Journey Through Words

Last post of 2009

2009-12-31T20:49:00.002-06:00

81 out of 101: Twenties Girl-
This was the newest book by Sophie Kinesella. At first I really struggled with it. I found Sadie's character to be kind of annoying. But it didn't take me long to really start to enjoy the book. It was a cute, light, quick read, and a reminder to me as to why Sophie Kinesella is one of my favorite chick lit authors.

82 out of 101: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-
If this book is any indication of the rest of the series then boy am I in for a wild ride! There were sooo many twists and turns in this book that it kept me guessing. I love that! When I read these books I can't help but think back to being a kid and watching scooby doo...lol. I'm sure it's a weird thing to relate it to but I guess it's just the whole "mystery" aspect and trying to find out "who done it".I had heard from some that while they love the entire series, that this book is the weakest. Well, if that's the case then I'm in luck because I *really* enjoyed this book. Especially the ending. I can't wait to read the next one!

83 out of 101: The Help
I liked this book. I did. But I just didn't find it to be amazing. I think my expectations may have been a little too high after hearing everyone rave about it. I actually was left feeling a little disapointed when I finished. I really thought I was going to love it, or that it would blow me away. I'm *really* glad that I got it from the library, as there were a few times I had it in my hands at Barnes and Noble and almost bought it.
...sigh... I hate when a book leaves me feeling this way. Same thing happened to me with TTTW.

Checking In!

2009-12-13T20:12:00.003-06:00

I really can't believe October was the last time I checked in on this. Yikes. That definitely doesn't make it easy for me to blog about the books I've been reading.

76 out of 101: I Loved, I lost, I made Spaghetti- I really thought I'd enjoy this book. I mean whats not to love about a book that is about food, and love? But in all honesty I really didn't enjoy this book very much, if at all. The recipes didn't sound appetizing (which was surprising) and the author's relationships never had any growth.

77 out of 101: Brisingr- This book was *sooo* good! I am so glad that I got back into the Eragon series. This book was filled with action, adventure, and it even made me cry twice. Which is always a sign of a really good book to me. I loved it and I can't wait for the last book!

78 out of 101: Harry Potter and the Sorceres Stone- I finally decided that it's time to see what all the fuss is about. I really enjoyed this book a lot. I gotta admit I was a little nervous at first, especially since it seemed younger than most of the other young adult books I've read before. But I remembered hearing that the books really grow as Harry does, so I just pushed that out of my mind. I really enjoyed the book, even though it was a different take on fantasy from the Eragon series.

79 out of 101: LA Candy- This is the first novel writen by LC, or Lauren Conrad of the Hills. I *love* LC, and am a big fan of both Laguna Beach and the Hills... I always by US weekly when she is on the cover, so I thought I'd love this book. NOPE! It was really just okay, and probably the only reason I'd even say that is because of my loyalty to LC. I dunno what it was exactly, but this book just rubbed me the wrong way. Even a quality that I love on the hills annoyed the heck out of me in the book (In the hills each episode is titled a phrase that will later be said on the show, same with the titles of each of her chapters) It just seemed that the book lacked creativity as it was "fiction" based off of life as a reality star, or her life.

80 out of 101: Best Friends Forever- This was the first book that I read by Jennifer Weiner, and I must say I wasn't impressed. I found the characters really annoying (especially Val) and the relationship between Val and Addie very strange. In fact, a lot of this book was just plan weird. I didn't like it, was barely entertained by it, and found myself rushing to finish it so I could move onto something more worthy of my time.

and a posting...

2009-10-25T17:25:00.002-05:00

Again, I've been terrible at updating this. I know it's bad when I can't exactly remember what book I read after that last I blogged about. I've been good at updating my goodreads, but I need to get better about this blog.

73 out of 101: Love the One You're With

I wanted to love this book, I thought that with certain things I have been through that I'd certainly be able to relate to this book. Nope. I hardly enjoyed this book. I found the main character to not be very likable. I couldn't relate to her actions, and honestly I just found myself disliking her. I usually love Emily Giffen books, but this one left me very disappointed.

74 out of 101: Columbine

This was a fascinating, intense read. The author wrote it so well, that it flowed more like a fiction book, rather than a non-fiction book. The content was incredibly disturbing (which is understandable considering the topic) and really provided so much information and insight into this horrible tragedy. While I liked (maybe appreciated is a better word?) this book, I couldn't read it for long periods of time. It was just too depressing. I also found myself thinking about everything relating to Columbine for a while when I was reading it.

75 out of 101: Eldest

This is the follow up book to Eragon which I should have read a long time ago. I'm not sure what took me so long to read it, but after listening to Eragon again on audio book after a long road trip I was ready to dive back into the series full force. I loved this book! It was a little slow at first because there was so much more character development happening, but it was fantastic. I really enjoyed it, and kept commenting to my husband that he needed to hurry up and finish his current book so he could read this!

A few more

2009-09-20T10:45:00.002-05:00

69 out of 101: Julie and Julia

This book was okay, I went into it with pretty low expectations due to all of the negative reviews I had heard of it. Truthfully it wasn't that bad, at least not to me. I thought it was an awesome concept for the book, but it just didn't make for a great read. It had a lot of potential that it just didn't live up to. Also I love food, but mostly everything that she cooked sounded gross to me (maybe it's a good thing I'm not French?!) Especially the crap with the bone marrow! Yuck!

70 out of 101: The Hunger Games

I had heard a lot of great reviews for this book. But after reading the book description it really didn't sound like anything special. But after getting a really good borders coupon, I decided to go ahead and buy it and give it a try. Wow. It was *really* good!!! Since it was young adult it was a short, quick read, but honestly I think the story itself is what made it so hard to put down. And yeah, I gotta say it... I'm team Peeta!!!!

71 out of 101: Catching Fire

This is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I tried to start it while we were on vacation, which didn't work out so well because there really was no free time to read. But as soon as I got back home I picked this book back up and finished it fast. It was amazing, yet frustrating all at once. Which again made it hard to put down. I loved it and can not wait for the next book in the series!!!!

72 out of 101: Shutter Island

I was pretty nervous to start this book, as it is totally out of my reading comfort zone. But I heard it was pretty good, and I've been seeing the previews for the movie (with Leonardo Di Caprio! --- he fits this part perfectly!). This book wasn't really what I thought it'd be (scary) it was more suspense/mysteryish. It was like a rollercoaster though almost the whole way through. It really kept me guessing at what was going on and what was going to happen next. Not the best book I've ever read, but still a good solid read. I can't wait to see the movie!

Lots of reading...little blogging!

2009-08-29T14:34:00.002-05:00

So I have been reading *A LOT* lately, mostly thanks to the fact that I discovered the Nest Book Club, and have been participating in the Summer Book Club Challenge. Now while I know I will most likely not be able to complete all of the challenge reading categories, it sure has been fun trying, and it's also enabled me to branch out and read some books that I otherwise might not have thought to pick up. So here goes a list of the books I've read since I last blogged.

63 out of 101: Gone to the Dogs

I found out that goodreads often has book giveaways for advanced copies of books. So one day I was bored and decided to go ahead an enter a few. This was the first (and only) book I've won to date. It was actually a really cute read. The author's writing style was pretty different, even from most other chick lit books I have read. I enjoyed the book pretty much the whole way through, with the exception of the ending which I felt fell a little bit flat. It was a very fast read. I finished it in a day (which rarely happens for me with work and life stuff).

64 out of 101: Chocolat

I wanted to like this book. I mean come on, what is there not to like about a book that has to do with CHOCOLATE! But yeah, not so much. There was just something missing in this book for me, that I can't quite put my finger on. It was very much just ok for me. I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book was Pantoufle. I like the thought of an "imaginary" bunny friend. Not a book I'd read again. I do have the movie, which I never finished watching many years ago (I think I feel asleep?). I'll try that again, and see if I enjoy it more than the book.

65 out of 101: The Sugar Queen

I *really* liked this book. I kind of walked into it blindly by just picking it up at the bookstore. I read the back of the cover, which totally appealed to me. But for whatever reason just kept putting it back. Well one day I had a nice coupon for borders and decided what the heck. I bought it, without ever reading any reviews of it online, and to my surprise I totally enjoyed it. The characters were likeable, with the exception of the mom. It was a cute, fun story. And it was a easy read, partly because I enjoyed it so much. Finished it in like 2 days, and I would actually read it again.

