Monday Randomness......

I am totally kicking myself in the ass right now. Why, oh why have I waited so long to read a Graphic Novel??? After all the awesome movies that have come out in the last few years based on graphic novels, I've been really intrigued. And they really seem as if they would be the type of reading I would like....lots of fantasy graphic novels are out there. And yet, never once have I picked up one to read. Until today.

I decided in the way of spring cleaning to tear apart the bedrooms. Part of it included washing all the huge comforters in the house. Since I almost hosed up my washing machine the last time I tried this, I decided to spend my morning at the laundry mat. They have those big, industrial washers and figured it would be a quiet couple of hours away from the house. So, with my detergent and softener in hand, me and my 5 comforters trudged up up the 'mat. I actually kind of like it there. I can wash like 8 loads of laundry at the same time and just be done with it all!!

So after chucking in a ridiculous amount of quarters, I settled it with The Sandman Vol 1: Preludes & Nocturnes. Sure, I can gush all day about Neil Gaiman and how he is one of my very favorite authors. Sure, I've loved everything I've read of his so far. But, The Sandman is a COMIC BOOK, right?? I haven't read one of those since I was in 4th grade! How good can it be?? Right?? WRONG!!! It took me about 1/2 a page to realize I was in love already. Not just with this book, but the graphic novel as a whole. The pictures were awesome....and it totally adds to reading the story. I got about 75 pages in before I had to leave, but I'll be finishing it up this week. Not sure I will be able to review it though. But I'll definitely try!!

Other than that, it's a rainy, dreary mess around these parts. I finished up book 2 of the Fablehaven series, Rise of the Evening Star. For some reason, I start out not liking these books initially, then totally get sucked in. I know it's a YA book, but for some reason I find the writing really elementary. But I did like this one better than the first....and with the cliffhanger ending (ACK!) I know I'm going to have to read the rest of the series.

I haven't had a lot of time to blog hop lately. Work has been kicking my butt. But I'll try to catch up a little tonight....and hopefully a whole lot more tomorrow!! No "Mailbox Monday" for me this week. Maybe next week!!

Happy Monday to you all!!

Since I wasn't here on Monday......

I figured I might as well do a Mailbox Monday today!! I know. I know. It's Wednesday. But I've been out of town. It was 2 very LONG and stressful days. And I'm seriously glad it's over. I feel drained. Completely. Physically, but most of all, mentally drained.

I did get a chance to go to the movie Wrap Party and had a great time. Of course, I drank about 5 too many glasses of wine!! Still, the cast and crew were wonderful! And we'll be seeing some of them soon, when we head up to Chicago for to party with them!!!

On to mailbox Monday (on Wednesday). Actually, I skipped last week, so this is a list of books that have entered my house the last 2 weeks. I got some really good ones!!

The book I'm probably most excited about is The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, the author of The Shadow of the Wind. Another book about literature, this one is sure to go to the top of the TBR pile!!

Mommy By Mistake by Rowan Coleman is a book that lovely Wendy, The Literary Feline passed on to me. She received this book for review, and didn't think she would like it. I've read a couple books by Rowan Coleman, back in my "Chick Lit" days. I LOVED them. So she sent it to me!

Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead is an ARC that I got from Shelf Awareness. I've read a few reviews of this one already and am really looking forward to it.

The Blue Notebook by James Levene is another book that is generating a lot of buzz. The ARC was also received from Shelf Awareness and although it's a hard topic, I can't wait to read it!!

The final book that I received from Shelf Awareness is Ultimatum by Matthew Glass. Set in the future, it's a thriller dealing with global warming and catastrophic effects it has on our environment. Sound relevant to me!!

Next up are 2 books that I received from the Early Readers program at Library Thing. The first is Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. "a dazzlingly rich vision of the pain, loveliness, mystery, and promise of New York City in the 1970s." Sounds great!!

The second book that I got from Library Thing is Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder. Chick Lit can be a nice distraction sometimes!!

The last 5 books are from a box that I got from Curled Up with a Good Book. I haven't reviewed for them for awhile, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. The first is a YA book called The Debutante by Kathryn Williams. I always love a good YA book, and this one looks sweet.

Enclave by Kit Reed is a YA book that is described as "dystopian satire". What could be more fun than that?? I'm really looking forward to this one!! Will have to read it sooner rather than later!

Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell is another humorous Chick Lit book. I seem to have a couple of those on the pile this time.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols is another YA book. This is one that is put out by MTV. I've read a couple of their books before and really liked them. I hope this one is the same.

And the last book to enter my house this week is The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I really liked her book Garden Spells, and I'm hoping this one is just as good!

That's it. Next week, hopefully I'll make it on Monday!!

Of Read-a-Thons, Work and a Little Sadness.....

Today was the Dewey-inspired 24-Hour Read-a-Thon. (OK, technically, it was yesterday since it's after midnight...but a few hardcore readers are still going!) I SO want to join in this one day, but circumstances have never let me!! The fall is right in the middle of my son's football season. All games are on Saturdays, and usually take up a majority of the day, since it's a travel league. Today, my daughter had a soccer game, and I was scheduled to work....like 15 hours. So while all of you were reading, I was having a Work-a-thon of sorts!

