My Summer Reading List....

Yeah, yeah, yeah...Summer is like 1/2 over. Well, not here in Texas...it feels like summer for like 3 more months...lots and lots of hotness.

I'm challenging myself this summer to not buy any new books. Reason numero uno: no mucho dinero. Reason #2: Why buy when I probably have 50 books on my shelf that I haven't read AND there is this thing called a LI-BRA-RY. (Even tho I have issues with libraries...I don't know what it is...something about so many people having touched the book I'm reading...icky, so I try not to think about it.) So... I went thru my shelves and picked out the books I would like to read or read again this summer.

(please ignore the smudges on the mirror...as you can see, I'd rather read or sew than clean!)

First off...I do have to say that I just finished a book from the library called The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough, which took me FOREVER to read for some reason. But it was a fun, easy read...set 20 years after Lizzie meets Mr Darcy.

On to my list:

Book #1: Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. This is a sci-fi series that James has been trying to get me to read forever...and I'm finally giving in. I started it last night (after FINALLY finishing the Mary Bennet book) and it's very good so far. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's a lot like The Hunger Games...a series that has become just as popular as Twilight, the 3rd book, Mockingjay, comes out on Aug 24th! Anyways, back to Enders...Orson Scott Card is one of my fave authors by far. His book Enchantment should be on your must-read list!

Book #2: Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. I've always wanted to read the ENTIRE Anne series. I recently read Anne of Green Gables for the first time and LOVED it. Because I saw the movies before I read the books, I can just see the exasperating little Anne and her Lake of Shining Waters. I found the 2nd and 3rd book at the thrift store, so I'm determined to get thru those this summer!

Book #3: Sitka by Louis L'Amour. I chose 2 Louis L'Amour books to read this summer, in honor of my PopPop Jones. He gave me his collection of L'Amour books maybe 4 years ago...because he knew I loved them so much! When I was 12 or 13, I read my first L'Amour book, Lonigan at his house when we were visiting for the summer. I have such good memories of talking about Westerns with him!

Book #4 is my #2 western pick: Comstock Lode. I read this one a LONG time ago, so I'm looking forward to revisiting the adventures in the silver mountains of Nevada!

Book #5: Harry Potter book #2. I'm probably the only person left who hasn't read the Harry Potter series. Stinks because I KNOW they are good books...I read the first one and loved it. But I am at least going to read the second book this summer!

Book #6: Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. I've had this book forever with the intentions of reading it. But it seems like every time I notice it there on my shelf, I have just watched the movie! I just adore the movie...so I'm hoping the book is just as good!

Book #7: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian.  I read this book when I was preggo with Bella (bad idea) and it fast became one of my favorite books. I'm excited to read it again because I can barely remember the characters!

Books #8 and #9: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Sherlock Holmes by Doyle. These two are iff-y. I'm not a big fan of "older" books....as in, written before the 80s. I have a hard time with them....my brain doesn't want to work that hard! Which is why I've never read a Jane Austen book (only spin-offs, such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies...heck yeah!). So, we'll see how these go...I tried reading Sherlock Holmes when the movie came out last year....but no go. Better luck the second time around, I'm hoping.

And last, but not least...Book #10: The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'm a huuuuuge Stephenie Meyer fan, and read this book when it first came out over 2 years ago. I love the way she writes, even tho the literary genius' hate her writing...its so EASY to read and she pulls you in with her characters, it's fantastic. For me. And my brain that doesn't like to work hard. Also, I'm not picky about what I read....as long as I can understand the language, I'll probably read it!! I extremely enjoyed her most recent book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, and I have hopes she'll come out with something new soon!

Then I have a list of books I want to find at the Library, including: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (mainly because Rob Pattinson is going to be staring in this movie that comes out in 2011, squeee....), 3 books by Sarah Addison Allen: Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen and The Girl who chased the Moon (I suggested these to some friends recently and they loved them, so I'm excited to read them again!) and the next Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris.

Books, books and more books!

I have this list of "to read" books that is growing by leaps and bounds. And I find it interesting that they are all considered Young Adult books! Odd, yes? I have to admit, one of the reasons I neglected books like Twilight and Harry Potter for so long was because they were Young Adult. I guess I need more sex, gore and intrigue? I dunno (just kidding....kinda). But lately...these are a few that I'm just itching to read (and waiting to buy...yes, this is a subtle ploy for Christmas gifts).

