Thoughts Along Life's Highway

What I'm Reading Right Now

I thought I’d share with you another installment of the books I’ve been reading this summer. My reading has slowed down in the past few weeks – mostly because it’s been so busy around here that by the time I finally sit still in the evenings, I’m too sleepy to read for more than a few minutes and then I crash!

I’ve been into some mystery/crime novels this summer. Not sure why, except that I can’t seem to stomach any romance novels right now. The escapism of the mysteries seem to be what I’m looking for – and enjoying – right now.

I have read a few good books and I wanted to share them with you ~

The Black Echo, by Michael Connelly

This was a Barnes & Noble promo book – I can’t remember if it was a Free Friday or 99 cent promo, but I grabbed it because it looked good… and it was. Really good.

The protagonist is Harry Bosch, an LAPD detective who is a bit of an outcast in the Police community and yet has a very strong sense of right and wrong and in getting to the bottom of things.

Harry is called out on a Sunday for a dead body that is found in a culvert pipe at Mulholland Dam.  He recognizes the body as a fellow Vietnam Vet and his determination to get to the bottom of things is set.

As Harry digs into the mysterious murder, he tangles with the FBI, the Internal Affairs division and a number of thugs out to ensure he doesn’t figure out what happened to his friend.

It was very engrossing and kept me awake quite a few nights as I read and read trying to get to the end of a chapter, or at least a stopping point, before going to sleep.  It wasn’t something I probably would’ve picked out in a bookstore, but I really enjoyed it and plan to read more of his books.

The next in the Harry Bosch saga is The Black Ice, so that is on my to-read-soon list.

Trust No One, by Gregg Hurwitz

This was a really, really good book. So engrossing – it grabs you in the first 20 pages and doesn’t let you go until the very end.

The main character is Nick Horrigan, who has worked to build himself a quiet, safe life.  All of that changes when his apartment is invaded in the middle of the night by a SWAT team who snatch him out of his house and take him to a waiting helicopter.

Nick is whisked off to a nuclear reactor which has been overtaken by a terrorist who has asked specifically to speak to Nick.

Thus begins a whirlwind in which Nick is embroiled in a web of lies, deception and half-truths which hearken back to the death of his step-father when Nick was a young teenager.  In order to survive, Nick must determine what is truth, what is real, and who is good and who is evil.

The only thing that Nick knows for sure is his step-father’s dying words - “Trust No One.”

I have to say, this was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Certainly not one, again, that I would’ve sought out, but so, so good.

Definitely one I would recommend to anyone looking for an engrossing mystery/adventure/action story.

Another mystery, but certainly a non-traditional telling of a mystery, was my next read:

Dog on It, by Spencer Quinn

I picked this up at a local bookstore on my vacation. It was in a bin of B1G1 books, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try.

It was so cute.

The mystery is written from the perspective of Chet, the happy-go-lucky pup who belongs to Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator.

Bernie is called in on missing persons case and he and Chet work to find the missing teenaged girl, getting into all sorts of scrapes and tight squeezes as they go along and yet their partnership remains strong and they triumph (as you know they will) in the end.

The most charming part of the book is the perspective from which it is written.  Watching events unfold from Chet’s perspective is a little like talking to someone with serious attention deficit issues – one minute he is describing the “perp” and the next he is distracted by the enticing she-bark of some mysterious female pup off in the distance. And while it is sometimes a little distracting, it is mostly entertaining – especially if you are an animal lover. I couldn’t help looking at my own pups in a little different light and wondering what was really going on in their heads when I chat with them during the day.

A cute, light read that was definitely worth the B1G1 price. I will be picking up the next one in this series sometime soon, too.

Any good books you have to share?

 

 

 

del.icio.us Tags: books,reading,book reviews,nook color,nook,kindle

What I'm Reading Right Now

I realized I haven’t shared with you any of the books I’ve been reading lately. 

As a matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time I told you what books I’ve read. (let me check, hang on)

Oh. Wow.

End of March. I’ve done a lot of reading since then. Especially on my trip. Lots of time to read on those airplanes…

 

I guess I’ll pick a couple and share with you…

This is the first one I’ll share. It’s totally a Young Adult-type book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was another Friday Freebie on Barnes & Noble (love that!) and I was only too happy to download it and give it a try.

The premise is around a young (18ish) girl whose aunt dies and leaves her a “legacy” of 13 envelopes. Each envelope contains a “mission” and she can’t open an envelope until she has finished the mission in the previous envelope.

It’s all about learning to experience life, live in the moment, go with the flow, etc.

As a mom, I couldn't help reading it and thinking what mother in their right mind would let her child go traipsing around Europe without adult supervision.  But the story was charming and I enjoyed the escapism of reading it every night.

There is a second one out:

But I haven’t read it (yet) May be poolside reading for this summer.

Once I finished that one, I dove into another YA book that was (yet another) Friday Freebie (or discounted offering, can’t remember)

 

And all I can say is oh.my.goodness.

This was a really good book. Really good series, as a matter of fact.
(there are three books so far in the series)

If you liked the Twilight books, you’d love this. I liked them, although I got a little tired of the sighing and drama of them by the time I got to the last book. Enough already, Bella. Really!

This series is even more well-written.

The story is about a young girl who finds out (through the appearance of some rather interesting appendages) that she is a Faerie.  The story is a mix of fantasy, Arthurian-type legend, teenage romance, and adventure.

I was hooked from the beginning and have read all three in the series and can’t wait for the next one to come out.

I would highly recommend it and even though it is technically classified as Young Adult, it’s really, really good.

So, what are you reading these days?

Beatrice has a new friend

I just celebrated my ten year anniversary at my company.  They sent me a nice email congratulating me and linking to a website with a list of anniversary gifts I could choose from to celebrate the big event.  As usual with these type of corporate (and universally "PC" for all), they were not that of great choices – watches, plaques, etc. - things I’d never buy myself if I had the money.  Just as I was losing hope, I clicked one more link and found the *best* choice of all. An AMEX gift certificate. Yep, who doesn’t  love those?

I quickly scooped that puppy up (in the e-sense of the word “scoop”) and added it to my “cart.”  Now… what was I going to use it for? It had to be something that was a little bit indulgent and totally for me. No bill-paying responsible behavior here.  This was my anniversary gift. It had to be fun.

