The Amazing Adulthood of Alexis

Review: An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

2012-01-25T18:44:00.003-05:00

I bought An Echo in the Bone about two years ago at Christmas, right when it first came out. I remember how excited I was...there wasn't supposed to be another Outlander book published, so when I heard that Gabaldon wrote another, I was ecstatic. And now there's another on the horizon!

This installment of what is one of my favorite series EVER follows Jamie and Claire as they attempt to make their way back to Scotland to fetch Jamie's printing press and bring it back to America. It also follows Brianna and Roger and their family, now that they've traveled back to 1980 Scotland and purchased Lallybroch. And a third storyline follows Willie, Jamie's illegitimate son and ward of Lord John Grey. I don't want to go too far into details, since doing so at all would probably lead to me giving away spoilers from both this book and the others. Suffice it to say, it was mostly more of the same - adventure on the high seas, war, espionage, love, love-making, and even a little bit of Scotland in this one!

I have to say, there was a little too much Willie for me in this novel. The previous books didn't really delve into Willie's life or experiences, so I felt like I didn't really know him, and it was a bit difficult to get used to reading about him now. And most of his storyline was about his wartime role in the British army, which alienated me even further. But I got used to it in time, and that plot actually dovetailed with the others eventually, so it made more sense once I saw how it played into the other plots.

While I mostly enjoyed the book, there was one other quibble (which I think really just reflects how much I like Gabaldon's writing). I don't really remember there being cliffhangers in the other books, but the end of this book felt less like an ending and more like the jumping off point for the next book. There were several LARGE loose ends in this book, enough that, with about 40 pages left I was saying to myself, "There is no way she can wrap this all up in the next 40 pages!" And when she didn't, I was kind of annoyed! It's going to be awhile before the next book comes out, and now I can't wait. I want to know what happens to Jem, and Roger, and Ian, and Jamie and Claire, and Claire and Lord John...

Four out of five Whatevers. Fewer Whatevers than I would otherwise give it, due to the slow Willie parts and the damned cliffhangers! Now, I can't wait for Written in My Heart's Own Blood to come out.

2012-2

Review: The Moor by Laurie R. King

2012-01-02T20:38:00.003-05:00

This cover is not exactly the one on my book...mine is black, with gold writing, with a gold oval around the carriage from this pic. I believe I Mooched my copy. I finished the book about 12:15 am on Jan. 1, so according to Wendy, this counts for the Merely Mystery reading challenge!

I loved the first book in this series, but then only liked the two after it. I'm happy to report that this installment of the series was a return to the quality (for me) of the first one. I quite enjoyed it. It may be that it's because there was almost no mention of theology in this one. I really think that the theology was what bogged books two and three down for me.

In this episode, our intrepid heroes set off for Dartmoor, called in by Sabine Baring-Gould (who turns out to be Holmes' godfather) to solve a mystery that has haunted Holmes before. The moor folk (and others) have reported seeing a mysterious hound stalking the moor. It is following a carriage which the locals believe to be made of the bones of Lady Howard's dead husbands. Could it be that the Hound of the Baskervilles has returned to walk again? When people begin to show up dead on the moor, Baring-Gould calls in Holmes and Russell to get to the bottom of things.

This was just a good old-fasioned mystery. I really, thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd give it four and a half out of five Whatevers. Recommended for fans of Holmes (or Russell), for fans of mysteries, for fans of English history. I love this series and will be continuing on with it this year!

2012-1

Merely Mystery Reading Challenge

2012-01-01T17:00:00.005-05:00

Wendy at Musings of a Bookish Kitty is hosting the Merely Mystery Reading Challenge. Participants can read at one of two levels: Down on Her Luck Gumshoe (two or more books from one mystery subgenre) or Shamus Who Has Seen It All (one book from each of the 12 subgenres). I don't usually go in for reading challenges, but seeing as it's Jan. 1 and I've already completed half of the Down on Her Luck Gumshoe level (maybe it's cheating, but I finished a mystery at 12:15 this morning!), I figured I'd join up. I plan on finishing several more mysteries this year, anyway, so even if my early morning finish doesn't count, I should still easily complete the level I've chosen. Head over to Wendy's post to sign up!

Review: Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles

2011-12-28T09:33:00.004-05:00

I received this book for review from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. When I received it, I really didn't know what to expect. I'd never read anything about the Ukraine, and very little about Russia (just Dr. Zhivago, which I loathed). But the premise sounded interesting and I thought I should give the region another chance.

The book is about Daria, a young Odessan woman who is trapped in a miserable job, working for a pig of a boss, making almost no money as a secretary when she has a degree in engineering, with no possibility of escape on the horizon. While she has a love-hate relationship with Odessa (she loves its beauty and traditions, hates the fact that it is such a dead-end), she realizes that her only hope is to leave, to get out, find a better life elsewhere. But most Odessans never leave. The key for most Odessan women is to marry a foreigner (read: American) and move away for a better life. Odessan men are drunks and layabouts; American men promise freedom and an easy life.

To supplement her income, Daria takes a job working for an internet matchmaking company called Soviet Unions (HA!), translating for the girls and their dates. While she initially loves the work, which allows her to use her beloved English more often, she comes to realize that she is, basically, trafficking in these women. When she meets Tristan, an American teacher, online through Soviet Unions, she has to choose between him and his promise of the American dream, or Vladimir Stanislavski, a local mobster and the uncertain future he offers. And what about her boss, Mr. Harmon?

My favorite part was the first section. I love who Daria is, how fearless she is in taking charge at work, how she is able to stand up to Vlad. The second section, in which things change substantially, made me mostly very sad. (I'm being very vague on purpose, so as not to spoil the events of the book.) But I loved the end. It was a happy ever after (sort of), but open-ended, with a lot of questions unanswered. I kept thinking about Daria after the novel ended and wondering what happens to her next. I don't usually give quarter-Whatevers, but I couldn't decide between four and four-and-a-half. And its my blog, so I can do whatever I want. So I'm going to give this book four and a quarter Whatevers. Read it. It's fun, not too heavy, and I'm sure you will be glad you did.

2011-20

Review: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

2011-12-22T21:43:00.004-05:00

I mooched this copy of The Catcher in the Rye. This book was another re-read for me. I first read it in high school, but I can't remember what year. I detested the book in high school. After reading it again, about 20 years later, I really enjoyed it. I think, perhaps, I was in the same boat as Holden Caulfield the first time I read the book - no, not crazy...immature! Reading the novel with more life experience behind me, I just GET IT a lot better. I found it hilariously funny. Holden's immaturity and constant watch for "phonies" just cracked me up. Ultimately, though, the book is a sad one - Holden's immaturity leads to his loneliness, and his loneliness keeps him from being able to interact in appropriate ways with others. His sadness over the death of his brother and the poor family dynamic among the Caulfields just complicate the already difficult and distressing teenage years.

Reading it again after 20 years, I officially reverse my original opinion: I give the book five out of five Whatevers. Never have I flown through a novel so quickly. I finished it in two days. I almost couldn't put it down. It has earned its accolades. Recommended, but not for high schoolers. Put some distance between the age of the protagonist and the age of the reader. Most teenagers cannot believe that every little thing that goes wrong is not the end of the world - the teen years are filled with too much drama for most teenagers to appreciate this book, in my humble opinion. Put some life experience behind you, then pick it up...or else read it as a teenager and then re-read it years later and see if you appreciate it more!

2011-19

Review: A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

2011-12-17T17:27:00.004-05:00

The American Revolution is drawing near, and the Fraser/MacKenzie clan of Fraser's Ridge must decide which side they are on. Knowing what they do about the outcome of the war, they lean toward the cause of liberty, but Jamie must also balance his political stance with the use he can make of his Loyalist friends. This book chronicles the few years before the American Revolution starts in earnest (and part of the year 1776). It's pretty standard Jamie-and-Claire-get-into-trouble-and-mysteriously-out-of-it-again fare.

I loved it, as I've loved every book in the series. I purchased my copy of the book (maybe at BJ's?). And, while I've read this one before (and it was the most recently read of them all), I remembered the least about this book. So my re-read was almost like reading it again for the first time! Definitely four and a half out of five Whatevers. Action-packed and absolutely wonderful. One more published volume to read, then I have to get my hands on the new one, Written in My Heart's Own Blood, as soon as it comes out next year. Maybe I should satiate my desire for Gabaldon in the meantime by starting the Lord John series, which I have never read?

2011-18

Review: A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King

2011-11-21T21:54:00.002-05:00

I purchased this book at Borders, before its untimely demise. I was in the process of collecting all the titles in King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series and this one and the previous Monstrous Regiment of Women were purchased at about the same time.

In this installment, a friend of Russell and Holmes comes from the Middle East, bearing gifts. Dorothy Ruskin, an amateur archeologist, brings Mary a beautiful Italian puzzle box which contained a papyrus purported to contain a message from Mary Magdalene. When Ms. Ruskin is killed in a suspicious car accident before she can return to her dig in the Middle East, Russell and Holmes take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of her demise.

I wasn't thrilled with this book. The series is going quickly downhill for me. I was a huge fan of the first book, The Beekeeper's Apprentice, but less so with the last installment, and even less so with this one. There just wasn't enough action for me in this book. I wanted to see Russell and Holmes get into and out of more scrapes than they did, do more detecting. I don't know. There just seemed to be a lot of boring undercover stuff and then a conclusion about what happened. We didn't get to SEE them solve the case. I didn't like that. And I wanted to hear more about the letter from Mary Magdalene. I kind of wanted Russell to devote more time to investigating it. It seemed like that story line sort of trailed off. Maybe it will be picked back up in the future?? Anyway, I'd give this one three and a half out of five Whatevers. I didn't hate it; in fact, I did think it was pretty good. I just hope the next book has a little more to offer, otherwise I might not make it through the rest of the series.

2011-17

Review: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

2011-11-11T16:09:00.001-05:00

I received a copy of Sandman Slim from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. Of course, by now I'm officially a Late Reviewer, as I think I was supposed to review this a couple of YEARS ago. But anyway!

The book is about Stark, a magician whose friends banished him to Hell eleven years ago, then killed his girlfriend. He's returned from Hell to seek out and kill Mason, the leader of the magical group responsible for Alice's death. While in Hell, Stark perfected his killing abilities, returning to Earth stronger, faster, and more lethal than when he left. So killing Mason should be relatively easy...right?

Wrong. A host of demons, angels, and anti-angels stand between Stark and his quarry. The book details Stark's attempts to seek out and kill Mason and how he overcomes the hurdles that stand in the way.

The novel definitely falls into the urban fantasy category. I'm going to be sexist here and say it's a very MALE book. While reading, I kept thinking that the voice was similar to what would exist if Stephen King and Anthony Bourdain had a baby. Teenage boys would probably love this book, but I enjoyed it as well. If you're not into blood and gore, cursing, or anti-religious themes, this would not be the book for you. As none of those things particularly bother me, I didn't have any issues with the content. My copy was an Advance Readers' Edition and, as such, was riddled with typos. I hope those were corrected before the final edition was published. They were a bit distracting for me, but I'm a grammar stickler like that. The story, however, kept my interest fairly well.

I'd give the book three and a half out of five Whatevers. If there were a sequel, and it feels like there might be, I'd probably check it out. I enjoyed the character of Stark, and I would like to get to know some of the secondary characters better (Doc Kinski, Candy, Allegra, Vidocq). Recommended for those with strong stomachs who enjoy hard-core urban fantasy.

2011-16

Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2011-10-29T21:51:00.003-04:00

Who hasn't read The Great Gatsby? This was not my first read of the now-classic Great American Novel. I first encountered Daisy, Tom, Gatsby, and Nick Carraway during my sophomore year of high school. The copy I read this time around was one I'd Mooched a few years ago. While I don't remember actively disliking the book when I was in high school, it was one of those books that you read because you HAD to, not because you WANTED to, so it always had that sense of the mandatory attached to it.

This time, though, I simply wanted to see if my reactions to the book were the same as those I had when I was a teenager. And, of course, they were not. I remember being rather disgusted by the behavior of most of the characters of the novel when I first read it. Daisy and Jordan and Tom and, to a certain extent even Gatsby, reflected the callousness of the rich that came to kind of characterize the way I eventually saw most wealthy people. I was honestly physically sick to my stomach when I first read the book. This time around, though, I didn't have the same visceral reaction to the characters or their flippant superficiality. Some of that could be due to the naivete in my 16-year-old self that no longer exists in my 24-year-old self. During this reading, I found myself liking, even feeling sorry for, Gatsby, that tragic figure born of the Jazz Age. I'm not sure, however, whether to view him as a victim of the vicissitudes of the First World War or as a cunning puppeteer, making his fortune by manipulating the desires of Americans during the Roaring 20's.

I think I liked The Great Gatsby better this time around. I'm not quite sure why. Experience with the way of the world is certainly part of it. But I'd give this book four out of five Whatevers. I'm glad I re-read it. I'm going to keep it around and read it again in another 15 years or so to see if anything changes between now and then!

2011-15

Calling It a Day

2011-10-23T01:03:00.002-04:00

Okay, Read-a-Thoners. I'm done. I can't keep my eyes open anymore. I'm proud of myself for making it longer than I did last time (or the time before). There is always the possibility that I will get up early tomorrow for another hour or two of reading before the RAT is over. But in case I don't, here are my final stats for this evening:

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross, All You magazine, and Bookmarks magazine; started The Great Gatsby

Number of books read since you started: one book, two magazines, part of another book

Pages read since last update: 22

Running total of pages read since you started: 486

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 60 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 610 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme

Other participants you’ve visited: Amanda @ Simpler Pastimes; Anna @ Her Stardust Soul; Bookish Hobbit

What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water; Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch Doritos (specially purchased for the RAT), some jellybeans, a Cherry Coke; beef stew for lunch, cookies, bottle of water; some more olives, Diet Mt. Dew; jalapeno poppers, a bottle of water

Good luck to anyone still reading. I'm going to crash!