66 out of 101: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Great book! Very heavy though. Which I expected since I had already read the Kite Runner (which also was a heavy, but wonderful book) This is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. Even now I find myself thinking about all that the women of Afghanistan have had to endure. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone. Like I said though, it is a very heavy book, and there are some parts that are very disturbing. But it really is a good, good read!

67 out of 101: Jane Eyre

I wanted to like this book... I really did. But it just really didn't do much for me. It was long, and very wordy, and for almost the first entire half of the book I struggled to get through it. There were times where it really made me sleepy, which actually doesn't happen to me often when I read. I usually get so engrossed in a book, that while it does relax me, it doesn't make me want to crash out. It took me more than halfway through this book to even get into it a little bit. Which still wasn't enough to make me enjoy it. The relationship between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester was just odd to me. If you're looking for a good classic, I'd go with Pride and Prejudice.

68 out of 101: The Princess Diaries

I knew this was a movie (which I haven't seen, but now plan on it) but didn't realize it was a book. I actually enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say it's my favorite YA read, but it was good. The story line was really cute, and while at first I was a little annoyed with the language the character used, and some of her actions/reactions, I tried to remember that Mia is only 14. I'd say 14 year olds are allowed to be annoying to a certain extent. The book grew on me though the more that I read, and I by the end I was pretty pleased with it. I'd probably even read the next book in the series at some point in time.

More books!

2009-08-03T23:07:00.002-05:00

60 out of 101: The Time Traveler's Wife

I decided to read this book after seeing the previews for the movie that is coming out this month. The book was good, but not great. I never felt really emotionally involved in the characters. And the whole time traveling was a little confusing at times. Maybe it was the author's writing style? I dunno. But I didn't love this book like I was hoping I would. Still a good book, but nothing I would recommend to anyone as something they had to read. Hopefully this will be one of those rare cases that the movie is actually better than the book.

61 out of 101: The Beach House

This was the first book I checked out with my new library card! I've seen it before, and picked it up at the book stores, but just didn't know if it was worth spending my money on. I enjoyed this book. It was chick lit, so it was light and fluffy, which I was in need of after TTTW. I got sucked into this book quickly, and I like how it was about several main characters, but their stories all intertwined. It was great beach reading material!

62 out of 101: The Pillars of the Earth

Wow! This book was unlike anything I have ever read before. Not only was it a huge book (probably the biggest I've ever read at nearly 1,000 pages!) but it was also a historical fiction book. I don't normally read historical fiction, but this was a great introduction for me. I enjoyed it a lot, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. There were some very frustrating parts, as the characters were either really good, or really evil. Great, great book! Although I will say that this is not a book that you should try to rush through, I tried to get through the last 200+ pages today on my day off, and have a bit of a headache as a result...lol... which actually sucks in a way because it took away from me totally enjoying the last of this great book.

Slacking...still

2009-07-06T09:38:00.002-05:00

So I've still been slacking with the blog. I've been reading though, and I'm trying to get myself motivated to pick up the blogging more regularly again. This isn't the only blog of mine that I've been slacking on though, so it looks like I have some work cut out for me.

56 out of 101: No regrets: 101 Fabulous Things to do Before You're too Old, Married, or Pregnant-- This book was okay. It had some fun ideas, and was an easy read, but as usually the case with these sort of books, it wasn't anything that I felt compelled to spend my free time reading.

57 out of 101: The Reader-- I had some friends who read this and or saw the movie and loved it, so I decided to pick it up and read it on our flight to our honeymoon. It was short, and I finished it fast, but it wasn't as great as I thought it'd be. Maybe it was the writing style or something, but I just didn't feel emotionally attached to the characters. Hopefully the movie will be better, I should be getting it on netflix soon.

58 out of 101: The Lovely Bones-- I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't by any means the best book I've ever read. And I don't know that I would go around recommending it to people, but it was good. The story line was crazy, and a lot of action happened right away. I thought the way the story was told was interesting, and I was happy with the ending.

59 out of 101: The Host-- This book is written by Stephanie Myer, who wrote the Twilight Saga (which I loved!) I *really* liked this book! The first chapter was a little rough for me, but I think that had more to do with the fact that I was reading it at work during lunch, and some co-workers were chatting, just made it a little tough for me to concentrate. Also the internal dialogue took me a little bit to get used to. But wow, this book was great! I was completely sucked into the story, and it was one of those rare books that I found myself making time to read when I was at home. This is a book I'd recommend to my friends to read, no doubt about it.

Been a little behind...

2009-04-11T23:51:00.003-05:00

So I've still been reading, just haven't been that great at updating my blog lately. :( But I figure with a wedding fast approaching, and buying, fixing up, and moving into a new condo...I should be forgiven. LOL. I try to get in most of my reading at work on my lunch breaks, which works great because not only do I get in my reading time, but I save money since I eat my lunch in.

Here's a condensed list/review of the last few books I have read....

53 out of 101: The Next Thing on My List

I had picked this book up and Borders, and the description on the back really caught my attention. It was about a car accident that killed the passenger in the vehicle. The driver felt horrible about the accident, even though it truely was just that- an accident. However she discovered that the girl had complied a list of 25 things to do before she turned 25. So she set out to complete the list for her. Overall the book was ok. It moved a little slow, and was honestly a bit hard for me to get into. The concept was great, but something just lacked in the writing. There were a few great moments in the book, even a couple moments that made me laugh out loud, which is always nice.

54 out of 101: Change of Heart

Another great book by one of my most favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. This was a complex read, which is exactly why I love her books. She always manages to take topics that appear very black and white, and she finds that grey area. And of course there is always that twist. Not my favorite Picoult book (those would definitely be My Sister's Keeper, and The Pact) but still a great book that I enjoyed very much.

55 out of 101: Something Borrowed

This was just a fun, easy read. It was the second book that I read by Emily Giffen, and I totally enjoyed every moment of it. Her writing style is so easy and the whole novel just flowed. I was completely sucked into the story line, and even though it was so bad of Rachel (the main character) to lust after her best friend's fiancee, you still just couldn't help to root for her. It was one of those guilty pleasures... haha like celebrity gossip magazine or reality tv. LOL. I'd definitely reccomend it to someone who was just looking for a fun, quick read (I finished it in less than a week--even with the wedding planning, move, work...etc....)

52 out of 101: Time of my Life

2009-01-24T20:28:00.002-06:00

So I first heard of this book from people magazine --which I only browse through at work, mostly for the book reviews ;) It sounded interesting enough, what with the theme of the book being about those what-ifs in life that we all seem to have at some point.

I did enjoy this book. It kept me guessing. Which path would she choose once she had a second chance? Could you really change your destiny? Was the grass really greener on the other side? Overall a good read, definitely not my favorite by any means, but still good.

51 out of 101: Remember Me?

2009-01-05T15:26:00.002-06:00

This was another really cute book from one of my favorite authors Sophie Kinsella. It was about a girl named Lexi, who is frustrated with her boring, average life... and one day wakes up after a car accident and finds that everything has suddenly been turned upside down. She looks different, and her entire life has completely changed for the better...or so she thinks.

Its a really fun, light hearted read. I enjoyed it very much.

50 out of 101: Breaking Dawn

2008-11-28T17:31:00.002-06:00

OMG! What a great book, and a great ending (?) to the Twilight Saga. This book was very good, a lot happened, and it happened fast. But not at all in a bad way. It didn't feel rushed or anything like that.

I was *very* pleased with this book. The worst thing about this book was finishing it, because now it's over. At least for now anyway. I would totally love it if the saga continued on. Keeping my fingers crossed.

49 out of 101: Eclipse

2008-11-22T15:08:00.002-06:00

So this is a little late, as I finished Eclipse (book 3 of the Twilight saga) a few weeks ago and am already about 1/3 of the way through the last book- Breaking Dawn. I really enjoyed Eclipse, the continuing love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob is quite gripping. The dynamics of the relationships between Bella/Edward, Bella/Jacob is so intense (although I am totally on team edward--LOL) The action really picks up in this book, and makes it much harder to put down. While I did enjoy New Moon, I must say that Eclipse is a better book (a lot of people agree that New Moon, while still good, is probably the least favorite or least enjoyed book of the saga).

There were a few parts in Eclipse that were incredibly frustrating. It's hard not to form an attachment to the characters in this series. And with certain situations in Eclipse I had a hard time keeping quiet and not sharing my frustrations with my co-worker who happened to still be on New Moon.

I'm totally hooked on the Twilight Series.

