True Love for Books

A Book You Hated

2016-10-05T13:57:00.001-07:00

Day 11

Hate is a wasted feeling and a very strong word. So I don't use it very often and definitely not directed towards a book. So a book that I really did not like was one that I picked up because I enjoyed the movie so much. Usually it's the other way around, eh?
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman Now the movie was cute and intense and I really enjoyed it. Sweet romance with some witchcraft thrown in. Book has to be good too right? Wrong. I could not even finish the book. If I remember correctly it was nothing at all like the movie and even had a healthy dose of incest in it. At least that is how I remember it. I put if down fairly quickly and chose to forget about it just as quickly so as to not let it ruin the movie for me. I have also picked up some other Alice Hoffman books and really do not like her writing. It does happen. LOL.

A Book That Reminds You Of Home

2016-10-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

Day 10

I don't know if there is one. At least not a fiction one. I grew up in a small (at the time) fishing village called Steveston on the mouth of the Fraser River. It was small and quaint and the type of place, in the 80's anyways, where not everyone locked their doors. Our neighbor next door and across the ditch lined road were all fishermen. The other neighbor was a fireman. I could safely walk to the park behind out house to play and later on watch baseball games. The small library was walking distance too. It was small and quiet and the old elementary school still had an air raid siren tower. I remember it going off once randomly. They took it down shortly after. The cannery was where many people worked and you always knew who did. They smelled of fish. And the days that the smell from the cannery itself was extra strong were the days we jokingly said the cannery was working overtime. The smell never bothered me. It was home.
We walked down to Garry Point after school, which was for so long just a giant pile of sand. We were told not to play on it as some kids had been smothered in it. All the sand eventually did its job of filling the marshy land and there is a park there now. When we were older we would find dead crabs on the beaches and pose them on driftwood with cigarettes in their mouths. Once I remember finding a dead dog in the water. It was the smell that led me to it.
Ah, childhood memories. Growing up in the 80's was a good time I think. For the most part it was safe. Although I do distinctly remember my parents asking me if i had ever been approached by a stranger. I hadn't. Not then. Later a naked man in a car would stop next to me and my friend and honk, making sure we got an eyeful. Clifford Olson dumped a body in the river off the Dyke once. I remember that too. Hence the stranger question and stern warnings from my parents. I remember being a little bit scared at that but for the most part my little village was a safe cocoon around me and my youth. Safe and secure. The only thing we had to deal with were bullies at school. I still miss it. If it was the same, if it hadn't grown up and become a tourist trap and too expensive to live in, I would still be there. I never did want to leave. But I did. You can go back, it just isn't the same. Except for the frozen in time bookstore, heehee.
There is a non-fiction book with lots of great photographs simply called Steveston. I have read it. It was cool and yes, did remind me of home.

A Book You Thought You Wouldn't Like But Ended Up Loving

2016-09-28T16:39:00.001-07:00

Day 9

So after just talking about how I don't usually cave to pressure to read a popular book if I am not interested, I did with this one. The Book Of Negroes by Lawrence Hill.
I was not interested in a torturous real-life story. I prefer to escape into a non-reality when I read. All the recommendations did not sway me until someone particular said, "yeah, you gotta read this". So I caved. It took me two days to read it and only because I had to sleep and work at some point. I did not want to put it down. The writing was amazing, the view-point all consuming and believable. The story.... torturous but...written in such a way it was poetic somehow.

I read a library copy and then had to buy my own copy. But with this book, I did not just order it online or purchase it. I waited for over a year until I found a used copy that someone else had also read and experienced. For whatever reason my geeky brain had in mind, I wanted to have another readers tears and angst within the book. To know that someone else had read this copy that I now owned. It sits on my Shelf of Honour.

Most Overrated Book

2016-09-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Day 8

This is an easy one for me. I was intrigued by the story behind Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
I am never one to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is reading it. If it doesn't interest me I won't read it no matter how much you tell I should. But this one interested me. Had so much potential I thought. Blurb on back made me say ooh, sounds good. It wasn't. It sucked. I couldn't finish it. I have no idea what people were reading when they talk about this book and say, ooh wasn't it good? We could not have read the same book. I still think it sounds interesting when I read the back blurb, but no, it sucked. Sucked donkeys in fact. Needless to say, I did not even try the others in the series. Nor did I watch the movie.
You asked. I answered. Bluntly perhaps but I answered.

