Ronda's Tattered Corners

Poppy Done To Deatth by Charlaine Harris

2011-09-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

Poppy Done to Death (Aurora Teagarden Series)
By Charlaine Harris
Fiction-Mystery
$7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Released May 20, 2009

"Poppy" is the last novel in the "Aurora Teagarden" series and by far the most underwhelming. Which is saying a lot considering these books are pretty simple to begin with. Harris stuck to her tried and true formula for this book so there are no fresh surprises.

"Poppy" follows Aurora Teagarden as she tries to solve the murder mystery of her sister-in-law, Poppy. Was she murdered by her husband, one of her numerous lovers or one of their scorned wives?

Teagarden is continuing her relationship with writer Robin Crusoe that was renewed in the last book. Her step-brother Philip makes an appearance and Roe has once again found herself dealing closely with ex and police chief Arthur Smith.

I do not want to go into too much detail as far as the plot so as not to give any spoilers but the mysteries in this book reminded me of a "Maury" episode. Who my baby daddy?

This story goes "pfftttt" and loses steam and Harris throws in too many plot twists and turns that never develop. This is the end of the series and I was left with several unanswered questions!

Researching time lines for the publishing date of this book, I realized Harris was probably writing the first book in what is now known as the "True Blood' series. Those books rock! So I will forgive her if she dropped the ball on this- she was distracted with "fangtasticness".

Recommend it: I wouldn't, unless, like me, you read it because you have read all of the other books in the series or because you are a die-hard Charlaine Harris fan.

But: No Butts.

Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

2011-09-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Rising Tides
By Nora Roberts
Published August 1, 1998
Fiction/Romance
$7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Book 2 of 5 in "The Chesapeake Bay" Series

"Rising Tides" begins where the first book, "Sea Swept" left off. Anna and Cam are newlyweds on honeymoon and the other brothers are looking after the newest brother, Seth, and the building of their first sail boat from their fledgling boat company. This book focuses particularly on Ethan Quinn and his relationship with Grace Monroe. Each book in the saga covers a Brother Quinn and they are written in the order that each Quinn was adopted by Ray and Stella Quinn.

Ethan Quinn, the oldest of the brothers, shares his adopted fathers love for fishing and the Bay.
He operates his own commercial fishing boat. He has the toughest childhood of any of the brothers and Nora Roberts goes into great detail about the child abuse that Seth suffered at the hands of his birth mother. This topic is not new for Roberts; she writes often of adults who have been abused; physically, emotionally, and sexually, as children. She also writes quite often about adoption. Most notably writing as J.D. Robb in the Eve Dallas "In Death" series.

Grace Monroe, a single mother to Aubrey, was introduced to us in the first book. As a reader; it was obvious that there was chemistry between Ethan and Grace. In this book, the storyline just builds on that blossoming romance.

The storyline of Seth and the Quinn families struggle to adopt him continues in this story too. The battle with Seth's birth mother isn't mentioned much though, and there is no conclusion to this storyline. Three more books to see this resolved seems to be a a little much.I think this could be wrapped as a whole in the next book. I can't imagine what book 4 and 5 cover.

On positive note, the novels do a really good job about showing the impact that child abuse has on it's grown victims and the effect it has on their family and relationships.

Over all, "Rising Tides" is a sweet, simple romance. I enjoyed the first book more though. I feel like Ethan and Grace's story was neatly tied up but it didn't give me enough details. Did they get married? Where did they decide to live? His house or her house? Does Grace continue working three jobs?

I personally like my characters a little more rough and rebellious. I found Ethan and Grace too sweet and meek. Even their love scenes were tame!

Recommend it: If you have read the first and want to see it through to book 5, then yes. If you want a super sweet romance, then yes!

But: If you are looking for spice, adventure, or mystery- don't bother.

Quotes from "The Help"

2011-09-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

The quotes are copied the way they were written in the book-true to the dialect and grammar that Kathryn Stockett used.

"Change begins with a whisper."

"We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

"And I swear I see, down inside, the woman she gone grow up to be. A flash from the future. She is tall and straight. She is proud. She got a better haircut. And she is remembering the words I put in her head. Remembering as a full grown woman."

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

"I know something about you and don't you forget that.....and from what I hear, they's a lot of time to write a lot a letters in jail...time to write to ever person in Jackson the truth about you. Plenty a time and the paper is free....."

I must say my favorite line is the one above ".....Plenty of time and the paper is free..." Such a bad-ass threat. Love it. Spoken in the book by Aibileen to Hilly.

Sex and the City...ugh

2011-09-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'm on page 28 of "Sex and the City" by Candace Bushnell. It's horrible so far. It's not the SATC from t.v. that I know and love. We will see how much further I read.....

