tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32150683833259699772024-03-05T20:26:40.169-08:00Geeb's Book Clubread. discuss. blog.Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-16328292882989851822012-09-24T11:31:00.001-07:002012-09-24T11:31:45.295-07:00The Millennium Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAj83bl0VaYSeTxwUT_UHxuzAFofoiPorM5_g4mpclMtqW26n8Dck2Lntj-tL9E6yHjV0JUigNeXllilcOXVISuvzhVAKswvxZ6RlX8z-UHEHomII5USf4y5gYP_1-hSgMNzQ3bt_8yZt/s1600/millennium-trilogy-covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAj83bl0VaYSeTxwUT_UHxuzAFofoiPorM5_g4mpclMtqW26n8Dck2Lntj-tL9E6yHjV0JUigNeXllilcOXVISuvzhVAKswvxZ6RlX8z-UHEHomII5USf4y5gYP_1-hSgMNzQ3bt_8yZt/s400/millennium-trilogy-covers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So almost two years ago I listened to <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/11/girl-with-dragon-tattoo.html" target="_blank">The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</a></i> by Stieg Larsson on audio book and I really enjoyed it. Up until that point I had surprisingly avoided all the hype so I went into it with no preconceived notions of what it was about and I have to say that I was very surprised it was actually a crime/mystery novel. I don't know what I was expecting but a 'whodunit' was not on my list of possibilities. I was quite a fan of the story and the writing. I loved the characters, and maybe most of all I LOVED the guy that read the book on the audio version. So why did it take me so long to read {listen} to the next two installments? I really have no excuse other than the fact that my library never seemed to have them available. But now that everyone is clamoring for this years "Best Sellers" {click *<a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/09/fifty-shades-of-grey-series-review.html" target="_blank">here</a>* to see what I think about that}, <i>The Girl Who Played with Fire</i>, and <i>The Girl that Kicked the Hornets Nest</i> were free for the taking! Oh, and a bonus for waiting 2 whole years to dig into these two books is that now I get to picture the oh-so-dreamy Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist {*sigh*, but I digress} I thought about reading them the good ol' fashioned way, but I had such a audible crush on the reader Martin Wenner that I had to listen to them too {is there an award comparable to the Oscars or Tonys for people who read audio books??? Because I have their winner} </div>
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So when we left off on <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i>, Mikael Blomkvist has figured out the mystery, and Lisbeth Salande<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">r has done what she did and has left the country {sorry for being so cryptic but I don't want to spoil it for anyone!} The second book really is a completely different story but just using the same characters. Nothing from the plot of book 1 plays a big part in book 2 BUT book 2 leaves you in a cliff hanger and nothing gets tidied up until book 3 {are you following me?} I am not really going to give you a real recap of what happens because people! That completely defeats the purpose of a crime novel! Shame on you for trying to get it out of me {you know how I crack under pressure}!!!! You don't want to know what happens or you shouldn't even be reading it! So all I'll say is that someone gets killed while writing a book about sex trafficking and Mikael and Lisbeth are back at it {but this time not together} trying to figure out who, what, where, when, and why. The slight twist is that Mikael and Lisbeth are both searching for different answers to different questions so this makes the story all the more exciting! So come on people, if you haven't given into the peer pressure yet, please read these books {or listen to them preferably because you are going to love this Martin Wenner guy! Seriously! I swear it!} These books are worth your time and money {unlike another Best Selling Trilogy I know of}. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If you like to read, than you will like this book {that is my recommendation, readers}. The only warning I have is that these books center around violence toward women, and it can get a little descriptive when it comes to setting some of the more unsettling scenes. BUT, the heroine of the story is a VERY strong women that is fighting against the violence, so it is empowering really. No weepy co-ed, damsel in distress here. I hope you enjoy the series as much as I did. I don't know if the hype they made a few years ago was worth it, however, they are amazing reads and probably important in someway as far as modern fiction goes. They need to go on your "To Read" Bucket List for sure. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">RATING: 4 stars {for the whole series}</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">2 More Reviews on </span><i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The Millennium Trilogy:</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.frecklesandsunshine.com/tag/the-millenium-trilogy/" target="_blank">Freckles and Sunshine</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a href="http://intenseopinions.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/the-millennium-trilogy-series/" target="_blank">Thots and Expressions</a></span></div>