Since I wasn't able to participate, I did want to do a little shout-out to all of you that signed up, and are still reading!! I tried to do a little cheerleading earlier. I'm not really good at it though! I've tried to hit some blogs and leave them comments....and I've also tried to follow some the action on Twitter.

Anyway....Kudos to all of you that participated in one way or another today!! And if you are still readintg, KEEP IT UP!! It's sad that Dewey isn't with us anymore, but a great thing that her legacy has lived on!!

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On a final note, I will probably be off-line for a few days. You all know my grandmother has been sick. Well, she passed away late last night. As sad as I am, I truly know she is in a better place, where there is no sickness or pain. I'll be heading out of town for the visitation, funeral, and family gatherings. Hope to be back on Wenesday morning. I'll try to catch up with all of you then.

Horrifying Glimpse into the Future??? Let's Hope Not!

Finally!! The reading slump is officially over!! It took some time...and just the right books, but I finally feel like I've rounded that corner! And no, I'm not reading any more than I was before....I'm just BEHIND on my reviews!! The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (384 pgs, Scholastic Press, 2008) is a fantastic dystopian novel that I'm using not only as a selection for the YA Reading Challenge, but also for the End of the World Reading Challenge!! Me loves a good dystopian novel!!

When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim's warmth, but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. Today is the day of the reaping.

For 16-year-old Katniss (and yes, I really hate this name!) Everdeen, the day of the reaping is a day to dread. Panem, the country that was once North America before natural disasters and war laid waste to it, holds a "reaping" once a year. It is the Capitol's way of punishing the 12 districts of Panem for the "uprising". Each year, the 12 districts hold a drawing that will provide one girl Tribute and one boy Tribute to the Hunger Games. The 24 Tributes are taken to an arena and dropped off. Imprisoned together, it is ever child for him- or herself. There can only be one winner of the Hunger Games, and it is a fight to the death.

Each child between the ages of 12 and 18 is eligible for the reaping. District 12, The Seam, is the coal-mining district. They have only had one winner of the Hunger Games since it started. On the day of the reaping, all the kids are brought into the town square for a televised drawing. But this year, when Katniss' 12-year-old sister, Prim's name is drawn, there is a volunteer to take her place. Katniss is not going to let her sister go to be slaughtered. She immediately volunteers to go as the girl Tribute instead of Prim. Along with Peeta Mellark, the baker's son and the boy Tribute from District 12, Katniss is whisked away to the Capitol.

Because Katniss has spent the last few years providing for her family by hunting in the Seam, she feels she would have a better chance at survival than her little sister. Because frankly, being chosen for the reaping is a death sentence. Other districts have kids that are bred to be winners. But even if she can't survive, at least she has the knowledge that her little sister will be saved.

In a very Shirley Jackson sort of way, The Hunger Games is a glimpse into a terrifying future. In a world controlled completely by The Capitol, people live in fear of what can be taken from them. Even the games themselves are controlled by the Capitol. Each child can have sponsors that give them certain items to help them in the games. And if there isn't enough "action" to satisfy the powers that be, then the Capitol steps in and makes things more difficult for the contestants.

Collins has created a truly horrific look into the future. As a mother, the thought of such an events as the reaping or the Hunger Games makes me a little sick to my stomach. But as a reader and a lover of good fiction, this book is top-notch! Katniss is about as smart and as tough as a protagonist can be. I just fell in love with her. The Hunger Games starts out with a bang, but the suspense doesn't let up...ever! As a reader, you know there isn't going to be a good ending with this one, but Collins never lets you give up hope. From page one, you are immediately sucked in and just can't let go!! I practically read this in one sitting, it was so intense. I just needed to know what happens. Although there is clearly an ending....there is still more of the story to be told. Again, there is a follow-up book that won't be released till the fall. Damn. What is it with me and and the inevitable series reading?? Regardless of that, this is one intense read, and I highly recommend it!! 4.5/5

A "Wicked" Faerie Tale

Another book review?? Well....it's certainly about time!! Especially since it's the Once Upon a Time season!! Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (352 pgs, Harper Collins, 2008) could probably fall into more than one Fantasy Subgenre. Urban Fantasy is probably where I would leave it. Is there a better way to kick off the Once Upon a Time Challenge than with book about Faeries? I think not!

The Summer King knelt before her. "Is this what you freely choose, to risk winter's chill?" She watched him -- the boy she'd fallen in love with these past weeks. She'd never dreamed he was something other than human, but now his skin glowed as if flames flickered just under the surface, so strange and beautiful she couldn't look away. "It's what I want." "You understand that if you are not the one, you'll carry the Winter Queen's chill until the next mortal risks this? And you'll warn her not to trust me?" He paused, glancing at her with pain in his eyes.

Every since Aislinn could remember, she's had The Sight. Like her Grandmother and her mother before her, Aislinn has the ability to see Faeries. You see, Faeries inhabit the world we live in....only we can't see them. But Faeries aren't cute little creatures Walt Disney would have us believe. Oh no. Faeries are mischievous at best. At worst, they are cruel creatures that have no sense of right or wrong. No moral compass.

Aislinn's Grandmother taught her at an early age, the only way to survive in a world with The Sight is to not let anyone know about it. Especially, the Fey. Never stare at the faeries; never speak to the faeries, but most importantly, Don't EVER attract their attention. Aislinn took this advice to heart, and it worked for her...until the day the Summer King started stalking her.

