Sweet Revenge

REVENGE OF THE GIRL WITH THE GREAT PERSONALITY                  4 Stars

By: Elizabeth Eulberg

When I saw this book title I couldn’t resist checking it out. I knew it would be a classic high school book that everyone should read. I was right.

This book allowed me to cover most emotions known to man within the few short pages. It is a quick read that will make you sad, angry, pensive, disgusted, giggly and more. I loved it!

Lexi is a teenager who opens the book by telling us her Saturday is spent applying butt glue on her 7-year old sister. You might wonder why in the world Lexi would be applying butt glue to her sister; well her sister is a child beauty pageant girl. Imagine Toddlers and Tiaras and you will correctly guess how Lexi’s family is.

Lexi’s parents are divorced and her mom’s coping skills involved eating horribly and spending thousands of dollars (money she doesn’t have) on pageants for Mackenzie. As a result Lexi is placed in a position where she is the runner girl for anything and everything Mac needs.

As Mackenzie gets more beautiful, Lexi feels uglier. Lexi’s two best friends, Benny and Cam are the only ones that seem to know her true beauty over the fact that others only think she has a great personality.

After Benny and Cam discover that Mac called Lexi “ugly” they talk her into fixing herself up. Lexi is actually a fashion wiz and seamstress, yet she hides in baggy clothing and no makeup. Benny makes a deal with Lexi to dress up for a week in order to help her self-esteem.

While Project Lexi 2.0 is underway you see many similarities between high school and beauty pageants. Pick up the book and see how Lexi handles it all in this funny page turner.

REVENGE WEARS PRADA: The Devil Returns             3.5 Stars

By: Lauren Weisberger
 
It has been a few years since I read The Devil Wears Prada, but I remember enjoying it as much as I enjoyed the movie. Actually, I didn’t read the book at all. I listened to it, which could have been part of the reason I loved it. I don’t remember who the reader was (it looks like a few different versions are available) but I do remember being highly entertained by the parts when the assistants are required to perform a little song before being allowed into the building. In fact, I should listen to it again; I could always use a laugh.

When I heard that Weisberger had released a sequel I immediately placed a hold at my library. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It has been a decade since Andy’s famous Paris scene where she told Miranda Priestly exactly what she thought. For about two thirds of the book we are just catching up on her life, which starts with Andy’s wedding to another man, yes I was disappointed to find out it wasn’t Alex.

In additional to her wedding, Andy has teamed up with Emily. That’s right; it is the same Emily who Andy worked with while at Runway. Andy and Emily have started a new bridal magazine, The Plunge. It is doing rather well and Miranda has taken notice. Soon Miranda is setting up meetings in order to discuss purchasing the magazine.

While the first portion of the book is interesting, it didn’t quite live up to the hype I was expecting. Suspiciously Miranda is quite controlled and we don’t see the devil until later in the book. Fortunately, the last third of the book shows the Weisberger drama we have come to love and expect. Even though the excitement is kept to the finale, it is still worth picking up if you are a fan of The Devil Wears Prada.

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME                 4 Stars

By: Jennifer Larue Huget & Red Nose Studio

What better form of revenge exists than running away from home? It doesn’t matter that you are running away from home because you don’t think anyone cares; you are going to show them the ultimate form of revenge by denying them of your presence. That should teach them!

As a child I used to write many notes detailing my plans to run away. I kept them in a drawer in order to save time for when I actually decided to really run away. I just knew when that moment happened my family would know to look in my drawer and see all my run away notes and realize what they had done to deserve such revenge. Turns out I was a little delusional.

Nobody did it better than one of my sisters, who put her run-away note on my parent’s bedroom door in plain sight. However, she was unable to find tape so a little ingenuity was required. This came in the form of toilet paper or a paper towel. When wet it would stick to the surface, which magically held the note so it could be discovered. I remember my dad not even being worried about her when he saw the note. He just chuckled and mentioned what a smart little girl he had. He knew he didn’t raise a dummy, even if she thought she could run away.

Before I talk about the content of The Beginner’s Guide to Running Away from Home, I want to talk about the illustrations. It is different from most picture books we are used to. Imagine a small doll house world. Items are made out of wood, paper, plastic, and various other materials. Imagine people made out of clay or wood and a map detailed in chalk. When this world is put together it is photographed in various scenes to depict the story. Since it is photographed we get light, shadow and silhouette. Imagine bright paint and color and details that are intricately placed.