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<i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i></div>
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{Library Audio Book}</div>
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ISBN: 0307577580</div>
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16hours 19minutes</div>
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Read by Martin Wenner</div>
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<i>The Girl Who Played with Fire</i></div>
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ISBN: 0739384171</div>
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18hours 38minutes</div>
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Read by Martin Wenner</div>
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<i>The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest</i></div>
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{Library Audio Book}</div>
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ISBN: 0739384198</div>
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20hours 20minutes</div>
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Read by Martin Wenner</div>
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If you liked The Millennium Series then read <a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/07/in-woods.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">In The Woods</a> by Tana French.</div>
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Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-75829741774137676752012-09-19T20:11:00.001-07:002012-09-20T08:18:20.782-07:00Fifty Shades of Grey {Series Review}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv93cWlg_-sAvH4EtIqEc4ftQG5vqZ2bQjQBvHwKXvh2pia-JitNTSMTd70gDSBABC5SMpyIBN7h7AUF1K0cLyn0achh1gKJn1yp5Z0YpTlafei04Ivt1MMBHSUrrAIpw-dh5LhmDB5LiR/s1600/trilogy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv93cWlg_-sAvH4EtIqEc4ftQG5vqZ2bQjQBvHwKXvh2pia-JitNTSMTd70gDSBABC5SMpyIBN7h7AUF1K0cLyn0achh1gKJn1yp5Z0YpTlafei04Ivt1MMBHSUrrAIpw-dh5LhmDB5LiR/s320/trilogy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Seriously people? New York Times Best Sellers List {for the millionth week in a row}? Seriously? I think this is just laughable. Don't get me wrong, I am not a prude, I love me some sexy steamy love scenes in a book. But if you promise a gal some S and M you really should deliver. Sure, there is a little bit of flogging and spanking but really all the sex in this book is as normal as any other Harliquin paperback {or most people's bedrooms for that matter}, with maybe the exception of the tampon scene {yes it went there}. I just think this book was trying too hard. It didn't know what kind of book it really was, poor thing. Was it a romance? A mystery? A psychological thriller? Twilight? I honestly believe it was just having a good ol' identity crises. There were some interesting bits for sure, but mid way through the second installment I was really wishing I hadn't committed myself to the series. Fortunately I borrowed these books and didn't spend my hard earned money on them {thus adding to their best selling status}. So, why did I stick with them if I disliked them, you ask? Well my husband read them. <i>And</i> liked them. <i>And</i> then was interviewed for a literary magazine about being a man reading <i>Fifty Shades of Grey. </i>So see, I kinda had to subject myself to these and see what my husband was up to. However, I learned a good lesson, don't take his advice on a good book. {hehe, I'm just kidding Honey! You have suggested a title or two that I enjoyed!} And another thing, the writing was atrocious, and repetitive, and the plot shallow! Also, what message are we sending out here with this girl that is head over heels for a crazy stocker who tries to buy her affection and controls her every move down to the type of birth control she is allowed to take??!!! Seriously people? A New York Times Best Seller????? </div>
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OK so do I really need to explain the plot line? I mean you should have read it by now right? <strike>Bella</strike> Anastasia Steel {I know right? Porn name all the way} falls clumsily into the presence of ubar good looking/rich-out-of-his-gourd <strike>Edward</strike> Christian Grey. Anastasia has that gawky, clumsy, collage co-ed appeal that is so irresistible to the heroes in this type of story, and he tries to stay away {really he does, seriously, but not so much} and then like a fly in a web poor Anastasia is snapped up by Mr. Grey; and this sweet unsuspecting virgin falls pray to his sadomasochistic way of life. Grey wants her as a submissive but Anastasia doesn't really make such a good Sub as she is a little on the independent side, but she falls "<i>unconditionally and irrevocably in love</i>" with Grey {wait, that quote might have been from another book...hhhmmmm...} OK do I really need to go further? Blah blah blah SEX, blah blah blah DRAMA, blah blah blah SEX, blah blah blah DRAMA, blah blah blah SEX. The End. Good I'm done. I think you have the gist of these 3 books, no?</div>