You see, Keenan, the Summer King, needs to find his Summer Queen. He has been searching for 9 centuries and has yet to find the woman who will break the spell his mother, the Winter Queen, has placed on him. His powers are bound, and unless he finds the Summer Queen, Summer will eventually fade away and the Earth will grow colder. Keenan believes that Aislinn is the one he is searching for, but now he has to convince her to take a chance.

I love a good faerie story. Especially one that is this well-researched. Marr begins each chapter with a snippet of faerie legend. And she has created some great characters in Donia, the Winter girl and Keenan, the Summer King. It was their story that really sucked me into this book. Donia, the once mortal girl who took a chance and lost, was tragic and yet endearing. Her love for Keenan, even after she found she wasn't meant to be his queen was almost heartbreaking. For me, I didn't appreciate Aislinn until later in the book. She was a bit too timid and mild at first. But when her back was against the wall, she came out swinging....and that's a sign of a great female protagonist!!

As with most fantasy books these days, there is never a solid ending. They all seem to be under the category of series...and this one is no exception. I find myself entrenched in yet another series! This was a quick read, but a good one nonetheless. I'm really glad I chose to start this series.....it left me wanting more....so I guess Marr did her job well!! 4.5/5

The Printz Project

Oh yeah....like you didn't know this was coming!! Suey, from It's All About the Books and Jessica, from The Bluestocking Society have come together to host the perpetual challenge - The Printz Project. It even has it's own blog!!

Like unto other book award projects, the Printz Project is a perpetual challenge to read the winners of the Michael L. Printz Award (and perhaps the honor books if you’re brave).


Since the Printz Award is a relatively new award, we’re structuring this site a little differently. Each Printz Award-winning book and honor book has its own post. When you read one of the books, head on over to its post and leave either a link to your review on your own blog or go ahead and post your thoughts right there in the comments. This format is designed to keep reviews on the same book together. Each book’s post has a picture of the cover and the synopsis from the publisher. Feel free to browse about.

Seriously...I love YA books!! And out of the entire list of books, I've read 4 of them. And LOVED all 4: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, I am the Messenger by Mark Zuzak, The Book Thief by Mark Zuzak, and Looking for Alaska by John Green. So, yes, I'm IN!!

High Fantasy War Games.....

Today, I'm going to start getting out some of those book reviews that I am behind on. I have at least 4 that I need to do, and I thought I would start with Cry of Justice by Jason Pratt (444 pgs, Bittersea Publications, 2007).

My wife, my beloved. I promise....I can explain. I can explain where I went. And why....I can explain why I didn't explain when I returned. I didn't explain because I was afraid.

In the aftermath of a horrible international war in the world of Mikon, thousands of refugees have fled the Coastal States and are heading into the Middlelands. Cry of Justice follows a few of those people. A small band of warriors are led by the Maga, Portunista. She is sharp, power-hungry and intent of gaining as much control as she can. Among her subordinates is Seifas, one of the last members of the Guacu-ara, or the Hunting Cry. Born and bred to kill, Seifas fears he is the only remaining Guacu-ara left alive, and has made it his mission to follow Portunista until the end. And then there is Jian, who happens upon the group. It is a mystery who he is or where he comes from. And not everyone trusts him, especially Portunista.

Told in part through journal entries from Portunista, Seifas, and an unknown author, this is the story of how Portunista and her band of warriors happen upon a castle. The castle belonged to Qarfax, an extrememly powerful Cadrist. The castle holds many secrets....secrets that Portunista is desparate to have....as do several other powerful mages. It is this castle and it's secrets that bring upon Portunista's group an epic battle: one that will change things forever.

Cry of Justice is an epic novel, the first of a trilogy. I would definitely classify it as "high fantasy". Maybe it's the fact that I don't read a lot of high fantasy that I found the first part of the book rather confusing. There are a lot of terms and people that I didn't understand, at first. But the story line is good. Very good. And that is what kept me reading.

Portunista is a hard character to nail down. You can tell she wants to be a "good" person, but she is so hell-bent on gaining power it diminishes her ability to distinguish from right and wrong. I wanted to like her. I really did. But her inability to trust in her own feelings made it hard. Just when I start appreciating her intelligence and her passion, she does something stupid....and it makes me mad!

Jian and Seifas are both wonderful characters, as are many of the minor warriors. They are strong, loyal and extremely complex in their nature. Jian has one goal throughout the story...and that is to save Portunista....from the other mages, but most importantly, from herself.

Although a lot of the complex war strategies were lost on me, I found myself reading faster and faster because I had to find out how the final showdown would end. Of course, being the first in a trilogy, the ending is far from over. You can tell that the story, even when the last page has been turned, is only just beginning. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a love for high fantasy. For anyone else, it might be a bit confusing. Now, it's just a matter of time until Book 2 is released!! 3.75/5

Challenges?? Life is a Challenge!

Yes. That's right. Life is a challenge. My days are being eaten up by challenges. The challenge of working so many hours in a week and still trying to spend time with my family. The challenge of dealing with the many obstacles that have been impeding our financial future. The challenge of dealing with my grandmother's illness. The challenge of finding time to actually sleep in the my already booked days. The challenge of trying to keep my house from falling apart. The challenge of keeping up with posts, emails, "tweets", phone calls and even the snail mail. The challenge of actually blogging more than once a week (I'm seriously behind 4 book reviews!!)

