Karen's Book Nook

As stated in my prior post, I’m changing the format of the blog posts and will post when I’ve finished each book rather than when I’m starting a book, so that I can include a review in with the posts. For the Holiday Challenge books though, I’m going to go back to the original post and ADD a review blurb on each post.

Here are the individual links:

1. Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans starting 12/09/09, finished 12/11/09, Reviewed 12/13/09

2. The Gift by Richard Paul Evans starting 11/30/09, finished 12/02/09, Reviewed 12/13/09

3. Christmas Box Miracle by Richard Paul Evans starting 11/29/09, finished 11/29/09, Reviewed 12/13/09

4. Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber starting 11/28/09, finished 11/30/09, Reviewed 12/13/09

5. A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry

6. An Amish Christmas: December in Lancaster County

7. A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry starting 11/24/09, finished 11/27/09, Reviewed 12/13/09

8. A Family Christmas by Caroline Kennedy starting 11/27/09, finished 11/28/09, Reviewed 12/13/09

9. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans (re-read)

10. Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs starting 12/07/09,

I also reviewed all books read thus far in December, today. I’m going to review all as read from here on out.

Starting another of my Holiday Challenge books, Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans.

About the book: There are stories, Christmas stories that are stored away like boxes of garlands and frosted glass ornaments, to be brought out and cherished each year. I’ve come to believe that my story is a Christmas story. For it has forever changed the way I see Christmas.” The Christmas season is supposed to be full of joy, but not for Mark Smart. Life had dealt him one body blow after another: he lost his scholarship and had to drop out of school; his beloved mother had died in a car crash; his girlfriend dumped him, and now, late on a snowy night in November, his car had broken down. Stumbling into a coffee house, he was looking for a phone to call a tow truck. What he found was a beautiful young woman with an unusual name who, through a simple act of kindness, changed his life forever. More here.

My thoughts: This was one of the few books by Evans that did not include supernatural miracles and was more realistic fiction. It was actually read by the author and it took me a minute or two to be sure that it was actually fiction and not partially about his own life. Nothing in the story was so out there that it couldn’t have happened. I liked the story of two strangers who helped each other and didn’t want it to end. (I would like to see a sequel some day. ) His books always put a smile of my face, and I love that they’re small enough to read quickly and allow me to devour as many as I can during the holiday season.

Rating 3.5/5

I got lucky to be the first on the waiting list at my library for the newest Kate Jacobs book, Knit the Season. It’s a sequel to Friday Night Knitting Club and Knit Two and since it’s a holiday book, the timing couldn’t be better! I’m including it in my Holiday Reading Challenge list (although I’ve already surpassed the 5 for the challenge.)

About the book: The members of the club enjoy the holidays from Thanksgiving through Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s. The third book in The Friday Night Knitting Club series.

A new heartwarming novel from the #1 New York Times- bestselling author. (Amazon)

Knit the Season is a loving, moving, laugh-out-loud celebration of special times with friends and family. The story begins a year after the end of Knit Two, with Dakota Walker’s trip to spend the Christmas holidays with her Gran in Scotland-accompanied by her father, her grandparents, and her mother’s best friend, Catherine. Together, they share a trove of happy memories about Christmases past with Dakota’s mom, Georgia Walker-from Georgia’s childhood to her blissful time as a doting new mom. From Thanksgiving through Hanuk­kah and Christmas to New Year’s, Knit the Season is a novel about the richness of family bonds and the joys of friendship.

My thoughts: It took me awhile to have a chance to actually sit down and read this book and needed to start it over when I had the time to just do it when I had a good chunk of time. I always love books in a series as I like to revisit familiar characters. This one was no different and I really liked getting to know more about Georgia and her family through this book. It had lots of flashbacks and gave insight to what happened before  the FNKC formed.  I certainly hope that in some way the series keeps on going. It’s an easy read and one that anyone who enjoyed the previous books will enjoy.

Rating 3.5/5

Jumping over to a memoir in The Christmas Box Miracle by Richard Paul Evans for my next book in the Holiday Reading Challenge.

About the book: It has been six years since Richard Paul Evans’ debut novel, The Christmas Box, catapulted him out of obscurity and onto to the bestseller lists. Now, the international bestselling author reveals the tragedies, triumphs, and turning points that led to his initial publishing success. In his first work of nonfiction, Evans is also at his most intimate. “This book is about forces that move about us like wind – unseen, yet powerful enough at times to knock us over. And it’s about a little Christmas tale I wrote that was the result of such forces. Some call these forces divinity, others call them coincidence. Some just call them magic.” More here.

My thoughts: I particularly enjoy memoirs and find my attention span when reading them to be the best of any type of book that I read. I tend to fly through them and don’t get distracted. It was nice to hear the story behind the story of his first book and the struggles that he endured to get it published and “make it”.  I read this little book in one sitting and inspired me to check out and reread The Christmas Box. (It’s in my TBR pile again.) This book is an inspiration to anyone who follows their dreams and their heart. I warmed my heart and made me smile.  It also renewed my faith in mankind and in divine intervention. I loved it!

Rating 5/5

Starting the second book in my 2009 Holiday Reading Challenge, A Family Christmas by Caroline Kennedy. It’s an audio book version and I’ll be reading it while switching my decor from Fall to Christmas.

About the book: A Family Christmas Caroline shares the Christmas poetry, prose, scriptural readings, and lyrics that are most dear to her, drawing on authors as diverse as Harper Lee, Nikki Giovanni, Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Collins, John and Yoko, and Charles Dickens. There are also many lesser-known gems throughout and personal treasures from her own family — including a young Caroline’s Christmas list to Santa Claus and a letter from her father as President to a child concerned about Santa’s well-being. This diverse and unique anthology will become a timeless keepsake, and will enrich your heart and mind with the spirit of Christmas.  More here.

My thoughts:  I read this via Audio Book and I think it added so much to it. It began with Caroline Kennedy talking about her Christmases as a child growing up and also gave quite a bit of history about the Christmas holiday, Santa Claus, traditions, and Christmases around the world. I honestly learned quite a bit about Christmas that I had never heard before. Then it went in to various essays, memoirs, stories, songs, and poems each read by different readers; some by the authors and some by actors. Once again, reading this via audio book added so much to it!  There’s something to be said for hearing stories from around the world and from different eras read in the voices that were intended.  Since it was a collection set up as an anthology there were natural breaks between stories which were identified by the unique reading styles and voices of the readers.

This will be one that I’ll likely read again and again.

Rating 4.5/5