Sleeping Elsewhere

Ms. Madeleine Wickham, I do believe this book was a load of horse poop. Sleeping Arrangements was quite dull to be honest. It felt as if absolutely nothing happened. Where are the consequences for people's actions? According to Ms. Wickham's book, extramarital affairs are okay if you still love your partner and don't tell them about the affair. I don't think this book fully explored what any of the characters had to offer, and in the end, they just all go on their merry way. Maybe that's the way things happen in England, but I don't think so. I just wasn't pleased with this book. It seemed to be a waste of characters who could've been interesting given the right situation. I hope this next book is not equally disappointing. A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire. The third book of the Wicked years.

Fascinating Austria

Eva Ibbotson loves her some Austria. I don't mind, except for the sometimes difficult to pronounce names. (And there are lots of names). I usually really enjoy her books and The Reluctant Heiress was fine, but not as good as the other two I've read. So far, I'm going to have to say my favorite is A Company of Swans. The whole opera thing is a little annoying to read about. I wouldn't mind watching an opera, but reading about it is not very interesting. The love story part of this book was not emphasized as much as I would have liked. Too much about politics and opera, not enough about the relationship. Next up is Slepping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham. 

Death and Dying

I've been bad! I've finished two books since the last time I wrote! I really didn't mean to, but the last one was so hard to put down that I finished it very quickly!

Okay, so first of all I read Club Dead by Charlaine Harris. It wasn't a bad book, but I think it was my least favorite of the Sookie Stackhouse novels I've read. I'm not a really big "Vampire Bill" fan to be honest, and I really wish Sookie would have completely kicked him to the curb. I honestly think she'd be better off with Alcide. Hopefully, the next Sookie Stackhouse novel will be a better read.

Now, the book that I only put down because I had to actually work. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman was a beautiful book. The author weaved the two parts of the narrative together seamlessly. It was an incredibly sad book, but at the same time an incredibly joyful book. I can understand Mia's internal struggle as she decides whether she wants to live with the pain she knows she'll face, or let go and enter into the unknown void of death. She wavers between choices for a while, but has to ultimately decide her own fate. It's a gutwrenching look at how someone's life can be dramatically altered in a matter of seconds.

The Marrying Kind

All Lizzie ever wanted was to get married and design wedding gowns, so did she do it? Well, I'm not going to tell you. ;) I will tell you that The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot is an odd bit of chick-lit. I liked it, but had some issues with how the book unfolded. I'm not going to give anything away, but I found some things oddly convenient. I kind of think the author shouldn't have made it so easy for us to forgive Lizzie. It just bothered me.

The Dead Speak!

Wow! These girls in Pretty Little Liars are so screwed up! Almost every one of them is delinquent in some way or another. One's a klepto with an eating disorder, another is having a relationship with a teacher, yet another is stealing her sister's serious (and older) boyfriend, and the last one is just trying to get out from under her parents' thumb. She's the only one who isn't doing something she could get in serious trouble for! And is Alison really dead? If so, who is sending the cryptic notes, emails, and text messages? I've got to get the next book in the series so I can find out what happens.
Woo-who! Another Meg Cabot book! The thrid in her Queen of Babble series: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched. I just started it, but I loved the first two! I hope I like this one just as much!

Crying is Good for You

I finished The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, and as usual with his books I cried like a baby! I'm trying to think of a book of his that I didn't cry while reading, and I can't come up with one. I specifically remember bawling my eyes out while reading A Walk to Remember. The Last Song has to be one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. I like the fact that it's not a completely depressing ending. Most of his books are that way in the end, bittersweet. I do hate the fact that I couldn't stop picturing the actors from the movie as the characters because I really don't think they match-up too well with the book descriptions. I feel that way about some books, but others don't bother me.
Since I finished The Last Song Saturday night, I'm already halfway through my next book, Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard. It's the first in the series, and yes, it's what the ABC Family TV series is based on. I have to tell you, though, that I've had this book for awhile, before there was anything about a TV series. So far, I'm really enjoying the book. I'm already halfway through this book and I only started reading it yesterday morning. These girls are seriously flawed, but that makes for a good story!

Bad Dog!

Last night I finished reading The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It took me longer than I would have liked to read it simply because I haven't had an enormous amount of time to read lately. I've been too busy with real life in the past couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to the week of Thanksgiving. I'll have an entire week off, and, hopefully, I'll get to read a bit more. I've also started a new workout regimen that I can already tell is going to kick my butt!
Now, back to the book. I have to say I really enjoyed it! Sherlock Holmes has always fascinated me. His mind works in such an interesting way. The way he explains his process to Dr. Watson just makes everything seem so obvious. You wonder how you could've missed that clue. Things unfold in such a fluid manner. They just seem to naturally lead to the other.
Next book, The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. No, I haven't seen the movie. I am avoiding it until after I read the book. I always read a Nicholas Sparks book first and then I see the movie adaptation.

Why Do I Do This to Myself?

Vanity Fair and I aren't getting along right now. I was able to get through about 100 pages, but then I realized I was very bored. I think this is a book I will need to tackle in sections. I'll read a few pages every now and then. Maybe I'll try to read fifty pages or so at a time. I may be able to tackle Jane Austen in a similar way one day. I admit I had high hopes for Vanity Fair. In the beginning I was encouraged and found it very easy to read. While it hasn't gotten any more difficult to read, it's not in a very entertaining place right now. I have many, many more books sitting here that I would much rather tackle right now. So, I'm moving on for the time being. I'll come back to Vanity Fair eventually. Maybe I'll read a little more when I've finished my next book. Now I'm tackling something a bit more interesting to me. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Yes, I think it's about time I put a little Sherlock Holmes into the mix. I'm very much looking forward to it!

Oh the Anguish!