I have been flipping back and forth between wanting a new iPad and considering the new Nook Color.  You all know from my praises sung about Beatrice how much I love my Nook. But did I really want another one? Or did I want the iPad?

Everyone that is anyone has an iPad. Did I want to become part of that clique?

And did I really need one?  Of course, need has nothing to do with this, does it? (just ask Cathy Zielske)

And I kept thinking about how big an iPad is, compared to my little Nookie… and how expensive they are (ouch!) and did I really want one, or just want one because everyone else has one?

Which kept bringing me back to the Nook. 

And I started researching the new Nook Color. 

And it’s beautiful.  And sleek. And small (but not too small)

And best of all, it’s Android (like my phone)

So, off I went to the B&N store.  After an hours’ worth of conversation with my handy, helpful Nook Geek, I was sold.  He told me they were going to be releasing an update to the Nook Color software which would enable me to download apps onto it (much like I have done on my phone) and that it would become more and more of a true tablet-PC type of tool, not just an e-reader.  Which, they did, today. And I already have Angry Birds loaded. (hee hee) And a nifty email client so I can check email on there. And surf the web. And update Facebook. (which, we know, is vital.)

I think (and this is just my opinion) that B&N has decided the iPad is their competition (not Kindle) and that seems to be where their focus is for development.

Which is a good deal for me. Given that I am already familiar with Android and love the Nook software, too.

So, now, Beatrice has a new cousin. And she is beautiful. And sleek. And shiny and colorful. (and she has a pretty pink cover)

And she’s all mine.

del.icio.us Tags: barnes & noble,nook,nook color,kindle,ereader

What I'm Reading Right Now

I told you I’ve been reading a lot lately!

I have pretty much given up TV completely. I don’t miss it at all. And, when I do sit down to watch something, I get bored pretty quickly and turn the TV off to go do something else.  It just doesn’t hold much appeal for me these days.

But I have really been enjoying reading.

So much so that I’m running my batteries down on Beatrice pretty quickly – she’s supposed to have 8-10 hours reading time per charge. I’m having to charge her every day or so. I just plug her in at night before I go to bed to be sure she doesn’t lose her charge. I had the experience one day of (trying to) turn her on in carpool to find she was dead, Jim.  Dead. Horrors! I don’t let that happen anymore, no-sirree-bob.

Anyway.

I read this book in about 36.5 hours.  Not really, but I know that I read it pretty quickly.  I just couldn’t put it down once I started.  I spent most of Saturday reading – partly because I wasn’t feeling good and partly because the book was just so darn good.

I don’t want to spoil the plot for you, but it’s full of mystery, a little forbidden romance, history, plot twists and turns, evil villains (or are they?) and a lot of magic.

I loved it. Every.single.page.

I can’t wait for her to write another book. As a matter of fact, I went downstairs to the computer (around midnight) when I finished the book to see if there was another one to download.

There isn’t.

Boo.

So, I must wait for her to write another. (Get busy!)

I’ve picked these two as my next choices for reading:

The first one I read just a little bit of the sample and was hooked – It’s about a girl living near Niagara Falls around the time of WWI.  She’s from a privileged family who has to make some major adjustments as the father is fired from his job.  I really liked the writing and think it will be a good read. I’m only on the first 20-30 pages, though, so I don't know too much more yet.

The second one is Sarah Addison Allen’s newest. I just love her and all of her books, so I was anxiously waiting for the release of this new book. I think I may save it to read next week while I’m on vacation. Her books are like sweet confections you want to savor…

So, what are you reading these days?

What I'm Reading Right Now

I’ll start this installment with what I have already read (recently) and then share with you what I’m currently reading… all have been good reads.

I started with this book – it was a Friday Freebie (I think) on Barnes & Noble’s website (for Nook readers)

It’s a mystery – fairly light reading. The main character is an unemployed former journalist who makes her way through life rowing and doing odd jobs to make ends meet. She’s kind of headed nowhere and likes it that way.  She stumbles into a murder mystery when one of her rowing buddies is accused of murder, which she knows he couldn’t possibly have committed (could he?) and ends up being hired by his lawyer as a pseudo-investigator to help uncover facts which could lead to her friend’s case being dropped.

I have to admit, while I was often yawning and wishing the plot would move along more quickly, I still enjoyed the story.  The characters are well written and not boilerplate – they have sass and vitality.

I enjoyed it enough that I picked up the next one in the series immediately after finishing the first – that’s one of the nice things about an e-Reader – no waiting to go to the bookstore!

This one was good as well, although not as good as the first. I’m not sure if I was just getting tired of the type of writing, or what.  In this story, Tess, the main character, is still dabbling in maybe becoming a full-fledged investigator, although she is working full time now. 

This story involves her “uncle” who is badly beaten and for most of the book is in a coma, a greyhound who is “rescued” from the tracks, and another murder mystery Tess investigates.

The characters weren’t as well developed, but the story was pretty good. After finishing it, though, I decided to take break from the Tess stories and pick up some other things to read. I’m sure I’ll go back and read more of them, though. They are good, light reading and perfect when I don’t want to think too hard. ;-)

Moving right along…

I am also reading through this book, although it’s not a constant thing, I am reading when I’m in the mood.  It’s a very interesting book and has given me some great perspective, given that I have a pre-teen daughter and I’m hoping that we’re doing the right things in terms of the building blocks in her life. 

The conversations revolve around the following:

1. You are more than the sum of your parts
2. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up
3. Sex is great and worth the wait
4. It’s OK to dream about marriage and motherhood
5. Girls gone wild are a dime a dozen—dare to be virtuous

There are biblical references, but also plenty of practical advice.  I’m finding nuggets of wisdom throughout.

And then, finally, I’m reading this:

It was part of another promotion on B&N and I am hooked. It is so engrossing and the main character is mysterious, wounded, powerful and captivating.

She is an “informationist” – a mercenary of sorts, who is hired by various countries, organizations and wealthy individuals to acquire information. And she does, through whatever means necessary.

However, as you follow her on her various “missions” in the opener of the book, you begin to realize that she is a wounded soul, running from memories at the same time she is completing her assignments.

