I am not even sure how many books I've read in the last 41 days since I last wrote here. I have been extremely busy with the kids, my 2 jobs and a visit from my brother-in-law and his family. It's spring in North Carolina and I am excited to be spending more time outside with the kids, and less time on the couch. That being said, I have a long list of books that I've completed since Water for Elephants...and here it is:
Dead as a Doornail (#5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series) by Charlaine Harris
Summer at Willow Lake (#1 in the Lakeshore Chronicles) by Susan Wiggs
The Winter Lodge (#2 Lakeshore Chronicles) by Susan Wiggs
Undercover in High Heels (#3 High Heels series) by Gemma Halliday
Alibi in High Heels (#4 High Heels series) by Gemma Halliday
Mayhem in High Heels (#5 High Heels series0 by Gemma Halliday
The Demon Girl by Penelope Fletcher (can't wait for #2 to come out this summer)
I think that might be it! Can you tell I like to read series? I'm surprised that the list is so long, given my hectic schedule the last 6 weeks. I'm currently reading Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1) by Amanda Hocking. I'm less than 100 pages into it, but so far, I'm intrigued. Hopefully it picks up soon and really hooks me!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Water for Elephants
I read this book for a couple of reasons. First of all, my best friend recommended it quite highly and reminded me it was only $4.99 on barnesandnoble.com for the Nookbook. Secondly, the movie is about to come out, with Robert Pattinson playing the lead role of Jacob. Inevitabley, my best friend and I will be among the first people with our butts in a movie theater seat waiting to watch this movie, and she is going to want to talk about the book. So I decided it was in my best interest to go ahead and read it, even though I typically prefer to see the movie first, and then read the book.
I have to say that I enjoyed the book, but hope they take some creative liberties with the movie. There were times in the book where I found myself getting a little bit bored. Picturing Jacob as Robert Pattinson usually helped me pull through it though! The last 75 or so pages were great! I just couldn't put it down. I also really enjoyed the note from the author at the end. It's always nice to know what parts of a historical book are real, and where those stories came from.
The best thing about this book for me was that you could actually imagine what it was like to be in a travelling circus during the depression. The details were vivid and I feel like Gruen did a great job at filling in the holes that other authors might have left empty. I do wish we got to see a little more of the storyline between Jacob and Marlena though. It's nice that we know what happened to them, but I would have liked to read at least some of it from Jacob's point of view, as we did the rest of the book.
In reading the questions for book club discussions at the end of the book, I learned that one layer of the story follows the book of Jacob from the Bible. I am not a religious person, so I did not make that connection, but I'd love to hear from any of you who did realize that. Maybe you can fill me in!
The best thing about this book for me was that you could actually imagine what it was like to be in a travelling circus during the depression. The details were vivid and I feel like Gruen did a great job at filling in the holes that other authors might have left empty. I do wish we got to see a little more of the storyline between Jacob and Marlena though. It's nice that we know what happened to them, but I would have liked to read at least some of it from Jacob's point of view, as we did the rest of the book.
In reading the questions for book club discussions at the end of the book, I learned that one layer of the story follows the book of Jacob from the Bible. I am not a religious person, so I did not make that connection, but I'd love to hear from any of you who did realize that. Maybe you can fill me in!
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
I finally read book #4 in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead to the World. I would probably have read the entire series by now if I had them all on my Nook. Unfortunately, I borrowed the books for the rest of the series in paperback, and I keep forgetting that I have them. When I finish a book on my Nook, I tend to start another one right away...so the rest of this series may have to wait a bit. The good news is that it's only going to be a a few more months before True Blood is back on TV! That alone will encourage me to keep reading!
So I enjoyed this book, mostly because I already know that Sookie doesn't end up with Bill, so I was happy to see her and Eric finally connect. I had been forewarned by my friends that this book was one of their favorites because of the sex scenes between Sookie and Eric. Now if you're looking for a lengthy, explicit sex scene, you need to find a romance novel. Charlaine Harris gets the job done with few words and even fewer details. It works though, and the scenes in this book are no exception. I really hope to see a few of them play out in the TV series though. Alan Ball has the ability to give readers what they were missing in the books.
Aside from the short, vague love scenes, I feel like Harris leaves a lot of other stuff out of this book too. It is in this book that we meet witches for the first time, and I don't feel like she gave us enough description and background. That part of the book lacked depth and I really think the book could have been better if she had gone deeper with those characters and that plot line. I'm guessing that she kept it to a minimum to keep the book at a similar length to the previous books. I would have been much happier with a longer book that did a little more explaining.
That said, I did enjoy this book and look forward to book #5!
