Amelia's Notebook

By Marissa Moss (except for words and pictures by Amelia. Just finished reading four of these books...all very cute. The cover looks like a composition notebook and inside are the writings and drawings of Amelia, a nine year old who has to move. She doesn't want to leave behind her friends and everything she knows. She writes about her trip to the new house, starting a new school and meeting new people in a very cute way. She makes little notes and pictures and attaches items in the notebook to remember things she did. I know when I was a kid I really enjoyed HARRIET THE SPY by Louise Fitzhugh...because Harriet wrote in a notebook. This is neat because kids can see what Amelia is writing, in her handwriting and her pictures. There are several more than 4 in this series that address other issues, vacation, boredom, family life. It is a very good series and made me think back to being 9 or 10.

Ranger's Apprentice Book One The Ruins of Gorlan

by John Flanagan...so most of the kids in the library where I work RAVE about this series. So this weekend I decided to read the first book in the series. It is one of several books and most of the series was printed in Australia before here in the US. I felt it was a pretty good book. It kept me entertained. It did have similarities with other fantasy/adventure/etc that I have read in the past...but I liked that it did take until page 189 to reveal a fantasy side...long enough I believe to hook a reader who may or may not like the fantasy. Excellent fight scenes and suspense for a younger reader as well.

Jamie Lee Curtis - Books for kids AND adults

Okay, on Sept 30th Jamie Lee Curtis was on the Rachael Ray show...she was promoting her new book BIG WORDS FOR LITTLE PEOPLE and talking about being 50. I thought it was an incredible interview and she read part of the book! I loved it!! About two months before I had read her book HUMAN RACE and I loved it. It talked about how we are all part of the race and is it a footrace? Are their winners or losers? It was really good and made you think. The illustrations are great as well. Check out her website http://www.jamieleecurtisbooks.com/ and learn more about her books. Well, in the meantime I have been reading her other books.

WHERE DO BALLOONS GO? - a mystery for kids about where balloons go if they loose their grip on one...it takes you to other places, possible outcomes for the balloon and learning about life along the way.

TELL ME AGAIN about the night I was born - A really cute story about an adoption and how the little girl likes to hear the story of how she came into this family over and over again.

I'M GONNA LIKE ME - a book about self esteem...from both a boy and a girl's point of view, liking themselves whether they succeed or fail, not being a afraid to be who they are. I really liked the message of this one because so often even adults are afraid to be themselves. You should be who you are and people will like you (if they don't, they aren't worth your time or worry).

IT'S HARD TO BE FIVE - a cute book about getting older and starting to realize that you're not a kid anymore...you can't grab things and run around in your birthday suit, you are learning things like please and thank you...there are expectations like sitting in a classroom and being a little bit more responsible. Not too much so...just a little more so. It is a fun book for kids going into preschool or kindergarten...and maybe a first manners book as well.

I still have a few more to read...WHEN I WAS LITTLE, TODAY I FEEL SILLY, and BIG WORDS, but I am sure when I do I will like them as much as these!!

Wesley the Owl

The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien, to continue with my reading books about animals and their owners. This one is about a girl who works for Caltech who takes on the raising of a four day old barn owl. She didn't just randomly rescue it, but some nerve damage had been done to his wing and he would never be able to survive in the wild. Follow their many adventures as the owl and Stacey bond, get into some interesting situations and feel a little teary eyed as their relationship grows and develops. If you like animals and enjoy a good story, this is the book for you...also check out the website for some more information http://www.wesleytheowl.com/ is a true story and definitely worth the read!

Skipping Christmas

So...I haven't read it recently, but today I thought about this book a lot. Many people I know, and maybe even people you know are making themselves nuts this Christmas...I wish people would chill and let things happen, or not happen. Anyway, this book by John Grisham is just that...what happens when two people who normally go all out for Christmas decide they aren't doing ANY of it this year. No presents, no decorations, no parties, no donations, no nothing...instead using their money to go on a cruise. They figure their daughter will be gone and so it isn't really necessary to go all out for just them. Hilarity ensues as their neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc all are upset about their lack of participation. Oh, and for those of you who saw CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS and thought that was it...well, it was an okay movie, but the book is 100 times better (isn't it always that way?). Read it, listen to it and be inspired!! I have to say I laughed hysterically!!

The Sharper Your Knife

The Less You Cry...Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris at the World's Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn. Just finished this book last night before I went to bed. I have been reading it off and on for about a week...but it is hard to read because it makes you hungry. At the end of every chapter there are recipes for a variety of foods. I was especially excited about the Onion Soup and the Cassoulet since that is what we are making for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The other recipes sounded good as well. Our main character (this is nonfiction) goes to France to learn the art of French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu. She is a little whiny, but no more so than Julie in Julie and Julia. You meet some great people, see some great places and experience some of the less glamorous life of a cooking school student. I recommend it for you foodies out there and for those of you who have always wanted to go to cooking school...you can live vicariously through Ms. Flinn.

Brisingr and while I am at it Eragon and Eldest

Okay, I admit skimming over Eragon a while back...when it first came out. I watched the movie and thought, entertaining...and didn't think much about this series for a long time. Well, this summer, knowing that Brisingr was coming out, I decided to do the whole series...I listened to ERAGON...and I loved it. I will admit, if you have read a lot of fantasy you may see some themes or situations that look familiar to you...but it is good. Then, I thought, I will watch the movie again. Now I think the movie was HORRIBLE. No where near the book and no way of redeeming itself to go on to be a movie series. Someone will have to remake the first movie to get that to happen. Then I half listened to and half read ELDEST, also good...last night I finished BRISINGR and LOVED it!! I am saddened only by one thing...I have to wait for book four. The young man who wrote this series meant it to be a trilogy in the beginning but...it looks like a fourth will be coming. I don't want to give away the plot line...but for those of you reading the series...Eragon learns who his father really is...which was pretty amazing!! For you fantasy readers out there looking for a good series...this is it. You don't have to be a kid to enjoy it! It has dragons and magic and evil sorcerers and all of that fun stuff...you also have a kid who is growing up being a dragon rider, unlucky in love and learning about the world around him...I highly recommend this series!

Love, Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli, just finished it this morning, I really loved it. I think I liked it even better than STARGIRL! I love her, the characters, her adventures, her love life...I loved it all!! It makes me want to be a strong woman, and I am nearly 40. I think being independent is great! So many characters in novels are swept back and forth by the people in their lives. This girl, she is who she is no matter what and people still accept her! Imagine that! I guess this book could encourage anyone to be you...and people will like you! If they don't, they aren't worth it. I can only hope it inspires teens to do the same!

