I read an adult book

One new thing living here in Alamogordo is meeting new people, and creating new friendships.  One of the first Mom's I met: Laura invited me to her book club.  I've been to one so far (in January) but it was a blast, and definitely want to continue to go!  I've never been part of a book club before, but one thing I really like about this one, is even if you don't read the book you still get to go.  The book for February was "Room" (I just finished it, and I missed February's meeting because it was while I was out of town).  I was excited about book club and really having an excuse to read a book.  It's easily been 2+ years since I've read an adult book, and I really enjoyed it.  Now I want to see the movie, which I think will be a little bit more tricky to do.
I much preferred the last half of this book, as the first half I had a hard time getting into it.  The book is told from a 5-year old boys perspective, so getting adjusted to that dialogue and writing was a little difficult for me to get into.  But once I was used to it, his point of few definitely made the book more interesting.  The topic of this book I think would be difficult to write from an adults perspective just because of the issues involved, having the book told by Jack kept it's innocence, since Jack doesn't know anything else.
The book is about a woman help captive for seven years, with her soon, whom she gives birth to after 2 years of being held captive, and their escape.  I would recommend this book just because of the different narrative and to give yourself the view of how a 5 year old boy sees the world.

Review: The Hunger Games

warning *** Spoilers Ahead

Last night I saw The Hunger Games movie, and I have so much I want to write about. But I know I've already forgotten most of it. I was trying to make mental notes while I was watching it and I hope to get all of thoughts out because I can't stop thinking about all of it! So if this post is a little bit scattered and all over the place, it's just because I want to try and get it all out.
Chris and I went a group of my gym friends last night, all of us ladies have read the book and were excited for the movie.
First off, the books. The books are freakin' fantastic! Go read them if you haven't. So creative, adventurous, and face-paced. With that said, I started reading the trilogy about a month ago, and I'm about half way through the third book "Mockingjay". In general I'm a slow reader, and I usually only read on the bus to/from work. But these books I've been rushing through just because of the excitement of it all. So unfortunately I think I've missed a lot. And I was afraid I would forget some of the details while watching the movie, but I think for the most part I remembered a lot.
Let's start with Jennifer Lawrence. She played Katniss perfectly. And my goodness she is tiny. That scene where she's walking out with her skin-tight black outfit on to go out on the chariot. Wow...super tiny. Then Peeta...I thought they did a good job of making them seem like she's smaller than he is. Because have you seen all the press these two actors have done? She's way taller than he is, but in the movie you don't notice that. Which is good.
Speaking of Peeta, let's mention Gale. And the beginning of the love triangle that is started. I wish they would have shown more of Gale and his observance of the games. Because you know he's watching. And he is such a big part of the story even though he isn't completely visible in the first book/movie. But you know that he's still there. Does that make sense?
What happened to District Thirteen? Now we all know District Thirteen is no-longer. But did they even point that out in the movie?
And did I miss the whole kiss your 3 main fingers and hold them up in the air, thing? I have a feeling I did. Because I don't remember that in the book, and I don't remember getting any sort of storyline about that in the movie. So can one of you tell me the meaning behind that?, because I'm clueless. It obviously has something to do with some sort of solidarity. But in the movie you only see it in District 12, and in District 11 after Rue dies. Is it something only having to do with the poorer districts?
I wish they told more about the characters from the Capitol. Because I'm pretty sure I just skimmed over the background while reading the book. Like Effie Trinket. First they never even really introduced her, she was just there announcing the names and taking the tributes to the Capitol.
Speaking of characters. What happened to Madge? Wasn't she the one who gave her the pin to wear? And the good-bye's. I really wish they would have show Peeta's dad saying good-bye to Katniss.
Now moving on to the arena. One thing I really liked about the movie, was how The Hunger Games were essentially shown as a reality show. I never thought of it like this while reading the book. How there were basically producers creating this "reality" for the tributes. The huge room of all the people managing the elements of the arena. Very interesting.
I wish they would have shown Katniss going deaf in one ear. I can't remember how she goes deaf but I remember it in the book. I also wish they would have shown her thirst, and her wishing Haymitch would send her some. Then her realization that water was near by. In the book you get the feeling that Katniss and Haymitch have there own language, and that was never really portrayed in the movie.
The eyes. I really wish that they would have put the dead tributes eyes in the muttations eyes at the end. I think that was a pivotal part of the book, that the movie left out, and could have easily been done.
The hovercraft. Why didn't we ever see the hovercraft come and pick up the bodies? I guess that was an easy thing to leave out, and not something I necessarily missed, but just something I noticed.
And what about the cannon going off when Rue died, and the tribute keeping guard of the all of the food, and the tribute that killed Rue? I'm almost positive that when those 3 died, no cannon went off. I also wish that they would have showed the night-time list of lost tributes more than once. ...I think they only showed the first night, then one night with no tributes lost.
The berries. In the book she actually puts the berries in her mouth, then spits them out. I definitely thing the movie should have shown that.
President Snow is the perfect villain. I think the movie portrayed him perfectly. And the fact that each time the showed him he was around roses was the perfect set up for the future movies and the symbol he becomes with his use of roses.
I loved how at the end of the book you see Katniss' realization of what life is going to be like after the games. It's crazy how this story takes you once such an emotional roller coaster that you don't think about one situation relating to the next, because you are truly just trying to stay alive. How at the beginning you just don't want your name to be drawn. Then the good-byes. They thinking that you are most likely going to die. To surviving, being crowned victor. To the aftermath of realizing that you are alive, now a victor, and going back to your district as hero, and all of the expectations now that you are back. They all go together, but in the book/movie you just cross each thing one at a time. Not really thinking about the "big picture" because you are so focused on getting out of the tunnel.
Well, I think that's all I can write. Overall the movie was good, and I can definitely understand the parts that they left out, because you can't include everything.
Even if you haven't read the books, the movie is still a good one, and I would highly suggest you go see it!