So I enjoyed this book, mostly because I already know that Sookie doesn't end up with Bill, so I was happy to see her and Eric finally connect. I had been forewarned by my friends that this book was one of their favorites because of the sex scenes between Sookie and Eric. Now if you're looking for a lengthy, explicit sex scene, you need to find a romance novel. Charlaine Harris gets the job done with few words and even fewer details. It works though, and the scenes in this book are no exception. I really hope to see a few of them play out in the TV series though. Alan Ball has the ability to give readers what they were missing in the books.
Aside from the short, vague love scenes, I feel like Harris leaves a lot of other stuff out of this book too. It is in this book that we meet witches for the first time, and I don't feel like she gave us enough description and background. That part of the book lacked depth and I really think the book could have been better if she had gone deeper with those characters and that plot line. I'm guessing that she kept it to a minimum to keep the book at a similar length to the previous books. I would have been much happier with a longer book that did a little more explaining.
That said, I did enjoy this book and look forward to book #5!
The High Heels Series by Gemma Halliday
The thing I loved about these books is I could totally see Katherine Heigl or Drew Barrymore playing the lead character in a romantic comedy movie based on the books. Her best friend would be someone like Cameron Diaz and the cop would be any really hunky Hollywood actor who could pull of a slight Spanish accent.
I haven't decided if I'm going to read the 3rd book in the series. While I enjoyed the first two, I am worried that the 3rd will be a little too predictable. My best friend already downloaded it to her Nook though, so I may ask her to "lend" it to me. I guess I'll let you know! :)
Catching Up
I've done quite a bit of reading in the last few weeks, but not a lot of writing. I find myself engulfed in other peoples' blogs and it takes away from my allotted writing time. I also seem to have a lot less allotted writing time these days, since my son is no longer going to preschool (financial decision) and I am now working 4-5 nights a week. I have a lot less down time!
Anyway, the books I've read since I last wrote here are (in no particular order):
Water for Elephants
Killer in High Heels (#1 in the High Heels series)
Spying in High Heels #2 in the High Heels series)
Club Dead (#4 in Sookie Stackhouse series)
Christmas Stalking
I really thought I had read more than that! Hmmm...I'm about 10 weeks/books behind where I should be. Time to buckle down! :)
I don't necessarily have a ton of things to say about each of these books, so I'm going to lump the obvious ones together in the next few posts. The book I am currently reading is Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's the book that followed Eat Pray Love and I'm having a tough time getting through it. It is nowhere near as interesting to me as its predecessor, but I am a little more than half way through, so I should be done soon.
Anyway, the books I've read since I last wrote here are (in no particular order):
Water for Elephants
Killer in High Heels (#1 in the High Heels series)
Spying in High Heels #2 in the High Heels series)
Club Dead (#4 in Sookie Stackhouse series)
Christmas Stalking
I really thought I had read more than that! Hmmm...I'm about 10 weeks/books behind where I should be. Time to buckle down! :)
I don't necessarily have a ton of things to say about each of these books, so I'm going to lump the obvious ones together in the next few posts. The book I am currently reading is Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's the book that followed Eat Pray Love and I'm having a tough time getting through it. It is nowhere near as interesting to me as its predecessor, but I am a little more than half way through, so I should be done soon.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
The 3rd book in the Sookie Stackhouse series is just as good as the first 2, and it's even more different from the show, True Blood, than the first 2 were.
What I like most about this book is Bubba, the vampire Elvis. It's totally cheesy, and funny at the same time. Supposedly he wasn't quite dead when he went to the morgue the night he "died," and the vampire on duty turned him. Unfortunately, the massive amount of drugs in his system made him a less than intelligent vampire, and he is traded between Areas to prevent him from returning to Graceland and causing a "sighting." They call him Bubba so he isn't constantly reminded of his human life.
In this book, Bubba is commissioned to protect Sookie, and he does just that. In the process, he kills a Were and hides him in the apartment where Sookie is staying, forcing her to hide the corpse. Like I said, it's a bit much, but it's kind of funny.
The other thing I love about this book is the way Sookie begins to move away from Bill, both emotionally and physically. While she still loves Bill, Sookie experiments with letting herself think about and feel for Alcide and Eric. She makes out with Alcide and fantasizes about going further, and then to third base with Eric! I like the way Harris wrote those scenes, but hope we'll see a little more description in later scenes.
What I like most about this book is Bubba, the vampire Elvis. It's totally cheesy, and funny at the same time. Supposedly he wasn't quite dead when he went to the morgue the night he "died," and the vampire on duty turned him. Unfortunately, the massive amount of drugs in his system made him a less than intelligent vampire, and he is traded between Areas to prevent him from returning to Graceland and causing a "sighting." They call him Bubba so he isn't constantly reminded of his human life.