I'm Excited .......

2011-09-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to read these books!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2011-09-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

WOW! WOW! WOW! Loved this book! You have to be living in a cave if you haven't heard of this book. Thanks to a recent big motion picture release based on the novel-it's everywhere. I first heard of this book after it was recommended to me by a fellow book clubber. I put it on my wish list and then the movie came out and everyone was talking about it. I had procrastinated long enough-it was time to read "The Help".

Let me say I haven't been this excited after reading a book since "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. I know-I love a lot of books but not all of them make me want to call someone up and make them listen to me wax poetic about a novel!

"The Help" is Stockett's first novel. Really? Wow-what next? Excellent writing-great plot and pace. I really don't have any complaints about this book except that the dialect was distracting in the beginning. The more absorbed you become in the story though, the less you notice. Also there were two minor story lines that I felt really just kind of distracted you from the main plot. Miss Celia, an alcoholic loner who married a local and is physically unable to have kids and Stuart Wentworth, Miss Skeeter's one time love. He is a governor's son and disappears and reappears quite often throughout the book. Sometimes I tolerate the loose end story lines if everything is tied up nice and neat in the end. Not really the case here, but I think Stockett could take those two fading story lines and write two more novels- they really had that much promise.

"The Help" is set in the rural south of the 1960's. A tumultuous time in history to say the least. Jackson, Mississippi- one of the last holds of racial segregation, is the home of maids Abileen, Minny and the white women they work for. Enter in Miss Skeeter, a young college grad hoping to become a great writer. A crazy idea is concocted to write a story of the maids in town and their experiences working for the white families; dictated by the maids to Miss Skeeter.

The books covers a time in our history where MLK Jr. and Kennedy were trying to lead a country in the fight against racial discrimination and women everywhere were about to march for equality. Stockett really creates a historically accurate novel that makes you genuinely feel you're sitting on a porch in Mississippi in "100 degree heat with 99 percent humidity".

The heart of this book though is the coming together of women despite their differences; the color of their skin, the amount of money in their bank account and their social status in the community. The women who are so ordinary and yet create a heroic effort to erase the lines of racism and equality.

When Kathryn Stockett was asked what this book is about, she stated the point of the book (which is also a line in the novel) is this : "We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought." Well said. The question that arises from this book- "Are we born to be racist or is it learned?" made me think of a recent sight I witnessed. After reading this book I was at work (daycare) watching over sleeping little two and three year old kids. They cuddle unknowingly close to each other. Limbs tangled, shoes and socks piled together. Little blond heads against little brown heads.In the time that this book took place; this would have been forbidden. I had to smile at those sleeping little kids. Stockett wrote a joyful, painful book that is meant to make you a little uncomfortable and have you cheering out loud.

Recommend: Yes! Read this book. And if you enjoy it- take the time to read "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker.
But: None!!
Bonus: A movie based on the novel.

Pittsburgh Carnegie Library-Main Branch

2011-09-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

My family and I went to Pittsburgh this past weekend and paid a visit to the Carnegie Museum of History and Art. AMAZING!

Attached to that collection of buildings is the main branch of the Carnegie Library-free to the people since 1895. Standing in the main room of the dinosaur display, I looked up at a wall of windows- four floors. In each of the windows were rows and rows of bookshelves.

Sigh.....The Carnegie Library is a fusion of old world meets modern. Imported marble floors meet a trendy cafe bookstore and teen area.Brass doorknobs are flanked by hightech key fob entries. You cannot enter the library from the museum (unless authorized personnel) but it is a public library and since it is affiliated with Carnegie University, it houses a world class collection on every subject you could imagine!

I think I found paradise:)E-books and instant gratification are terrific but give me the smell of old books and the sounds of a whispering library any day!

Things I"ve Learned About My Kindle

2011-09-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of little things I've discovered recently about my Kindle.
I actually was able to buy more physical hard copy books with my money than if I would have bought e-books for my reader. On Amazon.com. And with free shipping. Hmmmm-keep that in mind if you order a book and you aren't in a hurry or particular about the format.

When you are surfing for books on your WI-FI enabled Kindle- take the time to check out all the extras. Many of the available extras are compiled and submitted by the amazon.com community and contain spoilers. You can choose to keep the spoilers "hidden".

Each book varies on what the "extras" are and some are only available after you purchase the book for your Kindle. Most though, seem to have the following:If the book is part of a series. A list of the main characters.
Memorable quotes.

"Ridiculously Simplified Synopses". Read these just because they are funny.

