In putting my list together of all the unread books in my house (NOT including the two bags of mystery books dear old mum gave me, because, come on. I'm not that ambitious right now), I discovered many things.
1) I have A LOT of books (and sadly, this makes me want to go out and buy more. LOTS more).
2) I have carpel tunnel from typing my blasted list
3) I have 164 new reasons to be excited, and they're all GREAT ones (and that does include the books behind my couch. I had an extra cup of coffee).
4) Perhaps my goal of reading them all in a year was a bit much
(Hubby looking over my shoulder at the stacks of books at my feet, while simultaneously playing Call of Duty on Xbox Live: If you want to read all those in a year, you're gonna have to read like...a lot each month.)
That got me to thinking. He was right. But let's just keep that between you and me. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. I'd have to read about 14 books a month. I know I'm superhuman and all, but that's just a little out of my grasp.
So, new rules. I will try and read as much as I can in a year. :) There. I feel MUCH better now.
--Me
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Reading Challenge!
So, this morning was the first morning in 26 LONG days that I actually got to enjoy a cup of coffee with creamer. I took the biggest mug I could find (my favorite one), filled it with wholesome goodness, and went into my reading room to enjoy the coffee and one of the ARCs I've started.
My couch faces my bookshelves, and a thought struck me. Unless I actively make an effort to read those books, they will always sit in my "unread" bookcase, never moving over into the "read" one. So, I had an idea.
Here it is: I'm going to read them. All of them. This year.
Here's the challenge I give to you: Read all the unread books (fiction, non, or both) you have in your house before the year is out.
Count them. How many unread books do you have that you're going to try to complete this year? Myself? I have 180 (164 of the are fiction. Those are the one's I'm going for).
I'm tossing around the idea of a friendly challenge and getting some prizes scraped together.
So what do you think? Can we do it??
--Me
My couch faces my bookshelves, and a thought struck me. Unless I actively make an effort to read those books, they will always sit in my "unread" bookcase, never moving over into the "read" one. So, I had an idea.
Here it is: I'm going to read them. All of them. This year.
Here's the challenge I give to you: Read all the unread books (fiction, non, or both) you have in your house before the year is out.
Count them. How many unread books do you have that you're going to try to complete this year? Myself? I have 180 (164 of the are fiction. Those are the one's I'm going for).
I'm tossing around the idea of a friendly challenge and getting some prizes scraped together.
So what do you think? Can we do it??
--Me
Friday, January 28, 2011
Freebee Friday!!!
Anyone who's anyone knows my list of favorite shows (Glee, Vampire Diaries [which finally returned to the CW last night], Criminal Minds, Psych, SYTYCD, Arrested Development, wait? You didn't want me to list them all?). And anyone who wants to call themselves my friend knows I love Supernatural.
In celebration of Friday, I will leave you with the weekend and with this funny, funny outtake. And for all of you who don't know this yet: Sam & Dean are rock stars.
--Me
In celebration of Friday, I will leave you with the weekend and with this funny, funny outtake. And for all of you who don't know this yet: Sam & Dean are rock stars.
--Me
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Birthday Bliss
I discovered an extra year this past weekend and felt like tacking it onto my age, just for kicks. Call me crazy. With birthdays come gifts! Here’s the story of mine.
Three weeks before birthday.
Hubby: What do you want for your birthday.
Me (while watching X-Files): Nothing.
Hubby: That’s not fair. I have to get you something.
Me: (Run, Mulder, run!!) A billion dollars.
Hubby: I’m serious.
Me: So am I.
Hubby: You have to let me get you something.
Me: I do want something, and it’s nothing. Why is it that Scully’s never present when the aliens show up?
Two weeks before my birthday.
Me (sitting on kitchen counter): I read this funny thing on Failbook the other day. This guy posted a picture of a rifle and the caption said, ‘the sweet gun I got for my wife.’. Then a friend of his said, ‘is that why your wife’s status says that Santa skipped her house this year?’ (uncontrollable fits of laughter).
Hubby: That’s not funny. That’s a good gift.
Me (wiping tears away from my eyes): Are you kidding me? A gun for Christmas? That’s a horrible gift! I’d post that status if you ever got me a gun as a gift.
Hubby (in a sad voice): You would?
Me: Heck yes I would.
Hubby: But then you’d have your own gun to go shooting with when we go out.
Me: Or I could just use one of your fifty-million guns (slight exaggeration and the smile has slipped a little from my face)
Hubby: You’ve told me before you wanted a gun (holding empty hands up pretending to hold a shotgun/rifle). It’s pink.