Keeping with the girl theme I also read THE DARING BOOK FOR GIRLS by Andrea Buchanan...which made me want to go out and camp, jump rope, build things, and lots of other really fun facts and ideas of things to do. I wish I had this book as a girl...I think it would have inspired me to use my already active imagination for good instead of for evil (I kid) anyway, if you have a girl in your life, of any age and haven't found the perfect Christmas present yet...this may be in. I purchased the boys version for my husband a couple years ago and he loved it!

TWEAK

By Nic Sheff...the subtitle is growing up on methamphetamines...I read this book because someone recommended it to me. I have read several similar type books...anyone who thinks that drug use is glamorous, needs to read this book and others like this. This boy (and this is a true story) starting drinking at age 11 and soon starting smoking pot...which lead to using cocaine, heroine, and meth...he struggles with being sober and living the life of drugs. I wish kids would read books like this before even thinking of experimenting. Most of the kids I have known both when I was younger and ones I have met now feel like experimenting is a phase you go through...not a lifestyle that you become shackled with. This boy, Nic, struggles with being clean and wanting to die doing drugs...he has other issues, with his family, his friends, but it is really about what he thinks of himself. What people never know, kids especially, is that you won't know what things will effect you and how they will effect you. The other thing is that parents don't know...they all think that their kid won't do it...or that they aren't exposed to it. They couldn't be more wrong. Everyone has encountered it at one point or another, whether they admit it or not...and some kids say no and the situation passes...but others think about it, some even try it...and most of them think, oh this is a one time thing and won't effect me at all. Tell that to Nic...

And, I recommend this to everyone!

You are a Dog

Life through the eyes of Man's best friend by Terry Bain. This funny and quirky look at life through the eyes of a dog had me laughing and yes...I shed a couple of tears. The author writes from the point of view of a dog...for anyone who has a dog or has had a dog this is a must read! I especially liked the names that the dog has for people...He who leaves the seat up so That you might drink, or the dog's total war with the vacuum. It is incredible, especially when the dog describes the relationships with all of the other animals.

I have also read the juvenile version of Marley and Me called Marley a dog like no other by John Grogan, which was really good. I can't wait to see the movie version. The book version makes you laugh and cry as a family tries to deal with a very headstrong dog! Anyone who has had a dog that seemed untrainable or drooled on everything would LOVE this book!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am still reading...I finished Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins right before I left on vacation. It was recommended by Stephenie Meyer...and so I thought I would give it a try. Very interesting plot, it finished with an open for another book...and this is definitely something I haven't read before. I wasn't sure how I felt about it...the topic that is...but I don't want to give it away. Imagine living in a district where everyone is poor and starving. When you are between 12 and 18 years of age you are put in a drawing and if your name is drawn you compete to the DEATH with several other districts for food for your district. Interesting, huh? Let the games begin!

Also just finished reading A J Jacobs, A Year of Living Biblically...a man decides to try to live the bible as literally as possible. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic...I think you will find this book interesting and amusing...he tries to find as many of the rules and then tries to add them into his life. He does this for 380+ days and this is very hard on his wife and family as well. Definitely read it...and if you haven't already he has also written a book about reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z...called KNOW IT ALL...it is also very good!

I have started TRUMAN by David McCullough and so far it is incredible! I will add more about it later! Happy Turkey Day!

AMERICAN WIFE

by Curtis Sittenfeld, I read this book because someone said to me that it was loosely based on Laura Bush's life...and that intrigued me. Obviously this book is a work of fiction and any parallels are interesting but not necessarily intentional. The first 430 pages are about growing up, dating and marriage, it isn't until part 4 of the book that the white house and being a president's wife is mentioned. In the end of the book the author notes that she did some research about being the first lady...but it looks limited to the Clinton Family and the Bush Family. The Blackwell family has one daughter, not two...they are from Wisconsin, not Texas...and the differences continue from there, however, knowing what I knew before starting the book I couldn't help but wonder about the possibility of how much reality and fiction were intersecting. I recommend this book...as I recommend her previous book PREP!

Inspirational Reads

I just finished reading JUST WHO WILL YOU BE by Maria Shriver and THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch. If you are looking for some inspiration, some drive, something to give you a kick in the pants (a gentle one), these are books for you. Sometimes we get so comfortable in our lives and don't really consider if we are doing what we should, or if we are following our dreams, or if we are even listening to our inner voices about what we should be doing...these books may give you the motivation you need to make either a small change for you, or something huge! I recommend both of them. And...if you haven't seen the OPRAH with Randy Pausch or the one with Maria Shriver...I recommend watching those episodes as well!

The Last Chinese Chef

By Nicole Mones...I loved every minute of this book, both about a widow whose husband left her a secret and about a man who was raised in America but is half Chinese, discovering his talent for Chinese cuisine...it made me hungry to read about the dishes prepared and it made me sad to read about a woman who thought she knew her husband...

I can't spoil the end of the book so I won't say more...I will say that even though this book is fiction the author did her research about Chinese cuisine and made me want to visit China and eat! And, I am on page 237 of AMERICAN WIFE...hope to finish it today or tomorrow!

Am I Reading?

I haven't posted anything as of late on the blog, I was going through some books right and left...here is what has happened to me....I started Brisingr, the next in the Eragon series and got to about page 256 when I noticed there was a wait list on it at the Library (since I work in a library I notice these things) so I returned the book, LOVED it so far, just haven't finished it. THEN, I started reading AMERICAN WIFE, and got about 2 chapters into the book, and I am hooked...but then I noticed people waiting on it, so I returned the book and put myself back to the bottom of the list...this weekend I went and found the hardback for 1/2 off...so I should have an opinion about it soon. Well, in the meantime I was recommended THE LAST CHINESE CHEF...and so I am halfway through that book as well. And, to make things even more interesting my name came up on HUNGER GAMES, a book that Stephenie Meyer has recommended on her website...so I think I have some reading to do. Also, I was very curious about the John Adams mini-series on HBO...I got that 2 weeks ago and just finished it last night...so naturally I am interested in reading the book OR reading a book by David McCullough...I have picked out TRUMAN, which is HUGE. I anticipate reading that on my flight to Ohio in a couple weeks. SO...I am reading...just not finishing anything yet. I promise to get something finished this weekend for sure!

Peter and the Starcatchers

By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, I LOVED listening to this book. Read by Jim Dale (who also reads the Harry Potter Books)...very entertaining. My first experience included driving by my destination not once, but TWICE!! This is a great new telling of Peter Pan, well it is supposed to be pre-Peter Pan, how he got to where he was when he meets Wendy, Michael, and John. I loved it and cannot wait to read the other two in the series (or rather listen to them!).

