Where We Belong (Emily Giffin)

I finished reading "Where We Belong" by Emily Giffin last week, but the craziness of the holiday season, two jobs, and a busy social schedule have kept me from writing about it!

"Where We Belong" is the story of Kirby, a girl who is about to turn 18.  She knows that she's adopted, but also knows that once she turns 18, she'll have access to the whereabouts of her biological mother.  At a time when she's trying to figure out her life after high school and is starting to feel like she's really not fitting in, she wonders what it would be like to find out where she comes from.  Meanwhile, Marian Caldwell, who is now 36 years old, has lived a life most could only dream of - she's a writer of a hit TV show and lives in a nice apartment in New York City.  Kirby appears on her doorstep and Kirby's decision to show up will change both of their lives.

Emily Giffin's writing style in "Where We Belong" is similar to that in "Something Borrowed" or "Something Blue."  It was an easy to read, girly book.  It wasn't a challenging (or "deep") read, but I enjoyed the story behind it.  A good lunch time read for me this past month! 

Each chapter moves between the point of view of Kirby (the daughter) and Marian (the biological mother).  You get a glimpse of how each of them are feeling throughout the whole process.  I like when authors do this and are able to show you the turmoil (or excitement!) within each character. 

There are some little twists throughout the book to keep you guessing.  You can make a good guess once you start reading about how the book is going to turn out (another predictable one...), but the ending was enough to let you imagine how their lives will all turn out afterwards.

If you liked other Emily Giffin books (or Sophie Kinsella books), you will probably like this one.

Back on the Bookshelf: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)

It's rare that I don't finish a book once it's started.  I always figure that once started, I have invested time into reading the beginning of it that I feel bad putting it down.  Am I not wasting those minutes or hours that I have already spent reading the first few chapters?  I also always hope that the book will get better all of a sudden or there will be some twist that will make things more interesting.

However, this time I looked at it a different way.  There are so many books out there that I have been wanting to read that I didn't want to waste time reading a book that I wasn't 100% into.  As much as I feel bad for returning this one to the library unfinished, I am excited to move on to something else.

I made it exactly half way through the book The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley when I decided that I wasn't going to invest any more time reading it. 

The book is a mystery about a young girl, Flavia de Luce.  At their home, a bird is left dead on their doorstep with a stamp on its beak.  The next day, Flavia finds the body of a man in their garden.  She is quite the little scientist and tries to take it upon herself to solve the mystery behind the death and clear her father's name since he is currently the prime suspect in this murder investigation. 

Sounds interesting, right?  It came highly recommended from a family member and Goodreads even describes it as a "wickedly brilliant first novel." 

I don't want to say that since I wasn't enjoying it, no one else will.  In what I read in the first half, it was a well written book with lots of description and good character development.  I think I found it very wordy and maybe it was a little bit too much for me right now with the type of reading I am doing - mostly on my lunch breaks, in noisy environments, and for short periods of time.

This book isn't one of my favourites this year, unfortunately...  Here's hoping my next book adventure goes a little better!

Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire)

I received a text message one day from my friend and all it said was, "You need to read Beautiful Disaster ASAP."  It took a couple months for the library to order the book once I requested it, but I have now successfully received and read the book!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire is focused around one main character, Abby (aka Pigeon).  She has moved away to school with her best friend, America.  Through America, Abby is introduced to Travis, a bad boy that she can't quite stay away from.  The book follows their year together as they try to figure out what it is about their relationship or friendship that is so complicated.

I'm not sure what to say about this book - I guess I was expecting a lot since it came highly recommended.  I did find myself glued to the book.  On Sunday, I spent the majority of my afternoon and evening reading since I just couldn't put it down. 

I enjoyed how there was so much detail about every event that occurs in the book.  Their relationship is explored, but it's more than some books - there is more of the conversations they have and the thoughts behind their actions.  Instead of just saying that they went out for dinner, there is lots of description about what happens while they are out.

In terms of writing, I wouldn't say that it's a literary masterpiece.  You could often predict what would happen in the book (or maybe it was just me wishing that what I wanted to happen would actually happen) and there isn't much thinking behind what you're reading. 

I would classify it as an easy to read, young adult fiction book.  It definitely wouldn't be a book for everybody, but this week, when I have had so much going on, I found it was a great distraction and was just what I needed.

If you enjoyed Twilight-type books, you will likely enjoy this one.  (Plus, judge the book by the cover - that's an amazing image, right?)

The Time Keeper (Mitch Albom)

Mitch Albom (the author of Tuesdays with Morrie), brings you The Time Keeper, a novel about how precious our time is on Earth. 

The story starts with Dor, a man who, thousands of years ago, is inventing the concept of time.  He's counting drops of water, watching shadows, figuring out the moon.  He, Father Time, is punished for having created time and is required, for thousands of years, to listen to everyone's wishes for time.  Finally the day comes when he is given an hourglass and a task to teach two people what time really means. 

Dor's story is combined with the stories of Sarah - a teenage girl who thinks she has had as much as she can handle - and Victor - a man who has a terminal illness.  Both of these people are, in some way, trying to change the "time" they have been given on Earth. 

"What you have done to this point cannot be undone.  What you do next... [...] It is still unwritten."  (p. 180)

This book was very easy to read.  The chapters are short, so it's very easy to keep telling yourself, "Just one more chapter..." 

For me, it was the stories of Sarah and Victor that kept me interested.  I found the concept of the novel a little strange.  I enjoyed the references to time, and I thought that the novel had a good message, but at times it seemed a little 'unreal' for me.  (I know, I AM the girl who will read stories like The Night Circus or Harry Potter and love them, even though they aren't "real," but this novel just seemed a little different...)