Once you have an idea of this world, add even more. Add more well-known background illustrations in what could be paint, chalk, or possibly even pencils. Don’t forget that the materials mentioned above are also used. Then add random graphite sketches to enhance a few of the scenes. All of this was a lot to take in, and took some getting used to, but once you do, you will realize how brilliant it all is.

Going back to the content of the book we discover indispensable tips on the proper etiquette of running away. For example, the unnamed boy tells you to forget the hobo idea of a bandana on a stick. A wagon is way more acceptable to carry all the supplies you will need. Taking an animal is also a good idea, but make sure it is one that won’t eat your snacks. You can eat said snacks once you can no longer see your house, but don’t take too long in case a search party is sent out after you.

This book is full of adventure and fun. Pick up the book to see what other tips you missed or your child might miss while planning their great escape.

Near Death Experiences and the End of the World

VISIONS OF GLORY                 By: John M. Pontius                 4 Stars

This book is one that is hard to review. It is both a near death experience (NDE) book as well as what the main character states as revelation concerning the last days. Pontius writes the book in first person to portray the story as told to him by a man name Spencer (name has been changed).

Spencer starts by stating he was stillborn, yet somehow miraculously survived. Throughout Spencer’s life he struggles with health issues and as a result has multiple near death experiences. Through these experiences his knowledge is added upon to receive even greater and more detailed information.

The first few experiences Spencer has are slightly simpler and deal with angels and a world that is beyond the normal mortal’s vision. Each vision is built upon until Spencer learns and has a greater understanding of good versus bad angels, living things, and callings (mostly specific to Spencer’s understanding of his ultimate roles in his life and within his religion). Spencer’s role in life deals a lot with the end of the world or the last days before Jesus returns to the world.

Before Jesus can return to the earth, many signs and destruction must occur. Spencer’s account provides some specific details as well as just general events that are his understanding of what will happen during the last days and before Jesus returns.  It additionally gives a few details that will happen during the Millennium (or the 1,000 years Christ will rein upon the earth).

No matter what your beliefs, this book is an intriguing read that can be a quick read or a slow read depending on how you choose to evaluate the material found within. One of my personal favorite parts dealt with the library. In one of the NDE a library is presented where one could merely pick up the book and know the full contents within. More time spent with the book would provide more insight and understanding, including information about the author. As a person who spends a great deal of time reading and studying I can only imagine how much more I could do (or how much more recreation time I would have). Sign me up for that!

Forms of Brave

ON FOLLY BEACH        By: Karen White          4 Stars

Karen White is a personal favorite of mine. She authors the entertaining Tradd Street series, as well as other books, which I have yet to read. From the books I have been able to read by White, she seems to focus a lot on the relationships between groups of people. Many of these relationships deal with multiple generations, as is the case in On Folly Beach.

There are two storylines, one starting in 1942 and another starting in 2009. Both of these stories have similar plots and characters, yet you are never bored by the similarities. We originally start with Emmy in 2009, whose husband just died in Afghanistan. She is devastated and is finally convinced by her mom, as well as a mysterious note in a book margin, to head to Folly Beach, South Carolina to start over. She purchases Folly Finds, a book store her mother frequented as a child, and who was the original owner the book with the message.

In 1942 we are introduced to Maggie, the original owner of Folly Finds. Maggie has a much younger sister, Lulu, and a cousin, Catherine. Cat is also a recent widow due to Pearl Harbor. Cat is a little bit of a wild child and as both her parents are gone, Maggie promised her own dead parents that she would take care of Cat and Lulu. The problem is both Maggie and Lulu loved Cat’s husband and it is because of Cat’s sabotage that Maggie didn’t end up as Jim’s widow instead.

As the plots thicken you will find more sabotage, betrayal, love, secrets, and of course, bravery. Emmy is told multiple times that she is brave. Her bravery comes in the form of staying home while her brave husband fights for our nation.  Other brave acts are presented in this historical novel that might throw a few surprises your way. Whether you are surprised or not, you will still enjoy the storylines and how they all come together at the end.

 

OVERCOME: Burned, Blind, Blessed          By: Carmen Blandin Tarleton         4 Stars

Overcome was recommended to me by a random patron one day while working.  I checked it out soon after, but didn’t have a chance to read it for quite a while. In fact, while reading MSN (or some other news site) one day, I ran across a slideshow of face transplants. Imagine my surprise when I saw a story that sounded familiar. I had to check the author name to make sure it really was the same person. I did see Carmen’s new face and she looks beautiful.