She is hired by a wealthy oil magnate to try to find information related to the disappearance of his daughter four years earlier.  Finding people is not what she normally does, but she takes the assignment, intrigued and challenged by the seeming dead-end trails.

She’s given one mandate from the magnate – a “keeper” of sorts who is tasked with traveling with her and keeping her safe (which she feels is unnecessary and insulting, yet unavoidable).

I’m about 150 pages in and I can’t wait to find some free time to sit down and keep reading. I want to know more about her, more about the missing girl, and see what happens with the two main characters’ relationship – how it develops and what becomes of it.

I’d strongly recommend it to anyone.

So, your turn… what are you reading these days?

What I'm Reading

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately. I’ve pretty much given up on night time television.  There’s nothing on that I care about watching – not enough to give up sleep for, anyway!

So, instead of vegging in front of the TV, I’ve been reading. Once the monkeys go to bed, I snuggle up in my chair in our sitting room and read until I can’t focus anymore. Some nights, that’s five minutes, some it’s more.  It just depends.

I’ve been really lucky, too, in that I’ve found some really great books to read.

I think the last one I shared with you was Juliet or maybe it was Septimus Heap?

I thoroughly enjoyed Juliet. It was a really great book. One I would recommend to anyone.

I have taken a break from Septimus Heap because Big Girl is reading it, too, and she wanted to catch up to me in the story so we can talk about it. So, I’ve been reading other books while we get to the same point in the story.

Here are some of the books I’ve read in the past few weeks:

Prayers for Sale
by Sandra Dallas

This was a really, really good book. I gobbled it up in a matter of days, enjoying it like I would a delicious dessert for my mind.  The characters are really well-written and the story consists of an 80-something year old’s reminiscences of her youth in a gold mining camp in the mountains of Colorado and her current relationship with a young, newly-married girl.  I was hooked within the first few pages and couldn’t wait to sit down and read in the evenings. I was sad when the story was over, wishing I could spend more time with the characters (always a good sign, in my mind)

I would highly recommend it to you. Especially if you are in the mood for something a little bit different.

 

The Lace Makers of Glenmara
by Heather Barbieri

This one just captured me from the very beginning.  It is the story of a heartbroken young woman who is traveling through Ireland trying to recover from being jilted by her fiancé (for another woman, of course).

She ends up in a small village that has a lace making group – middle-aged women who each have stories of their own.  The book weaves their stories, and Kate’s (the main character) together beautifully, and the imagery is spectacular.

I finished this one last night and am hoping to find more stories by this author.

Another one I’d highly recommend.

 

Now, I’m starting The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry.

It’s the story of a young psychotherapist, Zee Finch, who is thrown in a tailspin when one of her patients commits suicide.

She travels back to Salem, where she is from, and finds her father in poor health and needing care.

I’m not much further into the book than that, but I loved The Lace Reader, another book by Barry, so I am looking forward to reading this one.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

 

 

 

And what about you?

What are you reading these days?  Any recommendations?

What I'm Reading Right Now

I’ve been tossing back and forth between books since finishing Juliet. It was such a good book and I was having trouble deciding what I wanted to read next. There were quite a few books I wanted to read, but my budget wasn’t allowing me to go nuts and buy them all right now. And they are on “wait” at the library, so I had to decide to either read a “real” book that I already had on the bookshelf at home, or an existing book already on Beatrice.

I got lucky and Barnes & Noble had a Free Friday book that looked promising. I’m hooked now. Big Girl is reading a library copy of the same book, which is fun because we can talk about the story as we go. 

There are six (or seven?) books in the series, so I am sure B&N will get their tithe at some point, unless we get lucky and find them either at a used bookstore or the library. I may just go ahead and purchase the “real” book so that Big Girl and I can share them more easily. She likes to take her books to school and read them when she has free time and I’m not too keen on letting Beatrice take a trip to school.

So, now I am reading Septimus Heap, Book One, Magyk which, although, I think, a children’s book, is really very entertaining.  It’s about a family of wizards who adopt what they think is an abandoned baby girl but who turns out to be a princess who was rescued just as her mother, the queen, was killed.  It’s all twists and turns and lots of fantasy and magic, but it’s a nice escape from reality right now.  The story is engaging and the characters are interesting, if not too deeply developed (so far).

Big Girl is really enjoying it, which I love, and hates to put it down at night when it is time for lights out. I think it will be fun to read together and have something to share, especially if she makes it past the first book and on into the others in the story.

 

Who knows, maybe some Harry Potter will be in our future one day?

What are you reading right now?

What I’m reading right now

There were two things I hoped to do over my holiday break (in addition to the usual Christmas-y things we had planned) and those were scrapbooking and reading.

I got to do both – and I consider that a successful holiday! In spite of the nasty cold/flu bug that got ahold of my body just in time for Christmas, I managed to do quite a bit of reading (or maybe because of that? I sure didn’t feel like doing much else)

I managed to start and finish quite a few books. Most were quick, cotton-candy-ish reads, but they were perfect for this time of year and for my cold-medicine-hazed brain.

I read:

The Lost Recipe for Happiness (Barbara O’Neal)

This was a really good book. I love cooking (and food) and I love love stories – this was all of that wrapped into one. The main character would smell someone’s “essence” – or whatever the food was that described their character. I loved that little tidbit – kind of wish the author had actually expanded on that a little more.

The story revolves around a chef who lands a job opening a new restaurant for a famous Hollywood director.  She is a wounded soul (as is he) and they find more in common than the opening of the restaurant.

You know from the get-go that they are going to fall in love and live happily ever after, but the author does a good job keeping you entertained along the way.

I also read another book by Barbara O’Neal:

 The Secret of Everything (Barbara O’Neal)

This was based on a photographer (another wounded soul) who leads adventure-based vacations. She goes to New Mexico to check out a locale for a potential vacation retreat and ends up uncovering all sorts of things from her childhood that she has forgotten/repressed.

Again, there’s the love story angle, but I really like how O’Neal develops her characters – and this character is gifted with a special touch with doggies. Since I’m a doggie-lover myself, I liked this angle.  There were also recipes and a food focus in this book as well.