In this book, Bubba is commissioned to protect Sookie, and he does just that. In the process, he kills a Were and hides him in the apartment where Sookie is staying, forcing her to hide the corpse. Like I said, it's a bit much, but it's kind of funny.
The other thing I love about this book is the way Sookie begins to move away from Bill, both emotionally and physically. While she still loves Bill, Sookie experiments with letting herself think about and feel for Alcide and Eric. She makes out with Alcide and fantasizes about going further, and then to third base with Eric! I like the way Harris wrote those scenes, but hope we'll see a little more description in later scenes.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Slacker Girl by Alexandra Koslow
I just happened upon this book when I was searching for more books by Sally Koslow, author of The Late Lamented Molly Marx. It sounded like just what I needed at the time, and I was right! I started with a sample downloaded to my Nook, and had to buy it immediately so that I could finish reading it. I couldn't put it down, and it took me less than 24 hours to read all 232 pages.
The best thing about this book is that it could be me and my best friend...if we lived in NYC in our late 20's and didn't have the families we have now! The slacker, Jane, is a lot like me. She really appreciates her leisure time, and plans her work life accordingly. I have more responsibilities than she does, but if I could, I would be her! She is also a little bit artistic (she embroiders, I sew), and she believes in the power of the universe. She has lots of friends, but one everyday friend (Rebecka) with whom she shares everything with. Together they are wild and unstoppable.
The banter between Jane and Rebecka is what really makes this book appeal to me! They tell each other everything, including when the other one is being a b*tch. They go out together, and help each other pick up men, like my best friend and I used to do. They help each other get over break-ups and re-focus on what's important, like drinking and having fun!
By the end of the book, the slacker, Jane, is no longer a slacker. She figures out that her current job (and her boss) is exactly what she needs to feel fulfilled. She basically receives all that she has been asking for from the universe, and in turn learns to stop asking. I have to say that that sounds like heaven to me! I would love to be so happy with the universe and the hand that it's dealt me, that I no longer felt the need to ask for help! I feel as lost as Jane does at the start of the book!
I definitely recommend this book for a fun, light hearted, easy read. However, there are several f-bombs throughout the book, and a hilarious passage describing the difference between a dick and an @sshole (page 72). So if that kind of stuff bothers you, you have been warned!
The best thing about this book is that it could be me and my best friend...if we lived in NYC in our late 20's and didn't have the families we have now! The slacker, Jane, is a lot like me. She really appreciates her leisure time, and plans her work life accordingly. I have more responsibilities than she does, but if I could, I would be her! She is also a little bit artistic (she embroiders, I sew), and she believes in the power of the universe. She has lots of friends, but one everyday friend (Rebecka) with whom she shares everything with. Together they are wild and unstoppable.
The banter between Jane and Rebecka is what really makes this book appeal to me! They tell each other everything, including when the other one is being a b*tch. They go out together, and help each other pick up men, like my best friend and I used to do. They help each other get over break-ups and re-focus on what's important, like drinking and having fun!
By the end of the book, the slacker, Jane, is no longer a slacker. She figures out that her current job (and her boss) is exactly what she needs to feel fulfilled. She basically receives all that she has been asking for from the universe, and in turn learns to stop asking. I have to say that that sounds like heaven to me! I would love to be so happy with the universe and the hand that it's dealt me, that I no longer felt the need to ask for help! I feel as lost as Jane does at the start of the book!
I definitely recommend this book for a fun, light hearted, easy read. However, there are several f-bombs throughout the book, and a hilarious passage describing the difference between a dick and an @sshole (page 72). So if that kind of stuff bothers you, you have been warned!
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Book 2 of the Sookie Stackhouse series was just as good as the first, but not what I was expecting. I hate to compare it to the HBO series True Blood, because I know the show is only loosely based on the books, but because I've seen seasons 1-3, I have no choice.
From the show, I expected the second book to be a lot more about the maenad, and the Fellowship of the Sun, but there was shockingly little about that in the book. I can finally see why my best friend gets so worked up about how much the show deviates from the books! Regardless, I still like the books, and the show, but for different reasons.
One of the things that I actually liked about this book is that you get to see the depth of Sookie's love for Bill. I know that for people that have read the entire series, that isn't necessarily a good thing. I know she ends up with Eric, but I like that she and Bill have a real relationship (as real as it can be between a vampire and a human).
Another thing that I liked is that Sookie's brother, Jason isn't involved with the Fellowship of the Sun. I always found that storyline kind of weird in the show. I was surprised how minimal Jason's role has been in the books so far. Similarly, I didn't like that the character of Godric/Godfrey was so minimalized in the book, and he was made out to be such an evil vampire. Now I'm curious if he will be explored in more detail in subsequent books, or if what we see of him in True Blood is all fabricated for the show.