the facebook book

book review
the accidental billionaires
the founding of facebook: a tale of sex, money, genius, and betrayal
by ben mezrich

i realize i haven't done a book review in awhile. mostly because i feel my book reviews aren't really all that great. usually i don't have anything too enlightening to say, regardless if i think a book is great or bad. when i read a book i usually tell myself to make mental notes of things i would bring up in a book review on my blog, but when i actually finish the book, all those mental notes are long gone! but i liked this book that much to write about it. not much the book, but the movie too.
i saw the movie back in october. the movie was great. to be honest the whole facebook world to me is quiet fascinating. this whole online social-networking thing is really just weird. it's crazy to think of how this website came to be. prior to the movie i had no idea it was a book. so the book was a pleasant surprise.
if you've seen the movie you know that it has a very specific attitude throughout the whole thing. and what's amazing about the book is that the book as the very same attitude. i loved the style of this writer. very dry, but funny, and lots of personality. i've never thought of a type of writing to have a specific type of attitude, but the way it was portrayed on screen is exactly how you would imagine it to be. which to me is pretty talented. the writer did repeat himself at times, but i think that was part of the betrayal part. the fact that you don't want to believe you are being betrayed. so you continue on in denial, until what was in your gut was happening all along.
unlike most book to movie adaptations, the movie actually had more details than the book. the movie went into details of the lawsuit against facebook and mark zuckerberg, which the book does not.
both the movie and the book are very entertaining. i would strongly recommend both.

treadmill 30min
elliptical 30min

no hype this time

unlike the big spectacular that was a week long "new moon" fest leading up to a double feature of "twilight" then the midnight showing of "new moon", "eclipse" unfortunately isn't getting that attention. when my cousin kari came up to denver to see "new moon" she had also planned to be here for the premiere of "eclipse". but then we realized that the release date was right before a holiday weekend, and it just didn't work.
she's going camping with her family, and my parents are coming up here, so unfortunately for me there is no big production of me going to see "eclipse". and i'm a little bit sad about it now that the movie has officially come out.
i just re-re-read eclipse and am currently reading the short second life of bree tanner, and eclipse is my favorite book, and now the movie is out, and i haven't seen it! right about now it is kinda driving me crazy. i was almost half tempted to check it out tonight after the gym, but that just wasn't realistic. going in all sweaty, hungry, and still needing to clean up my house for my parents arrival tomorrow night. and then this weekend, my parents will be here, and we do have a movie in the agenda of things to do, but i highly doubt i can convince my parents to go see "eclipse". so i'm a little bit sad. so right now i have tentative plans to check it out monday night after my parents leave. i suppose waiting 5 days to see it won't kill me.

with all of that being said, reading eclipse for the 3rd time, i found some questions to ask about the book, along with some of the things i found while reading the first 30 pages of the short second life of bree tanner. stephenie meyer mentions that bree is the first newborn vampire that bella encounters. but technically isn't it riley? or is riley not classified as a newborn? with that, i found it interesting that stephenie does mention the killings that the newborns are creating in seattle, but nothing is every really mentioned about the disappearances of the newborns? is that because victoria is creating "stupid" vampires? ...people who won't be reported missing? just some random questions.
lets move to jacob. aww jacob. beautiful good for bella jacob. it really sucks how the end of eclipse goes by so quickly, that bella realizes her love for him, and then the book is done. anyways, where is jacob's mom? he has 2 older sisters, right? ...they are mentioned a couple of times. but i don't remember a mention of his mom. so i thought i would throw that out there.