48 out of 101: New Moon

2008-11-01T14:43:00.002-05:00

Continuing with the Twilight Saga I just recently finished New Moon, which is book 2 of the series. And I must say, I am still hooked. I don't want to give away too many details of the book, but this one continues the story, and is filled with lots of drama, romance, and action. I'm definitely loving the series, I'm loving that a couple of the girls at my work are reading it too so we can all chat about it, and I can not wait til the movie comes out.

Onto Eclipse...book 3!

47 out of 101: Twilight

2008-10-05T22:05:00.002-05:00

So after seeing this book around for a while, and wondering what it was all about I finally decided to give it a try, since my friend and co-worker also started reading the book. I must say that I was very impressed, and enjoyed this book that I truly had a hard time putting it down. Despite the size of the book, it wasn't such a long read considering the font size is rather large. The writing style of the author is smooth and makes for easy reading. Plus the story line itself is just awesome and completely captivating.

I'm not one to be into vampires or any kind of science fiction type books like that, but this one was really great. Because overall it is a love story, and who doesn't enjoy a good love story every once in a while. This book was so great that I already bought New Moon (the second book in the series) and will start reading it tonight. I have started a few series (The Left Behind Series, Eragon, Confessions of a Shopaholic--etc) but this is the first since the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants that I enjoyed so much I want to read the books consecutively. Hopefully this next one will be just as good.

46 out of 101: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

2008-09-25T01:29:00.002-05:00

So this book was unlike any book I've ever read before. It is definitely out of my normal genre of reading and wouldn't have been anything I would have picked up on my own. But it's part of the dragonlance series that my boyfriend Rick just loves. So we made this little deal that I'd give on of his books a try and he would give one of mine a try as well. (I'm still trying to decide what book of mine I'll have him read).

So this book was very much fantasy. Kind of had the whole Lord of the Rings type thing going (never read those books-- but I did *love* the movie). And actually it did remind me a bit of Eragon, which I really enjoyed too. It had everything a good fantasy book should have. It had a lot of action, a good plot line as they struggled to combat dark and evil forces, and of course love and honor. I really, really enjoyed it. Initally I found myself trying to read it so that I could finish it... but just a few chapters into it and I was hooked. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Which is always a sign of a good book.

It was a nice break from the typical stuff I tend to go towards in choosing my books. However it is part of a very large series of books, and as I told Rick I just love reading too much to be able to committ myself to a large series of books. As it is I still have to finish the Eragon series, as well as the Left Behind Series.

Haha... which is funny actually, because the next book I plan on reading is Twilight... which is also a series. LOL

45 out of 101: The Kite Runner

2008-09-14T02:26:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I'm probably a little behind with my reading. Especially considering I just barely read (and finished) the kite runner. Which was an awesome book and it definitely lived up to the hype. I will admit it was a pretty heavy read, which I did expect, although I was pretty shocked by some of the story line. I never would have expected some of the things that occured.

I really enjoyed this book though. It had so many elements that helped to make it the powerful book that it was. The relationships in this book were so deep, that you couldn't help but feel their pain and struggles. The relationship between Amir and Haasan was unlike anything else...

Overall just a great book, that far exceeded my expectations.

44 out of 101: Sweet Love

2008-08-26T14:53:00.002-05:00

When I initally picked up this book in Barnes and Noble, I'll admitt I was judging it based off of the pretty pink cover with the delicious looking cupcake on the cover. But I sure am glad I chose this book. The story line is one that many people can relate to: life, love, and the complicated yet beautiful relationship between a mother and a daughter, and the love of food... all wrapped up into one wonderful story!

This book was great. Easy to read... touching... and you really began to care for the characters and all of their unique personality traits. I enjoyed this book very much, and I hope that the next book I read will be just as wonderful!

43 out of 101: A Child Called It

2008-07-31T17:39:00.002-05:00

So I borrowed this book from a friend, and started it the other day. It's a really short read, however because of what the book is about it's not necessarily an easy read. Honestly it's pretty disturbing what this man went through as a child. How a mother could ever be so sick to do the things she did is just beyond me.

It's a sad story, and it is inspiring to know that he managed to survive his horrible childhood. I think I'm gonna move on to one of my own books though before I read his next book.

42 out of 101: The Bastard of Istanbul

2008-07-29T11:45:00.001-05:00

After nearly two long months I have finally finished this book! Woo Hoo! It's been tough for me to read as often as I would like because life has been so wonderfully busy for me lately. I did come to the realization however, that had I liked this book more I probably would have been able to finish it a lot sooner. It was a good book, but I didn't think it was necessarily great. It was a rich, complicated story, and the characters were closely interwoven, even more than they necessarily realized.

Here is the synopsis from B&N.com :

In her second novel written in English, Elif Shafak confronts her country’s violent past in a vivid and colorful tale set in both Turkey and the United States. At its center is the "bastard" of the title, Asya, a nineteen-year-old woman who loves Johnny Cash and the French Existentialists, and the four sisters of the Kazanci family who all live together in an extended household in Istanbul: Zehila, the zestful, headstrong youngest sister who runs a tattoo parlor and is Asya’s mother; Banu, who has newly discovered herself as a clairvoyant; Cevriye, a widowed high school teacher; and Feride, a hypochondriac obsessed with impending disaster. Their one estranged brother lives in Arizona with his wife and her Armenian daughter, Armanoush. When Armanoush secretly flies to Istanbul in search of her identity, she finds the Kazanci sisters and becomes fast friends with Asya. A secret is uncovered that links the two families and ties them to the 1915 Armenian deportations and massacres. Full of vigorous, unforgettable female characters, The Bastard of Istanbul is a bold, powerful tale that will confirm Shafak as a rising star of international fiction.

Hopefully I'll finish my next book much faster than this! I'm a little behind on my reading....

41 out of 101: Yoga Chick: A Hip Guide to Everything Om

2008-05-31T19:40:00.002-05:00

So It's been a while since I've done any reading. I started this book back in April, and although it is a very short and easy read, I had a lot of personal stuff going on and just didn't make the time to finish it. But I went to Barnes and Noble today and bought a few new books, so I knew that I had to make the time to finish it, so that I can move on to all the new books I have waiting to be read and enjoyed.

I thought this was a great book about yoga, and it covered all the basics. Perfect for anyone who is new to yoga. It does show a lot of the same poses, with the same exact descriptions, but it also had a lot of useful information as well. A great, quick read!

Here is the synopsis from Barnesandnoble.com :

Synopsis
Roll out your mat, breathe deeply, and chant "Om." A book of portable calm for the girl on the go, YOGA CHICK holds the key to balancing mind, body, and spirit. Its six unique, fully illustrated sessions will help you build strength and flexibility, and its easy-to-follow practices will help you relieve stress, increase energy, and manage your moods.
Throughout this handy book, wellness tips, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques give you much-needed breaks from a hectic day, while hearty recipes and bite-size guides to chakras and aromatherapy nourish the soul. For both beginners and blossoming yoginis, Yoga Chick is all you need for total well-being.

40 out of 101: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

2008-04-13T11:02:00.002-05:00

Haha... so like I said in my last blog post, I really enjoyed Confessions of a Shopaholic. And as a result the day I finished reading it, I went out and bought the second book in the series. This book follows Becky's adventure in New York, the ups and downs of her new life and career, and of course more SHOPPING!

It was another fun, light read. I really enjoyed this book, and I was satisfied with the ending. I thought it was just perfect. I can't wait to read the next book in the shopaholic series. Although it may be a few weeks because I have a nice stack of books right here just waiting to be read.

Happy Reading everyone!

39 out of 101: Confessions of a Shopaholic

2008-04-08T10:35:00.002-05:00

From b&n.com:

Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better....Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it -- not any of it.

I LOVED this book!!! Seriously, what could be better than a book about shopping?! It was a light, easy read, and it was really easy to get attached to the characters, especially Becky. And I could definitley relate to Becky when it came to the powers of retail therapy---there is nothing better! I can't wait for the movie (yup, there is one in the works!). And there are like 4 other books in the Shopaholic series... Yeah, you can find me at Borders today after class picking up the next book in the series. LOL

38 out of 101: The Tenth Circle

2008-03-30T12:43:00.002-05:00

From Barnesandnoble.com :

Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Trixie Stone is in love for the first time. She's also the light of her father, Daniel's life -- a straight-A student; a pretty, popular freshman in high school; a girl who's always seen her father as a hero. That is, until her world is turned upside down with a single act of violence. Suddenly everything Trixie has believed about her family -- and herself -- seems to be a lie. Could the boyfriend who once made Trixie wild with happiness have been the one to end her childhood forever? She says that he is, and that is all it takes to make Daniel, a seemingly mild-mannered comic book artist with a secret tumultuous past he has hidden even from his family, venture to hell and back to protect his daughter.
With The Tenth Circle, Jodi Picoult offers her most powerful chronicle yet as she explores the unbreakable bond between parent and child, and questions whether you can reinvent yourself in the course of a lifetime -- or if your mistakes are carried forever.

