The Plain Truth by Jodi Piccoult

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Upon starting this book, I was hooked immediately, wanted to keep reading but I will say there were parts of it that were a bit unbelievable; The book is about a crime that happens in the world of the Amish...so there are crimes that are just against God in the world of the Amish, then there are crimes that are not allowed in the land of the law as well. There are some times when I started to think that Jodi was bringing us into some really forbidden territory but no, she didn't go there (sexual abuse between older brother and younger sister). In other words, my mind was guessing all over the place though I did guess the right answer a few times during the read, but my mind would shy away from that answer and back down a different road thinking that what I read couldn't be the truth.

The part that was unbelievable to me is the actual house arrest part with the lawyer staying on the farm...seriously? Most likely wouldn't happen...so I had to let that go in order to enjoy the read. Let's see...a lot has been going on in my life recently and I finished this book a while ago so am trying to remember all I have to say about it Oh there were other parts of the book that were different...strange...different...and probably not really needed for the storyline so I questioned what the author was doing with the character...maybe just seeing if she COULD write about that type of a character or figure? For those of you that are going to read this...I'm talking about the ice skating sister on the lake. You'll see what I mean. I liked it...a very sad story...a heartfelt glimpse into the mystery of the Amish world as seen by Jodi Piccoult.

I like the way Jodi writes...though this time there were different story line threads that didn't seem to go anywhere...and though they tied up a little at the end...you were still left wondering in some areas.  That's not always a bad thing though for writers to leave you to your imagination.

The premise of the story...there's a baby born...and found in the barn...that had passed away.  According to the Amish...no one was pregnant...but the clues lead to a young unwed Amish girl.  Did she have the baby and then rid herself of the burden so as to try to hide her turning from her faith's rules?  Or did someone else have a baby?  Or did someone else kill the baby?  So many questions.  Plus a lawyer who has to live amongst the Amish...someone typically used to electricity.

It's an enjoyable read...some long shots but easily forgotten...okay when i wrote that...I realized that the lawyer being ordered to live on the farm by the judge really bothers me...so other THAN THAT...I really liked this story.  But then again, I really enjoy stories about the Amish and the Little House on the Prairie way of living.

That's it for now...I will give Jodi Piccoult's The Plain Truth four out of five stars.  I may have to put her books on their own scale according to her style of writing...there are so many!!!

Happy Reading!  Spring...the rainy time of year when you can always curl up with a good book!!!

Best!

50 Shades of Grey by E L James

Fifty Shades of Grey
by EL James
#1 New York Times Bestseller





This book is all the rage.  It's all over the radio and television.  Dr. Oz is talking about it.  The ladies on The View are discussing it.  All the morning show radio hosts are reading it and talking about it and taking calls about it.  So, I work at a University and I happen to be in the bookstore (go figure) and noticed that they had the trilogy there.  So I think I better pick up the first book because not only was it 20% off but I get an extra 10% off as a Staff person.

I am not a wild woman by any means...but I used to be back in the day.  So needless to say I'm not a prude.  The way people were talking about this book though, I thought I was going to be blushing bright red the entire time I was reading.  As always, it's a matter of perspective.  I know people that explore sexuality in different ways, so I'm not easily shocked in areas such as this.  So I considered this book actually a nice tame story in the world of BDSM.

I would definitely expect that anyone reading this book would be 18 years of age or older.  As far as "sex" scenes go, I liked this author's style because there were no heaving bodices or naughty words used for body parts.  Everything was very natural and rated R as opposed to X.  E L James has a very nice way of describing erotic happenings in a way so as not to offend. 

I guess a good way to describe it would be to say it was clean erotica as opposed to nasty dirty erotica.  You didn't feel like you just visited some back door peep show where you paid a dollar to put your eye up to a hole in the wall.  And you didn't feel like you had to hide the book while reading in public...although that may be because of the publicity.  I actually ran into strangers reading the same book at the hair salon...and she didn't blush when I showed her my copy and said "enjoying the book?"  lol...she just laughed.

So it's clean, sensual exploration into a world most don't know a whole lot about but everyone secretly fantasizes about because let's face it, we all want someone else to take control...and who better than a gorgeous rich billionaire with his own jet, helicopter and a guy who wants to buy you an Audi to ensure your safety while driving?  Hey, I'd let a guy like that tie me up any day!!!!  Okay so he also bought her a laptop, blackberry, closet full of clothing with a monthly clothing allowance and was constantly surprising her with things like upgrading her airfare to first class and buying out the seat beside her so she could sit alone.

MY KIND OF MAN!!!!  LOL...okay so the me, the librarian did think Christian Grey was her kind of man...and Ana is a very lucky woman because she's not your typical tall blonde (yet everyone else in the story is including every woman working for Mr. Grey) but he doesn't want them...he wants plain mousy Ana.  It's an erotic spin on Cinderella minus the talking mice but let's throw in some spankings instead.

So her storyline is intriguing (obviously) because there is a lot of sensual scenes.  Characters are all wonderful...quiet Stepdads, loving Mothers, fun, protective roommates, Cinderella (Ana), our heroine and the Princely Christian Grey.

One (important) thing I didn't like about the book is actually the way the author describes conversations...the actual writing of these.  I almost feel her struggle during the conversations...Ana drops her eyes and looks at her hands, Grey closes his eyes, blah blah blah.  But I don't think people are reading the book to find out what these two have to say to each other...so most probably miss that part.  But I AM the Critical Librarian so I have to bring that up, and I do notice those things.

Oh and the ending?  It went from Cinderella happy to Cinderella not happy in about three pages...and I think it happened just to give you an ending that makes you WANT to read book number two.  So will I read book number two?  Yeah probably...but I'm going to take a break.  I feel like the author tried to force me into it...besides...you all know me and I have about four other books going at the same time and I'm WAY behind in my blogs as I have about four or five books at least that I need to blog about.  I don't like to be forced...unless it's Christian Grey doing it, of course.

So for good clean erotica...I give this book five stars...for writing quality...I'm only giving out two and a half stars so Fifty Shades of Grey averages right around three and three quarter stars as the ending felt forced so I had to take a little away for that as well.

I don't think E  L James has to worry though.  The book is hot enough to sell...and selling it is!  I cannot WAIT for the movie...rated X?

That's it for today, Readers!!

TTFN