Save Karyn

One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back by Karyn Bosnak. Okay, I LOVED this book. I have been there...watching your life cycle out of control with the spending, the borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, the promises to yourself and then something happening to keep you from doing what you know is right! UGH! I could have used this book in my 20s. It is so easy to see how out of control it gets when it is happening to someone else. I really like her way of getting things out of control...and I don't want to give anything away...so I can't say how she gets there. But, I really enjoyed this book and my friend who recommended it, thanks! I really liked it! Often I am tempted to try and sell everything I own for $1...I think it would help!

Such a Pretty Fat

or Why Pie is not the Answer by Jen Lancaster...okay, this is the book a friend of mine recommended...now after reading the first two books I FINALLY got to read this one...and I laughed and commiserated with her. I have been dieting (well I say that, but really I am adapting to a new lifestyle)...for over a year now. I started in May 2007 and between then and May 2008 I lost 50 lbs. I have lost 5 lbs since May and it is now November. I still have 20 lbs to go and this seems even more daunting than the original 50. Of course the holidays are approaching...and while I have found some yummy food in my new lifestyle, there is a part of me that still craves the other food...and sometimes I still have to have it. Jen Lancaster takes you on a journey of a woman who is fine with who she is, but realizes if she wants to live, she needs to be healthier. Her love hate relationship with food, exercise and just trying to find a lifestyle that she can live with is just great...and something I can TOTALLY understand. So, laughing and crying with her through this was perfect for me. I recommend this book for anyone struggling with their weight...or maybe if you aren't but you have a friend that is...maybe this will help you understand their struggle!

BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK...

Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster, just finished it today, this is actually her first book...so it was interesting reading the middle book first...however...this one didn't make me laugh as hard as the second did, but it did make me make loud shreeks that made my husband jump and ask me WHY? Several things that I enjoyed...knowing there is another person out there that isn't as smart with money...also, knowing that she is difficult, see her ten commandments of jen...apparently I fit about half of them. Anyway, enjoyed it and am looking forward to her latest book, which I am starting TONIGHT!

Bright Lights...

Big Ass (there is a much longer title) by Jen Lancaster. I read it this weekend and in parts laughed so hard I cried...couldn't communicate and couldn't share the humor with my husband even a day later...because it was so funny. I especially enjoyed the chapter TUESDAY AFTERNOON DRINKING CLUB! I had to re-read it because I couldn't see through my tears of laughter. This author was recommended to me by a friend of mine who had recommended her newest book SUCH A PRETTY FAT. While I wait to get it from the library...I decided to read her first two. I started with her second...and am now reading her BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK. For my girlfriends out there...need a good laugh? Check one of these books out! There are other things in the book that aren't so funny, but oh so true!

Al Capone Does My Shirts

This book by Gennifer Choldenko was very entertaining...I guess it helps that I went to Alcatraz this summer...so many of the places in the book and some of the prison's history was fresh in my mind. Moose's father gets a job on Alcatraz as both an electrician and a guard. He moves the family to the island...which includes Moose's sister Natalie, who has turned 10 years old for several years. Moose feels a little funny living on an island with Al Capone and with good reason. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and looking at life on Alcatraz through the eyes of some of the kids who live there (and there really were families that lived there). I recommend it..and I promise I will read some adult books this weekend!

The Lightning Thief

I just finished this book this morning! I actually started it on Monday during some downtime at a school visit...I liked it right away, sailed through the first 8 chapters in a half hour! This is definitely for those who like adventure, danger, mystery...and mythology! This takes place in modern times but Percy finds out that he is the child of a god...which one? And why are creatures trying to kill him? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the other books in the series! I have actually heard the author, Rick Riordan speak and he was great! It has just taken me a year before I tried the book!

The 39 Clues: Book One: Maze of Bones

So, this is supposed to be the next Harry Potter...there will be a series of 39 books all by different authors coming out over the next few years. Book 2 will be by Gordan Korman and due out in December and then book 3 comes out in April 2009...I loved it! I loved the plot, the adventure and the sneaky way that facts and places are snuck into the story so that kids can learn while they read and not really know it. This first book was written by Rick Riordan (The Lightening Thief/Percy Jackson series) kept me up late into the night to finish it! I just got back from France, so the fact that our characters end up in Paris was even more of a pull. Think Amazing Race meets Lemony Snickett meets DaVinci Code...but maybe even better! There is a brother sister team as the main characters and they dislike each other enough to make it real! The series is trying to combine reading with an online game and a possible prize winning...and I think so far, it is successful! Try it out!

Skinny Bitch

Sorry for those of you who don't like the word BITCH...this really is the title of this book by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Thankfully I am secure enough in my desire to consume meat to not be offended by their harsh words for us meat eaters...but they do have several great rules and guidelines for eating healthy and losing weight! I say to those who are easily offended, this may not be the book for you, but for those of you with tough skins, read away. For my vegan and vegetarian friends this is DEFINITELY the book for you...great ideas on foods, recipes, brands to check out and websites for the vegan! It may just be the KICK IN THE ASS you need to start living a happy, healthier life!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Okay, I read this book in about an hour last night...it is by John Boyne and was incredible! I have read several Holocaust books and this one was very different, chilling, and of course sad. I was most amazed by the terminology used in the book to describe what the boy's father did, where they lived and this 9 year old's limited understanding of what was going on. I was definitely moved...and would add this to a top recommendation for anyone who wanted to read about the Holocaust. I am trying not to give anything away by what I am saying...but it is difficult to not know what happens. I wasn't prepared for the ending...although I felt it was a good ending to the book (If you could call it good). Read it!!

Sex and the City

So, I have ALWAYS been a huge fan of Sex and the City...I watched every episode at least once and now own the complete series...I also have seen the movie, which I LOVED...and look forward to owning it too! So...I had never read the book, and her newest book ONE FIFTH AVENUE had just come out...so I thought, why not? Well, I don't normally say this, but the TV series and the movie were MUCH better than the book. The book was choppy and didn't flow. It was a bunch of snippets of conversation that don't quite mesh...I am still going to attempt her new one...I will let you know what I think, and I want to try LIPSTICK JUNGLE (which I am loving on TV as well). What did you think? Have you read the book? Let me know!

Weekend Reads

Went out of town on a weekend getaway with my husband. We met his parents in Ashland, OR for the Shakespeare Festival. We had a great time. While I was gone, I was able to finish two books...BEACH HOUSE by Jane Green and MISS ZUKAS AND THE LIBRARY MURDERS by Jo Dereske. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them! You will find that it is hard to find a book I don't like...I can only think of a few...or I just never finish them. I was sucked into a MYSTERY series...even though you KNOW how I feel about them. I went to a Library Conference in Olympia, WA at the beginning of October and met the author of these mysteries...she was funny and interesting, so I decided to try the first one. It was a light read...I didn't figure out who it was until nearly the end, and I really loved the characters. It takes place in a library, what is not to like?