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I would recommend this book for light summer reading at the beach {maybe}, or to see what your husband is reading when he is interviewed for a literary magazine, or maybe just to be on the inside of the know when your friends pin funny E-Cards with 50 Shades humor to their Pinterest Boards. Other than that don't say that I didn't warn you. It isn't vomit, it just isn't great, and it definitely isn't New York Times Best Seller worthy. </div>
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RATING: 2 Stars {for the whole series}</div>
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3 more reviews on <i>50 Shades of Grey</i>:</div>
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<a href="http://www.coydiaries.com/2012/06/thoughts-on-50-shades-of-grey.html" target="_blank">Diaries of Lil' Miss Daydreamer</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.tonyandkris.com/2012/06/09/tk1-blogger-gamboe-review-50-shades-of-grey/" target="_blank">Tony and Kris</a></div>
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<a href="http://rockersophz27.wordpress.com/tag/50-shades-of-grey/" target="_blank">Rocker-Sophz27's Blog</a></div>
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<i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> by E L James</div>
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{borrowed from a friend}</div>
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ISBN <span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">0345803485</span></div>
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Pages 528
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<i>Fifty Shades Darker </i>by E L James</div>
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{borrowed from a friend}</div>
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ISBN <span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">0345803493</span></div>
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Pages 544</div>
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<i>Fifty Shades Freed </i>by E L James</div>
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{borrowed from a friend}</div>
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ISBN <span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">0345803507</span></div>
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Pages 592</div>
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If you enjoyed <i>Fifty Shades of Grey </i>by E L James then please read <i>Twilight </i>by Stephenie Meyer</div>
Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-80551950396205552002012-07-24T13:13:00.001-07:002012-07-24T13:13:30.696-07:00Room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6rA_mdaqm1JJO-b-1_AZyR3ySW38pDoOU6IKdD2-1H_bGVEa6olgn669TtMH5m0k3wGz8IErtuNqWOdWnhFoUQbbs_IFRKhOD9bkxhjpGDM4JpPqtYb-ERbK7utsCq5TunA6ubGkNuqz/s1600/Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6rA_mdaqm1JJO-b-1_AZyR3ySW38pDoOU6IKdD2-1H_bGVEa6olgn669TtMH5m0k3wGz8IErtuNqWOdWnhFoUQbbs_IFRKhOD9bkxhjpGDM4JpPqtYb-ERbK7utsCq5TunA6ubGkNuqz/s320/Room.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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I don't really know how to review this book, so lets just start by saying that this book left me FEELING ALL THE EMOTIONS! I mean it people, I cried, I cheered, I wanted to punch some of the characters in the face, I felt inspired by motherly love, and in awe of this brave little boy, and frustrated, and amused, and totally heartbroken, and then impressed that this talented author could so astutely tell this story even though she hadn't lived it. I felt all these things in a very quick and easy 342 pages, so after I reached the back cover I had to digest this book like I have never done with any other novel, and I couldn't figure out why {yes the story was disturbing but I am rarely shocked or bothered}. <a href="http://www.emmadonoghue.com/" target="_blank">Emma Donoghue</a> knows how to reach down into your emotional well and pump it dry. Maybe it was the content {think <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Jaycee_Lee_Dugard" target="_blank">Jaycee Dugard</a>}, though we hear stories of this sort all the time on the nightly news {sadly}. Or maybe it was the fact that this emotional roller-coaster was through the eyes of a 5 year old boy named Jack, or maybe now that I am a mother I could understand the deep love Jack's mother had for him and I could put myself in her shoes {or more than likely it was the whole package}. Whatever the reason for my uneasy feeling and long digestion period to this book I came to a couple conclusions. The story was unbelievably well written, and though the topic was a rough one to read, I think <i>Room </i>was a story that needed to be told. </div>
