Glad I'm Done With Ezekiel!

I just finished reading the Old Testament book of Ezekiel and feel a sense of relief.  It has some interesting things but lots of symbolism and prophecy of destruction--kind of depressing.  I liked reading about the visions God showed to Ezekiel because they were pretty wild.  The last few chapters were encouraging about how God would bring his chosen people back and be with them.  The references to Gog and Magog and the city, the river and the temple all reminded me of things in the book of Revelation.  The main theme of Ezekiel is "Then they will know that I am the Lord God."  This phrase and slight variations of it are repeated throughout the book.

I am reading through the Bible for the second time and have only a few books left to go:  Philemon (1 chapter), I, II, III John and Revelation. 

Below are links to the posts I did sharing some highlights from Ezekiel on our other blog, Right Where We Belong:

God of Details
Dry Bones Come To Life
God is Loyal to Jerusalem
God is Fair
Would God's Message For the U.S. Be The Same?
The Lord Punishes But Warns First

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Quiet--The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

Review first published Jan. 7, 2013

Today I am doing one of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompts:  Open your picture folders, close your eyes and pick a random photo to share and write about.  This is the picture I got from my "Favorite Reads 2013" folder so I am just re-posting this book review with the picture.

There was a lot of hype about Quiet--The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain and it won awards in 2012. Now having read it, I can tell you the hype was spot on! What a wonderful book!! I thought it was going to be a text book but it's not. The great thing about this book is that I enjoyed it and learned too. It's hard to beat that combination. The examples Susan Cain gives of people are very interesting. That is why I'm giving it 5++ stars. Well done, Ms. Cain! I LOVED it!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

I started reading this book and found it to be quite boring. I even decided I'd skim it instead but couldn't even make myself finish it then. I was surprised to see that "brainstorming" sessions do not produce great results. A better way would be to let each person brainstorm their ideas by themselves, then review them together and possibly add to them as a group then. I just didn't want to keep plowing my way through. I read the first 100 pages or so.
(Karen's Review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Never List" by Koethi Zan is a Real Page Turner! (UPDATED)

I'll Never do that!

The Never List by Koethi Zan is about three college girls who were kept chained up in a college professor's basement and one in a box!  This book grabbed a hold of me from page one!  The plot is really good and I loved the interaction throughout the book among the three girls.  The last few chapters when all the twists take place were so good I did not want to stop reading.  Put this on your to read list--you will be glad you did! 
(Gerard's review posted 8/20/13, 5+ stars) 


The Never List by Koethi Zan got my attention right away with two girls making a list of things they would NEVER do to stay safe. It is told from Sarah's view point who was held captive in a basement of a psycho college professor along with her best friend, Jennifer, and two other girls, Tracy and Christine. The professor was arrested when Sarah escaped but ten years later is up for parole. When the girls meet years later to work together to make sure he is not released, they wind up in dangerous situations and realize the professor is even a bigger monster than they thought.


This psychological thriller is very creepy but at least not gory in spite of references to torture and a very dark world of human trafficking. It explores the extent people will go for self preservation and the depravity of humanity. Although the main character, Sarah, is likeable and I couldn't help but root for her in her quest to find her friend's dead body, it didn't seem very believable that she would do that. I enjoyed some of the dialogue which lightened things up some. There are some tense moments and I had to keep reading to see how she escaped and learn what happened. The ending was shocking! To me this is a cross between a thriller and a cozy mystery novel.
(Karen's review posted 8/17/13)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: Three Today

Gerard's:

They clutch the raft with rigid hands. They are unwilling to let go, unable to pull themselves out of the swirling current.

From page 13 of Visitation Street by Ivy Pochoda. (Just finished this one, see my review before this post.)

Once in the building, my body felt enveloped in a mist of darkness and evil. This place was a vision of hell to me, all red and black, packed with a crowd geared out in studded leather who seemed, beyond any other terror, utterly unpredictable.

From page 101 of The Never List by Koethi Zan. (See Karen's review.)

Karen's:

  "It's a tough thing to do in these parts, but you be friends with anyone you want, Jason Lee. Don't let nobody tell you different, you hear?" Her tone sounded like a scolding.

From page 8 of The Clock of Life by Nancy Klann-Moren.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Happy Reading!

"Visitation Street" by Ivy Pochoda

Visitation Street

by Ivy Pochoda is about two girls who take a raft out one Saturday night. One girl is found by the rocks, the other girl is missing. What happened? Will the other girl be found dead or alive? This incident also affected other people in the neighborhood who have their own problems.

The story moves along and kept my attention. The last two chapters when the truth comes out about what happened that night are very good!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!