But I'm tired of dealing with every day challenges. I'd rather push all that stuff aside for just a little bit and focus on other things. Yesterday, I took the kiddies to see a movie. A movie!! Monsters vs. Aliens...and it was fun!! Tomorrow is Easter, and I spent this morning shopping for the Easter Bunny. Damned bunny should be able to do his own shopping!

And right now, I want to add some reading challenges to my list of "things to do". I can't seem to pass them up. You see....I like to make lists. I think that's why all these challenges appeal to me so much. It's not like I'll ever be able to actually COMPLETE them. I just like making the lists!! And I always read some of the books, so in that regard....Mission Accomplished!


The Classics Challenge is hosted again this year by Trish from Trish's Reading Nook. I'm late with the sign up, but I'm in the game!!

**Choose Your Level (Keep reading for Bonus)
1. Classics Snack - Read FOUR classics
2. Classics Entree - Read FIVE classics
3. Classics Feast - Read SIX classics

**Rules/Guidelines
1. Cross-posting with other challenges is allowed (and encouraged!)
2. Audiobooks are fine
3. Re-reads are acceptable, BUT books must be finished after April 1st to count for the challenge
4. Lists don't have to be set in stone; you can change your selections at any time.
5. Have Fun!!
6. You do NOT need a blog to participate.

**Bonus!! (Optional)Last year we compiled a list of books that we think might be considered classics one day. I've wiped out that old list so we can start fresh, but to get an idea of what others suggested last year, see HERE. To start off the list, I'm going to suggest Atonement by Ian McEwan.

As always, I go for the Big list. These are some of the books I hope to read for this challenge:

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (and NO...I haven't read this book!)
• Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Doestoevesky
• Far from the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy
• East of Eden by John Steinbeck
• Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
• The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Also hosted by Trish this year is the Non-Fiction Five Challenge. The Rules are:

1. Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2009 (please link your reviews on Mister Linky each month; Mister Linky can be found each month on this blog)

2. Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)

That's it!! Picking my books was way harder this year, and I don't know why. But I will draw from this list:

• Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang
• The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood by Helene Cooper
• Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America by Rick Perlstein
• Pictures of a Revolution: 5 Movies and the Birth of new Hollywood by Mark Harris
• Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
• No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of Hell's Angels by Jay Dobyns
• Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students who took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich
• Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamine by Nick Sheff
• Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey through his Son's Addiction by David Sheff
• Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall
• Escape by Caroline Jessop
• Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind he Veil by Deborah Rodriguez
• Infidel by Ayaan Hirisi Ali
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Bush At War by Bob Woodward
• What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception by Scott McClellan

I could probably list a ton more....but I'm going to go with this group. I'm sure I can find 6 good books from this list!!

Finally, the Herding Cats II: Attack of the Hairballs Challenge. I mean, seriously. How can you not join a challenge with a name like that?? It's hosted by Renay from Let's Get Literate.

Rules:

1. Make a list of five books you love.

Directions:
Five. I'm as serious as a beached whale.
All titles must be books you've read in 2007, 2008 or 2009.
Please don't list a series; just the first book. If you really want to list a book in the middle of a series, you can, but it has to be that specific book.
Feel free to share why you're putting the book on your list, because I am nosy.

2. Post your list: in your own journal, in the comments here, whatever is fine. Share the list here.
Lists should be public (no locked entries, no logging in to view).

3. Browse the new book list. Stay a while. Read a few (eta: if you want; not even reading is required this time around if you don't have time to commit to a new challenge but still want to share your favorites).

4. If you review your books, you can share the reviews. You know, if you want. No pressure. Definitely not.

To learn more and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

I haven't yet picked the books I'm going to read, but here are the 5 books I'm adding the master list:

From 2007:

• World War Z by Max Brooks
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman

From 2008:

• Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt

From 2009:

• Looking for Alaska by John Green

That's it. Enough talk about challenges. Time to get reading!

Yes, I'm still here.....

Unfortunately, I seem to be posting more updates like this than I would like. Life seems to be getting in the way of blogging!! A few updates are in order.

My vacation didn't quite turn out like I had hoped, but then again, it never does!! I did have 2 wonderful days where I didn't do anything!! Spent me time, sleeping, relaxing and catching up with some old friends online. Like Facebook or not, it has become a great tool for me. I have reconnected with a few old friends from high school, and have been having a great time. Many years and miles have been put between us, and it's been nice to see old faces and find out what's going on in their lives.

Then, within a 24 hour period, Mike got his layoff notice in the mail and I found out my grandma's sick. The layoff will be permanent, although it won't take place for awhile (at least hopefully). There is always the possibility that Mike will be able to transfer within the company, but it's pretty slim. Regardless, we are taking steps to get his resume updated and starting to look for something else....again. In the meantime, I'm picking up extra shifts left and right to try to put back some cash just in case.

Grandma, is another story. With my horrendous schedule, I haven't been able to do a lot of connecting with her lately. She lives about 2 hours away, and I've been lax. It's just that any free time I have is usually spent trying to catch up on sleep. I guess now I'm just going to have to suck it up and start doing a little more travel. It is not good, and I don't have a lot of time left. I'm taking a couple of days next week to go visit and take the kids.