Hunger Games....I hear that most who read it finish it within 24 hours.

I want to read The Lightning Theif because the movie looks so good! lol.

And of course, any book list would be incomplete without a little vampire action. I've heard this series is pretty good...must be, since I can never find it at the library!

And the Vampire Diaries TV show on the CW is intriguing...though the reviews say the book is quite different. Of course, thats what happened with True Blood and Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. Glam sells, so what can you do?

And in other news...Yahoo! Green says that Arlington TX is #1 when it comes to good tap water. Pretty neat....but not neat enough to make me choose tap over bottled. I have an obsession with bottled water!

Two books!

Last week, I walked into Borders to pick up a copy of Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. I've been intrigued by the book ever since I heard the upcoming movie was based on it. The movie Shutter Island was supposed to be released in October, so I wanted to get it read before then....but of course, they postponed the release date till next March :(. Upsetting...but I'm glad I was able to finish the book....and in 3 days! It was that good. Getting into the book...you can kinda see the end, you have that feeling of "ooooh, I think I know!" but you don't want to give the book up or flip to the last page because the each chapter brings new mystery. Seeing previews of the movie made this book even more 'real' for me....I was able to envision the cliffs Teddy climbed on and hear the Boston accent Leonardo DiCaprio does so well.
But of course, the act of walking into Borders is quite dangerous, even with the intent to just get ONE BOOK....which is why I picked up this second book, The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf, right inside the front door. The author is the sister of Audrey Niffenegger, who is the author of.....The Time Traveler's Wife. I wanted to see if good writing ran in the family Ü. And I have not been disappointed thus far...I'm talking about the book a bit early, I'm right at that part where you find everything out. Yes, I wish I was reading right now, lol.

Before these two books, I read The Princess Bride, the abridged version by William Goldman. This book I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend. Yes, we have all seen the movie. And Goldman is the one who wrote the screenplay. But his commentary and the fact that he wrote the "good parts" version of this book, amuse me to no end! You are thinking..."good parts version?"....so for example, he took out a whole chapter of 100+ pages on PACKING. Yes, a princess and a queen packing and unpacking for a trip. Can you imagine? But Goldman does a fantastic job in keeping the original author's words....which is a good thing because S. Morgenstern is one hilarious dude.

So I guess the title of this post should be THREE BOOKS, yes? Ü

The Time Traveler's Wife

Here is another Book vs Movie review for you! I love how they are making so many movies from books these days (or maybe I've just been noticing more). The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is out in December and Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is out in October (Dennis Lehane of Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River) are two that I am quite excited about.
This spring when I read The Time Traveler's Wife....I would have never thought it could be made into a movie. It was a confusing book to read...what with the jumping around from date to date...and the end of the book, I'd think back and have many "aha" moments. But I was very impressed with this book...it's a very heart-wrenching story.
To those wanting to see this movie, I say: GO SEE IT. But first...read the book. It will be worth it and you won't be left going "What the heck?" in the theater. They did a SPECTACULAR job on this film, in my opinion....pulling from each important part of the book and mashing it all together into something funny, lovely and oh so tear-jerking (maybe I'm just a big goob).

Hmm...what shall I read next? They seem to be turning a bunch of my fave's into movies these days! Any requests....maybe I can use some of my 'pull'! Ü haha

How many books is too many books?

Last week, one of the things I wanted to accomplish was to sort thru my plethora of books in my bedroom shelf. I'm a book collector of sorts...nothing fancy, shmancy...more like I go to thrift stores and buy all the ones that look good for $1. But this has added up over the years and I keep hanging onto books I 'might read' one of these days. So, last week was the week to purge.
I got rid of a healthy amount of books, which I plan to take to Half Price Books and sell (and get $20...I think they only give you like 25 cents a book).
There's a quote by Henry David Thoreau that says "Read the good books first, or you may not have a chance to read them all." It's always stuck with me....and it's been running thru my head lately when I look at my collection of books. I think to myself, would I want my daughter's reading these? Sometimes I find myself not completely sensoring anything in my life when it comes to books, TV or movies. I don't mind watching what I watch or reading what I read...but I don't want it to affect my children's minds. It's easy now, since they are little and I control their lives (insert evil laugh here). The time is fast approaching when I need to reign it in. Of course, it's not like I have a bookcase full of Harlequin Ü haha...but even though I love Anne Rice, doesn't mean I want my girls reading it when they are 12.
So, I went thru them...picking and choosing. The top shelf is a double layer of Louis L'Amour paperbacks handed down to me by my Grampa. I will keep and treasure them forever....I pick one or two up to read every once in awhile. They are a great reminder of my childhood.
Another thing about cleaning out a bookshelf...you are reminded how many GOOD books you DO have and need to read....like asap. Such as The Princess Bride by William Goldman. Which I started yesterday (after finishing Harry Potter! which I LOVED....and plan to read book #2 after The Princess Bride). And even after cleaning out all those books...and seeing the list of to-reads....there are SO many books coming out that I'm excited about, such as The Undaunted by Gerald Lund , Diane Chamberlain's new book Secrets She Left Behind, Charlaine Harris' book 9 of Sooke Stackhouse Dead and Gone, and Anita Shreve's Testimony. So many books, so little time!

