Ashley's Library

Leaving Before It's over - Jean Reynolds Page

2010-12-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (from the book): When Roy Vines married his wife, Rosalind, he traded his family and his inheritance for love -- a painful choice that has blessed him with years of joy nestled in rural North Carolina with their beautiful daughters, sixteen-year-old Lola and little Janie Ray. But their happiness is threatened when Rosalind suddenly falls ill. Desperate to get her the help she needs, Roy does the one thing he swore he'd never do -- turn to his heartless and bitter identical twin brother, Mont, for help.

Leaving Before It's Over begins at an interesting point, with the oldest daughter wondering where her father went. I had a hard time getting into the book, however, and only made it to page 126. I never got a good grasp on who each character was. Each character was kind of bland. Even when the reader is introduced to Mont, who is supposed to be "heartless and bitter," he doesn't seem to meet this standard.

Overall, I found bits and pieces interesting but I don't think that this book was for me. I would recommend Leaving Before It's Over to people who enjoy fiction about family problems.

Heart with Joy - Steve Cushman

2010-10-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Above all things, Heart with Joy is a coming-of-age story relying on themes of family and friendship. Julian, the 15-year-old narrator, must adapt to his mother and father's changing relationship. His mother goes to Florida to help her parents run a motel while his father stays home and takes up running. Julian becomes friends with an elderly neighbor who is obsessed with birds. Julian must learn to cope with changes and then make changes for himself.

I think that a lot of people will be moved by Heart with Joy, but it wasn't the kind of novel that really moves me. By the time I had finished reading the book, I still felt like Julian was a stranger. By the end of the book, I didn't know enough about Julian to care what choice he made. I felt no compelling force to care about Julian or his family. The reader does not get to follow Julian many places (like school) to really get a feel for how he interacts with people when he is not with his parents. I found that Julian lacked a personality.

Steve Cushman obviously has talent. The dialogue was the strongest part of the book for me. I also think he did a good job of capturing Julian's mother's attitude and appearance for the reader. From just a very short amount of time spent on describing her interactions with Julian, I was able to create a strong opinion about her.

I recommend this book to readers who like to read about life lessons, because Julian learns a lot of them.

I received a free review copy of Heart with Joy. This does not affect the honesty of my review!

The Games Bible - Leigh Anderson

2010-10-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

The Games Bible by Leigh Anderson is a great book for teachers, families, party hosts, and anybody else who ever gets bored and needs some inspiration for a quick activity. I can think of plenty of times I wish I had this book on hand.

The first thing I noticed about this book is the format, which makes the book fun and easy to read. There are boxes with tips and recipes for parties and other game-related events.

Second, I noticed that there is a wide variety of games. There were a lot I had already heard of, but there were plenty of new ones too. Some were classics that I remember playing as a kid.
Some of the categories include guessing games, indoor games, holiday games, and trivia games.

I can't find any fault with this book, except that it's not useful for everybody. For people who like to entertain or have a group to design activities for, this is a great resource. The author has a good sense of humor and the descriptions of the games are entertaining.

My favorite game in the book is probably Art Charades!

I received a review copy of this book for free. This does not affect the honesty of my review.

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball - Risa Green

2010-10-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green begins with the death of Erin's aunt, who leaves her a pink crystal ball. At first Erin doesn't understand why her aunt would leave her such a strange gift. Soon, Erin realizes that the pink crystal ball actually has powers. She doesn't realize, however, that there are consequences to using the ball, and limitations to how far the ball can take her.

When I read the description of this book, I figured it could go one of two ways. It could be totally cliche and dull or it could show a new side to a traditional story. The idea of a magical item that can make wishes come true (with consequences of course) is nothing new, but somehow The Secret Society does add on to this story and make something new for itself.

Erin is not a particularly interesting character, but there is always somebody with her who makes her seem more interesting. Even though she is not interesting, she is definitely likable and a good role model for readers.

One thing I cringed at was the description of each person and their clothing. For a young adult book this is kind of standard so maybe I'm being too critical. Still, the book is cute and definitely appropriate for its primary audience.

Most of the characters in the book are likable, but not Erin's mom. Her mom comes off as entitled (and really her dad is kind of a jerk too). She thinks she deserves to own her sister's ashes just because she was her sister, even though they had no relationships around the time of her death. She seems to have an unhealthy fixation on getting the ashes, rather than focusing on her sister's death. She puts the blame on other people for her own issues and thinks everybody owes her everything. I felt no sympathy for her.

I did enjoy the story and I thought the story was cute and entertaining. I recommend this book to young adult readers, probably age 13 and up.

* I received a review copy of this book. *

Hour 16 - Hour 18

2010-10-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

The Princess Present – Meg Cabot

Party Princess – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 5

Pages read since last update: 85

Running total of pages read since I started: 537

Hour 15

2010-10-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

Princess in Training – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 4

Pages read since last update: 95

Running total of pages read since I started: 452

Hour 9 - Hour 14

2010-10-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

Princess in Training – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 3

Pages read since last update: 50

Running total of pages read since I started: 357

Hour 8

2010-10-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

Princess in Training – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 3

Pages read since last update: 81

Running total of pages read since I started: 307

End of Hour 4 - End of Hour 7

2010-10-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

I slept a little bit . . .

Title of book(s) read since last update:

Valentine Princess – Meg Cabot

Princess in Training – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 3

Pages read since last update: 111

Running total of pages read since I started: 226

End of Hour 3

2010-10-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

Project Princess – Meg Cabot

Valentine Princess – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 2

Pages read since last update: 40

Running total of pages read since I started: 115

End of Hour 2

2010-10-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

Project Princess – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 1

Pages read since last update: 15

Running total of pages read since I started: 75

End of Hour 1

2010-10-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

Title of book(s) read since last update:

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball – Risa Green

Project Princess – Meg Cabot

Number of books read since I started: 1

Pages read since last update: 60
Running total of pages read since I started: 60

Read-a-Thon Hour 1 Meme

2010-10-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

Where are you reading from today?

I am reading from my home in southern California from my desk, bed, couch, and probably floor at some point.

3 facts about me …

1. I drink too much tea and maybe too much coffee.
2. I have not slept longer than 4 hours since the day before yesterday. I may have to take a nap today!
3. I watch Full House every morning.

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

Too many to count!

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 really just want to read A LOT and decrease the number of books in my closet.

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

Read small books! I tried to tackle some big ones and failed. If you have big books lined up, save them for the middle of the day.

What I Read This Month - September 2010

2010-09-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski
Princess in Waiting - Meg Cabot
Vinegar Hill - A. Manette Ansay
Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn
Princess in Love - Meg Cabot
Undiscovered Gyrl - Allison Burnett
Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott
Jennifer's Body - Audrey Nixon
Lecture Notes - Philip Freeman, PhD
Kid Power - Susan Beth Pfeffer
Crave - Cathy Yardley
Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch
All I Ever Wanted - Kristan Higgins
The Baby-Sitters Club #23: Dawn on the Coast - Ann M. Martin
Forever in Blue - Ann Brashares

Vinegar Hill - A. Manette Ansay

2010-09-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

Vinegar Hill is about a woman, Ellen, who moves her family (husband and 2 children) to her husband's parent's house. Ellen's husband has parents who hate Ellen. Mary Margaret is mean and judgmental, always wishing Ellen would do things the way her own mother did. Fritz is violent. Ellen wants her husband to stand up to his parents and show compassion and love for not only her, but also their children, but he does not. In the end, Ellen must figure out what she wants to do, because she cannot count on anybody else to help her.

I was interested in Vinegar Hill from the first line to the last line. The synopsis kind of had a V.C. Andrews - Flowers in the Attic vibe so of course I was drawn to it. The first scene really sets the tone for the rest of the book. It is a description of a dinner with the family, and it's great. The reader can already build up an idea of how they feel about Mary Margaret and Fritz after just this scene, but more information will be revealed that won't necessarily change your mind, but possibly give you a better glimpse of why these characters are so horrible.

One thing about this book that I noticed quickly is the way the abuse and violence are detailed. They are presented so straightforward that it is jarring - "He grabs James by the collar and punches him in the face" (66).

In the end, this is not really a book about Ellen. It's a book about Ellen's family. It's a good book, but if you are looking for a clean resolution, you might be unsatisfied.

Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott

2010-09-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

Living Dead Girl is most of all a book about child abuse. As a young girl, the narrator is kidnapped by a pedophile. She is physically, sexually, and mentally abused by him. Now that she is getting older, the man is looking to kidnap another young girl. The way that Alice copes with this idea is compelling.

Elizabeth Scott is great at creating a voice for Alice. I felt that Alice was very real. At the same time, this voice was very disturbing. There were times where I felt I should stop reading because the glimpse of her life that I got was so disturbing. This is definitely not a book to approach lightly.

I talked about it a little before, but one thing I notice about some readers who reviewed this book is that they gave the book a rating of one or two stars not because the book is poorly written (it's not), but because they didn't like the abuse Alice endured. I honestly don't feel that it is fair to rate a book about abuse poorly because you were disturbed by the abuse. It's kind of like me reading a Harry Potter book and rating it with one star because I don't like that it talked about magic or if I chose to read a historical romance and didn't like that there was historical romance in it.

Overall, Living Dead Girl is a great book, but I recommend discussing this book with young adult readers if they choose to read it.

Undiscovered Gyrl - Allison Burnett

2010-09-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

I laughed, I cried, I felt disturbed. This is the kind of book I read and I get hooked, though I get the feeling that I shouldn't be. Since the book is written in the format of a blog, it made me feel voyeuristic. In a good way.

Undiscovered Gyrl, by Allison Burnett, is about a 17-year-old girl who decides to defer college for a year because she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. Katie gets a job at a bookstore but for reasons I won't spoil for you, she has to quit. She then gets a job working as a nanny for a couple named Paul and Margaret. The book is written in the style of Katie's (not her real name) blog in which she tells the reader just about everything going on in her life. Some of the things she does will make you squirm, some will make you laugh, and some will make you feel bad.