On a brighter note....yesterday I spent the afternoon on a movie set!! Sounds fun, right?? My best friend, Aaron, who I've mentioned a few times is making a movie!! He wrote a screenplay, is directing and producing....and even acting in it. I'm so incredibly proud of him!! It's low-budget, to be sure. But he has a few minor celebrities in cameos and it was so much fun to see. The star is a young kid named Derek North, who is not only the sweetest guy, but just about the most gorgeous thing I've seen in ages!! I'm really hoping he becomes a big star, because he deserves it!!

AND, he wrote in scenes for each of the kids!! Yesterday, Chad got to get out of school and film his. He had 3 lines (which he nailed!) and was filming with Wendy, the Snapple Lady!! She is a hoot!! The film crew had me doing stand-in for her. It's funny, because I'm short, but I always wear heels of some sort. I had on my 3 inch Mary Janes, and they thought I was too tall....till I took my shoes off!! When I get all the pictures from the crew, I'll post them.

But for now, I'm posting the few that I took:

Here is Chad and Wendy. She is an incredibly sweet lady, who only was in town for the day. She had nothing but praise for Chad, and he just loved her!! Initially, he was a little scared. AND he was hoping for a scene with some hot young girl. But the second he met Wendy, he was instantly feeling better. The cast and crew treated him so special....he was in his heyday!!
Here is Chad with Richard Pryor, Jr. He was the first person on the set to come over and introduce himself. Super nice, and praised Chad for being so professional! He said Chad could be a big star someday!! Not sure that's the life I hoped he would have, but I guess if he wants to try.....Aaron wants to hook him up with an agent. Sheesh. Just what I need!!

Here is Chad and Derek. Like I said, Derek is a doll! I'm really hoping for good things in his future!! The shoot was at a men's clothing store, if you are wondering about the backgrounds!!

Finally, here is Chad with Aaron. Aaron's the best. He pulled us both in right away and introduced Chad as his nephew and me as his best friend. So, everyone treated us super!! We had a blast...and now the girls are wicked anxious for their day in the spotlight. Filming is going on all month, so I'm hoping to be able to catch some more time with all of them. Help out where I can. It's fun to be a part of something like this!!

That's all for now. Will check in again this weekend!!

Question of the Day.....

After days of controversy in the blog world, I'm posting a question to all of you out there: Why do you blog? Should be a simple question, right? Are you in for the glory?? For seeing your thoughts out in the world? Are you in it for the freebies?? Are you in it for the community??

The discussion that started over at My Friend Amy's a couple of days ago got me thinking. But I don't really want to dredge up the controversy again. I think it's time to put that one to bed. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions (they are only right if they agree with me, though!) Just a little recap for the uninitiated: Amy started a conversation about community vs. connection. Do we, as book bloggers really share a community, or are we just connected to one another because of a common interest? Personally, I don't see a lot of distinction between the two...but we'll let that slide. A commenter made a point of saying that a lot of small "wannabe" book blogs were dirtying the waters for other "top-tier" REAL bloggers.

OK. We are done with that. I know in my heart that I'll never be a "top-tier" blogger. Sheesh. At the moment, I'm struggling to maintain my little blog as it is. But keep it up, I will. Why, you ask?? Why do I blog? I think the reasons have changed over the past 2 and a half years that I have been doing this.

When I made my first post, I did it with a little arm twisting. My wonderful friends, Kailana and Marg, both of whom I knew from some book related message boards were bloggers. Many times they told me how much fun blogging was, and I thought to myself....."Self, you like fun. Give it a try". So I took the initiative and made the plunge. Ultimately, I figured it would be a place where I could actually keep track of the books I read (instead of my little hand-written journal) and where I could post some reviews. It gave me an outlet to see if I could actually write anything coherent (and I guess that still remains to be seen!) But it also gave me a place where I could vent my frustrations and NOT take them out on my family. I didn't even know that I would be barraged with requests from real-life authors and publishers....people wanting ME to review books for them.

What did that fateful day of December 22, 2006, do for me?? It got me CONNECTED to people I would never ever meet, but who would become my friends. I met others that were like ME. Growing up in a family of non-readers, married to a non-reader, I thought I was strange. The euphoria I felt when I walked into a book store was surely some kind of mental defect. My biggest thrill when I moved out on my own?? Getting a library card!! God, I KNOW I'm a geek. While all the librarians loved me, no one else "got" me. And then I started blogging. And guess what?? I may be a geek, but now I am not a lonely geek!! There are other people out there that share the same feelings I do! I take great comfort in that.

When people actually started reading my blog, I admit it: I got excited. I take great satisfaction in the fact that there are a few people out there that actually listen to my opinions, agree or disagree. And to know that I might have just influenced one person to try a book that I loved....well that's just an awesome feeling. I'm all about sharing the love.

The "community" concept came up later. Do I think we, as a book blogging group of people, form a "community"? You bet I do. I think there is a lot more than connection now. When our beloved dog, Ninja died last summer after 13 wonderful years, I was heartbroken. When I vented my pain, all of you answered with words of sympathy and prayers. Now, losing a pet isn't the worst thing that has ever happened, but it was painful TO ME. And I received much comfort from all of YOU. That is community. When I struggle with my day-to-day life of endless bills and even more endless work shifts, all of you are there to boost my spirits and keep me going, even when I feel I can't possibly go on. That is community. And when a member of this beloved community passed away, the outpouring of love, sadness, and grief was felt across the entire world. If that isn't "community", then I need someone to give me a definition.