Wow, The Time Traveler's Wife is intense. I loved it, but it is not necessarily a happy, happy book. It was very raw and emotional. Parts of it made me almost sick to my stomach and other parts made me cry my eyes out. Still other parts made me laugh out loud. It is definitely not a book for the faint of heart. Audrey Niffenegger really knows how to write a strange and touching book. The other book that I read by her was almost just as strange. I am curious to see what she comes up with next. Next on my list is Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. I have already started reading it and I think this is one classic that I might actually get through. So far it's interesting. I just hope it can hold my interest.

Is it Vacation Time Yet?

I love my job, I really do. I know what I'm doing is important. A lot of these kids need a lot of help, and I'm happy that I can do something for them. However, we all need a vacation now and then. I'm getting anxious for a vacation right about now. We're planning a mini-vacation to New Orleans in October and I can't wait!! I love going to New Orleans and my husband's never spent any real time in the Big Easy, so I'm excited to show him some of my favorite things. Also, I'm looking forward to doing some new things there myself. I've been making lots of plans and reading some travel books. (I do that a lot, even if I've been to the destination plenty of times. I think there's always something new to learn). That being said, I haven't read much of The Time Traveler's Wife yet. I've only read enough to really confuse myself.

There's Gonna Be Another One...Right!?

A couple of days ago I finished Claudia Gray's Hourglass. Oh dear Lord, please tell me there's going to be a fourth book!! It cannot just end that way!! Suffice it to say that the end of this book was not what I expected. I'm hoping there's a happy ending somewhere down the road. I've read a few pages of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I've been busy planning a trip to New Orleans, so I haven't had as much time for recreational reading as I usually do.

From One Night World to Another

I finally finished the first Night World book a couple of days ago. I would have written earlier, but I've been celebrating my birthday, so I didn't really have a chance. It was okay; the last two stories were better than the first. Now, I'm onto reading the third book in one of my favorite series. Hourglass by Claudia Gray is the third book in the Evernight series. Bianca and Lucas have found themselves in quite the strange situation. I'm already almost halfway through the book, and it is really good! I'm excited to finally read this book. It's been in my "to read" stack for way too long! Of course, I still have over 30 books in that stack. Everytime I read one, I buy two more! It's a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing.

Not Enough Time Lately

I have not had enough time to read lately, and, as a result, I still have not finished the first Night World book! Maybe I can finish it over the weekend. It is Labor Day weekend after all, so I have an extra day off!! Here's to hoping!

Whoops!

Sorry! I completely let my writing duties get interrupted by my new job. I promise I'm going to do better! I'll have to start after I finish this book Night World No. 1 by L.J. Smith. I will update when I'm done. I promise!!

Oh the Drama!

Whoops! Meant to write yesterday, but I kept forgetting! I finished Blue Moon day before yesterday and I have to say it was excruciating! The emotion of the book almost made me feel like I was reading the break-up scene in New Moon all over again! It was almost that bad, especially the end! I'm curious to see how the author is going to get the characters out of the situation they're in. The next book in the series is already out, but I haven't bought it yet, so it will be a while before I read it. I've still got over 25 books in my stack to read! Speaking of that stack, I started reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Kathy Reichs. I'm reading her book Grave Secrets. As usual, things in this book sometimes make me slightly sick. Usually if it makes Tempe's stomach roil, it makes mine. This book has our good doctor in Guatemala. Terrible things have already happened and I'm only on page 62! I can already tell this book is going to be interesting.

An Impressive Ending

I have to say I was really impressed with the last book in the Wicked series. Wicked: Ressurection felt like it was easily the most exciting book of the series. The authors outdid themselves, making this book feel more like the first one. The first book caught my attention in a big way back in high school, but the other books never quite lived up to that first one. Well, they finally achieved that feat and more! The book was fast paced and incredibly hard to put down. I spent a lot of time reading last night that I should have spent sleeping! Now I'm reading the second book in the Immortals series by Alyson Noel, Blue Moon. Ever is trying to get used to her new immortal powers and trying to figure out her relationship with Damen. I'm interested to see how this new character that just popped up plays into the story. Guess I'll find out soon enough!

Finally!

Well, I finished my latest dose of chick-lit about two days ago. It was everything you expect good chick-lit to be (scandal, romance, self-realization, and, of course, sex). It wasn't an incredibly thrilling book, but it wasn't a bad read. If you read and liked The Devil Wears Prada or Everyone Worth Knowing then I can safely recommend you read Chasing Harry Winston. Now, the book I just started reading is the finale of a series I started reading back in high school. It took the authors quite a while to get this book out for some reason, but finally it was released and I can put this series to rest. The book is Wicked: Resurrection by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie. I will tell you these books are not for the faint of heart. They are seriously strange and might make some people squirm. These books definitely aren't for everyone, so be forewarned.

Dark Times

Well, in just that short amount of time I've finished reading Witch & Wizard by James Patterson. That book is pretty dark. I'm sure the sequel will be even darker. It's okay, dark is good every now and then. I just don't think I could consistently read that kind of book one after the other. That is why I like to keep my book choices varied. I will be buying and reading the sequel to Witch & Wizard. I have to know what happens!! Anyway, onto the next book! I have decided to delve into the world of chick-lit, for this next book. I've read both of Lauren Weisberger's other novels, so I figured I might as well read Chasing Harry Winston. The main characters in this book are three best friends all with different problems in the arena of relationships with the opposite sex. As usual, I'm not far enough into the book to tell you much more than that. Oh, and by the way, no I still haven't heard for sure about that job yet!

Waiting (Not So) Patiently

It's really frustrating when you're waiting to hear back from an interview! I have managed to focus long enough to finish reading Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid. It was very good and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series. I don't think it was as good as the first Percy Jackson book, but it was good enough. I just started reading Witch & Wizard by James Patterson. The feel of the book is very unsettling and just plain creepy. The whole "New Order" thing really makes my skin crawl. It reminds me a little of when I first read A Wrinkle in Time. It's the same feel I got from the planet that had been "taken over" by the darkness. It just felt so wrong.

