Chapman, Gary - The Five Love Languages for Singles

I'm fairly familiar already with the principles behind the books despite never having read the original. I bought this to check out the perspectives on friendships/family etc as well as the whole male/female business and the original apparently does look very much at it all from a 'marrieds' perspective, and well - I'm not.

An interesting read. I've always liked the concepts because I like analysing people. It did make all the more clear to me how high quality time is on my 'list'.

But the cover... it's disgraceful :P Certainly wouldn't entice me to read it.

Virden, Holly - If Singleness is a Gift, What's the Return Policy?

Another, read other people's theories to make me think book. Quite good. Some bits I weren't too keen on. At least it's not a 'stay single forever' book - but treats it as a season. A bit um slightly fluffy in the Jesus is my husband edge. It does acknowledge that Jesus is a lot more than a mere replacement which is a good thing.

Co-authored by Michelle Mc-Kinney Hammond. So two writing styles in the one book, but it worked. It had some pretty good points in it, well thought out, quite Biblical. Worth a read but I wouldn't go stake out a whole, 'how to be living singly sucessfully' on just it.

Southall, Ivan - Hills End

One of the most fantastic books I ever read when I was younger. An opinion shared by pretty much everyone in my house. I like having a read again occasionally. I haven't read it for probably 4 or 5 years.

Extremely fast paced, quite believeable and set in Australia.

I enjoyed it hugely yet again.

Moore, Beth - A Woman And Her God

Really don't bother.

I was not impressed with the writing style at all - and this is done by at least 7 authors. Maybe it'd click with an older more traditional Christian female, but erm no. I only finished it because I bought it and not too happy I did.

Sure there were a few good points, but the whole experience was rather painful.

de Saint-Exupery, Antoine - The Little Prince

A classic. I read it in one sitting with my mouth just about as open as it could get. Utterly fantastic! Strangely insightful. One of those books that is completely delightful in every little way. Curious philosophical moments despite having been written for Children (apparently) and having been translated from French.

It's short, it's really good, it's worth the half hour of more you devote to it.

Or... read it online!

Adams, Scott - God's Debris

Someone (I think it was Reinhard) shuffled this link my way some time ago.

God's Debris

You can read the whole thing online if you so desire (I did) - free. By the guy who does the Dilbert cartoons. It's bizarre, unusual. I read it too quickly, be discerning. Read it to make you think but don't go start a cult off of it.

This is not a Dilbert book. It contains no humor. I call it a
132-page thought experiment wrapped in a fictional story.
I’ll explain the thought experiment part later.
God’s Debris doesn’t fit into normal publishing cubbyholes.
There is even disagreement about whether the material
is fiction or nonfiction. I contend that it is fiction because
the characters don’t exist. Some people contend that it is
nonfiction because the opinions and philosophies of the characters
might have lasting impact on the reader.
The story contains no violence, no sexual content, and
no offensive language. But the ideas expressed by the characters
are inappropriate for young minds. People under the
age of fourteen should not read it.
The target audience for God’s Debris is people who
enjoy having their brains spun around inside their skulls.

Burroughs, Augusten - Running with Scissors

Finally finished it. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started as I have no blurb (got it from work which means they rip the back covers off the ones turned freebee).

I hit a point where I was, 'No way do I want to put this crap into my head' - but by then it was sort of too late and after a good week and a half period of leaving it, I decided to finish it - thankfully it tamed out.

Much much too crude and I'd have rather I hadn't read it. It was however quite funny. Running with Scissors is being made into a movie - for which I watched the trailer for and found that it's been extremely hollywoodised.

Really bizarre childhood. It doesn't really seem plausible - perhaps its another James Frey fraud?

Bell, Rob - Velvet Elvis

GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT!!!!!

So extremely good. (the cover is white - to explain the absent looking picture)

I can't be bothered writing too much but some over on Amazon (scroll down) have written a couple of helpful reviews. Otherwise, just go ahead and get it, it'd be well worth your while and money.

DiMarco, Hayley & Michael - Marriable

Freak out! Another book on such disturbing topics ;)
But I happened to find it on sale.
Nothing so new in this one. It was good though.
More to the fact that I laughed outloud approximately every third page and chuckled every other due to some absoultely random humor in the columns of the book, utterly hilarious.
Actually, it had some very valid points to make.
Also a myth debuster on the 'marry your best friend' thing which I found interesting.

Taylor, Jeff - Friendlationships

I've had my eye on it for a very long time as the title is intriguing.

Very interesting, unlike most Christian 'relationship' books. So some thought matter and actually pushed me to consider friendships (not the 'relationship that kind') quite deeply.

Probably doesn't delve into some things quite enough and I didn't find all of it relevant. Still good.

Amazon link for reviews