Honestly, I think O’Neal is missing an opportunity to write some type of story about a character who has these “gifts” and actually knows it and uses the gifts. She dances all around them, but doesn’t really do much with them.

The books were great to read while I was sick, though. Lightweight but entertaining.

Now, I’m reading this book:

Juliet (Anne Fortier)

It’s based on a girl named Juliet who finds out (upon her great-aunt’s death) that she is really named Guilietta and is a descendant of the Guilietta who was better known for the Romeo & Juliet story. She goes to Italy to find a “treasure” left to her by her great-aunt and embarks on a journey to discover her history.

I’m only about 100 pages into the story so I don’t know a whole lot yet, but I am really enjoying it. It is well written and I’m looking forward to finishing the story – I see a few late nights in my future…

So, did you get any reading in this holiday? What’s on your night stand?

What I'm Reading Right Now

I caught up (a little) on some reading over the Thanksgiving break.

I managed to read A Simple Amish Christmas and finally finish The Venetian Betrayal  (that book seemed to never end!)

The Amish Christmas book was charming. While it was very formulaic and pretty predictable, I liked the characters and was sad when I finished. I am hoping the author has some others to offer. It was a nice light read – perfect at the end of the busy holiday days.

I started Private by James Patterson last night.  So far, it looks good.

It’s about a private investigator, former CIA agent, who finds out his best friend’s wife has been murdered.  He pours all of his agency’s resources into finding her killer (along with the other open cases they are handling) and I don’t know much else yet – hey, I just started it yesterday!

I’ll let you know how it turns out. There were good and bad reviews online, so I’m holding out my opinion until it’s done. But, it interested me enough that I made the purchase after my free sample on the Nook.

What are you reading right now?
Any recommendations?

What I'm Reading Right Now

Haven’t had too much time to read lately. Work has been busy and between that and after-school activities, my evenings are filled to the brim. By the time I finally slow down in the evenings I may read a page or two and then my eyes are at half-mast and I’m ready to crash for the evening.

BUT

Here are a few books on my to-read list.  Ones I am hoping to get to in the coming weeks – as things (hopefully) slow down a bit at work and the kids’ activities take a hiatus for the holidays.

 Heaven is for Real : A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

This book my mom told me about yesterday. I promptly downloaded it to Beatrice and am hoping to read it this weekend.

It’s the story of a little boy who has a life-threatening medical situation and apparently goes to Heaven. While he is there, he meets God, Jesus, his great-grandfather and the sister who was miscarried by his mom.  He returns and recovers and begins to share his memories with his family.

The book is written by his dad and includes quotes from the little boy. I’m fascinated and can’t wait to read it.

 

The Grace of God

This is written by the pastor of my church.  Any book of his I have ever read has been thought-provoking, challenging, and an excellent read.

 

 

 

 

 

A Simple Amish Christmas

I downloaded this one for free from B&N. Looks like light reading and an interesting storyline about an Amish girl who has been living with “the English” and is now returning home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Child of the Northern Spring

This was another B&N download to Beatrice.

Looks to be a very good beginning to a Guinevere trilogy. The story focuses from her perspective and this first one on her growing up and becoming Arthur’s wife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realistically, I will probably not make it through more than one or two of these, but you never know.  Those are just a few of the books on Beatrice waiting to be devoured.  I have over a hundred books on there now. 

If I could only figure out how to get someone else to do all my “chores” so I can focus on reading!

What I'm Reading Right Now

Well, not really reading.

More like listening.

It’s an audio book.

But it’s really good.

So, I thought I’d share.

The book is “Russian Winter.”  I downloaded the audiobook from audible.com. Love that I can do that – it allows me to “read” while I knit, drive, cook, or do other things where my eyes must be otherwise occupied but my brain needs some stimulation.

Anyhow.

The story is about a Russian ballerina, Nina Revskaya, and her decision to sell her jewel collection at auction.

There is mystery and memories aplenty in the story as we are flashed back in time to Nina’s youth as she recalls her time in the Bolshoi ballet and living in Russia under Stalinist rule.

Other principal characters are Drew Brooks, the young woman who works for the auction house hired to sell the jewels and Grigori Solodin, a professor who believes the jewels hold secrets to his own past.

I am finding the story very engrossing and hate to stop listening when it is time to do other things.  So far, I’m only a few chapters in, so I can’t really spoil the plot for you, but I can in good conscience recommend the book to you.

 

What are you reading these days?

Related articles

• 'Russian Winter': a former Bolshoi Ballet star opens a Pandora's box of memories (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Review: Russian Winter & Giveaway (bookingmama.blogspot.com)

My Nook is Getting a New Look?

I love Beatrice Nook.  I think you already know that.

I found out some cool things today as I was messing around on the internet.

There are some beautiful skins for the Nook.  And pretty matching covers/cases.

What more could a girl want for her Nook?

Here are a few I’m trying to decide between.  Which one do you like best? Help me decide.

or maybe

or maybe blue?

I really like that one – and the cover is leather, not synthetic. I think it is my favorite so far.

But most definitely not this

Eek! I would have nightmares!

 

There are too many choices, what’s a girl to do?

Too bad I can’t order one of each. That would be a little excessive, wouldn’t it?

The bundles are all from Amazon and come with screen protectors and the skins and cases. 

I’m thinking this might be a nice birthday gift for a girl who’s got a birthday coming soon.

What I’m Reading Right Now

Carrying a book around is a rather bulky endeavor – especially when it’s a hardback book of 600+ pages.  So, my most recent book is languishing on my nightstand because I refuse to lug it everywhere I go. It will probably take me a while to finish reading it, but that is OK. I have Beatrice, my nook.  

I started reading a new book on there this weekend – The Girl Who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison Allen. Now, I don’t know if you have ever read any of her books before, but they are yummy confections for the mind.  I swear, I feel like I should gain five pounds just by reading.  She has a way with words, with painting pictures in your mind – but she does such a great job of evoking not only the images, but the sounds and smells of the environment she creates for you.

Here is an example:

There was a teenager on the balcony. She was just standing there, as still as snow, staring into the woods behind Vance’s house. She was willow-branch thin, had a cap of yellow hair, and a sad sort of vulnerability was wafting from her, making the night smell like maple syrup.