I can't put my finger on my feelings for this book, but I will say... It wasn't my favourite novel of 2012, but I did like the overall message of the book.  If you can read the next quotation and feel intrigued, you may be interested in The Time Keeper.

"Man alone measures time.  Man alone chimes the hour.  And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures.  A fear of time running out."  (p. 8)

One Day (David Nicholls)

I loved "One Day" by David Nicholls.  I was actually a little sad when I finished it because I just wanted it to keep going.

This book is the beautiful story of Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley.  Each chapter in the book happens on July 15th of a different year.  The book explores how the friendship and relationship between Dexter and Emma has changed and evolved each year from 1988 to 2007. 

"How might she say that?  She couldn't of course.  Faint-hearted as usual, she had left it too late.  In the future, I'll be braver, she told herself.  In the future, I will always speak my mind, eloquently, passionately." (p. 429)

Emma and Dexter met each other at college, but only really started to become friends when they graduate.  They're faced with the challenging question of whether they should keep in touch or pretend that it never happened...  This novel really touches on the importance of timing, persistance, and following your heart.  What happens to a friendship when one person feels more than another?  What happens to a friendship when other relationships become involved?  What happens when you are just in different places emotionally?

"'Live each day as if it's your last', that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that?  What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy?  It just wasn't practical. Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and to make a difference.  Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you.  Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard at... something.  Change lives through art maybe.  Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well.  Experience new things.  Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance."  (p. 433)

I loved this book because I really think it speaks to the reality of so many readers.  In the movies, there are so many romances where people are just "meant to be together."  In real life, it's sometimes hard to know with some friendships and relationships whether you should carry on or let it go.  Whether you should remain friends or try for something more.  Whether you should take a break and see what happens or take a break and never speak again.  Relationships are complicated and this book stresses the importance of timing and speaking what's on your mind. 

I'm sure we can all think back to past relationships and remember a time when you maybe should have said more than you did or taken a risk for something.  Or when you look back now and wonder why you waited so long to start something or end something.  You can relate to the characters this book.

I thought David Nicholls' writing did a wonderful job showing the inner thoughts and conflict of the characters.  As a reader, you sometimes felt like you knew a lot more about the characters than they knew about themselves. 

I would definitely recommend this novel.  It may be more of a girly book, but the issues are ones that any reader could relate to. 

The movie "One Day" starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess is already available to own on DVD - I am reading this book a bit late, based on the movie release date. And now, honestly, I am just about to start watching the movie.  (So that I can relive the magic of the book one more time...)

Two for the Dough (Janet Evanovich)

Two for the Dough is the second book in Janet Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" series.  (The first book being One for the Money, which I talked about last month and has a Hollywood film.)

In this novel, Stephanie Plum continues her work as a (terrible) bounty hunter.  She's put on the "easy" case of finding Kenny Mancuso, who didn't appear for his court date.  As with most Stephanie Plum cases, the chase for Kenny turns out to be more difficult and complicated than anyone anticipated.  The hunt for Kenny uncovers other mysterious events, such as stolen goods, missing caskets, missing body parts (yes...) and sudden murders. 

By the wood stove... It's fall!

I enjoyed Two for the Dough.  It was written similarly to the first One for the Money book - that is, it was easy to read, funny, and entertaining.  There is a lot of humour in the conversations Stephanie has with her co-workers and family and in the situations that she finds herself in, yet she is in such desperate need of the job and the money that she continues on her search. Nobody thinks that she can do the job, but she may be smarter than people believe. 

"The truth is, I'm not the heroic type.  I'm afraid of spiders and extraterrestrials and sometimes feel the need to check under my bed for drooly guys with claws.  If I ever found one I'd run screaming out of my apartment and never come back."  (Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich)

My favourite character in this book, by far, was Stephanie Plum's grandmother, Grandma Mazur.  Grandma Mazur, who can be remembered from the first book after she shot a cooked chicken at the dinner table, wants to be involved in the hunt for Kenny.  She goes on outings with Stephanie and her comments always made me laugh. You just kind of have to shake your head at what the grandmother does and wish that you are as cool of an older lady as she is someday. 

Again, I will mention that Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series has eighteen novels, this one being the second.  I think this book stands on its own and you could read it without having read the first book.  Two for the Dough is a completely different case than the one in One for the Money, but the main characters are all the same.  The advantage to reading this series in order is to see how the interactions between the main characters evolve.  I think I would want to read the books in order, if only to see how all of Stephanie Plum's personal affairs turn out... 

After reading (and enjoying) the first two books in the series, I would say that there is a good chance I will continue with this list and read Three to get Deadly.  If you want a funny little mystery, this series of Stephanie Plum books could be the one for you. 

Devil's Waltz (Jonathan Kellerman)

This book had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time.  About a year ago, my mom put this book in my room and said, "I read this a long time ago and it was good."  Of course, I judged the cover and thought the book looked weird and old. 

So my lesson of the week: Don't judge a book based on the fact that it was written a long time ago.  And just because a book looks a little torn up doesn't mean it's bad - it probably just means that lots of people read it, therefore likely making it a good book (right?  I'll believe that logic).

Enjoying one of the last few
warm days of fall...

Jonathan Kellerman's book Devil's Waltz was written in 1993 - at least I was alive when it was written, unlike some of the other published books by Kellerman.  Despite the fact that the book was written nearly 20 years ago, I found it was still dealing with a topic that would be interesting to today's audience.  I was a young child when the book was published, and now, as a 20-something-year-old, I found the book exciting. 