In the Midst of Hour Seventeen

2011-10-23T00:18:00.003-04:00

Well, I've made it farther than I have in my last couple of Read-a-Thons. Plowing through that Cherry Coke really helped me fight off the fatigue. Here's how it's going so far:

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross, All You magazine, and Bookmarks magazine

Number of books read since you started: two and a half

Pages read since last update: 17

Running total of pages read since you started: 464

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 90 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 550 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme

Other participants you’ve visited: Amanda @ Simpler Pastimes; Anna @ Her Stardust Soul; Bookish Hobbit

What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water; Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch Doritos (specially purchased for the RAT), some jellybeans, a Cherry Coke; beef stew for lunch, cookies, bottle of water; some more olives, Diet Mt. Dew; jalapeno poppers, a bottle of water, a Cherry Coke; some toast, a bottle of water

Carbo loading with toast to give myself more energy and drinking water to stay hydrated! Good luck to everyone still in it!!!

Heading into Hour FIFTEEN!

2011-10-22T22:02:00.001-04:00

Holy crap, Hour Fifteen! I'm still reading, but getting a little tired. Consuming some Cherry Coke now to try to keep awake.

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross, All You magazine, and Bookmarks magazine
Number of books read since you started: two and a half

Pages read since last update: 32

Running total of pages read since you started: 447

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 120 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 460 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme

Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.

What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water; Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch Doritos (specially purchased for the RAT), some jellybeans, a Cherry Coke; beef stew for lunch, cookies, bottle of water; some more olives, Diet Mt. Dew; jalapeno poppers, a bottle of water, a Cherry Coke;

Let's see how long I can hang in there! Hopefully, I'll get my second wind after this soda!

Halfway There!

2011-10-22T20:06:00.002-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross; and All You magazine; and Bookmarks magazine

Number of books read since you started: two (if you count a magazine, and I DO!)

Pages read since last update: 134 (magazine pages)

Running total of pages read since you started: 415

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 120 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 665 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme

Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.

What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Dew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water; Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch Doritos (specially purchased for the RAT), some jellybeans, a Cherry Coke; beef stew for lunch, cookies, bottle of water; some more olives, Diet Mt. Dew;

I blew through my magazine in no time, so now it's on to the Bookmarks that I got in today's mail! After that, if I'm still conscious, I'll be starting The Great Gatsby, which I haven't read since high school.

Inside Hour Ten

2011-10-22T17:50:00.002-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross; and All You magazine

Number of books read since you started: one

Pages read since last update: 121

Running total of pages read since you started: 281

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 205 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 545 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme

Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.

What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Dew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water; Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch Doritos (specially purchased for the RAT), some jellybeans, a Cherry Coke; beef stew for lunch, cookies, bottle of water;

I haven't been visiting blogs this RAT. I don't know why, but it has something to do with me wanting to spend less time on the internet and more time reading. I'm starting to get a little tired, but I'm about to go get another Diet Mt. Dew to keep me awake! Finished my book that was already in progress and am now reading a magazine. My new copy of Bookmarks arrived today, too, so I'll probably read that a little bit later!

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

2011-10-22T16:53:00.001-04:00

I just finished The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. The copy I read was purchased by me (most likely on eBay) several years ago.

The book continues the story of Jamie and Claire, Brianna and Roger, three of them time travelers who risked everything to return to the past through a ring of standing stones. The family is establishing a new life in the New World, creating a homestead on Fraser's Ridge in North Carolina, in the years before the Revolutionary War. The book covers the intrigues and adventures of all members of the family (even those of the extended family...homesteaders are much like family to the Frasers and MacKenzies).

As usual, I loved the book. Heart-pounding and tender by turns, Diana Gabaldon knows how to write an excellent, enthralling novel. I'm re-reading this one in preparation for reading An Echo in the Bone which I received as a Christmas gift (like two or three years ago). Another new novel in the series, Written in My Heart's Own Blood, is due out sometime in the next year. Good. I'll be prepared for that one, too. Four and a half out of five Whatevers for this one! So much fun to read during the Read-a-Thon!

2011-14

I WON!

2011-10-22T14:10:00.003-04:00

I won one of the random reader drawings from Hour Seven! YAY! I love getting Read-a-Thon prizes!

Making pretty good progress...very close to the end of my book. Then I'll be perusing the November issue of All You magazine!

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 45
Running total of pages read since you started: 160
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 110 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 340 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water; Blazin' Buffalo and Ranch Doritos (specially purchased for the RAT), some jellybeans, a Cherry Coke;

The weather is gorgeous! All the windows and doors are open. I love fall in Florida!

Heading into Hour Five

2011-10-22T12:12:00.002-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 53
Running total of pages read since you started: 115
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 110 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 230 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme
Other participants you’ve visited:
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads; a handful of olives, cheese sticks and marinara, a bottle of water;

Switched locations from couch to bed for a while, but that's making me too sleepy. Did spend some of the last two hours making food and cuddling one of the cats, also, which accounts for the lower page count. Okay, back to the book! I'm close to finishing!

Introductory Meme and Hours One Through Three

2011-10-22T10:00:00.002-04:00

1)Where are you reading from today?

My couch in sunny South Florida

2)Three random facts about me…

1. I love food - cooking it, eating it, whatever.
2. I'm very good at injuring myself without really doing anything at all - I pulled a muscle in my neck last night by simply lying in bed.
3. I recently got back from a week's vacation on the other side of the state.

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

Counting what I'm already reading, five books and a magazine.

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Go all 24 hours. I know it won't happen, but it never hurts to have a goal!

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Read short things: short stories, short YA or easy readers, magazines, graphic novels. The variety will keep you interested and awake.

RAT Update:

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Fiery Cross
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 62
Running total of pages read since you started: 62
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 120 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 120 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme
Other participants you’ve visited:
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, a few pizza-flavored Pringles, some Chewy Lemonheads;

What Time Is It?

2011-10-22T07:44:00.003-04:00

READ-A-THON TIME!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon starts in T-minus 14 minutes. I have my snacks, my book pile, my caffeine, my husband, and my reading spots all ready. The Hubster is participating again this time, reading for MS awareness, so we plan on having a very exciting day together. I can't wait to crack open my book and start reading!

The RAT is my very favorite blogland event of the whole year. I've participated in every single one since I started book blogging in 2008 - I think that makes this one number 7? I love setting aside a whole day to do nothing but read (and eat junk food and blog).

Today I'll be starting with Diana Gabaldon's The Fiery Cross, which I started reading while on vacation. I have about 200 more pages of that left. Then I have a magazine and several other books to keep me occupied! Here I go to finish waking up and getting ready for the RAT!!!

Review: A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

2011-10-03T22:41:00.004-04:00

I finished this book last night before bed. Couldn't put it down at the end. I purchased this copy myself at Borders, if the price sticker is to be believed.

This is the second installment in King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, but I'm not sure if that's because of the subject matter of this one or because the novelty has worn off. Whatever the reason, it took me a while to get into it, possibly because it took a while for the mystery to develop.

In this novel, Mary runs into her old friend Ronnie Beaconsfield and is coerced into attending a service with Ronnie at the New Temple of God, a feminist church led by one Margery Childe. Margery is a mystic of sorts, a magnetic woman whom Mary doesn't wish to be drawn to, but inexplicably is. Margery is well-to-do and Mary begins to wonder where she, and the church, get the money. When several young followers of Margery's Temple come to strange, accidental deaths, Mary decides it is time to investigate.

Not being a particularly religious person, I wasn't very interested in Mary's digressions into her Biblical studies or the long recitations of Margery's sermons. These topics seemed to take up a lot of room that I thought could have better been spent on developing the mystery. Also, there was a strange typo (or perhaps King made the mistake in her original manuscript?) regarding one character's name that really, REALLY bothered me. But *****SPOILER ALERT***** the budding romance between Holmes and Rusell was, I thought, well done, and the passages describing Mary's growing dependence on heroin were also quite illuminating.

Of the two books I've read, the first was the better, in my opinion. But this one was also pretty well done. I'll give it four out of five Whatevers. Recommended for those interested in Biblical scholarship, especially where it intersects with feminism, for those who are interested in the feel that the Roaring Twenties give the setting of a novel (there are flappers and cloches galore in this one), and for those who simply love the Holmes and Russell series.

2011-13

Review: The Instinct Diet by Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D.

2011-09-18T18:48:00.005-04:00

This book was provided to me by the publisher, Workman Publishing, through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

The Instinct Diet is a weight-loss plan that touts the five natural food instincts as a way to lose weight. I've spent most of my adult life embroiled in the Battle of the Bulge, so I'm always looking for new ways to lose weight and new weight-loss programs. I've been on Weight Watchers at least twice, and it is, in my opinion, the gold standard of weight-loss programs. I've always been successful when I've stuck to the program, but after a while, I seem to get sidetracked and cease following it, which is when disaster strikes and I gain all the weight back. The Instinct Diet, like most diets, is supposed to make it easy to lose the weight and to keep it off.

Some of the tenets of the Instinct Diet were familiar to me, as they are common in most weight-loss regimes: get rid of the "bad" foods in the house (if they're not there, you can't eat them), make sure you get enough fiber and protein (so you feel satisfied and less inclined to snack). But the program is more than that. There are three other food instincts addressed by this specific diet. And the Instinct Diet does not really focus on exercise. Dr. Roberts says that you really don't NEED to exercise in order to lose weight, if you follow her plan to a T.

I have to say, while I wanted to buy into it, I don't see the Instinct Diet as a program I could successfully follow. The lists of high-fiber foods that are available during the eight-week weight loss portion of the diet (as opposed to the maintenance portion, which lasts as long as you want to keep the weight off) sound completely disgusting to me. And the portions recommended do not seem substantial enough to provide adequate nourishment for me. Granted, I am not a dietician or scientist like Dr. Roberts is, so maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about, but I can honestly say there is no way in hell that I would be satisfied with a turkey sandwich containing exactly one piece of turkey lunchmeat. That just seems crazy to me! I wanted to try the diet as part of my review of the book, but I couldn't open my mind enough to want to eat the things that are required eating during the first two weeks of the diet. Perhaps this is merely a motivation issue for me, and once I am again motivated to lose weight maybe I'll try it. It certainly seems like the science behind the plan is sound; it's just a matter of personal choice for me that I would prefer a plan with more freedom of choice.

Some of the recipes sound good, though, and I plan to keep the book and try some of them out. Overall, I'd give the book two and a half out of five Whatevers. It was interesting information, some of which I already knew, but it was nothing stunning, and the diet itself seemed unworkable, at least for me.

2011-12

Review: She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

2011-09-11T12:20:00.003-04:00

While I am a reader who usually doesn't "play favorites" (mostly because it's just so hard to choose), I have to say that Wally Lamb is one of my favorite authors. I've only read two of his works, this one and I Know This Much Is True, but I've loved every word of both of them...and for very different reasons, which tells me that I'm on the right track. This book was purchased during my college years (probably at Target, as that's the only place I shopped back then). I actually finished this book last Monday, while I was spending seven hours in the Baltimore airport, waiting for the next flight to Florida, since my original flight was delayed and I missed my earlier connection.

I first read She's Come Undone in college, probably my freshman or sophomore year. It's hard for me to remember exactly when it was, since I didn't keep track of my reading back then. I remember the book being only okay for me when I read it in college, so I wanted to re-read it as an adult to see if my perceptions or understanding of it changed at all. I'm such a different person than I was in those early college years that I felt sure the experience would be different for me now than it was then. And I was right.

********SPOILERS AHEAD***************

The book is the story of Dolores Price, from childhood through adulthood, set in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. She is a fairly normal child, but then her parents' divorce and her mother's ensuing mental illness throw her a little off track. When she is raped by the upstairs neighbor, she comes fully unraveled. Her mother soothes her own guilt over the rape by giving Dolores everything she wants, which includes food, food, and more food. Eventually, Dolores becomes morbidly obese and withdrawn from the world because of her obesity. When her mother is killed in an accident, Dolores decides to grant her mother's last wish and go to college. However, she is nothing like the other girls and is bullied and taken advantage of by them. Finally, she leaves college and descends into the mental illness that has been nipping at her heels since her mother died. She spends the next seven years at Gracewood, a mental institution, letting go of her anger, her despair, and her extra weight. When she leaves Gracewood, perhaps she is not quite fully "cured," as she sets out to find her college roommate's ex-boyfriend, whom she has obsessed over for years. She finds and marries him, only to find that the reality of Dante is not what she had created in her mind. It is only after her divorce, when she is focused on herself, that she meets her equal and earns her happily ever after.

I remember being extremely depressed by the subject-matter of the book, and that part hasn't changed. At least for me, this book was just so, so sad. Dolores Price is a protagonist who makes you want to root for her, but her life is just one sorry episode after another. I really related to her, having been significantly overweight for most of my adult life, and having struggled with the psychological issues that attend the physical. However, I think I have a bit more spunk than Dolores and, as a result, I refused to play the victim or let others victimize me. Dolores, on the other hand, was continually the victim: first of Jack Speight's rape, then of the bullying and cruelty of the other girls at college, then of Dante's thoughtlessness and selfishness. When she finally realizes that she is owed more from the world, I was so happy and excited for her. Lamb did a great job in making his protagonist both repellant and loveable at the same time.

Overall, I'd give this book four and a half out of five Whatevers. I cried and cried throughout the book. Recommended for those who love a good tearjerker, or those who enjoy a psychologically complex heroine, as Dolores Price is the most complex I've experienced in a long while.

2011-11

Review: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

2011-08-09T21:18:00.004-04:00

Another re-read in this series that I love, and another home run. This book was slower than some in the series, and it took me a while longer to get through than I expected, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Gabaldon does a great job of researching the time periods and locations she writes about (at least, *I* can't tell if there are any inaccuracies, but maybe a historian would have a bone to pick. I'd be interested in hearing from someone with a stronger background in history than I have).

In this installment, ***** SPOILER ALERT ***** Claire has returned to the 1700's and the love of her life, Jamie Fraser. She has left her daughter Brianna behind her in Boston, and she and Jamie have crossed the ocean to the Colonies. While they are trying to eke out an existence in the New World, Brianna remains in 1960's Boston, developing her burgeoning relationship with Roger MacKenzie Wakefield. When Brianna discovers some frightening information about her parents' lives in the past, she must make a decision that could change her life, and Roger's, forever.

People often ask me how I can re-read a book. Don't I already know how it ends? What's the point? Well, I first read this series about five years ago, during the end of law school, my summer studying for the Florida Bar, and the first year or so of my new life here in Florida. I honestly have forgotten most of the details of the books, so re-reading them is almost like experiencing the events for the first time. I remember the larger plot points, and sometimes things come back to me as I read, but most of the smaller details are like new to me.

