Book Club 2014: FINAL Update

1. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
2. Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
3. The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
4. Hidden by Kendra Elliott
5. The Seventh Month by Lisa Gardner
6. The Yard by Alex Grecian
7. Little Shop of Homicide by Denise Swanson
8. The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
9. The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
10. The Old Fox Deceiv'd by Martha Grimes
11. The Cold, Cold Gound by Adrian McKinty
12. England my England; Anglophilia Exposed
13. The Black Country by Alex Grecian
14. Still Life by Louise Penny
15. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
16. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
17. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
18. The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde
19. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
20. The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde
21. Dinosaurs Before Dark: Magic Treehouse #1 by Mary Pope Osboune
22. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline  by Nancy Springer
23. The Devil's Workshop by Alex Grecian
24. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
25. Judy Moody (#1) by Megan McDonald
26. The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood
27. Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
28. Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
29. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
30. The Secret Place by Tana French
31. Let's Pretend this Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson
32. Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd
33. Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osbourne
34. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd
35. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
36. Passive Aggressive Notes: Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile Writings by Kerry Miller
37. I'm Dangerous, I'm Not Gonna Lie by Erin Smith
38. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

Currently Reading:  The Anodyne Necklace by Martha Grimes and The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny.

Funny Ha-Ha

Today's gratitude is for people that make me laugh. I honestly think without these comedians I would not make it through life.

Some of my favorite funny people:

Russell Howard: If you aren't familiar with this hilarious Brit, you are missing out. Hubby introduced me to his BBC show Russell Howard's Good News a couple of years ago. We watch it on Youtube and stream it from the UK. Last May Russell was in the US for 5 stand up gigs. We got tickets and saw him in Chicago. We also ran into him/ sort-of stalked him at the Art Institute. We chatted a few mins and I had my picture made with him-- SUPER AWESOME! (Did I mention he's a cutie?!)

Here's an episode of Good News
Seriously. Watch. You won't regret it.

Jenny Dawson (aka The Bloggess): A couple weeks ago I downloaded her book Let's Pretend this Never Happened and I was not disappointed. My review of this book on Goodreads:  totally needed this audio book this week to distract me. And also, I felt like I was just listening to the voice in my head. Like if I'd write that Sh*t down- it could be a sequel. All in all I found it quite comforting.

I also enjoy her blog: The Bloggess

David Sedaris: I am pretty sure that "Sedaris" translates to GENIUS! I adore this man. Everything he writes cracks me up, or makes me feel smarter and better than I did before I read it. Everytime he's in town for a reading, I'm there. I was so nervous when I stayed to get a book signed once that I managed to blurt out statements such as, "My cat's on Prozac!" and "This is my mailman!" (instead of "One of my best friends since HS"). I love to read his books and I LOVE to listen to the audio versions. Some of my MOST fav Sedaris stories include Six to Eight Black Men, The Santaland Diaries, Jesus Shaves, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and The Happy Place.

Recently David was asked to read 50 Shades of Grey on a tour. This was seriously hilarious and almost made me like that God-awful book...  Check it out!

So there you go... That is just a few of many that help get me through this adventure called life. My advice: Laugh. Find something funny in every situation. Sometimes it is the only way to cope.

Book Club 2014: Update 4

1. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
2. Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
3. The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
4. Hidden by Kendra Elliott
5. The Seventh Month by Lisa Gardner
6. The Yard by Alex Grecian
7. Little Shop of Homicide by Denise Swanson
8. The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
9. The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
10. The Old Fox Deceiv'd by Martha Grimes
11. The Cold, Cold Gound by Adrian McKinty
12. England my England; Anglophilia Exposed
13. The Black Country by Alex Grecian
14. Still Life by Louise Penny
15. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
16. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
17. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
18. The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde
19. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
20. The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde
21. Dinosaurs Before Dark: Magic Treehouse #1 by Mary Pope Osboune
22. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline  by Nancy Springer
23. The Devil's Workshop by Alex Grecian
24. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
25. Judy Moody (#1) by Megan McDonald
26. The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood
27. Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
28. Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
29. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
30. The Secret Place by Tana French