This book is the most addictive book I've read so far this year. I couldn't put it down once I got past the first 50 pages. Katie is a really interesting and unique character. The format of the book really lets the reader into her world. There was one point where I knew what was going to happen in terms of Katie's love life and I thought I was going to hate it. The way it was written, however, made me feel like I could judge Katie's actions but still understand her. I think there is actually a perfect quote in the book that Katie uses to describe who she is versus her actions but I regret not writing it down.

I felt most bad for Katie's relationship with her father. One of my favorite quotes comes from their relationship - "Your dad is your big hero and then one day he is a freezing puppet lying in a box" (159). I was quite impressed by the way Allison Burnett was able to get into Katie's head and use her voice. I felt like Katie's voice was very real and not just an extension of the author.

I'm going to try not to spoil anything for people who haven't read the book yet but plan to (and I recommend it). At the end of the book I felt a lot of things. Mostly I was shocked and disturbed. I felt like I needed more, but then again the ending is kind of realistic in a lot of ways. I felt like if I were actually reading about this girl's life on a blog, the end is not so far out of reach. The end challenged my perceptions about Katie and basically everything she says, but at the same time I knew not to accept everything as truth from the start. I still have a lot of unanswered questions about the end, but I like it. I don't always want the ending wrapped up in a nice package.

I finish this book feeling inspired, not only by Allison Burnett's writing style, but also by Katie. I can see myself rereading this book a lot (sort of like my collection of VC Andrews books I revisit once a year shamelessly).

Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch

2010-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Summary from Publishers Weekly on Amazon: An unenthusiastic Southern debutante copes with the cruelties of postcollege New York life in Crouch's amusing debut. Sarah Walters is neither a misfit nor the queen of the Camellia Society cotillion scene growing up in Charleston, S.C. But when she and her fellow Camellias try to make a life in New York City, they find themselves coping in unexpectedly dangerous ways—from standard substance addictions to Sarah's fixation on preppy ex-boyfriend Max, a smooth and sadistic child of wealth.

Review: When I finished reading Girls in Trucks I had a lot of immediate emotions. The cover is basically the epitome of everything I love on a book cover. I love Sarah, the main character. The story took me in and out, and sometimes I wasn't so sure that I liked it all that much, but after I finished reading, I was glad for having finished it. Girls in Trucks shows a wide range of emotions.

The downside of this book is that it switches point of view often. It was a little confusing at first, but when I acknowledged this would continue to happen, I liked it. Somehow it begins to work. You also have to make sure you pay attention, because sometimes the story skips ahead and goes back in time with little or no warning.

My favorite quote: "Sarah had never sucked on the fur of a dead cat, but the taste that festered in her mouth when she woke seemed to resemble such a thing." (194)

Tangent: After I finished reading the book, I was initially surprised at how many negative reviews this book has on Amazon. It really made me think about reasons why people give bad reviews to good books. Sometimes the reviewer genuinely does not connect with the book, but I have found (through reviews on this book and Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott - review to come) that some reviewers base the way they see the book on the choices the character makes. They don't approve of Sarah's bad decisions about drugs and sex, so they don't like the book. When looking at reviews for Elizabeth Scott's Living Dead Girl, reviewers seemed to think that everybody who enjoyed the book approves of pedophilia and the lifestyle of "Alice's" kidnapper. It really has made me think about the way I review books and how other people review books.

All I Ever Wanted - Kristan Higgins

2010-09-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

All I Ever Wanted is about Callie, a woman who works in advertising. Callie has had a crush on her boss, Mark, for a long time. They were even a couple once. Now Mark is dating somebody new (Muriel) and Callie is heartbroken. In trying to get over Mark, Callie falls in love with Ian, a veterinarian.

Kristan Higgins is a good writer. This is the first of her books I have read, but I will definitely read others. She did a great job of creating two characters that the reader can hate - Mark and Muriel. I also like the way Callie sees herself as being influenced by her role models (like Michelle Obama). In all ways in which it was possible, Kristan Higgins created characters that are interesting, even if they aren't entirely likable. Callie, for example, can be very annoying. Sometimes I just wanted to tell her to stop talking.

One thing that I felt set this romance apart from others is that Ian, Callie's love interest, is in an emotionally vulnerable position, and it feels real. In many romances, the hero just doesn't come off as genuinely vulnerable.

There were parts of the book that felt they were dragging on. The relationship between Callie and Ian developed slowly. I do think that the book is worth reading for fans of romance. The characters were the main thing that set this book apart from others for me.

I received a review copy of this book!

Broken Birds - Jeannette Katzir

2010-09-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

Broken Birds, a memoir by Jeannette Katzir, is about the author's family (especially her mother) and how she believes the Holocaust influenced the way her mother treated her children. When the writer's mother dies, the family faces a terrible legal battle that tears the family apart.

I found that the book told a story about people who I could not feel sympathy for in a way that was intended to invoke sympathy. I think the memoir would be difficult for some people to relate to, because the people are unlikable.

Despite the fact that I did not like the majority of the characters, I found a lot of the family interactions to be interesting. Still, I thought the book was too long. I got tired of hearing about the legal battle because some of it seemed irrelevant.

The author seems to hope that the reader will see how the Holocaust directly caused her parents to behave in the ways that they did, but these events just don't show causation to me. Other than that, I found the first half of the book to be quite interesting, and even parts of the end. The family dynamics, though infuriating at times, were interesting to me.

Lecture Notes: A Professor's Inside Guide to College Success - Philip Freeman

2010-09-11T07:17:00.000-07:00

Lecture Notes is a book by Philip Freeman designed for college students and soon-to-be college students to encourage good relationships between students and professors. I found this book to be very helpful and encouraging with a light tone. I think students who read this book will get a lot out of it. I've been in college for three years now, and I still learned new things from reading this book.

It's not very common that a student gets to see college life from the perspective of a professor, and I think that's why this book is so great. Freeman seems genuine in his delivery, and the information is presented in an interesting way.

As far as the subject matter discussed in the book, there really is a wide variety of information. Freeman discusses the rules of passing and getting good grades in college courses. The parts I found to be especially helpful were those involving how to read different types of books and how to write good papers.

I would highly recommend this book to new and old college students, and I would certainly give it as a gift to recent high school graduates going on to college.

Thank you to Ten Speed Press who sent me a review copy of this book.

A Lady Raised High - Laurien Gardner

2010-09-07T22:38:00.000-07:00

A Lady Raised High, by Laurien Gardner, follows Frances, one of Anne Boleyn's favorite ladies. Frances writes poems for Anne and watches as she climbs the hierarchy to become queen. Frances develops a life of her own as well, when she gets married and has children of her own. She sacrifices time with her family to provide support for Anne Boleyn, especially in Anne's last days alive.

I really liked A Lady Raised High, though I didn't expect to like it as much since I didn't have any strong feelings for Plain Jane. Frances is a more interesting character than Jane though, and I felt more sympathy for her than Jane. I actually wish that I had read this book before Plain Jane because I think I would have enjoyed it more.

Overall, Francis is a good narrator and I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I would recommend it to anybody interested in Anne Boleyn, especially when she is presented from a sympathetic point of view.

The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller

2010-08-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Summary: The Eternal Ones is a young adult novel about past lives affecting people in their current lives. Haven has been having visions of her past life and she feels a longing to find the man she was in love with then. Haven lives in a small town with her grandmother as her small-minded guardian. She eventually finds the man she has been looking for - but he's a celebrity accused of murder. Haven meets him but as she discovers the secrets of the Ouroboros Society she becomes more unsure about the role he should play in her life.

Review: I really enjoyed The Eternal Ones and I think it is a great book for a young adult audience that has already read the paranormal romances out there. It is certainly a unique spin on paranormal romances, especially since the paranormal elements are downplayed.

The introduction to the characters, and especially to Haven and Beau, was the best part of the novel for me. I found the characters intriguing, though the plot moved too slowly. Kirsten Miller shows range in her writing style in that she can write sentences such "Forgets to wear underwear." from Haven's report card to scenes where the heroine is fearful for her life.

Despite the fact that I really liked the story, Haven is quite an annoying heroine at times. She does not seem to be very smart, and I think a lot of readers will find themselves wanting to yell at her or throw the book at the wall. Beau seems to be her voice of reason, and seems to echo what I was thinking, but the story ends in a very tidy way nonetheless.

Haven's love interest seems like a really horrible person. I could not get on board with him at all, and I was disappointed in the way he was written. I didn't feel any reason for Haven to actually want to be with him, other than the pull from the past.

By the way, Imogene Snively is an excellent name for the character.

Maybe This Time - Jennifer Crusie

2010-08-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

Summary from Amazon.com: Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.
When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting.

I really like Jennifer Crusie's writing style, though I didn't really connect with the characters in this story. I wasn't able to get into Andie as a narrator, though I found her story interesting. I liked the role that the children played in the story.

In the end, I only read up to about page 200. I didn't feel invested enough in the narrator and I didn't feel compelled to continue. I was disappointed because I really like Jennifer Crusie's style. This book just was not for me. I would recommend it to fans of Jennifer Crusie and fans of romantic mysteries.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-08-18T00:27:00.000-07:00

Eat, Pray, Love is a travel memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, but it's also a story of self-discovery. In the middle of dealing with a divorce and another failing relationship, Elizabeth Gilbert got an advance to write a book about the trip of self-discovery she was going to take. She decided to eat in Italy, pray in India, and ended up finding love and balance in Indonesia.

I've read a lot of negative reviews for Eat, Pray, Love this week, especially since the movie came out. I get the criticisms because everybody has their own sense of what constitutes good literature, but I also liked both the book and the movie. The movie was more superficial than the book, I felt, but it relayed the same message. I thought Elizabeth Gilbert was a likable narrator, but I also felt there were points where the narration just seemed annoying. As far as the movie goes, I thought Julia Roberts was a great version of Elizabeth Gilbert. I really can't think of a better actress for the part.