I continue to rave about this series. The second read is as good as the first. I highly recommend this series for anyone who like historical fiction and certainly for romance lovers. Four out of five Whatevers for this one!

2011-10

Review: The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

2011-06-25T16:57:00.001-04:00

I bought this copy of
The Beekeeper's Apprentice at our local Barnes & Noble a few years ago. WHY has it taken me so long to get to this series?! I've heard nothing but good things about these books, and this one met or exceeded every accolade I've heard!

The books cover the apprenticeship of Mary Russell, a 15-year-old orphan at the beginning of this book, to the great Sherlock Holmes. Mary stumbles across Holmes on the Sussex Downs and he quickly realizes that, perhaps, he has met his equal in intelligence and observance. He takes the lonely Mary under his wing, teaching her the art of detection, fronting her money to make her comfortable when her stingy aunt won't allow her the money out of her inheritance, and coming to care for her greatly by the end of the novel.

Mary eventually becomes Holmes' second on the various cases he investigates in his "retirement," including the case of an American senator's kidnapped daughter. That case leads into a more complicated one, a new foe who seems to have both Holmes and Russell in his sights.

Watching Russell grow in her ability to reason and solve crimes is amazing. Seeing Holmes recognize that he has met his match is also wonderful. This book was smart, interesting, fun, the whole gamut. Exactly what I look for in a mystery (or any other novel for that matter). I can't wait to read the rest. Five out of five Whatevers. I couldn't read this one fast enough! Recommended for lovers of Holmes, for those who like to read about young women coming into their own, and for those who love a good, old-fashioned mystery.

2011-9

Catching Up

2011-06-19T19:46:00.003-04:00

Life has fallen into a kind of rhythm these days. Between reading, working two jobs, couponing (and shopping), TV watching, computer game playing, and hanging out with friends, I feel like I need twice the amount of time in the day. (Notice I didn't say anything about keeping the house clean in there...it's kind of a wreck around here.) I've gone out after work on Friday for the last two weeks...something I haven't done in a long time. But I'm finding that by sticking to my grocery budget, using coupons wherever I can, and moving around some funds, I have the money to do the things I didn't think I could afford before. I got together with two of my good friends and one old friend whom I haven't seen in almost two years to have drinks and dinner at a local Chili's restaurant. (I LOVE Chili's...two for one margaritas, how can you beat that?)

Tonight, we went to the in-laws for dinner to celebrate Father's Day. My brother-in-law grilled us burgers and Ricky and I brought dessert. It was a nice chance to get together with the family. And we came away with some home-grown basil and mangoes from the tree in their backyard.

As far as work goes, it's been slow for a while, but I have a trial set for the week of July 4th. I'm kind of excited about this one, so we shall see how it goes.

Oh! I went back on Weight Watchers at the end of April, and so far I've lost 15 pounds. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol/triglycerides, which is largely related to my terrible diet, pre-WW. I'm on two different meds right now, and it is absolutely ridiculous that someone my age should have to be on so much medicine, so I'm trying to lose the weight to get off the meds. I want to get healthy AND look good, and I'm doing well so far. The challenge will be staying on the program. I lost somewhere between 50 and 75 pounds a few years ago by doing Weight Watchers, but then I quit following the program and gained it all back (plus some!). Hopefully, this time it will be a true lifestyle change and I will keep it alllll off. I joined the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge to try to help me get in my exercise. We'll see how well I do...

I'm currently reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice. And I LOVE it. I've heard nothing but good things about this series by Laurie R. King, and those comments are proving true. I have the rest of the series on my shelf, too, so now the question is whether to pace myself or to rush through the rest of the series ASAP. I think I'll try to pace myself. Now, with the Outlander series that I'm re-reading, I'm in the midst of two series that I really love. Sigh. Book heaven!

What are you reading these days? What series do you absolutely love?

Review: Fatal Light by Richard Currey

2011-06-13T22:26:00.004-04:00

This book was sent to me through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

Well, I'm just going to come out and say it. I didn't care for this book. I went into it hoping for an experience like that when I read
Loon - where I didn't expect to like the book at all, but ended up loving it. However, it was not to be. I don't know if it was the way the book was written or what, but it did not resonate with me.

The book is written in two different styles: one is a regular, everyday story-telling type of writing, but the other is this staccato, choppy, stream-of-consciousness style that I did NOT care for at all. I get that it is supposed to convey the confusion, weariness, and sadness that the nameless protagonist is experiencing during his time in Vietnam, but I couldn't get into it. Maybe that is because I felt like I couldn't relate to the narrator. We never learn his name or much about him, really. He loves a girl, he gets sent off to war, he has a family at home who miss him, he has strange wartime experiences in Vietnam, then he comes home. That's about it.

Maybe I'm burnt out on Vietnam books, having read Loon not too long ago, and then Beach Music, which also had a Vietnam component to it. Maybe, as I suspect, I just don't like books about war. Maybe I don't like books about Vietnam. I just didn't feel like I connected with this book or learned much from it. Had I not known what an LZ was from reading Loon, I certainly wouldn't have found out by reading this book.

Two out of five Whatevers. Recommended for people who like war books or Vietnam-era literature. Just not for me.

2011-8

Review: Beach Music by Pat Conroy

2011-05-30T12:47:00.003-04:00

I finished Pat Conroy's Beach Music last Wednesday, on the plane, as we began the first leg of our trip from Florida to Ohio. I haven't had time to post a review, as I've spent the weekend preparing for and attending my best friend's wedding. And my sister's baby shower. But now I've eaten my fill and celebrated to the utmost, and it's time to talk about the book.

The copy I read was Mooched a year or two ago, and I just got around to reading it. I read and loved Conroy's The Prince of Tides a couple of years ago. Sadly, while I enjoyed Beach Music, I didn't love it like I loved the other. This book once again delves into Conroy's love-hate relationship with the South, specifically South Carolina. At the start of the book, Jack McCall has moved with his daughter to Rome, to get away from his family, his late wife's family, and the Southernness of Waterford, South Carolina. His wife took her own life by jumping from a bridge, for which Jack somewhat blames himself. Her family tried to win custody of his only daughter, Leah, but they were unable to paint Jack in an unflattering enough light to be granted custody. Now he lives with her in Rome, trying to forget he has a family...until his brothers call to tell him their mother is dying. Jack returns to South Carolina, for the first time since Shyla took her own life, to reunite with old friends, and the family he was trying to forget. There is a bit of a mystery to the book, based on an old friend's disappearance, and a sort of romance, as well. The book covers stories arising from the Vietnam War, as well as Nazi Germany during World War II, as well as "modern-day" (1980's) Rome and South Carolina.

While I liked the book well enough, that's all I can really say about it. I liked it. While I was reading it, I was interested. When I put it down, I was not in a hurry to pick it back up. And that saddens me, since I loved The Prince of Tides so much. So I have to give Beach Music three and a half out of five Whatevers, since I wasn't aching to return to it when I put it down. Next, I'll be reading Fatal Light, a review book from LibraryThing, which I've put off for far too long.

2011-7

Amazing Library Photo

2011-04-29T20:43:00.001-04:00

Check out this picture of the Strahov Monastery in Prague. This is completely amazing! You can zoom in and read the titles on the spines of the books!

Review: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

2011-04-17T08:57:00.004-04:00

Another re-read on my quest to reach the newest book in this series, Voyager is even better than I remembered it. At the beginning of the book, Claire is back in Scotland with her grown daughter Brianna and friend of the family Roger Wakefield, researching what became of the Scots she knew after the battle of Culloden. (This part picks up where the end of Dragonfly in Amber leaves off.) Claire then has a decision to make: now that she knows Jamie didn't perish at Culloden, should she track him down and attempt to return to him, or should she stay firmly in the present with their daughter?

******SPOILER ALERT********

Honestly, I don't think it's giving TOO much away to say that Claire does decide to go back through the standing stones to her husband. After all, it wouldn't be much of a series if she stayed in the present as a doctor.

Anyhoo, she goes back, finds Jamie, living as a printer under the name Alexander Malcolm, and they begin to have adventures again, right from the get-go. As in, someone burns down Jamie's print shop, they are on the lam from the law YET AGAIN, and we get to follow them from Edinburgh to Lallybroch to the West Indies. I have to say, the portion in the West Indies was quite interesting to me. As much as I love reading about 18th century Scotland, I really enjoyed the new setting, too. They meet some strange new friends (like Mr. Willoughby, a small Chinese man with a foot fetish) and come across some old ones...you'll have to read the book to find out who THAT is.

While I found Dragonfly in Amber to drag a little bit, due to the extensive political intrigue/war portions, Voyager was back to a true adventure story. Five out of five Whatevers. If you were somewhat turned off by the last book, read on! This one returns to the adventure and excitement of the first book!

ETA: I think I must have bought this book used...it was definitely read before I owned it.

2011-6

Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up Post

2011-04-10T15:15:00.002-04:00

I had such a good time doing the Read-a-Thon! (I always do.) It was nice to have my husband participate with me. I wish I hadn't gotten sick part-way through, but I rallied and managed to finish strong, even getting up early this morning to get another couple of hours of reading in! I think I read longer than last time, but didn't get as many pages in (of course, last time I was reading a fairly large-type copy of Little Women, and this time I was reading a trade paperback). I broke the cardinal rule of most Read-a-Thon-ers and read one large book throughout the whole Read-a-Thon. But, as it was a Diana Gabaldon, I was never bored. I won a random participant prize, too!!! I haven't won any prizes for the last couple of Read-a-Thons, so that was nice. I'm already looking forward to October's RAT. Thanks to everyone who organized the Read-a-Thon, and thank you so much to the cheerleaders and friends who stopped by to let me know they're rooting me on!

RAT: Hour Twenty-Four...THE END

2011-04-10T08:05:00.001-04:00

I'm going to get back in bed for a little while. I managed another two hours of reading. Here are the final stats:

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 75
Running total of pages read since you started: 488
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 116 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 823 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies; In Other Words; Mid-Event Survey; Reading Habits
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books; Helen at Helen's Book Blog; Kim at Page After Page; Sylvia McAllister on Facebook; Buffy at Situations Where You May Need It; Erica at Elephant Shoes; Nissy at MusicaLiterary Adventures; The Brain Lair; Jessica at The Firefly Book Loft; Megan at Reading Away the Days; Marq at Love to Read for Fun; Book Gazing; Elizabeth W; Elle at BookCrush; Ms. Tiptress at Passion Reads; Darcie at Reading Derby; Lynn at Stuff and Nonsense
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach; some frozen pizza; another bottle of water; a few pickle slices (I love them!); a couple of Jolly Ranchers; a handful of peanuts; more chips and queso; another Diet Mt. Dew (I'm a dreadful eater when I read!); Chef Boyardee; a bottle of water; chewed some gum (to keep myself from eating anything else); another root beer, and more pretzels. A Diet Mt. Dew this morning.

RAT: Back in the Saddle!

2011-04-10T05:52:00.002-04:00

Well, I slept for about five and a half hours. And now I'm awake again, not by design, but I thought I'd take advantage of it anyway. Ricky's snoring in the bedroom, so I wouldn't get much more sleep anyway. I'm going to read for the last two hours of the Read-a-Thon and see how much further I can get. No more blog-hopping, just straight reading for two hours.

RAT: Throwing in the Towel

2011-04-09T23:08:00.002-04:00

Well, we're into Hour Sixteen and I've pretty much run out of steam. I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. I guess I shouldn't call this the end, though. If I get up early enough tomorrow, I'll read for a little while longer, before the clock reaches 8 am.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 34
Running total of pages read since you started: 413
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 57 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 707 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies; In Other Words; Mid-Event Survey; Reading Habits
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books; Helen at Helen's Book Blog; Kim at Page After Page; Sylvia McAllister on Facebook; Buffy at Situations Where You May Need It; Erica at Elephant Shoes; Nissy at MusicaLiterary Adventures; The Brain Lair; Jessica at The Firefly Book Loft; Megan at Reading Away the Days; Marq at Love to Read for Fun; Book Gazing; Elizabeth W; Elle at BookCrush; Ms. Tiptress at Passion Reads; Darcie at Reading Derby; Lynn at Stuff and Nonsense
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach; some frozen pizza; another bottle of water; a few pickle slices (I love them!); a couple of Jolly Ranchers; a handful of peanuts; more chips and queso; another Diet Mt. Dew (I'm a dreadful eater when I read!); Chef Boyardee; a bottle of water; chewed some gum (to keep myself from eating anything else); another root beer, and more pretzels.

RAT: Inside Hour Fourteen

2011-04-09T21:51:00.003-04:00

Is it really Hour Fourteen? I think this is around the time I called it quits last Read-a-Thon. If I remember correctly, I was falling asleep while reading around 10:30. It's almost that time, but I still feel like I have a couple more hours (at LEAST) of reading in me. I've eaten some more dinner and done some dishes since my last update. Here's my progress:

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 62
Running total of pages read since you started: 379
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 85 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 650 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies; In Other Words; Mid-Event Survey; Reading Habits
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books; Helen at Helen's Book Blog; Kim at Page After Page; Sylvia McAllister on Facebook; Buffy at Situations Where You May Need It; Erica at Elephant Shoes; Nissy at MusicaLiterary Adventures; The Brain Lair; Jessica at The Firefly Book Loft; Megan at Reading Away the Days; Marq at Love to Read for Fun; Book Gazing; Elizabeth W; Elle at BookCrush
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach; some frozen pizza; another bottle of water; a few pickle slices (I love them!); a couple of Jolly Ranchers; a handful of peanuts; more chips and queso; another Diet Mt. Dew (I'm a dreadful eater when I read!); Chef Boyardee; a bottle of water; chewed some gum (to keep myself from eating anything else)

RAT: Inside Hour Twelve

2011-04-09T20:02:00.002-04:00

HALFWAAAAAY POOOIIINT! Wow, we've been reading and blogging for twelve hours! I can't believe it! I'm not even terribly tired, although I think fatigue will overtake me in a few hours. I think I only made it about fourteen hours last year, though, and I think I can beat that this year. We'll see!