I Have Slayed the Dragon!! (Well, Not Really)

I finally finished Eragon!!! The end was good and that's about all I can say in the realm of positive comments. I seriously doubt I will be reading the other two books. Maybe when I've run out of other stuff to read (not likely). The book was about 200 pages too long in my opinion. I could have used a lot more editing. There were very long sections of book where they were just riding horses in a valley or a desert. It took a very long time for anything to actually happen. This is one of the few cases in which I think the movie is better than the book. The story just flowed better and at a more consistent pace in the movie. It took forever for the author to just get Saphira out of her egg in the book!!! Thankfully, my next book is already much better and I'm only about 40 pages into it! I just started reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. So far, it is very good and according to my husband, it's going to get even better!!

A Very Long Walk

I am very, very close to being done with Eragon. I have to say, I'm very happy that I'm almost done. This book seems very long. The constant walking (or riding, or flying) from destination to destination with not a whole lot happening in between is getting very old. I am ready to finish this book and move on to my next one. I have very good reason to believe that my next book will be a good one. As soon as I finish Eragon I'm going to start reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. My husband just finished it and he really enjoyed it. We both loved the Percy Jackson series, so we are happy that Rick Riordan is busy writing not one, but two new series.

I Feel the Beginning of a Panic Attack

I feel a panic attack coming on. Normally, really only write about the books I read, but I have a huge job interview tomorrow and I just thought I should let someone know that I think I'm going to have a panic attack!! I'm so freakin' nervous!!

Dragons and Urgals and Bears, Oh my!

Ok, well not the bears, but everything else is there. I admit that so far my favorite character is Saphira, the dragon. I just like her because she's a little bit of a smart-ass. Brom is a fishy character. He never reveals too much of himself at once. He won't really tell Eragon anything too specific. I've already discovered lots of book-to-movie discrepancies, but I can't tell a whole lot yet.

Can't Wait for the Sequel!

I just finished reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick earlier today. It was a very good read and I can't wait for the sequel to come out this October. I had one small problem with the book. Around the middle of the book the relationship between Patch and Nora just seemed to stall for a little while. It was a little too much will they, won't they to be quite honest. I also thought she would have been a little more concerned about Vee hanging around with Jules and Elliott after she found out about Elliott's past. I think I would've been a bit more concerned about my best friend. Hopefully, those small problems will be fixed in the sequel, Crescendo. So, I've started reading a book that a lot of people have already read: Eragon by Christopher Paolini. Yes, I realize I'm a little late to the party with this one, but I just wanted to see how different it is from the movie. I've heard it is very different and I just wanted to see for myself. Yes, I have seen the movie and I enjoyed it. I'm sure that once I finish reading the book I will complain about the differences. I don't complain as much as some people do, though. I've just had so much experience with books becoming movies that I've come to realize they are never going to be exactly alike because you can't necessarily tell a story in a movie the way you would in a book. They are different mediums and have to be approached in different ways.

Sookie's Supernatural Showcase

I can honestly say that Charlaine Harris's Living Dead in Dallas is not what I expected. Sookie's world started out with just vampires, and then she found out that Sam's a shapeshifter. In this book she meets even more shapeshifters (including some honest to goodness werewolves) and a maenad (I can't remember if that's how it's spelled) named Callisto, that is freaky beyond belief. Who knows what else she'll run into. Speaking of vampires, I went to the midnight premiere of Eclipse last night. Best of the movies so far! I loved, loved, loved it! I think they handled all the story elements very well and Riley actually scared the bejeezus out of me. It was so good that I really want to see it again. I don't know if I can convince my husband to do that though! So, my next book is Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. It is not a vampire book. It is actually about fallen angels which is interesting. I've only read the first chapter, but so far, I really like it!!

Creepy Undead Vampire Things

I finished the second House of Night book yesterday. Yeah, I was totally right about Neferet. She's doing something to the fledglings that die and basically reanimating them somehow. So now, they're some kind of undead vampire hybrid. They are seriously disturbing. Worst of all, Zoey's best friend Stevie Rae is now one of the creepy undead vampire creatures. (They never gave them an official name in the book, so I have no clue what to call them right now. I'm sure they give them an official name in one of the other books). Now I'm reading another vampire book. This time it's one of Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire books, Living Dead in Dallas. I've only actually read about a page of it, so I have no opinion as of yet. Speaking of vampires, I am going to the midnight showing of Eclipse this Tuesday night. So excited! There seems to be a general consensus that this is the best of the movies, so far. My husband is going with me. I can't believe I convinced him to go with me, but I guess he just loves me that much!!

House of Night(mares)

I have been reading the second book in the House of Night series, Betrayed. Well, it's obvious that something fishy is going on. (Isn't there always). It seems to be something with Neferet, Zoey's mentor. Then again, it could be the mysterious Loren Blake...Things are not crystal clear yet, but that's okay. I'd rather things be a little murky. I don't like when books are too obvious. I like for there to be a little mystery. That's what a good book has to have really. I don't like to know what's going to happen as soon as I open the book. That's no fun!!

