So much for keeping up!

Well, I haven’t been great at keeping up with this, but I also haven’t been great at reading!

I did read two more of the Pink Carnation Series – The Seduction of the Crimson Rose and The Deception of the Emerald Ring.  They were good books, still the same great suck-you-in writing, but I think they are slightly losing their charm.  There is one more book out and I know I will read it, but I am not looking forward to it as much.

I have read the first book in The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.  I had heard several really good reviews about this book but, I had the hardest time getting into it.  The first half of the book is spent catching the reader up on the background of Mma. Ramotswe.   While this is important to the story, it was crazy boring.  Once I got into the present day of the book and Mma. Ramotswe started actually taking cases the book really picked up.  I am looking forward to reading the next book.

I finally finished reading Whistling in the Dark.  It ended up being a very good book.  I had such a hard time with this book and only forced myself to finish reading it because I did want to know what happened.  The last 100 pages actually brought the story together very well.  I am still trying to figure out if this is a book that I would recommend.  I am guessing if I have to think about it that would be a no!

I broke down and read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.  It was a pretty good book.  I am not sure if I am going to read the rest in the series.  I think had I never read Bridget Jones’ Diary I would have liked this book more.  It just seemed like the poor girl’s Bridget to me.

I am not actually reading anything at the moment, but I think on deck is the next Ladies Detective book, possibly Anne of Green Gables – I have never read them, unbelievable, I know.  Someone at work lent the first two to me and I haven’t got to them yet.  I know that both Jaspar Fforde and Diana Gabaldon have books coming out this fall/winter and I am highly anticipating those books!!!!

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

I am currently reading the Ya-Ya Sisterhood book.  It’s strange because I am enjoying the story, but I find myself struggling to get through the book.  It feels like it is taking me forever to read it, but, like I do with books I am enjoying, I reflect on the story when I stop reading.  I am thinking about the characters and what is going on and what I think is going to happen and analyzing every little bit.  And yet, I am still struggling while I am actually reading it.  I have never experienced this before and don’t really know what to think about it!  Any thoughts?

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

LOVED IT!!!  I had seen the movie years ago and loved it.  I did not know that it was based on a  book until this summer.  It took me awhile to read  because I was only reading it when I went to the doc’s to get my shots.  I loved the way it was told.  It  bounced back in forth between present and past with such ease, I never had a problem keeping up.  I was sad when the book was over.  I was not ready for the story to be over.

Forever in Blue: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I read this during the summer, maybe early spring.  Loved it.  I love these books.  I might go back and read these again soon.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I was housesitting Thursday night and had brought a book along to read, but it wasn’t doing the trick.  I skimmed the bookshelves and found The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I read this book in one sitting!  I thought it was great.  I loved how the story followed the four characters, separately, but they were really together at every turn.

Gift Card Day

I went to B&N today and spent the gift card that C gave me!! Loads of fun! Here’s what I came home with:
1. The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde – It’s the first book in his Nursery Crime Series.
2. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare – I read this book in middle school and recall absolutely loving it. It is a Newberry award winner, too. Misha and I were talking about The Crucible the other night, thanks to Jeopardy!, and it made me remember this book. I got it to read again and find out if it is still as great as I remember!
3. A collection of Alexandre Dumas novels – The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Man in the Iron Mask. – I have read The Three Musketeers, but not the other two. I have seen all of the movies and have wanted these books for quite some time.
4. The Canterbury Tales – Another collection that I have wanted for a long time!
5. Two gardening magazines
6. A Mother’s Day Tote – which I am not sure I am really going to give to my mother, or keep for myself. I LOVE tote bags!

I’d say it was a good day!

Barnes & Noble

For housesitting for her, C bought me a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble – She said it was to support my “book fetish!”

Update

Well, I still haven’t had much time to be reading. I am pretty close to done Lord John, but last week when I was in the hospital I started The Well of Lost Plots. It’s pretty good. I will be away at training next week and should have plenty of time to finish both books! Yeah, me!

The Well of Lost Plots

I am almost done Lord John. I haven’t had much time to read this week.

Last night, I was killing some time in Barnes and Noble, waiting on Misha, and this time they had The Well of Lost Plots, the 3rd book in the Thursday Next series. I am pretty excited. It is hard for me not to start reading it, but I am going to finish Lord John first!

Starting the update

Alright here we go.  Remember this is just what is on my shelf!

Currently Reading:

1,000 Places to See Before You Die (Softcover)- I received this book for my birthday in 2007.  I continue to pick it up and read bits from it.

Dean Koontz – Velocity (borrowed)- I started reading this book over Christmas and would have finished it, but I made the mistake of picking other books that grabbed me more!

Irish Girls About Town (Hardcover)- A collection of short stories from various female Irish authors.  I just pick this book and read a story or two.  Some have been very good and others I think are just page fillers!

Diana Gabaldon – Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (Hardcover)- I just started reading this last night.  Pretty good.  I like the Lord John books, but they just bide my time until there is a new Jamie and Claire book!

To Be Read:

Dan Brown – Angels and Demons(Hardcover)- I read The DaVinci Code and really liked it. Shirl had this book for awhile so it got put on the back burner!

Helen Fielding – Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination (Hardcover)- I went book crazy one day!  I really liked Bridget Jones so I am hoping to like this as well.

Diana Gabaldon – Lord John and the Hand of the Devils (Hardcover)- I had just bought LJ and the Brotherhood of the Blade when I found this book.  I guess Ms. Gabaldon has been spending more time on LJ’s story than Jamie and Claire’s.  That’s fine, I will read them, too!