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So as I said before, this book was written through the eyes of a very special little boy named Jack. Jack is blissfully unaware that there is anything out of the ordinary with his life. He lives in Room {everything in Jack's life while he is in captivity is a proper noun by the way}, he has his mother to himself 24/7, he has food, he has a very scheduled life that includes learning, and playing, he is happy and content. Until one day he sees a jet stream out of the only window to the outside world {a skylight}, and as his Mom tries to explain what he is seeing she realizes that they really need to try and get out of their captivity, Jack is just getting too old and she can't pretend that their captivity in normal any longer. So Jack's Mom starts to plan their escape... </div>
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The first half of this book is all about life in Room. The second half of this book is about life outside of Room. Could you imagine living your entire life in an 11x11 space, always thinking that it's normal, not knowing there is anything else out there, only to be thrust into society, with loud noises, big wide open spaces, bright sunlight, temperature changes, etc.? It would be a little like being born and remembering every detail. The way Donoghue writes this story through Jack's eyes, you feel his confusion, and his pain, and emotions. It really is heartbreaking. The worst part is that as he is getting acclimated to this new big, bright, loud, world, the other characters think that he should just be able to jump into life with two feet, they don't realize that he has all the anxiety and fear. I just wanted to strangle these characters, scream at them for not understanding, because they weren't in Room with Jack; and I {as the reader} was!!! </div>
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The book can be discussed to death from a psychological point of view, from a mothers point of view, from just a casual readers point of view, and because of that it would be an interesting discussion for a book club or maybe even a high school/collage level psych class. The topic was fascinating to say the least, and the point of view was unique. I would recommend reading this when you want something of substance. The writing was beautiful and rich but the topic was grim. This is going into my rare 5 Star rating, one of the best books I have come across in a long time.</div>
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RATING: 5 Stars</div>
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3 more reviews on this book:</div>
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<a href="http://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.com/2010/10/room-human-kind-cannot-bear-very-much.html" target="_blank">The New Dork Review of Books</a></div>
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<a href="http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/book-review-room-by-emma-donogue/" target="_blank">Leeswammes' Blog</a></div>
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<a href="http://mawhiney.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-review-room-by-emma-donoghue.html" target="_blank">Stacking Books</a></div>
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<i>Room: A Novel</i> by Emma Donoghue</div>
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{Purchased on Amazon.com for my Kindle}</div>
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ISBN B004QIZ7EQ</div>
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Pages 342</div>
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If you liked <i>Room</i> by Emma Donoghue you might also enjoy <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/05/extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close.html" target="_blank">Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</a></i> by Jonathan Foer.</div>
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<br /></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-1152777111502467412012-05-21T12:16:00.000-07:002012-05-21T12:16:57.519-07:00Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I had seen <i>Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</i> by Jonathan Foer oh so many years ago and I had always had the desire to pick it up and give it a gander but so many other fabulous books would get in my way and I would loose sight of this particular one. Then my book club decided it was time to explore Foer's novel and so I skipped over to my Kindle pushed the button and voila it was magically in my had {I just love my Kindle}. I read the first page and then I couldn't help myself and I read like a quarter of the book while my toddler ran around pulling the dogs tail and dumping over his toy basket. But Y'all I couldn't help it! This book sucks you in quickly! It's one of those books where you sit down to read a chapter and then a few hours later you get up and realize you are getting dangerously close to the back cover!</div>
