Readin' instead of writin'...

The Rest of My Reads for 2007...

2008-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

Twilight...Stephenie Meyers
Young adult vampire romance. A good story. The heroine occasionally seemed older than her 17 yers. My daughter loved it, and so did I.

New Moon...Stephenie Meyers
Book Two. Jacob the Werewolf is introduced. It moved a little slowly for me at first, but picked up at the end. Of course, she takes the vampire back.

Shoe Addicts Anonymous...Beth Harbison
Chick lit, girlfriend read. Nothing original, but entertaining nonetheless.

Lover Unbound...J.R. Ward
Vishous's story. Number 5 in the series. The family now has a resident ghost. Sort of hokey, but some good sex scenes.

London Bridges...James Patterson
OK read. I don't know if it's me or the books, but it was just lukewarm. I usually love reading about Alex Cross. Sigh

Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married...Marian Keys
Book club read. Enjoyed it. Typical 20something making very bad relationship choices. all based on her family drama. Familiar themes and great boyfriend.

Industrial Magic...

2007-10-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

by Kelley Armstrong.

Book 4 in the Women of the Otherworld Series. Enjoyed it. Introduced new characters. Ready for the next one.

Dime Store Magic

2007-10-03T11:44:00.001-07:00

by Kelley Armstrong.

Paige's story. She is trying to govern the Coven (yes- I actually did that on purpose) and retain custody of 13 year-old UberWitch Savannah. It was interesting and I will, of course, read the next one. It was third in the Women of the Otherworld series.

Middlesex...

2007-09-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

by Jeffery Eugenides.

Book club selection for September. I really enjoyed it. It was "epic" but a fun read. I loved reading about Detroit in the 60s. I enjoyed reading about this family. The writer had his moments (which to me means that some of the passages were strictly to entertain himself. I ain't mad), but overall, this is one of my favorite reads for the year.

The Cursed...

2007-09-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

by L.A. Banks.

Number 9 in the series. A good balance of action and relationship stuff. Lilith is at it again. I'm just not sure where she is going with all of this. For some reason I am really anxious about how this series is gonna end. Not Harry Potter anxious, but anxious nonetheless. :-)

I enjoyed it.

Lover Revealed...

2007-08-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

by J R Ward.

I can't believe I didn't blog about this. I finished it a couple of weeks ago. It was really good. Butch the cop becomes Butch the vampire. I love how she handled the whole thing. Gotta go looking for the next one. I think I've gotten Adrienne hooked on the series. She ran through the first four in about two weeks. I hate her. When she reads, she really reads. LOL

But Inside I'm Screaming...

2007-08-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth Flock.

And that is how I'm feeling about this book! UGH! Lots and lots of potential here. The characters I was most interested in had cameo appearances, and the ending just left me hanging. I never thought I was one of those readers that needed things wrapped up in a nice little package with a bow, but now I'm not so sure. I would read her again, but just after I read some other stuff, that way I have time to get over my disappointment.

As an aside, I think part of my problem is that I'm really digging my vampire reads right now. I feel like a toddler who only wants to eat one food. When they get bored with it, then they'll move on to something else. That's me. LOL

Lover Awakened

2007-08-09T13:09:00.000-07:00

by J.R. Ward

OK- I'm going to admit that I am really enjoying this romance series. And I hate romance. UGH! At least that is what I am going to keep saying. LOL

Actually, this was probably my favorite in the series so far- probably because of the sympathy I felt for the male vamp seeking his love. Anyway, I enjoyed it. I have already started the next one in the series, so that should tell you something.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter...

2007-07-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

Kim Edwards

Book Club selection for the month. A story of loss, grief, and the walls that people build around themselves to keep out the bad stuff. They don't realize that by blocking things out, they are locking themselves in. Too much loss and grief for my tastes, but a well written book.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...

2007-07-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

J. K. Rowling....

is a goddess among mortals!!! I loved this series. That's all I'm really going to say. I read the last chapter and the epilogue twice. My hat is off to the woman who gave birth to The Boy Who Lived. This 40 year old will miss him, his friends, and their adventures dearly.

Chasing Destiny...

2007-07-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Eric Jerome Dickey.

Drama, drama, and more drama. It was disturbing in parts. Over the top in others. I just sort of felt grateful to be done w/ the thing by the time I reached the last page. I've heard that his latest is very entertaining and has some unexpected twists. I sure hope so. This last one was just too much mess for me.

Stolen...

2007-07-10T13:15:00.002-07:00

Kelley Armstrong

The second book her Otherworld series. I enjoyed it. It introduced lots of new characters that I know I'll be seeing again. A nice escape.

Lover Eternal

2007-07-10T13:15:00.001-07:00

JR Ward.

The second book in the vampire romance series. Enjoyable. I'll be reading the next one.

