Catching up again...two more books

I really do have good intentions of keeping this weekly...but life keeps getting in the way! So...here are two weeks worth of reviews:

A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack is about Cassie Shaw, who tells a big lie on her resume to get a job as an assistant in a psych department. It's an interesting story, although I have to admit I didn't love Cassie as a character. A good read in general, though.

Last week I read The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook. After Noreen discovers her so-called boyfriend tricked her into taking a company buyout, she finds herself unemployed with a lot of time on her hands. She takes up walking and quickly bonds with two of her neighbors to form the Wildwater Walking Club. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone!

Up next...A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White...

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

So my book last week was Real Murders by Charlaine Harris. I am filling in time with her other series since I have now read every Sookie book available. Real Murders is the first in the Aurora Teagarden series. Aurora (Roe to her friends) is a member of the Real Murders club - whose members meet monthly to discuss...real murders. Each member takes a turn outlining the case of an old murder. On the night of Roe's turn, a fellow member is found dead...in a manner that matches the very murder Roe was to discuss. It quickly becomes clear that the members of the club are being targeted...and Roe begins her own investigation.
I liked the book, and will probably continue reading the other books in the series, but it was not one that I found myself desperate to get hold of the next book. If they have it at the library on my next trip, I'll pick it up, but I don't think I'll be running out to buy a copy.

As a follow up to last week, I did make myself a list of 40 things to do before I turn 40. I am keeping notes on my activities and contemplating turning it into a book...assuming I actually do all 40 things. One item is to re-read Ulysses. That will not be one of my book-a-week books. If memory serves, it took me forever to read it for my senior seminar class in college.

This week I'm reading "A Version of the Truth" by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack. It's my latest acquisition from paperbackswap.com

The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski

I picked up "The Next Thing on My List" by Jill Smolinski on a late afternoon trip to the library. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just grabbing whatever caught my eye. This one was a good pick.

In The Next Thing on My List, June Parker is the driver in a car accident which kills her passenger, Marissa. She discovers that Marissa has written a list "20 things to do by my 25th birthday" - and sets out to complete the list for her. The items on the list range from fun & frivolous (wear sexy shoes, dare to go braless) to serious (change someone's life, make a big donation to charity). June works her way through the list and finds herself on the other side of Marissa's 25th birthday with a new community of friends and a chance to make her own list.

As a habitual list maker, this book really appealed to me. I make daily lits - a work to do, a home to do, shopping, etc. But the summer I was 28, I made one of these lists. I was newly divorced and vacationing, alone, in a cabin on a remote lake in Maine. I was floundering...wondering what exactly was my next step. I was, frankly, bored at work, trying to become a writer, and living back home with my parents and brothers while paying off the mountain of debt we had acquired in my name while I was married. It was, to say the least, not the best time in my life. And so, one very hot afternoon, I pulled out a notebook and made a list of 30 things to do before I turned 30...which gave me just over a year to accomplish all of the items.
I don't recall if I did all 30 or even what they all were), but I got a lot of them done. Like Marissa's list, some were frivolous - I remember listing "Read Breakfast at Tiffany's and watch the movie" and some were serious - "Move out, buy a bed." Each time I accomplished something, I felt good. And I have to say, by the time I turned 30, I was in a much better place than I had been when I made the list.
Now...soon to be 37...I wonder if I should make a list of 40 things to do before I turn 40...and what things I'd put on it if I do...
Anyone else out there ever made a list like this?

Double Shot Tuesday

No...I don't mean I'm drinking shots with my dinner. I have no idea if 94-HJY still does double shot Tuesdays (where they play two songs in a row by the same artist all day), but I always liked the concept. And since I'm behind...again...I'm doing two reviews today.

Two weeks ago I read "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde. Set in a slightly alternate-universe England, it is the story of Thursday Next, a "LiteraTec" in the Spec-Ops forces. Very quickly she is drawn into a mystery involving a stolen first edition manuscript...and discovers that her uncle has invented a means of traveling into books and interacting with the characters. Ultimately, she finds herself in the text of Jane Eyre (no surprise, given the book's title). I found The Eyre Affair to be very Hitchhiker-esque...and given that The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been on my shelf of favorites for quite a while, I've picked up the second in the series "Lost in a Good Book"...looking forward to reading it!

