Book Club Friday!

Yea for Book Club Friday---Thanks again, Heather!

This week I read two books...

Flying Changes by Sara Gruen

(from her website) Maybe it’s her approaching 40th birthday...or her ex-husband’s new wife and baby…or Eva, her rebellious 16-year-old daughter—but the only time Annemarie Zimmer feels any peace is when she’s on horseback, flying like the wind. Even her relationship with Dan—the man who put the reins back in Annemarie’s hands after a tragic accident left her bitter and afraid—is on shaky ground. Could the fact that she can’t have any more children be the reason he hasn’t proposed? Annemarie is well aware that the past is still a cloud on her horizon, and now that Eva is demanding to ride competitively,it’s getting darker by the minute, conjuring up images she would rather forget.Then, suddenly, another heart-wrenching turn of events forces Annemarie to take stock of her life. Will she finally learn that where there’s hope, there’s happiness?All she has to do is reach out…

I really liked this book, even a bit more than its prequel (riding lessons).  The characters are just as real, honest and frustrating as before :) The plot thickens and there is a good twist/surprise. It made me teary-eyed at the end and it warmed my heart, made me laugh, made me annoyed and made me gasp throughout the whole story. It is a fast read and makes me want to ride a horse :) Definitely worth reading. I give this novel a solid A.

and then I read,

From this Moment On by Shania Twain

(from Amazon.com) The world may know Shania Twain as many things: a music legend, a mother, and recently, a fixture in the news for her painful, public divorce and subsequent marriage to a cherished friend. But in this extraordinary autobiography, Shania reveals that she is so much more. She is Eilleen Twain, one of five children born into poverty in rural Canada, where her family often didn't have enough food to send her to school with lunch. She's the teenage girl who helped her mother and young siblings escape to a battered woman's shelter to put an end to the domestic violence in her family home. And she's the courageous twenty-two-year-old who sacrificed to keep her younger siblings together after her parents were tragically killed in a car accident.
Shania Twain's life has evolved from a series of pivotal moments, and in unflinching, heartbreaking prose, Shania spares no details as she takes us through the events that have made her who she is. She recounts her difficult childhood, her parents' sudden death and its painful aftermath, her dramatic rise to stardom, her devastating betrayal by a trusted friend, and her joyful marriage to the love of her life. From these moments, she offers profound, moving insights into families, personal tragedies, making sense of one's life, and the process of healing. Shania Twain is a singular, remarkable woman who has faced enormous odds and downfalls, and her extraordinary story will provide wisdom, inspiration, and hope for almost anyone.

I have been a devoted Shania fan since "Come on Over" came out on cd all those years ago so I was interested to learn more about her and how she became a famous country singer. Let me tell you that this autobiography does not disappoint! I feel like she didn't leave anything out, she goes back so far in her life and her journey is incredible. Just when I thought things couldn't get worse or something was just unbelievable something else happens. I love Shania's life attitude and honest, real adivce. Her reasons for writing this biography are simple and heartfelt and reading her story made me more of a fan. It was also interesting to read about all the behind the scene aspects of making it in nashville, being on the road, performing and still trying to be "normal" and live a life. Even if you aren't a fan of hers, I still recommend this book, it is hard to put down. Although I felt a few times that she could have left some odd stories or memories out because they just seemed forced and sort of disrupted the flow...but hey, it is Shania's life and story so more power to her :)  I give this book an A as well.

Happy Friday, Happy Reading and Happy Weekend!!!


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I have a cousin's wedding to attend with the majority of my family on Saturday that I am looking forward to. And Sunday will be another day with some family and maybe some relaxation :)