Austenland by Shannon Hale

I know it. I've been very lax in my updating of this blog. But I don't know if anyone actually reads this so I'm not too torn up about it. However... I do want to keep track of my own reading and what I think about each book. That bookshelf thing on facebook only goes so far.. haha.



ANYWAYS.

Austenland by Shannon Hale.



Freaking. awesome.

The writing style was awesome. Not distracting in the least. It was light and humorous. Great chick lit! I told Kate it was my perfect "guilty pleasure" book but she asked me what was guilty about it. Haha. I guess nothing. :) It was the cutest, most original romance I've read in awhile. And the main character, Jane Hayes, is in her thirties, I believe. The hero of the book [Henry] was the perfect Mr.-Darcy-but-not. It is about Jane's distant [rich] aunt dying and leaving her a nonrefundable three-week trip to Austenland in England. They take away your electronics [though Jane kept her cell phone] and you dress in authentic Regency era clothes [undergarmets, corset and all] and live in a Regency-era manor with paid actors and several other guests. At the end of the visit there is a ball. If you want to read it I don't want to spoil the rest. :)

But the mention of all of Jane's past boyfriends is hilarious. Jane's narrative voice is funny and so very down-to-earth as she struggles with her obsession with Mr. Darcy.



Rating: 10 of 10 stars.

Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy

I love love loved this book. I could seriously write several pages on this! But I won't. haha.

It's a Christian book for girls. The full title is actually "Authentic Beauty: The Shaping of a Set-Apart Young Woman." Since I doubt I can describe this book with the eloquence that is on the back cover... I'll paraphrase it:



We live in a culture that mocks our longing for tender romance. Many girls have stopped hoping for a fairy-tale romance. But this book is for girls who still want that fairy-tale romance. That passion and intimacy. Ludy paints Jesus Christ as our true and perfect Prince. And we can have a beautiful love story with our Prince! And we learn how to live as a set-apart woman in our discouraging, cynical culture. We learn how to have Authentic Beauty. "Experience a romance that will transform every part of your existence and fulfill the deepest longings of your feminine heart."



Ladies.. that last sentence sounds awesome, doesn't it? haha. It is! I also got the study guide that goes with the book. I've been using it as a sort of morning-time devotional, recording my answers down in my prayer journal. I plead with every girl reading this.... find this book somehow: borrow it from the library or a friend, buy it from the bookstore... read it! If you can put in the time for the study guide... that's even better!!!



Also, I have the "Updated and Expanded" version, which includes three little extra snippets, written by Leslie's husband, Eric Ludy. They're called "Studying Manhood." It helps you understand what makes guys tick, and how we can encourage them to become the type of man they should be. Its great.



Please, please, please get your hands on a copy of this if you can!

Tina

Steeple Hill

So... I thought I'd be reading The Great Gatsby. But I ended up reading the first chapter and setting it down in favor of some of my guilty pleasure novels. I will definitely read it... but not just yet. ;) Steeple Hill is a branch of Harlequin that publishes only Christian romances. So... basically, I'll read any Steeple Hill novel because they all read about the same. haha.



The two novels I read instead were "Their Small-Town Love" by Arlene James and "Her Wedding Wish" by Jillian Hart. Mom bought them for 50 cents each at the library. haha.
"Their Small-Town Love" was just as any of my Christian romances should be. Easy to read, gave my brain a rest, and I can actually remember what it was about after I set it down.



I was excited about "Her Wedding Wish." It's a McKaslin Clan book! I looooove the McKaslin clan. =] I own almost all of the Clan books, which is over 10, easy. =] I also love Jillian Hart. She's a great author. So, I got my guilty pleasure, plus a continuation of my favorite guilty pleasure family. Double bonus. =]



If you like romances, if you like Christian books... read these two. =]

Tina

Blog for Books!

So... I'm pretty sure this is going to make up my... third blog now. =] haha. I'll have to add it to my list.
http://dappleddakota.blogspot.com [Regular blog.]
http://dappledtraining.blogspot.com [Dakota's training journal.]
and now..
http://tinasbookshelf.blogspot.com
Yaay!
haha.

So. I'm taking up the '50 Book Challenge' that I saw somewhere on livejournal or some such site as that. I'll read as many books as I can, and write a review for each on this blog! Yaay! Then, the way you participate is by commenting to express your excitement about the book. =] Whether you already read it, don't think it is your type of book, or are now convinced you must read it right away... your job is to comment! :D
Time to start reading!
Tina.