The book is about a case that is going on at a hospital.  A two-year-old girl, Cassie Jones, is brought to the emergency room frequently with different symptoms.  By the time they get to the hospital and run tests each time, the doctors can't find anything wrong with her.  The doctor on the case, Stephanie, begins to suspect that this could be a case of Munchausen by proxy, which is basically when a parent does something to the child to cause them to be sick.  Alex Delaware, the main character in the story, is introduced to the case as a psychologist and is trying to figure out the mystery behind Cassie's illness.  Is the child actually sick or is someone purposely trying to harm this young child?

Throughout the book, I think I suspected just about every character at one time or another.  Is it Cassie's mother, Cindy, who is doing something to her own daughter, or could it be the father, Chip, who always seems very cooperative at the hospital.  Maybe it's the lead physician or the nurse dealing with Cassie, trying to advance their careers by bringing attention to her case.  Or possibly, it's Cassie's grandfather, who is actually the head of the hospital. 

It deals with such a complicated topic and analyzes the characters in so much depth.  There is so much more to the story than what it looks like on the outside and you really find yourself trying to figure out the mystery.  I would read a chapter and say, "It's definitely Cassie's mom, she's been acting a little weird lately."  Then, twenty minutes and a couple chapters later, I'd say, "No, scrap that, it's actually got to be the doctor.  She's hiding something, I can feel it."  It was a continuous guessing game and you keep finding out new information that keeps the story exciting. 

I loved the book and would recommend it to everyone.  It's very much a mystery book, but not a scary mystery - no one dies (well, almost no one) and it's not the type of novel that will keep you up at night.  (Well, it might keep you up at night since you won't want to put it down, but it won't keep you up with scary thoughts.)

Magic in the Air (Christine Feehan)

This book came recommended by a friend.  It's the first book in the seven book Drake Sisters series.  (I would also like to add that this is the first book that I have read in its entirety on my Kindle eReader!)  You can order a paperback version of this book online, but the eReader versions are only about $3 per book.

Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan takes place in Sea Haven, a small town where seven sisters (the Drake Sisters) live.  In this book, though, not all of the sisters make an appearance.  There is something a little bit magical about these sisters... They seem to be able to help people out in different ways.  The main sister in this book, Sarah, has a good ability at convincing people that they should do something - like go visit a cardiologist or hire someone to do the roofing - because she seems to be able to tell when things may go wrong for people.  Damon Wilder is new in town and all he knows about the sisters is what he has heard through town gossip.  Though he thought that moving to the small town would be a good way to escape his old life, some men have tracked down his whereabouts.

The book was decent.  I didn't know very much about the book at all when I read it - I simply trusted my friend and started to read.  When I was talking to her about it, she did say that the first book was a bit slow but then the rest of the series really got exciting.  I would agree that this book, Magic in the Wind, was slow, but I do think that they did a decent job of setting up the characters for the rest of the series.  You started to really see the relationships between characters and see how things could get more intense and exciting in future books.

I was trying to figure out what the genre or target audience of the book would be... I would say Young Adult-ish... But not in the "I-like-Twilight" YA category.  More in the "I'm-over-twenty-years-old" type of YA series.  It has the love story in this book, but also a bit more than just the love story. 

It was by no means a challenging read.  It was easy to follow and a fast read. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, but unfortunately I am going to hold off for a week or two before reading book number two...  Only because I'm going on holidays (and possibly spending a day at the pool) before schools starts up again next week (yay for teaching!) and don't want anything to happen to my nice Kindle eReader!

One for the Money (Janet Evanovich)

Yes, this is the book that has turned into a recent movie (starring Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara and Daniel Sunjata).  I must admit that before reading the book, I did watch the first half of the movie.  Long story short, I fell asleep during the movie (must have just been too comfortable on the couch?) and I haven't been able to watch the second half yet.  At this point, it would definitely need a full re-watch. 

One for the Money is about Stephanie Plum, a girl who is recently unemployed and decides to take a job from her cousin as a bounty hunter.  She's given the case of finding Joe Morelli, an old "friend," which is proving to be harder than she anticipated.  Having little experience, running short on money, and finding it hard to keep up the courage to continue on her man-hunt, Stephanie starts uncovering realities that others are trying to keep hidden. 

I really liked this book.  I found it very entertaining because of the characters and the way they interact.  I also enjoyed how everything unfolds - it's exciting and a bit unexpected.  It has lots of mystery throughout the book as you are trying to put all of the pieces together.  You really start to feel for Stephanie Plum and want to see her make her capture, but because you can clearly read into her lack of experience, you see her struggling with her daily tasks. 

In the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, there are actually EIGHTEEN novels.  This is a little insane, but I must say that I am a bit excited.  How often do you read a novel, start to love the characters, and then find that the book is over?  This is that opportunity to keep reading into her life way after this "One for the Money" experience.  I don't think it would be a wise move for me to read them all in a row (because I would probably lose interest), but since I enjoyed the first novel, I would definitely continue reading the series.  (It actually is quite overwhelming the number of novels that Janet Evanovich has written!  Really, check it out.)

It was an easy-to-read, good book.  The story was easy to follow and was a good summer read for me!  Excited to find a copy of the second book, Two for the Dough.

The Book of (Even More) Awesome (Neil Pasricha)

I have been motoring through The Book of (Even More) Awesome for the past few months, reading an awesome thing every once in a while in passing. 