Me (getting really scared now): Okay, A) A pink gun would make me want it even less B) You’re indicating that you got me a shotgun or a rifle and the only gun I’ve ever pointed out to you was a shiny black hand gun and C) what, in four years of our marriage would tell you I would want a pink gun over a handbag or a pair of shoes?
Hubby (really looks hurt now): But we can go shooting together.
Me (trying to keep my composure): But we already do that, with your guns. Please tell me you’re joking about the gun.
Hubby: (Silence) But I already bought it.
One week before my birthday.
(A conversation between me and my dear friend and co-worker, Janice)
Me: So I think Hubby got me a gun for my birthday. (I proceed to recount the story of the our kitchen conversation to her)
Janice: No! (covers mouth with hands)
Me: Yup. And it’s pink.
Janice: Do they even make pink guns?
Me: Unfortunately, yes. Google it.
Janice: (Googles pink guns, then cracks up laughing) I think that would be great if he got you a pink gun.
Me: It’d be horrible!
Janice (trying to control her laughter, for my sake): Well, does Hubby ever lie to you?
Me: He lies to me about movie endings all the time. Likes to tell me main characters die when they don’t.
Janice: Maybe he’s lying to you about this, too.
Me: I doubt it. He seemed pretty hurt when I told him I didn’t want a gun for my birthday. Do you think it’d be against my wifely duty if I returned the gun and got something I actually wanted?
Janice: Not at all. It might hurt his feelings though.
Me: (weighing the cost of Hubby’s hurt feelings in one hand and a nice, new pair of shoes and handbag in the other. Style wins).
Car ride home with Hubby that day.
Me: I had a funny conversation with Janice today. (Proceed to tell Hubby about conversation)
Hubby (very stoically): Would you really be upset if I got you a gun for your birthday?
Me: I’d be disappointed. I don’t want a gun for my birthday.
Hubby: It’s your fault, ya know. You didn’t give me any ideas about what to get you.
Me: Yes I did, I told you ‘nothing’. Or a billion dollars.
Hubby: You should’ve told me what you wanted.
Me: Would you be upset if I returned it and bought something else?
Hubby: You can’t return guns. And your gift is custom made.
Me: But I can sell it. You really got me a gun?
Hubby: You didn’t tell me what you wanted.
Every minute of every day of the week leading up to my birthday and the day of.
Me: Dear God, Please let me be grateful and joyful when I open up that box and see that ugly pink gun. Please don’t let my selfish attitude take away from Hubby’s apparent joy with what he got me. P.S. Please don’t let it be a pink gun. Amen.
The day of.
Bodies present: Yours truly, Hubby, Coleslaw and Maribelle.
Coleslaw: (holding camera, shooting pictures)
Me: I like this. It’s good practice for when I become rich and famous and I’m being hounded by the Paparazzi.
Maribelle (videotaping entire event): Are you ready?
Me: I guess (smile)
Hubby: Here you go (Places a gift bag the size of a large shoebox on the table in front of me. Roughly the size of a box a gun would fit into. After that, he moves to the back of the room, out of hitting range).
Me: (reading the cutest card ever) Thanks, Hubby. (Then I go to the gift. I prepare to be happy no matter what, and pull out my custom made gift.) I love it!
Apparently Hubby had a big scheme all cooked up. He knew a couple of people who owned pink guns and was going to wrap it and give it to me and then “video tape you opening it and get you crying on camera.” Gee, thanks.
But, his plan fell through and he couldn’t get the gun in time. Darn. It’s a good thing, though, because I probably would have been too sad at getting the gun to fully appreciate the real gift, a handmade quilt by Maribelle! Isn’t it just beautiful? I love it.
The birthday fun isn’t over yet. Oh no! Since I was on my stricter-than-strict diet (16.6 pounds/17.5 inches lost so far in just 23 days) on my birthday, dinner was postponed for this coming weekend at an amazing Brazilian place (celebrating 3 birthdays with 17 adults and 2 wee ones). Still no more sweets for the next 3 weeks but I can have butter again! And creamer for my coffee! All in all it was a good birthday.
Three weeks before birthday.
Hubby: What do you want for your birthday.
Me (while watching X-Files): Nothing.
Hubby: That’s not fair. I have to get you something.
Me: (Run, Mulder, run!!) A billion dollars.
Hubby: I’m serious.
Me: So am I.
Hubby: You have to let me get you something.
Me: I do want something, and it’s nothing. Why is it that Scully’s never present when the aliens show up?
Two weeks before my birthday.
Me (sitting on kitchen counter): I read this funny thing on Failbook the other day. This guy posted a picture of a rifle and the caption said, ‘the sweet gun I got for my wife.’. Then a friend of his said, ‘is that why your wife’s status says that Santa skipped her house this year?’ (uncontrollable fits of laughter).