A summary-very good-especially if you don't have time to read my blog;)
Settings and Important Places. Glossary. Organizations mentioned/featured in the book. Awards the book received. Themes and symbolism. Authors and Contributors.

First Edition. Kinda cool-you can see when it's been published abroad.
Classification. Subjects covered. The first sentence.
Notes for parents.Love this- it tells you if it's Adult Content. Be warned though; this is submitted by the amazon.com community.It's subjective.

Similar books by other authors. And finally books that may have been mentioned in said book:)

A Discovery of Witches

2011-09-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

A Discovery of Witches
By Deborah Harkness
Fiction
Released February 8, 2011
$14.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

This book has been rockin' out the best sellers list for months! Curious about all the hype and being a fan of the whole vampire/supernatural trend- I figured I had to check this book out. Bleck. I didn't like it. If you enjoyed the "Outlander" series, or "Lasher" by Anne Rice; especially because of the history-then this book is perfect for you. It has time travel and historical details with a supernatural twist.

The story centers around Diana Bishop, a very powerful witch from a long line of witches. Diana is a professor who ignores her destiny and power. She discovers a very important book that holds a powerful key for all supernatural creatures. Enter in Matthew Clairmont, a prestigious, well-known professor who also happens to be a vampire. Clairmont and Bishop fall in love. Inter-species relationships are forbidden in the supe world but that doesn't stop these two crazy kids from being together. The story takes place in modern times and yet Matthew is a caveman when it comes to women and their roles. Ugh. A war is brewing in the world of vampires, witches, demons and all other creatures. Fighting for the control of the "book" and their relationship, Diana and Matthew decide to stay safe the best thing for them to do is travel back in time.

I found the book toooooooooo long. The plot is slowwwwwwww moving and not only is there a lot of history but very detailed scientific junk that I have no interest in. There really wasn't any great action or huge climax to the story, either. Some of the traveling they did was totally unbelievable. And a witch and vampire who practice yoga? As if! Harkness skimmed over the scenes that seemed to have potential - only to devote more time to big, outdated words and terminology. No supernatural sex. Yawn. And too much hemming and hawing between characters. I almost feel like Harkness was overwhelmed by the potential of this story and where it could go. She lost her writing in the details. She lost the story while trying to focus on the description and history. All the things she got wrong were the same things Gabaldon got right in "Outlander". The things that made me want to keep reading. And Ann Rice gives really good sex to her historical, supernatural books. This book needed a little of that kind of Rice spice!

Finally, the title, "A Discovery of Witches"???? I don't get it. I felt like there was no discovery of anything. All the creatures know about each other and Diana knew all along she was a witch and that she came from a long line of witches. Skip this one even if it's in the box of free stuff at the yard sale.

Recommend it: No.

But: Only if you really enjoy historical fiction. It's more history than witches versus vampires.

Bonus: This book is the first of three novels in the "All Souls Trilogy".

Quotes from "Things I Want My Daughters To Know"

2011-09-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

"Motherhood offers the best, most exquisite moments of my life. But every single one has been paid for."

"Our job has as parents is to give our children 2 things: Roots and wings. The simple things and the extraordinary things."

You make new rules for the people you love. They aren't subject to the same judgement criteria you reserved for the rest of the world. In some ways you are easier on them, and in others, much harder."

"For no other reason than I love him wholly I am here. For this one night at least the world has shrunk to a boyish breast on which my head, brilliant and exhausted, rests, and can know of nothing more complete. I am as far beyond doubt as the sun. I am as far beyond doubt as is possible."

"You don't love your stepchildren when you get them. You want to, because you love their mother and she loves them...you grow on each other gradually. Sometimes like roses; sometimes like mold."

"and the greatest of these is love. Please know that you had mine; unconditional, and powerful, and awesome. So strong that I cannot believe it will die with me. I want to imagine it as a living thing that goes beyond my body, and my death, as a vine that has grown and wound its way through the very cores of all of you and cannot be uprooted or destroyed, but rather will hold you up erect when everything else is crumbling and withering inside of you."

Things I Want My Daughters To Know

2011-09-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

Things I Want My Daughters To Know
By Elizabeth Noble
Fiction/Drama
Released March 17, 2009
$22.95 or $9.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Thanks to the women in book club who picked this book! I was hesitant to read this one. It wasn't my normal go-to romance and the premise, "How do you cope in a world without your mother?" seemed downright depressing! I checked it out of the library and gave myself a pep talk, "Sometimes we do it for the team, Ronda! Maybe it will be the best book ever, Ronda! Maybe you can fake it at the meeting and just nod your head in agreement with whatever anyone has to say...."