BEACH HOUSE reminded me of Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin...loosely...a little more light, great characters and the kind of book that you don't want to put down because you want to know what happens. There is a little twist in the book to keep you interested. I was recommended this book by a fellow Librarian and I loved it! It takes place in Nantucket and makes you want to make summer last forever!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows was recommended to me by a co-worker as a pretty light read with an interesting story. I finished the book yesterday evening. I loved it. Set in WW II, this book is a series of letters going back and forth from an author to an island in the English Channel. During the war this island is occupied by German soldiers and the people on the island form a group late one night past curfew and the group continues even after the war is over. They get together and read books, make potato peel pie and think of ways to survive the German occupation. A light read, although there are a few heavy parts...I definitely recommend this book to anyone...and once you get over the letter reading...you barely notice!

A list of books I have finished recently...

So, I am trying to keep up with my reading of Juvenile and Young Adult fiction (or nonfiction) so I can help kids find some good reads...here are a few of my recent reads...
THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FAN BOY AND GOTH GIRL by Barry Lyga - a boy who is neither popular or strong is noticed by a goth girl...not afraid to be who she is and get into some trouble along the way...she is doing horribly in school, he is still maintaining his grades, fighting to keep away from his horrible (all in his mind) stepfather and weirded out by his pregnant mother...he is writing his graphic novel...there is an important convention coming to town...what will his new friendship, his family relations and school do to help or hinder him in pursuing his dreams? I LOVED this book and recommend it to anyone who ever wasn't popular!

SEVEN SPINNING SPIDERS by Gregory Maguire - yes, by the author of WICKED, this book starts with Siberian snow spiders who are born and immediately frozen...several thousand years later they are discovered and transported to America where the fun begins....the spiders thaw and attach themselves to the seven girls of the group Tattletales...in complete competition with the boys of the Copycats. The spiders start to die...the siblings decide vengeance and all the while the Tattletales and the Copycats are about to enter a war of their own. It is an incredible book, lots of humor and suspense!

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX by Kate DiCamillo - a mouse with HUGE ears falls in love with a human princess...and the tale continues from there. This author has written several books that I have fallen in love with, and this is yet another.

The 19th Wife

I just finished THE 19TH WIFE by David Ebershoff, a story about the 19th wife of Brigham Young. Written as a historical fiction novel with a 21st century murder mystery, this book jumps back and forth from history to present day. It was interesting to read especially with all of the news coverage of the Texas Ranch earlier this year. I think most people are both interested and disgusted by polygamy. Of course there is the TV show BIG LOVE, which I am also a fan of...I have also read UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN by Jon Krakauer which addresses Mormanism in a slightly different light...regardless I think most are fascinated and either of these two books are great reads!

Stargirl

So, everyone has been telling me to read this book. All summer I recommended it on other's recommendations and last night, I finally finished it. Incredible book! I love reading about teens who aren't afraid to be their own person. She makes friends with a boy, who does fall in love with her...but asks her to give up a very important part of herself. Does she do it? Read it and find out! I highly recommend this!

From the Mixed up Files..

So I read FROM THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER this weekend by E.L. Konignsburg. I loved it! I can't believe I never read this as a child! Can you imagine planning to run away? Can you imagine taking one of your siblings with you? What if your destination was the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City? This is a great book about two siblings who run away from home and spend time in the MMA in NYC. They have a schedule, they rely on each other and they experience an art museum after dark. There is even a little mystery involved!

Graphic Novels et al

So, this week I am doing well on my averages for reading juvenile and young adult fiction. I finished Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, a graphic novel about Rapunzel...a totally different twist where our heroine is self sufficient and rescues herself. I was entertained. Also keep hearing the hype from many kids at the library about Alex Rider. Two of the books have been made into graphic novels, so I read the first two...very James Bond for younger readers...lots of excitement and a little romance. And, finally I read RULES by Cynthia Lord, this is NOT a graphic novel but addresses autism in a very creative manner. Catherine has a brother David who has a lot of RULES...she makes rules for him as well...it all seems to go okay until she tries to make new friends, but what happens when she makes a new friend who has his own set of rules. This is a very interesting book about friendship, autism, and kids with special needs. I definitely recommend it for all readers!

The Camel Bookmobile

Yes, I did a lot of reading on my vacation. This one was recommended to me by a co-worker. I loved it. THE CAMEL BOOKMOBILE by Masha Hamilton follows a bright eyed, optimistic librarian as she travels to Africa to help deliver books to tribes in Africa by camel. She meets several people along the way, her friends, she leaves them behind in the states to be concerned about her...she meets Mr. Abasi, the African librarian who wants to enforce the rules and regulations of the library to a group of people who are nomads...and she meets a tribe of people, those who welcome the books and those who do not. This is an incredible story. It is based on a true story but this is a work of fiction. As a librarian, I really loved reading this...and as a reader I enjoyed reliving my joy of reading through the eyes of the characters in this book.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Yes, somehow I missed the assignment in school to read A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith...so I decided to read it on the plane to Barcelona. What an incredible book, reminded me a lot of Frank McCourt or maybe even a more modern Charles Dickens. These people are poor, things happen, life is rough, and yet there is always a glimmer of hope. We follow kids who have nothing to working towards a better life, their parents and family want a better life for them. Don't get me wrong, there are no fairy tale endings...but there is this certain sense that things will work out, or the characters will figure out how to get things done! I am sad I haven't read this sooner...but now I have read it, and I definitely recommend it!

Learning about the French

So, I haven't written in awhile since I have been traveling abroad. My husband was working in France and I went over to meet him for a week and travel around...we went to Barcelona, Spain then on through France through Carcassonne, Toulouse and then finally Paris. It was fun! Before my husband left he was looking for a book that would help him get in the mood for being in France, OR give him some information to learn about French culture. When he went to Italy last year he found a great book about Italians. So, when I arrived in France, he asked me to read the book; SIXTY MILLION FRENCHMEN CAN'T BE WRONG by Jean Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow. I loved it. There were parts of it that drug...so I can't lie, I did some skimming, however there were chapters that I found helpful in interacting with the French. So often the French get a bad rap...as rude or whatever...I did not find that to be true, well, I met one rude Frenchman while I was there...a server at Le Chat Noire Cafe, because I asked for ketchup with my fries (in French I might add) he was very sarcastic when he returned with it...but that was ONE rude Frenchman of several people in France that I interacted with. So...some of the chapters that I found most helpful;

• Part One: Spirit (all 8 chapters were great!)
• Part Two: Structure I only could make it all the way through chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and parts of the other chapters
• Part Three: Change - this section was a little more difficult that the first part, but I found chapters 20 and 21 to be helpful!