Jane Green – Babyville (Softcover)- I have read several Jane Green books, so this one was bought just because! 

Rudy Guiliani – Leadership (Hardcover)- This was my mom’s book and I thought I was going to read it and I haven’t.  I am not sure if I will at this point, but it is there!

Laura Pittman – The Power of the Three (Hardcover)- I have been wanting to read Pittman because she is a Baltimore girl, writing about Baltimore.  I love reading books about places that I know and love.  Also, a friend, who is a literary bug, raved about her!

Laura Pittman – What the Dead Know (Hardcover)- See above!

Edward Rutherford – The Rebels of Ireland (Hardcover)- I listened to Rutherford’s first novel on CD.  I look forward to delving into it.

William Shakespeare – Everything not listed in the “What I have read” section!

Nicholas Sparks – Message in a Bottle (borrowed) – I can’t bring myself to read Sparks after having read The Notebook.  I cried so much and I have not wanted to do that to myself again!

Nicholas Sparks – Night in Rodanthe (borrowed)- See above.

Nicholas Sparks – The Rescue (borrowed) – See above.

J.R.R. Tolkein – The Lord of the Rings Series (borrowed) – Started it one day, but was reading Harry Potter and this just didn’t compare for me!  I will try again soon!

Books I’ve Read:

Neal Boortz – Someone’s Gotta Say It- I love listening to Boortz on the radio – but reading what sounds just like his radio script – Not so much!

Dan Brown – The DaVinci Code – Loved it!  Still haven’t seen the movie.

Celtic Magic (Softcover)- A book about the beliefs of Old World Celts.

Mary Higgins Clark – Pretend You Don’t See Her (Hardcover) – I have read several of MHC’s books and stopped reading them because they all seemed the same.  I really don’t remember what this one was about!

Patricia Cornwell – Cause of Death (Hardcover)

Charles Dickens – Great Expectations (Softcover) – A high school read that I really enjoyed.  I need to go back and read it again!

Helen Fielding – Bridget Jones’ Diary (Softcover) – I LOVED this book!  I read it in one day laying on the beach! ( I think in Jacksonville, but I won’t swear to that)

                          Bridge Jones: The Edge of Reason – A great follow up to BJD.

F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby (Softcover) – I read this book in the 11th grade and have probably  read it 11 times since then!  My copy needs to be replaced!

Jasper Fforde – The Eyre Affair (Softcover) – If you love literature this is a MUST read!

                         Lost in a Good Book (Softcover) – Second in the Thursday Next series.  I enjoyed it even more than The Eyre Affair!

Diana Gabaldon – Outlander Series (a mix, but want all in Hardcover)- These are the best books I have ever read.  When I read about Jamie and Claire I feel as if I am there.  It probably helps that I believe that Jamie could have been Misha in a previous life!

                            Lord John and the Private Matter (Hardcover)- A sub-series of Outlander, not as enthralling as Outlander, but it will tide a girl over!

Jane Green – Bookends (Hardcover)- Eh, is all I have to say.

                     Jemima J (released into the wild via bookcrossing) – This was the first Jane Green book I read and I thought it was fabulous.  Nothing has been as great to date. 

John Grisham – I read all of Grisham’s novels up to The Chamber, I started that one and couldn’t finish it.  I think most of my Grisham’s are on my mom’s shelf.  The only one I have is The Street Lawyer.  However, A Time to Kill is my favorite!

Sean Hannity – Let Freedom Ring (Hardcover) – I love Hannity, but I enjoy him more on the radio than in print!

Kate Harper – The Last Boleyn (Hardcover)- Loved it!!

Dean Koontz – The Watchers (borrowed) – I just read this book a few months ago.  The women at work could not believe I had not read this and so I borrowed it.  While it was a good book, it was a one time reader for me.  C was slightly disappointed in me because she is on her 2nd or 3rd copy of the book!

Harper Lee – To Kill A Mockingbird – A true classic.  We read this in middle school and I still enjoy it.

Steve Martini – The Attorney (Hardcover)- I think this was good, but I really don’t remember it all that much!

Bill O’Reilly – Who’s Looking Out For You - It was okay.

Perri O’Shaughnessy – Promise- Pretty good crime drama.  Perri is the psuedonym of two sisters, Mary and Pamela, that write together. 

                                    Unfit to Practice – another crime drama.

James Patterson – Up until 2003 or 2004 I had read all of Patterson’s books.  Most were my mom’s and are still on her shelf!  These are mine:  Cat & Mouse, Hide & Seek, The Midnight Club, Roses are Red, Step on a Crack, The Women’s Murder Club Series 1-5.  The sixth and seventh books are out, but I haven’t read them yet.

Philip Pullman – His Deadly Materials Series (borrowed)- I started reading these when I saw the first premiere sometime last summer.   I was already on the 3rd book when all the controversy surrounding the books started.  Let me just say – IT’S FICTION and I LOVED IT!

Mario Puzo – The Family(Hardcover)- Awesome if you love Mario Puzo or ganster type stuff!

J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter Series(Hardcover)- Do I really need to say anything about them?  I will read these books over and over for as long as I can see.  I can’t wait to have children to share them with!

William Shakespeare – We read a lot of Shakespeare in high school and I was one of the few dorks that loved it!  I have since read some on my own.  I have 2 copies of the complete works – so I need to get reading.  What I have read so far – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (my fave so far), Hamlet, MacBeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, and a few of the sonnets and poems.

J.R.R. Tolkein – The Hobbit (Softcover)- I read this book in middle school.  I would probably need to re-read it to remember everything.