Last week was "The Girl Who Played With Fire" - the second in the trilogy by Stieg Larsson. This time Lisbeth and Mikael are taking on the sex slave trade - and solving a murder while they are at it. Again, I found the first couple of chapters slow going but soon found myself involved in the story. The plot twists didn't surprise me quite as much as they could have...but were still interesting. Looking forward to picking up the third.

I find myself reading a lot of series lately. My book club is discussing The Hunger Games this month, and I am looking forward to reading Catching Fire as well. In a recent conversation with my niece she mentioned that she prefers series over stand-alone books...because if it's not a series you don't get to find out what happens next. I love it!

Anyway...this week I'm reading "The Next Thing on my List" by Jill Smolinski. I will try to get the review posted on time next week!

The Visitation by Frank Peretti

Just finished The Visitation by Frank Peretti. I read quite a bit of it at the beach on Sunday...a gorgeous sunny day in Dennisport...in between frequent trips into the water to cool off. And it was definitely cooling - the water was numbingly cold but so nice after the hot sun!

Anyway...on to the book. I picked it up again this afternoon during an after work visit to the pool, and was determined to finish it when I got home tonight.

It wasn't my usual style of book - I picked it up off the Sci-Fi/Fantasy shelf at a book sale, and was a little hesitant when I got it home and realized it was Christian literature. As I said, its not my usual thing.

However, this book surprised me. Travis Jordan, former pastor of Antioch Pentecostal Mission, is struggling with his faith after the death of his wife. In the meantime, the citizens of Antioch begin having visions of angels, and a weeping crucifix heals a caretaker's arthritis. Soon after, the arrival of "Brandon Nichols" throws the town into a stir as he begins healings and miracles and lets people believe he is Jesus. Very quickly, there are pilgrims and a cult growing around Brandon. Travis joins forces with other local ministers to disprove Brandon's claims. The journey they take to discover Brandon's true identity is interspersed with the story of Travis's own struggles with his faith. Definitely worth a read...

Next up: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Back to the Cape...reading on the beach

Headed out in the morning for a weekend on the Cape...my last gasp of summer before my new team starts up for the school year. I'm bringing The Visitation with me to read on the beach.

To be honest, I put it aside on Wednesday. Not because I'm not into it, because I am. So far the story of unexplained visitors and a weeping statue of Jesus has peaked my interest. But I went to the library on Wednesday and couldn't resist the lure of the books I picked up.

First, I found...be still my heart...A Touch of Dead - a collection of Sookie Stackhouse stories that I had not yet read. I couldn't help myself...I cracked that one open the minute I got home. I admit, I am still hooked on anything Sookie...including the True Blood series. I have one thing to say about Eric Northman...for a dead Viking, he is hot! I'd invite him in any day.

Also grabbed Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - sequel to Very Valentine, which my book club read a while back. I'm a sucker for a sequel, and I like the character and story here. But its a hardcover so I don't want to take it to the beach...

Hence, The Visitation is now packed in my beach bag to be loaded in my car early tomorrow morning. Looking forward to two days of reading and sunning on the beach. Dennisport here I come!

Dreary Days...but good for reading

I actually finished last week's book, "Venus Envy" by Shannon McKelden on Sunday, but am just finally sitting down to write about it. Venus Envy is a cute story. Venus (aka Aphrodite) has pissed off her father, Zeus, and been banished from Mount Olympus to Earth, where she is assigned to act as fairy godmother to unhappy women. Rachel, her latest victim...godchild...has sworn off men and fills all of her spare time with volunteering, despite the fact that she is being pursued by Luke...a very hot firefighter who is featured as Mr. March in the local fire department calendar. Again, cute story, fairly predictable plot. Considering it only cost me a dollar, it was worth the money - good for a light hearted summertime read.

I'm sure my reading time will cut back now that I have used up every last day of this year's vacation time and am back to work. With schools opening in the next couple weeks and my team returning from their extended summer break, I am crazy at work. But, I am going to keep on with this, if only to give me something to do besides stress about things that are not getting done!

The weather outside is frightful here in RI - cold and rainy. I feel as though I haven't been able to get warm in the last two days. I actually turned on the heat in my office today. But this is perfect weather for curling up on the couch with a book and a cup of tea (or a glass of wine).