A Book That Makes You Laugh

2016-09-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

Day 7

I should have read through these before I started as I am repeating myself a lot.
Laughter makes me happy so I basically answered this one in Day 5.
Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett makes me laugh out loud every time. As does Janet Evanvich's Stephanie Plum series. My fave of hers is Three To Get Deadly. Total laugh out loud. And of course my book I am writing currently makes me laugh as I am hilarious. Ha! See!

A Book That Makes You Sad

2016-09-18T14:58:00.002-07:00

Day 6

I was sad reading The Shepherds Crown knowing it was Pratchett's last book. But not because of the story.
I still haven't got over the death of Dobby in Harry Potter. I cried so hard. LOL. Stupid house elf. So I guess that would be it. That made me pretty sad.
That is the only one that really stands out for me. I felt more desperate than sad at the end of Kresley Cole's Dead Of Winter. The end was left hanging wide open and I still can't find the fourth to buy and find out what happens! I am thinking there was some kind of publishing delay. Anyway, that is beside the point. Rambling.
Harry Potter it is. Poor Dobby. :(

A Book That Makes You Happy

2016-09-04T14:19:00.001-07:00

Day 5
If I am reading than I am happy. It doesn't really matter what I am reading, just as long as I am. Assuming I cannot say Wee Free Men again, then it would have to be the book I am writing. When I read it and see the story taking shape, it makes me happy. Otherwise Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series makes me happy as it makes me laugh out loud pretty hard. And laughter is a happy thing. So there.

Fave Book of My Fave Series

2016-08-31T14:13:00.002-07:00

Day 4 it is.
Reminder my fave series is the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett. I am going to have to go with the first in the series as my fave, Wee Free Men. It is where we first meet the Nac Mac Feegles and it is just a hoot. Cracks me up every time. The second in the series I Shall Wear Midnight is probably my second fave. Gotta love those Nac Mac Feegles. And that is all I have to say about that.

Used Bookshops

2016-08-29T15:58:00.001-07:00

Not related at all to my 30 day book challenge, I must comment on my recent trip to my favourite used bookshop. I grew up in Steveston, BC. It is no longer the quaint little fishing village it once was and instead is a tourist trap where they film the TV show Once Upon A Time. But the one thing that has not changed, even a little bit, is the used bookshop Steveston Bookstore. I remember going in as a small child with my Mom pretty much every week. It was then owned my a lady who I remember was grumpy to "us kids" when I went in as a teenager with my friends. I never cared as I was too shy and quiet to ever do anything wrong and wanted to buy and peruse the dusty old books more than anything. The store was bought out by a lovely couple who rearranged it to suit them and it has not changed since. I love this. I love that I can go in and count on everything being where it should be and the owners being so nice and remembering me even though I don't live there anymore. The store is stuffed full of wonderful old books and it is just as a proper bookshop should be.
My kids now peruse the kids section and I always hit the horror section first. I can count on Stephen King being on the shelves and more than likely I will find a Stephen King British edition (it's all about the cover). I have made myself stop collecting them but the ones I have still sit proudly on my Books of Honour Shelf. LOL
It is worth the drive and remains my fave.

After saying that, my second fave bookstore, previously held by the used bookshop in Hope, BC, has been bumped to third and replaced by Mom's Book Bin in Campbell River, BC. It is a good size, has a great variety and as a bookstore should, it is stacked properly, shelves crowded and in the midst of being organized and added to. I loved it. Both times I was there (cash only peeps) I met different ladies, both who informed me they were not the owner so I still don't know who the owner is. But nonetheless, they have a wonderful bookstore and I will make sure to return next time I am on the Island. I found a Stephen King I did not have and 3 in a series that I have found to be hard to find as well as 2 young adults that look to be cool. Check it out. Well worth the stop for both.

Steveston Bookstore, Steveston, BC
Mom's Book Bin, Campbell River, BC
and the name eludes me at the moment but the used bookstore in Hope, BC. It's around the corner from the Pharmasave

Your Favourite Series

2016-08-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

I read a shit-load of series books. But my ultimate fave would have to be Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series within the Discworld series. I absolutely loved every single book in the series and love the characters so much. The first in the series is called Wee Free Men and introduces a young Tiffany Aching who works very hard on her fathers farm making cheese. She is a great cheese maker and her Granny is the areas best sheep herder. And more. Soon (my ultimate fave) the Nac Mac Feegles (tiny, fierce, blue tattooed men with a strong hint of Scot) are introduced and Tiffany's world grows. The rest of the books show Tiffany deciding to train as a witch under Granny Weatherwax (another fave). All the characters are so well developed and easy to picture. The humour is great and guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. I do admit the British side of me comes out in my sense of humour and Pratchett is one of the best. The series has ended with The Shepherd's Crown being the last after Terry Pratchett's death. But once you read the series, you will be happy to find many of the other characters like Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg in their own stories in the Discworld series. They are equally as delightful.

Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith
I Shall Wear Midnight
The Shepherd's Crown

Check 'em out!

A Book You've Read More Than Three Times

2016-08-28T14:32:00.001-07:00

Better late than never.
Survivor by Tabitha King
Obviously an awesome story or I wouldn't have read it so many times. Re-read every year for awhile there. Always got something new out of it and a better understanding of the main character as I aged as well. Unfortunately I was stuck with a litter of kittens at one point and a kitten peed on my copy. Sigh. Still looking for another.
Another multiple re-read worth mentioning is Fiona Range by Mary McGarry Morris. Found the story fascinating and the main character fascinating as well. Do believe I need to read again soon as I will once again find a different outlook in my old age. Oddly enough both stories are about a young woman maturing and finding herself through life and its many challenges. Dealt with poorly or very well depending on the circumstances. Makes you feel not so alone in your own decisions poor or otherwise.
Another I have re-read since I was a kid is Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes.
Always a tear jerker and the last time I read it I understood the mom a little bit better this time around, being a mom myself. I still love the main character Davy and her struggles with her Dads murder, maturing, crappy distant family and a new relationship. Saw the movie a couple of years ago they made on Netflix. Just fell upon it as I hadn't even known they had made the movie. Do believe Judy Blume had a hand in it so she probably approved. It wasn't bad for a book to movie but as always, the book remains the best.
So that is three books not one but hey, fellow book lovers know there is always more than one, eh.

I Accept - 30 Day Book Challenge

2016-08-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

Title says all I do believe. So lets dive right in shall we?
Day 1
Best book you read last year?

Million Dollar Road by Amy Conner
Picked this up on a Chapters bargain table, I do believe and it was a winner! Was pleasantly surprised to find delightful writing and well developed characters. It is a story of a young girl in the sticks of Louisiana who gets a much needed job at an alligator farm down the road from her home. She longs to escape the swamps of Louisiana but her dreams seem unreachable. Her new boss takes an inappropriate liking to her and as she matures so does his obsession with her. Everything happens for a reason though, doesn't it?
Read it. I found it a refreshing change and made my longing to visit Louisiana greater. One of the very few states I wish to visit. You learn a bit about alligators as well and hey, who can't use a little more knowledge, eh?
So there ya have it. Best book I read last year.

Arcana Chronicles

2016-08-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

So I have been reading Kresley Cole books for awhile now. Her demon series is delightfully smutty and I adore the majority of the characters. Her writing style has the characters growing and evolving and not portrayed as unchanging, cardboard cutout characters. I was aware she wrote a YA series (Arcana Chronicles) as well as her adult demon series but I did not really feel a pull to consume them. At least until the moment I had ran out of her books to read and found the first in the Arcana Chronicles on sale. I said what the hell, I enjoy her writing, they are probably good. Well, good is an understatement. I devoured the first book like a woman would a beer after being stuck in a dry county for too long. It was delightful and suspenseful and I fell in love with the characters. I ordered the next two online, devoured them equally and am now in a impatient wait for the next. Which shouldn't be much longer now, actually. Due out this month. So, give 'er a go. As like Harry Potter, you will forget you are reading a YA, if that kind of thing bothers you, and you will delight in the story and be forced to wait in suspense until you can get your greedy little paws on the next book. But it will be worth it. Enjoy. PS the first book is called Poison Princess.

Dan Wells

2015-06-20T21:18:00.001-07:00

So I was told to check out a YouTube video on writing that Dan Wells did. As I was in the process of doing so I discovered that I have one of his books in my bookshelf. I Am Not A Serial Killer it is called. So I promptly pulled it out and added it to the top of my to read pile. No better way to see how he writes than read one of his books I would say. I will let you know what I think.