Yes, some of it is a review of French history, some of it is a look into the mind of the French, but most of it is based on the insights of a couple of Canadians...but it was definitely interesting and helpful!

Gary Paulsen

My husband read me excerpts from a book by this author about his dream to participate in the Iditarod. Now, I am reading HATCHET for the first time by the same author about a boy who crashes into the Canadian wilderness and survives for about 54 days. It is an incredible story. The story was so popular that he wrote a few more books about the same boy, some additional stories and some "what if" stories...BRIAN'S HUNT, BRIAN'S WINTER, BRIAN'S RETURN, THE RIVER...all good. If you want to read stories about survival, these are the books for you. It is said that the author based his stories on things that actually happened...though the stories are not true.

APOLOGIES

I misspelled Bram Stoker... ( I said Bram Stokes) and spellcheck didn't catch it! UGH! I apologize! I attribute it to trying to rush around and get things done...not proof reading which is a BAD habit!

Recent Reads - Young Adult

So, I went to Iowa this weekend and took some books along to keep me occupied on the plane trip. I finished the first one the night before I left.

HIGH SCHOOL BITES by Liza Conrad, this is a new version of an old story...Lucy finds out that she is a descendant of the Lucy that the Dracula of Bram Stokes time was obsessed with, as was her mother before her...but with high school, friends and boys, who wants to worry about Dracula coming after her? Her best friend Mina is also involved in this long time obsession...and the boy she likes may also be involved...what is a girl to do? This was a cute story and a quick read! I enjoyed it!

Then, my reading took a turn, the next three books are a little more on the serious side. The first one, LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL by Jo Knowles, talks about a friendship between two girls, one of them has died and the other is looking back at their friendship and the lessons learned from her dead friend. This really discusses the difficulties of wanting to be liked and what you may be willing to overlook to be accepted. I was so fortunate not to have a situation like this in my life, but I know some girls who experienced the pressure of being liked and gave up some of their freedoms to be accepted.

My next read was about a 13 year old girl who is sold into prostitution by her family...but she thinks she is being sent to the city to become a maid...from her mind, she doesn't understand what is happening to her...you meet her family, very poor and just barely surviving, her mother has remarried and feels fortunate to have a man in their lives...you meet the other girls and those who would manipulate her into thinking what she is doing is helping and she is paying off a debt. The chapters are short and most of the story is told from a poor 13 year old's point of view, innocent and not knowing what the world is really like. SOLD by Patricia McCormick is an incredible read!

My last one is TAMAR by Mal Peet. I have always loved books about World War 2 and this isn't any different...a 15 year old girl has been named by her grandfather, and he has just committed suicide. He leaves her a box and it is up to her to find out what he was trying to tell her. The book bounces back and forth from present day to World War 2 where men and women are trying to form a resistance to the German army. This book keeps you on the edge right up until the last page!

Cultural Reads

So, I just finished THE YEAR OF THE DOG by Grace Lin, ideal for juvenile readers and written, according to the author, for kids trying to fit in a mainly Caucasian society. She writes about Taiwanese and Chinese specifically and we follow Pacy through the year of the dog, a lucky year for family and friends. She meets new people and experiences new things, it is cute and funny but also addresses some of the issues surrounding those who move to the United States from other countries. This was a great read!

And, I also finished AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang, a graphic novel with some of the same themes, but written in a slightly different way, with incredible pictures to go along with it. This novel addresses both the old country and being in the new along with self-image in a place where one is different. This book was also a Pacific Northwest Association Young Reader's Choice.

Swapping Lives

So, I just finished a book recommended to me by my co-worker. It was soooo good. Imagine that you are a successful working woman but there is something missing in your life...a family, home husband. Imagine now that you are a happily married housewife, your husband makes good money and your house nearly runs itself...you are involved in charities and associations, but you feel like maybe you are missing something in your life, a career or? Anyway, two women decide to live each other's lives for a month...and it gets really interesting. The author is Jane Green. I haven't read any other of her books, but I loved this one. It was a light read and very interesting.

The Afterlife

So, I have read two young adult reads recently. I loved both of them and wanted to share them.

The first one is ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin. This book opens with Liz waking up feeling like she is trapped. She is on a boat with a lot of other people. No one seems to know where they are going and some of them can't remember what they were doing before they got on the boat. What I found humorous about this book is that we are introduced to Liz's dog Lucy and some of here thoughts. When Liz finally realizes what has happened she goes through a variety of emotions. I listened to part of this book on CD and read the rest of it.

The second is JACOB'S LADDER by Brian Kearny. In much the same way, the main character finds himself traveling with no idea where he was before and no one seems to know where they are headed. Everything is grey, dusty and dirty. The boys he meets are solemn and spend every day going to a rock pit to haul stones. When he refuses to go he is haunted by a woman crying. This is a little darker than the first book but interesting none the less.

What I want my girlfriends to read

So, here are a few books that I want my girlfriends to read. Maybe they will inspire you, or make you feel good, or maybe even just take you away...

1) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert - I know I mentioned this in my top ten...but I still think this is worth the read. The author talks about her experience with a failed marriage, international travel, and finding herself. I think it is perfect for any woman no matter where you are in life. I really enjoyed the book, I confess I listened to it first, then I have gone back to re-read it.

I really think all of you will like it. It will make you laugh and cry!

2) Animal, Mineral, Vegetable by Barbara Kingsolver, et al. - I read this book but was told it was good to listen to as well. This will inspire you...it did me. I wanted to start gardening, purchase locally, and recycle more. If anything, it made me realize that every little bit helps. Her family was involved in this book as well, so that made it very interesting. They go and decide to live off the land and purchase locally. It was an interesting experience for them...and for me as the reader.

3) Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes - This book made me want to travel, more specifically travel to Italy, purchase a house and live in the Italian countryside. It was an incredible experience seeing Italy from the eyes of the author. She also has recipes and some interesting stories about the people who lived around her. It made me want to eat al fresco, drink some good wine, go to an outdoor market to get food and hang out with my friends both old and new.

Recent Reads

So, I am reading BREAKING DAWN, but I am taking my time. So I read a couple books the other night. I had never read NUMBER THE STARS by Lois Lowry...so I thought I would read it. It was really good. It is the Nazi Invasion in Demark and this tells the story of one family who doesn't agree with the treatment of the Jews. They decide to help a family of their friends and it leads to something greater. For a child wanting to know a little more about the Holocaust, this is a good choice. The other interesting thing is the addition of fairy tales to help deal with what is going on in the real world.