This book was a good, fast read, and it made me want to read the next book in the series, Club Dead. It's already downloaded to my Nook, and is ready to go, after I finish Slacker Girl, by Alexandra Koslow.
From the show, I expected the second book to be a lot more about the maenad, and the Fellowship of the Sun, but there was shockingly little about that in the book. I can finally see why my best friend gets so worked up about how much the show deviates from the books! Regardless, I still like the books, and the show, but for different reasons.
One of the things that I actually liked about this book is that you get to see the depth of Sookie's love for Bill. I know that for people that have read the entire series, that isn't necessarily a good thing. I know she ends up with Eric, but I like that she and Bill have a real relationship (as real as it can be between a vampire and a human).
Another thing that I liked is that Sookie's brother, Jason isn't involved with the Fellowship of the Sun. I always found that storyline kind of weird in the show. I was surprised how minimal Jason's role has been in the books so far. Similarly, I didn't like that the character of Godric/Godfrey was so minimalized in the book, and he was made out to be such an evil vampire. Now I'm curious if he will be explored in more detail in subsequent books, or if what we see of him in True Blood is all fabricated for the show.
This book was a good, fast read, and it made me want to read the next book in the series, Club Dead. It's already downloaded to my Nook, and is ready to go, after I finish Slacker Girl, by Alexandra Koslow.
The Late Lamented Molly Marx, by Sally Koslow
I finally finished this book! It took over a month, but it wasn't because I wasn't into it. Things get crazy around here with the holidays and something has to be moved to the back burner, and that something was my reading. Never fear though, it is definitely back on the front burner!(See my last post about my new Christmas present.)
So this book was kind of strange for me. There were a lot of reference to Jewish traditions and practices that I knew absolutely nothing about! I have a hard enough time with Christian rituals, but I am totally lost when it comes to shiva and pretty much anything Jewish! I got through it though, and I have to say, that was really the only negative in this book for me, and it's not the author's fault. I blame it on my own disregard for most things religious.
The basic premise of the book deals with a character who dies unexpectantly, and is examining her life from the great beyond, or the "duration" as the book calls it. We get to see the last few years of her life leading up to her mysterious death, and then how her former life goes on without her. We see it through her eyes, as she watches from the duration. It's actually written brilliantly, I think!
The heroine, Molly, is such a likeable, everyday character. She has flaws, but she knows it. Her relationships were messy and difficult when she was alive, and she only (kind of) gets clarity once she is dead. Throughout the novel you are brought on a journey by the author to figure out how Molly died. It's almost as if the author wasn't sure how it was going to end until it did. The characters and supsense are so well created, that you could pin her death on any number of the people in her life!
Overall, I really liked this book. It moved well, and was written in a witty, light-hearted style that I enjoyed. It made me cry at the end too, which is almost always a good thing! It means the author has been successful in connecting you emotionally to the characters and the story, which Koslow definitely does!
So this book was kind of strange for me. There were a lot of reference to Jewish traditions and practices that I knew absolutely nothing about! I have a hard enough time with Christian rituals, but I am totally lost when it comes to shiva and pretty much anything Jewish! I got through it though, and I have to say, that was really the only negative in this book for me, and it's not the author's fault. I blame it on my own disregard for most things religious.
The basic premise of the book deals with a character who dies unexpectantly, and is examining her life from the great beyond, or the "duration" as the book calls it. We get to see the last few years of her life leading up to her mysterious death, and then how her former life goes on without her. We see it through her eyes, as she watches from the duration. It's actually written brilliantly, I think!
The heroine, Molly, is such a likeable, everyday character. She has flaws, but she knows it. Her relationships were messy and difficult when she was alive, and she only (kind of) gets clarity once she is dead. Throughout the novel you are brought on a journey by the author to figure out how Molly died. It's almost as if the author wasn't sure how it was going to end until it did. The characters and supsense are so well created, that you could pin her death on any number of the people in her life!
Overall, I really liked this book. It moved well, and was written in a witty, light-hearted style that I enjoyed. It made me cry at the end too, which is almost always a good thing! It means the author has been successful in connecting you emotionally to the characters and the story, which Koslow definitely does!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
I got a Nook for Christmas!
My favorite present this Christmas was the Nook that my husband scored on Black Friday. He didn't get up early, or wait in line for it either! I brought the Best Buy flyer to Walmart and they price-matched. So he got me a Nook at 11am on Black Friday for $99. Score!
I spend a good part of Christmas day setting it up and playing with the features. I downloaded some free books (Pride and Prejudice, and A Christmas Carol), and then activated my gift card so I could download some other books. I also got pretty good at the easy Sudoku puzzles!