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 56
Running total of pages read since you started: 317
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 91 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 565 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies; In Other Words; Mid-Event Survey
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books; Helen at Helen's Book Blog; Kim at Page After Page; Sylvia McAllister on Facebook; Buffy at Situations Where You May Need It; Erica at Elephant Shoes; Nissy at MusicaLiterary Adventures; The Brain Lair; Jessica at The Firefly Book Loft; Megan at Reading Away the Days
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach; some frozen pizza; another bottle of water; a few pickle slices (I love them!); a couple of Jolly Ranchers; a handful of peanuts; more chips and queso; another Diet Mt. Dew (I'm a dreadful eater when I read!)

Mid-Event Survey

2011-04-09T19:57:00.002-04:00

1. What are you reading right now?

Still reading Voyager

2. How many books have you read so far?

Part of one.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Probably Voyager. :)

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Well, I wasn't scheduled to work this weekend, but I did turn down a girls' night last night so I could get plenty of sleep for the Read-a-Thon!

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Just a Jehovah's Witness inviting me to something next weekend. I shooed him away as soon as I politely could.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

That I'm not more tired than I am.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Actually, a couple of Read-a-Thons ago, they posted a link to a list with all the Read-a-Thoners on it, which made it really easy to refer to when you wanted to visit/cheer. Could you guys do that again?

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

I'd get some different snacks.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

A little, but not too bad.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

Nope. Just keep going!

RAT: Inside Hour Ten

2011-04-09T18:03:00.005-04:00

I had a whole post written up and Blogger ate it. Grr. Well, here are my stats:

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 53
Running total of pages read since you started: 261
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 91 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 474 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies; In Other Words
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books; Helen at Helen's Book Blog; Kim at Page After Page; Sylvia McAllister on Facebook; Buffy at Situations Where You May Need It; Erica at Elephant Shoes
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach; some frozen pizza; another bottle of water; a few pickle slices (I love them!); a couple of Jolly Ranchers

RAT: Inside Hour Eight

2011-04-09T15:48:00.003-04:00

Wow! Almost eight hours of reading gone by already! I'm feeling good, much better than I was a couple of hours ago. My tummy is hungry again so I'm eating a frozen pizza for an early dinner. Ricky finished his book, but I'm still plugging along in mine...over a thousand pages to it, so no surprise there.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 43
Running total of pages read since you started: 208
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 92 minutes (not all of this was reading...I did lie down and close my eyes for a while)
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 383 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books; Helen at Helen's Book Blog; Kim at Page After Page
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach; some frozen pizza

RAT: Inside Hour Six

2011-04-09T13:57:00.004-04:00

Well, I had a slight setback during the last two hours...my lunch made me sick to my stomach. HOWEVER! I have persevered, I'm feeling a lot better, and I actually still managed to get a great deal of reading done.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 34
Running total of pages read since you started: 165
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 96 minutes (not all of this was reading...I did lie down and close my eyes for a while)
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 291 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge; Oldies but Goodies
Other participants you’ve visited: Christina at Reading Thru the Night; Book Snob Wannabe; Charlie at Bitsy Bling Books
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water; some root beer and pretzels to calm my stomach

RAT: Inside Hour Four

2011-04-09T11:53:00.002-04:00

Well, we've been reading now for almost four hours. It's going well. The air conditioning is on now, the cats have fallen asleep in the puddles of sunlight coming in through the slider, and Ricky and I are deep into our respective reads.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 59
Running total of pages read since you started: 131
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 90 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 195 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme; Where in the World Are You Reading From?; Collaborative Fiction Mini-Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans, frozen Stouffer's Philly Cheesesteak Toasted Sub, more jellybeans, a bottle of water

Hour Three Now

2011-04-09T10:07:00.002-04:00

Okay, now I'm inside Hour Three. We're going to have to turn on the air here, as it's getting muggy! The blog is giving me some shit and I'm starting to get irritated, but here's my progress so far...

Title of book(s) read since last update: Voyager
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 72
Running total of pages read since you started: 72
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 105 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 105 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Introduction meme, Where in the World Are You Reading From?
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, chips and queso (for breakfast!), Jelly Belly jellybeans

RAT: Hour One Meme

2011-04-09T09:44:00.002-04:00

1)Where are you reading from today? South Florida - in my living room and bedroom. 2)Three random facts about me… a) I'm married. b) I've lived in my house for about a year and a half. c) I love to eat. 3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? I have the book I'm currently reading, two magazines, and about six other books. I doubt I'll even finish my current read, but you never know! 4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? I'd like to read more pages than I did last time (732, I believe) and stay up longer too. 5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? Take liberal breaks. Read shorter things in between the longer things (I like magazines and short stories) to break it up.

T Minus 30 Minutes and Counting

2011-04-09T07:27:00.002-04:00

Ricky and I are up and at it. I'm drinking a Diet Mt. Dew, as usual, and he is making coffee. It's a nice morning here in South Florida, and we have the slider open, but I'm pretty sure we'll have to turn on the air before long. It's supposed to get into the mid-80's here today. My current read is Diana Gabaldon's Voyager, which is a re-read for me. For anyone who hasn't been following my blog, I'm re-reading all the books in the series to bring myself back up to speed for the newest published volume, An Echo in the Bone. Ricky will be reading some memoirs of famous folks with MS (his reading has been very MS-centric lately), but I'm sure he has some fiction set aside, too, for when the memoirs get too heavy.

So. We're ready and set to go. Everyone have a great morning and enjoy your reading!

Read-a-Thon Starts Tomorrow

2011-04-08T21:16:00.003-04:00

Sooo excited for the Read-a-Thon tomorrow! This event is my favorite in Blogland and I have participated in all of the RAT's that have been held since I started blogging. I have my snacks laid in and books picked out (well, really only one book...my current read is a chunkster, but I'm looking forward to it and hope to finish it tomorrow). The hubby is also participating this time, which has never happened before...check out his blog, too! We'll be reading together all day long, just us and the cats...no interruptions, no TV (hopefully), no responsibilities...YAY! If you're reading for the Read-a-Thon, too, have fun and I hope to see you around the blogosphere tomorrow!

Review: Inglorious by Joanna Kavenna

2011-04-02T19:52:00.003-04:00

Joanna Kavenna won the Orange Prize for New Writing for this book. I have to be honest: I didn't care for it at all. It's about Rosa Lane, a 35-year-old journalist who, after the death of her mother, quits her job, gets dumped by her boyfriend, and overdrafts her bank account, all in the name of a mid-life crisis. Rosa is pathetic. She finds herself inert, unable to take action, mindlessly writing the same to-do list over and over. I just wanted her to DO something, to quit procrastinating, quit thinking about it. And her descent into madness is frightening and depressing to watch.

The book isn't very long, but it took me almost a month to finish it, because when I put it down, I found myself dreading picking it back up. It was just too sad for me. And, really, Rosa was too frustrating to me, as I am a person of action. I prefer to tackle problems head-on and find a solution, rather than sitting around, moping about it. However, it may also be that her situation hit a little too close to home. When my husband was diagnosed with MS last year, I suffered through my own depression for several months, in which I found myself unable to even open the mail on a daily basis. Worry about our finances, now that he wasn't working and the medical bills were piling up, seemed to be all I could think about. Now, unlike Rosa, I did eventually take action...I got a second job, began working extra hours at my current job, did whatever I could do to keep the finances stable. And maybe that is my frustration with Rosa: even during the worst period of my life, when I wondered some days if I could even get out of bed, I still took control of the situation, instead of letting it take control of me. And I wanted Rosa to do that: to grow a backbone, let go of Liam (her ex), talk to someone about her mother's death, find a job, find a place to stay, pay down her debt...and she just didn't.

Overall, two out of five Whatevers. I wish I could rate it higher, because the writing was lovely, but I just. didn't. like it. Perhaps it was simply the wrong time for me to read it. Recommended for those who like glimpses of insanity, and literary, philosophical reads.

Edited to add: I bought this book.

2011-5

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You...

2011-03-13T08:51:00.002-04:00

The Read-a-Thon is coming!!! I think this will be my sixth RAT, but I've lost track now...I'll have to go back through the blog and check. This is my favorite event in the Blogosphere, and I can't wait. Now I just have to see if I'm scheduled to work First Appearances that weekend, so I can get someone to cover.

If you want to sign up, go here.

Review: Loon: A Marine Story by Jack McLean

2011-03-06T20:24:00.004-05:00

I'll be honest, when I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program, I couldn't remember why I requested it. It's a book about Viet Nam, and I am not a reader of war stories. My grandfathers were both war veterans, but neither my parents nor any of my sisters were in the military. I have no real interest in the military or reading about war. I actually dreaded reading the book.

Until I opened it and read the first few pages.

I couldn't put it down. I started it last night before bed and finished it about a half an hour ago. I haven't sped through a book that fast in recent memory. The book isn't too long, about 250 pages, but it is intense, and it will keep you turning the pages. I was enthralled. It's a fictionalized memoir, I guess you could call it. The events are true, but some of the dialogue was created by the author, since it would have been all but impossible to recall the exact details of conversations held 40 years ago.

The book tells the story of McLean's enlistment in the Marines and his subsequent tour of duty in Viet Nam. McLean came from a place of privilege, private school and money. The kids in his graduating class went to college to avoid the draft, but McLean actually signed up for service. The story details his basic training, his first assignment in supply school, learning computerized inventory systems, and his eventual shipping off to Viet Nam to see action "in the shit."

I'll say it again, I was enthralled. Not being a reader of war stories, I haven't read anything about the Viet Nam war. My senior year English teacher in high school lived through Viet Nam and read us snippets of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, but that was the extent of my knowledge of the war. I don't even remember learning that much about it in history (except the mention of the domino effect theory in the book did ring some bells).

I'm so, so glad I read this book. It was touching and scary and fascinating, all in one. I cried at several points during the story. I give it five out of five Whatevers. LOVED it. I recommend this to just about anyone: those who remember Viet Nam or those who, like me, need to learn more about it. It is pretty scary, so it's not for young kids, but other than that, go for it.

2011-4

Review: Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott

2011-03-05T12:20:00.004-05:00

This is the third and final book in Louisa May Alcott's trilogy which began with Little Women, the story of the four March girls. In this installment, Plumfield has become a part of Laurence College, and both boys and girls are being educated there together (a somewhat revolutionary idea for its time). The book tells the sweet stories of the men and women we have already met in previous books, as well as a few who are new to us, as they try to ready themselves to face the world.

I loved this book, in which Alcott lets her feminism shine through in the speeches and lectures of Jo Bhaer and the other characters. I love hearing her preach to her society of the time, exhorting them to allow women an education, and teaching them that a mixture of study and activity is best for young minds and bodies, rather than just locking students in a room all day for study, while neglecting their physical selves. Some might find the books a little preachy, but I enjoy the old-fashioned talks that Jo had with her boys. That kind of advice is out of fashion now, but it would be useful for some to hear.

I liked this novel better than Little Men, probably because the children were older and in college. I'd give it five out of five Whatevers, and recommend it for anyone who likes an old-fashioned read.

2011-3

Review: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

2011-02-13T18:25:00.003-05:00

FINALLY finished Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. I've been reading this book forever! Of course, it IS over 900 pages, so I guess I can cut myself a break. I've been reading it for so long that I have like five magazines piled up from the last month and a half. The copy I read is a used copy that I purchased somewhere...but I'm not sure where. I got it before I joined BookMooch, so it wasn't a Mooch. It's possible that I bought it at Powell's during the summer that I lived in Portland, while working for the Department of the Interior in law school.

ANYWAY, this is the second book in Gabaldon's Outlander series. And it's a re-read for me. I seriously love these books. This one wasn't as good as Outlander was, however. Too much Paris intrigue. Quick synopsis (SPOILER warning): this book was a little confusing because it switched time periods. In 1968, Claire and her grown daughter Brianna return to Scotland so that Claire can tell Brianna the truth about her birth (that Frank Randall, Claire's husband, is not really Brianna's father; rather she was fathered by Jamie Fraser, Claire's OTHER husband, in 1745 Scotland...trust me, it makes more sense if you read the series from the beginning). As they look into the historic fates of the men who lost their lives in the Scottish Rising of 1745 at Culloden Field, Claire is frightened of what she may find...that her husband Jamie was killed at Culloden after she left him to return to her own time. While telling Brianna and Roger Wakefield about her experiences in the past, we flash back to 1740's Paris, where Jamie and Claire are trying to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie from gathering support and funds for the Rising, knowing that many Scottish Highlands clansmen lose their lives in the fight. Claire is pregnant and, during this time, loses the baby, whom they name Faith. They then travel to Scotland, as the Prince has forged Jamie's name on a document showing support for the Uprising, and they are forced to then outwardly support Charles' efforts to retake the throne. Claire ends up pregnant again, and Jamie, having killed the MacKenzie clan chieftain, sends her away through the standing stones, back to her own time, while he goes to meet his fate at Culloden or at the hands of the clan MacKenzie. The book ends in 1968 Scotland again, with Claire learning that Jamie really did NOT die at Culloden, leaving the series open for further novels.

Whew! I'm sure that sounds ridiculous to anyone who hasn't followed the series, but Gabaldon is gifted, in that she makes even the most ridiculous plot points sound completely believable. I really didn't care for the section where they were in Paris. It was kind of boring to read about the society goings-on, and political intrigue isn't really my thing. This book was VERY political and focused a lot on the military maneuvers of the Scottish army. This stuff slowed the novel WAY down for me. I would have liked more of the Claire-and-Jamie-on-the-run type storyline from the first novel. But, if I recall correctly, the third book gets back to that. I would give this book four out of five Whatevers. It's still REALLY good, and is a must-read for anyone who loved Outlander, but there were some elements that I didn't care for.

2011-2

Review: Amagansett by Mark Mills

2011-01-04T20:59:00.005-05:00

I don't recall whose blog reviewed Amagansett, but I'm almost positive that's where I got the recommendation: a fellow blogger. And a good recommendation it was. I actually finished the book Monday night, late, when I couldn't sleep, but it's taken me a few days to get motivated to write a review (and not because the book wasn't good). After I heard about it, I bought it at Barnes and Noble, then it sat on my shelf for over a year.

But it was worth the wait.

It's a murder mystery, but also a picture of the vast divide between the haves and have-nots in Montauk, Long Island. Conrad Labarde, a Basque fisherman, hauls in the dead body of a woman, which starts turning the wheels of the investigation into her death. What, if anything, is Labarde's connection to the woman? Who killed her? Why? Finding out the answers to the mystery started to take second place, however, to the mystery that was Conrad Labarde.

