Book Reviews

Musing Monday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading! This week’s question:

Do you review books? If so, for who? If not, have you ever thought about doing so? Why, or why not?

Oh, book reviews. When I started blogging, I thought it would be so easy to review books. I mean, I love to read them, talk about them, share them with people I lnow. So why not write reviews for the ones I read? Why not, indeed. In reality - I am kind of lazy about writing reviews. It seems the only books I review are ones that I have committed to reviewing, such as the selections I've read through Barnes and Noble's First Look program. Otherwise, I just haven't been reviewing the books I read. I keep telling myself I will but then I don't. I'm lazy about reviewing. I really need to try and be better about it.

Reading Amidst Noise

Musing Monday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading! This week’s question:

"Can you read amidst distractions? (tv, others talking, sporting events, etc"

Yes, I can read while other things are going on around me. I don't always choose to do so but I can when I want to. I grew up in a house where the television was always on. I learned very quickly how to block out the TV and read my book. It drove my parents (most especially my father) nuts! My husband also likes to have television (or music) going almost all the time. And I almost always prefer a book; so most definitely yes, I can read with distractions.

Oh, and I quite like taking some me time and going off to Barnes and Noble or Starbucks to read my books. I lose myself in the story and the surrounding noise doesn't bother me. Writing is an entirely different story, though. I can't get any writing done amidst noise and chaos. I'm not sure why it's different for me but it is - and I'm off on a tangent. LOL

Thank Goodness for Bookish Friends

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks pondering:

"Do you have friends and family to share books with? Discuss them with? Does it matter to you?"

Yes, thank goodness I have friends to share and discuss books with! I am in a real-life book club with a few female friends and love the book discussions we have. I also love the guaranteed girl-time that book club creates.

I have to agree with the 'thank God for the internet' sentiment, as well. I have several friends that I keep in touch with through e-mail and blogs that have given me wonderful suggestions for books. As I hope I have for them. I love the fact that books (good and not-so-good ones) bring people together - whether in-person or online. I am forever grateful to my bookish friends.

You Want to Love a Book - but Don't

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks pondering:

Name a book or author that you truly wanted to love but left you disappointed. (And, of course, explain why.)

Musing Monday's this week was about hyped-up books and I feel that this post ties in with my response to that rather well.

There's a little book called The Help by Katryn Stockett that seemingly everyone loves. Yes, I say 'little' facetiously because this is one of those books that it seems everyone is talking about. There are so many reviews of the book and every one I've read or heard is full of glowing praise. My friend G loves this book. She went out and bought it after having checked it out from the library to read. She bought it 'just to have it on her shelf'. The thing is - I completely understand the desire to have a book you love so much. Often, G and I have very similar taste in books but not this time. I have tried to read The Help twice and can not get into this book. I want to like this book but I find the thrashing of the English language in the beginning of the book absolutely annoying! I understand that Stockett is writing the way her character most likely would have spoken at the time - I get that but still it grates on my nerves.

This is a perfect example of why I generally try to stay away from reviews. I had super high expectations for The Help and twice have started it and taken it back to the library. Maybe it just hasn't been the right time for me and this book. That's happened to me before. I tried to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society twice and was bored silly. Then I tried a third time and completely fell in love with the book. I honestly believe a book has to be read at the right time in a persons life - but that's a post for another time.

On Folly Beach Teaser

Teaser Tuesday's is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read -
Open to a random page -
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser from page 41:

"These were all my mother's books, which I brought from the house in Charleston when I sold it following my father's death three years ago. I didn't have room at the cottage but I didn't want to get rid of them, either."

I'm only about one quarter into On Folly Beach but I am really enjoying the book so far. The story is being told from two points of view - Maggie's in 1942 shortly after the United States entered World War 2 and Emmy's in 2009. It seems that a bookstore, books and some sort of mysery are going to make their stories intertwine.

Hyped-Up Books

Musing Monday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading! This week’s question:

"What do you think of books that receive a lot of hype? (think of the “Twilight” saga, or “Harry Potter”, or “The Da Vinci Code”). Do you read them? Why, or why not?"

I generally tend to shy away from books that are overly hyped. The main reason is because I'm afraid that I will be disappointed in the book. This has happened more than once. Fortunately, I've given hyped-up books a chance and been pleasantly surprised, as well. I read Water for Elephants amidst all of it's hyped glory and now count it as one of my all-time favorite books. And I am 2/3 of the way through The Millenium series and thoroughly enjoying that one also.

Finally, since it was specified in the question, I LOVE the Harry Potter series. And I am indeed guilty of telling people that haven't read them how very great they are. However, I started reading the books before there was hysteria around any and every thing Harry. If I had come into the Harry Potter books once they were (seemingly) the only books people were speaking of - I may have been reluctant to pick them up. Oh, how glad I am that this was not the case.

