Dusty Shelves Challenge #1 - with a review

Publisher: Zondervan

Number of Pages: 208

How I got this book: purchased (super cheap!) at Mardel

My rating: 4.5/5

This was the book that Random.org chose for me to be my first Dusty Shelves read of the year. I'll be honest...I was disappointed when it popped up. I kind of wanted to get to one of my YA books. But, you know what? I really, really enjoyed it. And it was a nice break from the YA.

Summary from Goodreads:

"In I Just Want You to Know, New York Times bestselling author Kate Gosselin continues her story of faith and family, picking up where her first book, Multiple Blessings, ended. Using excerpts and written prayers from her journal, Kate offers an intimate look at the heart of a mother during the three years her family transitioned from obscurity into television fame. The book includes eight individual letters to her children in which she conveys her fears and dreams for each one and answers their questions about life."

I know that there is a lot of controversy about Kate and her family. It seems like either people hate her or love her - no in between. I have been a Kate fan from the beginning. I have watched the show from the time the very first special aired. I think that the show really kind of cast her in a bad light. But, if you have kids, you KNOW they can try your patience. Just think about that times 8! I know that I would be going crazy, and if I was on a reality show I would not come off as the perfect mom. But, that is my personal opinion...on to what I thought of the book.

In it, she includes a "love letter" written for each one of her kids, about her hopes for each of them, what she loves about them, etc. I thought this was very sweet. This is something I've always wanted to do for my kids, but it seems to get placed on the back burner. Kate has inspired me to make this a priority this year.

She covers many topics, such as how faith in God affects their daily lives, their reasons for doing the show, etc, with anecdotes about their family sprinkled in. The most eye opening chapter for me dealt with the security issues that they faced. She talked about how HUNDREDS of people would come by their house EVERY day, stopping to watch the kids play outside, take pictures, and even come up to the house and look in the windows! She talks about how one day she woke up to a camera pointed at her through her bedroom window! Yikes! And how she discovered her tires slashed one day.

I really enjoyed reading this and learning more about the Gosselin family. It was well-written and entertaining. It also makes me miss the show being on the air...It appears that she has a cookbook in the works called Love is in the Mix. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for it!