This week I'm reading "The Visitation" by Frank Peretti - another book sale pick up.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

So, I managed to finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo yesterday afternoon in the pool...despite some unexpected company. As I mentioned, the first few chapters - corporate warfare, financial journalism, etc - were a bit tough to get through. But once I got through them and to the actual heart of the story, I was sucked in and couldn't wait to find out what happened.
One thing that threw me is that throughout the book, the main characters are pretty much always referred to by last name. I don't know if that is a Swedish thing or just something peculiar to this author. I have the second book to read...but this week I'm going with "Venus Envy" by Shannon McKelden, which I picked up at the book sale on Monday. It appears to be a pretty quick read...we'll see.

Cloudy day on the Cape

My plan to finish The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on the beach yesterday was thwarted by Mother Nature. It was too cloudy & windy to read on the beach, so we spent most of the day shopping. Did get some reading done and am hoping to be finished today.

On the bright side, though, we visited a book sale at the Brewster Ladies Library and I picked up three books for a total of $2.50 - one of which I will choose for my next book.

Good day on the Cape, overall - shopping, dinner and of course a trip to Sundae School where I tried the newest flavor - Chocolate Oreo. Not bad, but not one I'd choose as my go-to flavor. I don't know that I could pick a favorite...though raz oreo, grasshopper and milky way are probably my top 3. Looking forward to some pool lounging today - have to wring every last bit of summer out of my last vacation week

Oh yeah...it's getting good now

Well, I've gotten past the first few chapters of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...and I am completely sucked in. I spent two hours at Mom & Dad's this afternoon reading in the pool. I got maybe 15 minutes of sun over the course of the two hours, but I was so into the book that I had a hard time putting it down. Eventually, though, I gave it up and headed home.
I had not realized that there was going to be a mystery involved...I have been a sucker for a mystery story since my Trixie Belden days!
Headed to the Cape for the day tomorrow...hoping to finish it up on the beach and write my final update on this one when I get home tomorrow night.

Still trying to decide what I will read next week. Anybody read anything good lately?

Anybody reading along? Looking for suggestions for my next book

The start of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is slow going so far, although I expected that. From the people I know who've read it, pretty much everyone has said that the first few chapters were tough, so I'm looking forward to the action picking up soon.

In the meantime, I was curious to see if anyone is actually reading my blog. I can tell, actually, by the stats that a few people are(though admittedly, two of them are Mom & Erin - at least they are my only official "followers). If you are, let me know...I'd love to have an idea of who's out there. Please, feel free to comment on anything...if you've read the book, if you disagree with my review, if you've got something random to say, whatever...

Also, I'm headed to the library tomorrow, either on my lunch hour, or on the run after work. Hoping to pick up a few new books at the library, before heading to Book Club, where we are discussing Ann Hood's "The Red Thread" (also a good one).

Has anybody read anything really good lately? I'm on vacation next week and expecting to have lots of reading time, either in the pool or on the beach if I make it to the Cape.

Two for one...I'm behind again!

My book choice two weeks ago was "Object Lessons" by Anna Quindlen. A good story - focusing mainly on 12 year old Maria Goretti Scanlan, whose Irish grandfather nicknames Maggie...defying her Italian mother. The time frame is the late 60s...when a girl still had to get married if she found herself "in trouble" and an Irish family might still disown a son for marrying an Italian girl. I enjoyed it...a good summer time read for the pool!

Last week was "The Anxiety of Everyday Objects" by Aurelie Sheehan. It may be that I have read too much chick-lit recently...but this book didn't do it for me. Main character Winona is a self-described "non-filmmaking filmmaker" who pays the bills by working as a secretary at a law firm. I couldn't get myself at all interested in Winona...or any of the other characters in the book. Sort of disappointing...but when you pick random books from the library, you take your chances!

This week I'm reading "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson - because everyone I know has either read it, is reading it, or has it on their list to read...hope it lives up to the hype!

Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden

Well, despite my first full week of work since summer started, the continuing very HOT weather here in RI, and two days of birthday celebration for Auntie C...I am on track for my weekly read this week.