What started out as a little fun, has turned into something completely different for me. This....my blog...has turned into a little island of sanity in my very insane life. And I cherish it. If someone out there thinks that my little corner of the world is sullying theirs, so be it. Quit reading. I REALLY DON'T CARE! Do you know why? Because I have friends here that don't agree with you. (I hope I'm not making too many assumptions with that statement!)

So....to Kailana and Marg, THANK YOU for twisting my arm and getting me started. Nymeth, you have created endless piles of books for me to read, and I thank you for all your wonderful reviews. Without you, there are so many wonderful books I never would have known about. Debi, in you I have found a person that is like a mirror image of me!! With similar likes and dislikes, I take comfort in reading your posts about family, books, and yes...all those damned challenges!! When you read my Christmas post about not receiving one book, you sent me one yourself, and that moment will be treasured always. Chris, you are like a little brother that shares such similar tastes, I really think we might be related. Thank you for being one of the first people in the blogosphere to read my blog and become my friend. Christina, Michelle, Tammy, Kristi, Teddy.....you are my friends from The Classics Club, and I treasure that friendship. Because of my schedule, I haven't been able to participate in the discussions for quite a while now, but through blogging, I am still able to keep up with all of you. I know there will always be a place for me in 'the club', when the time is right for me to participate again. Carl...your love of the arts and literature INSPIRE me. A community-builder at it's finest, your challenges are something, I look forward to and enjoy so much. So thank you. Michelle, Wendy, Nicola, Wendy, Amy, Teddy, Raidergirl and all the other ladies at Novels Now, thank you for giving me a chance and one more creative outlet to for my opinions.

Damn. This post just morphed into something I wasn't expecting when I started it. But I just felt that the Cum-bya moment couldn't pass without a few thanks! (and Wendy, a special thanks to you for the pep-talk on Monday, when I was smarting from hurt feelings. Talk about putting things in perspective. You, my dear, did that for me!) I wish I could list a thanks to everyone who has touched my life through blogging, but frankly there isn't time or space for all of that. If you are reading this right now, THANK YOU!

Back to the original question though, I really want to know, WHY DO YOU BLOG?? Please feel free to comment, if you are so inclined!!

To Twitter or Not to Twitter......

That is certainly the question!! I have intentionally stayed away from Twitter because frankly, I don't need another drain on my time! Due to some weird circumstances, I actually logged over 77 hours of work last week. I'm sleep deprived, seriously behind in housework, behind in book reviews, behind in my reading, and behind in catching up with some of my favorite TV shows. Behind in time with the kids and behind on my new workout schedule. I'm spending WAY too much time on Facebook. And yet....I'm thinking about Twitter. Why??? Because it seems like everyone else has a Twitter account, and I think I'm afraid I'm missing something!!

In this age of connectivity, is it possible to be TOO connected?? With cell phones, pda's, blogs, email, Facebook, MySpace, and now Twitter, there are so many ways to check in with people, do I really need ONE more?? Sometimes I think it would be easier if I wasn't connected at all. There are days when I don't want anyone to be able to "find" me!!

The kids are growing up in this completely connected world. Chad has a cell phone (he's 12) and is constantly getting text messages from his friends. He has email, and an IM account. The girls have a Club Penguin account and now a Pixie Hollow account. They like to make new "friends", just like us grownups. Pretty soon, we are going to have to get another computer just to keep up with them!!

So, I ask you.....what's the appeal of Twitter?? Why should I or should I not Twitter??? I'd like to hear from the masses!
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In reading news, I signed up for 2 more challenges this week. Carl's Once Upon a Time III Challenge and Becky's End of the World Challenge. Both are awesome, fun challenges...and in genres that I love: fantasy and dystopian/apocalyptic fiction. I'm encouraging one and all to join in the fun!!

I have a couple of reviews to post this week : Jason Pratt's Cry of Justice, a High Fantasy battle/epic and Lisa Jackson/Nancy Bush's thriller, Wicked Game. Hopefully, I'll have a couple more too....I'm 1/2 through Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely and I'm hoping to get through Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games as well. In fact, with a few days of much needed PTO time this week, I'd even like to slip in a vampire novel or two. Did anyone read any good books this week?? Something that will just have to go on my TBR mountain??

I think that's all for now....I'm off for a nap before I have to go in to work!! Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Didn't I just say, One More Challenge???

Yes, I did. But damn it....I lied!! Carl just announced it's time for the Once Upon a Time III challenge, and there is NO WAY I'm missing this one!! Not a chance!! If the picture at the top of my blog is any indication, fantasy is most definitely my favorite genre (next to creepy crawly, horror books which will just have to wait for the RIP challenge!)

I know I've said it before, but Carl is the best host challenge ever!! He has a way of bringing the community together for fun and a shared love of fantasy like no one else.

As always, there are many "Quests" you can follow if you decide to join in the fun. Last year, I ended with a reading of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. This year, I think I'm going to go for Quest the Second:

Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology. This proves to be one of the more difficult quests each year merely because of the need to classify each read and determine which books fit into which category. I am not a stickler, fear not, but I am endlessly fascinated watching how folks work to find books for each category.