This book had a lot of similarities to the last book I read, The Disappearance. Both novels featured a crime as the central impetus. Both novels were set in the Northeast. Both novels featured a fairly compled male lead character. However, of the two, I preferred this one. It was simply better-written and more fully developed the characters. The mystery was done better, too.

I'm finding it hard to write about this book, for some reason. But I really, really liked it. I'll give it four and a half out of five Whatevers. For those who like a really well-crafted mystery or who love the Northeast.

2011-1

Review: The Disappearance by Efrem Sigel

2010-12-28T00:30:00.003-05:00

This was another LibraryThing Early Reviewer book. And this one was spectacular. Slow to get started, The Disappearance did pick up in pace, and by the end, I couldn't put it down. This novel tells the story of Joshua, Nathalie, and Daniel Sandler, before and after Daniel's mysterious disappearance one August afternoon. But it's not a mystery. The fact that Dan is missing is, rather, the fulcrum on which Josh and Nathalie's marriage teeters. The book tells the story of how their marriage is rent and the question the reader faces is whether the pieces of their marriage can be stitched back together or whether they will flutter apart for good. The undercurrent is, of course, the whodunnit of Dan's disappearance.

I really don't want to say much more about the plot, since I don't want to give it away. But Sigel excels in bringing the pastoral northeastern part of the country to life. He draws the landscape in breathtaking detail, so that the reader knows every inch of the land almost as intimately as Josh does. Josh was a sympathetic character, the distraught father, ceaselessly searching for his missing son. Nathalie, however, was a bit two-dimensional for me, but that could simply be a symptom of the way she expressed her grief; while Josh was spurred into frenzied action by his sadness and anger, Nathalie was stupefied and frozen by hers.

I can't say how much I enjoyed this book, which was wonderful, after the disappointment of the last Early Reviewer book I read. Four and a half out of five Whatevers. I think of myself as someone who requires a great deal of action out of her reading, in order to be satisfied. Despite the fact that there is very little action in this novel, or rather that the action occurs slowly, over a long period of time, I enjoyed the characters and the setting enough that this worked for me. And there was enough of a mystery behind Dan's disappearance that I wanted to hang in there and find out who, in fact, DID do it. Lovely. Just lovely.

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-25T18:51:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited! I got a Kindle for Christmas!!! I kind of suspected I would, but it's awesome, just the same. I also got about six real paper books, a Powell's gift card, and some Amazon gift cards to buy Kindle books with, in addition to a lot more stuff. We always spoil each other at Christmas. More later, I'm off to play with my Kindle. And Merry Christmas to everyone out there in blogland! I hope your day has been as wonderful as mine has!

Review: Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

2010-12-24T09:30:00.004-05:00

Finished reading Little Men today. The copy I read was once my mother's, part of the illustrated Junior Deluxe Edition collection of classics that she owned as a child. Far from being distracting, I thought the illustrations well-done and a nice addition to the simple story. This was a re-read for me, as I've read it several times during my childhood.

Little Men is the story of Jo (March) Bhaer and her husband, Fritz Bhaer, whom she met in Little Women, and their school for boys, Plumfield. The story doesn't have much plot, but just describes the daily life at the school, all the little ins and outs of life with a bunch of boys.

I liked the simplicity of the story, the way that life seemed so much less complicated back then. But it was preachy. MUCH more preachy than Little Women. And it was sometimes distracting, even causing me to roll my eyes on occasion.

Overall, I'd give it four and a half out of five Whatevers, with half a point off for the preachiness. However, if you liked Little Women, you might want to read this sequel. I do plan to read the third book in the trilogy, Jo's Boys, at some point in the near future.

Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

2010-12-17T19:21:00.003-05:00

Finished Diana Gabaldon's Outlander last night before bed. I love this book. I mean, I really, really LOVE this book. This was a re-read for me (of a book I'd originally bought, FTC). I first read Outlander during my third year of law school. I remember being nervous about reading it, thinking, for some reason, that it was high fantasy, instead of the historical romance that it really is. I was afraid I wouldn't like it, since I wasn't much of a fantasy reader (then). But it was on some list of the 100 Best Books of something or other, and I figured, hey, I want to be as well read as the next gal, so I decided to plunge in. And once I did, I never wanted to go back.

The basic story is about Claire Beauchamp Randall, a married British combat nurse living through the aftermath of WWII. She and her husband, Frank Randall, a historian, are taking a sort of belated honeymoon in Scotland. Claire is magically transported back to 18th century Scotland when she leans against some standing stones (along the lines of Stonehenge) in the Scottish countryside. Once there, the book tells the story of how Claire learns to adapt (or not), how she meets her husband's ancestor Black Jack Randall, and how she comes to be married (!) to Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser.

I love Claire and I love Jamie. Next to Anne and Gilbert Blythe, they are probably my favorite literary couple of all time. Claire is high-spirited and independent, in TWO time periods where you wouldn't expect it. The only real problem I have with the novel is that Claire sometimes seems TOO strong-willed. She strikes me as much more of a late-20th-century woman (the book was written in the 1990's) than an early-20th-century woman. But maybe I just don't know enough about women in the '40's. And Jamie. Sigh. He's just about the perfect man. Handsome, intelligent, brave. And slightly stubborn.

The novel goes on to detail Claire's attempts to get back to her own time, as well as Jamie's attempts to escape from the long arm of the law, after him because he has been falsely accused of murder. I can't help but be sucked in once I start the novel. That's why it only took me a couple of weeks to finish an 850-page novel. This is the first book in a seven book series (with one more book on the way, supposedly).

Easily, easily five out of five Whatevers. READ THIS BOOK! Especially if you like historical romance, except then you've probably read it already. There are a few sex scenes and some swearing (but especially British/Scottish swearing), so those who are squeamish, beware. I don't mind that stuff at all, but if you do, I swear the rest of the book is good enough to make up for it. The amount of research that must have gone into the book is simply astounding. Gabaldon certainly knows her Scottish stuff. I am pretty sure that, if you give this novel a chance, you'll be diving into the other six volumes ASAP. I read them all back-to-back the first time, but I'm spacing them out now, to more fully enjoy them!

1001 Books

2010-12-12T18:02:00.003-05:00

My best friend came down in June for a long weekend get-away to Fort Myers. While there, we happened upon an outdoor mall, in which we happened upon a bookstore, in which I happened upon this book. I'd been thinking about the book for a while. I'd read the lists and challenges of other bloggers who had perused the gigantic tome. I'd wondered how many of the 1001 I'd read. But I wasn't planning on buying the book. Except...we were on vacation, the first time I'd come out of my funk and tried to have some fun, some time to myself, since Ricky's diagnosis. So I threw caution and our budget to the wind and I bought it. I told myself it was an investment, that Ricky would like to look at it, too, that it was useful for the many unknown but invaluable works to which it could open my eyes.

So I bought it. And I read a few entries. And I lugged it home and promptly set it on the shelf and forgot about it. Until this weekend. For whatever reason, I felt like opening the book and figuring out just HOW MANY of the 1001 I'd actually read. It was difficult to determine, because many of the classics I'd read so long ago I couldn't remember WHETHER I'd read them or, if I'd read them, whether I'd finished them. I didn't want to count a book I hadn't finished. However, at final count, if I didn't miscount, that is, I've read 47 of these books. Not nearly enough. So I'm going to challenge myself to a perpetual 1001 Books challenge. I'll keep hacking away at the list and maybe I'll get a few more read before ANOTHER revised and updated edition comes out. I hope so.

How many of the 1001 have YOU read?

Sunday Salon: Pre-Christmas Excitement!

2010-12-05T16:08:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I posted anything other than a review, so I thought a little updating was in order. We're learning to live with Ricky's MS, so our lives have settled down a little since the beginning of the year and his diagnosis. I'm working two jobs (my regular job as a PD, and my second job teaching Business Law at a local college), so it leaves me little time for reading, especially when I use the weekends to catch up on all the non-work-related stuff that needs to get done. But the semester is winding down at school, and we've almost reached the holiday lull in the court system, so I'll soon have plenty of reading time. I've pretty much given up on cleaning, in order to have some free time, and guess what...the world hasn't ended yet. I've been baking cookies for the Christmas cookie exchange at work, doing my Christmas shopping (I'm actually ALL DONE...this is probably the earliest I've ever finished shopping), watching football, and making plans for our long road trip to Ohio to see my family for Christmas. I need to get our tree up tonight and then...Christmas can come whenever it wants!

I'm incredibly excited about our trip up North. We decided to drive this year, because I thought it would be less stressful. I didn't want to deal with trying to make a connection while hauling Ricky and all our crap through a busy airport. Add in all the new security measures, and the fact that flying stresses me out in general, and I'd rather drive, so we can take our time and go at our own pace. This will be the first year that Ricky has ever come home with me for Christmas. That's right, despite being together for four and a half years, he's never come to the old homestead for Christmas. Usually he would have to work, but since he's receiving disability now, it frees him up for holiday traveling.

In reading news, I had a very productive couple of weeks. I read two books within about a week of each other, which I haven't done in a VERY long time, and I'm now re-reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. I bought the newest book in the series with a gift card last Christmas and I want to read it soon, but I definitely needed a refresher on the events in the series, so I decided to read them all over again before tackling An Echo in the Bone. I first read the series during my last year of law school/studying for the Bar/my first year of practice. So it's been a good four years or so (at least). I love these books, so I'm flying through the first one. Hopefully, I'll be keeping up this pace, especially with the amount of free time I'll have for reading, once we get to my parents' house.

And, okay, I caved. I asked for a Kindle for Christmas. I was going back and forth on whether I wanted to ask my parents for one. I wasn't sure I was ready to leave actual REAL books behind yet. I have so much on my TBR shelves that it seemed almost unfair to ask for an e-reader on which I can't read any of those books. And I hadn't done any research as to whether I'd prefer a Kindle or a Nook or a Sony. But when my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas, it just kind of popped out. And then I found myself really excited about the prospect of getting one. And if I DO get one, I'm sure I'll find a way to balance the books I currently own with the books I may purchase for the Kindle.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, with lots of reading time and many, many books under the tree!

Review: Eggs by Jerry Spinelli

2010-11-28T08:37:00.002-05:00

Well, I don't know what's gotten into me this holiday weekend, but I both started and finished this book yesterday. Part of it was the ease of reading (it's a middle-grade novel), but I guess I've had some time on my hands, as well.

I purchased Eggs quite awhile ago from Barnes & Noble. I'd been wanting to read some more middle-grade/YA fiction, since I think it's a "genre" (don't get me started on whether or not it's really its own genre) I could really get into more. There are so many books for younger readers that sound SO GOOD. So this book was an attempt to dip my toe into the middle-grade/YA pool. And, apparently, reading more YA would be good for my numbers too!

Okay. So this book was incredibly sad. I'm not sure if I would react the same way to it if I had read it at a different time, but it just made my heart ache. David, the protagonist, has recently (within the last year) lost his mother. He's living with his father and paternal grandmother and trying to cope with the loss. He's in the bargaining stage of grief - if he doesn't break any rules, his mom will come back; if he doesn't ever see the sun come up, she'll return. David hasn't made any new friends in his new town and is having trouble adjusting...until he meets Primrose. Her mother is possibly crazy, a fortune-teller who lives in her own reality, causing Primrose to move out of the house and into an abandoned van in their front yard, just to have a space of her own. David and Primrose form a tight bond, but fight just like siblings. The book details their exploits over one summer as they get to know each other and learn to deal with their losses.

This really isn't one of those books with a major central event - no one is kidnapped, murdered, raped, etc. David's mother even dies off camera. It's a book about how children deal with loss, how they come to terms with the disappearance of stability, how they learn about and cope with death. I cried as David tried to reason out the WHY of his mother's passing and groped about for a (admittedly lacking) substitute mother.

I would highly recommend this book, especially to families who are learning to cope with some kind of loss. Four and a half out of five Whatevers. I'm really looking forward to reading Spinelli's Stargirl books now. He has a great voice and doesn't condescend to kids, which makes for an enjoyable reading experience for adults too!

Review: The Barfighter by Ivan G. Goldman

2010-11-27T09:02:00.003-05:00

The Barfighter is a book I received for review from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, quite a while ago. I'm miserably behind on my reviews from LT, which probably explains why they haven't given me any books in the last several months. I'm trying to get caught up as quickly as I can, but there are just too many books out there, calling my name!

The Barfighter switches between 1965 and 1985. Our main character is Lee Cheskis, who started out as an Army boxer during the Vietnam War. Boxing for the Army was a way for men who had the talent to avoid being shipped overseas. Lee had the talent. Fast forward to the 80's, and Lee is in anger management, drifting through life, working part-time at the local college to pay the rent. He meets Marvin O'Brien in anger management and, when the boy shows promise as a fighter, decides to become O'Brien's manager to try to make a pro out of him.

Boxing is not my thing. I don't like it, I don't watch or follow it in any way, I basically, like Lee's girlfriend Lorraine, think it's a brutal sport. I don't see the point in putting two men in a ring to beat the shit out of each other and see who falls down first. So I'm not sure what prompted me to select this book for review. Maybe the Vietnam War aspect. I've always been interested in that conflict, but, unfortunately, Lee never even sees Vietnam.

This book is dude lit, if there is such a thing. We women have both chick lit and women's fiction (which I see as two different things, one being lighter and "fluffier" than the other, but both focusing on women and their relationships, usually with other women). This book does the same for men...focuses on their relationships, especially how Lee interacts with his fighter, his former sparring partner during the war, the promoters, trainers and managers he works with and comes across in his work, even random men he beats in bar fights.

The book is largely written from Lee's point of view, however there are brief instances when the point of view (although third person omniscient) switches to Valaitas, Lee's commanding officer during the war and a fellow trainer afterwards, and, at the end, to Quick O'Brien's, Lee's fighter. These switches in point of view were a bit confusing. We're used to seeing Lee's perspective and, when the POV shifted, I had to keep checking back to see if it were Lee or Valaitas who was thinking and doing these things. At the end, when the POV switched to O'Brien, I was puzzled. We'd never seen things from his perspective at all during the course of the novel, so why did it end with him? I have some ideas about that, which involve spoilers, so I don't want to get into them here, but ultimately, I didn't like the POV switch. We didn't know enough about either Valaitas or O'Brien for them to work for me as the main POV. And the ending, from O'Brien's POV, was rather abrupt. I wanted it to be tied up a little more neatly, but that's life I guess.