I love the imagery there!

Or this (love it)

“Some men you know are Southern before they ever say a word,” Julia said as she and Emily watched Sawyer’s progress, helpless, almost as if they couldn’t look away.  “They remind  you of something good – picnics or carrying sparklers around at night. Southern men will hold doors open for you, they’ll hold you after you yell at them, and they’ll hold on to their pride no matter what.”

She has written a few other books that I just gobbled up as soon as they were released: Garden Spells was the first, and The Sugar Queen the second. LOVE them.  All of her books weave in some magic and mystery that seems altogether plausible, even normal, in the stories. 

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is no exception in this regard.

In the book, a young seventeen year old, Emily, arrives in Mullaby after her mother’s death.  She is to live with her maternal grandfather, Vance Shelby who is a real-life giant.  Emily realizes soon enough that there are lots of things about Mullaby that are not like other towns.  From her home, where the wallpaper in her bedroom changes with her moods, to the lights she sees in the woods at night, things are just a little bit different.

Emily befriends Julia Winterson who is the current owner of a local barbecue restaurant and baker extraordinaire.  Julia’s cakes have become well-known throughout Mullaby and although she is only biding her time before she leaves town and sells her late father’s restaurant, she feels the pull of the town of Mullaby, (and it’s magic) too.

I’m not very far into the book, but I am mesmerized.  I can’t wait to finish and yet I am trying so hard to read slowly because I don’t want the book to end.  That’s usually how it is with Allen’s books for me.  They are like your favorite dessert – you can’t wait to gobble it up and relish the goodness and yet you want to savor every single mouthful.

Need a book to read? Go get one of Sarah Addison Allen’s. They’re so worth it.

What I'm Reading Right Now

I am actually reading a BOOK right now.  Shocker, I know, since I have been so hooked on Beatrice (the Nook) lately.  But I had purchased a few books right before Beatrice entered our lives and I felt like I really should go back and read those before purchasing any more books on the B&N website.  

That is the only downside I have found with my Nook.  It makes quite a dent in my “disposable income” budget without me even realizing it. I see a book on there that I want, I press “purchase” and blam! it’s there on Beatrice. Painless and quick. Until I look at my bank statement. (eep!)

Anyway.

Here’s what I’m reading right now… I purchased it at a discount at the drug store – they had a big bin of hardbacks marked down to $5 each and I couldn’t resist. I bought this one and a couple others which I haven’t read yet (but plan to read soon)

And, as I just downloaded the image from the Barnes and Noble website, I see that it is Book #2 in a Trilogy! Egads!  Now I’m going to have to download Book #1!! (Labyrinth is the title)

The book, so far, is engrossing, although I haven’t quite figured out the plot yet. However, now that I know that I am really starting in the middle of the story, that might explain a few things – like why I can’t figure out the plot yet!  (note to self – look for Labyrinth on the Nook tonight)

Here’s what Barnes & Noble had to say about Sepulchre:

In 1891, young Leonie Vernier and her brother Anatole arrive in the beautiful town of Rennes-les-Bains, in the Pyrenees of southwest France. Born and raised in Paris, they've come at the invitation of their widowed aunt, whose mountain estate, Domain de la Cade, is famous in the region. But it soon becomes clear that their aunt—and the Domain—are not what Leonie had imagined. For starters, Tante Isolde is no graying dowager—she is young, willowy, and beautiful, but with a melancholy air that suits the strange, slightly sinister Domain de la Cade. Leonie discovers that the house has long been the subject of local superstition. The villager claim that the Devil walks in the forests of the Domain, and that Isolde's late husband died after summoning a demon from the old Visigoth sepulchre high on the mountainside. A book from the Domain's cavernous library describes not only the spell used to bring forth the demon, but the strange Tarot pack that is part of the ritual, a set of...

I am not even 100 pages into the book yet – can’t tell you much other than I am looking forward to reading more. I am enjoying the writing style and have already been sucked in to the story – I want to know what is going on – and I want to know what is going to happen to Loenie and Anatole.  Anatole seems (on the surface) to be somewhat shallow, but I am reading hints of more depth to the character and to his story.

I’ll keep you posted as I read through it – It’s a big book (~600 pages) so it will probably take me a week or two to finish.

What are you reading?

I love new book suggestions – got any to share?

On the Nightstand

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this summer. I made a conscious decision at the beginning of summer that I was going to watch less TV and do more reading. I’ve got a ton of shows on TiVo and, surprisingly, I don’t even care if I don’t catch up on them.  BUT, I am really enjoying reading again.  I have been devouring books like they were bon bons and spending lots of time curled up on the sofa with a glass of iced grape kool-aide and my faithful kitty cat, Scooby Doo.  (aka Gabriella Pussycat… the nickname is a story for another day)

My new Nook (named Beatrice Nook by Big Girl) has been a constant companion, too. I have been really enjoying it and the fact that just about ANY book is accessible to me anywhere (even 38,000 feet in the air as I flew to/from San Francisco a few weeks ago).  I have also been enjoying being exposed to new writers (that I probably would never have considered) as I have been taking advantage of the Free Friday eBooks on Barnes & Noble’s website. Why not try a book if it’s free? Nothing to lose, right?

If you have been considering a Nook (or Kindle) you can read my review of Beatrice here.  She is my new best friend (and Big Girl’s, too)

Here are a few of the books I’ve read in the past few weeks:

Weddings Can Be Murder
Christie Craig

This was a Friday Freebie.  I would’ve probably not bought it otherwise.  It was light, cotton-candy reading.  Predictable plot, although great escapism.  Not too crazy about the language in the book (lots of F-words) but I just skimmed them and kept reading.

Basic plot is centered around murders of brides-to-be who all share the same wedding planner (who is killed in the first 100 or so pages) and the Cop/PI brothers trying to solve the murders and save the girl.  There’s also a sub-plot which was focused on Kate (the bride) and her fiancé and best friend.  Without spoiling the story, that’s about all I can tell you.

Would I read it again? Probably not.  But it was good, escapist summer reading – and for free, that’s not bad.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery
MS, RD, LD Furtado

I picked this up on the airplane heading out to San Francisco. ON THE PLANE. At 38k feet. How cool is that? LOVE it.  Love my Nook.