Guilty pleasure

2015-06-20T21:13:00.001-07:00

So the last little bit I discovered Fan Fiction. Which is people writing stories on existing characters from varying tv shows. For example Supernatural, Arrow etc. I am a fan of Once Upon A Time. I initially started watching it because it is filmed in my hometown. I thought the first season was cute and worth watching another. Then they introduced a character that made me do a double take. Captain Hook. My my. Needles to say I am hooked. Pun intended. I discovered this fan fiction by accident and and was quite surprised to see some of the writing is quite good. I have delved into two fan writers that write about the Captain Hook Emma Swan relationship. Deep down I am still a romantic at heart and have stayed up all night a few times now sobbing and quickly swiping through chapters on my iPad. I imagine it is because we already know the characters so well that it is so easy to delve so deeply into the story. I have been enjoying them immensely and even made myself NOT start a new story last night as I knew it meant I would be up all night again. I love when my thirst cannot be quenched and I long for more. Fan fiction. Google it. It's a cool concept.

Terry Pratchett

2015-03-13T22:03:00.001-07:00

Well, well, well. So I am not dead just different in most ways. But I still love books, of course. So let's talk about what's important shall we. Yesterday I was quite saddened to hear Terry Pratchett died. He has become my fave author this past year and I have enjoyed many many a chuckle thanks to him. I know he was ill so I imagine he may not have been upset himself about passing. But I shall miss him. Thankfully I have not read all his books so have the pleasure of continuing to enjoy them.

I started with Wee Free Men, the first in the Tiffany Aching series. It remains my fave series. The Nac McFeegles are epic little tattooed blue men and quite possibly the funniest. I enjoy them the most and next the other witches that train Tiffany. Granny Weather Wax and Nanny Ogg are such well developed characters and the more you read about them the more you feel you know them. I have read about half their series and look forward to more. I do believe Mr. Pratchett finished the last in the Tiffany Aching series and it should be due to come out soon. I sure hope so. Great minds never really die though do they? They continue on in their books for generations and stay in readers minds and hearts and memories. At least for true book geeks such as I anyway. If you appreciate fantasy or British humour give the discworld series a go. Wee Free Men is in the Discworld as well as the Tiffany Aching. Awesome would be the word. That is all for now

Re-Read

2012-08-24T12:21:00.001-07:00

SO as usual I have been crazy busy. Did manage to get more reading than usual in though as when I was at school I had quiet time at night to read when I wasnt going over everything in my head. So I got 2 books read and am currently re-reading The Shining as Stephen King has a sequel coming out for the new year. I was very happy to finally read Chuck Wendig's Blackbirds and really enjoyed it. Was even happier to discover there is a sequel to it as well. Gotta find it and buy it soon. The Shining is almost like I havent read it, it has been so long. I flash back more to the movie they made than the first time I read the book. I know Stephen King was not that fond of the movie they made so I am trying not to do that. Hope to finish it before I once again have to time. Wish me luck, haha.

Figures

2012-06-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

So I cruise Goodreads to check out new books that are out there, new authors etc. I also check out the giveaways and enter to win ones I would like to read and are interested in. I have won 2 and done reviews for them and it was fun. That was a fair bit ago. Now that I am busy and studying for work and have no time to read, I get three emails pretty much back to back saying that I have won a book from Goodreads and I will recieve it soon. This is super awesome and I am very excited of course. I just am not sure when I am going to have time to read them! LOL. Always the way right? Not that I am complaining at all, don't get me wrong. I love a free book. Oh and my good friend stopped in the other day as well with 2 books for me she says are a must for me to read. Whew. Reading pressure! LOL JK Gotta love it.

Study

2012-06-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

So I am still ever so slowly reading Chuck Wendig's book Blackbirds. I had been looking for one of his books for quite awhile when I saw Blackbirds at Chapters. First line of chapter 1 hooked me and I added it to my pile. I love his humour and follow his blog and facebook page. He cracks me up man. Unicorns shitting rainbows or something or other, his mind is unique and slightly scary. I love that, LOL. So even though I am enjoying the read as much as I am I am also studying at the same time and feel guilty reading anything else. So if I make it to bed I read maybe a chapter. I am such a fast reader that it always bugs me when it takes me so long to read a book. I just have no time. So many books, so little time.