Hubby: That’s not funny. That’s a good gift.
Me (wiping tears away from my eyes): Are you kidding me? A gun for Christmas? That’s a horrible gift! I’d post that status if you ever got me a gun as a gift.
Hubby (in a sad voice): You would?
Me: Heck yes I would.
Hubby: But then you’d have your own gun to go shooting with when we go out.
Me: Or I could just use one of your fifty-million guns (slight exaggeration and the smile has slipped a little from my face)
Hubby: You’ve told me before you wanted a gun (holding empty hands up pretending to hold a shotgun/rifle). It’s pink.
Me (getting really scared now): Okay, A) A pink gun would make me want it even less B) You’re indicating that you got me a shotgun or a rifle and the only gun I’ve ever pointed out to you was a shiny black hand gun and C) what, in four years of our marriage would tell you I would want a pink gun over a handbag or a pair of shoes?
Hubby (really looks hurt now): But we can go shooting together.
Me (trying to keep my composure): But we already do that, with your guns. Please tell me you’re joking about the gun.
Hubby: (Silence) But I already bought it.
One week before my birthday.
(A conversation between me and my dear friend and co-worker, Janice)
Me: So I think Hubby got me a gun for my birthday. (I proceed to recount the story of the our kitchen conversation to her)
Janice: No! (covers mouth with hands)
Me: Yup. And it’s pink.
Janice: Do they even make pink guns?
Me: Unfortunately, yes. Google it.
Janice: (Googles pink guns, then cracks up laughing) I think that would be great if he got you a pink gun.
Me: It’d be horrible!
Janice (trying to control her laughter, for my sake): Well, does Hubby ever lie to you?
Me: He lies to me about movie endings all the time. Likes to tell me main characters die when they don’t.
Janice: Maybe he’s lying to you about this, too.
Me: I doubt it. He seemed pretty hurt when I told him I didn’t want a gun for my birthday. Do you think it’d be against my wifely duty if I returned the gun and got something I actually wanted?
Janice: Not at all. It might hurt his feelings though.
Me: (weighing the cost of Hubby’s hurt feelings in one hand and a nice, new pair of shoes and handbag in the other. Style wins).
Car ride home with Hubby that day.
Me: I had a funny conversation with Janice today. (Proceed to tell Hubby about conversation)
Hubby (very stoically): Would you really be upset if I got you a gun for your birthday?
Me: I’d be disappointed. I don’t want a gun for my birthday.
Hubby: It’s your fault, ya know. You didn’t give me any ideas about what to get you.
Me: Yes I did, I told you ‘nothing’. Or a billion dollars.
Hubby: You should’ve told me what you wanted.
Me: Would you be upset if I returned it and bought something else?
Hubby: You can’t return guns. And your gift is custom made.
Me: But I can sell it. You really got me a gun?
Hubby: You didn’t tell me what you wanted.
Every minute of every day of the week leading up to my birthday and the day of.
Me: Dear God, Please let me be grateful and joyful when I open up that box and see that ugly pink gun. Please don’t let my selfish attitude take away from Hubby’s apparent joy with what he got me. P.S. Please don’t let it be a pink gun. Amen.
The day of.
Bodies present: Yours truly, Hubby, Coleslaw and Maribelle.
Coleslaw: (holding camera, shooting pictures)
Me: I like this. It’s good practice for when I become rich and famous and I’m being hounded by the Paparazzi.
Maribelle (videotaping entire event): Are you ready?
Me: I guess (smile)
Hubby: Here you go (Places a gift bag the size of a large shoebox on the table in front of me. Roughly the size of a box a gun would fit into. After that, he moves to the back of the room, out of hitting range).
Me: (reading the cutest card ever) Thanks, Hubby. (Then I go to the gift. I prepare to be happy no matter what, and pull out my custom made gift.) I love it!
Apparently Hubby had a big scheme all cooked up. He knew a couple of people who owned pink guns and was going to wrap it and give it to me and then “video tape you opening it and get you crying on camera.” Gee, thanks.
But, his plan fell through and he couldn’t get the gun in time. Darn. It’s a good thing, though, because I probably would have been too sad at getting the gun to fully appreciate the real gift, a handmade quilt by Maribelle! Isn’t it just beautiful? I love it.
The birthday fun isn’t over yet. Oh no! Since I was on my stricter-than-strict diet (16.6 pounds/17.5 inches lost so far in just 23 days) on my birthday, dinner was postponed for this coming weekend at an amazing Brazilian place (celebrating 3 birthdays with 17 adults and 2 wee ones). Still no more sweets for the next 3 weeks but I can have butter again! And creamer for my coffee! All in all it was a good birthday.
