Two separate stories of the same moments but secrets and truths that shattered before the reader but not the characters because the characters are not in on the secret.

Short, quick and easy to read essays from Gina Barreca. I have never heard of her before and this is the first book I have read, and will be looking the others. Funny, insightful and full of truth with a dash of humor to help it go down. Great read. I would recommend to all my friends, especially my English Major friends who will find her viewpoints on being a English Professor enlightening and funny.

Most of the essays are about finding yourself, the happiness that you have lost and being happy with you and a few essays mocking current events while she wrote.

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Finishing School series comes to an end. I was attempting to think back to the other books and I can only vaguely remember the plot of the first one, but not of the second and the third without looking up the books, even then I go "oh that happen." Which tells you that I enjoyed reading them for the most part in the moment, but entirely forgot the story much like a well-worn troupe of a sitcom.

I really like/love Gail Carriger's The Parasol Protocol and The Custard Protocol, but I struggled bit with this this which is set in the same world as the others, just earlier time frame. Oh well.

I felt the book was flat and the story was forced. It really got interesting 70 percent in, but that was because it was wrapping up the entire series with explosions. Love interest prevailed. The safety of Victoria England is secure. Not bad, but I was expecting more.

Quick read that covers the issues of using the a Bible in modern day issues in creating peace between Israel and the Palestinians because what is comes down to is reality and what people think the Bible said.

It covers the questions and issues and explains why a certain idea might not be seen or work the way people believe. Interesting and a good start to a discussions where I am not sure we will ever get a answer because when religion is at play with reality, there is always a struggle.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Les Liaisons Dangereuses. It was once scandalous but with media being media in today's world, this book seems tame until you start reading and as the reader starting to infer what is in in-between the lines (which you are suppose to do) of the letters. Learning the upper-class in France is bored and for some of the upper-class (Merteiul and Valmont) believes sex is sport and boredom means ruining other people lives with bets from your "former-and-one-you-still-like/love-but-don't-know-it" lover.

I saw movie and play versions before I sat down to read the actual work and while movies/play bring it to life there is something about reading the story played out in letters, only getting one side of the story per letter, but having all the letters in hand to read through and decipher the lack of prose or ignoring the too much prose. Intriguing read.

Allow people to tell their stories of their heartbreak and you can't believe what is written on paper. Chernobyl was an horrible accident and there is no way you can survive that, no matter what the governments does nor does not do. Lies are told to keep spirits going because what are you going to do, you are going to die at some point, somehow - for those living in Chernobyl, death was going to be interesting but you don't dwell, you move on. Time after time, monologue and after monologue, the reader reads heartbreak but the Russian resilient to live life till the end.

Painful, honest and there is hope in this book.

It took me one night to read. It was a great, quick read. 1950s meets Chicago meets MadMen meets a bit of Doris Day. Young female writer proves her worth to herself, her dead brother, her family, her fiance and the newspaper she works at and prevails. Just enough mystery, laughs and wit to keep the story going.

Fun read.

Some bright moments. Would recommend.