Last year, I think I finished 7 books. I'm shooting for a total higher than that this year!!

Fairytale Fantasy:

• East by Edith Pattou (this could fall in the folklore category as well!) - East is a deftly woven tapestry that melds traditional fairy tale motifs of both Beauty and the Beast and East of the Sun and West of the Moon, with the haunting icy lore of medieval northern lands.
• Briar Rose by Jane Yolen - a retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
• Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede

Mythic Fantasy:

• Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint
• The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint
• The Wood Wife by Terri Windling

Folklore Fantasy:

• The Presence: A Ghost Story by Eve Bunting
• The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and their Meanings by Jan Harold Brunvand
• Will Storr Vs. The Supernatural by Will Storr

Fantasy:

• Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
• Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
• Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
• A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle
• The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
• A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Now, I KNOW I won't get all of these books finished for the challenge. But they are definitely the ones I am using to complete my categories!!!

Thanks for hosting again, Carl. You've made my week!!!

Zig-Zagging: A Memoir

When Lisa from TLC Book Tours asked me if I would like to be a part of a Blog Tour for Zig-Zagging: A Memoir by Tom Wilson (212pg, HCI, 2009), I jumped at the chance. For as long as I can remember, I have loved reading the Ziggy cartoons. He's such an inspirational little guy that always seems to see the bright side of every bad thing that happens to him.

Zig-Zagging: A Memoir, Loving Madly, Losing Badly....How Ziggy Saved my Life is written by Tom Wilson Jr. He is the current genius behind the Ziggy cartoons, but he is not the first. His father, Tom, is the original creator of Ziggy. Originally drawn for use in his father's greeting card business, Ziggy has grown into the phenomenon he is today. And Tom has always felt like Ziggy was more than just a character his father drew. No, Ziggy was more like a brother to Tom.

The book begins in the early years giving us the details of how Ziggy was born. Through Tom's childhood, Ziggy was a connection to his father. They used to go to Big Boy's and eat dinner together, Tom and his father. And they would draw on the paper placemats and play their own game called "Save Ziggy". Tom's dad would draw Ziggy in a precarious position and then Tom would draw ways to "save" him.

But this book is about more than just Ziggy. It's about Tom himself. In college, he meets his soulmate: Susan, the love of his life. They marry right after school, and start a modest but wonderfully happy life together. When Tom's father gets sick, he is called into service to help with the cartoon. An artist of his own right, Tom stays in the background to do the cartoons while his dad is the one in the public eye. But when Tom's dad is no longer able to continue, Ziggy is handed down.

But Tom's world is turned upside down when Susan is diagnosed with breast cancer. Through a long and difficult 7 year battle, the Wilson's continue to live hard and make memories for their children. But Susan's death knocks the wind out of Tom. He sinks into a horrible depression. And only a little guy named Ziggy can save him.

What I liked most about this beautiful little book is that Tom writes in the "Zen" way that Ziggy thinks. "Every now and then, maybe we become lost in order to find ourselves again." "Life is a love affair and love is an affair of life. Love affairs must be embraced and savored for all their complexities, just as life must be, as well. Being a student of life also means being a student of love. Love is a living thing with an agenda and a commission to work within our fate."

Losing the love of his life was a horrible tragedy. But dropping out of his own life was a far worse one. Seemingly, it was Ziggy that pulled him through it all.

This small little biography is such an inspiration to anyone that has lost a loved one. A quick read, it's filled with not only gut-wrenching personal accounts of his loss, but also gives comfort that yes, it will get better. Best of all, there are many Ziggy cartoons interspersed throughout. I really loved this little book, and I think many people can draw strength from not only Tom Wilson's perspective on loss, but also his renewed faith is God. As someone who has suffered a devastating loss of a dear loved one, I could too well relate to his words. A must read for all Ziggy lovers, and a must read for a person that just wants to be inspired! 4.5/5

You should watch this video for a quick insight into who Tom Wilson is now, and his take on the book itself:

Library Loot, Mailbox Monday, and Just One More Challenge!

Today's post is kind of a mess! With some hellish hours at work, I've only had a chance to post sporadically at best. So here is a little bit of everything compiled the last week!!

This week's trip to the library bore the fruit of the graphic novel!! I keep saying, "I've got to try the graphic novel!" So here goes nothing!! Book 1 in the Sandman series, Preludes and Nocturnes. I couldn't start reading the genre without a Neil Gaiman book, could I? And I'm so anal about reading in series order. Hence the first book!








I've read SO MANY good reviews on the Fables Series that I just couldn't pass it up. So many thanks to Chris, Nymeth, and most recently Kailana for my next book: Fables: Legends in Exile.










Although I did receive a few books in the mail this past week, the majority of the books listed here were purchases. Yes, that's right. I bought some books this week!! I haven't purchased a book in months, so this was a treat to myself for all the hard work I've done lately!! Besides, I have a few days off next week. Although the majority of my time will probably be spent doing some spring cleaning (seriously....I think I'm dangerously close to the border of living in a crack house! OK. Maybe it's not quite that bad, but it feels like it sometimes. I just haven't had the time nor desire to do a lot of cleaning lately). And I also want to spend some quality time with the kids. But after it's all said and done, I'd like to have a few hours to myself for a little vampire read-a-thon! That being said, here are my purchases:




Oh yeah. Like this is a surprise!! I've only been talking about Hunted: A House of Night Novel by PC Cast and Kristin Cast since I finished Book 4! The only surprise is, I haven't read it yet :( But like I said, I'm hoping for Vampire Read-a-Thon next week!!