I definitely felt for Elizabeth Gilbert, but I felt more for the people that she came into contact with on her trip. The biggest complaint I have about the book is that the different pieces of the book (Italy, India, and Indonesia) all felt disconnected. I felt like they weren't part of the same story at times. The exception to this is when Elizabeth helps raise money for a woman in Indonesia.

My favorite part of the book was unsurprisingly the Eat part, in both the book and movie. After that, I lost some of the connection to the narration.Elizabeth Gilbert is certainly a talented writer, and I found her voice to be unique.

I recommend this book to people who like travel and self-discovery memoirs. Also, if you saw the movie and liked it, read the book! It has a few differences, but the book has a lot more exploration. I also thought it was funner to read the book than to watch the movie. The movie seemed to be a concentrated version of the saddest parts of the book.

Plain Jane - Laurien Gardner

2010-08-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

Plain Jane is the story of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's 3rd wife, and the only one who gave him a son. She died soon after giving birth. This particular book mostly focuses on Jane's years before becoming queen, but also a bit of her marriage to King Henry VIII.

This is the first book I've read with Jane Seymour as the protagonist, and it was an interesting perspective. My favorite part was getting to see Jane's point of view on Anne Boleyn and what had happened with Katherine of Aragon.

One thing I dislike about Plain Jane is that it constantly focuses on how plain she looks. There are so many references to her plainness that it begins to feel like the author is rubbing it in your face.

Looking back, this is not going to be a book that I will remember well, because it doesn't stand out to me. I liked it, but it just wasn't enough to keep me as enthralled as other Tudor novels.

I recommend this book to fans of the Tudor era, especially if you are interested in Jane Seymour.

Don't Stalk The Admission's Officer - Risa Lewak

2010-08-05T01:17:00.000-07:00

Don't Stalk the Admissions Officer: How to Survive the College Admissions Process without Losing Your Mind

I don't think this book requires much explanation. It's a humorous look at the process of applying to college and everything that comes along with it, including dealing with parents.

I think that overall, this book is a great choice for students who want a break from typical books about college admissions. It makes a lot of assumptions about the audience, but I think it is still helpful.

There is some great advice for those who are a bit lost about applying to school. The best piece of advice I got from the book is to be your own guidance counselor rather than relying on others to pick your future for you. The other really great part of the book was the comparison between the SAT and ACT. There are also some great website recommendations and test prep strategies.

I recommend this book to high school students considering or applying to college.

I Write Like . . .

2010-08-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

I write like
David Foster Wallace

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Got Books? Event Winners

2010-07-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have winners for the two prizes I gave away for the Got Books? Event!

The winner of the Sandra Dallas book Whiter Than Snow is Lizzy!

The winner of the themed box is MinnChica, who chose a paranormal romance themed box!

I will be contacting both the winners and they will have 48 hours to get back to me!

Quick Catch Up Reviews

2010-07-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

I am really behind on reviews, so what I'm going to do is just a quick catch up session to make sure I've covered everything I've been reading recently!

Slightly Wicked - Mary Balogh

This book starts with a night of passion shared between a man and a woman and sweetly, though predictably. I'm not one for the "cat and mouse chase" books so this one is not a favorite. This is my first Mary Balogh book and I can see why she has a lot of fans. She is a good writer. At the same time, there are plenty of hateful characters in this book, like the heroine's entire family.

My favorite quote: "Whoever could have thought that a mere cup of tea could be so lethal?" - I read this quote on the same night I accidentally spilled tea on my laptop, killing it.

Love, Sex, & Deception - Lisa Hultin & Claire Hultin

One thing I must comment on about this book is the cover. It's just not one I would pick up for the cover alone. I also felt like there were a lot of studies mentioned that did not seem to be cited. Saying "one study in Belgium" just isn't enough to satisfy my curiosity. There was at least one factual error, which was the name of a song.

A lot of the stories were really interesting, but at the same time I felt like they made some really broad assumptions about people. Some of the people writing in the stories just seemed horrible, like a woman who was unwilling to pay her part of an $8 tab and had a horrible attitude.

Overall, this book had a few good points, such as the fact that a relationship should never start based on a lie.

Book Lust - Nancy Pearl

Words cannot express my love for this book. It has so many fantastic lists. Everybody who loves to read should own a copy of Book Lust.

Driving with Dead People - Monica Holloway

Driving with Dead People is a shocking memoir about the family issues that one girl endures. Her father is an absolutely horrible person - violent, abusive, and fake. Her mother is not much better, because she chooses to ignore the abuse even when she knows her children are at risk, also abandoning them emotionally.

I found the title to be a little misleading until I really thought about. The dead people mentioned in the title aren't the people in the mortuary (which isn't really a significant part of the story, I found out) but Monica's family.

I had ups and downs while reading this book. I liked it, and then there were parts it slowed down. I found it to be powerful, but mostly depressing. As a warning for those who don't like to read about sexual abuse, this book is pretty heavy on it towards the end.

Got Books? Event Contest

2010-07-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

The Got Books? Event is a new event for book bloggers to participate in giving away bookish prizes over the weekend. There are more than 100 blogs participating!

My contest is simple. All you have to do is fill out the form with your name, email address, and the themed package you would like to receive.

Rules:

This is open to everybody worldwide.
There will be 2 winners. The first place winner will receive a book-themed box including books, bookmarks, etc based on the theme that you designate. The second place winner will receive a copy of Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas.
The contest runs July 23 to July 24.
Winners will be randomly chosen.

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True Blood and Philosophy - George A. Dunn and Rebecca Housel

2010-07-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

True Blood and Philosophy is essentially an in-depth look at the show True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris in terms of philosophy. The editors and authors of the pieces are looking for answers to philosophical questions based on the show and books. Questions involve whether or not an omniscient god would hate vampires and the role of feminism in the series.

This is definitely a fun book that presents some interesting ideas. A lot of the arguments seemed to hit you over the head with the same facts, phrases, and ideas several times. A lot of the things were so obvious they didn't seem worth mentioning or made it seem like a stretch to find philosophy where the story is mostly superficial. This is not to say that the book has no purpose. I think it is good to get people interested in philosophy and in ways that they wouldn't ordinarily consider.

Another good thing about this book is that it brings up a lot of great quotes from the books and show that I forgot about. I also loved the subheading "Sex and Feeding, Penis and Fangs."

I do recommend that if you like the show True Blood and plan to read the books, you read the books before reading this. There are a lot of spoilers for the book series!

Revenge Served Cold - Jackie Fullerton

2010-07-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton is about the death of Elliott, a professor. His wife, Kathy is being framed for the murder and a law student wants to help figure out who killed Elliott using Kathy's car. The narrator suspects that an ex-lover of Kathy's (and friend of Elliott's) is responsible, but there is also the lover of the ex-lover to consider. Also, Anne, the woman who wants to help clear Kathy's name and reputation, has the help of her father, who is a ghost.

I received a review copy of Revenge Served Cold but I stopped reading on page 161. The main reason for this was that I just didn't enjoy the story. It had some interesting characteristics, but others were too bothersome for me. I also felt like I was missing a lot of information, as if there was not enough back story for me to understand some of the characters.

I found the paranormal aspect of the story interesting and humorous, but it was so unexpected to me for this story. It kind of made me question Anne's sanity more than anything else, because I didn't feel like this part of the story fit in with the rest of the mystery. I can see the author's purpose in including it though, because the ghost of Anne's father does help push the story forward.

Overall I didn't think the mystery was convincing enough for me. I felt like I already knew who killed Elliott, and I didn't feel like there was enough motivation for Anne to pursue the mystery and act the way she did to find evidence. I really just didn't identify with the characters or the mystery in the way that I usually hope to.

Good-bye to All That - Margo Candela

2010-07-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Good-bye to All That tells the story of Raquel Azorian, an executive assistant at a marketing corporation n Hollywood. She faces turmoil not only at work but also with her family and her own happiness.

While the summary for Good-bye to All That is really interesting and the narrator is interesting, I found that this book was not necessarily for me. I was more interested in the parts of the narrators family life instead of her job.

I didn't really feel that there was a lot of plot in the story, but what was there was not bad. I just found that the story wasn't necessarily for me. I would recommend this book to fans of chick lit. Since I have not read very much of it, maybe that's why it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea.

Whiter Than Snow Giveaway (Extended)

2010-07-01T19:07:00.001-07:00

I have decided to extend the giveaway for Whiter Than Snow until July 14th.

I have been given the opportunity to give away a copy of Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas.

You can check out my review of Whiter Than Snow here.

All you have to do is fill out the form below! The winner will be randomly drawn.

The only rule is that you must be a resident of the US or Canada to enter this time. Sorry about that!

This giveaway ends on June 30th!

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Deadly Little Secret - Laurie Faria Stolarz

2010-06-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Deadly Little Secrets is about Camelia, a high school student with what seems to be a mundane existence . . . until now. Ben is a new student at Camelia's school and many people also believe him to be the cause of his ex-girlfriend's death. Camelia is still drawn to him, and they bond over trying to figure out who is threatening Camelia and sending her odd packages.

Deadly Little Secrets reminds me so much of an R.L. Stine book, but the writing is a little more mature. The story is similar to what you might find in a Fear Street novel. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing though.

I didn't really understand the relationship between Camelia and Ben. There is nothing between them - no heat or chemistry that I could feel. She wasn't even comfortable around him most of the time and at the end suddenly she doesn't want him to leave.

I found this book to be pretty average. Nothing about it is really intriguing to me and I'm not rushing out to get the next book in the series. I might check it out from the library though. To me this seems like it would make a better movie than a novel. I didn't hate it though and it did have some redeeming qualities, like Camelia's narration. I found it to be very age-appropriate for a teen audience.