Chasing Sophea

2007-06-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

by Gabrielle Pina

Interesting tale of DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder-formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder- for you non-clinical folks). While the book was well-written and enjoyable, I was more interested in the family stuff than the psychological drama. Go figure. Was a quick and easy read. I am very interested to see what this author comes out w/ next.

See, I am back in the reading swing of things.

Now, on to the vampires- again. LOL

Shopaholic and Baby...

2007-06-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

by Sophie Kinsella.

Good read. Got me back into the swing of things. Not heavy, and some funny parts. My favorite Shopaholic is still the first one- maybe because it was new and refreshing. This is a cotton candy read, but very enjoyable.

The Wicked

2007-05-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

by L.A. Banks

This is number eight in her Vampire Huntress Series. I have to say, that she is starting to bring me back into the fold. There was more action, NO FIGHTING (thank goodness) between Damali and Carlos, and a great plot. Of course, she veered off w/ a cheesy ending, but it was better than the last three that I've read. I am interested in seeing where the series will end. I will miss these characters, but only because they have begun to get a little stale for me. Not like other series that I've read, but oh well. I've heard rumors that Banks is working on a werewolf series- cool. I'd like to see some fresh stuff from her.

I'm currently reading chick lit- gotta love it. Will give the 411 as soon as I'm done.

Good To Great...

2007-04-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

by Jim Collins

Business read!!! I finally got through it, but now, I'm ready to rock and roll w/ some fiction.

I need a couple of days at the beach w/ a stack of books, an umbrella, a cooler full of snacks and cool drinks. Hmm. Looks like a couple of mental health days are necessary. I want to be in full swing by Memorial Day for my summer reading fun.

Work Stuff!!!

2007-04-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

I've been reading. I really have. But it has been mostly work related material. I'm going to get out of this slump soon enough. Right after I learn all there is to know about strategic planning and leadership. :-)

Bitten

2007-02-05T15:01:00.000-08:00

by Kelly Armstrong.

Not bad. Werewolves, murderers, betrayal, mistrust, and sex. You gotta love it. It ran a little long, but I'm interested in where the series goes. It was an interesting break from the same old, same old.

Heartburn

2007-01-28T07:33:00.000-08:00

by Nora Ephron. It's the book club selection for this month. Quick and entertaining read about the end of a woman's marriage. She's seven months pregnant w/ her second child when she finds out that her husband is having an affair. Apparently when this book was written, it was a thinly disguised tell-all. Ephron's ex tried to put the kabash on the whole thing. Guess he didn't want his dirty deeds known to the public. Funny thing is, they probably already were. LOL. I doubt we'll have much bickering or discussion over this one.

February is my month, and I'm taking them old school w/ some Edith Wharton. Something to sink their teeth in.

Eragon

2007-01-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of "fleeing" from town to town, but come on- the guy (Christopher Paolini) was fifteen when he wrote the book. Kids love that stuff. I am looking forward to Eldest. It's a whopper, so I think I'll start that in a couple of weeks. I would rate Eragon a 4.5 out of five.

Next up is something else frivolous and fantasy- Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. We'll see how it goes.

Marley and Me

2007-01-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

I laughed, I cried. I really enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. A man and his dog. The story is as simple as that.

I'm Back...

2006-12-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

It was brought to my attention that I have been out of pocket for a while over here. Popped in, and indeed it has been awhile. Life has been busy- lots of stuff going on w/ the kid and the j-o-b, but I think things will level off in a few weeks. One can only hope.

I've got a new friend who really makes me smile. More details later- maybe. :-)

As for reading, I've been doing it, but not as much as I would like. I've been sorta busy.

September's bookclub read was Unburnable. Can't remember the author's name. Pretty heavy read about a mentally ill woman from Dominica. She had to return to the island to face her past and the local lore surrounding her mother and grandmother. Loved it, but struggled through it. That was Cha's doing.

October was my month- so I decided to lighten things up. Pretty Evil by Lexi Davis made the cut. It was simply a cotton-candy read. Tastes great at the time, but doesn't stay with you for very long. Which was the point after the crazy family in August and the crazy woman in September.

We added a new member for November- Lindsey- and Tenelle decided to depress the hell out of us. Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. HEAVY, HEAVY SIGH! 14 year old is raped and murdered (yeah- chapter one) and looks down from her version of heaven as her family subsequently falls apart. Oh yeah, and we get to keep track of the sick bastard that killed her. UGH!!!! The book was well-written, and even morbidly interesting. Just not what I want to read to start off the holiday season. LOL.

We added a new member for December. NO COMMENT. Just know that Tenelle was behind that. The book for this month (Lindsey's pick) is Marley and Me by John Grogan. Haven't finished yet, and the meeting has been postponed until next Friday. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm enjoying it so far.