--Me
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
What the 1990's?!?!?!
(Post title copyrighted by my dear friend, Lemons)
Hubby and I’ve been watching The X-files on BBC America and Netflix of late and have come to remember the 90’s fondly (through a few fits of laughter). It reminded me of all the good, and not so good things I endured for 10 whole years (granted I was but a wee pup then). • Rollerblades
• The freedom of smoking in government buildings (or anywhere, for that matter)
• The relative unimportance of coffee (*aghast*)
• Curled under hair, hair sprayed back away from faces (Scully)
• Gaudy floral print dresses and skirts
• Puffy sleeves
• Oversized jackets
• Unflattering, boxy-cut clothing for women (with shoulder pads)
• Floppy discs
• The far off dream of artificial intelligence
• Big, round glasses
• Bigger cordless phones (cordless phones, haha)
• Even bigger cell phones
• Songs by rockin’ bands like Filter (hence the new addition to my playlist on the right)
• Guest appearances by Seth Green, Ryan Gosling, Jack Black and Felicity Huffman before they were household names
• Portraying CEOs of big companies as the actual leaders of our government (As if!)
• The revival of government conspiracies
• The best villain ever, Krycek
• Gillian Anderson AKA Dana Scully
• And most importantly, David Duchovny AKA Fox Mulder
I have always been a HUGE fan of The X-files. I remember watching it on Sunday nights when I was little in my mom’s bed, cowering because I was afraid of the wild man in episode 5. I loved every minute of it. It was Mulder and Scully who made me realize my dream of becoming an FBI agent—flying around the Nation and sometimes the world to uncover government plots of cover-ups and alien life? Heck yes!! I was all over that.
My mom dashed those hopes by informing me that an FBI agent does a lot of desk work and what Mulder and Scully did was just fiction. JUST FICTION?!?!. She also dropped the bomb that aliens don’t exist and government conspiracies were nonsense. I still don’t believe her on either account.
I was crushed, but I didn’t give up. If the FBI wasn’t what I thought it would be, I’d go to the CIA! NSA! Or a US Marshall for WITSEC like Mary in In Plain Sight. But then I grew up and wanted to be a photo journalist for National Geographic, a member of the American Olympic Jumping Team, a pastry chef and open my own restaurant named The Dessert Bar, and be married by my late teens/early 20’s and have all my kids by 25. HA!
Oh, and as my grandma would say, “People in Hell want ice water.”
Update: How in the world could I have forgotten to mention cassette tapes?!?! There. Cassette tapes.
--Me
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
It's Crunch Time!
Like, P90X style.
No more hours long Netflix X-file marathons. *sniff*
There’s only 28 more days to get my book spick-n-span. But whatever will Mulder and Scully do without me?!?!?!
--Me
No more hours long Netflix X-file marathons. *sniff*
There’s only 28 more days to get my book spick-n-span. But whatever will Mulder and Scully do without me?!?!?!
--Me
Friday, January 14, 2011
Freebee Friday!!!
I'm so glad it's finally Friday. It's been the longest week ever. In honor of the weekend, I'm going to share some funny commercials that are on TV right now in my neck of the woods. The best one, though, I couldn't find on YouTube. It's one for StraightTalk. Oh well. These are just as good. Enjoy!
And last, but not least:
--Me
And last, but not least:
--Me
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Just Read...
YA Urban Fantasy
Ethan Wate is captivated by the strange new addition to Gatilin, a small southern town. Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone in the small town, and as a result stolen the heart of Ethan and made enemies of everyone else. The pull between Ethan and Lena is strong and soon supernatural and strage things start to happen in the small town of Gatlin, centering around Ethan and Lena.
These two talented authors have quickly climbed the ranks in my mind to my list of favorite authors. Cassandra Clare is still on top, but these guys are easily number two. Great book. Took me three days to read.
--Me
Just Read...
YA Urban Fantasy (prequel to the Mortal Instruments series)
Tessa Gray travels to London to be with her brother after her aunt dies in America, finding out she isn't who she thinks she is and neither is anyone else.
--Me
Just Read...
Post-Apocalyptic YA
Gaia is a 15-year-old midwife with her mother in a post-apocalyptic world run by The Clave. When her parents are arrested by the very institution she has so blindly trusted and served her entire life, Gaia is forced to look at The Clave and wonder if they really are acting in the people’s best interests, or their own.
I'm not a fan of post-apocalyptic writing, and I had no idea that's what this was about (it was for my 3rd@3 book club). But I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very well-written and an easy, fantastic read. I recommend picking it up.