Home Sweet Home

I have returned from my Orlando vacation a very tired and somewhat tan person. I will go ahead and tell you, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando is absolutely amazing!! If you like the books or the movies, you have to visit this theme park. Butterbeer and pumpkin juice both taste amazing! Zonko's Joke Shop and Honeydukes are full of fun candy and all sorts of neat doo-dads. I bought a Pygmy Puff. It's very big and pink and I named him Mr. Bojangles. Hogwarts Castle is simply breathtaking, both inside and outside. The ride inside the castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, is incredible! It is a one-of-a-kind ride that puts you in the action. You encounter Dementors, spiders, dragons, a Quidditch game and more! The whole place is just mind-blowing! I cannot wait to go back (we're hoping next summer). Also, I finished reading Stephenie Meyer's The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. I can honestly say, I did not want to see that girl die. I really think she could have found a happy life with the Cullens or at least been happy away from all those crazy newborns. I really wish Stephenie Meyer would write more novellas like this that explore more of the Twilight universe. I started reading the second book in the House of Night series, Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. I'm only about two chapters in, so nothing big has really happened yet. I enjoyed the first book, so I'm pretty sure this one will be at least okay.

Done Before the Deadline

I must say, I'm pretty proud of myself. I finished the third Dark Visions book well ahead of my deadline! I actually finished it yesterday and have already begun reading Stephenie Meyer's The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. But before I begin talking about that, I need to wrap up my feelings on the Dark Visions trilogy. Overall, a very interesting story. There were enough twists to keep you guessing, but it all resolved itself very nicely. I felt like everyone's story ended the way it needed to. The idea of psychic vampires is very interesting, and I liked the way the book treated it as if it were probably the origin of all the vampire myths. People just confused "life energy" to mean "blood" instead of literal energy. Speaking of vampires, in The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Stephenie Meyer introduces us to some vampires who are very different from the one's we are used to seeing from her. These are vampires in their truest sense. Wild and bloodthirsty, something we've only had glimpses of in her world before. I'm less than 30 pages into the novella and I have already seen some incredibly crazy vampires and learned that these vampires haven't really been clued in to the facts about their existance. For example, the main character Bree, thinks that sunlight will burn her to a crisp. However, if you've read any of Stephenie's books you know that her vampires do not burst into flame or turn to dust if exposed to sunlight. They merely sparkle. Bree has yet to learn that fact about her kind, and it's my understanding that she and the other newborns have been led to believe that the sun is a danger to them. I know how this story will end, but that doesn't make me want to read it less. In fact, it makes me more curious to find out how exactly she ended up in the clearing with the Cullens on that fateful day. Why did she surrender? What were her thoughts upon seeing Bella, a human, surrounded by vampires? What was her last thought as she watched the Volturi guard close in on her in her final moments?

One More to Go!

I finished the second book in the Dark Visions trilogy! This omnibus edition is hugely thick, so I really want to finish this last book before we leave for vacation. Which means I need to finish it in five days! I can do it, no big deal. Except for the fact that I have a sort of job interview on Wednesday that I've got to prepare for!!! I have to finish it before I leave the house on Saturday morning because I will not have time to finish it during the day on Saturday. My hometown has a Blueberry festival every June and we are going this Saturday. Then, we are going to stay at my friend's house on Saturday night so that we don't have to wake up super super early on Sunday morning for our flight. (She lives a lot closer to the airport than we do). So, Friday night is my deadline. I think I can do it; I'm pretty sure I can. I don't want to haul this huge book with me. I want to take the next two books in my stack. Even combined, they are much smaller than this one. Wish me luck!!

I Can Smell Florida Already

So, that air horn that I thought I heard last night, apparently I did not imagine it. I was not the only one at the house that heard it. My husband went fishing with his brother, dad, and uncle today, so I went shopping with my sister-in-law. First stop: Barnes & Noble (not my first choice of bookstore, but it was the only one near the other stores we wanted to go to). I had to go there and pick up a copy of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer. Of course, going into a book store for one book is pretty much impossible for me. I ended up buying two more. I actually haven't had a chance to read anything at all today. Unfortunate, but true. I hope to be reading in my bed in a little while. I am very much looking forward to next Sunday. I can't wait to be in Florida. I am going with my husband and my two best friends to Universal Studios. We will be at the grand opening for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Can't wait!!! I might not blog at all that week; I don't know. I make no promises.

A Blog From the Bay

It's currently just past 11:00pm and I swear I just heard someone blow an air horn. Granted, I am at my in-law's camp in Bay St. Louis, so there could be a perfectly good reason that someone just blew an air horn. Then again, it's probably just someone who is really drunk. We are spending a couple of days down here just to get out of the house (and go shopping with my sister-in-law). The boys went out and went fishing today, but Christina and I decided to stay on dry land. (She's pregnant and didn't think she could handle being on the waves, so I decided to keep her company). We decided to sit outside and read in the afternoon sun. The temperature and the light were just perfect for a quiet afternoon of reading. I am still reading Dark Visions (I've gotten to the second of the three books), and they are getting very good. However, I didn't actually get much reading done. I ended up watching the birds fly around and the fish jump out of the water. It was just really peaceful out there today. And other than the aforementioned air horn, it has been pretty peaceful tonight as well.

Something Sinister

So, I'm almost finished with the first of the three books in the Dark Visions omnibus edition, and I can tell you, something sinister is going on (isn't there always?). These books revolve around five teenagers with psychic powers. One character I find very interesting is basically a healer. He has a rather innocent view of the world (in some ways) and the main character, Kait, has a very big crush on him. Gabriel is another of the five students. He's very closed off to the other students and actually pretty scarey. He's just out of jail on parole. I don't really know how he can be out of jail when he's murdered two people, but whatever. He is definitely a little off, but I'm hoping he turns himself around eventually.

Two in One

Some how, I have finished two books since the last time I was able to write here. I finished reading Journey to the Center of the Earth the day before yesterday and immediately started reading Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott. So, I'll take them one at a time.