...until Monday.

zumba 60min
579

book review

book review
the justice
by angela hunt

i got this book while i was browsing at the library during my last visit. i got this book because of the political twist that came with it, and because it was different. ...i don't think i had ever read a political book. one thing that i didn't really like about this book is that it felt like it took me forever to read. and because of that it just kinda dragged, but not because of the book, because of my lack of fast reading skills.

overall i did like this book and would recommend it. for the most part it was easy to read. the author did use a lot of the white house acronyms which were hard to follow. POTUS (president of the United States) is one them and i remember that one because it's easy to remember. i really enjoyed the beginning of this book because the story line gets started right away. their was no big long introduction of the characters, and irrelevant details. the fact-paced beginning set the tone for the rest of the story which i appreciated.
the story takes place is 2004 with our first ever female vice president who becomes the first ever female president because the president passes away. daryn austin comes from a political family, single, and whose roll as VP was minimal. when she is awoken in the early hours to hear of the presidents emergency room visit, a few hours later she is sworn into the presidency. growing up as the governor's daughter she has seen the political lime light, and immediately creates 2 persona's. the political one and the private one. upon her roll she invites her college beau to be a lawyer on her law team. paul santana is a puerto rican lawyer living in miami with his wife who is a breast cancer survivor, and college bound daughter. paul immediately says no to the president and her offer because paul feels that uprooting the family at this point in his life is unnecessary, and that his wife would never agree because of her closeness she has with her family that lives in miami. when paul tells his family about the idea they immediately agree that this an opportunity of a lifetime, and that he must take it. that the move will be temporary and when daryn austin is no longer president they'll return to miami.

this book is intertwined with love, suspense, religion, power, racism, and of course political drama. the author creates the story line of all these topics while keeping the reader interested in finding out what will happen next.

if you are looking for something a little bit different, i would suggest you read the justice.

zumba 60min
684

two out of five stars

book review
the tourist

by Jeff Hobbs

this book was just ok. on my last trip to the library to return the help i had to actually go inside the library. ...majority of the time i have a book being held for me, but on this particular trip i knew i had some overdue fines so i decided to spend sometime inside searching for some new books. i enjoy doing this because it is habit to always go to the same type of book, or the same author over and over. on this trip, i wanted to go away with something new. while strolling the aisles i stumbled upon the tourist, read the back and thought "i'll give it a try." i find big differences between female and male writers, and i liked that this book was written by a male because i do lean more towards the female authors. one thing that i don't take notice of too heavily when it comes books is the artwork on the front. because majority of the time it doesn't mean anything. you know the saying "don't trust a book by it's cover". for this particular book cover, it definitely means something, and it becomes clear when reading the first chapter of the book. i'll let you ponder what those 2 chairs might be representing.

this story takes place in current day NYC. it's about 4 college "friends" who all grew separately after graduation then find themselves connected 6 years later(or something like that, i can't remember how many years after graduation this story takes place). the tourist is a story about growing up, traveling, working in corporate america, love affairs, lust affairs, and never really knowing the full truth. the whole book is really sorta random.
the 4 main characters all attended and graduated from Yale University, they all know of each other, but they don't really know one another. so because their aren't any super strong ties amongst the four of them you don't ever get to form a close relationship with any of them as the reader. the only thing that all of them have in common are their days at Yale.

it is a secret that the reader and narrator knows of that moves this book along. wondering how the other 3 friends in the story will find out about the secret is what kept me reading. the story itself is interesting, but i think their are a few random parts i could have gone with out. for example one of the friends brothers gets drunk, falls off the top of a building and dies. the death had no place in this book, it didn't prove a point, and no real lesson was learned from it.

with such randomness going on i wouldn't recommend this book.