Truly, Madly, Deadly - Becca Wilcott

2010-06-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Becca Wilcott is an unofficial companion for the show True Blood. I bought the book as soon as I remembered it was out and read it as soon as I got it. I can't say that I have any complaints about the book. It has a lot of great information about the show and the actors and actresses in the show.

My favorite part of the book was the section of summaries for each episode. I found that Becca Wilcott is great at analyzing each episode for different themes and things I missed despite the fact that I've seen each episode fifty times.

Overall I feel like the author really "gets" what people like about the show. It's a great companion for the show I highly recommend it.

Truly, Madly, Deadly: The Unofficial True Blood Companion
by Becca Wilcott

Giveaway - Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas

2010-06-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

I have been given the opportunity to give away a copy of Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas.

You can check out my review of Whiter Than Snow here.

All you have to do is fill out the form below! The winner will be randomly drawn.

The only rule is that you must be a resident of the US or Canada to enter this time. Sorry about that!

This giveaway ends on June 30th!

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Poor Little Bitch Girl - Jackie Collins

2010-06-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Poor Little Bitch Girl is a book about some of the most detestable people you may ever read about. Denver is an attorney in Los Angeles. Carolyn is her friend, a woman who is pregnant with a married senator's baby. Annabelle is a New York madam for famous men and she has just found out that her mother was killed. Frankie is her boyfriend, and his best friend is Bobby, but I really can't tell you why.

Denver was the only character I found likable, but Carolyn wasn't that bad either. I felt sympathetic to Carolyn because she was promised more than she received, but she also was extremely stupid and selfish.

I can see this book being a guilty pleasure read but the characters are very hard to like. There is a ton of name dropping and some hilarious quotes that may or may not be intentional. For example,

"Bitches of a different caliber, but bitches all the same." - page 116

"A freakin' iPhone with music and photos and all kinds of other shit." - page 310

Some of the dialogue made me cringe and I skimmed a lot of the story because I couldn't handle some of it. Most of the characters were just horrible people and I couldn't identify with them. Overall I did not find the book very interesting or captivating but for those who enjoy Jackie Collns' other works, this is a guilty pleasure read.

I received a review copy of this book.

The Queen's Mistake - Diane Haeger

2010-06-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

The Queen's Mistake follows the life of Catherine Howard, the 5th of King Henry VIII's wives. Catherine was beheaded after it was discovered that she has not been a virgin when she married the king and had other infidelities during their marriage.

The Queen's Mistake drew me in right away but it didn't hold my attention the entire time. I came in and out and even found myself skipping the bits that didn't actually have Catherine or Henry in them. As a result, I didn't find myself having much of a connection with Catherine even though this was something I was looking for.

It was also hard to like Catherine in this book, despite Haeger's sympathetic approach, because she is so critical of others around her. She is very judgmental and picky.

Another thing about this book that I did not like was the dialogue that Henry had with his children. It seemed unrealistic and awkward.

In the end there were plenty of things to like about the book, but also just as many things I did not like. I loved the story and I loved that it focused on one of the wives I knew little about. It's not completely accurate historically, but I would compare this book to a Philippa Gregory book. I loved The Other Boleyn Girl about Anne and Mary Boleyn and I love books about Tudor life, but this was not one of my favorites. I would recommend it to people who love the genre as much as I do though.

I also decided to talk about some of the discussion questions at the back of the book.

1. Prior to reading, what did you know about Catherine Howard? Were there any aspects of her life that surprised you?
I knew very little about Catherine Howard except for what I had seen on The Tudors and also that she was the cousin of Anne Boleyn. I don't think I was surprised by any aspect of her life but I did learn a lot about the timeline of the events that occurred.

2. What attracted Catherine to Henry VIII and Thomas Culpepper? How was she able to juggle her feelings for both? Do you think Catherine loved Henry?
I think that Catherine was attracted to Henry only because of his power, and even then, it was not something she seemed to seek out on her own. She was attracted to Henry for the sake of her family's greed. Catherine's attraction to Thomas was natural and real. She was able to juggle her feelings for both because she had different feelings for them. Her feelings for Henry were based on convenience and formality. Her feelings for Thomas were based on romantic love. I do not think that Catherine loved Henry, but she was making the best out of a bad situation.

Whiter Than Snow - Sandra Dallas

2010-06-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas follows the lives of several different inhabitants of a town in Colorado and what happens when they all experience devastation that harms the lives of the children there.

The first story involves Lucy and her sister Dolly. Lucy's story was the most intriguing to me because she faced many hardships involving her family, education, and romantic life. In the end I was happy that she accepted the life she had though.

Joe Cobb was the character I found second most interesting. He is the town's only black resident and his background is quite complex. The racism he experienced in his life was sickening.

Next is Grace Foote, a character similar to Lucy but not very interesting.

Minder Evans is a Civil War veteran but I didn't find him especially interesting either.

Essie Snowball is a prostitute with a child who she doesn't want the world to know is hers. She is very interesting and I felt very sad for her in the end.

When the avalanche changes the lives of all these characters the story becomes very heartbreaking. I wasn't sure in the beginning that the book would really appeal to me after I read the first chapter, but it did pick up. Despite the sadness in the book, I did not feel that it was obviously emotionally manipulating. The sadness was conveyed naturally, which is hard to find. In the end I felt that Sandra Dallas was a very talented writer and I would read more of her books.

I received a review copy of this book at no cost.

Guest House - Barbara K. Richardson

2010-06-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

Why I read it: When I was offered a review copy of Barbara K. Richardson's Guest House, I immediately accepted it. I am one of the first to admit that I am easily swayed by covers, and I loved this one.

Summary: Melba witnesses a horrible accident that prompts her to choose to stop driving. The accident, though she is not the one physically injured, also causes her to reconsider her entire life. JoLee becomes Melba's roommate, and she brings along new experiences for Melba, especially in her son, Matt.

What I liked:

I have a soft spot for all books set in the Pacific Northwest so I loved the setting for this novel, which was Portland. I can tell that the author is very knowledgeable about the area, especially in her description of Powell's City of Books which I had the opportunity to go to last month.
The introduction to the characters was written well. I feel like Barbara Richardson is very skilled at creating characters who are dynamic and three-dimensional. There is not just one side to each of the characters.
If I had to sum up this review as a whole, I would simply be that Barbara Richardson is extremely talented.

What I didn't like:

I felt that the plot had its ups and downs.. My interest in the plot wavered and I considered putting the book down for good at least two times.
Despite the fact that the characters all seemed three-dimensional, I still didn't like most of them. Melba annoyed me a lot, but I still understood some of her motives and intentions. This is pretty much what saved the book for me.

Overall, I didn't find the message of the book very powerful but I did find the writing style to be unique and skilled.

More: If you want to know more about Barbara K. Richardson, you can check out her website: Barbara K. Richardson

The Huge TBR Readathon Started Today

2010-06-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

The Huge TBR Readathon started today and I have to admit I have not been very productive. :-/ That being said I hope to change that!

Here are the books I hope to finish between now and Sunday, June 20!

Books to finish:
My Sweet Audrina - V.C. Andrews
Poor Little Bitch Girl - Jackie Collins
Whiter Than Snow - Sandra Dallas
Revenge Served Cold - Jackie Fullerton
Never Let You Go - Erin Healy
Deadly Little Secret - Laurie Faria Stolarz

There are also a ton of books I want to start but I really don't want to discourage myself by listing all of them!

The Huge TBR Readathon

2010-06-13T00:07:00.000-07:00

Bookworming in the 21st Century is hosting a readathon starting June 14th to June 20th! It's a little last minute but I am fortunate enough to be able to participate! There aren't any other activities, but it will really get me to read, and I have a ton of books to occupy my time.

My goal? I don't really have one set in stone but I would really like to get through at least 5 books.

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

2010-06-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Creaturesis a debut novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Lena Duchannes has just moved to Gatlin, a small Southern town. When Ethan sees her, he is immediately drawn to her. Ethan doesn't know about the curse that has haunted Lena's family and is determined to figure out why he has had dreams about this girl before ever setting eyes on her.

You can visit Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's website at Beautiful Creatures Book. The next book in the series, Beautiful Darkness, will come out October 12, 2010.

Beautiful Creatures is a book I have heard tons of great things about. I actually started reading it because of the reviews other book bloggers were giving it. I fell in love with this book about halfway through. Overall I found the story lacking but the characters were great.

One of my favorite characters is Macon Ravenwood. He had some great dialogue. Lena and Ethan are great characters, but they lacked the connection I felt was necessary for their romance to really make an impact. The character I am left most curious about is Ethan's father though.

There are a ton of Southern stereotypes in this book and at times it was a little bothersome. The setting contributed a lot to the story and the characters, so the stereotypes played a large role as well.

I think that fans of the Twilight series will like this book. This is by no means a Twilight clone though. There are a lot of differences, and not just in story. I actually think that Beautiful Creatures has a better writing style and doesn't suffer as much from thesaurus abuse. Another difference is that the characters in this novel have their own faults they need to overcome, in contrast to Twilight that seems to have very perfect characters.

I don't know if there are any movie plans for Beautiful Creatures, but if not I have a feeling there will be soon. I can see each action in my head clearly and it just feels like a movie to me. I think it would make a great movie.

I did like the book but I anticipated more of a romantic connection between Lena and Ethan. I wouldn't say that I'm disappointed in the book though because I did like it. I look forward to reading Beautiful Darkness!

Teaser Tuesdays - June 8, 2010

2010-06-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I'm reading a few different books right now but I'm going to grab my favorite right now - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

The Claiming has an incredibly powerful effect on a Natural. You may even kill him by your own hand - you will be capable of that kind of evil. - Page 528

In My Mailbox

2010-06-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren.

This week I got just a few books in the mail.