I thought this was another great book from Jodi Picoult. I started it on Friday and finished it up early this morning, dispite having tons of homework and studying to do this weekend. It was just engrossing. While I'll admit this wasn't necessarily her *best* book, it was still really good. She is just an amazing author and is probably my absolute favorite... I could go on and on about how much I love her books, but it just wouldn't do her justice.

Thanks to my friend Maddy for sending me this book!!!!

37 out of 101: Stop Whining, Start Living

2008-03-26T19:50:00.002-05:00

I had high hopes for this book, as I loved the last book I read by Dr. Laura... but to be honest it was just okay. There were some parts that I found very useful and highlighted, but overall this book sort of let me down. I found myself just reading so that I could finish and move on to something else, which is never a good sign.

From www.barnesandnoble.com:

Dr. Laura Schlessinger agrees that there are things worth whining about! A certain amount of whining allows for some venting of reasonable pain, disappointment, fear, frustration, or frank rage. However, staying stuck in whining mode can become a life-long problem. This is where Dr. Laura steps in with Stop Whining, Start Living to help folks conquer the temptation to retreat from living life to the fullest. As she reveals in her introduction, "No matter what you've suffered or continue to suffer, while you are alive you have the opportunity to get something from this life, and I'm going to do my best to help you with that. . . . I know of what I speak, as this has been my torturous journey also." Building on the principles developed during her long career as a licensed marriage and family therapist, and addressing the chronic struggles of so many of her listeners and readers, Dr. Laura issues an important message in the no-nonsense but compassionate voice that is her trademark: If you don't like your life, quit talking about your unhappiness and try to fix it, no matter how difficult or impossible your situation seems. While it is healthy to vent occasionally, endless rumination on the negative only keeps you paralyzed in misery, reinforces hopelessness, and demoralizes those around you who feel helpless to bring any happiness into your life. Instead, Stop Whining, Start Living encourages "whiners" to reject negative thoughts, emotions, and attitudes; shift perspective; open up to gratitude and goodness; and embrace obligations to loved ones and the world in general. Before long, just doing what you're supposed to be doing -- instead of moaning about why you can't or won't or shouldn't fulfill your responsibilities -- will have you feeling better about yourself and will uplift your interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers in incredible ways.

Sounds like a good book right? But yeah, just didn't live up to my expecations. Hopefully others will be able to get more out of it than I did. But it's not a book that I'd necessarily reccomend to others. Oh well.

On to something better (I hope!)....

36 out of 101: The Secret Life of Bees

2008-03-15T23:38:00.002-05:00

From BarnesandNoble.com ---"Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her harsh, unyielding father, Lily Owens has shaped her entire life around one devastating, blurred memory - the afternoon her mother was killed, when Lily was four. Since then, her only real companion has been the fierce-hearted, and sometimes just fierce, black woman Rosaleen, who acts as her "stand-in mother."
When Rosaleen insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily knows it's time to spring them both free. They take off in the only direction Lily can think of, toward a town called Tiburon, South Carolina - a name she found on the back of a picture amid the few possessions left by her mother.
There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters named May, June, and August. Lily thinks of them as the calendar sisters and enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, and of the Black Madonna who presides over this household of strong, wise women. Maternal loss and betrayal, guilt and forgiveness entwine in a story that leads Lily to the single thing her heart longs for most. "

I loved this book.... it was such a GOOD read! I remember the first day I read it I was a little tired from my long day and before I started reading I flipped through to see how long the first chapter was... when I saw that it was about 30 pages or so I though "okay well I'll get started but probably won't even be able to finish a chapter tonight". But I was wrong! The story immediately sucked me right in. You can't help but fall in love with each of the characters. I also really enjoyed the author's writing style as this whole book just flowed. I'd highly reccommend this book to others!

35 out of 101: A New Earth

2008-03-08T14:31:00.003-06:00

Wow! I really think this book is amazing. Essentially it discusses how the disease of humanity is the ego, and how our ego affects every aspect of our life. I read this book with a highlighter in hand, marking up everything that gave me one of those "aha" moments... Its not a terribly long book. But the content of it makes it a long read, some of the concepts went over my head at first so I found myself having to re-read certain passages. And I found it difficult to read more than a chapter or two at a time.

I signed up to participate in Oprah's A New Earth web event, however I wasn't able to access it last Monday night so I'll be watching it sometime this weekend. I'm hoping I'll be able to get into it this Monday. But regardless I look forward to using the tools on her website to gain a better understanding of this book.

34 out of 101: Can You Keep a Secret

2008-02-23T18:59:00.002-06:00

Haha... I just realized that the last book I read also had the word "secret" in the title... how funny!

Okay but this book was nothing like the last. This book came from one of my favortie genres... CHICK LIT! I love, love chick lit, as it is the equivelant of a chick flick. A nice read that is light ad fluffy. And I would have to say that this was one of the best chick lit books I have read in quite sometime.

Basically it's about a girl, who on a flight spills all of her secrets to the stranger sitting next to her. Not too big of a deal right??? At least not until she goes to work the next day and sees "him", it just so happens that this stranger happens to be the CEO of the company she works for. The book is light and funny, and the characters are enjoyable. I would have to say that Sophie Kinsella definitely has some of the best chick lit books.

Overall a really fun, lighthearted read.... just what I was needing!

33 out of 101: The Secret

2008-02-19T19:57:00.002-06:00

Recently a friend of mine recommended to me a book that she read (and enjoyed) called The Secret. So I went out and bought it, since I had also heard postive reviews of it from others. It was a fairly quick read, I definitely think I could have finished it a lot faster if it hadn't been for homework and just overall tiredness. But I finished it today, so even with everything going on it only took me a few days.

Overall it was a decent read. The Secret's main focus is on the importance of positive thinking, and how like attracts like. I really enjoyed the concept of the book, and the overall message truely did make a lot of sense to me. The only big downfall I could see in the book was that it was a bit repetitive.

I think its time for a break though, and my next book is going to be some chick lit.... something light and fluffy sounds great right about now.... :) Happy Reading!

32 out of 101: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

2008-02-12T09:34:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I admit that this wasn't a book I chose for myself. It was required reading for my intro to politics course at school. But still, I read it, and even finished it before we even need to have it finished, so I figured I'd go ahead and count it.

When I first started this book last week I wasn't too excited about it. I don't know if it was because of some distractions in real life or what but I just couldn't focus on the story line and I found it terribly confusing. However as I got a little further along in the book I started getting into it, and wanting to know what was going to happen next. Overall it was a pretty good book. Not something I'd choose to read again, and probably not even something I'd come right out and reccomend to anyone to read. But if you find yourself having to read this for a class or something I think it'd be safe to say it's an enjoyable read.

31 out of 101: The Fabulous Girl's Guide to Decorum

2008-02-02T18:58:00.000-06:00

Blah. I didn't really enjoy this book at all. It was one of those books that I found myself just trying to finish already so that I could move on to something else. I even found myself skipping pages, not a good sign at all.

I just didn't find it that great. Honestly it was almost annoying. It was especially irritating to me that the authors kept saying "An Fabulous Girl" or "An FG" instead of "A". Maybe it's because their Canadian?

On to something better (I hope!)...

30 out of 101: The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage

2008-01-23T16:32:00.000-06:00

So I've been MIA for a while, but I promise the reading hasn't stopped. I just finished reading the Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Overall I thought it was a good book with a lot of helpful information. I found myself highlighting many parts and having lots of "Aha" moments. However I don't think this is necessarily a good book for everyone, considering Dr. Laura has some views that not all will like.

I also just purchased New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer, which is a daily devotional book. So far I really like it and I feel like every one that I read truly speaks to my heart.

My Top 5 of 2007

2007-12-31T10:25:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows me, or who's been checking out this little blog of mine knows I love to read and I've read an awful lot this year. I've read a lot of good books this year, but there's only been a handful of truly awesome books. So here is my own little list, the top 5 books I read in 2007 (obviously some of them have been out longer, not sure what took me so long to discover their greatness!)

1. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Gregory Maguire)

2. My Sister's Keeper (Jodi Picoult)

3. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)

4. Nineteen Minutes (Jodi Picoult)

5. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Lisa See)

Last Book of 2007--- 29 out of 101: Every Marriage is a Fixer Upper

2007-12-31T09:29:00.000-06:00

So on Friday night I wasn't feeling too good and decided to spend the evening curled up with a book. I've had this book lying around for a while, but never was able to read it (honestly I enjoy reading books on relationships, but I hesitated to take this book with me to work, as people can tend to look too much into that sort of stuff. Know what I mean?) Anyways I enjoyed this book. It was a quick easy read, and it gave some pretty good ideas as well as listed some good resources for additional reading, etc. I don't think it's the best book on relationships (so far the best I have read was The Five Love Languages) but it was still pretty good. Besides I finished it the next day, can't complain about that.

28 out of 101: Dear John

2007-12-27T21:13:00.000-06:00

So this was my second attempt at reading a Nicholas Sparks book and honestly I just don't see what all the fuss is about. The first book of his I read was the notebook, and after loving the movie sooo much I was very excited to read the book. But it just wasn't anything special, and I felt that it fell way flat. So I figured that maybe I was just biased since I saw the movie first. So I decided to give Dear John a try, thinking that I may enjoy it more since it also has a military theme to it. Nope.... just didn't happen that way.

I found the book boring and predictible. Everything that occured in the storyline, you could see happening. It was one of those books that I wanted to be done with and just read to finish so that I could move on to something better. Very blah. I don't think I will be attempting to read any other books by Nicholas Sparks, guess I'll just stick with the movie versions from now on.

27 out of 101: Nineteen Minutes

2007-12-14T12:22:00.000-06:00

So I just finished reading my fourth Jodi Picoult book, and I must say it was another amazing read. (Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors, and if you haven't read her yet, I would highly suggest her!) Nineteen minutes was a complex and gripping novel about highschool shooting. Like her other novels, this was very thought provoking. I often find that when I am reading her books I just can't stop thinking about the story. You would think that an issue like school shootings would be a clearly black and white issue, but Picoult does a great job of helping you to see the grey areas. I think that a book like this would be of beneficial to anyone-- especially teenage students, something that can help show the effects of bullying and the effects that school shootings have on everyone.

Synopsis:

In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five....In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it.
In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.
Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens — until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy. For them, the lines between truth and fiction, right and wrong, insider and outsider have been obscured forever. Josie Cormier, the teenage daughter of the judge sitting on the case, could be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. And as the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show, destroying the closest of friendships and families.
Nineteen Minutes is New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult's most raw, honest, and important novel yet. Told with the straightforward style for which she has become known, it asks simple questions that have no easy
answers: Can your own child become a mystery to you? What does it mean to be different in our society? Is it ever okay for a victim to strike back? And who — if anyone — has the right to judge someone else?

26 out of 101: PS I Love You

2007-12-06T22:20:00.000-06:00

I just finished reading PS I Love You this afternoon at work. I had just bought this book last week because I had seen that the movie was coming out very soon. It was a great book. It was sad, and funny, and you couldn't help but care about the character. Considering what the book is about it was a little tough for me to read this at work. I'm sure if I had read this book in the privacy of my own home I would have been bawling like a baby through out some of it. But instead I had to keep it together and try not to get all teary eyed at work. I can not wait for the movie to come out. I know that it is not going to follow the book exactly, but just from what I've seen from the previews and from the movie's website I still think it is going to be very good. I can't wait for Jesus to take me to see it!

This is the synopsis of the book from barnesandnoble.com :

A novel about holding on, letting go, and learning to love again.
Now in paperback, the endearing novel that captured readers' hearts and introduced a fresh new voice in women's fiction — Cecelia Ahern.
Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed.
The kind of enchanting novel with cross-generational appeal that comes along once in a great while, PS, I Love You is a captivating love letter to the world!

25 out of 101: Soul Harvest #4 in the Left Behind Series

2007-11-27T21:13:00.001-06:00

Well I started this book last week, but it took me a little longer than I would have liked to finish it, but I suppose that happens when you have a long (and busy) weekend. So I just finished this book today (I was sort of in a rush to finish it so I could get on with my next book). I thought it was okay. I still don't think the Left Behind books are the most amazing books I've ever read. They look a lot bigger than they are, but the text is actually pretty large so they tend to be quick reads. I've noticed with these books that they seem to have a pace where they pick up in the begining, slow down in the middle, and then they pick up again really fast in the end and you get a lot of info in the last chapter or so. Just kind of an interesting observation.

I'm not sure when I'll read the next book in the series, I feel bad since that lady let me borrow them and I have the rest of them sitting in a box, but I just can't see myself reading one right after the other.

24 out of 101: Nesting, It's a Chick Thing!

2007-11-15T08:20:00.000-06:00

From barnesandnoble.com :

Synopsis
Check it out--the Chicks are back. Authors of It's a Chick Thing, with 110,000 copies in print--"A must book for the reader who knows that chicks rule" (Publishers Weekly), "a smart and sassy compilation" (Chicago Tribune)--Ame Mahler Beanland and Emily Miles Terry celebrate chicks nesting, or what it means to have a home filled with laughter, good friends, lovingly prepared foods and crafts, all with personal style.Seasoned with attitude and packed with stories, history, how-tos, quips, advice, recipes, folklore, and crafts, Nesting is all about finding personal style and showing it off, putting an entirely fresh, it's-a-chick-thing spin on entertaining, decorating, cooking, and gardening. In "Chicks and Chow," the food chapter, there are unexpected stories by M.F.K. Fisher, Ruth Reichl, and Erma Bombeck; a Spice, Spice Baby! guide to spices; sixteen recipes for great Chicktails; and Towels That Snap Back (how to make personalized dish towels). "Flocking Together {hen parties and sassy soirees}" has Sally Quinn on being a guest while in labor; Ina Garton's "The Worst Party I Ever Had"; the How to Be a Hostess Cupcake guide to party girl preparedness; Upper, Lower, and No-Crust hors d'oeuvres; Monotony Killers; and decorating inspiration from Elsie de Wolfe: "I believe in plenty of optimism and white paint."Nesting is totally un-Martha in its approach--it's easy, it's light, it's like your best friends hanging out and offering advice with a quip--and it's illustrated throughout with hilarious retro photos and illustrations.

I totally loved this book! I have had it for a few years now, but for some reason I never got around to reading it. It was a fun read, the whole book was filled with cute quotes, and tons of awesome tips. I also enjoyed all of the little stories from women that filled the many pages of this book. I love being a wife, and all of the domestic stuff that entails, so this book was perfect for me. My favorite section was the one on entertaining since I really enjoy having people over and I love to cook for people. I found myself marking this book up with a highlighter and even putting little sticky tabs on the pages I want to reference later. Awesome, girly read!

23 out of 101: Cinderella Lopez

2007-11-06T11:47:00.000-06:00

From BarnesandNoble.com:

Fifteen-year-old Cynthia Lopez made a promise to her dying father: she will live with her two stepsisters, Ami and Lila, until she turns 25, at which point she'll inherit his large estate. Now, nine years later, twenty-four-year-old Cyn is counting down the days to that fateful birthday. At first, living with Ami and Lila had been fun, even exciting at times. Two of New York’s hottest It-Girls, they know all the right people, own all the right things, and go to all the right parties. Sensible Cyn used to be content hiding in the shadows of her larger-than-life sisters. Now, Cyn is finally wising up and realizing that she is no longer stepsister to the starsshe is personal assistant/slave to the stars (or Las Diablas, as the Latin press likes to call them). And, when Prince Charming enters, Cyn must go head-to-head with her truly wicked stepsisters in order to win back her father’s fortune, her perfect man, and, most importantly, her life. “A fairytale for today's woman who wants her Cinderella to be smart, tenacious and with ganas . . . not to mention with a great pair of shoes! Charming, hilarious and at times surprising, you can't put this one down."—Mary Castillo, author of Hot Tamara

I enjoyed this book more than I initally thought I would. When I grabbed this book off of my bookshelf I wanted a chick-lit book, something light and that would be a fast, easy read. It certainly did the trick. I thought the book was pretty good, and I enjoyed the fact that it was Latina chick-lit. My only complaint is that the ended left me a little disapointed. I think that it could have ended in a way that would have been a bit more satisfying to the reader.

