Beautiful Boy

By David Sheff...what an incredible story. I have read TWEAK by his son Nic Sheff which details a boy's struggle with addiction...starting with drinking at a young age, experimenting with drugs and then finally becoming addicted to meth. It was a heart wrenching story and very harsh as it really went into the mind of an addict. So...I had been excited about reading about this addiction from the parent's point of view. It was a different read...it was sad and hard to read. A father constantly questioning his choices to let his son experiment...and yet knowing when to step in and say enough is enough. Nic's father chose to let his son know he had tried drugs when he was younger...thinking it was a rite of passage...people go through that experimental phase...but thinking later that maybe he shouldn't have told him. Maybe telling Nic made him think that it was okay. Nic's father goes through Al-Anon to try and get some perspective...he thinks for awhile he can help his son if he loves him enough...and he struggles with putting too much attention on Nic and not enough on his immediate family. It made me cry...it made me think...it was an incredible book! I do recommend reading both...eventhough TWEAK may be a little harsh for some with content, language, sexuality, etc...

Haters

By Alisa Valdez-Rodrigues, yep another young adult title. I went to another library and started listening to a few YA titles. I have a drive now two nights a week so I have switched to audio books for a little while while I am taking classes. Meet Paski...who has moved from Taos, NM to Orange County CA...she is being raised by her dad, who tries really hard, too hard to be hip and happening. She was popular at her old high school but fitting in with the popular crowd in this school will be difficult as she is already in love with the hottest boy in school who has been dating Jessica, the most popular girl in school. Jessica has it out for Paski...but Paski wants to be accepted. What will she do to become accepted? Will she stand up for herself? read it and find out! This book was recommended for grades 9 and up. There is a hot and heavy scene that made me giggle...

I should take this opportunity to plug two of her adult fiction books...THE DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB and PLAYING WITH BOYS, both were really good...strong female Latina characters and lots of fun! I read both of them when I lived in Cincinnati and thoroughly enjoyed both of them!

Sunny Tuesday...

It is a BEAUTIFUL day today...the sun is warm...the sky is blue...and I have a cold. More specifically I can't breathe. You see I am a nose breather...if I can't breathe through my nose I feel like I am being suffocated. So...it is day three of being on a quest to find something that will allow me to breathe. If I can't breathe...there are several things I cannot do! It is really hard to do yoga...since the core of yoga is breathing...it is hard to sleep...as if I sleep with my mouth open I cough...and that wakes me up. I have tried several decongestants...because as it turns out my sinuses and head in general feel like it is in a vice. To relieve the pressure I hoped that would also open up my nasal passages. As it turns out...I feel dry...I feel pressure, and I still can't breathe. I can't use cough drops because unless I have a severe cough I can't stomach them. They make me nauseous. So...any ideas? I still need to function. I have work to go to, classes to attend...etc.

A Step from Heaven

By An Na...what an incredible book. I admit to listening to it rather than reading it. I am driving a little more than normal now that school has started. So...I will be blogging about some audio books! So, this was my first in a long time. I laughed, I cried. It was an incredible story about a family from Korea who moves to the United States, California...for a better life. We follow the story of Young Ju as she grows from 4 years old to an adult. We see the relationship she has with her parents, her friends, her brother...and how she grows up in America. Her education is first in her parents eyes...especially her mother. Her father struggles with multiple jobs and not owning anything. Her brother feels the pressure of being the only male child...I recommend this book to anyone 8 years old and older. I am thinking of reading a couple more of An Na's books as well! If this first book is any indication...I think I will enjoy her others.

The Other Woman

By Jane Green....okay...so look at the title, I am thinking other woman, affair? Well, it is definitely the other woman...especially in your husband's life if you are married...your mother in law. I am blessed and I have an awesome mother in law...but I know people out there whose lives are full of anger, resentment, regret, etc due to a mother in law who is entirely TOO involved in their son's life. So...this is a great book. I loved the characters...and the author gives the mother in law both likable and hate able traits...as with our main character. So Ellie is from a home where her mother was an alcoholic and dies when Ellie is a teen...so naturally when she finds the right man, and his family welcomes her in, she feels very grateful and doesn't want to rock the boat...but things happen...things escalate...and you will have to read it to find out what happens! It was a quick and easy read...and definitely another book by Jane Green that I have enjoyed!