From Borders
The Luxe - Anna Godbersen
Whip It - Shauna Cross
Knight of Pleasure - Margaret Mallory
The Short Second Lifeof Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer
Wicked Becomes You - Meredith Duran
Knight of Passion - Margaret Mallory
Lessons in French - Laura Kinsale
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott

For Review
The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller

From BookMooch
Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
The BSC #7: Claudia and Mean Janine - Ann M. Martin
The Earl's Forbidden Ward - Bronwyn Scott

I'm Back

2010-06-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

It might seem like I haven't been posting very much lately, but now I plan to be back full force. I was kind of in a reading slump with vacation and all but I plan to be more active than later. I also plan to make some changes.

I feel like sometimes I don't really use my own voice when I write reviews. I feel like I try to be too polite and maybe too formal. I would really like to be more critical and evaluate a broader perspective of elements.

Another thing about me being back is that now I plan to review more of the Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley books that I've been reading in a weekly feature. In an effort to help me find my voice in blogging, they will probably be snarkier than my other reviews. This will start next week.

Bloggiesta is Coming Up!

2010-06-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Bloggiesta is coming up on June 11th, 12th, and 13th! If you don't know what Bloggiesta is, it's basically a blogging marathon. It's a reason (or excuse) to spend a lot of time improving your blog guilt-free!

What do I plan to do during Bloggiesta?

I really don't know the answer to this question yet but I'll probably post about it again next week. I'll probably write some reviews, work on future posts, make some templates, and maybe clean up my labels a little. Maybe I'll find a new layout too. I probably won't devote a ton of time to this Bloggiesta but I still hope to get something done.

You can sign up for Bloggiesta by visiting Maw Books Blog!

Booking Through Thursday: Long And Short Of It

2010-06-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Which do you prefer? Short stories? Or full-length novels?

I love short stories and full-length novels but if I had to choose one I would choose full-length novels. They just allow me to get into the characters and the story more. If it is a story with characters I really love, I always want more. Short stories are good too but they don't seem to have such an impact on me.

You can participate in Booking Through Thursday by clicking on the image above!

Product Review: Day Runner Organizer

2010-06-02T02:12:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week that I was offered the chance to review another product by CSN. First they sent me a bookshelf that I keep all my TBR books on so I thought it was a good idea to follow up with this organizer so I can track what books I want to read by which date.

As far as looks go, this is a really nice looking organizer. It zips up and there are a ton of pockets. In fact, there are so many that I don't know what I'll do with them all. It's binder-style so I can add refill pages as I need more, which I already do as I'm planning out my summer reading list. I can definitely see myself using this long-term and I'm already using it on a daily basis after just three days of using it.

If you are looking for an organizer, I would definitely say that CSN has a lot of them. This one was my favorite from the site though. It's not bulky like other planners and I can fit a lot inside it. It's a great reading companion, because you can also keep notes inside it.

Thank you to CSN for offering me this planer to review!

Princess in the Spotlight - Meg Cabot

2010-05-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

First line: Okay. So I was just in the kitchen, eating cereal, you know, the usual Monday morning routine, when my mom comes out of the bathroom with this funny look on her face.

I don't think that I can gush enough about how much I love the Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot. I think that Meg Cabot is hilarious and Mia is a great narrator. I loved Princess in the Spotlight, but I didn't think it was as funny as The Princess Diaries. I love Mia's developing crush on Michael, and the way her relationship with her parents is changing.

Mystic in a Minivan - Kristen White

2010-05-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

First line: I am an addict. But not in the way you might think.

A received a review copy of Mystic in a Minivan by Kristen White. I liked the summary and the beginning drew me in right away. After reading the first 5 pages I was very interested to see where the book was going. The narrator was very interesting and likable. I was definitely able to see Kristen White's sense of humor in the writing style she used. She definitely did not create the main character to be a typical mom type of character.

Around page 140 I started to feel like the story was getting too repetitive for me. I started skimming a lot and despite my attachment to the beginning of the book, the middle was kind of flat for me so I stopped reading. The characters were interesting enough and I liked the author's sense of humor, but the plot just wasn't for me.

I can definitely see this as being a nice quick read because the chapters are short and the writing style is easy to read.

Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris

2010-05-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

I really have mixed feelings about Dead in the Family, the 10th installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, but it seems like it is getting some good reviews. I finished the book while on vacation so my review is going to be short since I didn't take many notes.

The best thing about this book was the way Sookie and others interacted with Hunter. I was so excited to see Hunter in this book because it seems like he teaches Sookie a lot about herself. As far as other characters go, Claude was a pleasant surprise. I was happy with Eric and Pam, but also disappointed in the way Eric's maker showed up and didn't cause as much trouble as I thought he would. He was not menacing at all, which was disappointing.

There were some cheesy bits in this book, such as the reference to the song "Bad Things", from the show. I prefer it when Charlaine keeps the books and show completely separate, though I think some will like it.

The best quote of the book was definitely, "You-all need a Handy Hints rule book or something." (p. 31)

It's definitely a must-read for fans of the series and I think that fans of both Bill and Eric will like the book because both get to have some positive interactions with Sookie. I do think that Bill fans will be a little disappointed by his small role in this book.

When I finished the book I wasn't really craving more the way I was with the previous books. Maybe I just know that I have to wait a year for the next book, but I just didn't feel as passionately about this book as I did others in the series.

Too Many Choices . . .

2010-05-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

A while back I received a bookshelf from CSN for review. Now I use it to hold all the books I own but have not read yet - the TBR shelf that I can practically get lost in. Seriously, I go to that corner the room and I can't get out of there for at least an hour.

Now CSN has offered to send me another product to review. I was shocked that CSN has so many stores and so many products. They have pretty much everything from bathroom vanities to wall art to espresso makers. That's where my problem comes in. I really have no idea what I want to review! I love to drink coffee so an espresso maker would come in handy, but then again there are magazines racks and even shoes.

You can look forward to seeing what I end up choosing and what I think of it soon!

Belinda - Anne Rice

2010-05-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

First lines: "Who was she?" That was the first thought that came to my mind when I saw her in the bookstore. Jody, the publicist, pointed her out. "Catch your devoted fan over there," she said. "Goldilocks."

Summary: Belinda is 16-years-old when she meets Jeremy, a 44-year-old author and artist of children's books. When Jeremy learns that Belinda is a runaway he invites her to move in with them, after the two have already been having sex. Jeremy is still very curious about Belinda's secret past and why she's running away. When he looks into her past it causes more trouble than he plans on.

Review: The first half of this book I enjoyed very much. The second half I was in and out. If not for the parts I skipped, I would be willing to say that this was one of the best books I have read lately. Unfortunately I have to review the book as a whole.

Belinda and Jeremy are both interesting characters. At first the reader isn't sure if they should like or hate Jeremy. His guilt is obvious at first but eventually he is more worried about getting in trouble than if he is causing harm or not. Belinda is mysterious at first, and extremely intelligent, almost to a fault.

One thing that seemed to be missing between Jeremy and Belinda was intense chemistry that seemed to be present in Jeremy's mind but not necessarily in their interactions. This would have made their relationship make more sense than Jeremy simply feeling attached to Belinda because she was beautiful.

When I was done reading I felt content that the story was over, not really wanting more. I liked it and will probably go back and read the story of Belinda's life that I skipped later on because I didn't find it particularly interesting or necessary.

The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

2010-05-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

First line: Sometimes it seems like all I ever do is lie.

Summary: Mia Thermopolis is just a regular high school freshman who happens to be 5 foot 9, possessing yield sign shaped hair, is flat-chested, and is also the princess of a European country.

Review: Reading this book the second time, about 7 years after I first read it, was worth it. I forgot how great Mia was as a narrator and how much I love reading things in her voice. Meg Cabot is truly a gifted writer in that she puts so much into Mia's character that I feel like I'm reading a real diary.

Mia is my favorite character, followed by Michael and Mia's mom. I had never realized how much of a jerk Mia's dad is. He seems to want things to go hi way all the time but seems to put little effort into actually being a part of Mia's life.

This book pretty much has everything I look for in a light young adult book - humor, sarcasm, and a great narrator. I highly recommend this book to young adult readers. It's one of my favorites.

The Heavenstone Secrets - V.C. Andrews

2010-05-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

First line: Like most any other girl my age, I was afraid of the darkness when I was alone.

Summary: Semantha and Cassie are sisters, "the Heavenstone sisters". Their father runs a successful chain of stores and they have a prestigious family history. Cassie is willing to do anything to uphold her father's reputation and the family lineage. Semantha is known as the prettier and more relaxed sister while Cassie is very uptight. When something horrible happens to Semantha's family, Cassie begins to take on the role of their mother. Cassie takes on a disturbing role in the family that ultimately leads to more tragedy.

Review: I don't usually have very high hopes for V.C. Andrews books anymore. It's not that I don't enjoy them, they just don't have the same feel as the earlier books. The Heavenstone Secrets was less disappointing to me though. For me, it was more like reading Heaven or My Sweet Audrina. There was also a feeling of Darkest Hour in the relationship between Semantha and Cassie.

My favorite character was Uncle Perry. He is the voice of reason and I wanted to see more of him. I was really hoping that Semantha would go and live with him. Semantha as a narrator was okay but too naive. She is supposed to be 16 but she doesn't realize that the things her sister is doing are just wrong. This was the major thing keeping me from really acknowledging this book was more like the older ones. Those characters were not so naive. They were at least a little clever and had more personality. Cassie as a villain is more so irritating than threatening.

The story is repetitive, especially when it came to Semantha's mother. Her fate is foreshadowed for too long and too much of the story focuses on this event that the reader already knows is going to happen.

In the end, The Heavenstone Secrets is good for a quick read and for those who really like V.C. Andrews and want to keep up with her books. Perhaps for readers not familiar with the older books this one will be more memorable. It's not the best V.C. Andrews book but it's not the worst. I have the sequel on my shelf and am curious about what happens next.