In the meantime, I've got Eragon waiting to be finished so that DIT and I can see the movie. I'm about 200 pages in. I had to set it aside for the book of the month.

There are more, but alas, I just can't think of them right now. LOL. What else is new.

Bling!

2006-08-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know this book came out a couple of years ago. Yes, I know this book appeals to the 20something set. Yes, I know this book was an insiders view of the hip hop lifestyle. And I read it any way. LOL. I have one word- entertaining. It was a precautionary fairytale for those who think that once they "come up" it's going to be "all good". See what I did there? LOL. Anywho, some of my friends were surprised by my last read. Apparently I'm thought of as a literary snob. I have no earthly idea why. All I know is that I love a good story, and I love to be entertained. Bling did both, so I have no reason to complain.

Reviews...

2006-08-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Idlewild- I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT! I had no preconceived notions regarding this movie. I knew that two members of Outkast were the main characters and that Terence Howard and some of my other movie favs were gonna be in it. It's a standard gangster movie, set in a 1930s southern town. The music and dancing were fabulous. Andre 3000 has earned a new fan, and I will be buying the soundtrack to the movie.

Running With Scissors- this was the bookclub read for the month of August. Another dysfunctional family, and a child expected to navigate the world for himself because the adults around him are too busy being "crazy". When did America decide it was ok to drop out as parents and let kids raise themselves? And folks wonder why it seems like the world is going to hell in a hand basket. UGH!

Third Girl From The Left...

2006-08-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

by Martha Southgate

I really enjoyed this book! It was a refreshing change from some of the stuff I've been reading lately. A free spiritited woman taking her chance on making it big in the Blaxploitation movies of the 70s. A repressed wife and mother trying to find her own piece of happiness. A young woman untethered from her family because of decisions made by her mother. This generational story not only held my attention, but also made me curious to know more about the history of African Americans in Tulsa, OK, of all places. I love it when a book leaves me yearning for more information. I keep telling DIT that knowledge is power, but it's also just plain old fun to learn. The geek in me will go sit down now.

Book Club Time Again

2006-07-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it. Decided to revise The BookDivas once again. I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say that the selection for July was The Forsaken by LA Banks. The three of us love this series, but I have to be honest, I was not happy w/ her last book AT ALL. As a matter of fact, I had resigned myself to leaving the series alone if she faltered w/ this one. I've got too many books and too little time. Well, I'm happy to say that Banks has redeemed herself. I really enjoyed The Forsaken, and I'm looking forward (once again) to the next installation.

Which brings me to the BookDivas. We were supposed to meet for lunch today for discussion, and Chanda is sick. This means that we will have to postpone until next week. Which means that Tenelle is going to drive us all mad by not telling us the BOM for August until our meeting. Which means that I have time to finish Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner, read Third Girl From The Left by Martha Southgate, and hopefully a whole lot of writing in between.

And speaking of writing. I started a new project on Thursday. Haven't done any since. UGH!!! I'm really good at starting, not so good at finishing. I'm working on it. I just happen to think I'm a short story/novella kind of writer. LOL Some folks would probably just call me lazy.

Weekend News

2006-07-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

I actually had a fun filled weekend. Who knew? I hung out w/ T. on Friday night at a local bar. We chilled, listened to music, and I watched most of the men (and a few of the women) get whiplash trying to check T. out. That shit was funny as hell. She trys to sit demurely in the corner w/ her Jessica Rabbit red dress on, showing off her goodies- of course, and pretend she doesn't notice all the attention. A good time was had by all. That was the beginning of a very busy weekend. Long story short, between errands, some afternoon delight, a National Indoor Football League game, late night dessert w/ a very short highway patrolman, a conversation about the barriers I've constructed around my heart (not w/ the very short state trooper) until 2:30, early morning phone calls from former maintenance men and girlfriends, breakfast and window shopping w/ C, and then heading to see The Devil Wears Prada w/ T. (which I enjoyed much more than the book), I hardly had time to stop and catch my breath. I was exhausted by the time I got home last night. My sofa missed me so. I have to say though, it was a much needed break from the same old, same old.

Of course, with all the gallavanting about, I did no reading or writing this weekend, so last night, I indulged in a few pages of Make Him Look Good by Alisa Valdes- Rodriguez. LOVING IT!!! Since tomorrow is a holiday, I'm sitting on my ass all day with a good book and a smile. Right after I exercise. Sigh.

I will not give in...

2006-06-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

to the food police!!!! It is enough that I am making a sincere effort to excercise (which I have been doing consistently for several weeks now). I WILL NOT... be bullied into giving up my favorite desserts, which I tend to crave when I'm pmsing, or coming down from pms. So what that I will have to walk five extra miles to get rid of it? I can't do all of this drastic changing at once. It's just wrong. I'm not a criminal. I will not spend the rest of my years in dessert exile. Everything in moderation, damn it. This body shit is going waayyyy too far for me. Yes, I want to be fit and fabulous in my forties, instead of just fabulous. But being a skinny bitch is not the goal. Being a healthy bitch is.