treadmill 22min
dance jam 60min
treadmill 15min
817

"the help"

book review
the help by kathryn stockett

this book took me forever to read. and caused me $3.80 in late fees at the library. but it was well worth in. i first read about the help on people.com. i guess it is being made into a movie.

despite the fact that it took me a full month to read i really enjoyed this book. it takes place in jackson, mississippi in the early 1960's. what's crazy is that was only 50 years ago and the things that happened during that time seem absolutely unimaginable now.
the story is about a white neighborhood and their hired African American help. the book is written by a talented Caucasian woman, which to me was surprising, because more than half the book is from the perspective of a black woman raising a white woman's children and cleaning her house.
the whole dynamic is foreign and entertaining. i really enjoyed this book. at times it was hard to follow because the author will periodically change narrators, but once i realized the name of the woman was titled at the beginning of the chapter made it easier! :) combine that with the busy month i had, i wasn't reading everyday.
the point of this book is change. change for the better. and i really like that. it is crazy that "normal" used to be having "colored" schools, libraries, and bathrooms. that "those" people carried diseases just because of the color of their skin. how closed minded were we? it makes me so proud that we no longer think that, that those ideas seem absurd! that change is possible for the greater good. for equality for all.
i would highly recommend this book.

50/50 60min
elliptical 10min

nicholas sparks kick

so i recently got done reading 3 books by nicholas sparks. i had never read one of his books before, but had always been curious. a co-worker recommended i read the notebook. so that's what i did, followed by the choice, then the sequel to the notebook, the wedding.
as you can imagine nicholas sparks writes the classic romance. what every girl wants out of a man, he writes about beautifully. which in all honest is very surprising because the author is a man. to have a man be so romantic and to write it down is quite impressive.
his stories for the most part are very simple. which i believe is why his books make good movies. because they are easy. the plots are easy to follow, but engages the reader with an emotional connection to give you the hope for the happily ever after.
if you want that lovey dovey feeling of happiness and love, these books are great for that!

treadmill 30min
dance jam 60min

keep climbing

Book Review
Keep Climbing: How I Beat Cancer and Reached the Top of the World
by Sean Swarner with Rusty Fischer

this book was amazing. i highly recommend you read it. it is a great reminder that we are so blessed with each day of our life.

last month during Q. Marketplace at work we had Sean Swarner speak. he spoke on Thursday 1/14. i only worked a half a day because thursday afternoon was my flight to tampa. i read the very short bio about sean swarner on the agenda and instantly wished i could have stayed to watch him speak. before he got up on stage their was a short little video giving a summary of his life. i was instantly brought to tears, and put a thought into the back of my head to look up this guy when i got back into town. ...plus he was ridiculously good looking. so that's what i did. i went online, found his website, and his book. i reserved the book from the library and just finished reading it.

his story is truly awe-inspiring. sean is a two time cancer survivor with only one fully functioning lung. and has climbing Everest! hello!, that's just about crazy. the book talks in detail about his own personal struggle with cancer and his battle with getting better. as his cancer becomes a thing of the past and he grows up, he then finds himself asking "what do i want to do when i grow up?". he decides he wants to be the first cancer survivor to climb Everest. he then takes the risky move from OH to CO to train for this climb. he moves to Estes Park, CO with his younger brother with just about no money and a good idea. they founded CancerClimber.org, and start making phone calls to get sponsors to make the journey to Everest a reality.

reading a true story like this, you can't help but reflect on your own life, and the decisions you make to have everyday be special. because truly, isn't it? isn't today special?, isn't this moment special? ~absolutely!, but it is up to us to make it so. i tell myself that when i'm working out. although it is a strong habit of mine, that unfortunately doesn't make it easy. and while i'm moving at the gym, i tell myself i'm doing this because i can, because i know that there are people out there who wish they could but that they can't. so i keep going because today is special!

i truly didn't want this story to end. which is the one thing i didn't like so much about this book. it ended. i wanted to continue reading his story. i wish that the ending had a little bit more of a summary, but it doesn't really. so if i could change one thing that's what it would be.

i would highly suggest you read this book. it's books like this to make you truly thankful for your life. we all have our own roads that we travel upon and i think until we go through something that is truly life threatening we can't truly live each day as if it could be your last. but what i believe i can do, is try.