Sigh. I started in with a mental agreement to myself, that if it was truly horrible, I would stop reading and ban all future book club choices;) Thank goodness, the book was wonderful!

The protagonist (hero or lead) is Barbara, a mother of four daughters, and a woman battling terminal cancer. She decides to write a letter to each daughter as well as leaving a journal she has kept. The letters and journal become a history; lessons in life, advice for the future and one woman's confessional not just to her children but her husband as well.
Barbara remarried a wonderful, younger man named Mark. He took on the large task of raising Barbara's three daughters as well as their own little girl. Lisa, the oldest, has a fear of commitment. Jennifer, next in line, is extremely uptight. She is stuck in a unhappy and childless marriage and her misery makes her the least likeable character. Amanda, a free spirited, irresponsible sibling. She can't deal with her mother's illness so instead travels abroad for much of her mothers illness. Finally, the youngest, step sister Hanna. She is teenage girl struggling to deal with the loss of her mom at a time in her life when she needs a mom the most.
I completely related with the characters in the novel. I come from a family of many women. Several aunts, two sisters, two daughters, and three nieces. I also have a wonderful stepfather who had to navigate through all these women. From poopie diapers to puberty to marriage.

"Things I Want my Daughters To Know" holds great humor and love. Barbara's family makes me see my family. The struggles of her daughters makes me feel the struggles of my own children. The relationships between the sisters, their failures and successes, all made me think of my own sisters.

I loved that in this book I could see each character not just as the title they were given (mother, daughter, sister ) but the individual story each woman presented. Especially Barbara. It was wonderful to see her not just as the matriarch of the family, not just as a women dying of cancer, but as a woman. All imperfections and love and ugliness, passion, and secrets, and parts of her life that had absolutely nothing to do with her kids. And that was important. We all become so absorbed that sometimes we forget there are other lives that exist outside of ours. Events that happen without us. Barbara's journal held secrets that devastated her daughters. Maybe she was cowardly to confess in a journal but it makes you realize that love, while being wonderfully powerful, also motivates us to sometimes make the wrong choices.

If the books would have just been the harrowing goodbyes of mother and daughters, it would have been unbearable.

But this story about death is so full of life with all of it's twists and turns.

I was thrown off a few times by the dialect and lingo of the books (set in Great Britain) but the story is so well written that the distractions were minor.

I look forward to reading more books by Noble and I'm happy that my first book club title was so enjoyable!

Recommend: Yes.

But: It might cause you to shed a few tears, or make a long-distance call to a special woman in your life.

Side note: Shortly after I read this book, I went to a my daughter's school play. My mother met me there and we proudly watched my daughter perform. After the show we walked out to our cars and my mom gave her usual goodbye, "Love you-Bye!" and I replied the same. I thought nothing of it, as my mom and I always end our conversations and visits the same way. A woman came up to me, though, and said, "I heard what you and your mom just said to each other. How lucky you are to be able to say those words ....I wish I could still do that with my mom...."

That pretty much sums up how I feel about this book. I'm so grateful I get to hear my mom's voice and say those words to her.

Shakespeare's Landlord

2011-08-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Shakespeare's Landlord
By Charlaine Harris
Fiction/Mystery
$7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Released November 1,2005

This book is one of five in the Lily Bard Mysteries. The book is a quick, easy read. The plot is fast moving and Harris writes with a no-nonsense style, just like the characters she writes about. The chapters are short and sweet. Harris is a master at this genre. She creates gritty, funny characters; almost always southern and not complete without with a dark streak. Her women are fearless and her men are rough and tumble. The characters should come with the warning, "All Sharp Edges-Handle With Care".
"Shakespeare's Landlord" is a classic who-dunnit but instead of Sherlock Holmes we get Lily Bard.
Bard, a mysterious, intensely private woman has recreated a new identity for herself in the small town of Shakespeare. Trying to recover from a traumatic event in her past and heal from mental and physical scars, Lily has thrown herself into martial arts and body building. Lily Bard is a bad ass (and a blonde!). In her past life she was a white collar professional; now she's a cleaning lady. An under the radar job that involves very little interaction with others.
At her apartment complex Lily stumbles upon the body of her landlord and finds herself thrown into the middle of the unsolved murder case.
The novel hosts an odd cast of characters-true to form for a Harris novel. We are introduced to some key characters that we get to read about again in the next few books in the series. Marshall,martial arts instructor, gym owner, and potential lover. Deedra, a neighbor in Lily's apartment complex. She also happens to be the town hussie. And Bobo, an employee at the gym, who has the hots for Lily. Quirky southern charmers for sure.
I have yet to find a Charlaine Harris book I didn't enjoy or wouldn't recommend. Great read for the modern day sleuth!

