Counting Blessings by Kerry Blair – Book Review 1/52
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
Sometimes I wonder how honest to be in book reviews. This book makes me think twice, (even thrice – just had to use that word), about the review. Why? Because the author has such great intentions and means to uplift and encourage the reader and I appreciate and respect that so it’s hard to post honest comments about the flaws. I guess I will start with… this book is uplifting and encouraging. It reminds women of how important our roles are and how imperfect those perfect-looking Superwomen around us really are.
But…the writer tries too hard. I remember reading a passage in Jane Eyre that was so long without a stop that I wondered if the sentence would ever end. Some of the passages in this book remind me of that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty style! One where the vocabulary and lilt are more like prose than narration, but it’s unnecessary in a book that reinforces a simple and down to earth way of living and a humble attitude toward life. It’s too flowery and the LDS cliches are…well, cliche. I did laugh at them on occasion because I recognized the traits in myself or a fellow sister. As I stated before, overall, this book did uplift and encourage. I just appreciated the wisdom more than the wit.
[After writing the above review, I realized there was one other thing that may have had some influence...I listened to this book on CD and the narrator was a woman from Utah. As a not-originally-from-Utah LDS person, now living in Utah, the vernacular was a bit distracting. Not all LDS women 'fill' the spirit or go to a yard 'sell' or get the 'mell'. I bet the author doesn't speak like that, not being from Utah. The book was in first person and the narration felt a bit off. ]