Currently Reading:
The Anodyne Necklace by Martha Grimes
Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

Book Club 2011, vol. 3

1. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
2. You Can't Drink All Day if You Don't Start in the Morning by Celia Rivenbark
3. The English American by Allison Larkin (audiobook)
4. Murder of a Chocolate Covered Cherry by Denise Swenson (audiobook)
5. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (audiobook)
6. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
7. Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin (school)
8. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
9. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (school)
10. Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi
11. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

 Currently Reading:

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson-- reading this one at school as my kids read their book report books.

 

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis-- I read this one to the kids at school every year-- GREAT books.

 

 

Currently Listening:

 

Faithful Place by Tana French-- this is the 3rd in the Dublin Murder Squad series. I have really enjoyed these books... Looking forward to the 4th already.


Up Next:

 

 Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen-- Justy Mac and I have decided to make this the next book club book.

 

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos-- can't believe I have gone all these years teaching without having read these books!

 

As for my next audiobook, I am thinking 1st to Die by James Patterson. I know several people that really enjoy his books, thought I might give it a shot.

  

Any opinons?

--

 As always-- add me as a friend on Goodreads-- http://www.goodreads.com/sdaunsra

and at The Two Pelicans Book Club-- http://pelicansbookclub.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Book Club 2011, vol. 2

1. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
2. You Can't Drink All Day if You Don't Start in the Morning by Celia Rivenbark
3. The English American by Allison Larkin (audiobook
4. Murder of a Chocolate Covered Cherry by Denise Swenson (audiobook)
5. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
6. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
7. Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin (school)
8. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (audiobook)

Currently Reading:

 

Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi-- So far I like this one. I don't usually read biographies or autobiographies-- but Justy Mac suggested this one for our BOOK CLUB read. I loved Ally McBeal so I am finding it interesting when she discusses what it was like on set, etc. 

 

 

Currently Listening:

 

 I am without an audiobook at the moment! Tragic, I know! I may hit the public library this week for one. Suggestions???

 

 

Up Next:

 

Faithful Place by Tana French-- I think this will be my next audio download from audible.com. I have listened to the first 2 in this series, and really enjoyed them. 

 

Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang by Chelsea Handler may be my next read. Spring Break is coming up week after next-- I will need something fun and easy!

 

--

 

As always-- add me as a friend on Goodreads--  http://www.goodreads.com/sdaunsra

 

 

 

Book Club 2011, vol. 1

This year I have set the goal of reading 35 books. This also includes audiobooks-- which I love to listen to while driving to and from school, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. And I got a Kindle for Christmas-- which I LOVE! (Thanks Hubby!)

Here is my list so far:

1. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen-- this is a fun, easy mystery set in London in the 1920's.
2. You Can't Drink All Day if You Don't Start in the Morning by Celia Rivenbark-- a collection of funny essays mainly pertaining to Southern women. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would, but it was OK.
3. The English American by Allison Larkin (audiobook)-- I really enjoyed this one! Between her ties to both Britain and America, and the fact she is adopted, I found I had a lot in common with the main character.
4. Murder of a Chocolate Covered Cherry by Denise Swenson (audiobook)-- also a fun, easy mystery. I enjoy these mysteries that also incorporate baking. Seems there are several series of them now.

Currently Reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I swear, I will finish this one soon! I love it!

Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin
Reading this one to the kids at school. We missed so many days for snow I feel like we will never finish it. This one relates to the Civil War.

Currently Listening:

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Ia m really enjoying this one. It is different and kind of strange. Again, it takes place in London (one of my favorite places, can you tell?) This is by the author that wrote The Time Traveller's Wife, which I never read. But several reviews of HFS have made complaints because it is not like TTTW-- well, who would want the same book all over again?

