May Reads

1. All This Belongs to Me A. Hudler
2. Ghosts of the Range D. Munn
3. I do (But I don't) C. Lockwood
4. Just Beyond the Clouds K. Kingsbury
5. A little Help from Above S. Rosenberg
6. The New codependency M. Beattie


This was a busy month trying to move to Japan, so didn't have a whole lot of time to read, but I did get a few in.

Non-Fiction: 2
Challenges met: Spring Reading Thing for 2009

April Reads

1. The Sandcastle RM Brown
2. Texas Haunted Forts E. Coleman
3. Colony A.R. Siddons
4. The Blind Assassin M. Atwood
5. City Ghosts B. Sammons
6. Emma J. Austen
7. The Lucky One N. Sparks
8. The Clan of the Cave Bear J.M. Auel

Re-reads:2
Library: 2
Classics: 1
Audio:1

Spring Reading Thing update

I am doing really well on my goals so far for this challenge. I had set out to read 12 books, and I am already finished with 7 out of the 12, so that means I am more than half way finished with my list. Not to mention that in between all that I also read two other books that were (are) not on my list: "The Blind Assassin" and "The Sand Castle". I think staying off the computer for the most part has really helped me acheive this. I do still have days where I spend massive amounts of time online, but I have really tried to cut back on my computer time. I am getting alot more things done. Both in reading and Cross stitch. I am definitely gonna reach my Spring Reading Thing goal. =)

Books via Mail...

On Friday a wonderful package arrived for me from my friend, Pamela. She and I are friends at paperbackswap.com. I ordered from her three books and she was so wonderfully kind and sent me a 4th for free! I got:

~Middlesex (Been wanting to read this one for a while)
~Miranda Blue Calling
~Quite a Year For Plums
~ Dang it, I forgot the title! The other Bolyn Girl I think it is...I gotta double check.

I am so excited! I know, I do not need anymore books! But Oh well. I didn't need the chicken McNuggets I ate tonight for dinner either, but they were sure good!

Now I am just wondering, should I start reading them now,or do I wait and dive into them when hubby and I move? I do have a 16 hour plane ride to live through. I am sure I would love to have some good reading to get me through that time! I think I will hold off and wait until later to dive into these Gems, as I already have my "Spring Reading Thing" list mapped out and am working towards that goal, even though I got a bit sidetracked and read "The Sand Castle" and "The Blind Assassin" Those two were not on my list, but I couldn't help myself!

Tonight I got back to my list, and finished "City Ghosts" I'm almost half way finished with my 12 book list. This week I am going to really concentrate on "The Clan of the Cave Bear" and "Emma" and see if I can't make a good dent in both those, possibly a finish.

So, that is what is happening here. New books, a few finishes and pushing forward with the Spring Reading Thing list!

Book Review: "Blind Assassin By Margaret Atwood

What to say about this one? The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood? There is truly sooo much to say! I thoroughly enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I had seen various reviews at goodreads.com and Amazon about this one, and decided to give it a try. It took me a bit to get into the writing style of this one. At first it seems as though she is all over the place, but then you realize that is the genius of this work. It's sort of a story within a story within a story. It's amazing really.

This was my first Atwood piece and I will be picking up more of her works, just as soon as my "TBR" pile goes down a bit more.

Book Review: Texas Haunted Forts By E. Coleman

This one took me a bit to get through. I have a pension for haunted places, and books about them as well. This book tended to focus more on the history of forts and the battles that took place in/around them. And while I know the history of a haunted place is essential when it comes to writing about it, in order to get a full background of why the place is haunted and how and by who, I found that the author focused way too much time and effort on the historical background, then threw in a short blurb about the entities that haunt the fort.

I was sadly disappointed in this book, it didn't measure up to what I thought it would be.

Book Review: The Sandcastle By Rita Mae Brown

This one was extrememly short, only 103 pages. I read it awhile ago, so had to go look at Amazon reviews to refresh myself.

This one did not get terribly great reviews at Amazon. Most were in the 1 star category. I thought they were a bit harsh, as I enjoyed this one. It was indeed a quick and easy read, funny at times.

Basically it was the narration of a day trip to the beach with two kids and their mom and her sister. This one reminded me of day trips I've had to the beach as a child.

I give it 3/5 grade, for it's shortness.