The first book that I actually paid for was Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris. It's the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Then I bought Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith, based on a recommendation from my college roommate. I also now have the 3rd book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Club Dead, and a few others that just peaked my interest.
Today I started reading Slacker Girl, by Alexandra Koslow. I found it while searching for the newest book by Sally Koslow, author of The Late Lamented Molly Marx, that I just finished. I read the sample (i.e. teaser) that Barnes and Noble offered through my Nook, and couldn't stop reading. I bought it on the spot and have already read the first 160 pages. I am loving it!
So even though I've been kind of slacker, things are looking up! I have fininished 2.5 books this week, and with the Nook, I have a feeling my reading is going to escalate exponentially! The more I read, the more I want to read! I have to keep in mind that I need balance though.I can't let this consume me and take me away from my family all day! Baby steps!
I spend a good part of Christmas day setting it up and playing with the features. I downloaded some free books (Pride and Prejudice, and A Christmas Carol), and then activated my gift card so I could download some other books. I also got pretty good at the easy Sudoku puzzles!
The first book that I actually paid for was Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris. It's the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Then I bought Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith, based on a recommendation from my college roommate. I also now have the 3rd book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Club Dead, and a few others that just peaked my interest.
Today I started reading Slacker Girl, by Alexandra Koslow. I found it while searching for the newest book by Sally Koslow, author of The Late Lamented Molly Marx, that I just finished. I read the sample (i.e. teaser) that Barnes and Noble offered through my Nook, and couldn't stop reading. I bought it on the spot and have already read the first 160 pages. I am loving it!
So even though I've been kind of slacker, things are looking up! I have fininished 2.5 books this week, and with the Nook, I have a feeling my reading is going to escalate exponentially! The more I read, the more I want to read! I have to keep in mind that I need balance though.I can't let this consume me and take me away from my family all day! Baby steps!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Next up: Sally Koslow
Admittedly, I have been a little slack with the reading lately. I've been spending more time blogging and focusing on my new diet eating plan. But last night I found myself in the book section of Target and I was like a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately I had my entire family with me and I wasn't able to truly enjoy myself. I had to make a quick decision and I went through a few books before I settled on one.
This week I am going to read The Late, Lamented Molly Mox, by Sally Koslow. It is a Target Club pick about a girl who dies suddenly and relives the years and days leading up to her death from the hereafter. For some reason, it spoke to me. I'm excited to get started!
This week I am going to read The Late, Lamented Molly Mox, by Sally Koslow. It is a Target Club pick about a girl who dies suddenly and relives the years and days leading up to her death from the hereafter. For some reason, it spoke to me. I'm excited to get started!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Postcard Killers by James Patterson
Ok, I'm a convert. I see why everyone who read James Patterson reads all of his stuff! His writing just flows so well. His chapters are so short that I find myself saying, "Ok, just one more chapter, and then I'll put it down." That one chapter leads to another hour of reading. It's so hard to stop!
This is the first murder mystery novel of his that I've read and I was a little take aback by the gory picture that he painted for the first killing. I don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't ready for it. And in hindsight, it wasn't even that bad! Fortunately, he didn't describe each murder in detail.
The other thing I didn't expect was a sex scene. Again, I'm not sure why I didn't expect that, but I didn't. I was thrilled though. As a woman, I appreciate a good sex scene in a book! The scene in this book was short, and not super erotic, but it fit the story and the characters.
Overall, this was a great book! I read it in 2 days because of my inability to put it down! I read it while my 2 year old watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse during the day, and when my husband was watching football at night! Now I have to pick out the next James Patterson book that I'm going to read. My husband has plenty to choose from, so I don't even need to leave the house! He swears by the Alex Cross books, so maybe that will be a good place to start!
Dead Until Dark
This is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I've already watched season 1 of True Blood which was loosely based on this book. I think it was actually pretty close to the book with a few character exceptions, and of course the sex scenes that were added for the TV audience.
I started reading this book long before I had watched even one episode of True Blood. For some reason I wasn't immediately taken in. It sat in my room for months, untouched. This time I was determined, and actually excited to read it. I really enjoyed it, and didn't put it down much for a few days! I now see why everyone reads the whole series. The books aren't complete in and of themselves. They lead you to the next one with a non-ending. So now I'm waiting not-so-patiently until I can get a hold of the next book in the series. I don't even know what it's called, but I'm sure my best friend still has a copy!
On a side note, I don't know what it is about vampires, but I am hooked! I have read the entire Twilight Saga, and now I'm getting into this series. I watch The Vampire Diaries and True Blood on TV, and I own Twilight and New Moon on DVD. Seriously...it's getting a bit excessive. My husband makes fun of me, but I don't care! It's not like I'm the only one. Most of my friends are the same way! We're even making plans to get Eclipse on DVD at Midnight on December 4th.