Up Next:

Unberable Lightness by Portia De Rossi
This is one my friend and fellow book club blogger Justy Mac chose for our reading selection. I hear great things about it. I did a lot of research on eating disorders in several of my psychology classes in college, so I look forward to her perspective on it.

Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath
Saw this one on sale on audible.com. Looks fun!

My friend Justy Mac and I have started a book club blog this year-- please feel free to read with us, or comment on what we are reading or should read next!

Two Pelicans Book Club

Calling All Bookworms!

Join me & my friend Justy Mac on our book club blog--

The Two Pelicans Book Club

Currently we are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett... well, I am STILL reading, Justy Mac has already finished. Have you read it? Join us! Tell us what you think-- just don't talk about the ending YET, please!  :)

Next up is Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi-- come read with us!

Have recommendations? We like those too!

Winter Blues

So yesterday or today (I've heard differing reports) is supposed to be the saddest day of the year. This is due to BLAH weather, short daylight hours, and credit card bills rolling in from Christmas. While I don't feel particularly depressed, certainly not more so than usual, it did make me think about things that cheer me up or keep me sane on a daily basis.

First of all, this face:

I have also enjoyed reading more lately-- something I have made a priority. Currently I am reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. More on that over at Two Pelicans Book Club.

Today on the way home from school I heard two songs that made me smile. One was new, or at least new to me. It's called Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri. If you haven't heard this song-- I suggest you try to find it somewhere and give it a listen.

**I found it for you :)




Second,  heard Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake. I haven't heard this in ages! It always makes me want to DANCE! (Plus I always laugh at the background vocal "YEAH!" that occurs throughout the song b/c my friend's husband pointed out it sounds like a parrot).

One of the main things that made me happy today is that it was not a total circus at school. As we have been off for 6 days due to snow, there was every chance it would be. The kids actually worked harder and behaved better than usual. Then I found out there is a full moon. Aha!

Oh yeah, and the bag of peanut M&Ms that my TA brought me didn't hurt either!

So what about you guys? What makes you happy during these bleak days of winter?

Two Pelicans Walk Into a Bar...

So my friend JustyMac and I have decided to start a book club. As she lives 3 hrs away from me, meeting to discuss our thoughts is not always an option. So we have created a Book Club Blog where we can list our throughts and feelings about the chosen literary works.

The Two Pelicans Book Club

(intrigued by the name? Make sure to read the ABOUT US page!)

Our first selection was recommended to me by Mary-- heck, she even loaned it to me-- and it has sat on my nightstand ever since. But no longer! Justy and I will begin The Help this week!

Curious about our thoughts, opinions, snide remarks? The follow along-- or heck, even read along with us! We can always make room for more pelicans at our bar!

(seriously, read the ABOUT US section!)

He Talk Pretty EVERYDAY

A FANTASTIC interview with one of my FAVORITE writers-- David Sedaris.

In case you can't watch the video, here is a LINK to the interview...

Bravo, CBS! And thanks to my good buddy Ran(dom)Man for the post... :)

Book Club 2010: Vol. 8

Wow... I seriously haven't updated this in a LONG time! Oh well-- I **have** been a little busy!  ;-)


1. Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs


2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (audiobook)


3. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (audiobook)


4. The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham


5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson (audiobook)


6. The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (2nd Edition) by Vicki Iovine


7. Holes by Louis Sachar (school)


8. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)


9. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)


10. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (audiobook)


11. Key Lime Murders by Joanne Fluke (audiobook)


13. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)


14. Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt? by Gare Thompson (school)


15. The Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke


16. Dare to Dream: Coretta Scott King & the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Shelf Medaris


17. A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)


18. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)

19. In the Woods by Tana French

20. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)

21. The Lighthouse by PD James

22. Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert

23. The Likeness by Tana French (audiobook)

**I also relistened to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to prepare for the movie release.


Currently Reading:


* Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphine
(Reading it to the kids at school)

Next up is The Help-- which someone has loaned me-- though I may have to audiobook this one too, as it takes me AGES to read things now... (The audiobook is 18+ hrs!)

