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

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

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. 

--Me

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

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 a good  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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Ring it in and make it great! :)
--Me