22 out of 101: The Latino Holiday Book

2007-11-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

From barnesandnoble.com:

The Latino Holiday Book is the essential resource for everyone wanting to celebrate and honor the special traditions and celebrations of Hispanic-Americans. Author Valerie Menard takes us through the full year, covering new year’s traditions, Día de los Reyes, Calle Ocho, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, the feast day of San Juan Bautista, the Cuban and Mexican celebrations of independence, National Puerto Rican Day, the feast of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre and Our Lady of the Divine Inspiration, Día de la Raza (the Latin American version of Columbus Day), Día de los Muertos, the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and Christmas. Weddings, birthdays, and quinceañeras are also explored in rich detail. For each celebration, Menard discusses their religious or social history, typical customs, special foods and activities, and gives recipes and instructions for making the authentic foods and crafts that particularly represent a day’s traditions.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it was a fast, easy read. And it was full of information. I love learning new things, and this was a great way for me to learn more about my culture and some of the celebrations of other latinos.

21 out of 101: Memoirs of a Geisha

2007-10-26T16:15:00.000-05:00

So I just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha a few minutes ago. Let me just say it was a beautiful story and I enjoyed it sooo much! The whole story just pulled you in, and it was hard to put the book down. I have the movie and had seen it about a year ago, and I can honestly say that this is a rare book where reading or watching the movie first really shouldn't impact your experience with the other. Typically I tend to enjoy which ever I did first, but this book was different. I enjoyed the book sooo much, and the movie is really beautiful as well and I can not wait to see it again. I'm actually hoping we can find some time this weekend to watch it.

It's a great book, and if you haven't already read it I would highly suggest you do so. My only complaint is that it is a long book, and the font is pretty small. So my eyes felt more tired than usual after reading.

20 out of 101: Get your own damn beer, I'm watching the game!: A Woman's Guide to Loving Pro Football

2007-10-19T08:10:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:
Year after year, Sunday afternoons and Monday nights during the NFL season have belonged to men. While they cheer and argue play calls, the women in their lives are relegated to beer and chip detail. It's time for these women to join the action, and Holly Robinson Peete, star of 21 Jump Street, For Your Love, and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and wife of NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, has written this hip, smart, cheerful guide to help them do so.Peete shares her infectious enthusiasm for pro football
and takes the complexity out of the game by breaking it down to its component parts. She explains the role of each position player, provides a rundown of all on-field penalties and referees' hand signals, and offers an illustrated guide to some of the most common plays in the NFL. She gives her take on the most memorable plays in NFL history and dishes some inside dirt-in a breezy, girl-talkin' narrative that promises to turn the novice spectator into a well-informed football fanatic.

Well I thought I'd really enjoy this book since I already love pro-football (Especially my San Diego Chargers!) but honestly I thought this book was a little much. Who really needs all of this information? Just to enjoy the game of football. While there were a few things I found interesting, I certainly could go without knowing the entire history of each and every NFL team. And I could go without hearing how difficult it is to be the wife of a quaterback. (Yeah, because you know they only get paid a TON of money!) And because it's so stressful for her as a quaterback's wife to watch her hubby play. Okay, I acknowledge that football is a physical game and that there is always that risk involved... but as much as I love football I find it ridiculous that they get paid astronomical amounts just to play a game. I'm sure the wife of any soldier (or service member in general) would agree that it's much more stressful to send your loved one off to war, worrying about their safety, and yet they get paid so little for putting their life on the line for their country that the majority of military families literally live pay check to pay check.

I wouldn't recommend this book to people (unless of course you're writing a report on football, LOL, cuz like I said it's filled with lots of useless history). Just enjoy the game for what it is. You don't need a book like this to love football. If anything I think it would turn a lot of new fans off.

19 out of 101: A Farewell to Arms

2007-10-11T21:10:00.001-05:00

I had high hopes for this book, especially since it is such a classic piece of American Literature. I have been hoping that over time and as I get older I would learn to enjoy literature more and more. However with the exception of Jane Austen, it hasn't happened for me yet. (I'm not losing hope though!)

I thought that Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms started out great. It was very strong in the begining and although I was only slightly confused by some of the dialogue and trying to figure out exactly what was going on at times, I still was getting into it. I honestly though the interaction between Mr. Henry and Catherine was a bit odd. Even still I got over it. As I was finishing up today I got into the whole scene where they were retreating and Mr. Henry had to escape. But then the last few chapters were all about the time Mr. Henry and Catherine spent reconnecting. Which led back to that strange interaction, and the horrible abrupt ending. I felt like I spent all that time and he built the story up so much just for the ending to fall flat.

I remember seeing the movie a long time ago, and although I don't remember the specifics or how closely it matched the book, I do remember enjoying it much more than I enjoyed this book today.

Bummer. Guess I'll have to stick with fiction for now until I find some other literature that I enjoy.

18 out of 101: The 10 Women You'll be Before You're 35

2007-10-05T07:54:00.000-05:00

Book Description:

Everyone from your mother to your boyfriend-is always telling you who you are and who you should be. But who are you, really, and who do you really want to be?
New Graduate
Dollarless Diva
Worker Bee
Party Girl
Body-Conscious Babe
Chameleon
Crisis Chick
Ms. Independence
Wirl (half woman/half girl)
True You
In The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35, author Alison James takes you on a journey of self-discovery-from wide-eyed ingénue to the real woman you were born to become. You'll learn how to finesse each phase with poise-experimenting with abandon but ultimately keeping only what perfectly fits the True You. With The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35, you'll dare to become the woman you never dreamed you could be!

This was a good, enjoyable read. I loved the way the book was, it had quotes all throughout the book (which I love) and it also had cutesy lil designs on the edges of the paper. It was very cute. Overall I enjoyed the book, I couldn't find myself easily fitting into every "phase" but I think that is because the life of an Army wife is a little different than that of our civilian counterparts. This would be a book that I would totally get my husband's little sister who just graduated highschool and is starting her first semester at college.

17 out of 101: The Jane Austen Book Club

2007-10-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

Eh, this book was just okay. Honestly I bought the book when we were in San Diego, before having read any reviews for it. If I had read the reviews first, I wouldn't have bought it. It wasn't anything special, and the characters in the novel didn't really grow or change or anything at all. Kind of felt like everything went in a big circle. I only read it before some of the other books on my to read list because they made a movie out of it and that'll be coming out soon. I glanced at the review for it in Us Magazine and I believe they gave it a decent review. So I wanted to read the book before I see the movie.

I wouldn't reccommend anyone go out and buy this book. Save your money.

16 out of 101: Gift from the Sea

2007-09-26T12:48:00.000-05:00

Well I wasn't kidding when I said that this book was going to be a short, easy read. I finished it in about an hour or so yesterday afternoon. It was a good book, nothing spectacular. A lot of what the author talked about was something that I (and probably many other women) can relate to.

Here's what the publisher says about the book (from B&N.com):

In this inimitable, beloved classic—graceful, lucid and lyrical—Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down during a brief vacation by the sea. Drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore, Lindbergh’s musings on the shape of a woman’s life bring new understanding to both men and women at any stage of life. A mother of five, an acclaimed writer and a pioneering aviator, Lindbergh casts an unsentimental eye on the trappings of modernity that threaten to overwhelm us: the time-saving gadgets that complicate rather than simplify, the multiple commitments that take us from our families. And by recording her thoughts during a brief escape from everyday demands, she helps readers find a space for contemplation and creativity within their own lives. With great wisdom and insight Lindbergh describes the shifting shapes of relationships and marriage, presenting a vision of life as it is lived in an enduring and evolving partnership. A groundbreaking, best-selling work when it was originally published in 1955, Gift from the Sea continues to be discovered by new generations of readers. With a new introduction by Lindbergh’s daughter Reeve, this fiftieth-anniversary edition will give those who are revisiting the book and those who are coming upon it for the first time fresh insight into the life of this remarkable woman. The sea and the beach are elements that have been woven throughout Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s life. She spent her childhood summers with her family on a Maine island. After her marriage to Charles Lindbergh in 1929, she accompanied him on hissurvey flights around the North Atlantic to launch the first transoceanic airlines. The Lindberghs eventually established a permanent home on the Connecticut coast, where they lived quietly, wrote books and raised their family. After the children left home for lives of their own, the Lindberghs traveled extensively to Africa and the Pacific for environmental research. For several years they lived on the island of Maui in Hawaii, where Charles Lindbergh died in 1974. Anne Morrow Lindbergh spent her final years in her Connecticut home, continuing her writing projects and enjoying visits from her children and grand-children. She died on February 7, 2001, at the age of ninety-four. Reeve Lindbergh is the author of many books for both adults and children, including the memoirs Under a Wing and No More Words.