What are you reading? Hmmm...... Ü

I finally read it!!!

I've always been ashamed that I've never read Pride and Prejudice. It's a classic...I love the movie, I love the story line...I just don't love the old writing styles...so. many. words. I think I border on illiteracy somedays. Oh well...thats just me...but I always find this weird, because I love books so much and want to read everything I can, I have a list a mile long of books to read...but mind mind just doesn't wrap around it. Oh well...

But I digress...back to the book.
You know why I was drawn to this book, don't you?? Ü Because of the opening paragraph:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. Never was this truth more plain than during the recent attacks at Netherfield Park, in which a household of eighteen was slaughtered and consumed by a horde of the living dead. 'My dear Mr Bennet,' said his lady to him one day, 'have you heard that Netherfield Park is occupied again?"

OH...and it has illustrations.

This was written by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (who once took a class in English Literature). It's like 85% Austen and 15% this other dude....basically he just adds sentences and creates a world where the Bennet girls were trained in the art of fighting the 'unmentionables' by their Chinese master. I can't say that it adds to the book, since I've never read the original...but I'm pretty sure it doesn't...it's just entertaining ;). I'm crossing my fingers that they make this into a movie.

Movie vs Book.

This morning, my sis, Katie and I went and saw My Sister's Keeper, a movie based on a book by Jodi Picoult (one of my fave authors). Since we had all read the book, we were VERY excited to see this....and prepared ourselves to bawl like babies all the way thru!

Now...I love me some movies....I can ALWAYS find something I like or find something nice to say about a movie (even you, oh Land of the Lost...bleh). Same goes with this movie...it was very heart-wrenching and oh my, sad...

BUT.....

My advice...don't read the book before you see the movie!

I'm about to go in ***SPOILER***mode...so please join me below the pictures if you dare.


The biggest "moment" of the movie for me....well, wait. I have to say...I loved this book. It's the first Jodi Picoult book I had read (and if you know me, it's the first book I will offer to lend to you, too), and the content of the story has always had a place in my heart...the plot totally makes me think "What if that happened to me, what would I do for my child?"
So, anyways...there was this moment in the movie where the mom and her sister are talking, and the sister says something like "Just give it a rest, you can't do everything, maybe now is the time to stop." To which the mom replies "I can't" and isn't that so true, I know I for one would do anything to save my child....for those of you who know the storyline...this mom refused to believe her daughter would die and did everything possible to keep that from happening, including genetically engineering her youngest daughter to be a perfect match for Kate. That youngest daughter, Anna, seeks medical emancipation so she can't be forced to give anything else to her sister. I always felt like she was being so selfish...that she shouldn't care and should do everything to help. Of course, you find out in the end that her sister told her to do all that, so then I feel chastized ;).

Though the movie was good and evoked strong emotions from me, they let me down big time with that ending. I was gearing up for it....trying to visualize how Kate would be after being cured with Anna's kidney....but they nixed that and Kate died instead!! What the heck...totally not cool!

Obviously, most movies based on books are going to change things and you'll only get disappointed if you expect too much. I love the visualization movies give...but I have to admit I can get so disappointed (i.e. The Other Boelyn Girl) when I try to compare Movie vs Book. And I hate that I do that in the first place because it irks me beyond belief when people criticize movies, like they are expecting an epiphany from each and every one. Seriously, it's just a movie. Granted, if you are a visual person, a movie can really MOVE a person to tears, anguish, fear, etc....but it's not going to change your life. And if that's what you expect...maybe you shouldn't go to the movies...try a book.