Knight of Desire - Margaret Mallory

2010-05-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

Knight of Desire
By Margaret Mallory

Summary: William has come to claim land that the king has given him but there’s a catch – he has to marry Catherine, a woman who just turned in her abusive husband as a spy, or she will be taken to the Tower. William and Catherine do not trust each other and both are extremely suspicious of the other’s motives. If William and Catherine cannot learn to trust each other, there may be serious consequences.

Why I decided to read this book: I really like historical romances though I haven’t read very many. This book was already on my TBR list but thankfully I won a copy!

Review: I have a lot of good things to say about Knight of Desire. The book drew me in from the very beginning. I knew right away that I would like the characters. I actually think the introduction as very well done.

One thing I noticed soon was that Margaret Mallory is good and showing what the characters are thinking without outright telling the reader every single thought they have.

In the end, I took me less than 24 hours of on and off reading to finish the book. It was addictive. My main disappointment is in the ending. It was not a bad ending, but it was a vague one. I guess I expected something more.

I am anxious to read Margaret Mallory’s next book, Knight of Pleasure, which was released in December 2009.

I definitely recommend this book to historical romance readers.

Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy

2010-05-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy
Edited by Richard Brian Davis

Summary: Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy explores the world of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as it relates to philosophy. Topics that the book explores include feminism, logic, memory, perception, and social contracts.

Why I decided to read this book: I received a review copy of this book thanks to FSB Associates. The reason this book originally caught my eye is because a similar book about True Blood will be released soon.

Review: The first and best thing I can say about this book is that it made me think. Despite the fact that I have not read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I was able to follow along. There were some parts that lost me but overall I enjoyed it.

A few of the topics stuck out the most to me. One was the importance (or lack of importance) of linguistic rules in Wonderland. The best chapter to me, however, was “Alice, Perception, and Reality: Jell-o Mistaken for Stones” by Robert Arp. It considers the world around us, what is real, and what is just perception. I have been studying this topic in my philosophy class so I think this chapter had the most to offer to me.

After I read the original work I definitely want to revisit this book. I recommend this book to any Alice in Wonderland fan who is also interested in studying the work as it relates to philosophy.

I will end this review with a great quote from the book: “Like Alice, we create adventures to relieve us from a life of dullness and indifference” (page 156).

The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks

2010-05-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

First line: Who am I? And how, I wonder, will this story end?

It seems like everybody has seen the movie The Notebook, myself included. It’s one of my favorite sappy romances, which prompted me to pick up the book despite the negative things I have heard about Nicholas Sparks.

Like the movie, the book follows Noah and Allie’s romance despite the fact that the book follows a different storytelling pattern than the movie. The movie seems to focus more on the early romance the two shared, which I think works better on film than the storyline in the book.

I admit to starting the book with two different types of bias. For one, I loved the movie. Second, I have read some things about Nicholas Sparks that make me reluctant to start reading his books. Some quotes of his have also played a part here. I guess you could say I had low expectations for the book.

Both characters were likeable enough, though the reader gets to know Noah more than Allie. Lon is meant to be a sort of victim, but he comes off as unlikeable to me. The characters were part of the reason I finished the book so quickly. They were a little bit addictive.

The end of the book was depressing in a way, but also sweet. It was sadder than the movie, but I think this has a lot to do with the way Nicholas Sparks manipulates the situations in the book with words. Everything tragic is described repeatedly in the most depressing way. I can tell where the reader is intentionally manipulated, but at the same time it worked on me.

When I compare the book and the movie, I definitely like the movie better. It has more story and impact on me. I don't think of the book as especially great, but the story itself is captivating.

I recommend The Notebook to those who like to read romance novels that might make them feel like crying.

The Man Who Loved Clowns - June Rae Wood

2010-05-06T01:50:00.000-07:00

The Man Who Loved Clowns
by June Rae Wood

First lines: “Delrita! Delrita Jensen! Wait up!”
I clutched my books to my chest and plowed on through the sea of sweaty bodies in the junior high hallway.

Summary: Delrita Jensen is a junior high student with a secret – her uncle, Punky, has Down’s syndrome. Though he is 35 years old, he has the mind of a child. Delrita is so protective, though embarrassed, of him that she keeps her distance from others and doesn’t try to make friends. When a family tragedy causes Delrita to change her living situation, she realizes that Punky can be successful in a new environment, and she can have friends of her own.

Why I decided to read this book: I was given this book as a gift when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I had been storing it in a box I just came across in the garage and decided to reread this and the sequel to see how my thoughts have changed over the years.

Likes:
This was the first time I heard of the phrase “Put that in your pipe and smoke it.”
Avanelle and Tree are good characters. They have admirable qualities even though Delrita treats them both poorly.
As much as Delrita is annoying, the author captures the ending well. I felt the emotion she was trying to convey, even reading it for a second time, knowing what ending was coming.

Dislikes:
Delrita is kind of a brat and not likeable as a narrator. When I first read this book as an 11 year old I didn’t have the same opinion. I actually liked her. Delrita has a sense of entitlement that comes off as annoying. She’s judgmental. She says this about a nurse helping her uncle: “her fat thighs in nylons swishing against each other.”
Delrita and her family laugh when Punky calls people fat and comments on their appearance.
Recommendation: This is a great book for the younger end of the spectrum of the young adult genre, and great for those who want to read about how a family copes with Down’s syndrome.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls - Steve Hockensmith

2010-05-05T01:36:00.000-07:00

Dawn of the Dreadfuls
by Steve Hockensmith

First line: Walking out in the middle of a funeral would be, of course, bad form.

Summary: This book is a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which I have not read. Dawn of the Dreadfuls is set 4 years before those events and the Bennet sisters learn to “slay” the dreadfuls.

Why I decided to read this book: I received a review copy of this book. I accepted it because I thought it would be interesting.

Likes:
It’s funny and some of the lines really do make me laugh.

I think that the author’s tone and style are interesting and so matter of fact that it makes for easy reading.

Dislikes:
Some parts of the story were a little dull and I felt like I needed to skim to keep my interest up. While it was interesting, I didn't find it compelling.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to readers who liked Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

She-Rain by Michael Cogdill

2010-05-05T00:43:00.001-07:00

She-Rain
by Michael Cogdill

First line: God’s coat landed softer than leaves falling to a pond.

Summary: (From the back of the book) In the early 20th century, a pair of North Carolina mountain children sow the seed of love that becomes their only solace in the hard yet beautiful world they know. They grow it from steep ground of poverty, ignorance, and violence. A landscape so brutal it can kill hope long before claiming life.

Why I decided to read this book: I received a review copy of this book thanks to FSB Associates. I didn’t finish this book but I found the style to be engaging.

Setting: The setting seems quite important to the story and I think a lot of readers will be able to identify with it. The setting helps create the style in which the book is written and I think a lot of readers will like this.

Characters: The characters were interesting, but I had a hard time relating to them and their situations. I don’t think this is the fault of the author, just my particular reading experience.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a unique writing style.

Burned - Ellen Hopkins

2010-05-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

First lines: Did you ever

When you were little, endure

Your parents’ warnings, then wait . . .

Summary: Burned is the story of Pattyn Von Stratten (I think this is a really interesting name) who is raised in a religious and abusive home. It is drilled into her head that a woman belongs at home, taking care of children, and the man is the supreme ruler of the home. When Pattyn is sent away after she is caught behaving in a way her father finds inappropriate, she finds out what real love feels like. Pattyn finds out that this won’t last for long though.

Why I decided to read this book: I’ve heard some great things about Ellen Hopkins and I enjoyed the first novel I read in verse form. I also love books dealing with controversial topics like religion, abuse, and sex.
Review: I loved the first 2/3 of Burned and by the end I was a bit shocked at the turn the book took. I’m not going to spoil it, but it was disappointing to me. After the climax the end seemed to come to an end too quickly. The decision that Pattyn made seemed to come out of nowhere. I didn’t expect it at all, though maybe I should have.

Pattyn is an interesting character to see develop. I liked watching her fall in love and build a relationship with her aunt in which she was able to trust an adult. Reading about Pattyn’s romance was also interesting, though predictable. I liked Ethan.

I will definitely read more books by Ellen Hopkins.

Recommendation: This is a heavy book for being young adult, but I do recommend it to older teenagers and adults who like reading about controversial topics.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. - Judy Blume

2010-05-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
by Judy Blume

First lines: Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret. We’re moving today.

Summary: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is about Margaret Simon, an 11-year-old girl. She lived in New York City but moved to the suburbs with her parents and she is desperately hoping she will fit in. When she does, her group begins talking about things that typical girls going through puberty discuss – boys, periods, and kissing. The title is based on Margaret talking to God, but she does not necessarily have religion.

Why I decided to read this book: I felt like I was the only person in the world who had not read this book and it’s a favorite of many.

Likes:
I really like Margaret. I can’t pinpoint what exactly I like about her, but I do. Her narration is so genuine and so honest. I feel like it is actually coming from an 11-year-old girl and not from an adult author. Judy Blume captures this type of honesty perfectly.

Dislikes:
I can usually find at least one thing I didn’t like in each book and this one was harder than most. I suppose the supporting characters were lacking. Nancy was an extremely annoying character to me though I suppose she could also be seen as endearing.

Recommendation: I recommend this book to young girls going through puberty who can identify with Margaret. This is also a great book to read as an adult, understanding what Margaret is going through.

Book Box Round 2 Accepting Participants

2010-04-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

If you want to know how the Book Box works, go here!

If you want to sign up, fill out the form below!

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Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

2010-04-22T02:45:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books coming up this weekend! This is my first time going but I think it will be a lot of fun. I know that a lot of book bloggers will be meeting up (probably including me despite the fact that I'm not one for being social).

So who else is coming?

Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-04-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

First line: Late one afternoon in the summer of 2006, I found myself in a small village in northern Vietnam, sitting around a sooty kitchen fire with a number of local women whose language I did not speak, trying to ask them questions about marriage.