I also read ANA'S STORY by Jenna Bush. I had heard different things about this book. It was a very sad, true story about a girl who was born with HIV/AIDS. This chronicles only a portion of her life and her struggles. At the end there are a lot of resources about AIDS, abuse, etc. I felt it was well written, short chapters and pictures. I wasn't sure what to expect from Jenna Bush, but this was a pleasant surprise.

When I finish BREAKING DAWN I will write about my thoughts! But, I will warn about spoilers!

Non-Fiction Titles Part 1

So, a lot of people ask me about non-fictions titles. I will admit. I haven't read a lot of non-fiction unless it was for school. When I was younger I read biographies and things about history...but that was about it. I wasn't really interested in non-fiction. So...I started a few years ago, first it was one, then two, and now, I keep my eye out for the next non-fiction read. Some of my criteria for a good non-fiction include, interesting topic, reads like a novel and shows me something new. So here are a couple titles that I have really enjoyed. Feel free to recommend your own...and I will continue to add titles periodically.

1) THE GOOD GOOD PIG by

Sy Montgomery

Did you enjoy CHARLOTTE'S WEB? This is a true story of a pig who grows up never to be eaten and loved by both the owners and the town. There are even some pictures of the pig and some of its adventures.

2) STIFF by Mary Roach - okay this book is not for the weak stomached, did you ever wonder what happens to a body once they have died? Every chapter in this book talks about one of the options to a cadaver. Sometimes gross, sometimes funny, and sometimes serious, this is a great book!

3) UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN - by Frances Mayes

Do not confuse the movie with this book....if you saw the movie, you did NOT experience this book. Yes, a writer/professor from the states goes to Italy and purchases a house, but that is where my recollection of the book ends and the movie takes a completely different turn. There are recipes, interesting run ins with the locals, repairs on the house, and friends enjoying time with one another. I really enjoyed reading this book and have enjoyed several of the rest of her books.

Eclipse

So, I finished re-reading ECLIPSE so I would have a refresher before BREAKING DAWN was released. It was released today at midnight...and I was there, at Barnes and Noble at midnight to get my copy. Of course I couldn't sleep until I had read some of it. Now, I just finished my ECLIPSE re-read and I am ready to dig in. For those of you who haven't read these books, they are GREAT...no matter your age, it doesn't matter if you are male or female...this book will touch EVERYONE in a certain way. I had several friends recommend it to me, I was hesitant as I often books geared towards young adults cannot hold my attention and make me lose myself in the same way that more mature fiction or nonfiction can. But, they were all good...and re-reading them has been a joy. I felt this way about Harry Potter too...I know that many people out there STILL haven't read the books...they hook you, and you get caught up in the plot and characters in a way that makes you want more.

Without giving away the plot at all...this has romance, incredible fight scenes, graduation from high school, parties, love triangles, and yes, some history. This book could be read by itself, although I would recommend reading all of the books.

"He's like a drug for you Bella." His voice was still gentle, not at all critical. "I see that you can't live without him now. It is too late. But I would have been healthier for you. Not a drug; I would have been the air, the sun." Jacob page 599 ECLIPSE.

Enjoy!

Atomic Girl and Maisie Dobbs

So, I just finished two books, one, MAISIE DOBBS by Jacqueline Winspear I read on the plane on the way to Seattle. It was recommended to me by one of the volunteers at the library...and it is a mystery! What I loved about it was that it took place after World War I in England. The heroine was a nurse during the war...and she has started her own business. The story has the mystery she solves AND gives background story about her. Apparently this is the first in a series of books. I can't wait to read another. I really enjoyed the historical fiction/mystery mix!

And, I finished ATOMIC GIRL by Teri Hein in the doctor's office today, I started it in Seattle and read more of it on the plane ride back. This is a memoir of a girl who grew up on a farm in Eastern Washington...so most of the places she talks about in the book, I know of them. Also, she is growing up during the Cold War. There is a lot of history in the book as well, of her and of the land. The concern of radiation exposure to those who farmed and lived in Eastern Washington...and the reality of the deaths of those she knew and loved with cancer....of various types. This is both a book that talks about growing up on a farm...and exposes some parts of American History that may not have been so great. I recommend this book to those who live in the Spokane area...and for those who don't. The historian in me loved the look at how Eastern Washington was developed.

And, I am re-reading ECLIPSE by Stephenie Meyer to get myself ready for the release of BREAKING DAWN this weekend!

Books about the Holocaust

I have had a lot of people ask me for some books about the Holocaust...both fiction and nonfiction. So, here are a few of my recommendations. I will caution that reading these are not for the faint of heart. I took a few classes in college where I did a lot of reading...and I did a couple research papers. It wasn't a good time. But, I think that the more people read about it, the more we can help prevent something like this happening again...although, there are places in today's world that seem to be doing similar things. But, that is a topic for another day. Here are some of my recommendations.

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy
Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine
Sophie's Choice by William Styton
Six Million Paperclips by Peter W Schroeder
Night by Elie Wiesel
Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi
Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning
Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is only a few...I have read so many more. As I know many of my friend have. Please post your recommendations!!

Reading lots of things at the same time

So...I am listening to KILLER DREAMS by Iris Johansen, reading DEXTER IN THE DARK by Jeff Lindsay, I just finished LOVE IS A MANY TROUSERED THING by Louise Rennison, and I also started HITLER's NIECE by Ron Hansen...does anyone else read multiples? Sometimes I do it because I need to have different books for different activities, sometimes I get bored with what I am reading and need something else to help me get through. If I read a book I really like at the same time I read a book I am struggling to get through it helps me finish. Also, sometimes I put books off. I will be flying soon and I think I will be re-reading TWILIGHT on the way there and I want to find another book to read on the way back. Often people ask me how I keep the plots and characters straight, because the books are different, usually different genres, that helps me get it straight! Also I usually carry one around with me for lines, waiting for things, lunches, etc and then I have one in the bedroom, and sometimes one in the bathroom...depending on what I am reading and what I want to get through. Does anyone else read more than one thing at once?

Vampire Books

It seems that there is a resurgence of vampire books...with the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I have read all three and I LOVED them. As I said before I am torn...I like Edward but I really like Jacob for Bella. Anyway, I will be among those at midnight waiting for book 4's release!

But there are so many popping up...Vampire Academy, Vampire Diaries, Vampire Kisses...mostly for teens. For the adults there is Charlaine Harris the author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries, Laurell K Hamilton with her vampire huntress...and of course the queen of all vampire novels, Anne Rice.