All in all, it's a good movie...go see it as a matinee, since it's cheaper (or wait to rent it)...bring your tissues. Seeing a child go thru something as horrible as cancer and the treatment for it, is enough to bring tears to the most jaded of souls eyes. OR...skip the movie and read the book (Gasp! Did I really just suggest to skip a movie?!).

Switcheroo

A couple of weeks ago, James says to me out of the blue: If I pick a book out for you to read, would you read it? I said yes, of course...but he had to read a book of my choosing. I don't think he even had a book in mind when he asked that question, since he went over to the bookshelf and pondered for a bit.
Finally he came back with the first book in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I said sure, since I wanted him to read one of my books, there were a few I've always told him he'd like, but he would never give them a chance.
Anyways...I finally started this book yesterday (when this first came up, I was at page 200 in Anne Rice's 1045 page book, the Witching Hour...and it took me FOREVER to finish, gah) and just reading the intro by Mr King makes me want to read this series. He started it in 1970 and finished his "Epic" in 2003...30 years in the making, can you imagine? I'm not a big Sci-fi fan, I like to watch Epic movies not so much read Epic books. I've never read Tolkein (tho Kings intro also made me want to read it, since he compared his world to Frodo's). But I hope I can enjoy this series.

The book I chose for James was The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I read this book last year and liked it (until the ending, remembering now) alot. It's a Dracula book, gives alot of history (or faux-history, cause who really knows!) thats both disturbing, yet interesting. Hopefully he enjoys it....and is thankful I didn't make him read Twilight...cause I almost did!

Taking a break from vacation-posting....

because I just had to share this book....I overheard a lady at the Library talking about it, so I found it, checked it out and read it to the girls tonite (along with "Pirates don't change diapers" and "The Buttercup Princess" lol). And let me just tell you...this book is HILARIOUS. I seriously had to stop and laugh out loud at some parts. Bella kept looking at me like I was crazy and saying "Is that funny, mom?" Um, yes. For example, an excerpt:
"April 10
It rained all night and the ground was soaked. We spent the entire day on the sidewalk.
Hopscotch is a very dangerous game."

"April 15
I forgot my lunch today. I got so hungry that I ate my homework.
My teacher made me write 'I will not eat my homework' ten times.
When I was finished, I ate that, too."

"May 8
Had the worst nightmare last night-
giant birds playing hopscotch.
Mom says I have to stop eating so much garbage right before I go to bed."

Yeah...go check it out...it's funny.

A library is a hospital for the mind. ~Anonymous~

I picked this book up at Target the other day as something to read at the park while the girls played. Not like I need more books Ü I have a shelf full of t0-reads. But I got quite lucky with this book, it's fantastic. I'll be in search of more by this author very soon! In the "Interview with the Diane Chamberlain" at the back of the book, the Author talks about her love for her characters, how she would ask them questions about where their story was going. One piece of advice she had for aspiring authors was to "write a story you're passionate about and get to know your characters so well that they haunt your dreams." {instantly reminded me of Stephenie Meyer and how she dreamed of her vampires}
For me, once I got 'involved' with the characters in this book, I found it hard to put the book down...looking forward to the next moment I would get to read it. I finished it up tonight, after spending most of the day reading! And I still got the dishes done!
More info on the book here.
Totally at the top of my "Must Read" list. Along with Austenland by Shannon Hale {which I could not put down either!}.....after which convinced me to FINALLY read Pride & Prejudice, and not just watch the movies over and over again! Yes, thats me...the ONLY person on the face of the earth who hasn't read P&P...but I have to admit that I must be semi-illiterate because I cannot get my mind to wrap around Jane Austen's words. I am trying, though...slowly but surely!

Everyone has a story to tell....

You know when you find an author, and you are just in awe, you can't believe they just made you feel the way you just felt when reading the very last page of their book? I just finished reading both books by Sarah Addison Allen. With a touch...no...a handful of whimsy, she has written two books so far, two books that both kept me reading into the wee hours of the night! So cute and so delightful, some nice steamy parts in there, too!
I totally recommend these if you are looking for something fluffy and with some hints of magic in them!!