Anyway. 

Very, very informative book. I thought I had learned pretty much all I needed to know about life after surgery already but was pleasantly surprised to find that this book had tons of good information for me. Particularly about carbohydrate intake, protein needs, etc. 

I’m still reading it – I have to be in the right frame of mind for this type of book – but I am really glad I bought it. If you are a WLS patient, I strongly suggest making the investment.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson

Is anyone not reading this book (or one of the books in this series)?

I mean, really, everyone seems to have this book on their to-read list these days.

I have started it. I haven’t finished it. I keep getting distracted with other books. The story just hasn’t grabbed me yet.

Anyone have any thoughts about it? I’m wondering what all the fuss is about, since I can’t seem to get going on the book. Maybe I just need to get over my ADD and focus on reading it for a few days and see if it gets better.

DarkFever
Karen Marie Moning

This was another Friday Freebie (which is probably why I can’t seem to finish the Dragon story!)

I was a little skeptical that I’d like it, but once I got into the story (in about three chapters) I was hooked. I read this in about 2 days. 

It’s a sci-fi/paranormal story (not a romance at all) and focuses on this stereotypical Southern Blonde whose sister is mysteriously killed while attending an exchange program in Dublin, Ireland. She goes over to pressure the police about finding her sister’s killer and finds herself embroiled in the world of the Faery, magic and mystery.

There are five books in the series. I have already downloaded #2 & 3 on my Nook. I can’t wait to read them. The stories are engrossing and the dialogue and plot are very well done.  I really had no clue what was going to happen from page to page – which is really important to me.

I started this a long time ago. Really, really enjoyed it.

Then I got the Nook and got all sorts of distractions.

I am stuck somewhere in India.  At an ashram. Maybe that is why I haven’t finished?
I WANT to finish it. It’s a really good story about finding oneself and growing up.

I WILL finish it.

Maybe after the kids are back at school.

And, then, finally, I am reading this -

I got re-hooked into the saga after seeing the new Twilight movie last week. I’m already more than halfway through the book (started reading it Saturday night) and I just HAVE to finish it to see where things go.  Didn’t think I would get sucked back into the Twilight series again, but here I am, reading like a crazy woman.

Like I said, I’ve been devouring books lately. 

What are YOU reading?

Anything I should add to my wishlist?

I have a new toy

I have been thinking about getting an eReader for a few months now.  I couldn’t decide between the Kindle and the Nook and I have been reading reviews and asking people that have both what they think of them. But, I still hadn’t made a decision.

Did I really need a digital book thingy? I mean, really?

And, would I really like it?

My mom and I are both voracious readers. I am usually reading two or three books at the same time. I keep one in the car, one by my rocking chair, and many on the nightstand.  That way, no matter where I am, I have a book to read.

My brother had mentioned the iPad to my mom when he was visiting in June.  I have seen so many people who’ve gotten one… but I just can’t seem to get past the high price tag and large size.  If I’m going to spend that much money, I just want to buy a new laptop – something I can do some digital scrapbooking and other things on – not just read and surf the web.

Anyway.

I am going on a business trip next week – and I have been trying to figure out how I was going to pick a book to read to take on the trip – since I have three I’m currently in the middle of. What if I finish one early on the trip? I don’t want to buy another book on the road when I have two more at home waiting to be finished. But, I don’t want to carry a bunch of books with me, either. That is just too much extra bulk and weight! (my mind never rests – it’s always tossing and turning on these silly conundrums – does your mind do this, too?)

So, my mind wandered back to the Kindle/Nook question again.  I went online (again) and read some more reviews. (I love CNet.com’s reviews.  They never fail me) After church yesterday, we went out for lunch and just happened (wink, wink) to go to a restaurant in the same shopping center as a Barnes & Noble.  I managed to sneak in and get a detailed demo of the Nook from a very knowledgeable salesperson (thank you!)

I discovered that the Nook has some cool little features that the Kindle doesn’t.  They are both so similar that there isn’t really one specific feature that puts one over the other, in my opinion. I think it boils down to personal preferences.  But here is what I liked about the Nook:

• I love the virtual menu – a touch screen rather than physical keys (the Kindle has keys).  I like it because it turns itself off after a few seconds (you can specify how long) and then you don’t have to worry about accidentally pressing a menu key and having something happen in the middle of reading.
• I love the eInk technology (they both have this). It makes it so easy on your eyes when you are reading – so much more easy than reading on my iPod touch or phone screen. It is black & white, so there is no color display (except the menu screen, which is in color)
• I love the fact that I can have 1,500 books on the Nook at one time (I don’t think I’d ever worry about not having something to read again!)  And, with the Nook’s ability to add a micro-SD card, I can expand that capacity if I need/want to.
• I can also put music on my Nook – so I can use it as an MP3 player if I choose.  Which is just a neat feature but not really something that I thought my future eReader had to have.
• I love that I can download a book in less than a minute.  I am an impatient girl. If I find a book that I want to read, I want it NOW. I don’t want to wait to have to go to the store (maybe days from now) and now I don’t have to!  How cool is that?!?
• I also love the fact that it stores where I left off reading in every single book I am reading – and will take me to the last point read when I open the book. No more lost bookmarks.
• I think it is cool that it has a browser on it as well – Given, you are looking at a black & white screen (because of the eInk) and some pages look very dull in b&w, but at least you can look at the internet if the mood strikes you.  The browsing feature is a little strange (you use the color, touch screen at the bottom to scroll/pan around the larger b&w browser page) and is going to take some getting used to, but I like the fact that I can go online and look things up if the notion strikes me – and I don’t have to get my laptop out to do so.
• I got the one with the 3G service on it. At first, I wasn’t really sure why I’d need that, but I found out in the first five minutes why, and I’m so glad I did.  The 3G service allows the Nook to connect to any AT&T cell tower (automatically, I didn’t have to do anything) and provide access.  In fact, I took the Nook out of the box on the drive home, just to see it in person, and when I turned it on, it connected to the 3G network and I was able to register my Nook and connect to B&N as we were driving home. THAT, my friends, was really cool. No waiting for a WiFi connection.  Just presto! and I was online as we drove down the highway.