Today, I just decided to finish the book... It was AWESOME.  I had said about the first book that "There's just something about flipping through a book like this one that makes your day seem a little bit better."  Well the same goes for this one.  More reminders of the simple things in life that are AWESOME and can help you look at the positive in situations.

I liked the book.  It was very similar to the first one, "The Book of Awesome", but it was still nice to read about MORE things that are enjoyable to all of us.  

I decided to write a list of some awesome things that happened to me today.  We all just need to take a moment to realize that these AWESOME things happen all the time.  
 

Here it goes:

1. Falling back to sleep immediately after waking up during the night.  On my list of "not-so-awesome" today would be getting woken up at 4:30 am with my cat throwing up on my comforter.  Obviously I couldn't leave that gross mess till the morning (though it was tempting), so I was up, cleaning up cat barf at a way too early time.  Now usually when I wake up in the middle of the night, whether it's to go for a pee or to close my window because it's a little chilly, I end up wide awake for the next hour.  But this morning, I fell right back asleep.  AWESOME

2. Sweating it out at the gym.  It took some convincing to get myself to the gym this morning, but I went and it was worth it.  AWESOME

3. Coming home from the gym to a pile of cookies on the counter.  While I was at the gym, my mom was at home making some delicious cookies.  And I had absolutely no guilt when I was chowing down on them because - hey - I already went to the gym this morning.  I earned these cookies.  AWESOME

4. Getting a really nice lady at the bloodwork place.  So I wish I could say that they got my vein on the first try, but I can't - because I got the girl in training.  However, the next lady that came for my bloodwork was very friendly and that's always pleasant.  AWESOME

5. Meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in a long time.  It's hard to keep in touch with everyone, especially when we're at that age where people are still going away for school or trying to find any employment in their field, which could mean moving away.  That's why it's AWESOME that a friend and I met up today after not having seen each other for a while. 

6. Trying a new place.  My friend I met up with suggested a new place to have tea today.  And I liked it.  New hang out spot!  AWESOME

7. Feeling healthy.  Having a chronic illness isn't always easy, but when it's three o'clock in the afternoon and you realize, "Hey, I'm feeling pretty good today," it's an AWESOME feeling.  

8. Knowing an alternate route when there's a road closure.  I've lived here my whole life, so today when there was a road closure and no alternate route posted, I said to myself, "That's ok, I know how to get to the grocery store another way."  AWESOME

9. Being able to use the express lane at the grocery store.  Why yes, I do have between 1 and 8 items in my basket.  I will definitely use this fast lane.  AWESOME

10. Not being the one who has to drive the carpool.  It wasn't my turn to drive to baseball tonight.  Of course you can be my personal chauffeur and drop me off right in front of my house.  AWESOME

11. Getting a point at a sport that you're not really good at.  I'm playing baseball for the first time this summer and we haven't won a game yet.  So when we get a point, we celebrate it.  (Small victories!)  Tonight, I got us a point.  Boo-yeah.  AWESOME

12.  Eating something warm when it comes out of the oven.  I made cupcakes tonight.  So of course I ate one when it was still warm.  Delicious and AWESOME

13.  The excitement before a road trip.  I'm packed and ready for an adventure tomorrow.  AWESOME

What AWESOME things happened to you today?

Check out Neil Pasricha's website for more AWESOME things.

Girls in Trucks (Katie Crouch)

I'm not exactly sure why I decided to read Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch.  The cover looked nice (there I go, judging a book by its cover again!) and it seemed like a good summer read.  However, we have been lacking "summer weather" here in Northern Ontario, so I didn't have very many beautiful days to sit outside and read.

The book is about a girl named Sarah Walters, who is born into a "debutante society" called the Camellias.  (For those of you who don't know much about debutantes, don't worry.  All I know about debutantes I learned from Gilmore Girls.  And there wasn't even much about debutantes in Gilmore Girls, so I basically knew nothing.)  Basically, Sarah was brought up in this society where girls were taught to be ladies and generations of rules are passed down in order to help prepare the girls for life with a good husband.  Sarah is a good girl who does not spend her whole life making good choices. 

I wish I were the graceful sort.  I was trained to be. "Never chase men or buses," my mother told me.  "Another one will always come along."  Still, I always run after the subway, and when men go, I follow."  (p. 125, Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch)

Each chapter throughout the book gives you a sneak peak into her life at a certain time.  Chapter one starts out when she is a young, elementary school student and the final chapter shows you her life at the age of thirty-five.  I found that because this was how the book was written, despite getting to look into what her life is like, there are a few missing pieces.  Different chapters also deal with different friends or family, so I was left feeling like I didn't really know how everyone's story had turned out... But I guess that could also be what makes a book a good one - I can pick my own endings for some of the characters.

The main themes were love, loss, family and friendship.  Coming from Sarah's point of view, you can see how she changes and remains the same over the years.  It showed the evolution of different relationships and friendships in her life.  They were the kind of events that readers could relate to. 

There were many quotable quotes throughout the book, one of my favourite being:

"Sometimes, what we all need is for the plain, good-hearted person to win."

I enjoyed the book.  It shouldn't have taken me as long to read it as it did - It has just been a busy enough summer (plus, I always feel more like reading when I can go sit outside and the weather has definitely not been cooperating this month).  The book was an easy-to-read, good summer book.  I would read other Katie Crouch books in the future.

Did that just happen?

Oh. My.

So, after writing my post about "Let's Pretend This Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson, I tweeted the link to my blog (like I always do) and you'll never guess what happened.  Ok, maybe you will. 

The Bloggess started following me on Twitter!  So. Cool.

Proof.