15 out of 101: Nicolae

2007-09-25T07:33:00.000-05:00

Well yersterday I finished the 3rd book in the Left Behind series. It was actually pretty good, much better than the second one. It had a lot more action and it felt like the story really started to pick up.

I must say though that I am glad to finish it so that I can give it back to the lady that let me borrow it. I hate that it took me so long to actually read it, but the topic of the series is obviously a heavy topic so sometimes I just need to read something else. Know what I mean?

Today I'll be reading a book that another lady let me borrow. The lady that let me borrow it is one of our patients, and she is a librarian at Harker Heights High School. I think it is so nice that she thought of me and brought me this book. It is called Gift From the Sea. It's not very long so I should have it done in a day or two.

14 out of 101: Plain Truth

2007-09-18T13:02:00.000-05:00

Well I just finished reading my third Jodi Picoult book last night. Plain Truth was a great book, and it kept me interested the whole time I read it. The details about the Amish were fascinating and I was glad to see that Jodi Picoult throughly researched that subject. She even spent time on an Amish farm.

The ending was great, with a nice twist to it. I guess they made Plain Truth into a lifetime movie, I have it recorded on my dvr and I can't wait to watch it to see what it is like in comparison to the book.

13 out of 101: Suze Orman's Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, & Broke

2007-09-07T17:47:00.000-05:00

I had been wanting to read this book for a while, and then sort of forgot about it until my friend Emily brought it up on a thread on our discussion boards. So after reading more reviews off of Barnes & Noble. com I decided now was the perfect time to pick it up.

This was a serious great book! I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to some of this money stuff. Especially since Jesus and I have been working with a financial planner for a few years now. But I still learned a whole lot of great information from this book. I marked it up with a highlight and put little flags on some of the pages that really made an impact on me. And I've already been trying to apply some of the suggestions into our lives.

Overall it was just an awesome book, with lots of handy info. I know that I will reference back to it for many years to come. And it was written in a way that anyone my age can actually understand and relate to.

Now I'm ready to move on to my next book. My friend Nadine (who was recently introduced to the wonderful books of Jodi Picoult) let me borrow Plain Truth. I have been wanting to read this book for a while now, so I am super excited about it! I'm sure I'll love it, but I'll be back soon to let everyone know what I think. Until then Happy Reading!

12 out of 101: Swapping Lives

2007-08-31T15:08:00.000-05:00

So last week I started (and finished) another chick lit book, called Swapping Lives, by Jane Greeen. It was cute. Sort of reminded me of the show on ABC called wife swap. Overall I enjoyed the book, however it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. I think the author was pretty extreme in creating her characters, to the point where it was a little annoying. Especially when it came to the character "Amber" and her day to day life. There was a ton of detail, and I think she spent more time building (and explaning) her characters rather than getting a long with the story.

I wouldn't reccommend this book to someone who is new to chick lit, because I don't think it is as good as it could have been. There are a lot of really fun and great chick lit books that would be much better off as an introduction for a new reader.

Now I'm reading Suze Orman's Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke. I'll let ya know how it is.

2 boring reads....

2007-08-19T14:01:00.000-05:00

Well I finished 2 more books over the course of the last week. They were totally boring.... so boring in fact that I wont even bother to write about them, since I would never ever reccommend them to anyone else to read......

9 out of 101: The Tribulation Force

2007-08-13T12:52:00.000-05:00

Well I finished book two of the left behind series and I would have to say it was just okay. The first one was much better. This one was a little slower, and dragged out, and then the last chapter felt kind of rushed with it saying 18 months later and going over all these things that happened during that time. I was very ready to be done with the book when I got to the last few chapters. I guess I can see why they would drag it out, I mean it is a series... but still... do they have to be that drawn out?

I will probably read the rest of the series eventually, just so I can say I finished it and so I know what happens. But I will be borrowing those books or checking them out at the library.

8 out of 101: My Sisters Keeper

2007-08-08T13:10:00.000-05:00

Okay, let me just say that Jodi Picoult is an amazing author! I started this book last Friday, and finished it yesterday. Although I could have read it much faster if I didn't take a break from reading over the weekend. The story is so good, and the ending was completely unexpected. I don't want to spoil it in any way, so I will just say you *have* to read this book. Easily is a 5 out of 5!

I've read The Pact before (which is also written by her) and it is equally amazing. They are both stories that I will never forget and that I will read again. I must say I am hooked, and I can not wait to go out and get another one of her books.

I already started a new book today. The Tribulation Force (book 2 of the left behind series). I should have it done by Friday if all goes as planned. Wish me luck!

7 out of 101: The Power of a Positive Woman

2007-08-03T07:50:00.000-05:00

Just finished reading this book yesterday. Eh, it was alright. It was a Christian Living/Inspirational/Self Help sort of book. It did have some great ideas and motivators for a new "positive" perspective. However in my experience books that have a heavy amount of bible reference are not the easiest for me to read. But I am glad I read it, and at some point or another I am sure I will reference it so that I can get some ideas on studying my bible.

I'd say if it's a subject that you are interested in then you should def. check it out. It's not terribly long, and the author did a good job of making it fun. I was thinking earlier that I need a rating system for all these books I read. Although I don't officially have one yet, I'd give it a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5.

Up next? Well I was going to read Tribulation Force (book 2 of the Left Behind Series) but I need a little break from books with religious themes. I think I am ready for a regular old fiction book. But Tribulation Force is def. on my list of books I'd like to read in the coming weeks.

Until next time Happy Reading Folks!

6 out of 101: Eragon

2007-07-28T14:58:00.000-05:00

Yup, that's right... I finished reading Eragon already. I was acutally kind of surprised how fast I got this one done. Work has been kind of busy lately, but somehow I managed to get a lot of it read this week at work. I only had to read about 20 or so pages this morning.

This book was so fun, and no I don't feel silly at all for reading a "Young Adult Book". I've read a few already (including the entire sisterhood of the traveling pants series--which I will be sending to one of my lil SILs to read. hehe). Eragon honestly didn't even seem like a young adult book. It had great action and obviously lots of fantasy (it is after all about a young dragon rider, Eragon and his dragon Saphira.) The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending, totally not satisfying-- but then again I know authors do that on purpose so that you read the next book in the series. Which I will have to do. I need to see if Vanessa has book 2, or if I will have to go to either the library or the book store to get it at some point. I kinda want to see the movie now, but I think it'll be one of the rare DVD rentals we do, because obviously I've learned that the movie versions never are as good as the book. And I've already been warned about it with Eragon from Vanessa.

What's next on my list? I'm not so sure. It's either going to be Tribulation Force (book 2 of the left behind series) or the Power of a Positive Woman. Not totally sure yet, guess I'll decide by my mood when I go to grab the next book off of my shelf.

Til next time... Happy Reading friends!

5 out of 101: Left Behind

2007-07-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I finished reading Left Behind, which happens to be the first book of a series. I wasn't sure how I would like the book at first. But I had heard so many good things about the book from other friends who had read it (and the rest of the series). Let me just say I really enjoyed it, and I honestly can see myself reading the rest of them. It was pretty out of my normal realm of what I enjoy reading. I've never been one to read a mystery/suspense type book. But this one was great! It kept me interested the whole time. And although it is Christian Fiction, it made me really want to try to make more of an effort to read and study my bible.

It was great! I really want to read Tribulation Force (which is the second book) but I am going to read Eragon next since my friend let me borrow it and I want to have it back to her by the time she gets back from vacation.

Yikes!

2007-07-18T13:05:00.001-05:00

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. I am so bad! Okay, but I have been really busy so that has to be a good excuse right? Work and school are kicking my butt right now. But I really need to start making a lil more time to post on here.

I finished Eat, Pray, Love on Sunday. So I didn't exactly make my own personal deadline... but I still finished it in a somewhat timely manner so that has to count for something right? It was a nice book. Very enjoyable. The author's tone was very much like something you'd see in your favorite magazine when they are writing a personal piece. I enjoyed reading about her travels, and it was interesting to read the change that took place within her over the course of a year. I'm not sure which section of the book I enjoyed the most, and it was fun to imagine what it'd be like to visit those places.