Overall, the book was good. Three out of five Whatevers. Someone who enjoys boxing more than I do would probably REALLY enjoy the book. There were quite a few typos for my taste, but I have a bound galley, so I'm hoping those were fixed by the time the book went to press. The book would be great for boxing enthusiasts, reluctant readers of the male persuasion, maybe even as a Christmas gift for Dad or an uncle who remember the golden days of boxing.

Review: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

2010-10-14T19:39:00.004-04:00

I started writing this review a few nights ago, but managed, once again, to erase it. I think the rule should be "no posting when sleepy."

I finished Little Women on Saturday during the Read-a-Thon. This was a re-read for me; in fact, this was probably the millionth time I've read this book. The beautiful illustrated copy I read was a Christmas gift from my favorite aunt in 1986, when I would have been 9 years old. It's stood the test of time, although the plastic cover is long gone.

I love this story. I cannot count the number of times I cried while reading it. I've been particularly sensitive to family-based stories since I visited my own family a few weeks ago for my grandmother's funeral. I started reading the book on the plane, returning to Florida, but I soon had to stop because I was furtively wiping my eyes while the man next to me looked uncomfortable. Then I finished reading it on Saturday and I cried: at the part where Beth and Mr. March get sick...at the part where Beth dies...at the part where Jo and Mr. Bhaer come back together...I couldn't stop. The book certainly was preachy, but I guess it didn't bother me too much because I'd read it so many times as a kid, that I was used to the preachy quality. Plus, I think that tone fits better with the 19th century, Civil War sensibility. People were more religious back then...or maybe I was more religious when I first read the book. I don't know.

Little Women, for anyone who hasn't read the book, is the story of the four March girls: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Meg, the eldest, longs for the finer things in life, which she remembers from the days before the March family's "reduced circumstances." Jo, the tomboy, writes "potboilers" that she hopes will earn her a little pocket money one day. Beth is a saint, a homebody who keeps the house cozy. Amy is the spoiled youngest child, who hopes to grow up to be a famous artist. The book tells the story of their growth from young girls to wives and mothers. And it's sweet and sad and just a nice story. I still love it, like I did when I was a kid.

Definitely five out of five Whatevers. I look forward to the sequel, Little Men AND the third in the trilogy, Jo's Boys.

RAT: Hour Seventeen

2010-10-10T00:12:00.002-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Glamour magazine
Number of books read since you started: One book and part of a magazine.
Pages read since last update: 120
Running total of pages read since you started: 648
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 73 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 776 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books, Six Word Celebration, Indie Pride, Show Me the Books, Pet Pics
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love; SusieQTPies at Scraps of Life, Capricious Reader, Courtney at Stiletto Storytime, Heather at Book Obsessed, Lydia at The Lost Entwife, and Melissa at Palmer's Picks for Reading; Vanessa at Vaness Reads 100 Books in 2010, Natalie at The Book Inn, and Emily at What Book Is That?
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast, a bottle of water, some Nerds and Laffy Taffy, mozzarella sticks, a Pepsi, a couple of green olives, potato skins, a mini Baby Ruth bar, another bottle of water, a mini Butterfinger bar, a mini Nestle Crunch bar, another frozen breakfast, some more Nerds, another Diet Mt. Dew, Orbit White Spearmint gum, more water, Pizza-flavored Pringles

Okay, I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm such a wuss. But I think I'm calling it a night. Maybe I'll get up early enough tomorrow to keep reading. Or maybe after I sleep for a couple of hours, I'll feel refreshed. We'll see...

Otherwise, the Read-a-Thon was great. Thanks to the cheerleaders and everyone else who stopped by my blog. See everyone in April!!!

RAT: Hour Fifteen!

2010-10-09T22:51:00.002-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 112
Running total of pages read since you started: 528
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 120 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 703 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books, Six Word Celebration, Indie Pride, Show Me the Books, Pet Pics
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love; SusieQTPies at Scraps of Life, Capricious Reader, Courtney at Stiletto Storytime, Heather at Book Obsessed, Lydia at The Lost Entwife, and Melissa at Palmer's Picks for Reading; Vanessa at Vaness Reads 100 Books in 2010, Natalie at The Book Inn, and Emily at What Book Is That?
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast, a bottle of water, some Nerds and Laffy Taffy, mozzarella sticks, a Pepsi, a couple of green olives, potato skins, a mini Baby Ruth bar, another bottle of water, a mini Butterfinger bar, a mini Nestle Crunch bar, another frozen breakfast, some more Nerds, another Diet Mt. Dew, Orbit White Spearmint gum, more water

I'm still chuggin' along. Almost finished with Little Women! And when I'm done, I'm gonna read this month's Glamour magazine. Probably won't make it to another book for the Read-a-Thon, but that's okay. And, who knows? Maybe I'll get a second wind!

Hour Thirteen Mini-Challenge: Title Word Scramble

2010-10-09T20:41:00.002-04:00

Here are my answers:

1. Firefly Lane

2. East of Eden

3. Water for Elephants

4. To Kill a Mockingbird

5. The Great Gatsby

6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

7. The Art of Racing in the Rain

8. The Time Traveler's Wife

9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

11. A Wrinkle in Time

12. The Polar Express

13. Love Walked In

14. Where the Wild Things Are

15. The Shining

16. Goodnight Moon

17. Interview with a Vampire

18. The Secret Life of Bees

19. The Search (???)

20. The Help

Mid-Event Meme

2010-10-09T20:35:00.002-04:00

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?

Still reading Little Women.

2. How many books have you read so far?

Just part of that one.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Honestly, I'll be happy if I GET to another book!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Ha! Yes, I traded First Appearance weekends with a co-worker so I could have my day to myself. Also, I made an appointment to have blood drawn for Monday, rather than today, which is when I normally would have done it.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

The Georgia game was a bit of an interruption, and taking care of my husband is a bit of an interruption, as well, but he has actually been really good and respectful of my time today.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How many people signed up!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

More random drawings!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Nothing.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

A little, but I'm drinking more caffeine.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

Magazines and short stories for readers!!!

RAT: Hour Thirteen

2010-10-09T20:29:00.002-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 94
Running total of pages read since you started: 416
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 103 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 583 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books, Six Word Celebration, Indie Pride, Show Me the Books, Pet Pics
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love; SusieQTPies at Scraps of Life, Capricious Reader, Courtney at Stiletto Storytime, Heather at Book Obsessed, Lydia at The Lost Entwife, and Melissa at Palmer's Picks for Reading; Vanessa at Vaness Reads 100 Books in 2010, Natalie at The Book Inn, and Emily at What Book Is That?
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast, a bottle of water, some Nerds and Laffy Taffy, mozzarella sticks, a Pepsi, a couple of green olives, potato skins, a mini Baby Ruth bar, another bottle of water, a mini Butterfinger bar, a mini Nestle Crunch bar, another frozen breakfast, some more Nerds, another Diet Mt. Dew

Getting close to the end of Little Women, which means I'm getting ever closer to the REAL tearjerker part...I have a feeling I'll be sobbing again soon. When I finish this book, I'm going to read a magazine for a change of pace!

Hour Ten Mini-Challenge: Pet Pics and Prose

2010-10-09T18:25:00.005-04:00

My husband and I have three cats whom we love very much and which drive us up the wall, as well. Here they are:

Emaline

Picasso

Estrella

My favorite book about animals is Charlotte's Web. Spiders spin sticky strings showing smart sayings.

RAT: Hour Eleven

2010-10-09T18:16:00.003-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 83
Running total of pages read since you started: 322
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 135 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 480 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books, Six Word Celebration, Indie Pride, Show Me the Books
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love; SusieQTPies at Scraps of Life, Capricious Reader, Courtney at Stiletto Storytime, Heather at Book Obsessed, Lydia at The Lost Entwife, and Melissa at Palmer's Picks for Reading
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast, a bottle of water, some Nerds and Laffy Taffy, mozzarella sticks, a Pepsi, a couple of green olives, potato skins, a mini Baby Ruth bar, another bottle of water

I have gotten into visiting others' blogs, so I'm going to do more of that. Everyone's blogs are so lovely! Wish I had more HTML talent...

RAT: Hour Eight

2010-10-09T15:42:00.003-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 56 (but I'm kind of watching college football, too)
Running total of pages read since you started: 239
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 89 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 345 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books, Six Word Celebration, Indie Pride, Show Me the Books
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love
What I've eaten/drunk: a Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast, a bottle of water, some Nerds and Laffy Taffy, mozzarella sticks, a Pepsi

The football game is now over and my Dawgs won! So now I can concentrate exclusively on reading. My husband joined me briefly this morning, reading some magazines, and may join in again before the day is over...we shall see.

Hour Five Mini-Challenge: Show Me the Books

2010-10-09T13:55:00.002-04:00

Okay, I cheated a little on this mini-challenge...this is a pic from April's Read-a-Thon, showing my library. The only thing that's really changed is that we've added a NEW bookshelf, a little three-shelf black one that holds a bunch of my husband's books. Also, see the post on indie books for a photo of my bookpile for the Read-a-Thon.

Hour Six

2010-10-09T13:50:00.003-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 44 (but I'm kind of watching college football, too)
Running total of pages read since you started: 183
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 104 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 256 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books mini-challenge, Six Word Celebration, Indie Pride
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love
What I've eaten/drunk: Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast, a bottle of water

I'm a little distracted by watching my beloved Dawgs beat up on Tennessee for the first half of the game. Once the game's over, I'll be back to more hard-core reading.

Hour Four Mini-Challenge: Indie Books

2010-10-09T11:38:00.002-04:00

Here are the spines of the books I plan to read (or try to read) today. Little Women is an illustrated edition published by Grosset & Dunlap, now a part of Penguin. The Barfighter is an ARC, published by The Permanent Press, which is a true independent press. Eggs is published by Little, Brown - an imprint of Hachette, so it wouldn't qualify. Outlander is published by Dell (Random House). Little Men is an edition which belonged to my mother as a child, published by Nelson Doubleday (now part of Random House). I'm reading another Permanent Press book, too, another ARC, The Disappearance. Finally, I have Amagansett, which is published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin. So I guess the two Permanent Press books are my only two independently published books. But at least I have two!!! This was a cool mini-challenge because it made me think more about who's publishing what I read. I've never really paid attention before, and it was interesting to research the various arms of the big publishing houses.

Hour Three Mini-Challenge: Six Words

2010-10-09T11:26:00.001-04:00

The challenge for Hour Three is to celebrate the Read-a-Thon with six words. Here goes:

Books, caffeine, blogs: Dewey's Read-a-Thon ROCKS!

Okay, that was kinda lame, but it's hard to fit everything into just six words!!!

RAT: Hour Four Already?

2010-10-09T11:15:00.003-04:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 86
Running total of pages read since you started: 139
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 91 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 152 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Children's Books mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Mika at Read-a-Thon X, Laura Ashlee at Ramblings of a (Future) Librarian, and Teresa at Shelf Love
What I've eaten/drunk: Diet Mt. Diew, cinnamon rolls

I'm making great progress in Little Women. I've been weeping my eyes out at the parts where Mr. March and Beth are sick, but those are over now, so I can dry out and keep reading.

I do plan to have the TV on for a little background noise when Georgia and Tennessee play at noon, so my reading pace will probably slow down quite a bit. But I'm hoping the college football will be a good break for my eyes and my brain. GOOOOO DAWGS!

Hour Two Mini-Challenge: Children's Books

2010-10-09T09:22:00.004-04:00

As it so happens, I'm currently re-reading what was one of my favorite books as a child, Little Women. I have a beautiful illustrated copy that my Aunt Sharon gave me for Christmas in 1986, per the inscription. I haven't read this book in years, but I still remember the exact wording of bits and pieces of it, as I read it so many times (and even staged a production of it with dolls) once upon a time.

I also adored anything by L.M. Montgomery (Anne, of course, but especially Emily), the Bobbsey twins, Nancy Drew, A Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles (I really liked "old-fashined" reads when I was a kid), The Borrowers, the Betsy-Tacy books, the Little House books...and the list goes on. I really didn't read much in the way of contemporary fiction as a kid. For me, it was far more interesting to read about times gone by.

And my favorite picture book? Why, Goodnight Moon, of course!

RAT: Into Hour Two

2010-10-09T09:07:00.003-04:00

Time for the (now-classic) Read-a-Thon opening meme:
Where are you reading from today?

Home, in south Florida, more specifically my couch. Possibly also the bed, the papasan and the recliner.

3 facts about me …

1. I am a Public Defender and one of those rare people who loves her job.
2. My husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis this year, and it has kind of taken over our life right now.
3. I am petrified of spiders, but don't mind any other kinds of pests.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

Seven books and one magazine.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I'd like to beat my number of pages read at the last Read-a-Thon (736), and I'd like to stay up later, too. I think I gave in around 11 pm last time. That's too early!!!

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I swear by magazines and short stories. I only have one magazine and NO short stories, though, for this RAT.

*******************************

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 53
Running total of pages read since you started: 53
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 61 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 61 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None, yet.
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
What I've eaten/drunk: A Diet Mt. Dew

Gonna go visit a couple Read-a-Thon-ers and get back to my book!

RAT Hour Zero

2010-10-09T07:58:00.001-04:00

I'm ready to go! I hope you all have a stack of great books to enjoy!!! Have a great Read-a-Thon everyone!!!

Tomorrow!

2010-10-08T18:57:00.002-04:00

The Read-a-Thon is tomorrow!!! I can't wait! I've got some books picked out and some snacks ready. I need to put some sodas in the fridge (caffeine is key) and maybe select another book or two, but I'm otherwise ready! Ricky will probably be joining me for part of it; the cats will not.

Four Month Challenge Update

2010-10-03T09:41:00.003-04:00

Well, the challenge is almost over, and how am I doing? I've read a total of, um, four books while the challenge was ongoing.

5 Point Challenges

Read a chick lit book

The Jewish Princess Cookbook - Okay, so maybe this is cheating a little, but this was the chick lit-est cookbook I've ever seen!