I was pleasantly surprised with Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. I usually have issues with classic literature. I, for some reason, cannot stomach Jane Austen. It bores me to tears. I know that just by saying that, people are going to wonder how in the heck I can be a woman and not like Jane Austen. Well, so what? It's just not my thing. Give me H.G. Wells any day and I'll read it in a second, but Jane Austen? No thanks. So, I was glad that I took to Jules Verne with such ease. I had always wanted to read Journey to the Center of the Earth, but I was hesitant because I was afraid I'd be disappointed. Happily, I was not disappointed and finished the book in a few days. I have to admit that I did find the narrator slightly annoying at times, but they were few and far between. I'm now thinking about reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea since I enjoyed this book so much.

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott is a small book. I read in in about 24 hours. It was very easy to read, almost too easy at times. The chapters were short so you always felt as if you were accomplishing something. I have to say, the book seemed a bit underdeveloped. I thought most of the characters seemed very one dimensional at times. I also knew exactly how the book was going to turn out by the end of the second chapter. I felt like I'd read the book a hundred times before. It seemed like a lesser version of something Sarah Dessen would write. Actually, it was exactly her type of story, just not nearly as well written.

Now, I've already started reading my next book. It's an omnibus edition of L.J. Smith's Dark Visions. This book contains all three novels: The Strange Power, The Possessed, and The Passion. One good sign is that I'm already about 80 pages into the first book and I can't tell you what's going to happen at the end. I like that in a book. I have about 29 more books in my stack in my bedroom, but it's about to become 30 again this Saturday when The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer comes out. It will go on the top of my stack insteadof the bottom. Also, I'm thinking about re-reading one of my favorite books, Old Magic by Marianne Curley. I've had that book since high school and I love it! My copy is very tattered, and they've just re-released it with a new cover, so I'm thinking of investing in a new copy. I don't know, we'll see. I'll talk about the book more when I decide to re-read it. Don't worry I'm sure it will be very soon. :)

I Applaud You Kate Brian

So, I finished reading Privilege the first book in Kate Brian's Privilege series, and I have to say I'm impressed. To take a character like Ariana Osgood, who is a convicted murderer, and turn her into a character that you can totally relate to, is impressive. Even after she kills again, and you discover that the girl she murdered was completely innocent, you still want her to succeed and get the life she wants. How is that possible? Well, to put it simply, Kate Brian gives Ariana a foe who is even more cold-blooded than she is! I'm definitely going to read the next book in this series. I have to know if Ariana is going to face down her foe again. Now I've begun reading something totally different: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. I've only read about 20 pages so far, but I already like it. It's a bit of a surprise to me actually, classic literature and I do not usually get along. (i.e. Jane Austen)

Yeah, so, I cried

I should know better than to read a Nicholas Sparks book without a tissue handy. I think I've cried every time I've read one of his books, and At First Sight was no exception. This book picks up where his novel True Believer left off, and it is a humdinger. I don't think Nicholas Sparks knows how to write a happy book. I was in tears for about the last 50 pages or so. (Maybe less, I'm not exactly sure where all the sad started to happen). I won't spoil the book for any of you that haven't read it yet, just know that you need several tissues handy. If you need a good cry, a Nicholas Sparks book is always a safe bet. So, onto the next book, which I've already read the first chapter of. It is Privilege by Kate Brian. It is the first book in the Privilege series that follows the adventures of Ariana Osgood, who was a character in Kate Brian's Private series before she was shipped off to a correctional facility for the murder of a classmate. It's strange to be inside this girl's head. She is most assuredly not right in the head. She feels justified in her murder of Thomas and feels that he made her kill him. So, yeah, she's psycho. Anyway, I'm sure this book won't take me long to read either. Though, I am going to the movies with my friends tonight, so reading more will have to wait until tomorrow.

Still Speed Reading

I finished Judy Blundell's What I Saw and How I Lied last night. Again, it took me less than 24 hours to finish this book. The book took a little while to get off the ground. It felt like it took forever for anything to happen. It was a very interesting book, but it wasn't necessarily a happy ending. I did like the period the book was set in. It was a very interesting time in America right after WWII. The book takes on some hard hitting issues: adultery, sexual assault, racial segregation, religious segregation, blackmail, murder. It's not a very active book, but it is good. My next book is At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks. I haven't started reading it yet, but I will some time today.

Speed Reading

I finished reading The Coffin Club yesterday. It took me less than 24 hours to read that book. I knew it wouldn't take me long. It wasn't a very long book to begin with. Only 170-something pages. It was good, but definitely the weakest effort in the series so far. It wasn't bad enough to make me stop reading the series or anything. I've already started reading a new book What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. So far, so good. I'm only on page 70, but it seems pretty good. It's not a book about the supernatural. I'm not entirely sure what the book is really about yet. I think it's leading up to a possible murder. I'm not sure, but there is something fishy going on. I like that this is a period book. It takes place right after WWII, so it kind of reminds me of when I was little reading the American Girl Molly books.

The Mammoth is Dead!

I finished The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance this morning! There were a few interesting stories in there. One story used something in the mythology that I've never seen anyone else consider. This story said that vampires lose their memories at the beginning of every new year. They remember their human lives up until the time they were changed, but they lose their vampire memories at the beginning of every new year and that is what keeps them from aging. I thought that was an interesting idea. The last story in the book was severely disturbing...I'm not even gonna talk about it. So, since I'm done with that book, I have moved on to the next in my stack. It is part of the Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber. It is book number 5 The Coffin Club. These books are always really easy to read and I've enjoyed the first 4 books very much, so I'm looking forward to reading this one. In other news, I graduated college this past Saturday and my in-laws gave me a superb graduation present. They got me a signed copy of The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall. There is an amazing book store in Oxford called Square Books and they sell signed copies of a lot of different books. BEST PRESENT EVER!