Summary: This is Elizabeth Gilbert’s follow-up to Eat, Pray, Love, which I have not read (though I plan to). She tells the reader about her life after the events in that book happened. She has fallen in love with Felipe, who had citizenship in Australia, and really isn’t thinking of getting legally married. This changes when Felipe is detained at the airport after traveling through the United States so often. The only way that she and Felipe can have a life in the USA is if she and Felipe get married. Gilbert talks about marriage in a way that is critical, but she also seeks to understand.

Review: I have mainly positive things to say about this book. Elizabeth Gilbert comes off as critical but at the same time I think the reader can see that she is honestly curious and wants to understand why and how people get married.

One thing I do not like about the book is the cover. I don’t think it does the book any justice at all. If I saw it sitting on a bookshelf with no prior knowledge of the author, I don’t think I would pick it up. The reason I did decide to read this book is because I got it as an ARC from the October 2009 read-a-thon.
I love reading about Elizabeth’s travels. I often wonder what brought her to so many unique places. She is so well-traveled that it is amazing. If I got to sit down and talk to the author, I would ask her why she chose the places she traveled to. Of course that could be something she explained in her first book!

I love some of the points Elizabeth made both about marriage and about being child-free. It is not very often that I get to read about somebody who does not want children and this is a perspective I enjoy reading from. Elizabeth does not bash those who have children; she just acknowledges that it’s not the right choice for her. I also like the things Elizabeth had to say about arranged marriage and marriages in Asia that don’t necessarily require love.

I recommend this book to any readers who enjoy memoirs. I also think this is a good book for people who are considering marriage or are skeptical about it.

Reading Infinite Jest

2010-04-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace has been sitting on my TBR shelf for some time now and I finally picked it up and started reading. As I type this I am on page 17. I already know that this is a book I am going to put a lot of effort in to reading and understanding.

I did find a lot of resources to help me get through the book, thankfully. Before I googled the book I had never realized how many resources there are available to readers.

Here are a couple of the websites I will be using while reading:

Infinite Summer: How to Read Infinite Jest
Infinite Jest Wiki

I am thinking that since this book is gigantic and there is so much involved in reading it, I'm going to do regular updates until the actual review to keep me on track.

Has anybody else read Infinite Jest? What resources or information did you find helpful during your reading? What do you recommend?

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares

2010-04-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Anne Brashares

First line: If you are reading this, you may know about us.

Summary: This is the third book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series that follows Bee, Tibby, Lena, and Carmen. Bee is now a soccer camp coach, Carmen’s mom is pregnant, Lena is struggling with her family’s feelings about her attending school, and Tibby is mostly feeling some angst. Bee reconnects with Eric from the first book in the series, Carmen comes to term with the new changes in her family, Lena finds her own voice through art, and Tibby comes out feeling a little better about herself.

Title/Cover: The cover is a bit plain but it does match the other covers in the series. I love the title Girls in Pants.

Why I decided to read this book: I had seen the two movies and read the first two books.

Setting: The settings themselves aren’t very important. What’s more important is the fact that each girl has a different set of circumstances to deal with despite.

Characters: I love the characters in this book, even the secondary ones. Bee is the most interesting character to me. She has a personality that is probably the complete opposite of mine but I can still understand her. I got more of a feel for Lena’s character in this book, but the one character I lost some love for was Tibby. The pants themselves are pretty much a character too, but they weren’t as relevant to this installment of the series. I think the casting for the movie is perfect. I picture each of the girls from the movie as each of the characters in the book.

Likes:
I love the characters.
The random quotes at the end of the chapters are usually either inspiring or they make me laugh.

Dislikes:
I really could not identify with Tibby in this book and her story was not as interesting as the other girls.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to everybody who enjoyed reading the first two books in the series. It has a very wide appeal.

Rating: 4 / 5

Truly, Madly - Heather Webber

2010-04-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

First line: There comes a time in every girl’s life when she realizes her father isn’t perfect.

Summary: Lucy Valentine’s family owns a matchmaking business since each member seems to be gifted with powerful matchmaking abilities. An accident left Lucy with different powers- the ability to find lost items. Lucy meets Sean, a private investigator she is extremely attracted to. Not only does Lucy seek to solve mysteries that pop up around her, but she also seeks to discover more about herself.

Title/Cover: I really like the cover. It’s bright and vibrant. If I saw the cover on a shelf at a store I would definitely pick it up.

Why I decided to read this book: I got a review copy of this book. I read the description and it immediately appealed to me.

Setting: The setting is Boston but I didn’t feel like it was very important for the story. I think it could have been set in any big city.

Characters: Lucy is an interesting character with the unique ability to find lost items when she touches a person. Some of the secondary characters seem a bit flat in my mind and are not as interesting as Lucy.

Likes:
Heather Webber’s writing style reminds me of both Janet Evanovich and Charlaine Harris and I have heard other book bloggers say this too.

Lucy’s relationship with Sean is very slow-building. This is a nice change from a lot of paranormal romances where sex is always at the forefront of a relationship. Not that I’m complaining about that though.

I also like this quote from page 14: True colors are often shown during high stakes games of Monopoly.

Dislikes:
It took me a while to get into the book and I’m really not sure why.

It seemed to me like there was a ton of internal dialogue at the beginning of the novel – sooner or later I was going to have to and could I really do this?! I’m quite guilty of using a lot of internal dialogue when I write so I may be more critical in picking up on these.

Recommendation: I would recommend Truly, Madly to readers who like a combination of paranormal romance and cozy mysteries.

Rating: 3 / 5 – I do want to read the next book in the series! It is called Deeply, Desperately and I hear it is coming out in August.

Don't Like the Heroine, Like the Book

2010-04-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of books I read that I love. I like the plot, I like the secondary characters, I like the setting. I just cannot stand the heroine.

I have heard this about Twilight. I can see why - Bella can be a bit pathetic and whiny.

Does anybody else feel the same way about main characters, but still like the books they are in?

Read-a-Thon Wrap Up

2010-04-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a day since the Read-a-Thon but I needed some time to recuperate. I did end up going to bed early though I promised myself and everybody else I would stay up. I just couldn't do it.

I had so much fun helping to plan the mini challenges and putting my own up! I also had a lot of fun reading. I finished a whole 7 books and a total of 1403 pages! I also started another book that I think I will finish very soon. Basically the whole Read-a-Thon was amazing!

Also, I still need my mini challenge winners to email me as soon as they can!

I already can't wait for the next Read-a-Thon!

Still reading...

2010-04-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

I'm still reading! I just decided not to do the hourly updates anymore. They take up too much valuable reading time!

Read-a-thon Mini Chalenge - Once Upon a Reding

2010-04-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Sheila is hosting a mini challenge that asks participants to write a short story of 3 to 4 paragraphs, using at least 10 book titles. This is going to be tricky but fun! I'm going to use only books I have near my desk right now.

The baby-sitter sat calmly in the emergency room after she had been burned by girls in pants. She truly, madly wanted to scream, but she remained committed to be a professional. The doctor was not helpful when she relayed her problem to him and evenutally he sent her away.

The truth was that the baby-sitter had a deadly little secret. Her secret was that she was actually an undercover journalist for the lumby lines and was willing to portray any type of employee or social class to get a good story. She had been a shopgirl before and she had been able to mingle with A-list celebrities, which had been exciting.

When the baby-sitter was able to wake up her best friend boy-crazy Stacey and tell her not only about the baby-sitting job that left her arm swollen and about the fact that she would have to write a disparaging news article about the celebrity family, Stacey was unable to offer advice. She was still thinking about the dream she had about politically correct bedtime stories.

There you have it! It's not really my type of story but I think it works!

Hour 14 Update

2010-04-10T18:56:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 81

Books I read from:
• BSC #4: Mary Anne Saves the Day – Anne M. Martin
• Politically Correct Fairy Tales – James Finn Garner
• The A-List – Zoey Dean
Books completed:

I’m getting into The A-List so maybe I’ll finish it next hour. My cat stopped ignoring me for a few minutes but he got bored and left the room. No Read-a-Thon for him!

Cumulative

Pages I read: 903

Books completed: 4

Hour 13 Update

2010-04-10T17:57:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 66

Books I read from:
• BSC #4: Mary Anne Saves the Day – Anne M. Martin
• Politically Correct Fairy Tales – James Finn Garner
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin
• The Lumby Lines – Gail Fraser
• The A-List – Zoey Dean
Books completed:
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin

I am taking another snack break and then I plan to get back in to reading. I can’t believe it is more than halfway done!

Cumulative

Pages I read: 822

Books completed: 4

Hour 12 Update

2010-04-10T16:55:00.003-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 32

Books I read from:
• BSC #4: Mary Anne Saves the Day – Anne M. Martin
• Politically Correct Fairy Tales – James Finn Garner
Books completed: 0

Mini Challenges complete:

I have a Pepsi now and I did take a little break to announce my contest winners.

Cumulative

Pages I read: 756

Books completed: 3

Book Photo Shoot Mini Challenge Winners

2010-04-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

There were only 4 entries to my Read-a-Thon mini challenge but they were all good ones!

The winner of the random drawing using random.org is Kate. Her entry depicted a very fierce Jacob-esque snarl. I love it! Kate has won a True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse/ vampire gift basket including a copy of Dead in the Family when it comes out! Congratulations! Email me for more information!

The winner that I personally chose comes from Chick Loves Lit. Her entry features a scene from The Hunger Games which I thought was quite beautiful! She has one a bookish themed gift basket of her choice. Email me with three potential book themes!

As for the other two participants, I would like to also give you prizes - Nise from Under the Boardwalk and Sarah from Dangerously Cold Tea. Both of you please choose a first choice and then a back up choice from this list (they are all gently used):

Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti

The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy

More Than Words Volume 6 - Joan Johnston

A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

Winners can email me at ashleyslibrary@gmail.com!

Hour 11 Update

2010-04-10T15:59:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 106

Books I read from:
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin
• The A-List – Zoey Dean
• Politically Correct Bedtime Stories – James Finn Garner
Books completed: 0

Mini Challenges complete:

This is my highest page total yet! I’m getting a little tired and I should probably take a break.