--Me
Just Read...
Book 3 of the Hunger Games
The final chapter in the Katniss/Peeta/Gale saga. It was good in the fact that it completed the story. There was a lot of action--with it being the Rebel war to overthrow the Capital and all--and a lot of filler, I thought. It was still good, and I still maintain my love for the series, but if I had written it, there would be a lot I would have changed about it. Especially the ending.
--Me
Just Read...
Book 2 of the Hunger Games (3 total)
Another great book that picks up where The Hunger Games left off. I won't tell you too much because I don't want to spoil anything. I will say that this one has a HUGE plot twist coming about mid-way through. I saw it coming, though, but was still shocked when it happened. There's a little more sass and spice in this one and many parts where I had to laugh out loud.
Just Read...
YA Distopian Post-apocalyptic
After the big wars, North America is split into 12 districts surrounding the Capital. Every year, one boy and one girl tribute from each district is selected to compete in the Hunger Games--a fight in an arena controlled by the Gamekeepers--to the death. Only one can survive. Katniss Everdeen is selected from district 12 and must kill or be killed.
Full of twists and turns, on the edge of your seat action and great storytelling, The Hunger Games is one of my favorite books. I LOVED it. It's been a long time since any book has made me want to read it so much that I forget about everything else (including food and sleep).
--Me
Just Read...
YA Urban Fantasy
Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret – he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.
A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?
Read the review here.
--Me
Just Read...
Book 1 in the Flapper series
Set in 1920's Chicago, Gloria Carmody is engaged to be married to the very handsome Sebastian Grey but realizes that the life he can give isn't the life she wants. With the story being told from the view points of Gloria, her cousin Clara and her best friend Lorraine, a story of love, jealousy, secrets and revenge is woven together masterfully.
Read my book report here.
--Me
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
The ReplacementBrenna Yovanoff
YA Urban Fantasy (YAUF)
Spoiler Alert: None
Coffee Bean Rating: 2/5
Okay, I’m sad because I’m not super thrilled with this book, and I have many reasons why. In no way am I saying I’m better than the author, only that this was not my cup of tea, and for several reasons. First you should know that I ADORE books. All kinds, but YA is my ultimate favorite. There are many, many, many YA books I love and very few that I don’t. This is one of them. And it’s a shame. I follow the author’s blog and find her very funny (especially when she goes into blurbs about her high school experiences), but actually sitting down to read her book was very different.
First I will go over what I did like:
1. The cover. I mean, who can look at this book and NOT pick it up to see what it’s about? I am a visual person, and will buy a book on its cover alone, because, if the cover’s cool, how can the contents of the book not be, right? WRONG. I have learned my lesson (but will happily continue on my merry way of selecting books).
2. The imagery. The detail she gives to everyday things is remarkable and amazing. After reading her descriptions, I thought to myself, Wow! She is totally right, how could I have not seen that before now? For the most part I had a vivid idea of where we were at when I was reading the book.
3. The metaphors. Wow, does the author have a gift with metaphors. Simply amazing.
4. The Story. In my writer’s group we talk about a story being, “The king died and then the queen died.” We talk about plot being “The king died, and then the queen died of a broken heart.” The story idea is great. After seeing the cover, I read the summary, and the story on the back is what convinced me to buy the book—mysterious creepy-crawly things from underground come and steal babies, replacing them with creatures of their own. When I started reading, I was disheartened because there was no plot to the story. If there was one, I didn’t must have missed it. And that’s never a good thing.
Now onto what I didn’t like:
1. The imagery. I know I said I liked it. And I did. But I also hated it. There was SO much of it, it jarred me out of the story. I got bored. It felt like an old Victorian novel where they spent eighty-billion pages describing the sunset. There was too much. It also seemed sort of out of place in a YA novel—more like it should be in a lit fiction novel or something.
2. Too much music. I love music. I was raised on it. I always have to have it on. It kind of drives Hubby insane. J But this was too much. I really don’t care who the author of the song is when you’re trying to describe it to me in the book. I don’t care what the song is they’re playing. I don’t care about the rifts they’re using or the notes they’re hitting (My Takamine is still in its case. I crack it open every now and then to get a whiff of the cedar and rosewood. That’s how often I play my guitar). I. Don’t. Care. And if you spend five pages telling me all those things, I will zone out. I will try, in a half-conscious state, skim through the section until I think it’s over (taking the risk of possibly missing an important part—although I doubt it). Then I will start to drool all over poor Hubby, who had no idea he was going to be violated in that manner. And that’s not fair to him. Which leads me to my next ‘why I didn’t like this book’ point.