Big Girl is also enamored with my new toy.  She has been very resistant to my planned reading schedule this summer and new books or trips to the library have not swayed her in her determination NOT to read.  However, the Nook seems to have changed all that. I don’t know if it is the novelty of it, or what, but she quickly asked for a book to be loaded (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) and started reading away.

I have noticed, prior to this, that she seems intimidated by books that seem “big” or “long” and I’m wondering if I’ll be able to get her to pick stories that just seem interesting without being intimidated by their heft – since she will be reading them virtually.  I loaded the B&N eReader software on her netbook, so if I am using the Nook, she can still read her story. (As a matter of fact, if I have the B&N eReader software loaded on my phone or iPod, I can do the same and read any book I’m in the middle of on my Nook even if the Nook is not with me. I am not sure yet if the bookmarks will synch or not. Have to check that out.) 

As a matter of fact, she came downstairs this morning, Nook in hand, reading away.  Wow.  That’s just awesome.

So, I’m all set with my new toy and I’m ready for my business trip (just as soon as I pack).  I got a cute cover for the Nook, too - to keep it safe from scratches while it rides around in my bag. I think I’m going to name her – just haven’t decided what yet. “Nook” sounds silly – Big Girl and I both think.  And with this cute pink jacket, I think she is just begging for a name.  Matilda?  Beatrice?

Do any of you have eReaders?  Or thoughts about having one - or not having one?  I admit, I have been on the fence for a LONG time, but now that I got one, I’m so glad I did.

What I’ve been reading lately

I sorta told a half-truth yesterday. I said I hadn’t had time for reading. Well, that’s not really true, now that I think about it.

Reading is one of the few things I HAVE been doing these days – besides working and being the MomTaxi for the munchkins.  I have been reading while they are at their activities and reading each night to unwind from my day. TV has been boring and I’m trying to stay far, far away from the kitchen and those late-night snacks that beckon from the pantry.  Reading is something I usually do upstairs in my bedroom so I have been reading instead of watching TV, which, for me, used to involve a snack or two. Since I am trying to make healthier choices food-wise, snacking is not for me. Hence,more reading.

Ok, I think I beat that to death. sigh.

Here are the books I’ve enjoyed lately:

This was recommended on another blog (sorry, I can’t remember where) and I found a copy at the library and dove right in. It was very entertaining and great escapism. 

The premise is that there is a whole world of wizardry, magic and witchcraft out there that exists in tandem with our “normal” world and the main character, Harry Dresden, is the world’s only wizard-for-hire.  The story is a mystery/sci-fi/action novel all wrapped into one.

I found it a quick read and was only a little annoyed by the “Sam Spade” style of writing.  Butcher is a little verbose in his writing and I found myself skimming paragraphs to get to the “good stuff.” But that is not unusual for me – especially if I like a story – I want to find out what happens next without reading all the scene setup.

I liked it well enough that I am now “reading” the second in the series: Fool Moon, on my iPod Touch. It is a great story to listen to as I do my daily walks. Harder to skip to the good stuff when you are walking, but great entertainment as I get my exercise.

This is the book I’m reading right now. It started out a little slow and I put it down twice before I picked it up the third time and kept right on reading.  It’s getting better and I’m interested to see how the story plays out.

The story is set in Iceland (imagine that!) around 1000 A.D. and focuses on two main female characters.  One is a goddess, Freya, and the other a human, Fulla. Freya’s story is a quest for a gold necklace which is supposed to save mankind and Fulla is a teenage girl on the cusp of her first love.  Mixed in with all this is the tension of the “new religion” of Christianity and the “old ways” and the conflict that this causes.

I’ll let you know how I like it when I finish. I am finding, now, that I wish I knew more about Icelandic myth and their traditional faith – I think the story would be more enjoyable if I wasn’t spending so much time trying to figure out who was who as I read.

I also have this checked out from the library

and am planning to read it next.

What are you reading?

On my bookshelf

I haven’t been doing a lot of scrapbooking while I’ve been healing from my surgery, but I have been doing a lot of reading.

Here are a few books I’ve finished in the past few weeks:

Nefertiti was a very interesting escape into the world of the Pharaohs. I wanted something totally unrelated to real life (today) and I got it.  The story was very engrossing – I had a hard time putting it down each night and could’ve probably read all night long if my eyes would’ve stayed open. 

The story is written from the perspective of Nefertiti’s younger sister, Mutny, and follows Nefertiti and her family as they rise to power after her arranged marriage to Amunhotep – who later changes his name to Akenhaten.  It is an interesting look at the politics of the day as well as the dynamics of a dynastic family to whom power and position are the most important things. 

I can’t wait to read the next story in the series: The Heretic Queen, which focuses on Mutny’s story after Nefertiti’s death.

If you like historical fiction, give this one a try. 

Another one I just finished, and totally different from Nefertiti, was The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry. I love his books, even though they are somewhat formulaic, because I am always completely engrossed in the story by the end of the first chapter and can’t wait to see how he spins the story out through the book. 

This latest Cotton Malone story is no different.  Right from the beginning, the action grabs you and keeps you guessing as to what in the heck is going on and how the different parallel plots are going to come together.

I have to say, though, I was not happy with the final chapter, simply because of what happens to one of the main characters, but I will not spoil it for you in case you are a Steve Berry/Cotton Malone fan and haven’t read the book yet.

I didn’t realize that I had skipped the Charlemagne Pursuit (which is #3 in the Cotton Malone series) so I will be hitting up the local bookstore this weekend to purchase it along with the Heretic Queen.  I’m not sure which one I want to read first!

What books have you been reading lately?

What’s on your bookshelf?

I have decided I want to do more reading in 2010 – like I used to do way back when before there were other things to distract me (like kids, dogs, computer/internet, scrapbooks, etc.)  I can remember reading an entire novel in a weekend. THAT never happens these days.

Anyway, to get me going on my goal of reading more, I stopped by the library last week. I had planned to pick up a book I’d read a review of on someone’s blog last week. 

That was what I went in to get.  I had even put it on reserve.