This week I read Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden. It's a fairly typical chick-lit type book. A light read about Anna, a struggling writer, whose heir-to-a-sewage-fortune boyfriend gives her the boot...leading her to take a job as an "assistant" to a romance novelist. The job turns out to be a nanny position...and the plot goes on from there.

I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters - they all sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I kind of felt like they all got what they deserved. The ending was a bit too neat for me...everyone's loose ends very tidily tied up...not my favorite read lately.

Next week: Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen...recommended to me by Mom

Under the Dome - Stephen King

I have been a huge Stephen King fan from the day I first read one of his books. It was The Dead Zone, and I was probably about 13. From then on, every trip to the library meant a new King book...until I had read everything the Warwick Public Library had of his. Now, when a new book comes out, I look forward to the day when I will find it on the KIN shelf at the library. And so, I was happy when I arrived at the library two weeks ago and discovered "Under the Dome."
At 1072 pages, I figured it would take me a while to read. However, once I started, I found myself grabbing every spare minute to continue...to the point where I had it at hand so I could read during commercials. It is the story of a small town in Maine (as so many of his books are). This particular town one day finds itself, as the title says, under The Dome. They are sealed in from the rest of the world. The characters include a former army lieutenant turned diner cook, a small town newspaper editor, a corrupt politician, and a whole cast of others. Surprisingly soon after the dome's appearance, the town becomes an experiment in human psychology. In many ways, things go exactly as you expect them to...but there are other things that you just don't see coming...especially when the origins of the Dome are revealed.
As I mentioned, I've been reading this book almost non-stop when I've been home. There is one exception to that. I do not, under any circumstances, read a Stephen King book in bed. I vowed many years ago that I would never do this again...after too many nights staying up to read "just one more chapter" followed by horrific nightmares. I have had an overactive imagination since I was small, and King's books provide a hell of a trigger for the things that go bump in the night.
Overall, I liked "Under the Dome." It isn't quite up there with my personal favorites: It, The Stand, Bag of Bones; the ones that I re-read semi-annually. I would, however, recommend it to anyone with an interest in human behavior.

Next up: Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden...another library pick.

Julie and Julia

Behind again, I know...its so hard to find time to sit down at the computer when all I want to do in this weather is float in the pool and try to keep cool. Add in work and traveling and it is even hard to find time to read. But I am trying to keep up!

Last week I read "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell. I saw the movie quite a while ago but wanted to read the book as well. It is the story of Julie Powell's project to cook all of the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year, and write a blog about it. I enjoyed reading about Julie's ups and downs throughout the year of completing her project. She showed so much dedication...and made me want to give writing another shot. It has always been lack of discipline that has distracted me from writing...the instant I blank on the plot line, I give it up. I'm trying hard not to do that this time...have the beginnings of something but am not sure where it will end up...we'll see!

I'm currently reading Under the Dome by Stephen King...at 1070-ish pages, it is taking me a while, but it has also sucked me in completely, as his books always do. Hope to review it in the next day or so!

Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh

Last week I read Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh - about a family living in a coal mining town during the 40s and 50s. I enjoyed this quite a bit. I like the reminder that we were not always in such constant contact with each other. A son may go off to college and come home with a wife his family had never met. A daughter goes to work in the city and is only in touch by letters. A family's only access to a phone is a pay phone at the local store...

I tend to read "historical" fiction that is set farther back - usually Victorian Era type things...it was nice to read something a bit more recent, even if it was set before my lifetime...

Catching up!

It's been just over 5 weeks since my last post. (And as I'm typing that, I feel like I should be kneeling in a confessional booth...) Summer is my 2nd favorite time of year and I've been doing lots of reading, especially this past week while I've been on vacation. However, less time inside means less time on the computer, so I let the blog slide a bit. So...here are new reviews for the weeks I've missed.

Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him: I liked this book - inside look at the world of art galleries. Not a 5-star book for me, but a decent read.

"Shakespeare's Landlord" by Charlaine Harris - picked this up because I loved the Sookie ones so much. The main character in this series is Lily Bard...it was ok, but didn't suck me in the way the vampire ones do. Probably won't read the rest of this series.

"The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters" by Elisabeth Robinson: I love, love, LOVED, this one. Another book told entirely in letters, with a few emails sprinkled in. The letter writer is Olivia Hunt, a Hollywood producer who is trying to get Don Quixote produced. The relationship between Olivia and her younger sister Madeline is an interesting one...anyone who has a sister should enjoy it. May require a hanky!