Read a name with a proper name in the title

Read a historical fiction book

Read a book with a one word title

Read a book made into a movie

10 Point Challenges

Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)

Comanche Moon - This book takes place "on the cusp of the Civil War," as I said in my review, but I think it counts. It may be stretching it, but cut a girl a break, here.

Read a Biblical fiction book

Read a hardcover book

Read a book about a king or queen

Read a book set in France

15 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author you’ve never read before

Read a biography or autobiography

Basher Five-Two - This book would really fit into three categories in the 15-Point Challenges section (also an author I've never read before and a book with a number in the title), but I don't think I get to count it three times!

Read a book with a number in the title

Read any book and then post a review

I've reviewed all of the books I've read, but I don't think I can count them twice! And I reviewed The Best American Non-Required Reading but it failed to post...not my fault, blame Blogger.

Read any book but read it outside

20 Point Challenges

Read a book in a series AND the one after it

Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Read a book considered Christian fiction

Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100

Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October

So I'm up to a total of 30 points (45 if you give me credit for my review of The Best American Non-Required Reading, which I sort of posted a review for...Blogger ate it and I got mad and only posted my rating). Honestly, that's better than I thought I would do. I'm currently reading Little Women (a re-read for me, which is also, coincidentally, a banned book, although I can't find details of its banning anywhere...), which I don't think will fit into any of the categories (it takes place during the Civil War, but I've already filled that category). No, wait! It's a hardcover copy that I've had since I was a little girl! Ooh, I better hurry up and get it finished, so I can count it!

Okay, Seriously?

2010-10-02T09:45:00.002-04:00

I just wrote the BEST review of The Best American Non-Required Reading 2009 plus some bonus material about what's been going on in my life and my excitement over the upcoming Read-a-Thon, and f'ing Blogger ate it.

So please know that I finished BANR2009 on Sunday before I left Ohio (where I was visiting briefly for my grandmother's funeral) and that I give it four and a half out of five Whatevers. And my favorite piece in it was "The Chameleon." And life has sucked for me for most of this year, but I'm really looking forward to the RAT next weekend. And if it is ruined for me in any way, I will quite possibly snap and go on a killing spree.

F you, Blogger.

Review: Basher Five-Two by Scott O'Grady

2010-09-06T19:50:00.002-04:00

I Mooched this book some time ago. I'd seen it on someone's blog, but, as usual, I can't remember whose. It's a middle grade/YA adaptation of Scott O'Grady's non-fiction work, Return with Honor. O'Grady was an F-16 fighter pilot in the mid-nineties, flying peace-keeping missions over Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was part of a NATO force which was patrolling the no-fly zones during the Serb-Croat war. This book tells the story of the mission when he was shot down in enemy territory and how he survived.

I actually enjoyed the book. I'm no military history buff and I wasn't sure if this would be my cup of tea, but I thought a middle grade take on the subject would be a good introduction. And it was! It didn't delve into the political underpinnings of the unrest in the Balkans, but it told a good story of one man's experiences behind enemy lines. The storyline moved quickly and I was engrossed in O'Grady's survival attempt.

The book says it's for ages ten and up, but I might recommend it for slightly older kids. Perhaps a precocious ten-year-old would get it, but I thought some of the vocabulary might be over a ten-year-old's head, and the situation O'Grady found himself in was certainly scary, even for me at 33! It might be too much for younger readers. However, I would recommend this for anyone interested in military history, and certainly young readers with an interest in flying or the military. Three and a half out of five Whatevers.

Review: The Jewish Princess Cookbook by Georgie Tarn and Tracey Fine

2010-08-21T20:19:00.002-04:00

This book was a review book received from LibraryThing and McBooks Press. I have no idea why I requested this book, other than that I have a slight obsession with cookbooks. I own probably two and a half shelves full of them, but I cook from them very rarely. I'm hoping to get back to cooking from them now that we have a little more money coming in, so hopefully, I'll get to try some of the recipes in The Jewish Princess Cookbook soon. Now, I should preface this review by saying that I am not Jewish, and I certainly do not consider myself a princess, so it feels a little disingenuous that I should be reviewing this particular cookbook. The women who wrote it ARE Jewish and, apparently, are also princesses. I'm not really sure what makes a Jewish princess, other than, it appears, a certain traditional take on homemaking (the woman does it), and a yen for designer goods (cited in this cookbook are Gucci, Prada, Dior, D&G...and this is not an exclusive list). The authors state, however, that "every woman has a little bit of a JP [Jewish Princess] in her - or if she doesn't, she certainly should" (pg. 13).

Although the text in the book seems a little fluffy for my taste, the food sounds DELICIOUS. Since I am not Jewish, I do not keep kosher, but this book would be great for those folks who do and need new ideas for the Sabbath dinner, for entertaining, or for every day. My good friend from law school is a non-Jew marrying into a Jewish family, so it might be good for someone in her situation, too, who is just learning kosher laws and wants to impress the in-laws with a dietarily-proper Jewish meal. The book is divided into eight sections: Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Meat, Fish, Desserts, Cakes, and the Ultimate Dinner. Some of the appetizers are things that I would love to try, like Pink Grapefruit with Brown Sugar, Watermelon and Feta Cheese, and Sesame Chicken Balls. I'd also love to make the Ultimate Dinner's Chicken Soup, as well as many of the desserts (Chocolate Refrigerator Cake?!).

While the constant references in the text to Jewish Princesses, shoes, handbags, and getting one's hair done grated on my nerves after a bit, someone a little more girly than I might appreciate it more. The book is what I might call a "chick lit cookbook." But the recipes sound great.

Overall, I'd give the book three out of five Whatevers. I hope I get a chance to use some of these recipes soon!

Review: Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry

2010-08-10T19:16:00.003-04:00

Well, I've finally reached the end, and what a sweet ride it's been! I've really loved all of the novels in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove tetralogy. I read them in publication order, which made Comanche Moon, second in chronological order, number four. This novel took me longer to finish than any of the others, but not because it wasn't as good. It was truly as awesome as the other three. But, for some reason, I couldn't get into the mood to read for most of the last couple of months. When I DID sit down to read it, the book captured my attention, and, as with the others, I couldn't put it down.

***Mild spoilers ahead!!!***

Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call are back, with further adventures as Texas Rangers holding down the frontier on the cusp of the Civil War. This book also introduces Captain Inish Scull and his lust-crazed wife, Inez, who were two of my favorite characters. We get to see some of the as yet missing part of Call's life - his relationship with the whore Maggie and the birth of their son, Newt. Making a reappearance in this book are the Indians Kicking Wolf and Buffalo Hump, as well as Buffalo Hump's son, Blue Duck, who later becomes one of the most ruthless outlaws in Texas. The action oscillates between the Native Americans, dealing with the end of their era as free peoples, with the encroachment of the white settlers, the extinction of the buffalo, and the movement of the Indians onto reservations, following the Civil War. It follows Scull, who is captured by the Black Vaquero in Mexico...can he escape? How? It traces Call and McCrae's years as Rangers, each man rising to the rank of captain.

Once again, McMurtry's characters carry the story. I've loved the character of Gus McCrae since I first came across him in Lonesome Dove, and he is the same old Gus in this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to visit with him again, although I was dreading the end of the novel, because there were no more. However, there's nothing to prevent me from going back and reading these again whenever I feel like it! I give this installment four out of five Whatevers, since it didn't hold my attention like the others. But it's absolutely worth the read, especially if you've read any of the other books!

Holy Cow

2010-07-20T06:40:00.003-04:00

Well, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida has finally decided to accept their responsibilities and pay for Ricky's MS treatment. That was the best news we've had in six months. However, that doesn't mean they aren't still trying to find ways to sink our battleship. They do not want to pay for his Tysabri, which is the drug the doctor wants him on. He tried another MS drug, Avonex, and it wasn't having the desired effect. Originally, the doctor tried to put him on the Tysabri right away, but the insurance company wouldn't pay for it, since he hadn't tried other drug therapies first. Well, now he HAS, and they STILL don't want to pay for it, so I see yet another struggle coming in the near future, albeit not as big of a struggle as it was to get that little "pre-existing" code erased from his file.

We spent yesterday making the rounds to four different doctors, between the two of us. It was a long day. We also had to spend Saturday picking out a new computer. For some reason, our two-year-old HP laptop just DIED Saturday, in the middle of me playing a game on it. We couldn't even get it to come back on. So, not knowing what else to do, we went to Geek Squad (which everyone I know is telling us we should NOT have done), and they told us the motherboard was dead and will cost $400-$500 to fix. Mind you, we just dropped $150 in January on a monitor when the screen on the damn thing died. So the computer we spend $900 on just two years ago has ended up costing us much more than that. I loved the computer while it was working, but keeping it working was just too much. So we invested in yet ANOTHER new laptop. Which disappoints me. The laptop I had in law school was an HP and it lasted me FIVE YEARS, which is ancient for any computer technology these days. Needless to say, we bought a protection plan this time. THEN we found out on Saturday that one of our friends/acquaintances is a computer guru and probably could have fixed the thing. We're actually going to give it to him to mess with, to see if he can get it running again, and, if he can, Ricky will inherit it as his own computer. The only positive to the situation is that I FINALLY took the time to get our wireless system up and running in the house we've lived in for a year. So now our Wii is updated and we can use the computer in any room of the house. It's WONDERFUL!

In reading news, I have made great progress in Comanche Moon, the fourth book (in publication order) in the Lonesome Dove series. It is just as wonderful as the other three, although there isn't as much edge-of-your-seat action as in the other books. I may finish it this week and get a review up. Next up is another review cookbook...

Joining My First Challenge

2010-07-06T19:05:00.004-04:00

Well, I've decided to inch into the challenge waters and enter my very first-ever timed (i.e., non-perpetual) reading challenge! I'm a terribly slow reader (life seems to always get in the way), and I'm very anal-retentive about my reading, but I'm going to try to just fit my next few reads into some of these categories. We'll see how I do.

5 Point Challenges

Read a chick lit book

Read a name with a proper name in the title

Read a historical fiction book

Read a book with a one word title

Read a book made into a movie

10 Point Challenges

Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)

Read a Biblical fiction book

Read a hardcover book

Read a book about a king or queen

Read a book set in France

15 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author you’ve never read before

Read a biography or autobiography

Read a book with a number in the title

Read any book and then post a review

Read any book but read it outside

20 Point Challenges

Read a book in a series AND the one after it

Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Read a book considered Christian fiction

Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100

Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October

The Best American Mystery Stories 2009, ed. Otto Penzler and Jeffrey Deaver

2010-06-22T18:38:00.005-04:00

Again, another winner from the Best American series! This book of 2009's best mystery short stories was great. I started it over a month ago, but just finished it over the weekend, while I was away on vacation. And not because it hasn't been engrossing, but because I haven't had the time to commit to reading like I have in the past. Each of the stories was very good, in its own way. My favorites included Chuck Hogan's "Two Thousand Volts," N.J. Ayres' "Rust," Rob Kantner's "Down Home Blues," and Kristine Kathryn Rusch's alternate history "G-Men." I'd like to do some research to see if Kantner's private eye, Ben Perkins, appears anywhere else. I took quite a liking to him while reading that story.

I'd give it five out of five Whatevers, as usual. Perfect for the mystery buff or those who like short stories. Or those who like both. Once again, I renew my plea to please, please, PLEASE pick up a volume of this series (mysteries, short stories, or otherwise) and read one or two of the stories therein. Even if you don't think short stories are your thing, you might find yourself changing your mind.

Edited to add: My copy was a Christmas gift, not a review copy!

Whirling Dervish

2010-05-31T20:31:00.002-04:00

I've been so busy lately! I started teaching part-time at the local university, so I've been spending a lot of time working on class-related things, in addition to the trial I had last week for my full-time job (which I WON!). Friday night was a going-away party for a colleague, yesterday was a Memorial Day BBQ at a friend's house, and today was cleaning, since I'm hosting Girls' Night at our house on Friday night. Needless to say, reading has been taking a bit of a backseat. And, honestly, I'm not much into it right now. Guess it's a slump.

BTW, someday I want to actually go to Istanbul to see the Whirling Dervishes in person. They are SO beautiful! If you've never seen them, go to YouTube and type in "whirling dervish." You'll find some great video of them!

One Year

2010-05-23T10:17:00.002-04:00

Today is our one-year wedding anniversary. I cannot believe we've been married for a year. It's gone SO QUICKLY! Between moving, transferring positions at work, finding out the house we're renting is in foreclosure, my car getting flooded, and Ricky's illness, we haven't had a dull moment in our first year of marriage. I can't believe we have survived, but here we are. And, hopefully, things will only get better from here. I'm not terribly mushy, even with Ricky, so I'll just say that I'm happy with him and leave it there.

Review: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

2010-05-08T16:37:00.003-04:00

FTC Disclosure: I Mooched this book.

I believe I first heard of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle during Mr. Weimert's American History class in high school. I knew it held a major place in our history, but the details were fuzzy. If I remember correctly, Sinclair was known as a "muckraker," one of those investigative journalists who exposed the corruption and scandal of which the American public was (wilfully?) ignorant. Upon reading the copy on the covers of my book, I learned that in writing The Jungle Sinclair sought to unify workers. What resulted, instead, was the Pure Food and Drug Act.

The Jungle is the story of Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant who came to the meat-packing district of Chicago to seek his fortune. He brought with him his new bride, Ona, and a host of other family members for whom he had to care. He obtained a job at Durham's meat-packing plant as soon as he arrived, and spend a good portion of the book working for Durham's. During his time there, he observed the absolutely horrifying conditions under which the men (and women) worked, the disgusting things, both natural and unnatural, that tainted the U.S. meat supply, and the corruption and favoritism that existed in the upper ranks.

The Rudkus family endure tragedy after tragedy. The book is not light, by any stretch of the imagination. Every time something happened to Jurgis or the family, I kept frantically turning the pages, waiting to see how they would get out of it. Then I was kept frantically turning the pages to see what could possibly happen to them next. Their many tribulations seemed too much to bear. At one point, I remember thinking that it was the end for the Rudkus family, but there was half of the novel left! Eventually, the family does break apart and Jurgis finds himself a criminal, a pauper, and a societal outcast...until he positions himself as a cog in the political machine. Finally, at the end of the novel, Jurgis discovers socialism and begins to work to organize the laborers and spread the wealth.

