Book Reviews: Safe Haven & Eleanor Roosevelt

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Life of Soul Searching and Self-Discovery by Ann Atkins
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
Transforming the power in Eleanor’s story to your story starts now. Whatever the scale of your rendezvous with destiny, the fact remains it is up to you to live it. Eleanor’s story is a do-it-yourself guide that shows us how to accomplish many things. From a childhood plagued with drunks and drama queens, Eleanor must now discard her dependency on Franklin and face off with her grand dame mother-in-law. Refusing to cave in to society’s rules, Eleanor’s exuberant style, wavering voice, and lack of Hollywood beauty are fodder for the media. First Lady for thirteen years, Eleanor redefines and exploits this role to a position of power. Using her influence, she champions Jews, African Americans, and women. The audacity of this woman to live out her own destiny challenges us to do the same. After all, it’s not about Eleanor. Her story is history. Her life shows us how to live.

My Review: 3 out of 5 stars. This book was stated to be like a “beach read” however I didn’t find it like that at all. I was curious to learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt so I was excited to read it. I definitely learned a lot about her and her family. I learned things about FDR that I had no clue about which was interesting. So in that regard it was fun to learn about a part of history that I wasn’t all that familiar. On the flip side, I was bothered by how the book was laid out. I felt that it jumped around in time so that I wasn’t really sure when certain events were really happening. I think it would’ve been a more fluid read if it had started at the beginning of her life and just moved right on through it all. Also, I was a bit bothered by the author’s random questions (her opinions??) in the book. I felt it was trying to paint a picture that may have not been painted that way. Becoming almost fictional if you will. All in all, it was a quick read with interesting tidbits of information and quotes by Eleanor.

This next book is the Literary Junkies December pick.
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Goodreads.com Synopsis:
Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars. What.a.story. And it even had an ending that I did not see coming. At.all. Holy geez this one was good. I loved Katie’s character. I loved Alex’s character. I loved the kids in the book. I loved the whole story (except for the drunk husband who manages to drive so incredibly drunk that it’s really hard to believe). I don’t know if I can say that this tops The Notebook for me, but it’s a good one.

What are you reading?