"Schooled" by Anisha Lakhani: Another good one...this is about an idealistic young teacher who goes to work at a high-priced prep school in Manhattan...its an inside look at the private school world - and parents who will do anything to ensure their child's "success"...aka placement at an Ivy League school, of course.

This week I'm reading Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. Almost finished...should be posting about it in the next day or two...

Summer Island by Kristen Hannah

Summer Island had a good story, although I have to say I didn't love it as much as Firefly Lane. I just have a problem, I think with characters who say they hate their mothers. Maybe its just that I can't relate...I have always had a good relationship with mine. I had a hard time believing that what Nora did was so bad that her daughter would not speak to her for 11 years...and use that as an excuse to run away from the love of her life. Like I said, not a bad story, but not my favorite. Still, it's a quick read...worth checking out.

I'll admit I slacked off - I should have posted this a week ago. I have been thoroughly wrapped up in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. Sara loaned me 9 Sookie books and I stayed up late last night finishing the last one. I am enchanted with these books! I also watched 2 seasons of True Blood on HBO on demand...and am anxiously awaiting season 3 next month!

Back to my book a week project though...this week I'm reading "Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him" by Danielle Ganek.

The Heroines by Eileen Favorite

I was disappointed with The Heroines. When I picked up the book, I thought it sounded like a great story line - a young girl living at her family's B&B where famous Heroines from novels dropped in - Scarlett O'Hara, Madame Bovary, etc. Honestly, though, I didn't feel like it delivered.
There is no real explanation of why or how the heroines arrive. There is no rhyme or reason to their visits. The book is more about thirteen-year-old Penny's teenage issues with her mother,and her discovery that her father is not who she has been led to believe.
Not one I'd recommend...I'm relisting it on Paperbackswap.com tonight.

Next up: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah.

Children's Hospital Boston - NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston 10 - 's Page

Not book related...but I am walking for Children's Hospital Boston on June 13...see page below for more info!

Children's Hospital Boston - NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston 10 - 's Page

Living Dead in Dallas

Finished Living Dead in Dallas, the second Sookie Stackhouse book by Charlaine Harris. I am loving this series, and can't wait to get to the library to pick up the next one...Club Dead.

In the meantime, I'm also watching True Blood on demand from HBO...and loving that too. Twilight may have hot teenage vampires...but True Blood has hot grown-up vampires!

This week...The Heroines by Eileen Favorite

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian turned into a two-week book...for a couple of reasons. For one thing, at the beginning, I was so creeped out that I had a hard time reading it near bedtime. Secondly, it was a really long book. As I neared the end of the book, I found myself wishing two things:
1) That I had read Bram Stoker's "Dracula" before reading this
2) That the book had ended much sooner than it did. At 79 chapters plus an epilogue, I felt that it took far longer to tell the story than it could have.

At first, I was intrigued by this varied group of historians hunting Dracula through the years. I was disturbed and completely creeped out by the librarian vampire who appears early on. But by the end, I was no longer surprised or scared by anything. The various encounters seemed to take on a formulaic pattern, and I was disappointed.

Still on vampires, but much lighter reading - this week I'm reading "Living Dead in Dallas" the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris...

Dandelion Wine

I had forgotten just how much I loved Dandelion Wine. I remember now why I read it so often as a kid. For me, it was like I could have summer any time of the year. The way Douglas sees the world is so typical twelve-year-old...its a great book.

One thing I was interested to discover is that people actually did smoke corn silk. So, I have to take back everything I said about Grampy being a fibber when he talked about doing that. Guess he wasn't just making it up!

This week...The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova...don't know much about it except that its got vampires...

Dandelion Wine

My pick this week is Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine". It's an old favorite, one I took out of the library a hundred times as a pre-teen. Set in the summer of 1928, it is the story of twelve-year-old Douglas Spaulding - and also of Ray Bradbury's childhood as well.

I've been looking for this book for years and just acquired it with credits from Paperbackswap.com - I'm excited to get reacquainted with it.

The History of Lucy's Love Life...