What is our fascination with vampires...or the undead? I know for me the passion started when I was a teen...and with movies like THE LOST BOYS and ONCE BITTEN (I know I am admitting I saw this one, but hey, I was young). And continued with the TV series KINDRED...movies like VAN HELSING, UNDERWORLD, BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE...I still love reading a good vampire novel...whether series or otherwise. Have you read something that is good? Let me know. I am always looking for something to read. I tend to measure all vampire novels to Anne Rice. I did enjoy Stephenie Meyer...but it was designed for a teen audience, and it did hook me. I also enjoyed Salem's Lot.

Any recommendations?

Scarlet

I just finished Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead. It was incredible and now I have to wait until next year for the next book! For those of you who haven't read my previous posts. This is a retelling of Robin Hood. The first book in the series is called Hood. Both the book and the audio book is good. The reader is great! Now I have a list of other books to start! For those of you who like the retelling of old stories, try Zorro by Isabel Allende....it is incredible!

Love the One You're With

So...I am nearly done reading Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin. It was recommended to me by a friend and I decided to try it. So far it has been really good, it does fall into the category of fluff fiction for me....but when I started reading it I wasn't so sure. A read that some women will find interesting as it addresses what happens when a happily married woman reconnects with an ex that really messed with her and things didn't quite end. It is interesting because I just had a conversation with a friend of mine about this very thing. I think most of my girlfriends have that ONE GUY, you know the one...things were unresolved, the chemistry was amazing, and it may or may not have been a healthy relationship. I think many of my married friends feel that if they admit to having one of these they don't love their life, their husband, their kids...but all of us have one...or had one. Tim, just an FYI, I love you!! So this book got me thinking about this...because you're curious about what might have been...does this make you unfaithful? Does this make you negate your current life? Is the curiosity okay, or should it just be buried, never to be brought up again?

The other thing it brought up is when a wife does something in a marriage because she feels like she can't say no...whether that is to move to another place, live in a house she doesn't like, be around friends she doesn't care for, not work when she wants, have a relationship with her husband's parents that she doesn't want...and the list goes on. The excuse that the character uses is she doesn't want her husband to feel guilty if she says she is unhappy with her situation...because she offered no resistance before, and now, she can't live with it anymore. I guess people don't just do this in marriage, but they do it with family, friendships and work relationships. So...I thought a little more about this novel...maybe it isn't fluff fiction....it brought up some great points. I can only hope that when women read it they see the message that it is sending and it helps them be more honest in ALL of their relationships!

And, as a side note...I moved to Washington because I WANTED to. I do not regret it! Je t'aime Tim!

Top Ten

So, what if you had to recommend your top ten books of all time? What would make the list? I think if you ask me it depends on what is going on in my life and what I have read recently, however I do have some books that I constantly recommend. What makes it harder is if you add in books that you read as a child...so if you had to list your top ten books of all time...including birth to current age, what would your list include and why....here is my list, and of course I can think of hundreds more that I would add to it.

In no particular order:
1) The Trail of the Lonesome Pine - by John Fox Jr. The first time I read this I fell in love with the story, a girl in Appalachia meets a man who is passing through and her life is completely changed. She goes to school and has a hard time living in the world she grew up in and the world that she is learning about.

2) The Agony and the Ecstacy - by Irving Stone A biography of Michelangeo, while it is historical fiction, this author researches whomever he writes about and the way that he describes his characters hooks you in and makes you feel like you are right there. How did Michelangeo become the artist he is known for? This will tell you.

3) Harriet the Spy - Louise Fitzhugh I always felt so different when I was growing up and then I read about a girl who writes all of her thoughts down, the good and the bad. I felt so inspired by that. I wanted to be a writer when I was younger and I loved the idea of writing about people I knew.

4) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - definitely the book that I recommend the most. The ultimate tale of revenge and love. I think EVERYONE should read this book as soon as possible. And...by the way, the movies NEVER do it justice!

5) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book I recently listened to and fell in love with. For all of my girlfriends out there who have gone through some rough times, lost loves, failed marriages, finding yourself and inner peace. I really enjoyed this book and feel that anyone who reads it will feel inspired to change something...either small or large in their lives.

6) Green Eggs and Ham - Dr Seuss All about trying something new...don't just dismiss it because you think you don't like something. And, just because you don't like something when you are young, doesn't mean that as you grow older you won't like it. I think this book has a message for young and old alike. And for those of you who still won't TRY something...shame on you!

7) Les Miserables - Victor Hugo. I read this when I was in 6th grade for the first time, did I understand all of it, nope, but that didn't stop me from reading it about 5 more times and loving it every time I read it. I love the story, I love the romance, I love the history, and I now love the musical...

8) A Walk in the Woods - by Bill Bryson Okay, I want to hike in the woods and I want to have the adventures that Bill has in this book. However the next best thing is living vicariously through him and laughing with him as he encounters some interesting people and situations.

9) Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes Never has a book made me want to pick up and leave for the Italian countryside...the recipes, her experiences, the land, and the people. She has a way of writing that makes you taste, feel, smell and want more than anything to be in Italy.

10) A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole An incredible read, it was recommended to me a few years ago and I could not believe the character development, the relationship between a mother and son and the biggest slacker who thinks they are the best worker ever. It was funny and bittersweet.

What about you? Think about it...what would make the list? It was hard for me, I have read so much...I could break down my top ten in several categories...but if I had to pick 10 to recommend...these would be it!

100 New Book Classics (according to Entertainment Weekly)

I know, two postings in one day...but I am not sure I will post tomorrow. Thanks to my friends I have a list of the new book classics according to Entertainment Weekly. While looking over the list I have read 35 of the 100 books! So, I have my work cut out for me. At least one of the listings is a series...Phillip Pullman, His Dark Materials, and of course there are a lot of great suggestions and books that I want to read. For any of you who have seen the list and are wondering where to start...I HIGHLY recommend the following, in no particular order.

Beloved - Toni Morrison
Mystic River - Dennis Lehane
The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
Bel Canto - Ann Patchett
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (all of her other books are great too)
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
The Corrections - Jonathan Frazen
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon


For those of you who like graphic novels!
Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
Maus - Art Spiegelman
Sandman - Neil Gaiman

Looking for Nonfiction?
Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer
Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich
Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser
America: The Book - Jon Stewart
The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell

Did anyone else see the list? What did you think? Was there anything missing? Was there something you felt shouldn't have been on the list?