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Now how am I going to describe our protagonist to you... Well, he is 9 years old, wip smart, scared of his own shadow, and it is implied but never really stated that he is slightly autistic. Also, he has a business card that he hands out to everyone he meets and it reads like this:</div>
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OSKAR SCHELL: INVENTOR, JEWELRY DESIGNER, JEWELRY FABRICATOR, AMATEUR ENTOMOLOGIST, FRANCOPHILE, VEGAN, ORIGAMIST, PACIFIST, PERCUSSIONIST, AMATEUR ASTRONOMER, COMPUTER CONSULTANT, AMATEUR ARCHAEOLOGIST, COLLECTOR OF: <i>rare coins, butterflies that died natural deaths, miniature cacti, Beatles memorabilia, semi precious stones, and other things </i> </div>
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I think that the business card pretty much sums up who Oskar Schell is. Of course it doesn't say that he lost THE most important person in his life the year before the story starts. Oskar's father Thomas was in one of the World Trade Center towers when they fell on September 11th 2001. A year later Oskar is in his fathers closet when he finds a strange key in a blue vase. The key is in an envelope with the word BLACK written on the front. This key spurs a journey through the 5 Boroughs of New York searching for the lock that needs this key. All the while Oskar is carrying an emotional burden so heavy it will break your heart when you find out what it is {HAVE TISSUES AT HAND WHEN YOU GET TO THIS PART}</div>
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Now my little synopsis does not do this incredible story justice. There are so many other story lines going on that my summery could only focus on the main one. I believe that is exactly what happened in the writing of the screen play. You have to look at the movie as a completely different creature from the book. The move is great. The book is great. They share the same idea, but they are executed EXTREMELY and INCREDIBLY different {haha, see what I did there}. Anyway, you need to love the two independently from each other or you won't love them at all.</div>
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This book can be discussed to the moon and back so I would highly recommend this to a book club. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has a love affair with New York City {as I do}, or someone who loves a story from a child's point of view.</div>
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RATING: 4 stars</div>
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3 more reviews on this book:</div>
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<a href="http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2011/05/23/review-extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close/" target="_blank">Lovely Little Shelf</a></div>
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<a href="http://kimbofo.typepad.com/readingmatters/2006/11/extremely_loud_.html" target="_blank">Reading Matters</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.booksidoneread.com/2008/10/extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close.html" target="_blank">Books i Done Read</a></div>
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<i>Extremely Loud and Incredible Close </i>by Jonathan Foer</div>
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{purchased on Amazon.com for my Kindle}</div>
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ISBN <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">0618711651</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span>Pages 326</div>
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If you liked <i>Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</i> by Jonathan Foer then please read <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/02/story-of-edgar-sawtelle.html" target="_blank">The Store of Edgar Sawtelle</a> </i>by David Wroblewski and <i>The Courious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time</i> by Mark Haddon. </div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-57458936563493776322012-02-22T20:40:00.000-08:002012-02-22T20:40:33.230-08:00One Second After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndth5KjqgOrLCe0iXSRWFD-0WxZInSc6kVRkmK_owhnHrC1Q-PO9KxjhqB6foc9NylZV-csQBjDvobybJ0JBRAxRWThnY20ZmYi1N5oU_Y1tC6oSbArv7h5oJjAbThfYsEUpDRd6RWfF_/s1600/OneSecondAfter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndth5KjqgOrLCe0iXSRWFD-0WxZInSc6kVRkmK_owhnHrC1Q-PO9KxjhqB6foc9NylZV-csQBjDvobybJ0JBRAxRWThnY20ZmYi1N5oU_Y1tC6oSbArv7h5oJjAbThfYsEUpDRd6RWfF_/s320/OneSecondAfter.