I Can't Say

So, I've been reading The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance which is basically a collection of short stories about vampires. I've read about 5 or 6 of the short stories so far, and I have to admit I really can't say much about them. Why? Well, because I don't actually remember them. I guess that means that I don't think they're very good stories because I usually have a fantastic memory when it comes to reading comprehension. There was one about an anthropology professor that studied vampires, but other than that, I don't really remember the plots of the other stories. That's kind of sad. I'll probably make a sizeable dent in the book this weekend. I'm headed up to Oxford for my brother-in-law's graduation from law school, and I won't be driving, so I'll have some prime reading time on the way there and back. Thankfully, I've never been one of those people who get car sick when they read. I used to take a book with me anytime I was in a car for more than 15 minutes. Of course, I can't always do that these days since I end up driving myself more often than not. Anyway, plenty of time to read this weekend!

A Little Trashy Romance

I finished The Gatecrasher this morning before lunch. I have to say, I'm surprised I finished it that quickly. It was very good, though. The characters were very well developed and you really felt like each character went on a specific journey. Some might find the end of the book unsatisfying, but I would disagree. I think that the author made a smart choice in ending it the way she did. It ended in a very good place for the characters.
I also started a new book today. I have only read a few pages so far. It is a collection of short stories called The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. Why am I reading this? Well, in my opinion, everyone needs a little trashy romance now and then. It's just a bit of fluff to read for the moment. As I've said before, I enjoy reading all kinds of books, even slightly trashy romance. :p

Back to the Stack

So, I finished re-reading Breaking Dawn last night. You know what that means? Back to the stack!! What is the stack, you may ask? Well, I have a stack of books in my room (upwards of 20) and I will now focus my attention on reading those books. I took a short break from reading my new books so that I could re-read the Twilight Saga. Now that I have finished doing that, I will go right back to reading The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham. I stopped off reading this book on chapter four. Luckily, I still remember what was going on, so I won't have to start all over again. :) So, onward I go!

Update

Just wanted to update and say that I did finish re-reading New Moon last night and started re-reading Eclipse. I'm already enjoying Eclipse far more than I enjoyed New Moon.

Still Trucking Along

Still trying to finish re-reading New Moon. I'm tantalizingly close to being done. Bella and Alice are on their way to Italy, so the return of Edward is imminent. As I said before this one is my least favorite, mostly because I can't stand Jacob, so it has taken me a while to get through it. I will be finished in a day or two so that I can move on to Eclipse which is my favorite book in the saga.

I Did a Happy Dance

I did a happy dance this morning when I first signed on the Internet. It's not everyday that you wake up to the news that one of your favorite authors is releasing a new book. Sure, it's only a short novella, but I'll take it. Stephenie Meyer will be releasing The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner on June 5th. This novella takes place during the timeline of Meyer's novel Eclipse. Bree was a member of Victoria's newborn vampire army that was sent to eradicate the Cullens. This novella is told from her perspective and I think it will be quite interesting. Of course, Stephenie Meyer haters have already been blasting their vitriol all over the web. I'm not surprised. People do that when they just don't understand something (or they're jealous). I, for one, say, "Go Steph!!" I hope she keeps putting out stuff like this. It just deepens the mythology of the world she created.

Bring on the Pain!!

I made it thru the break-up scene in New Moon. It was brutal, just like it was the first time. I admit, I haven't gotten much farther. I didn't have too much time to read this weekend. I've been on the computer most of the day today, but I did manage to read a little. I think I'm going to put the computer away for a little while and read a little bit.

I have to look for a job. I finished college last November and I actually get to walk this May in the graduation ceremony. I want a teaching job, but with all the education cutbacks I don't think that will be happening. I need to find a full time job no matter what.

Re-reading New Moon

I finished re-reading Twilight. Still love it. I'm glad I got to re-read it. I think I made a good decision to re-read these books. I've started re-reading New Moon. I admit it is my least favorite book in the saga. I'm thoroughly "Team Edward" so I guess it makes sense that this is my least favorite of the saga since he is largely absent from it. Jacob...I have problems with. I do not like him. He's immature and pushy and he just GETS ON MY NERVES!!!! The break-up scene in New Moon seriously made me feel like my heart was being ripped out. It will probably take me a little longer to get through New Moon, but that's okay. I'm ready to get to Eclipse and the Breaking Dawn. I know a lot of people thought Breaking Dawn was bad for some reason. I think it is because Stephenie Meyer didn't do what everyone expected her to. I thought Breaking Dawn was great. I was glad she didn't do what everyone expected her to do. How boring would that have been? She honestly did things you didn't expect. I enjoyed that. I mean honestly, who expected the Volturi battle to go down the way it did?

Re-reading Can Be Fun!

So, I decided to put The Gatecrasher on hold so that I could re-read the Twilight Saga. It's kind of nice actually. I'm almost finished re-reading Twilight. I actually stayed up kind of late last night and read for awhile even though I already knew what was going to happen. I think that might be why I stayed up and read, because I knew my favorite part was coming up. (Chapter 13: Confessions aka "The Meadow Scene") Reading this book again just makes me feel happy. I remember the first time I read it. I was engaged and getting married in a few months. I needed something to take my mind off the pressure of planning my wedding. The first three books were out, but Breaking Dawn hadn't been released yet. I bought all three of them at once in hardcover and read them in quick succession. It took me less than a week to read all three of them and then I had to wait for Breaking Dawn like every other fan. Re-reading these books takes me back to that time in my life. So much has changed since then, but I still enjoy them as much (maybe more) than I did the first time!

I can't help myself

Sorry, it's been a while, but Spring Break with my husband home just didn't leave me much time for reading. I did manage to finish The Prophet of Yonwood. It was fine, it tied things together with The City of Ember very nicely. Last night I started reading The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham. It's about a woman who gatecrashes funerals and memorial services and gets the grieving family to give her money. I have had a sudden urge today to re-read the entire Twilight saga. I've read them all already at least twice, the first three a few more times. I get this way about my favorite books every now and then. I have to re-read the Harry Potter series every now and then, too. I might actually stop reading The Gatecrasher for a little while so I can re-read Twilight. I might just go ahead and finish this book and then start on Twilight. I can't really decide. Either way the stack of books in my room is about to be neglected for awhile...