Recommend it: Yes!
But: Graphic violence.

The Places You'll Go

2011-08-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

In honor of both of my daughter's first day of school tomorrow I will just offer up the recommendation of "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. One of my favorite pieces of fiction and so very inspirational. My mother gave it to me as a high school graduation gift and I have in turn given it as grad gifts many times over. I will do the same for my girls upon their graduation. Until then, cheers to 5th and 9th grade tomorrow for my kids!
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."

Quotes from "A Million Little Pieces"

2011-08-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Quotes from "A Million Little Pieces" By James Frey

"What time do you start drinking?"
"When I wake up."
"How much per day?"
"As much as I can."

"Be content with what you have and take joy in the way things are. When you realize that you have all you need the world belongs to you." Book of Tao

Last quotes from "My Sister's Keeper"

2011-08-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

"It doesn't take a whole long life to realize that what we deserve to have, we rarely get."

"It's hard to be the one always waiting...there's something to be said for the hero who charges off to battle...but there's a whole story in who's left behind."

"Change isn't always for the worst; the shell that forms around a piece of sand looks to some people like an irritation, and to others, like a pearl."

"When you don't know where you're headed, you find places no one else would ever think to explore."

"I thought lightning wasn't supposed to strike twice in the same place?"
"Sure it does. But only if you're too dumb to move."

"We never have children. We receive them."

"One fire burns out another's burning. One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish" Shakespeare.

"..as much as you want to hold on to the bitter sore memory that someone has left this world, you are still in it. And the very act of living is a tide: at first it seems to make no difference at all, and then one day you look down and see how much pain has eroded."

My Sister's Keeper

2011-08-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

My Sister's Keeper
By Jodi Picoult
Fiction/Drama
$16.00 or $12.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Released April 6, 2004

The librarian warned me that this was going to be a tearjerker. I took it anyway. I have never seen the movie based on the book so I had that going for me. This was my third Picoult book; the previous ones were also sad. This book was rather bleak from beginning to end. Don't get me wrong-it's a good book and very well written. But with this kind of plot- I can't expect a happy ending no matter how it ends.
"My Sister's Keeper" is about a family struggling with a child who is dying from leukemia and kidney failure. Her parents are Brian, a firefighter, and Sara, a stay at home mom. There's Jesse, the oldest son and pretty much the invisible child, and Kate, the daughter who became ill with leukemia when she was very young. Her parents made the decision to have a "designer baby" in the hopes that this unborn child would be a medical match for Kate. The baby, a girl named Anna, would be capable of donating bone marrow, a kidney, even core blood from birth. The birth of Anna was a media sensation and when Anna turns thirteen she decides to seek medical emancipation. Her sister Kate needs a kidney transplant to survive and their mother has once again asked Anna to undergo a medical procedure to save her sister. Anna's sudden desire to be emancipated also becomes a media circus. Anna seeks out a lawyer, Campbell and is assigned an advocate, Julia. There is a past relationship between Campbell and Julia.
The juice of the novel is the way the family must deal with Anna's decision. There are subplots- Jesse's struggle to get noticed, the marriage of Brian and Sara, the relationship of Campbell and Julia, and most importantly, the relationship between sisters.
Halfway through this book- I hated the mom Sara. But I found myself asking, "If I were in this situation, what would I do?" That's what made reading this such a struggle. "What if's and what would I do's?"
I think the medical jargon bogged this story down. I think the story of Jesse was a distraction that got lost in the details and was never fully developed. There really was no good conclusion to Jesse's story. The Campbell-Julia plot was also a distraction but a least there was a resolution. What's the main event? Does Anna become emancipated or is she forced to donate a kidney to her dying sister? The story moves along like a slow train gaining speed and then ...BAM. The last forty pages the turn of events and sudden plot twists and unexpected turns literally left me stunned. Boy, I didn't see any of that coming. All of those sub plots were really just great, big distractions for the big "Bam" moments.
As a sister , I thought I would become very immersed in this novel. But then I realized two things. I can't relate at all to the sister part of this novel because I can't ever imagine a world without my sisters. I won't even try. Secondly, I related more to the parents. Picoult is writing about every parent's worst nightmare. The made this novel difficult to read and hard to inhale while reading. Faced with the choices that must be made by each daughter and themselves, how can there be a happy ending? One daughter must sacrifice for the other to live. No, I did not just issue a spoiler. Trust me, you have no idea how this is going to play out.
Read it: No-too bleak.
But: No butts. Go to your happy place and read a Janet Evanovich book!
Bonus: There is a movie based on the book starring Cameron Diaz.