This book was tremendously sad. It was especially poignant for me these days, as I've currently been struggling to readjust our lifestyle to one income, with my husband out of work. I felt as though I could really understand Jurgis' stress over being out of work, how they would pay their bills, etc. It hit very close to home for me.

The book was also quite disgusting. I would not recommend it for those with a sensitive stomach. It is amazing to me how terrible the conditions were in the meat-packing plants: no air or light for the workers, filth and contamination all around, disease and vermin infesting the factories...as I said in an earlier post, it's enough to persuade one to become a vegetarian.

While I enjoyed the book overall, and found it much more of a page-turner than I anticipated, I didn't like the end. The last chapter or so is basically just socialist propaganda. I'm not even that opposed to the ideals of socialism (i.e., fair labor, sharing of wealth among many), but it was a bit much. The speeches went on for pages and it made the ending rather anticlimactic for me.

Overall, however, I give The Jungle three and a half out of five Whatevers. It's an important historical novel, which gives a good view of American big-city life at the turn of the last century.

Semi-Sunday Salon

2010-04-25T21:52:00.002-04:00

I'm still working my way through Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. I'm actually really enjoying it, although I can see why it was one of those prescribed books in high school English classes. And maybe history classes. It's kind of making me want to become a vegetarian. And it is SO DEPRESSING. But I can't stop reading, perhaps for the same reason people stop to look at car accidents...I want to see what awful fate will befall Jurgis and Ona next.

I got a new Bookmarks magazine a couple of days ago, so I'm looking forward to getting into that. And I got a little bit of birthday cash from my husband's aunt, uncle and cousins, that I will probably spend on a new book or two.

Ricky is still not doing as well as I would hope. Our lives have changed in so many previously unfathomable ways since January. We're still waiting for the doctor to start him on a preventive medication and, while we were waiting, he had another relapse. He seems to be coming out of that now, but he's not working or driving or even walking very well. And our insurance company, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, is trying to deny coverage of his hospital stay and subsequent bills, as a "pre-existing condition," since the ER doctor whom he saw for five minutes on the date he was admitted into the hospital coded his bill wrong. And they're denying coverage for the medication Ricky's doctor wants him on. And, yes, I named the insurance company, because if they want to play around with my husband's LIFE like that, I'm going to bitch about them by name on my blog. It's been a long three months. And, with the exception of the Read-a-Thon (well, kind of even then), reading is kind of taking a backseat to everything else. Well, everything else except cleaning, which I haven't done too much of lately, either. I'm starting to teach a class or two next month at the local college, too, so I imagine my reading time will be even MORE cut back. So. I'm trying to keep updating, but there's not that much reading-related to talk about.

On a happier note, I promised Ricky a trip to the bookstore soon, to spend some of our birthday money, so maybe I'll be updating about that next weekend.

Review: 50 Great Appetizers by Pamela Sheldon Johns

2010-04-18T18:03:00.003-04:00

I have to confess a secret: I've never reviewed a cookbook before, and I'm not really sure how to do it. This book was sent to me through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and the publisher, Andrews McMeel. The physical book is gorgeous. It is separated into four sections of appetizers: Topped & Dipped, Grilled & Skewered, Stuffed & Rolled, and Plated & Sauced. Each section features many full-color photos of the appetizers described. The book also contains tips for preparing for a party, several sample menus for themed get-togethers, and helpful prep tips for making these treats.

There are many of the recipes I'd like to try, when I get a little extra money in my pocket and have a chance to entertain again: Marinated Mushrooms; Papaya-Avocado Salsa; Tea-Smoked Chicken Wings; Mozzarella, Basil & Cherry Tomato Skewers; Grilled Scallops Wrapped in Pancetta; Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Crumbled Stilton; Fried Spring Rolls; and Orange-Broccoli Salad. The only quibble I had with the book is that most of the foods are a tad...pretentious? Fancy? I don't know what word to use. They're quite a bit more upper-crust than my taste and my friends' tastes tend to be. We're potato skins and chicken wings people, and these recipes are for a bit more elegant a palate. However, as I noted, several of the recipes sound delicious, so I'm sure I'll find a way to sneak them in amongst the hot wings and spinach-artichoke dip at our next party.

Overall, three out of five Whatevers. A good, solid array of appetizers to try out, if they are a bit on the haughty side.

Coming Out April 27th!

2010-04-16T20:32:00.004-04:00

The fourth book is out at the end of this month! I can't wait! Perhaps some birthday funds will be expended on this one???

More for National Poetry Month

2010-04-12T21:21:00.002-04:00

William Shakespeare. Great playwright (or was he?) but even better poet. I love many of his sonnets, but my favorite is Sonnet 116 (right? My abilities with Roman numerals are sketchy.), which I memorized in law school, during the morning hours as I got ready for classes. I found that memorizing the sonnet was a great way to relax before the Socratic method took over, and it helped keep my mind and memory sharp for class, too.

Sonnet CXVI

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove;
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up

2010-04-12T18:42:00.002-04:00

I'm so lame. Not very long after I posted my Hour Fourteen update during the Read-a-Thon, I found myself unable to keep my eyes open any longer. By 10:30 Saturday night, I'd given up. Not sure if it was lack of sleep, lack of caffeine, the book I was reading, or just plain ol' eyestrain, but I pooped out and went to bed. My stats aren't much greater than when I posted that last update, and I'm so dispirited by my performance that I don't even want to go back and count the few extra pages I read. I'm pretty sure I didn't beat October's stats. I still have a review to write and post of the cookbook I read through (yay for another LibraryThing review FINALLY completed!), so that should be going up later this week. Sigh. Hopefully next RAT I'll do better!

Hour Fourteen

2010-04-10T21:53:00.003-04:00

This is the point in the Read-a-Thon where I start losing track of what hour we're on. Have I really been reading for 14 hours?!?!?!? Hubby bailed on me a while ago, but I kept on keeping on with a magazine and a cookbook, two low-attention-span choices that have helped me stick with it! I'm just about to jump into Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. Not sure if this is the best pick for the Read-a-Thon, but I'm willing to give it a go.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry; Glamour magazine; 50 Great Appetizers
Number of books read since you started: one book, one magazine, and one cookbook
Pages read since last update: 160 (magazine and cookbook pages)
Running total of pages read since you started: 736
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 103 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 689 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Two - the intro meme and mid-point meme.
Other participants you’ve visited: Danielle at My Favoritest, Fyrefly at Fyrefly's Book Blog (Readers of the Hour - I've decided not to do as much blog-visiting until I get too tired to read).
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore), a mini Cadbury Creme Egg, some Orbit gum, a bottle of water, Boston Market macaroni and cheese microwave meal, some Starburst jellybeans, another Diet Mt. Dew, some pretzel sticks, another bottle of water, some pepperoni and pineapple pizza, a Pepsi, another piece of the pizza, some more water.

Hour Twelve - Midpoint

2010-04-10T19:56:00.002-04:00

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?

Glamour magazine. It's been wonderful at keeping me going, since the articles are short enough to keep my attention after twelve long hours of reading!

2. How many books have you read so far?

Finished one.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I'd LOVE it if I could get to Commanche Moon!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

I had to tell the in-law's that we were unavailable for visiting with family.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

A guy came by to see if he could cut our grass. And our neighbors are having some sort of party. Mostly, I just ignore the noise and roll with it!

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

Ummmm, not much, to be honest. I've been doing it for a couple of years now, so I pretty much know how it goes.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Last time, they posted a dedicated list of all the bloggers participating. Maybe I missed it this time, but it sure made it easier to visit a lot of blogs during the October RAT. Because I'm lazy.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Not really anything.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

A little, but I keep drinking caffeine.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

I always pimp magazines for the Read-a-Thon. And short story collections. Good for when the attention span is waning.

***************************

Title of book(s) read since last update: Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry; working on Glamour magazine
Number of books read since you started: one
Pages read since last update: 159 (magazine pages)
Running total of pages read since you started: 576
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 110 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 586 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Is the first-hour meme a mini challenge? If so, then one.
Other participants you’ve visited: Danielle at My Favoritest, Fyrefly at Fyrefly's Book Blog (Readers of the Hour - I've decided not to do as much blog-visiting until I get too tired to read).
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore), a mini Cadbury Creme Egg, some Orbit gum, a bottle of water, Boston Market macaroni and cheese microwave meal, some Starburst jellybeans, another Diet Mt. Dew, some pretzel sticks, another bottle of water, some pepperoni and pineapple pizza, a Pepsi, another piece of the pizza.

Hour TEN!

2010-04-10T17:57:00.003-04:00

I haven't read as much in the last couple of hours, since I took time out to order and eat a pizza with Ricky and write up a review of the book I finished. But still going strong! We watched part of a movie while eating, but now hubby and I are back to reading.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry; working on Glamour magazine
Number of books read since you started: one
Pages read since last update: 81
Running total of pages read since you started: 417
Amount of time spent reading since last update: approx. 45 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 476 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Is the first-hour meme a mini challenge? If so, then one.
Other participants you’ve visited: Danielle at My Favoritest, Fyrefly at Fyrefly's Book Blog (Readers of the Hour - I've decided not to do as much blog-visiting until I get too tired to read).
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore), a mini Cadbury Creme Egg, some Orbit gum, a bottle of water, Boston Market macaroni and cheese microwave meal, some Starburst jellybeans, another Diet Mt. Dew, some pretzel sticks, another bottle of water, some pepperoni and pineapple pizza, and a Pepsi.

Review: Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry

2010-04-10T17:00:00.005-04:00

I really don't know what I'm going to do now that I've finished my third in the Lonesome Dove series. There's only one more left!!! Luckily, McMurtry has a long backlist, but those other titles don't have Gus McCrae in them. Sigh.

If you haven't already guessed, I loved this book as much as the other two I've read. McMurtry takes us back in time to Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call's first adventures with the Texas Rangers. In this novel, the two men join up with a party of Rangers traveling from Austin to Santa Fe, to take New Mexico for the Republic of Texas. They earn the ire of Commanche war chief Buffalo Hump and his thieving second, Kicking Wolf, as well as the Mexican army. Their party of 200 dwindles to ten before they reach Santa Fe. Can they outrun Buffalo Hump's bloodthirsty lance? Will they escape from the Mexican army with their lives?

The book was full of the Wild West adventures that I loved reading about in Lonesome Dove and Streets of Laredo. But with more evil Commanche and Apache action. This novel takes place before the white man has wiped out most of the Indian forces in the West, before areas like New Mexico and California were settled. Gus and Call were just what I would have imagined younger versions of themselves would be like. McMurty must know his characters well to have been able to write such consistent versions of them throughout their lives. Gus spoke just like the older Gus would, only with a hint of the teenager about him. It's great to see what the men were like as boys. I simply LOVED this book.

Five out of five Whatevers from me. Hopefully, Commanche Moon, the last of the four books about Gus and Call, will be as good as the first three have been. I have no reason to believe it won't!

And now I'm going to read a magazine for a bit of a break.

ETA: I bought this book with my own money, FTC. So there.

Hour Eight

2010-04-10T15:52:00.003-04:00

Hubby has joined me in the Read-a-Thon, at least as long as his attention span holds out. He's reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, while I'm still trying to finish up McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk. I'm sososososo close to the end! It's almost time to start our discussion about what kind of pizza to order for dinner...YUM!

Title of book(s) read since last update: Still working on Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry - almost done!
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 82
Running total of pages read since you started: 336
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 110 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 431 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Is the first-hour meme a mini challenge? If so, then one.
Other participants you’ve visited: Danielle at My Favoritest, Fyrefly at Fyrefly's Book Blog (Readers of the Hour - I've decided not to do as much blog-visiting until I get too tired to read).
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore), a mini Cadbury Creme Egg, some Orbit gum, a bottle of water, Boston Market macaroni and cheese microwave meal, some Starburst jellybeans, another Diet Mt. Dew, some pretzel sticks.

Hour Six!

2010-04-10T13:51:00.004-04:00

Spent most of the last couple of hours in the bedroom. I did take a brief break to microwave myself a quick lunch and throw some dishes in the dishwasher (my work is never done!), but it's mostly been reading! I'm getting close to the end of my current read. I think I'll switch to a magazine when I'm done with this book.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Working on Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 80
Running total of pages read since you started: 254
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 112 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 321 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Is the first-hour meme a mini challenge? If so, then one.
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore), a mini Cadbury Creme Egg, some Orbit gum, a bottle of water, Boston Market macaroni and cheese microwave meal, some Starburst jellybeans, another Diet Mt. Dew.

Hour Four

2010-04-10T11:49:00.002-04:00

Well, the husband is up, so reading may get a little more difficult from here on out. He lives with the TV on, so that may be a bit of a distraction for me. Luckily, I'm in the middle of a great book, and I think I may move to the bedroom for more privacy...

Title of book(s) read since last update: Working on Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 77
Running total of pages read since you started: 174
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 101 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 209 mintues
Mini-challenges completed: Is the first-hour meme a mini challenge? If so, then one.
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore), a mini Cadbury Creme Egg, some Orbit gum and a bottle of water.

Read-a-Thon Hours One and Two

2010-04-10T09:52:00.004-04:00

Here's the first hour meme:

Where are you reading from today?
I'm never sure if this question means my geographic location or what part of the house. So I'll answer both: I'm reading from sunny South Florida, presently seated comfortably on my couch. I intend to also take advantage of the recliner in the living room, the papasan chair in the library, and my bed.

3 facts about me …
1. My cousin is getting married in Ohio today. I wish I could be there.
2. I have three cats who are helping me make it through the Read-a-Thon: Emaline, Picasso, and Estrella.
3. I'm currently in love with Larry McMurtry's writing.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
I've pulled together four novels, a cookbook I need to review, and a magazine.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
Not really. I just want to read as much as possible, as many pages for as many hours as I can.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Take liberal breaks! Go to sleep if you need to, then wake up and read some more.

And my progress so far:

Title of book(s) read since last update: Working on Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 97
Running total of pages read since you started: 97
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 108 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 108 mintues
Mini-challenges completed: Is the first-hour meme a mini challenge? If so, then one.
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
Foods I've eaten: Leftover Taco Bell Cheesy Double Beef burrito (I LOVE to eat Mexican for breakfast), some Doritos, one Diet Mt. Dew (I don't like regular Mt. Dew anymore).