Archive for the Category »Random Books «

30
Oct
Not that I’m obsessed or anything

But lately I’ve been reading.

A lot.

I shared what I read the first weekend I had my kindle.  Well, I haven’t stopped.  Want to hear the cool part, I’ve only paid for one book (and I haven’t even read that one yet).  I know, you’re laughing and thinking how cheap I am, right?  That’s not it.  I justified buying the Kindle because there are so many books available for free.  I’ll buy books eventually but I kind of promised myself that I’d read enough books that I acquired for free to “pay” for my Kindle.  And, I’m doing that.

I have received some books from someone but I still didn’t pay for them.  A lot are free books — either the author is offering them for free (pretty much to get you hooked on the series or whatever) or they were written so long ago that the copyright isn’t valid anymore so it’s available for free (like books by Agatha Christie, Charlotte Bronte, and Jane Austen).   There are so many available and a lot of them great books that I’m sticking to my deal with myself for a little bit.

There are a couple books I’ve looked at that I want to buy.  And I will.  But right now I have 35 books waiting to be read (OK, I just downloaded some  more so now I have 37).  In addition to the four books I read the first weekend I had my Kindle I’ve read at least six since (I’ve lost count :( ).

So…for some non-book talk.  I have some work to do this weekend but I really just want to stay home.  I’m going to my stamp club tomorrow then home to read/relax/clean/work.  I’m excited.  I’ve been a little sick so I want a few days at home (heck, even if part of those days are spent with my laptop working it’s still at home).

till-later

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13
Oct
What are you reading?

So, I mentioned last week that I bought myself a Kindle.  Other than briefly mentioning it, though I didn’t say  much about it.  Well, this weekend I read. Man, did I read.  From Friday night to Sunday night I read 3 1/2 books.  I finished the 4th Monday night.

I LOVE to read.  Unfortunately, I’m also cheap and lazy so I hate going to the store and buying books (because they’re expensive PLUS then what do you do with them after you read them). But, even more I don’t like going to the library — it’s a hassle.  So, I bought the Kindle and I read this weekend.

First, let me review the Kindle this thing ROCKS!  I was a little worried about how I’d like seeing the pages on a screen vs. on a page.  I also worried about how comfortable it would be hold it and “turn” pages.  Plus, I have a tendency to enjoy reading in bed laying down so I wondered how that would work.  You know what, this makes all of those even easier.  Seriously.  I can read one handed, I can eat while I’m reading, I can read laying down even more comfortably.  It ROCKS.

When I was buying the Kindle I was going to order a cover at the same time but decided to wait.  There were so many options with different colors, fabrics, styles, etc. that I was overwhelmed.  Plus, honestly, I hadn’t really touched the Kindle yet so I wasn’t sure what I wanted.  I’m glad I waited.  The cover I originally picked out is not the one I think I’m going to get.  I definitely want one to make it easier (safer) to carry the Kindle in my purse but I’m still trying to decide which design I want based on how I hold/use it.

So, on to my title.:  what are you reading?  Well, here’s what I read this weekend with some thoughts.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews I read this as part of my Book Reader Blogger for Thomas Nelson and wrote up a review here.  In short, the book was OK.

sTORI Telling by Tori Stelling I heard good things about the book and it delivered.  The book is Tori Spelling’s biography.  It’s interesting.  I’ve always like her as an actres and after reading the book I have respect for her as a person.  It’s worth reading.

Stories from Candyland by Candy Spelling After reading Tori’s biography the natural next move would be to read her mom’s biography, right?  WRONG.  OMG, I said it best here:  “Not a good book, not a nice person, not worth your time to even bother.  I knew Candy’s review (my friend Candy) and still thought she HAD to be wrong.  Nope, Candy says it best. This woman doesn’t even try to cover up the fact that she is a materialistic shallow person.  And, her writing is atrocious. After reading the book I’m convinced she paid them to publish it for her, and I’m sure she paid them a lot. Too bad she didn’t include a payment editing.”

I Heart Bloomberg (86 Bloomberg Place Series #1) by Melody Carlson this book was good, it was a free Kindle book and worth it.  I’m not quite ready to buy Book 2 in the series because it wasn’t that good.  No, I’m not that cheap but I just didn’t like it enough to buy book 2 yet.  I might some day.  I will read something else by this author but am not pushing buttons in a mad rush to buy book 2.  So, if you have a Kindle it’s worth getting this one but don’t expect awards from the book.

And, now a peak at my reading list.  (There are currently 25 items on my reading list, this is just a few to give you an idea on where my reading trend is going.)