Ok, so she may be currently following 18,900 people, but it's still pretty cool.  Made. My. Day.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) (Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess)

Where do I start with this book?  I have been following Jenny Lawson's blog, The Bloggess, for about 3 years now.  A friend introduced me to the blog and I loved reading it because it was so funny. 

Jenny Lawson has now written her Mostly True Memoir called Let's Pretend This Never Happened.  It was hilarious.  I was sitting outside reading and probably getting weird looks from my neighbours because I was laughing by myself.  They clearly hadn't read the book and just didn't understand how funny it was. 

To get a sense of her writing style and to have a few laughs, maybe check out the picture that cost her $300 to take, how she never dug up a human corpse, her metal chicken named Beyonce, or the time she saw a sasquatch on the road. (Seriously, you should read them.)

I read the book in two days.  I just couldn't put it down.  Her writing is easy to read, not to mention hilarious, and you just want to keep reading.  It made me smile so much and I was honestly laughing out loud and reading excerpts to whoever was in the room with me.  Her stories are so ridiculous and you start to think, "How can all of this stuff happen to one person?" or "If this happened to me, my re-telling of the story wouldn't be quite so funny" or "I have led a boring life compared to hers."  (Well, ok, I haven't led a boring life, just a different life.)

Hamlet von Schnitzel doing a little fishing.
He caught a fish.
It was bigger than he is. 

I almost feel as if I read the book too fast and that I need to re-read it.  Although I think it would be better to get the audiobook for a second-round of the stories because I feel it would be SO AWESOME to hear her expressions as she tells the stories in the book. 

I honestly hope she's not kidding when she says, throughout the book, "That story will be in the second book," because I really do want to read a second book by Jenny Lawson.  But for now, her updates on her blog will have to do...

And now, in the name of being ridiculous (which Jenny Lawson is a fan of), I have taken some pictures of Hamlet von Schnitzel visiting my place in Northern Ontario. 

Hamlet von Schnitzel enjoyed the sunshine at the lake. 
He may have gotten a sunburn, hence the pink-ish colour.
Either that, or my printer was low on ink.

For my Ontario friends, specifically those in the Toronto area, Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess) will be at Indigo Manulife Centre (55 Bloor Street West... The Indigo at Bay/Bloor) on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 at 7 pm.  Please go.  She is hilarious.  I wish I could go.  (I, however, already have tickets to the Roger's Cup... I'll have to catch her on her book tour for book number two!)

Fifty Shades Freed (E.L. James)

One of my favourite places to enjoy a book
during the summer... On the dock by the lake!

Well, I officially finished the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E.L. James yesterday.  I'm still not too sure what to think of the books.  I don't want to give anything away for those who want to read all three, so maybe I'll just make some general comments.

First of all, I am very excited to be done these books.  Now, whenever someone asks me, "Are you reading the Fifty Shades books?" I can just reply, "Not right now..." or "No."  

Of the three books, I would definitely say that I liked the second one the best, "Fifty Shades Darker."  I just found there was a lot more substance in that book than there was in the first one, so I was more interested in it.  I enjoyed the third one, but I still felt like there were a few things I was kind of missing at the end of it.

They're not the typical kind of book that I read, but I found that they kept my interest for the most part.  I didn't breeze through them as quickly as I thought I would (considering all the hype they have been getting lately...)

And let's just add that a duck was
ready to eat my foot
while I was out reading
on Tuesday.

*If you read the first book and enjoyed it, then I would safely say that you will enjoy the rest of the trilogy.

*If you read the first book and weren't sure about it (kind of like me), maybe give the second book a chance.  The "content" and "plot" picks up a bit in the second book. 

*If you read the first book and just couldn't handle it, skip the rest of the trilogy.

Smile

This made me laugh... Enjoy. 

This is not my image... Just another thing I found on Pinterest...

eReader vs. Paperback - Round 3

The paparazzi My family took my photo the other day while I was chilling with some Fifty Shades Freed down on the dock.  (I love summer.)

I have spent many hours down by the water reading my book, which got me to thinking, "Would I bring my Kindle down there?"  I'm one of those girls who tries to keep everything in the excellent condition that I purchased it in.  I don't want anything to happen to my Kindle. 

Today while sitting on the dock next to my mom, I accidentally knocked over a full glass of water on her.  Clumsy?  Unlucky?  Maybe.  Knowing me, I would probably drop my Kindle in the lake if I brought it down there.  (I have yet to drop a book in the lake, but at least if I did, it would dry a little awkwardly with the krinkled pages, making me feel terrible about what I'd done to it.  The worst case scenario in that situation would be that I finish reading a book from pages that are no longer perfect and flat or I'm out $20 or less for a book.  If I dropped my eReader in, it would cost me a bit more to replace...)

I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing it to the beach, either. 
Electronics + Sand = Bad combination. 

It's time to give my good ol' paperbacks a chance to catch up.  This point goes to the paperback because it can more easily withstand some of the elements of nature. 

eReader - 2.  Paperback  - 1.

Riding Lessons (Sara Gruen)

Enjoying this book at Kettle Lakes Provincial
Park!  (But it wasn't until I was relaxing
on beautiful Manitoulin Island that
it got finished!

I first bought this book because I was looking for a fourth book for a "Buy 3, get the 4th free" sale.  I had already read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (which I loved), so I decided to give her another try. 

