Follow Your Heart: 21 Days to a Happier, More Fulfilling Life by Henri Junttila

Genre: Self-Help

Date of Publication: December 3, 2013

Memorable Quotation: “Fear can keep you from joy, or it can be the door to it.  It’s a door with a lot of special effects, but once you walk through it, you’ll see that it was all for show.” (pg. 20)

Lasting Impression: One of the most important books you’ll read this year.  With Junttila’s simple steps, you can follow your heart with more courage and less fear; helping you live a better life overall.

Similar Titles: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Accessibility: A+

Content: A+

Creativity: A-

Layout: A-

Overall Grade: A

For those of you who feel lost and need a guiding light, this book definitely provides that sense of guidance and hope that we all so desperately need at times.   Through 21 chapters, Juntitila shows his readers how to let go of their fears and follow their hearts.   He covers quite an array of topics, including, “Notice Your Reactions,” where he helps you not to be so quick to anger or irritation, “Open Your Heart,” where he reminds you that everyone could use a smile in their direction, “Make Right Decisions,” where he shows you how to make the right decisions thoughtfully, not on impulse, etc.

The chapters are very short and easy to relate to (only 3 pages each), which made reading a breeze.  It was also refreshing that the author spoke directly to the reader, not in the lecture fashion that would have turned this book sour.  I definitely feel a major difference within myself after reading Follow Your Heart.  I feel calmer and think more rationally about feelings when processing certain situations and if you are someone who, like me, felt lost and needed reassurance that you’re not alone, read this book.  It just may give you the epiphany you’ve been searching for, because after all, what is a happy life without following your heart?

~Shelly-Beans

Touch by Alexi Zentner

Genre: Fiction

Date of Publication: April 4, 2011

Memorable Quotation: “There is something about clear nights in the winter, the perfection of snow and ice in the light from the stars and the moon that always reminds me of the existence of God.” (pg. 163)

Similar Titles: The Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman and The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

Lasting Impression: Love the writing style, hate the lack of premise.

Storyline: B-

Pace of Story: B-

Characters: B

Ending: B-

Overall: B-

I almost didn't finish this book.  The story REALLY began to drag about half way through but my rule for reading is if I can get half way through it, I can finish it. This time it was tough because normally, books speed up toward the end but for Touch, it only seemed to slow down.   

The village of Sawgamet is one that has seen much tragedy and hardship in its days, and our narrator Stephen takes us through it all.  The town was originally founded by his grandfather, Jeannot, and with his bare hands he created a house that eventually flourished into a village due to the Gold Rush.  We meet Stephen’s other relatives both from his childhood and adult perspective which gets confusing after a while because Zentner doesn't do much to differentiate the two narrative voices. 

Throughout the entire book, it is unclear as to what the plot of the story was; the only thing keeping my interest is the vivid imagery and the quiet nature of Sawgamet that draws the reader in.  The other thing that frustrated me about this novel was that there was no summary of the novel’s premise, only raving reviews declaring the book as being “haunting” and “full of ghosts haunting the wood,” which lead to me to a false vision of what the novel contained. The prose was beautiful and the characters were eloquent and simple but when there were mentions of ghosts, I was disappointed. 

Although I say a lot of negative comments about Touch, this is a great winter read so if you are looking for something to curl up with and watch the snow fall, this would be a great companion for you.

~Shelly-Beans