Jodi Picoult

I HAVE to mention Jodi Picoult. Only because a few years ago when someone recommended I read her I thought, sure, fluff fiction and I wasn't interested. Last night I finished another one of her novels...it wasn't as much of a page turner as some of her others, but VANISHING ACTS was good. Her novels all have twists and turns that make you laugh, cry, etc. They are great and I feel like they accurately portray things that happen in day to day life...how things aren't always so black or white, but grey and messy. Of the novels I have read, here is my ranking in order of favorites.
1) Nineteen Minutes
2) Plain Truth
3) Tenth Circle
4) My Sister's Keeper
5) The Pact
6) Change of Heart
7) Salem Falls
8) Vanishing Acts

I believe I have 7 left to read. I have been trying NOT to read everything by her, which is difficult, but once I am done..what will I do? Does anyone know any other authors like her? try her out if you haven't. I recommend starting with either NINETEEN MINUTES or MY SISTER'S KEEPER...and clear your schedule, you won't want to do anything until you have finished the book!

Not a huge fan of Mysteries, but here are some of my faves

I must admit that left my affection for mysteries back when I read Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden and Hardy Boys..but every once in awhile I try out a mystery to see if I can find something that truly keeps me guessing to the end. Recently I read In the Woods by Tara French which isn't really classed as a mystery but certainly was and did keep me guessing right up to the end. I did go through a Janet Evanovich phase, they are mostly funny and not terribly suspenseful. I LOVE Carl Hiaasen although some would say he isn't really a mystery writer. He develops these incredible characters that make you laugh out loud and often the culprit isn't revealed until the very end or the person you know did it doesn't get caught until the end. Now I have found that I love Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, mostly because they get into the forensic anthropology and the descriptions as well as the mystery keep me engaged. I also like Tami Hoag, her mixture of suspense and mystery help keep me on my toes. I love mysteries that keep me guessing or make me think twice about turning out the light! I have tried Sue Grafton and I liked them for about 5 letters...Nevada Barr was recommended to me because of the National Park tie in...and I can read one every once in awhile...but I just can't seem to read mysteries back to back. Robert Parker, Iris Johansen, James Patterson...and the list goes on, often I can read one by an author, maybe two and then I can start to figure out the pattern, and then I am disappointed because I can figure it out before the last page. I issue a challenge, recommend a good mystery to me, I do love a good mystery!

Series

So, when my husband and I drove to Seattle a few weeks ago, we wanted something to listen to. We always listen to a book on road trips...this time we chose HOOD by Stephen Lawhead which turned out to be the first in a series of books. This happens to be a retelling of the Robin Hood story (which has always been one of my favorites). We didn't quite finish the book on our road trip but my husband continued to listen to it on his commute and I rushed to the library so I could finish the book that evening. I LOVED IT! A week ago we headed to Leavenworth, WA and chose SCARLET by Stephen Lawhead...the next book in the series. Neither of us got to finish it and I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting the book to be turned in at the library so I can read the rest of it. What I am most disappointed in is that I am now hooked on a series...where the next book isn't coming out for awhile...at least I know it is a trilogy and I know the next book is called TUCK....but it doesn't help. For those of you who read the Harry Potter series you may know the frustration I am speaking of. To help me between books I would often read the book a second time or even listen to the book on tape version. Dean R Koontz started a Frankenstein series in 2005 and wrote books one and two practically back to back. I read them both in 2006 hoping that the next book was right around the corner. It is VERY good...a great retelling of an old classic with a modern twist. I listened to both books this year in hopes that the book is coming out. I have checked Dean R Koontz site...he has made both of the books into graphic novels but no word on the next book. I am beside myself. How can authors do this to me? Do any of you feel the same way? I am enjoying Dean R Koontz's Odd Thomas series...I have only read book one....and I am pacing myself for the others. He seems to be publishing these faster than the Frankenstein ones.

Another fun series is the confessions of Georgia Nicholson...if you haven't read this yet, you should. The books are about a 14 year old brit girl. My husband says that he wished he knew what he did after reading this books as a kid...the mind of a girl. My girlfriends who have read this series say it is a great read and are just as anxious as I to see the next book come out. Well, happiness of all happiness book 9 is out and in stores. I stumbled across it while looking for something to spend my $25 gift card on! I am WAY TOO HAPPY for words. Now I can finally read book 8 (which I didn't read because it was the last one...so I thought).

Reading more teen series I have found that Scott Westerfeld's Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras are really awesome! I got hooked reading them at the beginning of the year and lucked out because as I was finishing Specials, Extras came out. This takes place in a more futuristic world...but I loved them...and most of the people I have recommended this series to, has loved them as well.

Of course I cannot end without mentioning the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer...if you haven't read it yet...go out and get it. I was immediately hooked when my friend recommended it to me. I have read all three and am counting down the days until book 4 arrives in stores in August. I am a huge fan of vampire stories...good vampire stores and this is definitely up there. A regular girl falls in love with one of the undead...and he with her. Written by a woman of Mormon faith...based on a vision she saw, this is incredible. My only dilemma is that I can't decide if Bella should end up with Edward or Jacob...I just can't decide. I know most say with Edward definitely...but I can't help but like Jacob.

I love the comments!! Please keep them coming. I will definitely address Mysteries in my next posting!!

Summer Reading

So I don't know about the rest of you but this summer I have a list, that grows, of things I want to read before the end of summer. Something about sitting outside near the pool or on your porch, in the park or just in your yard and reading a book is a summer thing. Reading on vacation is even more fun. The hardest part of packing is how many books to take. For me, an airline flight is a good way for me to breeze through a book. So, I have to choose wisely. There are so many books I want to read this summer. I plan to read them...and then write up a little something about them. Of course I have already started reading and listening to things. But, after today I will share my thoughts.

So, yesterday I finished a teen read called ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOT... by David Larochelle. Steven is trying to pass his driving test, he square dances and he thinks his parents are beyond strange...and he is POSITIVE he's not gay. He spends most of the story trying to deny his sexuality. And...for him it is kind of anticlimactic as no one really seems to care once he is out. It is so funny and cute! I recommend it for all readers. Especially if you didn't have the best memories from high school.

What are you reading? Can you recommend anything?

Greetings

So, for my first entry I am just going to say that I am a reader. I love to read. I haven't always loved to read...I think I told my first grade teacher that I HATED to read...and by 4th grade I could read at a 12th grade level and beyond. Often I could read the words but maybe didn't always understand the content or context of what I was reading. I can also read fast...which was something my cousins always thought was really interesting. I have never really timed myself but I read Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks Sunday morning...I think I was up at 8:30am and I had it read by 9:30am or so...Of course the fluff fiction I can read the fastest...and I do my best when I can sit uninterrupted and read. Who has that luxury? I feel that if you WANT to read, you can make it happen. I read everything now...before I used to only read fiction, and occasionally the newspaper or magazine articles. I have found that I do like the occasional non-fiction book. My plan is to read things...and talk about them. Also, recap some things I have already read. I would love to have your input as well...and recommendations. I used to have a friend that I would see every so often, she and I would discuss books and she would recommend titles to me, and I to her. It was great! So, if there is something you think I should read...let me know!