abs/legs
Zumba 60min

"the lovely bones"

book and movie review
the lovely bones
book written by alice sebold
movie directed by peter jackson

i'm kinda tired of being disappointed in movies. besides "up in the air" the last few movies i've decided to spend the money on at a movie theater have been not so good. with that said, i didn't enjoy the movie "the lovely bones". i suppose one of the challenges when you create a book into a movie, and you've read that book you have your own interpretation of it. as does the director/producer of the movie. the movie took out a lot of what i believe were pivotal points in the book, and they were nowhere to be seen in the movie.
this was the second time i've read the lovely bones. i read for the first time the summer of 2003. the book is very adult. and the movie not so much. it is story of a 14 year old girl who is murdered by a man in her neighborhood, and is never caught for this act of violence. the story shows how her family and friends are impacted by her death, and her view of what is her heaven. the book has so many characters and relationships that are built, that aren't even introduced in the movie. the book is very imaginative and creative, and i honestly couldn't wait for the movie to end. i do wonder how i would feel about this movie had i not read the book. and i really don't think i would have liked it, because of the lack of depth in the relationships in the movie.
i'm pretty sure i'll be giving up on movies for awhile. with love month starting tomorrow and all of the romantic comedies coming out, i think it'll be awhile before i decide to go to the movies again.

STRIKE! 60min

the re-read

ok so i realize the covers aren't in order. but that's ok.

so back in november i decided to re-read the twilight saga by stephenie meyer in preparation for the movie of "new moon". prior to this, i had never read a book twice. and now i've read four book two times. and can i say, the saga is so much better the second time around. i truly thought about making notes so i could give a summary that would be worth while for each book. but i didn't.
and i don't really have much to say except that i did enjoy it a lot more reading the books a second time. my favorite book is definitely "eclipse". the most recent book that i've read that made me cry for the first time was "same kind of different as me". and i think it is such a different emotion when you cry from reading a book. when i cried during my re-read of "eclipse" i felt like i could feel jacob's pain. jacob's hurt.
i truly can't wait for the release of "eclipse" in a short 5 months!!! because the film version of "new moon" was so much better than the film version of "twilight" i have high expectations that "eclipse" will be even better. i hope i don't get let down.
that brings me to "breaking dawn". this one dragged for me at the end. it was tuff to get through, one of the reason's being is in the middle of it i was home for a week, and didn't read it everyday like i had the previous 3. i hope that "breaking dawn" is made into a movie. i think it would only be complete. but at the same time, i question how that will be done? how will they create the characters in "breaking dawn". how will they fit all of that in one film? i've read that stephenie has the same concerns. i've read that "breaking dawn" will be made into 2 movies. and i think, how will that work?
i can't decide if i'll re-read it again. i suppose time will tell. for now i can definitely tell you i'm done with vampires for a while.

14 min elliptical
legs & abs
dance jam 60min

"Godmother"

Book Review

Godmother

by Carolyn Turgeon

I got this book while I was in Albuquerque from my friend Shaun's girlfriend. She reads a lot and gets books cheap because she works at a book store. She gave it to me to read, with the promise that once I finished it I would pass it along to someone else. (hint, one of my faithful readers will be getting this book shortly in the mail!)

This was a really good book. It's about Cinderella's fairy Godmother. Her name is Lillian, Lil for short. Lil is actually two kinds. She was born a fairy who can turn into human form to fulfill her god motherly duties. As a fairy you are assigned a specific job. Lil's job was to get Cinderella to the ball, so that she could meet Theodore (prince charming) and live out her destiny of becoming a princess! On the day of the ball where all of this is to take place Lil runs into the prince in her beautiful human form. Lil and Theodore have a love at first site moment and share a kiss. Lil quickly knows this is against fairy code and stays focused on her task at hand - get Cinderella to the ball! Because of Lil's human feelings, she ends up getting kicked out of the fairy world, and has to lead a life in the human world.

Current day Lil is a little old lady working a book store in New York City. She keeps to herself, and loves her work. She leads an empty life, and is lonely. Then one day she meets Veronica. A young "Sex and the City" type girl. Lil knows immediately what she has to do to redeem herself from her long lost love from so long ago. She sets Veronica up with George the owner of the book store.

I didn't really like the ending of this book, and it left some questions unanswered. But it doesn't take away from the context of this book, so I would definitely recommend that you check it out!