P. S. I finished this book at midnight and was so wound up by the ending that I couldn't wait until tomorrow to review it!

A Million Little Pieces

2011-08-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

A Million Little Pieces
By James Frey
Fiction
Released April 15, 2003
$15.95 or $9.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

This novel is based on James Frey's battle with alcohol and crack-cocaine. Drinking since the age of 13, a crack addict at 20 years old, Frey was headed to rehab at 23. He finds himself en route to a rehab facility with a broken mind, broken body, broken spirit, and no front teeth. This is the story of his six-week stay in a rehab facility.
Once there, Frey befriends quite a motley crew of characters. Hank, the bus driver, Lilly, his rehab romance and Leonard. Leonard is a mafia type guy who looks scary as hell but throws Frey a lifeline of friendship that literally gives James the strength to fight for sobriety. You can learn more about Leonard in Frey's second book.
Through Frey's eyes I learned that rehab is painful; mentally and physically. There's lots of blood, piss and vomit but even in the puddles I found myself rooting for James.
Of course, I can't talk about "A Million Little Pieces" without addressing the "Oprah" debacle but before I get to that I will say I really liked this book. James Frey is the ultimate underdog surrounded by others at the very rock bottom. I just wanted to step into the pages and help lift all of them up. I began to root for every single character.
When James Frey finds the "Book of Tao" it becomes his safety blanket. I was so moved by the featured quotes from "Tao" that I got the book (very inspirational).
I discovered "A Million Little Pieces" because it was on the "Oprah's Book Club of the Month". When Oprah chose the book, it blew up and everyone was talking about it. James Frey became an overnight sensation and "A Million Little Pieces" a bestseller.
Then a few months later Oprah outs him for fraud and publicly humiliates him during an interview on her show. The book was published and marketed as a memoir (non-fiction). In truth, the basics were correct but Frey had taken liberties with the details and expanded on some of the events in the book. He admitted to Oprah that some things had been embellished. I watched that interview and it did not change my opinion of the book. I actually banned the "Oprah Show" from my house for awhile. I feel like she played God with Frey's career. She basically made this man a literary sensation and then in an matter of minutes on national TV she destroyed it.
The bottom line though isn't Oprah or even James Frey's legitimacy as a writer. This is the story of addiction and the path from there to sobriety. The main idea that pulses through the novel is "Will he recover or will he relapse?" Read it to find out.

Read it: Yes.
But: It's got really disgusting parts. Rehab ain't pretty.

The Host

2011-08-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Host
By Stephenie Meyer
Fiction/Sc-Fi
Released May 2008
$16.99 or $8.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

I will confess. I am a "Twi-hard". I am not ashamed to admit I love the "Twilight"series. I ocassionally enjoy reverting back to the days of being a love sick 12 year old girl. Being such a huge fan of these books it only seemed right to read "The Host". I just wish I hadn't shelled out the bucks for the hardcover copy! I really disliked this book. I know. I know. I shouldn't have continued to read it, right? I will plead a moment of insanity. That's all I got.
The premise of the novel goes as follows; Earth has been invaded by a species that has taken over human minds. The alien is injected into the human host, taking over the mind but leaving the body intact. Melanie Stryder, the lead character, is one of the last humans left. After an unfortunate incident, she becomes an unwilling host. Against all odds, she fights the alien invader for control of her mind and body. Running from aliens who want to terminate an "unsucessful host" , she finds humans who are hiding in a gigantic cavern in the ground. She is taken prisoner by the humans but eventually a little romance weaves itself into the story. From this comes the weirdest love triangle ever.
I hated this story so much I can't believe I was even able to write this much without falling into painful boredom. The story is slow and long. Meyer's writing in this felt so different than the writing in her previous books. Stephen King wrote a great story touching on the alien theme (Tommyknockers) but he also is a wizard of words. Meyer isn't quite there yet and it is very evident in this book. I think the novel could have easily been written by one of the aliens.
Bottom line-it's a story that you can find in any aliens vs. humans movie.

Read it: No.
But: If you are a Sci-Fi fan you might enjoy the story but still find it hard to get past the writing.
Bonus: The Kindle version has an added new chapter and a playlist linking to text. Meyer's is known for creating playlists that influence each chapter or major event that she writes.