I started reading this book long before I had watched even one episode of True Blood. For some reason I wasn't immediately taken in. It sat in my room for months, untouched. This time I was determined, and actually excited to read it. I really enjoyed it, and didn't put it down much for a few days! I now see why everyone reads the whole series. The books aren't complete in and of themselves. They lead you to the next one with a non-ending. So now I'm waiting not-so-patiently until I can get a hold of the next book in the series. I don't even know what it's called, but I'm sure my best friend still has a copy!
On a side note, I don't know what it is about vampires, but I am hooked! I have read the entire Twilight Saga, and now I'm getting into this series. I watch The Vampire Diaries and True Blood on TV, and I own Twilight and New Moon on DVD. Seriously...it's getting a bit excessive. My husband makes fun of me, but I don't care! It's not like I'm the only one. Most of my friends are the same way! We're even making plans to get Eclipse on DVD at Midnight on December 4th.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Coming up...
Now it has been several months since True Blood season 3 ended, and I haven't seen the first season since before that. I'm hoping that when I pick this book back up, it will feed by True Blood thirst (pun intended). Yeah, I'm a dork. This I know!
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Perfect 10 Diet
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I finished this book last week, and I've been following its principles for about 10 days now. I'm down almost 7 pounds and I feel great! I'm sleeping better and I wake up feeling more rested than I ever have! My mood swings have evened out a little (still hoping for more on that front) and my energy level is increasing. So far, I'm a believer!
So let me tell you what this book is all about. It's a healthy way of eating the puts 10 key hormones in balance to ensure overall health and weight loss. Here are the basics:
1. No sugar- real or artificial (this means no diet soda for me- which wasn't easy)
2. No grains/starches for the first 3 weeks (after that they're gradually added in)
3. No refined/white carbs such as pasta, white rice, white bread, etc...
4. 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day (no more than 2 servings of fruit)
5. No manufactured oils such as corn, safflower, canola, soybean, etc. This is a hard one. They're in everything!
6. 40% carbohydrates-20% protein-40% fat intake daily
7. Increase healthy fats like coconut or macadamia oil, extra virgin olive oil, butter and avoid all trans fats
8. No processed meats containing nitrites/nitraites
9. Exercise daily (I'm still working on that one!)
10. Eat full fat dairy, but keep it to a minimum
So it's basically a whole foods kind of diet with a focus on the purest, most organic ingredients. Because of this book I have now been to Trader Joe's and fully appreciate its greatness! I am eating fish 3 times a week and drinking a ton of water! I now understand how my eating affects the hormones that keep me healthy and I have committed to learning to eat this way, hopefully for life!
One of the controversial topics in this book is Saturated Fats. For years we've been told that it's bad for us and is linked to heart disease. Dr. Aziz says that in fact there is no link between saturated fats and heart disease. He writes that the body makes its own saturated fat and it is necessary for producing sex hormones.
The thing that I enjoyed most about this book was Dr. Aziz's description of how insulin and glucagon affect so much of our metabolism and other hormones. I learned about these hormones in Anatomy and Physiology class, but it was never explained as clearly as it was in the book. It's because of this that I was able to give up sugar...at least for now. I don't ever want to go back to my old way of eating now that I know what it was doing to my body!
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, etc...If you're just looking to shed a few pounds, I'd recommend it for you too!
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
This book was so short that I read it in one day, within a few hours. Having read all of the other Stephenie Meyer books it just made sense to read this one as well! It fills in the gaps where the newborn vampires of Eclipse are concerned. Bree's existence is only known for about 5 minutes in Eclipse, but the reader never knows how she came to be and the life that she and the other newborns lived prior to the attack on the Cullens.
I have to be honest...this book was a quick and easy read, but it didn't provide any earth shattering insights. The most important bit of information taken from this book was the fact that the Volturi were aware of Victoria's plan and they were on board. Other than that, it's really only about 50 normal pages (regular sized print and margins) of story and it's only marginally interesting.
I'm also reading The Perfect 10 Diet this week. If you'd like to follow my health overhaul visit my other blog, Musings of a Cul-de-Sac Mom.
I have to be honest...this book was a quick and easy read, but it didn't provide any earth shattering insights. The most important bit of information taken from this book was the fact that the Volturi were aware of Victoria's plan and they were on board. Other than that, it's really only about 50 normal pages (regular sized print and margins) of story and it's only marginally interesting.
I'm also reading The Perfect 10 Diet this week. If you'd like to follow my health overhaul visit my other blog, Musings of a Cul-de-Sac Mom.