The final book in Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire Series is As Shadows Fade. Another book I'm dying to read, and yet I'll be really sad when the series ends. But end it must, so at least I'm looking for a happy farewell!!

I also picked up the next 3 books in the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine:

Book 3, Midnight Alley

Book 4, Feast of Fools

and Book 5, Lords of Misrule. Should be an interesting week!!

Now, I haven't even finished the first book in Melissa Marr's Trilogy that started with Wicked Lovely. But somehow, I managed to wrangle an ARC of Book 3 called Fragile Eternity. Isn't the cover gorgeous?? I hope to get to all of these really soon too!!

Valerie Russo from Hatchette Books sent me an ARC of David Cristofano's novel, The Girl She Used to Be. It really looks good!

The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson was sent to my by a publicist. It's a memoir, and I think it will be great in my quest to branch out into more non-fiction.

Finally, I picked up an ARC of Laura Lippman's new novel, Life Sentences. I've been wanting to read a Lippman novel for a long time, and this one looks like a great place to start!!

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Finally, I've decided to join yet another challenge. But this one should be easy. Becky from Becky's Book Reviews is hosting the End of the World Reading Challenge. I LOVE Dystopian books....I read The Host for this challenge last year and it turned out to be my favorite of the year!! So I'm really looking forward to the 2009 choices. Here is what Becky says:

"Name: It's The End Of The World II
Host: Becky (of Becky's Book Reviews)

Dates: March 10, 2009 - October 9, 2009

Books Required: at least four

Read at least four books about "the end of the world." This includes both apocalyptic fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction. There is quite a bit of overlap with dystopic fiction as well. The point being something--be it coming from within or without, natural or unnatural--has changed civilization, society, humanity to such a degree that it radically differs from "life as we now know it." (Aliens, evil governments, war, plague, natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, depletion of resources, genetic manipulation, etc.) Here is a wikipedia article on the subject. Also see here. These changes can be small-but-still-significant or huge-and-life-threatening.

Books can be classified as children's, young adult, and adult. (Not many children's books go there. But many teen books do. And they're great.)

Graphic novels can count for this challenge.

Audio books allowed.

Crossovers with other challenges are allowed."

So on to my choices (which I reserve the right to change at any time!!)

• Uglies by Scott Westerfield (and maybe a couple of the others in the series)
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• The Rising by Brian Keene
• Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy

That should be enough to keep me busy for awhile!!

Channeling Holden Caulfield

A book review?? Holy Hell...it's about time, you say!! Well, yes. I AM hopelessly behind in reviews. And my reading has been slow and tedious lately. But I have found the way out of this kind of slump is a GREAT book. With Looking for Alaska by John Green (256 pgs, Puffin, 2005) I found just that. I guess I finally know what all the fuss is about!

The week before I left my family and Florida and the rest of my minor life to go to boarding school in Alabama, my mother insisted on throwing me a going-away party. To say that I had low expectations would be to underestimate the matter drastically.

Miles Halter is looking for something new. His life in Florida is boring, he has no one he can really call a friend, he's never had a girlfriend, and he's obsessed with famous Last Words. Miles wants more out of life, and decides to pack it all in and go to Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama. When asked by his mother why he wants to leave he gives this answer:

"So this guy," I said, standing in the doorway of the living room. "Francois Rebelais. He was this poet. And his last words were 'I go to seek a Great Perhaps'. That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps."

Into the Great Perhaps, he meets up with a group of people that he can finally call friends: His roommate, Chip "the Colonel" Martin, a brilliant scholarship kid that can plan a prank with the best of them; Takumi, the Japanese DJ; and Alaska Young, the beautiful, intelligent, but troubled girl that everyone falls just a bit in love with.

This book is divided into 2 sections: The Before and The After, leaving the reader with only the knowledge that something important is going to happen. I really can't say anything else about the plot without giving away some spoiler, but the reader knows that the countdown is to something ominous.

But the plot is secondary to the characters and their relationships in this book. Miles search for the Great Perhaps completely evoked thoughts of Holden Caulfield and his search for meaning in Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Miles sheds his lonely life and learns what it's like to have friends. He learns the values of loyalty, honor, and even love. (He also learns how to smoke, drink, and perform some of the greatest school pranks in recorded history!)

John Green's writing is a thing of beauty. At once, it is funny, touching, tragic and heartbreaking. Green is a master with his words, and he knows how to get inside the head of teenagers.

"There were so many of us who would have to live with things done and things left undone that day. Things that did not go right, things that seemed okay at the time because we could not see the future. If only we could see the endless string of consequences that result from our smallest actions. But we can’t know better until knowing better is useless."

Simple, yet so complex. The "before" half of the book is filled with wonder and discovery. The "after" half of the book shows how Miles deals with consequences....and it can be gut-wrenching. But through it all, Green weaves a beautiful story of friendship, love, and grief. This book is a testament to the fact that teens today are a lot smarter than I think most adults give them credit. A fantastic read, this will definitely be one of the "bests" of the year! And it also shows that another "G" author is going to make his way into my favorites list! A superb 5/5!!