The Last Song

2011-08-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Last Song
By Nicholas Sparks
Fiction
$7.99 Paperback or $7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Released August 20, 2009

I will start this review and end this review with the same words...sniff.sniffle..sob...sniff ..Could someone get me a tissue please...
Now on to the book. We already know by now that Nicholas Sparks tends to write books about love and heartbreak. To be fair; happiness too (sometimes). This book is certainly no different. It was released at the same time that my own father was battling colon cancer. I don't want to issue a spoiler alert but there is a powerful father-child storyline here and it may be just the timing that made me really connect with this novel.
This is the story of 17 year-old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller. She and her ten year old brother Jonah are sent to spend the summer with their father, Steve, at his beach cottage (not his vacation home but his real home). No surprise her parents are divorced and she's pissed about it and blames her dad for running out on the family. He was a world-renowned composer and pianist. Ronnie is a very talented pianist herself but has a self-imposed ban on playing or writing just to spite her dad.
You get the picture that Ronnie is a moody, rebellious teen that isn't happy about her forced vacation to the beach. She's way more big-city wears black kinda girl and doesn't fit in with the bikini beach crowd. From the beginning of this book you also get little hints about the health of her dad, Steve.
Her first month at the beach she pretty much spends ignoring her father (hard to do in his one room cottage) and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Enter in trouble making duo Marcus and his girlfriend Blaze. Mean-ass teens who make Ronnie miserable.
Eventually Ronnie catches the attention of local rich boy Will Blakelee. They bond over the rescue of a sea turtle nest and spend the rest summer falling in love. Ronnie also slowly begins to repair her relationship with her dad.
There are many little stories woven in to the main plot. An unsolved church fire, recreating a stained glass window, teen drama, and family secrets. At the very heart of this book, though, is love. The love we have with family and friends and the power of love in our lives. Sniff.....sniffle..sob...sniff ..Could someone get me a tissue please...
Read it: Yes!
But: Don't blame me if it makes you want to call your dad and say "I love you" or wish that you still could.
Bonus: There is a movie based on this book starring Miley Cyrus. Please don't judge the book by the movie.

More quotes from Picoult and the original Inferno

2011-08-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

Quotes from "My Sister's Keeper"
"Why are terms of endearment always foods? Honey, cookie, sugar, pumpkin. It's not like caring about someone is enough to actually sustain you."

"Darkness, you know, is relative."

"Goldfish get big enough only for the bowl you put them in. Bonsai trees twist in miniature. I would have given anything to keep her little. They outgrow us so much faster than we outgrow them."

"Fire and hope are connected, just so you know."

"You can stay up all night and still not count all the ways to lose the people you love."

"You head to the place where all those different positions cross, and you hope for the best."

"The moon grew hungry, thinner and thinner, until she was just a slice of herself, and her tips were as sharp as a knife. By accident, she poked a hole in the night and out spilled a million stars, like a fountain of tears."

"... and told me in the darkest crease of the night, that she would love me until the moon lost it's footing in the sky."

"So maybe there is a place in your life you wear out like a rut, or even better, like a soft spot on the couch. And no matter what else happens to you, you come back to that."

"Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I've decided, is only a slow sewing shut."

"The people you love can surprise you every day. That maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it. "

From "Dante's Inferno"

"E lascia pur grattar dov e la rogna!"
"And let them go ahead and scratch where it itches!"

Updates on Current Reads

2011-08-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend I started reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I have very high expectations for this book. I am only a couple chapters in but I am intrigued by some of the characters and distracted a little by the dialect- even though I know it's obviously important to the book.
I also am about three quarters through "My Sister's Keeper". Oh my. It has started to get tear jerky and I have started to really hate certain characters; even though I keep saying to myself, "I were in that position, what would I do." I'm beginning to think that might be the intended message of the book......
Hope to have full reviews soon!

Odd Thomas

2011-08-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

Odd Thomas
By Dean Koontz
Fiction/Suspense
Released June 29, 2007
$7.99 Paperback or $7.99 Kindle http://www.amazon.com/