I especially loved Garden Spells, the author's first book, but the one I happened to read second. I loved how she gave her characters these special talents, especially Evanelle and her gift-giving. I loved the garden and the apple-throwing tree. I truly believe plants have minds of their own (though my yard is full of rotten-thinking plants!).

This is also the type of book that makes me itch to write my own book! I am constantly telling James that all I need is the PLOT, then we are as good as gold. But either my life has yet to be exciting enough to inspire a book, or my imagination is locked up too tight! One of these days, the walls will come crashing down, and my PLOT will be exposed!! Ü

{Thoughts on Breaking Dawn} ***SPOILER***

For the last couple of days, I've been basking in the sunshine that is Breaking Dawn! I know alot have read this book, and that there are mixed reviews. I guess there is not a book out there that someone doesn't hate or love!
I have to say THANKS to my sis, Emmalee...she was the one who told me how amazing the Twilight series was...She and my other sis, Laura, went to the midnight release of New Moon....which I opted out of going to! Man! What was I thinking?! :) I shied away from reading the series for a very long time, passing it off as a young adult book...but when I FINALLY gave up and read Twilight...I couldn't stop reading till I was all the way thru New Moon. And then waited patiently for the 4th and "final" book in this series. I say "final" because I don't believe Stephenie Meyer could STOP here! Those who have read the book may see what I am trying to say. She leaves the book in a way that it could truly go on and on! Especially to tell how Renesmee grows and lives with her life entwined with Jacob! Or maybe its just that I soooo enjoy the way the author writes, that I hope for more and more books!
With Breaking Dawn, there were MANY MANY parts that I truly loved, and touched my heart even! I loved that Edward got Bella (love that name!!) pregnant! Hehe, that in this Twilight reality, that was actually an option! AND that it happened AFTER MARRIAGE, thank you VERY much! And now Bella, selfish of all selfishness, would become a MOTHER, thus helping Mrs Meyer's "older" audience (yes, thats us, ladies) have a connection. Anyways....my most favorite parts of this book occur when Bella becomes a mother...feeling that connection, not wanting them to take her baby, even though it was beating the crap out of her....breaking her spine and such :S. Then when the child is born, feeling so protective over it....to the point that her "power" as a vampire become creating a SHEILD for those around her, a mind sheild that later becomes the "good" vampire's saving point!
And thus we come to the widely talked about "problem" with this 4th book....ahhh....everything works out too perfectly. Too perfectly?? For Heaven's sake, people...its a book, for one...and for another...what is SO bad with things working out for the best? There was a good amount of conflict, or so I thought! And personally, my fave kind of book is when the guy gets the girl (and daughter in this case) and friends/family stay intact! I can't bear it when there isn't a happy ever after Ü.
I give Breaking Dawn five stars and two thumbs up!

Left me hangin'....

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

My review

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the depth the author put into it, I loved that it was written in a way where I could read it and understand it. I felt that she put ALOT of work into it...the descriptive nature of the book was amazing. But then...I get to 100 pages from the end and I'm thinking "how in the world is this author going to FINISH THIS BOOK in 100 pages????"

She spent so much time on the beginning and middle, but then when it came to the end it was a wham-bam-thank-ya-maam, leaving me feeling quite unimpressed. Which totally STINKS because I enjoyed the rest of the book immensely! You can't give THAT much information on Dracula and his background then kill him off in less than 2 pages! Give me a break! The ending of the book is what is going to keep your readers and get them to read your NEXT book!!!

Counting down the days!

Seriously...

FOUR DAYS.

I am in the middle of a crazy long book and I'm reading like a MAD WOMAN to try and get finished so I can start Breaking Dawn in FOUR DAYS...woohoo!!

If I didn't have visitors all weekend...I would totally throw a "Who do you love?" Party...and totally make ya'll these invites.

Ahh...maybe next time.

I'm soooo excited!

Posh...thats a fancy word for fancy.

I mentioned in a previous post that when I was in Arizona, little Rylee and I spent some time in a book store. We rummaged through the shelves and I came away with a book for Bella that I am just absolutely in love with (and so is she) called Fancy Nancy.
I am learning now that it's one of three in a
Fancy Nancy series! How cute!
I wish I could make this little girl real...
she and Bella would be perfect friends! Looking
at some of these pictures, it amazes me how
"fancy" my Bella can be! I just need
to teach her how to say 'Merci'...
thats a fancy word for thank you! Ü