Stuck

I finished reading The People of Sparks and started reading The Prophet of Yonwood which is the next in the "Ember" series. These books have a bit of a political edge to them. They are very obviously anti-weapons and anti-war and eerily similar to the things that are going on in the our own world. I do not yet own the third book in the "Ember" series, The Diamond of Darkhold, so I won't be reading it for a while. I'm actually happy to have a break from Ember for a while. I need to read something different and I have a lot of "different" coming my way. The books in my stack that I have to read include titles from Nicholas Sparks, Charlaine Harris, L.J. Smith, and many, many more.

Can't Find the Spark

I've been reading The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau. I can't really get into it and I'm about halfway thru it. I'll finish it, I'm just not sure how long it will take me. I have a huge stack of books that I can't wait to read, but I've got to finish this one first! I'm not one of those people who read three different books at once. I start a book, I finish that book, then I move on to the next one. There have been a few books that I've just given up on, but those are few and far between. I can't seem to read Jane Austen books for some reason. I did manage to finish Sense & Sensibility, but only because it was for an English class in college. Maybe I can finish this book this weekend...

They LOST my book!!!

I am not having a good day. First, my dogs decided to follow another dog in the neighborhood down the road. I had to drive down the road looking for them and get them in my car before they got themselves killed. Then, I think UPS lost the book I ordered. I ordered Hourglass by Claudia Gray from booksamillion.com. No big deal, I order books from there all the time and have never had a problem. Well, UPS says they have delivered the book, however, it is not here. I've been here all day and I even looked around outside my house for it. It is not here. So, UPS delivered my book to someone else. I am holding out hope that he accidentally delivered it to my mother-in-law's work place. Since my first name is Paula and my father-in-law's first name is Paul, it might be there. It is not at my in-law's house because I already checked there. Frustration is the name of the game today.

?

So, I just read on www.ew.com that Hilary Duff is has signed a multi-book deal with Simon & Schuster. The first book will be called Elixir. I can't help but be a little curious. I mean, I did grow up in the time when Lizzie Maguire was extrememly popular, so I liked Hilary Duff. I'm just wondering if she can actually write. I guess we will see when Elixir hits stores!

A Bone to Pick

First, I should say that I finished The City of Ember last night. This morning I began reading The People of Sparks which is the second Book of Ember. There are still a lot of questions to be answered, but I find the books engaging and I think they would really appeal to the age group they were written for. In a few years, I think I'll encourage my nephew to read them. He's 7, and already loves to read.

Now, onto the bone I want to pick today. I am not a huge Dan Brown fan. In fact, I have only managed to read his three Robert Langdon novels. I tried to read Deception Point a couple of years ago, and I could not get into it no matter how hard I tried. So, I put the book down and never attempted to read it again. Now, I have read Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code, and The Lost Symbol. I admit I enjoyed all of them. I find the history in the books fascinating. However, I feel that as the years have progressed, Mr. Brown's Robert Langdon novels have decreased in quality. In my opinion, Angels & Demons is by far the best of the three and The Lost Symbol is by far the worst. I don't know what really happened, but I feel as if The Lost Symbol was a bit aimless and did not have a satisfying conclusion. If Dan Brown writes another Robert Langdon novel I suppose I will read it, but I hope it's more Angels & Demons than The Lost Symbol.

A Day of Reading

I was able to actually finish Dead Until Dark today. I spent most of my day reading, and actually finished the book less than an hour ago. I knew what was going to happen. I've seen the first season of the TV show, and the first book pretty much follows that story line. There are a few small changes, but the basic plot of the book was turned into the first season arc. I did think it interesting that in the book, you discover that Elvis was made into a vampire (even if they don't say his name outright and he likes to be called "Bubba"). I have the second book in my possesion, but it is not the next book in my stack, so it will have to wait a little while. My next book is The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. If that doesn't show you how varied my reading preferences are, I don't know what will. You might think it's strange that I read books written for children, but I don't care. I enjoy reading all kinds of books, I don't care what age group it was written for. I mean, I don't think I was the target audience that J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer were writing for, (or Dan Brown for that matter...but I'll save him for tomorrow because I have a bone to pick with Mr. Brown). I'll read almost anything once and things I really enjoy more than once. I love when people recommend books to me, so if any of you have a book you'd like to suggest, you are way more than welcome!

Undead Things

I started reading Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris yesterday and I am having trouble getting through the beginning. It's not that it isn't good, it's the fact that I've seen the first season of True Blood and the beginning of the book is basically exactly the same. I'm sure it'll pick up soon and I'll get more into it.

Busy Bee

Yesterday was a crazy day. I did manage to finish the first Vampire Academy book last night. I really don't know how I feel about it. I thought the way it ended was really good, but I feel like the author kind of didn't know where she was headed with this story and just came up with the most insane thing she could think of. Needless to say the end was really unexpected which is unusual these days. I can almost always tell how a book is going to end before I'm even halfway through it. J.K. Rowling is one of the few authors that consistently surprised me with the twists in her books. Speaking of J.K. Rowling, according to her most recent Tweet, she's writing something right now. That's good to hear. The next book in my stack of books is a Sookie Stackhouse novel. I haven't started it yet, but I will later today. I'm trying to be productive this morning, so I haven't got around to reading yet today.

The Joke That is Language Arts Class

I was substitute teaching today in a rural middle school for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Language Arts classes. They were reading decent books (6th grade was reading Number the Stars and 7th and 8th grade were reading The Outsiders). The students knew what was going on in their respective books, so that wasn't the issue. My issue was with the fact that the teacher doesn't actually make the students read the books. She reads the entire book to them. Now, I know that's better than nothing, but how are the students going to become better readers if they don't read? It just ticked me off a little bit, and also made my voice sound like sandpaper by the end of the day because I had to read two chapters aloud to each class. The teacher doesn't even make them follow along as she reads! How crazy is that? They should at least be looking at the book! It just irritated me.