Unfuckingbelievable....

2006-06-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

is all I could say when the ex emailed me this morning saying that DIT has to come back two weeks early because he has to go out of town- probably the country (he's in the military)- at the end of July. Give me a fucking break. She LITERALLY just left!!!!! UGH!!!!! What do I have to do to have longer than five minutes to myself?

Me Time

2006-06-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

My summer vacation officially starts on Saturday. That's when the darlin' DIT will head out with her daddy for seven weeks of uninterrupted ME time. You gotta love it; and I REALLY do. Yes writing is on the agenda, and yes, reading is on the agenda, but more importantly, socializing and connecting with Big People (also known as adults) will be the focus. The older my daughter gets, the less time I have for my stuff because I am shuttling her to practice or rehearsal or the party of the weekend. My entire life is planned around the social and academic life of an eleven year old. When the fuck did that happen? And to top it off, she recently told me that we needed more time to discuss the events of our weeks. So, yesterday, we're sitting outside having ice cream at an overpriced creamery when she says, "So mom, when are you going to start dating again? You need to have more kids so that you aren't alone when I'm gone." This is my life. And folks wonder why I'm so joyous every summer.

It feels good...

2006-05-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

to be in tune with my muse. Most of the time, I'm looking for her, but she has been riding shotgun with me for the last two weeks. I love it. I just hope that I can get a huge chunk of my current project done before she takes her fickle ass on a mini-vacation.

Vacation is over...

2006-04-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

and I wrote WWAAAYYYYYY less than I said I would. Sigh. But I enjoyed the hell out of my vacation. Didn't go anywhere, and didn't do anything in particular. Just enjoyed myself. Read three books (so what if they were Mary Janice Davidson's Undead chick lit series- they were still books, and really funny), watched some television, hung out with friends, danced around the house, and on most days just went out and soaked up the sunshine. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah- more writing. Sigh.

Spring...

2006-04-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

is finally sprung here in SC! Yay! I am so ready for the sunshine. I have more energy, I want to get out and about, and I just feel generally ok with the world (unless I'm pmsing). Next week I'm on vacation from parenting and work, and I'm so excited. I'm going to read, write, sleep, and hang out in the evenings. Can't wait.

Weekend?! What weekend?

2006-03-13T08:18:00.000-08:00

How is a sista' supposed to get some rest when she can't spend more than five minutes in her home at a time? I have got to find time to be still. It's as simple as that. Until I get still, I can't get my head together to figure out my next move. And there has to be a next move, and soon. I can't take my current state of affairs much longer. It's time to be a doer, not an observer (thanks to George and Izzie from Grey's Anatomy for that analogy). Anywho, this is the spring of my doing.

Passions...I've got one. Now what?

2006-03-09T06:17:00.000-08:00

Here is my dilemma: I love to write. I fantasize daily about quitting my full-time gig and just writing. Writing while listening to my favorite music, no less. But then reality kicks in and I remember the mortgage, the need for food and clothing. It would be pretty hard to use the desktop w/out electricity, not to mention cable and the internet. And how could I forget the darling Diva in Training? I swear they are pumping the school lunches with these serious azz growth hormones, 'cause every time I look around I am buying new clothes and shoes for her because she grew two inches overnight. So how to pursue my passion while meeting my daily necessities? I blog, journal, and get a few pages in while working for "the man". And let us not forget the occasional powerball ticket. Somebody has to win. Why not a wanna be writer?

Pimpin'...I mean bloggin'...ain't easy

2006-03-08T05:58:00.000-08:00

I forgot about this blog. I really did. In the chaos that is my life, I forgot about doing something that I find to be fun. I have to say that this is rather typical, and it's something that I have on my list of things to do for the year: have more fun. That means that when I finish with the have to do's and must do's, then I get to do the really love to do's. Easier said than done.

Ten Year Olds and Teeth

2006-02-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the orthodontist w/ my ten year old. I have 18 months left of being this man's byatch. She's brushing and flossing well, so I didn't have to get all bent about her brushing skills. I do wonder this- my teeth are perfectly straight, and her dad's are pretty much straight, all w/out braces, so where did the need for all this metal come from?

I'm pissed....

2006-01-31T15:59:00.000-08:00

Trying to get a six women to decide on a book to read is Mission Impossible. Today, we were to decide on our February selection. That didn't happen. Instead of choosing between the two suggested reads, someone wanted to throw more suggestions on the table. As the "leader", I had to nip it and put my foot down. Of course, someone is always going to complain about something. I have decided to beat those bitches to the punch. Hence, the blog. We read, we argue, we laugh, and we eat. What better way to enjoy the company of your friends.