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I feel like have done nothing but apologize for the last few posts about my neglectfulness to my readers. I mean I worked so hard to build a quality book blog and then I had to go and have a kid. Naturally that sucked up all my free time and made it somewhat impossible to blog, much less read a dang book! Chasing around a very active 11 month old little boy is exhausting so when the lights go out in his nursery, so do mine! But here I go again, begging all of my readers to be patient with me and promising that I will write more posts however, I am <i>not </i>promising that they will be consistent and I am <i>not </i>promising that I won't start reviewing <i>Green Eggs and Ham</i> {haha}. But I digress, this, after all, is strictly a "book blog" and not a "brag about my adorable, smart, funny, sweet, lovable, baby boy blog". So lets get to why we are all here... To talk about William Forstchen's amazing book <i>One Second After</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My obsession with Dystopia might have climaxed with <i>One Second After</i>. Though, I am not sure you can call this book Dystopia. There wasn't time for a Dystopian society to materialize because this book is literally about what happens ONE SECOND AFTER society crumbles. It shows the breakdown of society as we know it; not the unrest of a rebuilt anti-utopia like we see in <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/10/hunger-games.html" target="_blank">Hunger Games</a> </i>or <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmaids-tale-book-club-read.html" target="_blank">The Handmaid's Tale</a></i>. This book may fall more firmly in the realm of prepping or survival. At any rate this book is very very interesting. As you can see I am really not myself in the post with snarky quips about my amazement or my OMGs about how fabulous this book is, but don't let that mislead you, I am out of my head about this book, however, my feelings fall more toward unrest and disturbance if that makes sense. I read this book months ago and every single day after that I have thought about the fact that I. AM. NOT. PREPARED. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this book starts off with the introduction of it's characters as most books do. We meet our main character John Matherson and his family {he is a widower and has two daughters - one with insulin dependent diabetes}, seconds after we meet this nice family in a quaint mountain town in North Carolina all goes dark. I MEAN EVERYTHING PEOPLE!!! Phones, lights, computers, cars, MP3 players, air planes are literally falling out of the sky. EVERYTHING loses power! The reason behind this NATION WIDE black out is an EMP {electro magnetic pulse, look it up it will scare the shit out of you}. This EMP is a weapon of mass destruction that no one was ready for, and the effects of it's destruction are indefinite and devastating. America is completely dark and there is absolutely positively NO communication to be had from coast to coast. We are essentially cast into the dark ages and everything has collapsed in a matter of a second. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that you are feeling as cheery as I am about the situation, lets talk about the fact that our main character's daughter is an insulin dependent diabetic. There is no power so there is no way to keep anything cold, so lets go down that road for a few moments and see where it ends... Also, were do we get food? What do we do with the motorists that were stranded on the freeway? What about things like sanitation, clean water, our loved ones that were away from home at the moment the EMP went off? And these are just questions to ask in the first few days of such a destructive weapon. What happens when Marshal Law is declared? When common sicknesses start epidemics because there is no more medicine to fight them? What happens when people start getting desperate? Are you as freaked out as I am yet....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">No, your not? Well let me just say that after you research what exactly an EMP is, you will start stocking up your beans and rice supply and start thinking about a plan to survive. Seriously folks, this is something that could happen. Not something some SiFi minded author dreamed up, and that my friends is why <i>this </i>new mom is having a freak out almost daily about this book. I am glad I read it, however, I wish I never did...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The writing in this book is easy to read, not the best ever but good, I mean Forstchen isn't Hemingway but I hung on his every word so that's something. I would highly recommend this to everyone just for the pure fact that it will give you an education. A book club could discuss the hell out of it. BUT if you are a new mom like myself, maybe you should wait until after your little nugget is a little older and your hormones are back to where they should be. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 5 Stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://parajunkee.com/2011/12/review-one-second-after-by-william-r-forstchen.html" target="_blank">ParaJunkie</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://growinghuman.blogspot.com/2009/04/book-review-one-second-after.html" target="_blank">Growing Human</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://smallworldreads.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-one-second-after.html" target="_blank">Small World Reads</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>One Second After </i>by William R. Forstchen</div><div style="text-align: justify;">{purchased on Amazon.com for my Kindle}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ASIN B002LATV16</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>One Second After </i>by William R. Forstchen please read <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/road.html" target="_blank">The Road</a></i> by Cormic McCarthy</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-13510764560694241242011-07-25T14:01:00.000-07:002011-07-25T14:01:40.847-07:00The Passage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVNf621zi0ZrJ831BhwUzlx08YE1p6VOsDM8IoGCuPgf5EqO1kLJFQnByZ6tZNao3b6-Ly0eh3yhsvZinixcv2AlaC2RqGeyV8J9bit9q-EayZZr1qy2IJ4g_YV6hwR05X39GuLVOwb8E/s1600/Passage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVNf621zi0ZrJ831BhwUzlx08YE1p6VOsDM8IoGCuPgf5EqO1kLJFQnByZ6tZNao3b6-Ly0eh3yhsvZinixcv2AlaC2RqGeyV8J9bit9q-EayZZr1qy2IJ4g_YV6hwR05X39GuLVOwb8E/s320/Passage.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wow. November 13th was my last post... I am so sorry for all of you that have followed my blog. I did not die, I had a baby {a healthy 6lb 9oz adorable baby boy}! Yep, from November - February I was reading TONS of "preparing for baby" books and no fiction what-so-ever. Then after he was born in March I never had any time between poopy diapers, spit up, and learning to be a Mommy {along with running my business, and being a wife}. Now that we are settling into a routine I have some more time to read and now I am just finding time to blog. I have read quite a few books in the last few months. I bought a Kindle so reading is much easier now that I have to have one arm to hold the little guy. Luckily most of the books I have read recently have all be spectacular {only one FAIL among them}. So in the next few days I'll try and crank out some reviews so you can read and discuss! First on the agenda is <i>The Passage</i> by Justin Cronin...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh. My. Goodness. This book knocked my socks off!!! Dystopia, vampires {not the sexy glittery kind, but the terrifying bat like kind that suck you dry or turn you into a monster}, survival, adventure; I was riveted from page one. The book starts off with a series of emails between two scientists discussing a trip to the Amazon {I believe}, then the emails take a turn as one of the scientists heads out on this trip and bad things start to happen and everyone dies or nearly dies {death by bats - the flying kind not the Louisville Slugger kind}. Then the book jumps to a private investigator that is commissioned to finding death row inmates and giving them the option to die by the needle or to be used in a military experiment. Then you jump to a chapter in the eyes of a little girl that is left in a convent. Then finally the P.I. and the girl cross paths because the P.I. gets the job of picking up this orphaned little girl at the convent so the military could do the same experiments on a child {newly orphaned, no paper trail, very shady, you get the picture}. Then we jump to the military base where these experiments are taking place and we learn that the scientist from the beginning of the book is helping the military create an indestructible soldier, however the experiment has gone totally bad and the inmates/bat people {i.e. vampires, kinda} break out of their labs and start killing everyone or at least changing them into the vampire-beast things too. Well it doesn't take to long before the United States is infested with these beasts like the plague and then the Nuclear Bombs drop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">OK now we jump 100 years into the future after the Nuclear fallout to this little settlement of survivors. They have created this little settlement and have been happy and well for years but as always there is the question "is there anyone else out there?", plus lights what were created to keep the vampires out are starting to fail, so they have to head out into the wilderness in search of help or a new power source. Well that is the rest of the story. They set off to find the answer in this vampire-beast infested world. And let me tell you it makes for an amazing read! And even though this book is nearly around 800 pages you just want more when the last page is finished, but have no fear this is the beginning of a TRILOGY!! Woot woot!