But, you know, when I walk into the library, something happens.  It’s that library book smell, I think. It beckons to me from the stacks. I can hear the books calling to me and I can’t just walk in and pick up one book and walk out. That almost seems sacrilegious. 

So, I was off to wander the stacks and see what jumped out at me. I wasn’t expecting to find anything because the last few times I’d been to the library looking for something to read, there wasn’t anything there that I was interested in.  The shelves were full of old stuff that I had read or had no interest in reading.

On a side note, I find it interesting that the libraries are becoming quite the popular place these days. I guess everyone is like we are and can’t afford the luxury of running to the closest Barnes & Noble whenever they want a new book. Every time I go in our library it is packed!  Jeez! Leave the books for me, people! :-)

Anyway, back to the story.

I was wandering aimlessly and decided to check out the carts of books waiting to be re-shelved. After all, if it was good enough for someone else to check out, maybe I would like it, right?

Lo and behold, I found a book that looked interesting: The Friday Night Knitting Club.  How appropriate, I thought. Especially since I am now a part of a Thursday Night Knitting Club!  I picked it up and added to my pile. (I was still carrying around my reserved book at this point)

Then, I wandered through a few aisles, thinking I would probably find nothing, but I’d look around anyway since I had the time and no little people to distract me.

I stumbled across Malcolm MacDonald. Have you every heard of him? I hadn’t. But the book I picked up looked pretty interesting.  “A Notorious Woman” it’s called.

Here’s an excerpt from the book jacket:

“An orphan since early childhood, Johanna has grown up as a servant to her aunt and uncle, never expecting to escape the confines of their nineteenth-century Cornwall home. But, when she senses … the successful young doctor who has been selected as a husband for her cousin has fallen in love with her, Johanna knows she can no longer remain with her family.

Johanna’s decision to become the companion of the newly widowed… opens up a new world of social opportunity.  … remeets Hal Penrose, a childhood friend who is determined to remain free – despite his powerful realization that in Johanna he has found a soulmate at last.  His passion … does not prevent him from traveling to America to seek his fortune, and she stubbornly refuses to tell him that she is pregnant with his child.”

Sounded interesting, so it got added to my stack.

Then, I was walking out and another book caught my eye: “The Crasher” by Shirley Lord.  
It is a story about a designer who is trying to break into the fashion world of New York City and finds out by accident how easy it is to crash galas. She then uses these events to showcase her creations and penetrates the upper echelons of society. All is well until one night things go too far and she witnesses a murder.  She becomes the prime suspect, having left behind her one-of-a-kind cloak.

It sounded a mystery right up my alley so I added it to my stack.

Then, I decided it was time to head home, so I reevaluated what I had.  Poor old Ms. Phillips’ book didn’t make the cut and was returned to the circulation desk.

Now, I have quite the stack to read!

But, that is ok.

I have one on my nightstand, one in my car, one by the rocking chair… one pretty much anywhere I perch for more than a few minutes. 

Now, if I can just keep the stories straight in my mind, I’ll be doing ok.

Coming out of the Haze

There is nothing quite like being sick during the holidays. After all the cooking, cleaning, baking, preparations and anticipation, my body simply decided it was done.  Quit. Finis. Full Stop. 

Thank goodness I have a very understanding, loving, and compassionate family.  SuperMan did most of the cooking (including our delicious Christmas Day dinner) and general taking care of things.  The girls were so well behaved (for the most part) and just played with their new toys and patted me on the arm as they went by.  Me? I spent most of Friday and Saturday either on the sofa or in my recliner in a snot-induced haze. Gross imagery, I know, but true.

I am finally starting to feel a little more like myself, although I think a trip to the doctor is still not out of the running. 

However, yesterday, SuperMan took the girls for an afternoon outing with friends. They went to see the new Alvin & the Chipmunks movie - The Squeaquel (I love that play on words!).  They had a great time and then MB went to spend the night at a friend’s house. They were supposed to be staying here, but we decided there were too many germs in our house so they moved the party.

While they were gone, I thought I would do a little reading or scrapbooking. Turned out, I got to do both.  I am reading Dan Brown’s new book: The Lost Symbol.  It is very engaging and from about page 50, I was hooked.  I have been carrying the book around under my arm everywhere I go in the house this weekend (from the couch to the recliner… from the recliner to the couch :-)  and reading every second I can.  Basically, it’s similar to the other Dan Brown books although this time it’s not focused on the Catholic Church – it’s about the Masons.  Pretty interesting.

Anyway, I also sat down to do some digital scrapbooking (my scrap table is covered in Christmas paper right now and I didn’t feel up to cleaning it off) only to find out that the new “patch” of the StoryBook Creator software I’d installed had completely erased all the links to my content.  Argh! So, I spent close to two hours re-linking all the files.  While this probably was a good thing in the long run (it cleaned up my mis-mashed linking I had before) it was SO not how I wanted to spend my afternoon of silence and solitude! 

Once I finished that chore, I was determined to get some scrapbooking done.  I managed to finish the album I’m making for my brother (shh, it’s a secret!) and did a little work on the one for my mom.  Then, I started on some pages on my family album.  Here are a few I did:

This will be the cover page of our 2009 album.  Do you get the reference?
I love the simplicity of the design –
and the fact that I managed to fit 12 pictures from the year on one page!

 

I think this one speaks for itself concerning the topic.
All of the elements are freebies (including the paper) that I found online in October.

Here are larger pictures of the pages:

 

I have been wanting to do something special with MB’s field day pictures. I think this turned out pretty well.
I used one of the free CM templates (Great Escapes) and doctored it a bit to make it less ‘travel’ oriented and more sports oriented.

Here are larger pictures of the pages:

I don’t know if I will have time today to do more scrapbooking, but I am hoping to. Next on my list of things I want to scrap are Ang’s graduation pictures, our trip to the pumpkin patch, and the Girl Scout hike the girls took in November.  I am really enjoying not constraining myself to crop chronologically… although I am a wee bit concerned I may miss a few pictures here and there. But heck, when you take close to 200 a month some months, you are bound to miss one or two, right?

What have you been up to?

Technorati Tags: Scrapbooking,Creative Memories,StoryBook Creator,Digital Scrapbooking,Journal Your Christmas