I have also had the Black Dagger Brotherhood series recommended to me. If only I didn't have to teach and could just READ all day... (sigh)


Currently Listening to:
*Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs 


Started this one today. I needed something I didn't have to think so much about after listening to The Likeness by Tana French.

Book Club 2010: Update

1. Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs

2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
3. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (audiobook)
4. The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson (audiobook)
6. The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (2nd Edition) by Vicki Iovine
7. Holes by Louis Sachar (school)
8. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
9. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
10. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
11. Key Lime Murders by Joanne Fluke (audiobook)
13. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
14. Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt? by Gare Thompson (school)
15. The Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke
16. Dare to Dream: Coretta Scott King & the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Shelf Medaris
17. A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
18. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
Currently Reading:
* In the Woods by Tana French


I picked this one up on my way to the Dr. for one of my non-stress tests. It has received mixed reviews-- it appears people either love it or hate it. We'll see! I am just excited I have some time (& energy) to read now!


Currently Listening to:
*It Only Takes a Moment by Mary Higgins Clark


I actually haven't started this one yet... but probably will this week.
--


Links:

In the Woods

Audible.com

Goodreads.com

If you join, let me know-- we can be friends!

Quote of the Day and Other News...

I was purusing through some blogs and sites today and came across this quote--

Patience may be a virtue, but I really don't know how much longer I'll be able to stand the wait.

I say, "AMEN!"
 
Things on the immigration front are moving more now, and really we are down to the final step... but I just want it DONE! And I want it done NOW! Is that too much to ask?
 
One thing I don't have to wait any longer for is the end of the school year. There is still one week left-- but yours truly will NOT be participating in the end of year madness. (Trust me, NO TEARS here!)
 
Last week I went to the Dr. and my BP was still high, so I have been placed on a modified bed rest. You won't hear me complaining! Lord knows I needed some rest!
 
All I need now is a good book to read!

37

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.
Instructions:


1) Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.
2) Tally your total, add it to the note title.



1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (x)
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (x)
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (x)
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (x)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (x)
6 The Bible (Extracts) (x)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte ()
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (x)
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( )
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (x)
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (x)
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (x)
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ()
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ()
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ()
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (x )
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk ()
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (x)
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger ( )
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ()
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell ()
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x)
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ()
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ( )
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams( )
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ()
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky ( )
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck ()
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (x)
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ()
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ( )
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens ()
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (x)
34 Emma - Jane Austen (x)
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen ()
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (x)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini ()
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ()
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (x)
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (X)
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell (x)
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (X )
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ()
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving ()
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ()
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery (x)
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ()
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ()
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (x)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ( )
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ( )
52 Dune - Frank Herbert ()
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons ()
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (x)
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon (x )
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens ( )
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley ( x)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon ()
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck ()
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ( )
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ()
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ( )
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas ()
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ()
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ()
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding (X)
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ( )
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville ( )
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens ()
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker (x)
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (X)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson (x)
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ()
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath ( )
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ()
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ()
80 Possession - AS Byatt ( )
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (x)
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker ( )
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ()
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ( )
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White (x)
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom ( x)
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ()
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ()
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad ( x)
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (x)
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams ()
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ( )
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas ()
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (X)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl (X)
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo ()

Book Club 2010: Update

1. Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs

2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
3. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (audiobook)
4. The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson (audiobook)
6. The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (2nd Edition) by Vicki Iovine
7. Holes by Louis Sachar (school)
8. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
9. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
10. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (audiobook)
11. Key Lime Murders by Joanne Fluke (audiobook)
13. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (audiobook)
14. Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt? by Gare Thompson (school)

Currently Reading:
* The Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke
Except that I can't find the book... ARGH! Hoping it will turn up during spring cleaning...