This book is a little bit confusing at first because the author goes back and forth a lot from the fairy life to the human life. But the way she describes things is beautiful! This was a very enjoyable book to read, and reminds us to keep our eyes open because we never know what's out there in this big world of ours. This book is a great combination of reality and fantasy, and in all is a love story. Which, in my opinion you can't go wrong with that.

twenties girl

Twenties Girl

By Sophie Kinsella

I really liked this book. I picked up this book without reading anything about it, but based solely on the author. When I read the title "twenties girl" I thought that that meant a girl in her twenties. Well now that I have read the book, it is actually about a woman in her twenties who is being haunted by her great aunt who recently died and lived through the 1920's. When I first started this book and the family is at Sadie's funeral, I didn't really get it. Lara's great aunt lived to be 105 and they were all saying "good bye", but none of them really cared because none of them bothered to get to know "great Aunt Sadie" who lived to be 105. well during the process of this funeral Lara gets an excruciating screaming sound in her head. the screaming ends up being a 23year old great Aunt Sadie. this part was kinda hard to get used to. you learn that this younger version of Sadie is a ghost, and can only be seen and heard by Lara.

once we realize Sadie is "alive" she is frantically in search for a necklace that she has had since forever. she is screaming and screaming looking for this necklace that has disappeared, and she is begging Lara to stop the funeral in order to find this necklace. Lara does stop the funeral (you'll have to read to find out how) and begins the journal of finding the "dragon fly necklace". through this journey Lara gets to know and builds a close friendship with her great Aunt Sadie, finds an unexpected love, a new business, and some very dirty family drama. ended with a love for a very special piece of art.

this book was really good. it was different, which i liked and it incorporated fashion and music from my favorite past generation, the roaring 20's!

This is the fourth book I've read by Sophie Kinsella, and I have to say I really enjoy her.

the host

Book Review
the host by Stephenie Meyer

I didn't really like this book. i was hoping for a twilight like experience, but this book definitely doesn't have the same appeal. i know a lot of people that told themselves before reading the twilight saga "i won't like this book, i'm not into vampires etc..." Well i was definitely one of those people. then i got on the band wagon, and i am now a huge fan of the twilight saga! (can't wait until 11.20.09!) i first read information on the host at Stephenie Meyer's website. it said it was an adult science fiction. the "adult" appealed to me, but the "science" did not. but i gave it a shot, thinking the host would grab me just as quickly as twilight did. not so much. i didn't really get into the host until about 100 pages is (the book is 600+ pages). on top of that, the book is confusing. Stephenie has an amazing imagination and the things she thinks of in this book is amazing. And i feel bad because i feel like she pictures exactly what's going on in this book perfectly in her head but for me it just didn't transfer onto paper.
The book is about multiple planets taking over earth. The aliens of these planets are "souls". These souls take over human bodies. One soul called Wanderer takes over Melanie's body. Inside of this body, Melanie is still very much alive, but it is Wanderer who has control of her body. Melanie fills Wanderer's head with all of her human memories and emotions. Including love. Melanie coaxes Wanderer to the middle of Arizona where Melanie has her last memories of her love Jared. Upon her arrival in AZ she learns of a whole human clan hidden deep in caves. She eventually becomes accepted by these enemies, and "Wanda" finds herself having feelings for Ian. ...While Melanie still yearns for Jared. And so we have the classic impossible love triangle that Stephenie likes to create. the book for me did carry on a bit, and the ending was horrible. unfortunately i think Meyer needs to stick with Bella and Edward.

read the book

Saturday night on what was our last date, P and I went to go see "The Time Traveler's Wife". I was really looking forward to seeing the movie because I read the book last year. My recommendation is to read the book skip the movie. The movie was good, but definitely not as good as the book.
The relationships were much deeper in the movie so you get more attached. The movie did however portray the telling of the time travel very good. Both Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana were great actors in this movie. I wish the movie showed more of Chicago, because in the book the city was kinda like its own character.
If you haven't or don't want to read the book I would definitely check out the movie. The story itself is unique, heart warming, and a love story.

another funny character

Book Review
Finger Lickin' Fifteen~A Stephanie Plum Novel
By Janet Evanovich

It wasn't too long ago that I wrote about Tori Spelling and her funny ways in life and motherhood. Now onto another funny lady. Although this time she's fictional. Her name is Stephanie Plum. She lives in Trenton, NJ has a full time job as the worse bounty hunter ever, so to cover herself she works part time for the hot mysterious Ranger, at Rangeman. Her best friend is a full figured woman who only wears animal print spandex. She is a very steamy love triangle, but can't seem to figure out what she wants out of life. Like the fourteen before it, this is classic Evanovich. These books are super entertaining and easy to read. I like this book because the person being chased after wasn't Stephanie Plum, but that didn't stop her from getting drenched in red paint, tossed in flour, and blowing up a car or two. I like these books because they are more comical than suspenseful even though a lot of the events are life and death situations. Check it out!

