Welcome to Trading Pages!
The Home Page here is where I kind of babble to myself about book-related stuff. If you're interested in learning more about the club, you can visit the
About Page or email me at TradingPages@gmail.com.
Book Reviews
I present to you the winner & runners-up of the big Third Anniversary Book Review contest!
The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd
review by Lara Warg
I cried when I finished this book... not because it's a great, moving
story (which it is), but because I knew I would miss the characters so
much. I have never become so attached to people who exist only on
paper. "The Secret Life of Bees" is everything a good book should be
- witty, poignant, and utterly memorable.
I'm Not the New Me
by Wendy McClure
Review by Rebecca Sherman
Before losing the 30 lbs. I shed four years ago, I thought I would be a
different person without the weight, uber-confident and a man-magnet.
The truth is quite a slap in the face. Wendy McClure's memoir, I'M NOT
THE NEW ME, recounts her own days spent eating not so yummy
WeightWatcher 2-points bars, going to Women's Workout World and shopping
at Lane Bryant. Wendy sets herself apart from other truly overweight
dieters by creating poundy.com, a blog which sets her up as the hero of
the heavy, nationwide. As if there isn't enough pressure to lose weight
from society in general, Wendy now has online fans counting on her
weight loss. While I maintain that I relate to I'm Not the New Me more
than others (did I mention Wendy is a children's book editor and her own
story is set in and around Chicago?), I know too many women will laugh
and wince, seeing themselves in Wendy. My only complaint with this
quick-read is that there weren't more anecdotes and contemplation for me
to sink my teeth into.
The Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold
Review by Alison Siewerth
The Lovely Bones is a very well written, interesting and sad story about a young girl, Susie Salmon, who is raped and murdered, and the dynamics of how her parents and siblings cope. The point of view in this book is even interesting, as it’s Susie telling the story from heaven. She looks down on her family and close friends and observes what they are going through and at times tries to help them through certain situations. I felt this was an ingenious way to gain insight into each character and their motivations throughout the book. Also, as it’s being told from a thirteen year-old’s perspective, I never once felt the language was too mature for the character or too immature for my liking. Even though the story is very grim, there is a certain comfort in the possibility that our deceased loved ones are watching over us and trying to protect us. It also makes you think twice about having children, or thankful that nothing has ever happened to children you already have. I think it’s a realistic book, so much so that I wonder if the author experienced something similar inspiring her to write the book. Highly recommended!
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