In Riding Lessons, Annemarie Zimmer and her teenage daughter, Eva, move back to Annemarie's childhood home when things start to get difficult - she has lost her job, is going through a divorce, and her father is dying.  When she returns home, she's reminded of a past that she'd left behind - riding horses - since, as a teenager she was an Olympic contender until an accident crashed all hopes of her dreams coming true.  It all becomes a lot to handle and she struggles with all of her relationships (with her mother, daughter, and old love interests).  Throughout all this, enter a white striped horse that reminds her of the horse she used to ride - will this help her to regain some of the passion she had lost or just make everything more difficult?

I wasn't disappointed with Riding Lessons, but I found it didn't entirely live up to my expectations, probably because I remember how much I enjoyed Water for Elephants.  If you're comparing the two books, Water for Elephants would definitely come out on top.

If you look at this book for what it is, without comparing it to other works by Gruen, then I would say that I really enjoyed it.  I'm not a huge fan of horses - while I enjoy looking at them and think that they are beautiful animals, I think that they're giant and they kind of scare me a bit - and there was a lot about them in this book (obviously).  I've never been a rider, so some of the terminology was a little bit foreign to me, but the overall concepts in the book were heartwarming.  The book demonstrates the rollercoaster of Annemarie's life and really shows how deep a person's love for an animal can be.

I thought it was a great, quick summer read.  There is a sequel, Flying Changes, which maybe I will dive into someday...

eReader vs. Paperback - Round 2

As I've mentioned, I've been living at a friend's place for the past 2 and a half weeks while I take a summer course four hours away from home.  I brought with me a couple books, knowing that I probably wouldn't have all that much time to read while I was here (you know, because of the school work and visiting).

But... since I'm a keener and finished all of my homework within the first week, I had plenty of extra minutes here and there to read.  I made it through the second book in the Fifty Shades trilogy on Tuesday night.  Due to my lack of planning the limited space in my suitcase, I did not bring the third book.  It's patiently awaiting me on my desk at "real" home. This has now left me with a few days and evenings anxiously waiting to start the third book, while I sit here and read through another book that I am, I admit, still enjoying.

Round two in my eReader vs. Paperback debate goes again to the eReader.  Had I had my books all loaded on my Kindle, I would have been able to start reading book three right away without waiting until my paperback (in another location) is in my hand.  (Ok, so maybe this is a bit unfair because I totally could have planned a little bit better, but still... The logic is there behind this point.)

eReader - 2.  Paperback - 0. 

Fifty Shades Darker (E.L. James)

Despite the fact that I didn't think I would make it through this book until at least next week when my course was done, I was glued to the pages and motored through it... On nights when I should have been sleeping, I stayed away for an extra hour or two, knowing that I would be tired for my early class... I just needed to know what was going to happen next.

"Fifty Shades Darker" is the second book in the Fifty Shades trilogy by E.L. James and it most definitely did not disappoint.  The story continues right where book one left off.  Without giving anything away, I will just say that this book continues with so much more information about the two individuals involved, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.  You really start to understand why each of them is the way they are.  I enjoyed the second book more than the first one.

Based on the two books I have read so far, I am very much looking forward to the final book!  With the end of my summer course only one day away, I will enjoy spending the beginning of my "real" summer holiday on the deck, with a beautiful view, reading "Fifty Shades Freed."

eReader vs. Paperback

Despite the fact that a summer Additional Qualification is underway (that is, I'm in summer school for another week to get French-teacher qualified), I am just motoring through "Fifty Shades Darker" by E.L. James!  Even though I find myself a little tired with school (and this 35 degree Celsius heat), I open this book and just keep saying, "Just five more minutes..." until suddenly an hour has passed.

Since I'm in a new city for a few weeks with this course, I decided that it wasn't going to be all school for me - I might as well explore the area and be the tourist!

Yesterday, my friend and I visited Kettle Lakes Provincial Park to hike, swim, and relax our day away!  It was a beautiful day and a great adventure!

One of the lakes at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park.

Once we were done exploring the park, we found a beach and relaxed for a few hours.  This meant some "book time."  I did not bring Fifty Shades Darker with me, but instead decided to continue reading another book that I started while school was ending...

All this to say - my book fell apart in my lap.

The pages fell out of my book...
And apparently I can't properly flip photos on my computer.

eReader - 1.  Paperback - 0.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival (by snail mail) of an awesome purple case for my Kindle... I will try my Kindle soon and finally read a book on an eReader!

Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James)

I was so excited that summer was finally here, mainly because I knew that summer means no teaching for a couple of months and more time to do the things I love to do.  However, being in my mid-twenties and only a couple years into my career, I made a last minute decision and I'm doing what I have to do to make myself more employable - I moved away 4 hours north from my already-northern-Ontario community to take an additional qualification!  Having summer school (and homework!) will definitely cut into my summer reading for the next couple of weeks...

That being said, I did have time during this first week of summer school to finish up the first book in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy by E.L. James - I've been slacking for a few days, though, before I've finally gotten around to writing this.

 The book is about the roller coaster relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.  The two meet by chance as Anastasia interviews Christian for a college newspaper article.  After this interview, their whole relationship starts to grow and develop.  Their relationship, however, is much different than what society views as the normal relationship. 

I liked the book.  It's definitely interesting and exciting and keeps you intrigued.  For the first half of the book, I was reading every spare minute I had - at home, of course, because I wouldn't bring my hard copy of the book into public! 

There is still so much that you are waiting to find out about the characters after this first book.  It ends very suddenly and makes you want to immediately start the second book in the trilogy. What happens next?  Why is he acting this way?  What is she thinking? 

Forgive me if the speed at which I bust out my reviews this month is slow... After working on my "homework," sometimes I just don't have the energy in me to read any more!