she's funny

Book Review
Mommywood by Tori Spelling

I wanted to read this book because I read her first book sTori Telling. Plus I've been a fan of her since 90210, and I've followed her closely since she started her reality show: Tori and Dean. She's one funny chick. Very funny, even. Her first book had quite a few of Laugh Out Loud moments that took me by surprise. I thought I would like her first book fine, but I didn't think she would be funny in her writing. Her second book Mommywood, is a good book. But not as good as her first, I think. It talks about her role as mommy while balancing her life. She talks about being a new mom to her little boy Liam and her newborn baby girl Stella. I think part of the reason I didn't like this book as much, is because I couldn't relate as much. I can't help but think that if I was a mom I would have enjoyed this book much more. None the less, Tori Spelling is a good writing, and her details of humor and ways of relating to her readers are what keep you reading. This is an easy read, and reminds all of us that we are just trying to live our lives as best we kind, while finding our own version of "normal". I would definitely recommend this book if you are a mom, like Tori Spelling, or wanting something very easy to read.

Life Changing

Book Review
The Shack by William P. Young

This book was life changing. It was that good. I recommend this book to everyone. Seriously check it out. This book is up their with Same kind of Different as Me.
This book is about Mack who takes his kids on a camping trip only to have his youngest daughter abducted. After the family tragedy Mack questions his relationship with God, and why he would possibly do what He did. Four years after this trip, Mack gets a note apparently from God inviting him back to the place where his daughter was taken from him.
This book takes you on a journey of your own relationship with God, and how to make it stronger. This book touched me in a lot of different ways. It talks about how people enter your life, the love you have in your life, and how regardless of any situation God is always there. Always.
Here is a powerful excerpt I want to share:

"You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around."
Mack nodded his head, not so much in full agreement, but more as a signal that at least he understood and was tracking. That seemed simple enough.
"Living unloved is like clipping a bird's wings and removing its ability to fly. Not something I want for you."
There's the rub. He didn't feel particularly loved at the moment.

This touched me particularly hard, because I often feel like nobody loves me. Mainly it is the feeling that I don't feel loved how I want to be loved. The deep, romantic, type of love. But this touched me, because it reminded me that I am loved. I am loved deeply and truly by the people who do love me, most importantly I am loved by God. I am here to love, and to be loved.

This book is an easy read, and very touching. I would highly recommend it if you want to establish that connection with God, or re-connect with God. This book is told from a completely different point of view, which opens you up, and makes you realize that we all have our own view on God and how he works in our lives. This book makes you view God and His Spirit like you have never imagined, and because of that it is very eye-opening.

"Shopaholic Takes Manhattan"

Book Review
Shopaholic takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

I got wrapped up in this series, when I read the first book Confessions of a Shopaholic. The first book was really good, and made me curious about the whole series, and got me to read the second book. The second book as ok. The book is about Rebecca Bloomwood a true fashionista with a crazy shopping habit who gets the opportunity to go to New York City with her boyfriend Luke Brandon. The details and descriptions of Rebecca's shopping and building debt essentially got old as the book went on. ...you can truly only do so much shopping, and create so much debt. I will say that the "villain" of the book was a surprise, and the outcome of how she gets herself above water was fun to read. During the majority of this book I was done, but by the time I got to the ending, I am finding myself curious about the rest of the series.
I haven't yet decided if I will continue with the series, and I am curious about the movie, but I have heard from multiple people it isn't that great of a movie. So who knows if I'll check it out or not. If you are thinking about this book, I would definitely recommend the first book, but the series is not a must.

"The Other Woman"

Book Review
The Other Woman by Jane Green

This book wasn't my favorite Jane Green book. I think part of it was the fact that this book took me a long time to finish, because of my new dating life, so the last quarter of this book really dragged on for me.
"The other woman" is the main characters Mother-in-Law. Although their was never really a big fall out between the two character's which I thought was weird because of the title and because of the build up throughout the whole book. Their was a big turning point in the book, but it didn't lead to the daughter and mother-in-law actually talking about their differencing etc...which is something that needed to happen, but never did.
This book is an easy read, but if you want classic Jane Green I would recommend Jemima J or The Beach House.