What Chicks Are Reading

I was disappointed with this book. It starts out very interesting about a young girl in Delft, Holland forced to become a maid at 16 for the famous painter, Vermeer. It's a quick read and the story is appealing, but it drags in the middle.  Chick Julie
  

Grace Hart seemed to have it all: a bright, beautiful daughter, a successful career as a judge, and a lovely home in an Ohio suburb. The story brings out the problems both she and her daughter are involved in -- drugs, delinquency, stalking, etc. -- and goes on to show how these are resolved until they find comfort and protection. It's an okay book with a bit of a surprise ending.  Chick Jeanette
  

Open House by Elizabeth Berg

This is the story of a woman who re-creates her life after divorce by opening up her house and her heart. She has problems with her eleven year old son, her eccentric mother, and her lack of money. Through her trials she learns to make her own happiness. Elizabeth Berg writes in a way that is witty, wise, very thoughtful, and exhilarating.  Chick Jeanette
  

This book is a wonderful story of a young boy forced to live through the worst conditions you can imagine. He was born in South Africa, a white boy raised by black nannies and sent to a school at the age of 5 away from all his own people. He was tortured, made to eat horrible food and yet he managed to use his brains to keep him alive. He develops unique friendships throughout his life, learns how to box and become the welterweight champion of the world. A powerful story everyone should read.  Chick Julie
 

I borrowed this book from a friend whose is also raising a spirited child and WOW... what a life saver. My daughter McKenna, who is beautiful, incredibly talented, and full of life, is also a 24-hour a day, 365 day a year job. I have lost many nights sleep over how to handle her and how to handle myself. This excellent resource has taught me how to focus on the positives, and how to let go of the little things. I have learned that my little atomic bomb is probably going to excel at everything she does, and grow into a magnificent adult, but only under the guise of a parent willing to take the time to understand her. In this book I have found salvation and sanity. I only wish I'd have found it 2 years earlier!  Chick Megan
 

This story revolves around the teaching and life of the members of the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind. The church was started by Uncle Herman -- his granddaughter said he could not come up with a name for the church, so he put all his ideas together, acted like a prophet and named it. Under his church and doctrine, nearly everything was forbidden. Punishment for breaking any of the rules was severe, like filling your shoes with shells or spending time in a coffin already placed in a grave to keep your mind on Jesus suffering. The story centers on Ninah, the granddaughter of the church founder. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the church members and God himself. The story tells how she is tempted, her reactions to the temptations, and the results of her giving in to the temptation. I enjoyed reading the book and could even remember people from my past who reminded me of characters in the book. Chick Jeanette
 

This is the story of Patsy Ann, a woman is her 20's who feels life isn't living up to her dreams. She seems to always be wishing for things she doesn't get. She wants to be a wife and mother, but her very best friend is a gay man! She worries as her mother begins to act strangely. She is jealous of her beautiful girl friend who seems to get everything she needs or wants. It is not a shallow plot and the author writes with such humor and with such a big heart, it's hard to keep from reading it in just a few hours.  Chick Jeanette