The Host
I chose The Host by Stephenie Meyer this week. I'm a fan of her other books, and really had no preconceived notions about this book. I had heard that it was good, but had no idea what the basic premise was. To put it mildly, I was shocked. It was so unlike the Twilight Saga...at first. By the end, I realized that the overall story wasn't so different.
What I love about Stephanie Meyer is her ability to write about the unbelievable while convincing you somehow not to question it. I mean, let's be serious- vampires and werewolves? body snatching aliens? I didn't think I could get into her books just by the mere mention of the subjects. Her genius lies in making the story so intriguing that you forget that the characters are supernatural. She doesn't get bogged down in technical jargon, and she doesn't spend a tremendous amount of time on the science fiction part of things. She focuses on the relationships between the characters and makes sure that you care so much for them that you overlook that they are not quite human.
To be honest, after the reading the first few pages of this book I wasn't sure I would be able to finish. The idea of aliens taking over human bodies and then living as their "host" was a bit absurd to me. I generally don't like science fiction. I didn't even watch the X-Files at the height of its popularity. It wasn't long though before I was completely wrapped up in the characters and their relationships. I found myself imagining the crazy world that Wanda and Melanie lived in. I was pulling for the characters to survive and find their way to each other.
By the end I wanted more!
One of the best things about this book was the bonus chapter. It covers the time that Melanie and Wanda are apart, before Wanda is aware of what's happening. All too often those scenes are left to the imagination, and if the movie rights hadn't already been sold to this book, chances are that chapter wouldn't have been written. It will be interesting to see what they do with the movie!
So overall, I liked this book and I would recommend it! It is exceptionally long, as almost all of Meyer's books are, but worth the effort!
What I love about Stephanie Meyer is her ability to write about the unbelievable while convincing you somehow not to question it. I mean, let's be serious- vampires and werewolves? body snatching aliens? I didn't think I could get into her books just by the mere mention of the subjects. Her genius lies in making the story so intriguing that you forget that the characters are supernatural. She doesn't get bogged down in technical jargon, and she doesn't spend a tremendous amount of time on the science fiction part of things. She focuses on the relationships between the characters and makes sure that you care so much for them that you overlook that they are not quite human.
To be honest, after the reading the first few pages of this book I wasn't sure I would be able to finish. The idea of aliens taking over human bodies and then living as their "host" was a bit absurd to me. I generally don't like science fiction. I didn't even watch the X-Files at the height of its popularity. It wasn't long though before I was completely wrapped up in the characters and their relationships. I found myself imagining the crazy world that Wanda and Melanie lived in. I was pulling for the characters to survive and find their way to each other.
By the end I wanted more!
One of the best things about this book was the bonus chapter. It covers the time that Melanie and Wanda are apart, before Wanda is aware of what's happening. All too often those scenes are left to the imagination, and if the movie rights hadn't already been sold to this book, chances are that chapter wouldn't have been written. It will be interesting to see what they do with the movie!
So overall, I liked this book and I would recommend it! It is exceptionally long, as almost all of Meyer's books are, but worth the effort!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Week 4...and 5, and 6, and maybe 7
Okay, so it took me a little longer to read this last book than the first 3. In my defense, I took a 10 day vacation to Florida, which in and of itself, means several more days of preparing and recuperating! I'm not sure I can keep up the book a week pace that I originally hoped for, but I'm going to keep reading until I've read 52 books. I'm still optimistic that I can do it in a year. I'll just have to double up a few weeks! Any suggestions for future reads?
I have 2 books on the list for next week. One is a self-help kind of book for my health and it's called The Perfect 10 by Dr. Aziz. I read a good bit of it in the bookstore today because it was recommended to me by a friend. She has been putting its principles into use, and has seen a marked improvement in her overall health. The other book is Stephanie Meyer's only book that I have yet to read, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella . My best friend has a copy and I'm trading her for The Host. I figure it will hold me over until Eclipse comes out on video on December 4th!
I have 2 books on the list for next week. One is a self-help kind of book for my health and it's called The Perfect 10 by Dr. Aziz. I read a good bit of it in the bookstore today because it was recommended to me by a friend. She has been putting its principles into use, and has seen a marked improvement in her overall health. The other book is Stephanie Meyer's only book that I have yet to read, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella . My best friend has a copy and I'm trading her for The Host. I figure it will hold me over until Eclipse comes out on video on December 4th!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 3: Sam's Letters to Jennifer
I sat down with this book while my 2 year old was in the bathtub. I sat on a bath mat and leaned against the cabinet. It wasn't the most comfortable place to read, and it sure didn't hold a candle to the comfy chair that I had in the mountains last week, but it worked. Fortunately, my husband came to get my son out of the tub, so I was able to keep reading...and reading...and reading. I didn't stop until I reached the end of the book!