3. I had a real problem with what I thought was a cop-out. The “good” dead people live off of—not blood like the little tattooed princess’ evil sister does—but the adoration of their fans when they play music at a local under-age night club? On weekdays? Huh? Seriously? Does anyone else feel cheated by that? I would even if I hadn’t read the book.
5. Things weren’t explained very well. I found myself scratching my head and not understanding (and then the REALLY bad part—not having enough interest to care that I wasn’t understanding or knowing what was going on). I still don’t know what the things are that live under the slag heap.
6. The language. My cheeks flushed at all the four-letter words. For some reason, I thought YA books had rules about that, but apparently the ‘F’ word can be substituted with the act of breathing.
7. Excessive drug/alcohol use. I mean, the main characters are sixteen. Come on! (Channeling Gob from Arrested Development. If you don’t know about that yet, good golly, people! Get with it! It’s the funniest stinkin’ show ever!)
8. Believability of the characters. The main character, Mackie, was out until about 2:30, if not later, every night (yes, school nights, too) and never once did he have to deal with parents. They never called him to let him know what was going on, where he was, etc. Let alone asking him where the heck he thought he was going at 10:30 on a school night. I find that completely unbelievable. I understand parents are essentially non-existent in many YA novel—except for maybe a blurb here or there so we know parents are present, but this was too much in my opinion.
9. Polishing. There were a lot of filler words (that, just, etc). There was more ‘telling’ and less ‘showing’ than I would have liked. I'm sad to say that I really felt like nothing really HAPPENED in the 343 pages it took to tell the story.
10. Who Knows. The town knows…or doesn’t know. Roswell knows…or doesn’t know. Mackie’s family knows….or doesn’t know. You never really find out who knows what and why. I really had no desire to finish this book, but then again, I had never NOT finished a book, and by golly, I wasn’t going to let this one ruin my record!
11. Nothing seemed believable. (As much as you could in a YAUF, anyway). The characters seemed flat. I wasn’t emotionally invested. At all.
12. It was really slow. I mean REALLY SLOW. Sometimes, I find a book that takes me about five or so chapters to get emotionally invested, and then I reap the rewards of an AMAZING book. But over half-way through The Replacement, at chapter nineteen, I was still trying to convince myself that the book would pick up and I would get the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! But it never came. Sure, there were teasers of excitement and scenes of “oh, wow!” but they quickly passed and I was left, once again, with, “I think it’s my bedtime” and would glance over at the clock only to see that it read 8 PM. Then I would groan and trudge through a few more chapters.
I didn’t mean to come across as mean spirited. I am just being honest about how I felt about a book. There are so many AWESOME books out there, and this one just paled in comparison, is all. Read it for yourself to find out if you like it or not, but I can tell you this much, I won’t be reading it again, and I hope above all hopes, that there isn’t a sequel planned. It’s kind of like a horrible car wreck on the freeway…I’d probably have to check it out just to see what happens.
Update: I never did finish the book. Don't think lesser of me.
--Me
Vixen by Jillian Larkin
Vixen (Book 1 of 3 in the Flapper Series)
Jillian Larkin
YA Historical Fiction
Spoiler Alert: A little
Coffee Bean Rating: 5/5
First of all, let me start out by saying, I LOVED this book, and have since passed it on to many friends. I was giddy when I saw it in hardcover on the shelves of my local book store. I wanted to grab someone and say, "I read that before it even came out and it's REALLY good, so you should buy it." But I didn't.
Set in 1920's Chicago, Jillian Larkin’s, Vixen, tells a story of love, jealousy, secrets, and revenge stitched together masterfully. The novel starts with a short prologue at only 169 words. I was left thinking, “Ooh, this is going to be good” The two sentences that got me?
And then, before snapping her bag closed, she added the small black handgun. Now she was ready.
Who’s she gonna kill? I don’t care! She’s gonna look HOT doing it.
Vixen is the first in The Flapper series and follows the life of Gloria Carmody. A rich white socialite engaged to the very eligible bachelor, Sebastian Grey, she thinks she’s in love. But that’s before she meets a black jazz piano player from the local speakeasy named Jerome Johnson.
Larkin tells the story from the alternating points of view of Gloria, her cousin Clara Knowles, and her best friend Lorraine Dyer. Through the book, it’s revealed that each girl has a secret to they’d kill to keep quiet.
Lorraine is hiding her midnight tryst with Gloria’s fiancé. Country Clara is hiding her Flapper past and scandalous ties in New York City. And Gloria is in love with a black man.
Each girl is tied to the other in her secrets, new friendships are formed, and old ones lost, as each has to deal with the decisions they make and their repercussions those decisions create.