* Dare to Dream: Coretta Scott King & the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Shelf Medaris
This one is for school... reading it to the kids.

Currently Listening to:
* A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris
This is the second in the Aurora Teagarden series... apparently Charlaine Harris is my author of the year... Her stories are simple and easy... which is what I enjoy most after a long day at school.
--


Links:
Audible.com

Goodreads.com
If you join, let me know-- we can be friends!

Fang Banger

I must admit, I have been pleasantly surprised by the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series-- Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris. I am really not into the whole vampire craze that has swept the world in the last couple of years. I tried to read/ listen to the Twilight books. WOOF! I found them some of the most poorly written stories I had tried to read. OK, maybe that was too harsh... they were OVERwritten. The author takes three paragraphs to describe something that could have been done justice with one, maybe two sentences. By the time I have finished with the description, I forgot what she was describing to start with.

 

Anyway...

 

I also have tried to watch the True Blood tv show... OK, I tried to watch it ONCE... but I just couldn't get into it at all. So I was very skeptical about the books-- even though I have had numerous people tell me they are "SO much better than the TV show..." (Aren't they always?) Well, I finally broke down and gave book 1 a chance. Since I have trouble finding time, and the ability to stay awake, to read right now, I downloaded it from Audible.com. Part of what REALLY annoyed me with the tv show was the main character's accent-- I worried this would be a problem with the audiobook as well-- however, the reader does a much more believeable Louisiana accent.

 

As I have listened to the story though, I can't help but notice MANY similarities between it and the Twilight story. I looked to see which was published first-- though I had a pretty good idea. I mean, I realize there are some topics about vampires that are universal-- stake through the heart, repulsion of garlic, only up at night, burnt by silver, etc... But there are several similarities that are not so common-- so if I was Charlaine Harris, I would be asking Stephanie Meyer where she got some of her plot/ character ideas...

Both stories feature

• a main female character that is kind of a loner, misunderstood, and somewhat socially awkward
• a love triangle between the awkward female, the main vampire, and a male character that transforms into a wolf/ dog
• a gang of vampires (2 males, 1 female) that wreak havoc in the small community
• a dominant vampire that fixates on the awkward female character
• mindreading-- though in Twilight it is the Vamp that can read minds... but in both stories there is one person who's mind cannot be read

I think there are probably more- but that is all I can recall at the moment...

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story. Usually I can figure out who the murderer is long before the end of the book-- but this story kept me curious & guessing until the end. Sookie was somewhat annoying in her naivety and dimwitedness-- but not enough to completely turn me off. I definitely plan to check out book 2.

Security Blanket

What a week! I feel like I say that every week lately. As I have already mentioned, this is a very trying school year.

Today was especially rough at school... all sorts of nonsense. Plus I was really tired to begin with-- was up late (after dozing off on the couch only to be awoken by a major Thunderstorm...) Then the internet was down, so I couldn't chat with the hubby-- always a downer!

During these tough times I like to identify and focus on things that make me feel better. Growing up I, like my buddy Linus here, had a security blanket. (well, I STILL have it but do not carry it around-- though maybe it would make me feel better at school!)

So I have decided to make a list of some of my grown-up "Security Blankets":

*Matt... I cannot wait for him to be here! I will be much calmer and much happier I am sure!

* My cats... yes, I am a crazy cat lady! But after a crappy day at school, it's nice to have some unconditional love from the furry children. They know when I am upset, and will just come sit with me.

* My family... They are awesome... from advice from Gma to help moving things & heavy lifting from the brothers, everyone has been most helpful.

* Audible.com... I don't have much time to read lately-- something I have always used as an escape... but audiobooks on the iPod seriously help. I love to get lost in a great story, especially if it takes my mind off other worries, commutes to school, or household tasks.