Mixed Reviews

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks pondering:

Do you read book reviews? Do you let them change your mind about reading/not reading a particular book?

I'm kind of weird about book reviews; I like them but I avoid them sometimes. What this means is that if I am looking for something to read then I'm likely to read some book reviews (especially from other book bloggers). I have read some great books that I may have otherwise missed because of reviews.

However, if there is a book that I know I want to read already - then I try to avoid any reviews as I like to make my own opinion. Plus, I don't want any accidental spoilers.

Wedding Anniversary

Today is mine and my husband's anniversary. However, since it's Monday, he had to work, my eldest daughter had to go to school and my youngest daughter and I played chauffeur and errand girls. So, my husband and I had our anniversary time out yesterday.

We dropped our daughters off with their great aunt and we went out to a very nice brunch and a movie. Expensive meals are not something we do in our family so the brunch we had yesterday was an amazing treat! Oh, and did I mention that my husband made the reservation and planned the babysitting? Yeah, that was a treat in itself. And, he did this two weeks ago.

Anyway, the brunch was a four course deal and included champagne. Normally, I can't have more than a couple of sips of champagne without acquiring a headache. Yesterday, I had three glasses and all I felt was giddy and happy. Our brunch began with a bowl of fresh canteloupe and berries, followed by shrimp chowder which was to-die-for. Then we had the main course (beautiful pics below) and an apple tart topped with vanilla mousse for dessert. I am still thinking about how amazingly delicious the brunch was.

The company of my husband, the delicious food and exemplary champagne was set off by a jaw dropping view of the Pacific Ocean. I felt spoiled and completely loved. Well, I always feel loved but the spoiled was a great treat yesterday.

After brunch we walked on the beach and then went to the movies. We saw Get Him to the Greek. It was a really funny movie that had some serious parts to it, as well. I'd definitely recommend the movie.

And now, for the pictures:
My husbands filet mignon, yukon gold potatos, scrambled eggs topped with tomatos and green beans.

My seafood salad that had lobster, shrimp, scallops and a vinigarette dressing.

The view from our table.

Reading Spots

Musing Monday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

This week’s question asks:

Where is your most often used (favorite) reading spot? Do you have more than one? What makes your favorite spot just that?

I love to lay in bed at night once my kids and husband are asleep or occupied and lose myself in the pages of my book. It's so relaxing, quiet and often the perfect end to a perfect but almost always crazy day.

I also like to go to Starbucks by myself and order an iced coffee or tea and just read my book. Usually, I am writing when I'm at Starbucks but it is nice to spend a little time with a book there, too.

Classic Books

I've decided that I want to read more classic books. I love The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and East of Eden by John Steinbeck. There are plenty that I read at University that I enjoyed, as well. However, once I was out of school - I needed a break from what I thought of as 'required reading' at that point. Now that some time has gone by I find myself wanting to read classics again. I'm thinking I want to read one classic book per month.

So, which classic books are your favorites?

Long vs. Short

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks pondering:

Which do you prefer? Short stories or full-length novels?

I definitely prefer full length novels. I have read many short stories that I enjoyed and always find myself wishing for more. To me, short stories are teasers.

Wanderlust

Musing Monday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

This week’s question asks:

Do you ever read a word or phrase that sparks a specific place or setting in your mind and makes you crave to read a book with that type of place/setting in it?

This happens to me frequently. I love books that are set in New England (Boston in particular) and England. For me, reading books rich in setting appeals to my ever present wanderlust. I love to travel but it's not the easiest thing to do with small children. So, I open a book and travel these days. I can't wait to take my children to many of the places I love. For now, I'll visit them in the pages of books.

Long Weekend

I love long weekends. I briefly forgot that we all have tomorrow off (no work or school). Now that I remember, I am ecstatic! Hopefully this means that we'll all sleep in a little bit tomorrow morning. Since we don't have any solid plans - I think a movie, a BBQ, playtime with the kids and lots of reading sounds perfect! :)

Books at my Bedside

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This weeks pondering:

"What books do you have next to your bed right now? How about other places in the house? What are you reading?"

I have a small bookshelf next to my bed rather than a nightstand. I had to do this because the nightstand I used to have was over run with books anyway and became unsafe. This particular bookshelf has many books on it - including the ones I have checked out from the library.

The next two books I'm going to read are actually in the library pile on the bookshelf next to my bed. The books are: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

I am currently reading The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson. What an amazing book. Once I finish the above library books I am going to read the final book in the Millenium trilogy - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.