Everything Larkin gave me is real and tangible. I could taste the descriptions of the clothes, hair, and atmosphere—from the dark and smoke-filled Speakeasies to the cheap liquor during Prohibition.
I felt the jealousy Lorraine had every moment she was with Gloria, the love she held for her best friend, and her unreturned feelings of love towards a boy who would never look at her the same way.
One downfall in the book was that I felt I could connect more with Lorraine rather than Gloria because everything about her was real. I felt that Gloria’s situation and problems were a little cliché and typical of this sort of book, but that in no way means I didn’t enjoy her character or her story.
I enjoyed the fact that Marcus and Gloria are best friends. That’s it. End of story. There isn’t a secret crush or love triangle involved—and it’s not because Marcus is gay. It’s because Larkin has seen that’s been overdone.
Despite the lack of romance between those two characters, there is A LOT of PG-rated sexual tension throughout the story and for each of the characters—from unreturned, reluctant, forbidden, to false love—it’s all there, and I found myself rooting for each of the characters.
This is a great debut novel. So many times, I see superficial writing and simple stories, especially in YA—it’s almost as if new authors are scared of going ‘too deep’. But not so with Larkin. Her novel is intricate and detailed, exciting and interesting.
When people say a book is character driven this is what they mean. The story is there and it’s strong, but it comes secondary to the characters and their arcs—their story. They are what move the plot. And it moves so smoothly.
I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. It was a little over 300 pages, but it felt like a walk in the park. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second in the series.
--Me
Book Reports
(I just figured out how to do something I've been wanting to do forever! As a result, there will be numerous posts today so I can undo my make-shift fix that I implemented a little while ago. Cheers!)
How my book reviews will work…for now. I’ll pick a book I’ve read recently (you can give me suggestions, too) and I’ll tell you what I liked and what I didn’t like about it as well as my overall, completely selfish opinions about it. I’ll try not to give any spoilers, but if there are, I’ll note that at the top with all the book info. I will be rating it on the coffee bean scale (why? Because I LOVE coffee). 1 – 5. One meaning I most definitely did not like this book and five meaning I would read it again, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be mentioning it in all of my book clubs.
--Me
How my book reviews will work…for now. I’ll pick a book I’ve read recently (you can give me suggestions, too) and I’ll tell you what I liked and what I didn’t like about it as well as my overall, completely selfish opinions about it. I’ll try not to give any spoilers, but if there are, I’ll note that at the top with all the book info. I will be rating it on the coffee bean scale (why? Because I LOVE coffee). 1 – 5. One meaning I most definitely did not like this book and five meaning I would read it again, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be mentioning it in all of my book clubs.
--Me
ARC Alert!!
ANOTHER new ARC! That's right, I said "another"! One of these days I'll get around to reading them and posting book reports here! But for now, I enjoy collecting them and entering to win them as fast as my little fingers can type!
Yesterday's book was: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones.
--Me
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Cruel. Just Plain Cruel.
One of my co-workers owns a small bakery on the side. Today she brought me FOUR of these. Just because (yeah, yeah. My camera phone's quality sucks. I haven't yet joined the rest of the world and gotten a android - or what ever it is they're called - yet. But hopefully *crossing fingers* before SFWC).
She doesn't know about the "starving myself" goal I have so I smiled and told her I couldn't wait to eat them. To the freezer they go.
But I must tell you this: they smell like wholesome chocolaty goodness.
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Price I pay for Beauty...
I go through diets like I go through handbags and shoes.
Alas, the desire for society to think me thin is strong and overrides my love for food. At least temporarily. I’m on a new diet (and hopefully my last). It’s been a week. And coincidently, it’s been the week from hell. But, it’s paying off (over 10 pounds lost so far, yay for me!). Thus, I will willingly chew my own arm off before I go near a donut or fatty Starbucks drink (*sniff*).
My calendar tells me there are only 14 more days left. That’s only two weeks. And time’s flying by right now, so that’s good. I have a pair of my favorite Banana Republic khakis hanging in my bathroom on the wall, motivating me to stick with it for just a little bit longer.
Which is good, because I’m starting to hallucinate. Let me clarify.
I was sitting on the couch last night with Hubby as we settled in for our weekly Cheesy SyFy Movie Sunday marathon (Babylon AD, Hellboy, & Hellboy II). My mind started to wander when the ending to Babylon AD got really dumb and unsatisfying (ask me about it and I’ll tell you). I started to think about those poor, lonely sourdough English Muffins that were purchased pre-diet. Then I started to think about how AMAZING they would be toasted within an inch of their life and subsequently SMOTHERED in good-for you, fattening BUTTER. I got excited at this point and started to pontificate about whether I was in the mood for raspberry jam to be SLATHERED on top, or a healthy dose of CINNAMON & SUGAR to be applied and make it extra special. It was when my stomach started to rumble for the wholesome goodness I had just fantasized about, when I remembered: Oh yeah. I can’t have that. It’s not on my diet. The rest of the night was a total loss.