* My friends... Like the fam, my friends have been a huge help during this stressful time. Luckily I have some amazing friends at school that help out when I am about to fall apart. Outside of school I have also called more upon the friend brigade... from changing litter, to taking junk to Goodwill for me... from taking me out to eat to offering to paint the nursery... I've got AWESOME friends!

*My kitchen... baking always calms me down... and luckily, I have some GREAT taste-testers at school!

Sometimes life is hard... and often it is not fair. But when those hurdles continually pop up in my way, I turn to these things that give me comfort or make me feel better, even if just temporarily.

HMMMmmmm...

Something I have noticed, and recently pondered-- why do so many children's books, especially those geared to kids ages 10-15, deal with orphans and/ or foster kids? I mean yes, there are many (too many) kids that fit this criteria. But more kids are in normal (whatever that is) family situations.

Is this because all kids dream of one day running away? Are authors trying to make kids living with their parents-- harrassed by the everyday chores, demands to do homework, and other petty arguments-- feel better? "See kids, you don't REALLY have it so bad..."

Are they actually targeted to orphans and foster kids-- "See! You can overcome this setback in life!" or "This character too has a harsh foster situation, and they survived-- YOU CAN DO IT!"

Just strange... from Charles Dickens' novels... to Harry Potter... to more recent books like Bud, Not Buddy... Just a trend I have noticed...

Thoughts??

Book Club: 2009 List (UPDATE)

Read So Far in 2009:
1. James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Yes, this is a school selection)
2. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (audiobook)
3. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo
4. The Treasures of Weatherby by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (school)
5. Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (school)
7. Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader (school)
8. Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
9. Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
10. Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson (school)
11. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
12. Burned by Carol Higgins Clard (audiobook)
13. Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham
14. Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Raji Codell
15. A Matter of Honor by Jefferey Archer (audiobook)

Currently I'm reading:
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson... Matt gave me his copy of this-- which is about the author's trek all around England (where he lived for many years) before his return to the US. I really enjoy Bryson's style of writing and humoUr... Plus I have made several of the same observations about England and its people. He has several books about his travels-- I plan to read more by him.

Up Next:
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George... this is one for school. Myers has her class read it every year. I have never read it-- but her class really enjoys it... thus I would like my class to enjoy it too! :)And yes, one day I will finish The AngloFiles. One day....

Book Club: 2009 List (UPDATE)

Read So Far in 2009:
1. James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Yes, this is a school selection)
2. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (audiobook)
3. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo
4. The Treasures of Weatherby by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (school)
5. Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (school)
7. Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader (school)
8. Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
9. Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
10. Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson (school)
11. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
12. Burned by Carol Higgins Clard (audiobook)

Currently I'm reading:
The Anglo-Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall (STILL!)-- I've made more progress, and while I doubt I have it finished by the time I leave on my trip NEXT WEEK-- I do plan to take it with me.

Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham-- saw a review for this in Entertainment Weekly-- claimed it was the new Bridget Jones... So I rushed out and bought it. And yes, I see the similarities. I read 118 pages just tonight. As it is basically reading someone's emails, it is a quick read... And as it takes place in England, it helps me brush up on some of their sayings and expressions. :)

I have given up on Betrayed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast for the moment... just can't get into it-- esp as much as the others.

Up Next:
Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Raji Codell-- Justy gave me this to read-- said she had to read it during student teaching and that it is hilarious. It will also make the trek to England with me.

During the summer is when I try to catch up on my reading... Of course, I also like to read easy things-- Lots of mindless mysteries-- Carol Higgins Clark, Patricia Cornwell, etc. And perhaps you have noticed the increase of audiobooks... This also happens more in the summer-- particularly THIS summer as I am working in the basement etc. I put on audiobooks while I work-- takes my mind off what I am doing and makes the time pass faster. I also use audiobooks when I am on trips-- and as I am about to drive to VA next week-- you can expect some more audiobooks on the list. :)