To be honest, I had to skim some of the book because of time issues. However, the portions I did get to were worth the read. Carmen deals with a lot of heartbreak from her relationship with Herb. Eventually the relationship is terminated and Herb ends up dousing Carmen with industrial strength lye. She was burned around 80% of her body and left blind. I found it difficult to read her descriptions of gaining some vision, losing it and so much more.

Some of Herb’s issues are presented in the book, but I imagine most of it goes beyond what Carmen even knew or laid out for the reader. At one point in the book Herb said he was looking for a reason not to harm Carmen, but never received it. Carmen was attacked early in the morning, just a few hours after Herb’s birthday. Carmen did feel an impression to call him, but never did. However, nobody knows if a simple birthday wish would have prolonged the horrible situation, or prevented it altogether.

Who knew if that simple call would have even been the sign Herb was waiting for, or if he would have comprehend the call as a sign either. What could have been didn’t change reality. The reality: Herb’s 15 minute attack on Carmen changed countless lives forever.

Carmen experienced things that no one ever should have to, but as we all learn from our trials, Carmen learned a level of healing that would be hard to achieve without going through the process. Carmen commented on how she was called brave. She was brave. She sat in court with Herb so he could see what he had done. More importantly, she rose above her situation and learned to become a motivational speaker, even speaking about forgiveness.

When Carmen first testified in court, images of her were presented on the news. Before her story was given, a warning was provided that graphic images would be displayed. The realization that Carmen was the graphic image was detrimental to her healing process. With time Carmen was able to overcome her “Disfigurement Challenge” and accept herself for what she was. Once Carmen’s outlook of herself changed, miraculously others changed as well. Instead of scaring children in public, they were coming over to her for a hug. As pivotal as this was, it was not as important as her ability to forgive.

Carmen was not only able to forgive Herb for his well-being, but for herself as well. When Carmen was first attacked, she had a vision of sorts. She distinctly saw the words like a movie screen: “CHOICE. Life. Is. A. Choice.” Carmen chose to press on with life and forgiveness. She did not want to have anger and hurt. She didn’t want those 15 minutes to define her. She made the choice to forgive. With that forgiveness she has set out to tell her story so others can realize the same healing in their lives. She is counteracting Herb’s negativity by replacing it with positivity.

At one point Carmen spoke at the Vermont State Prison during their National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This was a prison where Herb had been incarcerated at some point (yet he had been transferred previous to the event). During the Q & A portion of the event, a prisoner asked Carmen if she had forgiven her attacker. Carmen replied by stating that she was not the only victim. Herb too was a victim.

Carmen remarked that victims are merely just victims of victims. Another inmate said he never forgave his perpetrator and he treated his victim the same way he had been treated. He didn’t forgive, he just repeated the cycle. However, Carmen made it clear that even without the victim’s forgiveness (which you have no control over) you need to focus on your own forgiveness.

Carmen wanted others to realize that selfishness shouldn’t be this horrible word in society. In reality, if we are all taking care of ourselves, we are better able to take care of others. In order to stop the vicious cycle we need to learn to love and forgive ourselves, that way we can love others instead of hurting them. By taking care of ourselves we are able to become better parents, spouses, friends, siblings, and more.

The idea of forgiveness happened in a most profound way when Carmen mentioned her mother’s healing. Her mother was consumed with revenge for the first few weeks. Luckily, while talking to a neighbor at a grocery store they said everyone in town wanted Herb dead and wanted to cause him pain if they had the chance. Carmen’s mom realized how absurd this idea was. They wanted to react to violence by causing more violence. She had seen the pain Carmen and others were going through. It was senseless to think that the same acts of violence would solve the problem. She didn’t understand how anyone would want to be as inhumane as Herb had been at that moment. From that point on Carmen’s mom started her own healing and forgiveness, her own road back to sanity.

At the end of the book, Carmen was only beginning her journey to receive a face transplant. As mentioned above we now know that the transplant has been complete. Not only that, but Carmen is moving on and thriving in her new life. She is now in a new relationship, one with a man who loved her even before she had a face transplant. She has been burned and blinded, yet she has overcome and is now reaping the blessings associated with her bravery and forgiveness.

Here are some stories I found about Carmen:

http://www.overcomebook.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/carmen-blandin-tarleton_n_3194772.html

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/publicaffairs/news/facetransplant/default.aspx This is the hospital who have completed face transplants, in addition to Carmen.

As sad as this is to say after understanding how it hurt Carmen to hear…Graphic Images are found on this slideshow. It is before and after pictures of those who have been blessed enough to receive face transplants… http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2DG2I#a=1

There are many more that can be found with a little research.