I have read many Dean Koontz books in the past. I think he's action packed suspense with a little scary Stephen King thrown in. I enjoy Dean Koontz;) I hadn't heard of the "Odd Thomas" series however, until my friend lent it to me. Here's the thing; I do have fave authors and genres but I really enjoy reading anything I can get my hands on. The books I now call my favorites are ones that have been handed to me by friends. "Odd Thomas" is definitely one of my all time loves.
This book is DELICIOUS! Quirky, funny, scary, suspenseful, and bittersweet all in one great package! The main character "Odd" Thomas gets his name because, well, all his life he's been a little odd. plus he has a unique talent. He "communicates" with dead people (I see dead people....sorry, I digress). I say communicate because, as Odd puts it, " The dead don't talk. But they do try to communicate".They leave hints and messages because, as we discover in this book, the dead who follow Odd around really just want to be set free. They are trapped souls on earth who need closure or justice. In the case of one ghost, ahem, Elvis, he needs to realize he has passed on and it's time to leave this realm. The ghost of Elvis is hilarious and I would say read this book just for him. The story itself is good too, even if the wonderful characters of Odd and his goth love & hopfully soon to be girlfriend Stormy are the show stealers. Cross reference here: To read another great story that features a dead Elivs; check out "Dead Until Dark" by Charlaine Harris.
Okay-back to the story. It goes as follows. Odd is a fry cook. Stormy is a waitress. All Odd wants is to be is a fry cook and the boyfriend of Stormy but the ghosts in his life have other plans. An ominous clue, a vicious murderer and a day of catastrophe propel this story forward. It all takes place in the town of Pico Mundo. A dusty town that makes you feel gritty just reading about it. Odd has a calendar date and 24 hours to save Pico Mundo from uncertain terror and doom. In the middle of all this, there are laugh out loud moments, which made me double check the cover of the book. This is Dean Koontz, right? Throw in the relationship between Odd and Stormy and you might need a box of tissues for this one.
The character of Odd Thomas has stuck with me. I really think he's such a unique voice and Dean Koontz really did well here. Your closet of literary characters would be mighty empty if you haven't added Odd.

Do I recommend it: Heck yeah! So weird it's wonderful!
But: It can be gory and violent.
Bonus: They are making a movie and if you love this one, there's more "Odd Thomas" books! Go to http://www.deankoontz.com/ for all the details!

Books Delivered and what about J.R. Ward?

2011-08-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

So last night I finished the second book in the "Shadow Children" series, "Among the Imposters". Earlier in the day I had finished "Sea Swept" by Nora Roberts. Today I got four new books in the mail and the library called to tell me two books I had on hold are in as well! Yay!!! It should be a great weekend:)
I am continuing on in the "Chesapeake" series by Roberts, the "Shadow Children" series by Haddix and the "Carrie Bradshaw" books by Bushnell. On Monday I will post a fresh book review and some more quotes from "My Sister's Keeper" by Picoult. That is another book I hope to complete in a day or two.
I am also considering reading something by J.R. Ward. Any suggestions?

Library e-books for kindle!

2011-08-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/Default.aspx?type=ebook

Click on the above link to find out if your e-reader is compatible with the books offered online through the Erie County Public Library. You can also find out about other portable devices (laptops and cellphones).
I am, duh, a Kindle user so I have to wait until later this year for a compatible format but I am so excited I thought it was worth sharing!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our library's website. There is tons of info there! Plus resources and links for other things in our community.
http://www.erielibrary.org/

Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay Saga)

2011-08-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay Saga #1)
By Nora Roberts
Released January 1, 1998
Fiction/Romance
$7.99 Paperback or $7.99 Kindle http://www.amazon.com/

Nora Roberts is new to me. For a long time I had a self imposed ban on reading gushy romance novels. Roberts, to me, was the "queen" of that genre. Last year though, I started reading her titles written under J.D. Robb (the Detective Eve Dallas series). I really enjoy those books. They are very gritty and sexy. Very different than this book.
I checked out "Sea Swept" from the library after I was given the third books in this saga. I read the flap of the book and thought, "Hmm...sounds okay." I can't stand reading a series out of order though, so that particular books still sits on my shelf.
I will say that Nora Roberts deserves to be the queen of this type of fiction, and this time I say it with the utmost respect. I may have started with "Sea Swept" but I have since burned through four of her novels. I heart Nora Roberts.
In this book, we meet the Quinn Brothers. Family by adoption. They love each other as much as blood brothers though. All three boys were raised by Mr. and Mrs. Quinn in Chesapeake after each came there from different circumstances. The boys have since grown up and moved on to chosen careers in Chesapeake and around the world. The sudden death of their father (their mother passed away a few years before) brings them all back to the Quinn family house. Once there, the brothers discover a new addition to the family. A young boy named Seth, who Mr. Quinn was in the process of adopting before he died of suspicious circumstances.
The story centers around the oldest (and wildest), Cam, and his relationship with all of his brothers, especially young Seth who he now finds in his care. The family works on dealing with their father's death and the cause of it as well as trying to adopt Seth. Enter social worker Anna. Her job is to make sure they are fit foster family for Seth. Cam's story flows into his love affair with this woman.
Romance novels are great summertime fun. Light and fluffy; this book doesn't disappoint. It's a sweet tale that made me sigh ......and wanna love all over my own man.
I have already put the next book in this series on hold at my local library.Can't wait!

Do I recommend it: Yes- perfect for the beach!
But: No butts!
Bonus: Go to http://www.noraroberts.com/ for free stuff!!!