book reviews..

having extra time on my hands these past few weeks has allowed me to read some books that aren't mandated by the university or required by professors. thus far, i have read 'redeeming love' by francine rivers, 'eat pray love' by elizabeth gilbert, and am in the midst of finishing 'reviving ophelia' by mary pipher.

i've been told by many of my girlfriends that 'redeeming love' is a fabulous book. i must say i was rather disappointed in it overall. it may have been the expectations that i had for it that made it a less enjoyable read, or perhaps it just wasn't well suited for me. the book is based on the book of hosea. a lovely story, about a young and aimless girl who becomes resistant to true love and is eventually swept away by a man who is able to show her what unconditional love is. call me unromantic, but i thought it was a bit cheesy. interesting premise, and significant biblical references to add relevance, but not as amazing as i had thought it might be.

on to 'eat pray love'...i reallllly enjoyed this book. written by a woman who has journeyed across countries, and isn't afraid to use self-deprecating humor to convey her true thoughts and opinions. such a candid perspective makes the book relatable and hard to put down for long periods of time.

although i haven't finished 'reviving ophelia', it is safe to say that this book has made it on my list of favorites. a must read!! addresses the media and its impact on adolescent girls, their decision making, and their wavering self esteem that results. not only is this book informative, it is also rare in its form of approach to searching for reasons behind the 'collapse' of teenage girls in society. this book doesn't necessarily point to problems in a girl's upbringing, or blame self-destructive behaviors on a lack of some sort of trait. rather, pipher reveals just how influential the media is on females in america. furthermore, 'reviving ophelia' illustrates the downfall of our culture, the american beauty obsession, perfectionism, and how we can fight this epidemic and nurture teenage girls into become strong and independent females who focus less on outer appearance and more on their passions!!! phenomenal book!