The thing I loved most about this book was the positive message; life is short, so live it to the fullest. One of my favorite lines in the book is a quote from an artist. It goes something like this, "Life is a blank canvas, so you should throw everything you can at it" What a great quote! I think it is going to be my new motto.
Aside from having a great message, I really related to the main character in the book. She is an overachiever who never misses a deadline at work, and suffers from a tragic loss that has prevented her from truly reaching her full potential. The loss in my life was my father. When he died, I felt like a piece of me went with him. It took me a long time to look at the world in a positive light again. I didn't know how to live in a world where he didn't exist. It's still hard, but I am finally in a place to believe that a piece of me didn't die with him. In fact, I believe the opposite...that a piece of him remains here with me! This book really solidified that for me. It's what we do with the memories that matter, and I'm so fortunate that my dad and I were able to make so many great memories during out time together.
As for being an overachiever...I swear it should be listed as one of my nicknames (and it is if you ask my best friend)! I am always taking on more projects and I have a hard time just sitting still. When I do something, I want to do it well- the first time. What I'm working on is letting go of that. I am trying new things (like this challenge), and seeing where the world takes me! For the first time in a long time I don't have a definite plan. I'm open to new possibilities and though it's a strange place for me, I'm learning to enjoy it. I'm living in the moment and making memories with my loved ones. Life is too short to be bogged down by plans, schedules, duties and the like. I want to live while the living is good!
The thing I loved most about this book was the positive message; life is short, so live it to the fullest. One of my favorite lines in the book is a quote from an artist. It goes something like this, "Life is a blank canvas, so you should throw everything you can at it" What a great quote! I think it is going to be my new motto.
Aside from having a great message, I really related to the main character in the book. She is an overachiever who never misses a deadline at work, and suffers from a tragic loss that has prevented her from truly reaching her full potential. The loss in my life was my father. When he died, I felt like a piece of me went with him. It took me a long time to look at the world in a positive light again. I didn't know how to live in a world where he didn't exist. It's still hard, but I am finally in a place to believe that a piece of me didn't die with him. In fact, I believe the opposite...that a piece of him remains here with me! This book really solidified that for me. It's what we do with the memories that matter, and I'm so fortunate that my dad and I were able to make so many great memories during out time together.
As for being an overachiever...I swear it should be listed as one of my nicknames (and it is if you ask my best friend)! I am always taking on more projects and I have a hard time just sitting still. When I do something, I want to do it well- the first time. What I'm working on is letting go of that. I am trying new things (like this challenge), and seeing where the world takes me! For the first time in a long time I don't have a definite plan. I'm open to new possibilities and though it's a strange place for me, I'm learning to enjoy it. I'm living in the moment and making memories with my loved ones. Life is too short to be bogged down by plans, schedules, duties and the like. I want to live while the living is good!
Monday, September 20, 2010
I did it!
I read 2 entire books in 2 weeks, and found the time to blog about it! That may not sound like much, especially since I'm committed to reading 52 books in 52 weeks, but it is a huge accomplishment for me to just get through the first 2! I can't tell you how long it's been since I've read so much in such a short time. I have 3 kids and I work part-time, so it's not easy to find time to read. I was able to finish The Doctor's Wife this weekend, while relaxing here:
We took a mini-vacation with some friends to the North Carolina mountains where we enjoyed the crisp air, a great view and good company! It was just what we all needed. I had a big comfy chair and more down time than I would have had at home, so I took advantage of it! Not only did I finish The Doctor's Wife, but I was able to get started on another book!
This week I had planned on reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I've read the Twilight Saga that she wrote, and enjoyed them immensely. This one looks quite different, but after reading the first few chapters in the mountain, I'm intrigued! Unfortunately, due to our trip and some other commitments that I have this week, I don't think I have time to read such a lengthy book (Why does she write such long books?). So I've decided to go with Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson. It's a book my husband bought me after I read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas a few years ago. He reads a lot of James Patterson novels, so when I showed some interest, he was supportive!
So this week it's Sam's Letters to Jennifer. I already took it off the shelf and dusted it off, and we are ready to go! Hopefully I'll get to The Host next week!
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| Near Boone, North Carolina |
This week I had planned on reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I've read the Twilight Saga that she wrote, and enjoyed them immensely. This one looks quite different, but after reading the first few chapters in the mountain, I'm intrigued! Unfortunately, due to our trip and some other commitments that I have this week, I don't think I have time to read such a lengthy book (Why does she write such long books?). So I've decided to go with Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson. It's a book my husband bought me after I read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas a few years ago. He reads a lot of James Patterson novels, so when I showed some interest, he was supportive!
So this week it's Sam's Letters to Jennifer. I already took it off the shelf and dusted it off, and we are ready to go! Hopefully I'll get to The Host next week!
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