Mommywood by Tori Spelling I’m reading this tonight because it’s short and I’ll probably be able to finish it tonight.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Little Women by Louis May Alcott

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Now, I will tell you the one negative (OK, two) things about the Kindle.  1.  I feel like I have a to-do list and I don’t like to-do lists.  There are 25 (oops, I just synced so there are actually 27) items on my Kindle to be read (I delete them when I’m done) so I feel like I have things to do.  It’s OK, just my one complaint.  Oh, wait I mentioned that there were two… 2. I don’t have time to watch TV because I’m too busy reading.

till-later

Category: Random Books  Tags:  3 Comments
13
Sep
Book Review

I recently started reviewing books for Thomas Nelson.  I post the reviews on another blog of mine but this book was SO good, I wanted to share it here.

Faces in the Fire by By T.L. Hines

This morning I finished Face in the Fire by T.L. Hines. It’s my first book by this author but if this book is any indication FacesintheFireof how he write is definitely won’t be my last.

The book follows four individuals through almost four separate stories and how their lives intertwine. The book genre is different from the normal book I’d pick up but I’m so glad I did. The narrative format of the book is unique and if not done right would have been horrid but this is done right. The random chapter numbering drove me nuts at first (it’s my “need for order” issue) but I quickly “got it” and it works.

Seriously, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I was entertained, I wanted to see what happened next, I couldn’t wait to finish the book but in a good way – I wanted to see what happened. To be honest, I can often tell you what’s going to happen in a book after the first few chapters. It wasn’t until the end of this book (last couple chapters) that I finally got the whole thing – which was good.

They book is described as suspense – I don’t know that I’d necessarily classify it that way but I can see that.
In all honestly, I can’t say enough about how great this book was. I’ll definitely be recommending it to friends.

= = =

From the back cover
Four lost souls on a collision course with either disaster or redemption. A random community of Faces in the Fire.
Meet Kurt, a truck-driver-turned-sculptor with no memory of his past. Corinne, an e-mail spammer whose lymphoma isn’t responding to treatment. Grace, a tattoo artist with an invented existence and a taste for heroin. And Stan, a reluctant hit man haunted by his terrifying gift for killing.

They don’t know each other, at least not yet. But something–or someone–is at work in the fabric of their lives, weaving them all together. A catfish, a series of numbers scribbled on a napkin, a devastating fire, and something mysterious. Something that could send them hurtling down the highway to disaster–or down the road to redemption. But they won’t know which is which until they’ve managed to say yes to the whispers in their souls.

till-later

Category: Random Books, Random Recommendations, Random Reviews  Tags:  Leave a Comment
09
Oct
Swapping Lives

This is the fourth book by Jane Green that I’ve read recently. This last one was actually by accident. I went to pick up a book a couple weeks ago for my original trip to CA. This one looked good so I bought it, it wasn’t until I picked it up to read that I realized it was by the same author of 3 of the last four book I read. LOL I figured that was a good sign.

I was right.

Swapping Lives was a great read. I highly recommend picking it up.

Being a single career woman I was able to relate to Vicky, the single career woman in the story who swaps lives with Amber, the wife and mother of two. It so easy to look at what you don’t have and wish for that. This story takes at look at whether the grass is greener on the other side. I can’t say this book is life changing or anything like that, but it is an easy, fun read that I really think will make you think about your own life whether you’re married or single, a parent or childless.

Of course, I have to give you my disclaimer: I’m a sucker for psychology type books and TV shows. I watch reality TV to look at the interaction between the participants and how the situations change the individual. I enjoy watching how a situation different from what you’re used to will help someone become a better person.

 

Till later…

Oh, and one hint, ALWAYS save your posts when you’re typing them! Ugh. LOL

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30
Sep
Books and Movies

It’s not uncommon for me to read a book then see the “based on” movie at a later time. I usually try to read the book first, and often I’m disappointed by the movie. I think the most recent book/movie was my biggest disappointment yet.

One evening I saw the movie “The Redemption of Sarah Cain” on TV. I have a fascination with the Amish community so when I saw the movie I thought I’d enjoy it, so I DVRd it and watched it. When it started I realized it was written by Beverly Lewis and I usually like her work. The movie, however, wasn’t all that great.

A week or so later I went to my parents and my mom had just finished the book, so I took it to read. I wasn’t really looking forward to it but my bookshelf doesn’t have many unread books at the moment so it got moved to the top of the list.

Much to my surprise (not that I should be) the book is NOTHING like the movie. Seriously, N O T H I N G! OK, I’m sorry, the main characters in number and name are the same (well, the ones that weren’t left out of the movie) but other than that and the fact that the kids are Amish and orphans the books is completely different from the movie. For goodness sake, they take place in two different locations (Portland and Lancaster county!!!) and Sarah had a completely different career which was a pretty big part of the movie.

Why say the movie is based on a book if nothing in the movie even closely resembles the original story?

So, my recommendation: buy the book and use your movie watching time more wisely.

Till later…

Category: Random Books, Random Reviews  One Comment