Well, thanks to some extra time off due to the flooding and sewer system issue in Warwick, I finished this book up early this week. It was a quick read, and good for something light after the serious and/or nonfiction books I've been reading lately.
Fairly predictable, but a cute story, and interesting to see the take on different guys from history.

As for me and who I'd travel back in time to "date" - William Blake and Jim Morrison top my list. Anyone want to share their picks?

A lighter pick this week

I decided to go for something light this week after the past couple books. This week I'm reading "The History of Lucy's Love Life in Ten and a Half Chapters" by Deborah Wright. The tagline under the title on the front cover says "Who would you date if you had a time machine?"

It's a cute book and I am actually almost finished with it. Definite chick-lit. In between her time travels, we see the ups and downs of Lucy and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Anthony. She uses the time machine to dristact her from her relationship. Lucy's choice of men...Lord Byron, DaVinci, Ovid...leave me wondering, who would I pick?? Have to think about that one a bit longer...

Into the Wild

Finished "Into the Wild" this afternoon. It was a good book and a quick read, but as I said, I had a hard time sympathizing with Alex. I truly feel for his family and am sorry that he died, but if he had used the slightest bit of common sense, he would still be alive. New book starting tomorrow...

One other comment - every time I picked up this book, it triggered the "Into the Woods" soundtrack in my head...and took me almost all week to figure out why I'd been singing it for days!

I broke my no-new-books rule yesterday...Building 19 had a bunch of books for 99 cents...and I couldn't resist. To my credit, I only bought three. I'll probably choose one of those for next week's book.

Also have had some luck with paperbackswap.com. I used my original 2 credits to request 2 books, which I have already received. And I've shipped a book to one person already (The Dwelling from a few weeks ago - and was I glad to get rid of that one so it would stop taunting me over not finishing it!) and just received a request for another...so that will give me more credits! I am loving this site!

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

My choice this week has been Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild." This is definitely a quick read...even with everything I've had going on this week, I'm already halfway through the book. The trouble I'm having with it is that I'm finding it hard to feel sympathetic for Alex - the young man who gave away all his money, cut all ties with his family, and took up a vagabond lifestyle. He strikes me as far too idealistic and irresponsible. I'm hoping something will happen once he is actually in Alaska to change my mind...

White Oleander

I really enjoyed this book. It was down to the wire finishing it up yesterday...last week was a busy one with very little time for reading. The changes Astrid goes through as she bounces from one foster home to the next are insightful - a great character development. You don't always like her, but you always feel for her situation...

This week I'm reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer...borrowed from Erin & Paul.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

My pick this week is White Oleander by Janet Fitch. I'm coming into this with very little knowledge of it. I didn't see the movie when it was out, so I don't have any preconceived notions of it. I generally prefer to read a book before I see a movie, usually because the book tends to be better in most cases.

On another note, I may have found a loophole in my ban against buying new books. Paperbackswap.com is my new favorite website. You can post any of your books that you want to get rid of. When someone orders one of your books, you get a credit for a free book. The only cost is the cost of shipping the book when it is ordered. Also, when you sign up, if you post 10 books you get 2 credits. So right off the bat, I have 2 books coming my way at no cost to me! And, of course, after reading them, I will post them back up on the site so someone else can read them.

Ugly Stepsister...finished!

I enjoyed it, thought it was far from the Cinderella story I grew up on. I have always been a fan of stories told from the "bad guy's" point of view. This one makes Cinderella's stepsisters seem not so bad, both Cinderella and her stepsisters are the victims of their parents' greed.

Not as good as Wicked, for me, but still worth a read if you like that kind of thing.

New book tomorrow...

Ugly Stepsister...day 2

Another trip to Ally's dance class this afternoon...and lots of time for reading. I'm about halfway through the story of Iris, the ugly stepsister of the title. Iris, her mother, and her "simple" sister Ruth have come to live in the house of a wealthy Dutchman, whose beautiful daughter Clara fancies herself a changeling. It is interesting, though I have yet to see much of the traditional Cinderella story.

A quick read so far...I anticipate finishing it well before the end of the week.

"Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" by Gregory Maguire

I've been carrying this book around in my purse for weeks now, intending to read it on my lunch hour at work but have been sidetracked and never actually got to it.
I am a fan of Gregory Maguire - I enjoyed both Wicked and Son of a Witch in his Oz series, and am looking forward to reading A Lion Among Men one of these days.