Cumulative

Pages I read: 724

Books completed: 3

Hour 10 Update

2010-04-10T14:51:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 59

Books I read from:
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin
• The A-List – Zoey Dean
• Politically Correct Bedtime Stories – James Finn Garner
Books completed: 0

Mini Challenges complete:

I took a short lunch break and then got back to reading. I’m having a lot of fun and I can’t believe how fast time is flying!

Cumulative

Pages I read: 618

Books completed: 3

Hour 9 Update

2010-04-10T13:51:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 32

Books I read from:

· Poor Little Bitch Girl – Jackie Collins

· Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser

· Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card

· Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert

Books completed:

· Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert

Mini Challenges complete:

I finished my 3^rd book and ate some hot Cheetos. Things are going well. I’m also hosting a mini challenge that I hope will get some entries so I can make some gift baskets!

Cumulative

Pages I read: 559

Books completed: 3

Read-a-Thon Mini Challenge: Book Photo Shoot

2010-04-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome readers! It's only hour 9 so I hope you are all energized and ready for another challenge!

I have always wanted to re-create book and movie scenes in photographs just for fun and here is your chance to try it out! Using yourself, other people, puppets, or even inanimate objects, take a photo that depicts a memorable scene from a book.

There will be 2 winners.

Each picture you post is an entry into a random drawing! The random drawing winner will be the proud recipient of a True Blood themed gift basket/box that will include a pre-ordered copy of Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris.

I will also be choosing my favorite photo for another prize. My favorite will get a gift box or basket of a bookish theme of the winner's choice that I will put together.

To enter, make a post on your blog with the photo(s) as well as a brief explanation or quote that explains what book this scene is from and perhaps the quote it comes from. Link to your blog in the comments and fill out short form below!

The challenge will last 3 hours and I will announce the winners of the challenge soon after that!

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Hour 8 Update

2010-04-10T12:48:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 66

Books I read from:
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares
• The A-List – Zoey Dean
Books completed:
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares

Mini Challenges complete:

I finished my 2nd book this hour and it feels great! I’m hoping to finish up Committed next hour!

Cumulative

Pages I read: 527

Books completed: 2

Hour 7 Update

2010-04-10T11:56:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 114

Books I read from:
• Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls – Steve Hockensmith
• The Lumby Lines – Gail Fraser
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin
• Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
• Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser
• The A-List – Zoey Dean
• Truly, Madly – Heather Webber
Books completed:
• Truly, Madly – Heather Webber

Mini Challenges complete:

I finally finished my first book! I also started drinking my first energy drink so I’m hoping I won’t crash. This has been my best hour so far today! I got 49 solid and consecutive hours of reading.

Cumulative

Pages I read: 461

Books completed: 1

Hour 6 Update

2010-04-10T10:55:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 77

Books I read from:
• Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls – Steve Hockensmith
• The Lumby Lines – Gail Fraser
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin
• Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
• Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser
Books completed: 0

Mini Challenges complete:

How I’m feeling: I’m still motivate and still reading. It’s becoming a little more difficult but I’ll manage! I think I need to have a snack time.

Cumulative

Pages I read: 347

Books completed: 0

Hour 5 Update

2010-04-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 45

Books I read from:
• Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls – Steve Hockensmith
• The Lumby Lines – Gail Fraser
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin
• Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card

Books completed: 0

Mini Challenges complete:
How I’m feeling: I decided not to finish reading More Than Words. I also decided to take a little break and go wash some dishes and make a pot of coffee.

Cumulative

Pages I read: 270

Books completed: 0

Book Box - Still looking!

2010-04-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

I am still looking for those interested in taking part in the Book Box experiment.

Basically, there will be one box with 10 books that I will send to the first person on the list, which will be first come, first serve. The person who receives the box will replace the books they picked out with the same number of books. You can see my original post about it here!

If you are interested please fill out the form below. I will contact you for more information when we have enough participants!

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Hour 4 Update

2010-04-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 68

Books I read from:
• Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares
• More than Words Volume 6 – Joan Johnston, etc.
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls – Steve Hockensmith
• The Lumby Lines – Gail Fraser
• Shopgirl – Steve Martin

Books completed: 0

Mini Challenges complete: Book Title Sentence
How I’m feeling: My chair is starting to get uncomfortable so it may be time to change reading locations. I’m anxious to finish Girls in Pants and Committed.

Cumulative

Pages I read: 225

Books completed: 0

Book Title Sentence Mini Challenge

2010-04-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

Bart's Bookshelf is asking Read-a-Thon participants to create a sentence using book titles. Here's mine!

My sentence is: Girls in pants burned the baby-sitter.

Hour 3 Update

2010-04-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

This Hour
Pages read: 90
Books I read from:
• Committed – Elizabeth Gilbert
• Girls in Pants – Ann Brashares
• More than Words Volume 6 – Joan Johnston, etc.
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls – Steve Hockensmith
Books completed: 0
Mini Challenges complete: 0
How I’m feeling: I’ve been reading solid for about an hour and 20 minutes. I feel good though I could use some coffee. None of the books I’m reading are really “keeping me” so I’m bouncing around to stay interested!

Cumulative
Pages I read: 157
Books completed: 0

Hour 2 Update

2010-04-10T07:05:00.001-07:00

This Hour

Pages read: 67

Books I read from:

Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
More Than Words Volume 6 - Joan Johnston

Books completed:0

Mini Challenges complete: 0

How I’m feeling: Ready to go! I literally have a jug of tea and a bag of donuts with me so I'd say I'm feeling good. I like the books I chose to start with!

Cumulative

Pages I read: 67

Books completed: 0

Let the Reading Begin - Hour 1

2010-04-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

Where are you reading from today?

Today I will be reading from the comfort of my desk chair, bed, couch, and maybe even from outside if the weather is nice.

3 facts about me...

1. I have powdered donuts for breakfast for the day though I usually don't eat breakfast.
2. I am way too ambitious with my pile of books.
3. My cat will hopefully keep me company today but he also might just ignore me since I'll be paying more attention to the books.

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

I'm embarrassed to answer - It's more than 30.

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 don't have any specific goals. I just want to read!

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

This is my third Read-a-Thon. Start with something light and keep light books in your TBR pile for when times get tough. I also read more than one book at a time - it helps me keep going when I get stuck.

Fun Ways To Get Through Your TBR Shelves

2010-04-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have lost track of the number of books on my TBR shelf so I decided to brainstorm some fun ways somebody might want to read through their shelf in different orders.

Alphabetical order by author or title
Color of the book's cover
Publishing date
Genre
Cover theme (covers with people followed by covers with animals followed by covers with plants and so on)
Page number
Holiday themed - all the red, green, and white in front for winter holidays and so on
Setting - all books set in California together, etc.
Name of the main character

Do you have any interesting ideas? Have you tried any of these out?

What Do We Do Now? - Keith and the Girl

2010-04-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

What Do We Do Now? by Keith and the Girl

First line: The Keith and the Girl talk show has become one of the most popular and most downloaded comedy podcasts on the Internet by discussing life, pop culture, and, most notably for purposes of this book, relationships.

Summary: Keith and Chemda, aka Keith and the Girl, prove that relationships can suck but they don’t have to. They answer questions related to sex, marriage, in-laws, money, and basically any other relationship-related topic you might have questions about.

Title/Cover: The cover and title are adorable with the blackboard motif. The title is a joke from the podcast, which I recommend.

Why I decided to read this book: I decided to read this book because I like the podcast that the authors host called Keith and the Girl.

Likes:
• I like the format where the question is asked and first one author answers and then the other. It makes the book much more personal.
• It made me laugh.

Dislikes:
• I don’t always agree with Keith or Chemda but I can’t deny they always bring certain flair to each of their answers.

Recommendation: This is a great book that delivers on what it promises – “modern advice for modern couples”.

April 10 Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge Sign Ups!

2010-03-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

I would like to encourage everybody to cruise on over to the Dewey's Read-a-Thon page and sign up to host a mini-challenge! It's going to be a lot of fun! I'm helping out this year with the mini-challenges so I'm especially excited!

Sign up here: Dewey's Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge Sign Ups

Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah

2010-03-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

First line: They used to be called the Firefly Lane girls.

Summary: Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart are best friends almost instantly upon meeting. They have a friendship that spans 30 years, from the 70s to the 00s. Tully is the one with the outgoing personality with big dreams who has a hard time taking accountability for her actions. Kate is the one who is shy and nurturing, standing in Tully’s shadow. Eventually the friends come to a point where they must decide if their friendship is strong enough to live beyond an act of betrayal.

Title/Cover: The title is alright. It fits in with the story in a way that is obvious from the first sentence. The cover is simple but I found it appealing.

Why I decided to read this book: I had seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, though some negative, and I thought the relationship between Tully and Kate would be interesting.

Setting: The setting for this novel was the Pacific Northwest, and this is one of my favorite settings. The setting didn’t seem critical to the story though.

Characters: Tully is probably one of the characters I have hated the most in any book I have read. Tully is a thoughtless character. Kate lacks personality to really make her a three-dimensional character. It was frustrating that she let Tully push her around so much.

Likes:

· The time span of the book was interesting.

· It was easy to read despite being almost 500 pages.

· I will continue looking into this author because I do like to read about relationships.

· The twist was unpredictable.

· The story was interesting.

Dislikes:

· The end was emotionally manipulative.

· I hated Tully and Kate lacked personality.

· I didn’t understand why Kate would want to be friends with Tully as an adult.

· Initially I liked it, but upon further review I didn’t like it as much.

· The writing style was a little cheesy.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those who like chick-lit and emotional books about friendship.

Rating: 3 / 5

Contest Winner

2010-03-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

I have randomly selected a winner for for a copy of Keith and the Girl's What do We Do Now? and it is. . . .

Fiona!

Thank you to those who participated!