The Wild Zone (Joy Fielding)

I recently picked this book to read for one reason - I didn't want to be bringing "Fifty Shades of Grey" with me to school. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't feel it would be very professional. 

Enjoying some sunshine and reading "The Wild Zone"!

I enjoyed "The Wild Zone" by Joy Fielding because it was an easy read, it kept me guessing, and it left me pleasantly surprised at the end. 

As a whole, I found the book was exciting but lacked a little in the suspenseful "I-Need-To-Keep-Reading-Because-It's-So-Crazy-That-I-Need-To-Know-What-Happens-Next" kind of way.  After reading about 80 pages, I remember saying, "It's good, but I feel like something is about to happen."  That feeling kept up for most of the book, with the most exciting parts happening nearer to the end. (I've read Joy Fielding books before, and this was wasn't as exciting as I remember those ones being.)

To clarify, it's not a mystery book where something crazy happens at the beginning (like a murder) and then the rest of the book is spent trying to figure out what happens.  Instead, it's a book where all of the events and information presented throughout the book are useful in determining what the future holds for each of the characters. 

I thought it was a good, easy read and it would be a great summer book for someone.  There's a bit of suspense and mystery, but there isn't the gore and scary stuff to turn those readers off of it.  I enjoyed it and thought it filled my prep and lunch times at school very well during these last couple of weeks of school. 

School is done and it is officially summer vacation - let's get my "read" on and have some much needed "me" time!

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (Stieg Larsson)

The day has finally arrived - I've finished "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson.  It took me way too long to read this book and I just need to point out that it wasn't because I didn't enjoy the book.

This was one of my photos for "Photo A Day May"
http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/2012/04/may-photo-day-list.html

"The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest" is the third book in the Millenium trilogy (also known as the Dragon Tattoo books!).  It's definitely a book that must be read as the third book of the trilogy - no skipping ahead!

Without giving too much away about the first two books, this third book starts with Lisbeth Salander (the girl with the dragon tattoo) in critical condition.  The book tries to solve the issues and make sense of everything that occurred in the first two "Millenium" books.  (Sorry, that doesn't give you much to go on...)

The book was good, but I wouldn't say that it was as exciting as the first two books.  While the other books had more "action" (that is, people getting shot or being chased and whatnot), this book really dealt more with the "figuring things out" side.  Lots of information into ongoing investigations and about characters who are somehow related to the events of the book.  It was slow at times (clearly, since it took me almost two months to make it through the 563 pages, I was able to put it down) but it really picked up near the end when real connections are being made.

It was a good ending to the trilogy and I felt like everything was resolved.

My verdict on the Millenium trilogy - it was good.  They were exciting books, though at times I felt like they were really long (because they are).  They're definitely good for a dose of mystery.

I've had my mystery fix for a while, now onto something a little different.

My Kindle Touch has arrived!

Hello again blog world!

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I have been slacking a bit on my blog... And only for the reason that life has been happening and things sure have been busy.  I'm still motoring away on Stieg Larsson's "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest" (and loving it, might I add!), but I just haven't had the time to sit down and make any huge progress.  Now that the weather is nicer and the summer off from teaching is near, I'm hoping it'll get finished soon! 

My exciting news to share today is that my new Amazon Kindle Touch has arrived!  I got home from teaching the kiddies today and found this waiting for me!

I was hesitant to buy this because I really love the feeling of a real book in my hand... That being said, I have a feeling that an eReader will be very convenient at times!  I will keep you posted on my thoughts of moving to a more digital form of reading... 

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Stieg Larsson)

This post won't be a long one because I cannot wait to start the next (and final) book in the Millenium trilogy. 

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson definitely met my reading needs this month!  While the book is a giant one, with 724 pages, it was so worth it.  Lisbeth Salander, who is the girl with the dragon tattoo, is wanted by the police for the murder of three people.  Her fingerprints were found on the murder weapon.  These three murder victims are all linked together by a book and article that were to be written about sex trafficking.  Mikael Blomkvist, who is the other big star in "The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" books, knows Salander and doesn't believe that she's guilty of these crimes.  He uses the resources and staff available to him to help out Salander, even though she can't be found.  Anywhere. 

I remember when I was a couple hundred pages into the book, saying, "I don't understand why there are so many little stories here.  There is so much going on and I just don't get how it's all linked together.  I feel like they've talked about so much but that it doesn't really mean anything."  I was reassured that it would all come together soon and that the excitement would start.  And did it ever.  (I will admit that at times, I felt that the book was a bit wordy, but I think it just gives you a good description of everything that is going on.)

All of these little stories from journalists, police officers, Salander and Blomkvist come together wonderfully and you just keep saying, "Oh my goodness..." as you start to realize how things are playing out and how different parts of the story are fitting together. 

The ending of the book leaves you wanting more.  Hence the need to start the third book.  Tonight. 

You definitely need to have read the first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, in order to fully understand this book.  The relationships built between characters in the first book are really important to some of the events that occur in this one. 

On to book number three!

Page Corner Bookmarks - Too Cool Not To Share...

Another cool find!

This time, using StumbleUpon, I found these cool page corner bookmarks! 

Using the corner of an envelope (or the template shown with some cardstock paper), you can create these cute little monster bookmarks. 

This image is from the Oh! Crafts website.

For complete instructions, see http://tallystreasury.com/2011/02/corner-page-bookmarks-3/.

Personally, I am a huge fan of magnetic bookmarks.  I use magnetic bookmarks to ensure I never lose my page (because how annoying is it to try to locate your page once your "normal" bookmark falls out?!).  I think this "page corner bookmark" craft is super neat and creative (and you can personalize it!).  In addition to making the cute bookmark, I would probably add some magnets to the inside! 