Best Friends

2012-05-23T14:39:00.001-07:00

I just have to step away from the subject of books for a moment and talk about best friends. I have a best friend from college that I am pretty sure I would not be here without. She has been with me through my best times, my worst times, my stupidest times, never judged me, never stopped loving me, just been there for me and I her. We have watched each other make mistakes that we wished we could have prevented and that almost destroyed us. But we have never faltered in our love for each other and that is something rare, no matter what anyone says. I have never really found anyone else like that other than my husband and possibly my mom. Unlike what many books say, real friends are a rarity. I love knowing that I have no fear that she will judge me. I know when she won't understand but that is ok and share with her anyway. Because she may not get it, but she will still accept me for me. I love that. I wish we could be closer distance wise, but I value our friendship more than she could ever know. I love that I can always be myself with her no matter what, I never have to worry that she will think I am stupid or wrong or sinful, to her I am just me and to me she is just her. I don't usually have a problem accepting people for who they are, good or bad, but I seem to be one of the few. So when you find that person who loves you even when you have puke in your hair for example or whatever, lol, hold on to em. Give your friend a hug and just love them for them and enjoy.

Busy

2012-05-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

It is not so much that I need more time in the day but that I need more energy to get everything done in the day. I read at night to help stop my brain from thinking but that is the only time I have to read anymore. I should be studying, I should be cleaning, I should be working.... It doesn't end. I don't spend as much time studying my bible either and that bothers me too. Maybe it is that I need more hours in the day, lol.

Missing book, found book

2012-05-08T10:28:00.002-07:00

So now I have even more books on the go at the same time then usual. I temporarily lost the one I was reading so reluctantly started another. Now I found the lost one and my dilemma is that they are both good. One is a horror and the other is a romance. I haven't read romance in ages and I always love horror. If this was the biggest issue in my life right now I would be happy, LOL. I have been wanting to read Chuck Wendig for awhile now. I follow him on FB because a friend recommended him and his humour kills me everytime. I love his creative use of language. I tried to find his book Irregular Creatures with no luck but found the latest, Blackbirds. It is a horror about a girl who can see your death if she has skin contact with you. She hitches a ride with a trucker and sees herself related to his death. This one is different. This one is not a natural death, this one is a murder, this one is because of her. So I started the book and am liking it so far. Just wish I had more time to read. Although admittedly, I have been so hyper lately I have been doing other things when I do have time for myself. I am painting again and writing as well and hope to actually finish something this time, LOL. With the warmer weather coming, staying inside is always hard for me and I am working on my greenhouse again this year. So if I complete one project I will be happy. Completion can be an issue, LOL

New Genre

2012-04-24T18:41:00.001-07:00

So I went to peruse Chapters.ca the other day and one of their current bestsellers is Fifty Shades of Grey. Being a bestseller means nothing to me as there have been so many crappy bestsellers. (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo would be a perfect example) hehehe. Anyway, I checked it out and found it surprising that this particular genre would be on the bestsellers. It is in romance but is clearly an erotic novel with some BDSM. I have not read an entire novel like this before and it is not usually my taste but found it intriguing. It is a trilogy and I am currently reading the first one. So far there isn't really any BDSM and I am liking the characters alot. I pride myself on my open mind and recently have found myself researching Shibari which is the Japanese rope bondage. It doesn't always have to be related to BDSM but it often is. I find the knots so cool and beautiful. Getting off topic here,,,, so I am liking the first book so far. I kind of relate to the main character a little bit but only in the fact that she is a klutz. Lol. I have not been reading lately hardly at all so this is the most I have read in months. Not sure why. Been feeling my age and possibly going through pre-menopause. Which I am not happy about. I don't even want to research it. Another unusual thing for me. And again off topic. Picked up some other books that should be very intriguing and funny as well. So my stack has once again grown. Lets so if I can make a dent in it soon.

Belle Starr

2012-02-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

So there was a story in this western book I am reading about a woman named Belle Starr. She was a bad ass chick from the wild west days that gave the men a run for their money that's for sure. I totally enjoyed reading her story and was excited to learn that there are more books written about her. Looks like I may have a hard time finding them but I am going to try my best. I had never heard of her before and was very pleased to hear about a woman who was just as wild as the men back in the day and kicked her share of ass. But thats just me. LOL. Check her out.

Western

2012-02-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

So I was given a cool western book by a friend who said it is the best western ever. I read a few on Billy the Kid and Jesse James etc that I really enjoyed so I am looking forward to this one. Leaving Missouri was a real good western too. I still have that one as it should be a good re-read someday. My Granny read lots of westerns and had all the Louis L'Amour books. I still think of her and always go to look for her when I see westerns. She liked Perry Mason mysteries too. I miss her alot. She was very cool and had the best sense of humour. Anyway, looking forward to reading a western for a change.