I still haven't finished reading the first book in the Vampire Academy series. It's taking me longer than usual mainly because I had to work today and also because it takes me longer to read books that I'm not really into. I still have about 100 pages left and the books only a little over 300 pages long!

Missing Mr. Potter

Does anyone else feel Harry Potter withdrawals? I really miss waiting for the next stage in the Harry Potter saga. I definitely miss the release parties that my friends and I used to go to. Those were so fun and we met some interesting people. I personally think that J.K. Rowling should expand on the world and write another series based in the magical world she created. I know she's written a few of the school books and Tales of Beedle the Bard, but I wish she's write something else! My favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because that's when things really begin to take a turn. My best friend prefers The Prisoner of Azkaban. So what is your favorite Harry Potter book? Are you missing Mr. Potter, as well?

Dang It!!!

I just realized that the book I was so excited about coming out this Tuesday, doesn't come out until NEXT Tuesday. Dang it!! I guess I'm being date stupid. Oh well, I went ahead and preordered it anyway. It doesn't really matter too much I guess since I have a stack of about 20 books in my room to read. I have a little bit of a problem with buying books and the stack never seems to get smaller because I just keep getting more books. It's an addiction, but one I'll take over drugs and stuff.

I'm reading the first book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead right now. It's okay. I don't really think it's anything particularly ground breaking, but it's a decent read. It seems to be one of those easily forgettable books. I've read plenty of forgettable books before...I don't really remember any of them though (ha ha lame joke!).

The Many Faces of the Vampire

It's no secret to anyone who knows me well that I like to read vampire books. I've always liked books, movies, and TV shows that involved vampires. I blame my sister, she was into Anne Rice when I was little. I tried reading Anne Rice once,(Interview with the Vampire, of course) but could never really get into her writing style. I was pretty young when I was trying to read this stuff, so maybe I should try again now that I'm older. Anyway, that's not the point of this. I've been thinking how interesting it is that all of these books, TV shows, and movies all have different takes on vampires. Some of these are very different, not all of them even drink blood. I think one of the more interesting takes on vampires is in the Blue Bloods Series by Melissa de la Cruz. I find her books a refreshingly different look at vampires. Another take on vampires I enjoy came from the mind of Stephenie Meyer. I know, I know, most people think, these vampires sparkle, that is just not right, but think about this for a minute. Stephenie Meyer's vampires are probably the most indestructible vampires in literature. They have skin that is basically marble, sunlight only makes them sparkle, garlic merely smells bad, holy water is just like any other kind of water, and stakes...did I mention they have skin of marble...yes, stakes are not an issue. A mere mortal only really stands a chance against one of Stephenie Meyer's vampires if they can set them on fire, but that's not likely to happen since her vampires are also faster than Superman. So, even if Edward Cullen irritates the crap out of you, you have to admit, Stephenie Meyer made her vampires incredibly formidable and dang near indestructible.

Done and Done!

I finished Beautiful Creatures last night. I stayed up until I finished it even though I had to be up at 5:30 this morning! Yes, my habit gets in the way of my sleep and health. I have to say I really liked the book. The authors definitely left it open for a sequel. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming (and a few that I did). I'm not going to ruin the ending here, but it did leave my slightly unsatisfied. I'll be happier if they do write a sequel and give it a satisfying ending.
On another note, have any of you read the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel books by Michael Scott? I've only read the first two so far, but I really like them. I've always loved mythology, magic, and the supernatural and these books blend it all together very nicely. I'm really looking forward to reading the other two that have been written. Also, a book I've really been looking forward to comes out this Tuesday and I will be going to my favorite bookstore to purchase it. (Sorry honey, but I'm pushing my weekly grocery shopping trip to Tuesday just for this purpose). Just in case you were wondering, the book I am looking forward to is by Claudia Gray. The series is the Evernight series (yeah, I know more vampires...get used to it).

It's Hairspray

Something occurred to me as I was reading more of Beautiful Creatures today. (I have less than 100 pages left to read by the way). There is a character in the book named Link and there is another character named Larkin. This made me think that perhaps the authors watched a little too much Hairspray. Then again, maybe it was complete coincidence. I prefer to think it wasn't a coincidence, but we'll probably never know. I hope to finish this book today or tomorrow. I do have to work tomorrow, so that cuts into my reading time pretty significantly. I will definitely finish it by the end of the week unless something unforseen happens.

Beautiful Creatures

Right now, I'm in the middle of reading Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl. It's been lauded by many as "the next Twilight." It is a supernatural romance, but it doesn't involve vampires. I've always been a fan of the supernatural, and in my opinion, supernatural romances are even better. I find myself loving Ethan and Lena in this book. I don't know how this is going to end yet, so I am speaking from the perspective of someone who is a little over 300 pages into the book. I love how Ethan wants to stand by Lena, but I'm not sure he realizes what he's in for. I'm anxious to get to the climax of this book and it is fast approaching. I could hardly manage to put the book down to write this. Have any of you read Beautiful Creatures yet? Any opinions? I'm sure mine will be altered by the time I finish this book...which will be soon. :)

My Drug Habit

To say that I like to read is an understatement...I'm an addict, plain and simple. I also love to discuss books and share my opinions about what I'm reading. I've read a lot of books in my lifetime, probably more than your average twenty-four year old. I wish I had a list of all of the books I've read, but alas, I never thought to start one back in grade school. I read all kinds of books, so you will see a variety of books discussed here. I welcome your opinions on the books I post about, or other books you've read that you think I might enjoy!