The Book of Awesome (Neil Pasricha)

Let's start this post with something that is NOT SO AWESOME: Being sick.  Which is exactly what I am today.  I decided to brighten up my day today by finishing off "The Book of AWESOME." 
"The Book of AWESOME" by Neil Pasricha has been my bathroom book for the past month or so.  (Embarrassing, right?  The reality of my life with Crohn's, since I do spend a little more time than the average person in the washroom!)  This book has been perfect because what better way is there to start a day than reading about things that are AWESOME.  (The answer is: There is no better way to start the day.)

Seriously, it was in the bathroom!

Reading through  "The Book of AWESOME," I was reminded of so many things that are AWESOME, like nailing a parallel parking attempt on the first try, getting gas just before the price goes up, finding your keys after looking forever, and returning to your warm and comfy bed after getting up to pee in the middle of the night.  (They're all from the book, FYI.)  

At one point, I felt like I should document all of these AWESOME things in a scrapbook since they honestly are all AWESOME and I've personally experienced most of them.  We just forget to think about them.  A few weeks ago I was sending an email to a few friends I went to university with.  I had had a pretty quiet week, so I thought instead that I would tell them another piece of information: the fact that I was able to successfully peel an orange in one piece.   It made all of them smile.  (AWESOME, right?  A couple days before, I had read this one in The Book of AWESOME.)

There's just something about flipping through a book like this one that makes your day seem a little bit better.
A month ago I was in the hospital waiting room, waiting to go for yet another colonoscopy for my Crohn's Disease and I decided that I would bring "The Book of AWESOME" with me.  At a time when I was not in the happiest of moods, it was great to be reminded that my colon is actually pretty AWESOME, despite what I was going through at the time!

So, while I haven't spent an hour of my "sick day" today watching The Price is Right (it's in the book), I have spent it finishing this book and thinking about things that have made my day a little bit more
AWESOME.
 
Thank you, Neil Pasricha, for reminding me of the simple things in life and making me smile.  
Your book is AWESOME.

Check out the video of Neil Pasricha at TEDxToronto.

The Scorch Trials (James Dashner)

I have had a great week supply teaching and some of my days even included a bit of prep time (or at least a quiet lunch break) that were ideal reading times.  I also think it's important to add in this post that in the elementary classes I was in this week, I saw "The Maze Runner" (the first book of this series) in the hands of at least three students.

I discovered this series of books by James Dashner after reading The Hunger Games.  I enjoyed The Hunger Games so much that I wanted to find another series that was similar. The first book in this series was The Maze Runner, which I had said I enjoyed, just not as much as The Hunger Games!  (I think the key here is to not compare it to The Hunger Games, since they are about entirely different things.)  I started The Scorch Trials, not entirely sure what to expect out of it after the ending of book one, but I really enjoyed it.  

Thomas and the rest of the 'shanks' who survived from his life in the Maze (see description of The Maze Runner!) are in a new facility.  While they think that they are finally free of this life of chaos, they are forced again to take part in a trial for WICKED (the World in Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department).  In this book, the boys have a new member thrown on them (Aris) and in two weeks, they must make it 100 miles north through this desert.  Along the way, they meet (and must fight) Cranks, people who have the "Flare" and are basically crazy in the head, as well as a second group of girls who have been going through similar experiments and trials.  There are a variety of "variables" in this trial, so different individuals have different motives throughout the journey.

It sounds weird, but it was really exciting.  The descriptions are wonderful and you can picture everything that is happening along the journey.  Along with 'seeing' the landscapes and the people, Dashner does a great job of making you really feel the emotions that Thomas is feeling throughout the book. 

This is the second book in a series that currently has 4 books, one of which is to be released this summer.  I've been trying to decide if this book could be a standalone book, or if it should be read after the first book.  I think this book is better read in the order it was intended.  While there are some reminders in this book of things that occurred in The Maze Runner, I think a lot of the terminology and experiences that happened in the first book would make you enjoy The Scorch Trials that much more.  

Similar to the last book, it leaves you satisfied at the end, but more so this time, I just want to pick up the third book, The Death Cure, and start it right away.  I would recommend this book, especially for the Young Adult and teen audience.  (And I'll add that after talking to a student at one school this week, the teens are enjoying this series as well!)

"What Should I Read Next?" - Too Cool Not to Share

This post is not a book review, but I promise it will be worth it.

I have recently become hooked on Pinterest... And even though sometimes I feel like it takes up way too much of my time, I agree with the quote, "You're not wasting time if you're enjoying it."  And I enjoy it.  (For those of you who don't already know, Pinterest is basically an online bulletin board... You can "pin" ideas you find on the internet onto various boards and you can browse things that other people have found.  It's really neat.)

What I love about Pinterest is that if you don't have time to go on and browse on any given day, it's ok.  It's not like twitter, which I feel I need to check at least once a day in order to keep up with everything.  There is no way you will ever see everything that is pinned on Pinterest - which is kind of the point in my mind.  You should be pinning things that interest you. That being said, it's a lot of fun to spend some time browsing the overwhelming amount of cool stuff that other people have pinned.

Today, on Pinterest, I found this awesome website called "What Should I Read Next?"  This being a blog about books, I just had to share!  All you do is type in the name of a book that you really enjoyed and it will provide you with a list of books and authors that may be right up your alley.  Kind of cool, eh?  Give it a try!

This image is from the "What Should I Read Next?" website.