This suck beyond anything I’ve experienced. Ever. If I’d have gone through childbirth, it’d be worse than that. Guaranteed. More than trying to give up decaffeinated coffee (which I might add, I can’t have creamer on this diet, either!!!!) .
But, only 14 days left. I can do this.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
And whatever you do, do NOT think about all the yummy things you can’t have for 14 more days.
Thai food
Asian Zing Wings
Coffee with copious amounts of creamer
Bread
Pasta
Hamburgers
Pizza
Mexican food
Chocolate
Whatever yummy thing it is Hubby’s eating.
*sigh*
--Me
Alas, the desire for society to think me thin is strong and overrides my love for food. At least temporarily. I’m on a new diet (and hopefully my last). It’s been a week. And coincidently, it’s been the week from hell. But, it’s paying off (over 10 pounds lost so far, yay for me!). Thus, I will willingly chew my own arm off before I go near a donut or fatty Starbucks drink (*sniff*).
My calendar tells me there are only 14 more days left. That’s only two weeks. And time’s flying by right now, so that’s good. I have a pair of my favorite Banana Republic khakis hanging in my bathroom on the wall, motivating me to stick with it for just a little bit longer.
Which is good, because I’m starting to hallucinate. Let me clarify.
I was sitting on the couch last night with Hubby as we settled in for our weekly Cheesy SyFy Movie Sunday marathon (Babylon AD, Hellboy, & Hellboy II). My mind started to wander when the ending to Babylon AD got really dumb and unsatisfying (ask me about it and I’ll tell you). I started to think about those poor, lonely sourdough English Muffins that were purchased pre-diet. Then I started to think about how AMAZING they would be toasted within an inch of their life and subsequently SMOTHERED in good-for you, fattening BUTTER. I got excited at this point and started to pontificate about whether I was in the mood for raspberry jam to be SLATHERED on top, or a healthy dose of CINNAMON & SUGAR to be applied and make it extra special. It was when my stomach started to rumble for the wholesome goodness I had just fantasized about, when I remembered: Oh yeah. I can’t have that. It’s not on my diet. The rest of the night was a total loss.
This suck beyond anything I’ve experienced. Ever. If I’d have gone through childbirth, it’d be worse than that. Guaranteed. More than trying to give up decaffeinated coffee (which I might add, I can’t have creamer on this diet, either!!!!) .
But, only 14 days left. I can do this.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
And whatever you do, do NOT think about all the yummy things you can’t have for 14 more days.
Thai food
Asian Zing Wings
Coffee with copious amounts of creamer
Bread
Pasta
Hamburgers
Pizza
Mexican food
Chocolate
Whatever yummy thing it is Hubby’s eating.
*sigh*
--Me
Thursday, January 6, 2011
It. Is. Finished.
ATLANTIS was at 113,000 words when I realized I couldn't cram a satisfying ending in and get the word count down to about 90,000.
When that realization hit me, I was devastated and depressed. Coffee didn't taste as great. Books I was reading were suddenly boring. And Sass the Machine didn't annoy me near as much as normal. I was in a depressive spiral.
My goal was to have the book finished and somewhat polished (the first part for sure, in case any agent wanted the first few chaps) by the time I went to SFWC. The future was looking bleak at best. And then, one night, I woke up in the middle of the night with an epiphany! I kid you not. It really did happen that way.
ATLANTIS would be two books! and I had already written past the point of agood great ending! This realization made me ecstatic, but not so much I didn't fall right back asleep.
So, my book is finished. Now I have to go through and edit it a couple or few times before the middle of February.Oh, and I have to remember where that perfect place to end it was. It kinda slipped away when I went back to sleep that night. :)
--Me
When that realization hit me, I was devastated and depressed. Coffee didn't taste as great. Books I was reading were suddenly boring. And Sass the Machine didn't annoy me near as much as normal. I was in a depressive spiral.
My goal was to have the book finished and somewhat polished (the first part for sure, in case any agent wanted the first few chaps) by the time I went to SFWC. The future was looking bleak at best. And then, one night, I woke up in the middle of the night with an epiphany! I kid you not. It really did happen that way.
ATLANTIS would be two books! and I had already written past the point of a
So, my book is finished. Now I have to go through and edit it a couple or few times before the middle of February.
--Me
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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