I've already started my next book (started on Monday July 16th). I am reading Left Behind. I've always heard that the series is very good, and lots of people have reccommended it to me. A patient from our office actually kept telling me how great the book was. She brought it with her on Monday when she came in for her appointment so I went ahead and started it (instead of the other book I was planning on reading).

Okay, gotta get ready to head back to work. Lunch is almost over. Take care and Happy Reading!

Eat, Pray, Love

2007-07-05T20:25:00.000-05:00

So I finally got caught up enough on all of my homework and studying so that I can begin another book. I just started reading Eat, Pray, Love. I'm not too far in it, but I already call tell that I am hooked. The book is about a woman who travels through Italy, India, and Indonesia to "discover" herself. Amazing. I love travel, and although we are not able to do a whole lot of it at the moment, I will enjoy reading about the travels in this book and dreaming up some of my own. Travel is really something that is super important to me. I really want to see the world, and currently the place at the top of my wish list is Greece.

I'm looking forward to this book, and I hope that it will provide some inspiration as well since the author is trying to become the best person that she can be through her travels.

It's a pretty long book, but I'm hoping I can have it finished by next Wednesday. Wish me luck!

3 out of 101: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2007-07-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

So I was a little late on finishing this up, didn't finish it til yesterday (but that was because I have had a crapload of homework to do). I loved this book! From start to finish it totally met my expectations of what a great book should be. The writing was beautiful and flowed through out the whole book. The author's writing was rich and detail and you could picture everything that was happening so well. I also enjoyed that Lisa See did a great amount of research in writing this book. She traveled to China, including the villages that she used for settings in this book. At the end of the book there are a few pages where she talks about all the research she did and thanks a lot of people for all of their help and support.

The book isn't terribly long, I could have finished it a lot faster if I hadn't been so busy with school stuff. But it is really one of those rare books that I found myself trying to pace myself, so that I could savor it and make it last a bit longer. I would love to see this great story turned into a movie one day, even though I tend to think that book versions are better than movie versions. I just think this story is too wonderful to not be shared with those who are not into reading.

I'm Back!!!

2007-06-27T20:04:00.000-05:00

Hello All! Jesus and I are back from our San Diego vacation. We've actually been back since this past Sunday, but life has been super busy. I didn't have as much time to read or do homework while we were home so right now I am playing catch up.

I am still reading Snow Flower and The Secret Fan. I am hoping that I will be done with it tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Although I do have lots of homework assignments due so that has to be my priority. I am really enjoying this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read. And I must say that the whole book just flows so well.

From Barnesandnoble.com this is what the publisher says about the book:

Lily is haunted by memories-of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.
In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu ("women's writing"). Some girls were paired with laotongs, "old sames," in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

Quick Update and Goodbye

2007-06-14T18:05:00.000-05:00

Well I met my goal and finished Pride and Prejudice today. I actually finished it about 1 hour ago while at work. I really enjoyed it. It was a little hard to get into at first, but the more I read the more I wanted to know what would happen next. I thought it was a great story and was very satisfied with the ending. I can not wait to watch the movie! I hope that it will do the book justice.

Well Jesus and I are off to San Diego tomorrow. I should be able to access the computer at my Mom's so I'll try and stop in with an update. I plan to take a few books along with me. I am going to read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan which I am super excited about because all the reviews on barnes and noble.com have been great! I also am taking a book called Eat, Pray, Love. I can't wait!

Hope everyone is well! Happy Reading!

2 out of 101: Pride and Prejudice

2007-06-11T19:00:00.000-05:00

This morning I started Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I selected this book as my novel for my literary research paper that I need to write in my English 2 class. The teacher gave us a list of about 10 novels, and although I thought Lord of the Rings would be a neat choice I decided that 3 books is just way too much to try and write a paper about in an eight week course.

I am very proud of the fact that I am already pretty far in this book. My goal is to try and have it finished on Thursday. As of right now I am on page 130, and I believe there are 360 or so pages in the novel. I must admit that I don't read literature all that much, except for when it is assigned to me in school. I hope that one day I will learn to enjoy it. While I do appreciate literature very much, it's just not my cup of tea.

I am anxious to finish this novel so that I can watch the dvd with Keira Knightly that I bought a few months ago and have yet to watch. But I really want to get through the book first so that the dvd won't influence my feelings toward the book itself. I am really glad that I bought the Sparknotes on this book to help me with my paper because I think I may need a little extra help.

From BarnesandNoble.com :

'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.' Thus memorably begins Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, one of the world's most popular novels. Pride and Prejudice—Austen's own 'darling child'—tells the story of fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters who must marry rich, as she confounds the arrogant, wealthy Mr. Darcy. What ensues is one of the most delightful and engrossingly readable courtships known to literature, written by a precocious Austen when she was just twenty-one years old.Humorous and profound, and filled with highly entertaining dialogue, this witty comedy of manners dips and turns through drawing-rooms and plots to reach an immensely satisfying finale. In the words of Eudora Welty, Pride and Prejudice is as 'irresistible and as nearly flawless as any fiction could be.'

Almost...

2007-06-09T22:34:00.000-05:00

Well I almost finished Dixieland Sushi yesterday. Except I had tons of short stories to read for my English class (about 12 of them!) And although I love to read, I'm not really into short stories. All that reading was a little boring, and made me kind of sleepy. Hehe... all day yesterday I felt like picking up my "fun" book but I told myself I couldn't read it til I did my school stuff.

So unfortunaltey I didn't exactly make my little deadline. I ended up finishing Dixieland Sushi early this morning. Which I am still pretty proud of. I like the fact that I have been doing so much reading. And with this little project I feel like I have a good reason to read even more.

As far as Dixieland Sushi goes, I think it was a very cute book. I enjoyed it much more than I initally thought I would. Some of the references to Mr. Mayagi (from the karate kid) were a little excessive, but I guess it fit with how the author was trying to build the main character. I also really enjoyed how it went from the present to the past. All in all it was a fun, easy read.

Next up on my list: Pride and Prejudice. Ideally I would like to finish this book before we leave to San Diego on Friday June 15th. Wish me luck.

1 out of 101: Dixieland Sushi

2007-06-07T11:37:00.000-05:00

So this first "official" book of my 101 books project is called Dixieland Sushi. I just started this book yesterday and so far it is pretty good. I really enjoy chick lit books, to me they are the equivolent of a good chick flick. Light and fluffy and they usually leave you feeling pretty good once the book is finished. I hope to be done reading this book by tomorrow, Friday June 8th. Hopefully I can get a good amount of reading done today at work.

I got this off of Barnesandnoble.com, it is from the back cover of the book and describes what it is about:

Wax on....
Jen Nakamura Taylor thought she left behind her awkward past of growing up half-Japanese, half-white in a small Southern town when she moved north to produce a popular Chicago television show. But when she gets word that her Southern Belle cousin is marrying Kevin Peterson, the very boy Jen loved-with-a-capital-L for years, she realizes she can't run from her past forever. Not only does the news conjure up sticky memories of growing up with a mixed heritage in the South (soy sauce on chicken fried steak, anyone?) but now the very single and very busy Jen has got to find a date for the wedding — a grand affair that could put Scarlett O'Hara to shame.

Wax off....
Riley — Jen's cute British friend from work — seems just the ticket; even his girlfriend thinks it's a good idea. But as Jen and Riley whistle on down to Dixie, sparks start to fly. Add to the fire the grown-up but still charming Kevin Peterson, who appears to have a soft spot for Jen, and, well, whoa. It's going to take everything Jen has (and a lot of help from the Karate Kid-wisdom of her pop culture hero Mr. Miyagi) to survive the meeting of past and present, and of North and Far East and South...where Jen finally learns to come to terms with her heritage, her love life, and herself.

I'll be back once I finish the book to let everyone know what I though. Happy Reading!

It all started with an idea...

2007-06-06T19:08:00.000-05:00

So for a few months now I've had a crazy lil idea... to try to read 1,000 books before I turn 30. I have some time to do this, as I am 23 and wont even turn 24 until December of this year. But I never really expressed this goal of mine to anyone, nor had I ever really set anything into place. I wasn't sure if it was realistic or not, and so it was always just sort of an idea and nothing more.

Until the other day, I was looking at my friend Maddy's blog and she was talking about the 1001 day project. She plans to read 101 books in 1001 days. It was true inspiration. I love to read sooo much and being able to share that passion with a friend is awesome. So I've decided that I am going to join her on her quest of reading a 101 books in 1001 days, and who knows I may even find a way to reach my own lil goal.