This one is the Cinderella story from the point of her stepsister, Iris. And since, like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, "I want the fairy tale," I'm looking forward to seeing Gregory Maguire's take on this one.

The Dwelling...done

It's Saturday, and I'm only a third of the way through this book. Partly because I've been reading "The Devil in the White City" for book club - and that book so fascinated and horrified me that I couldn't put it down. But mainly because The Dwelling is not fascinating or horrifying me.
I can't even work up enough interest to want to read it. I'm disappointed, really, because it sounded good. But last night, when I found myself opting for the Magic Treehouse book that my nephew loaned me instead of The Dwelling, I knew it was time to call it.
As much as I hate to give up a book in the middle...I am bailing on this one. I guess there's a reason why it was $3.99 at Job Lot...

New choice coming on Monday...

Week 2 - "The Dwelling" by Susie Moloney

I picked this book at random out of a box in my closet. According to the price tag on the front of the book, I bought it at Job Lot for $3.99. I'm guessing it was at least a couple of years ago, as I don't really even remember buying it.

It looks like a horror - a story about a house that is on the market over and over...I'm assuming because it's haunted. According to the book flap, it covers three different owners of the house, and their experiences there. Should be interesting, I love a good scare-the-crap-out-of-me story.

Apathy and Other Small Victories

Despite a busy weekend and LOTS of hockey on tv, I managed to finish this book by my self-imposed deadline. The verdict - I loved it!

I may have never worked in a cubicle, but I have worked in an office for most of my adult life and could completely relate to a lot of that part of the book. The people, for instance, who pass you in the hallway and greet you with "Is it Friday yet?" - even funnier because I was reading this part last night while half-watching Office Space on tv.

I found bits of it a little Douglas Adams-ish, it was that kind of odd humor that you find in his Hitchhiker series. Maybe it was just the robot voice.

Favorite line in the book is from chapter 10: "If disgust was a shotgun I would've blown my own head off."

I'll pick next week's book tomorrow afternoon...

Catching up today

Not much time for reading the last couple days - too much Olympic hockey on tv! Hoping to do some reading today, in between birthday shopping and crossing things off my to do list...hopefully will post again later.

"Apathy"...day 2

I am thoroughly enjoying Apathy. It is that irreverent, inappropriate, completely non-PC humor that I love.

I'm currently midway through Chapter 4. I read a bit last night but most of what I've read was this afternoon, in the waiting area at my niece's dance class. While Ally was in the other room dancing to a song from The Jungle Book, I sat in my chair giggling quietly to myself over Shane and Marlene signing inappropriate things to each other behind his dentist's back. Over his upstairs neighbor and the neighbor's pet guinea pig. Over Shane, napping in the handicapped stall of the restroom at the insurance company where he temps.

I'm reading this book thinking, "Yeah, I think that's funny too...but I wouldn't admit it in polite company." And really, don't we all feel that way about something?

The first book: Apathy by Paul Neilan

Each Monday I will start a new book. My first choice is Paul Neilan's "Apathy." I know very little about this book, other than that it was loaned to me by my brother Joel. Although we do not always get along, we do have similar taste in books, movies, tv and music. I'm looking forward to this one after reading a very small clip of it that Joel emailed to me a while back.

I only hope I enjoy this as much as he enjoyed the "Kitten Mittens" I gave him for Christmas. (And if you don't know what Kitten Mittens are, you should check out It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.)

My new project

My name is Tara and I'm a book-aholic.

I found myself standing in the book section at Target on Saturday afternoon, enticed by all these books I've never read. They were calling out to me, "Buy me, I'm a good one." I could feel the urge to buy overpowering me. It has been ages since I bought a book for myself. But I resisted...because I have vowed not to buy any new books until I have read all the ones in my house, and decided whether to keep or donate them.

I have piles of books to read all over my house - on the end table in the living room, in boxes in my bedroom, in the office, in my purse, on the coffee table, even some actually in a bookshelf. The bookshelf, though, is generally reserved for my all time favorites...the ones I've read a hundred times but like to have at close hand in case I feel the need to read them again.

So, in an effort to stick to my vow, I've decided to try to read one book per week...and blog about them...