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Something else I have to mention is that the writing is out of this world. The wording, the details, the cadence of the whole book is perfection. There were times that I got so caught up in the flow of the writing that I had to go back and read it again to get the content. And characters are very fleshed out, the prose are deep, and the mix of everything makes this one of the best books I have read in the last couple years. This book has landed on my top 5 books of all times.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't think this book is for everyone though. There is a lot of scary bits where I had to stop reading and wait for the day to come to read some more. And there is a religious undertone that was very interesting that some may not get or very much like {but I enjoyed}. I really really want my book club to read this so I can discuss it with someone because there is a lot to discuss in this book. So if you want to chat with me about the book in the comment section please do! Just let people know in the beginning of your post if you are including a spoiler.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all this is a must read if you are into scary, thriller, dystopia kind of stuff. If you are more of a light hearted, fluffy, unicorn kind of person steer clear of this one it may just scare the dickens out of you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 5 Stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews of <i>The Passage:</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.booksidoneread.com/2010/05/passage-justin-cronin.html">books i done read</a><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2010/12/30/review-the-passage/">Lovely Little Shelf</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://charlottepaperchase.blogspot.com/2011/01/passage-justin-cronin.html">Charlotte Chase</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Passage</i> by Justin Cronin</div><div style="text-align: justify;">{Purchased on Amazon.com for my Kindle}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 0345504968</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages 784</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>The Passage </i>by Justin Cronin than read <a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/road.html"><i>The Road</i></a> by Cormic McCarthy</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-33464321943431761952010-11-13T12:20:00.000-08:002010-11-13T12:20:01.273-08:00The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHrOE9mPG05m5zJYgGKQPycEmxCSKi2ehE_X5IVqPVTeVVhatEH6Y35VRdL3nwaRSg4Umf68jvo7a3PavGWKlIP8vjR66KLBSwaYx2A5V-5HrGxbLlajCayZ3Pi5MKE9JBBZlf_gwCEAg/s1600/TheGirlwiththeDragonTattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHrOE9mPG05m5zJYgGKQPycEmxCSKi2ehE_X5IVqPVTeVVhatEH6Y35VRdL3nwaRSg4Umf68jvo7a3PavGWKlIP8vjR66KLBSwaYx2A5V-5HrGxbLlajCayZ3Pi5MKE9JBBZlf_gwCEAg/s320/TheGirlwiththeDragonTattoo.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Okay. I give all of you permission to string me up by my toes and throw rotten veggies at me. I have neglecting you and my blog for WAY. TO. LONG. I have been reading though, but the reason for this hiatus has been because the only reading materials that have passed though my hands in the last few months have been <i>What to Expect When Your Expecting, </i>and <i>The Joys of Breastfeeding </i>and other such reference books. And while that is very very interesting and enjoyable reading material for a mom-to-be it isn't great fodder for this blog. I am sure you don't want to know (especially my male followers) my thoughts on birth plans, placentas, and the joys my breasts are going to bring to my future prodigy. However, I have been able to squeeze in some pleasure reading so I am going to give you a few reviews here in the next few weeks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lets start with <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo </i>by Stieg Larsson. I finally jumped on the <i>Dragon Tattoo</i> bandwagon and picked this story up as an audio book. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised but a little let down at the same time. With all they hype around this book and the others in the series I was expecting to fall head over heels in love with this book like I did with <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/time-travlers-wife.html">Time Travelers Wife</a>. </i>However, I enjoyed the book immensely but I don't know that it was worth all the hype that it has received in the past few years. The long and short of it, is the book is a murder mystery. That is it. A VERY VERY good murder mystery but a murder mystery non-the-less. Some how my ears had escaped all spoilers and all synopsis's of this book so I really had NO IDEA what it was about when I started it. For some reason I thought it was about Swedish stock brokers (I have no idea why) and had no idea it was a thriller/murder mystery (which I must say was a peasant surprise because I just couldn't see what I would like about a book revolving around the Swedish stock market).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So it starts off rather dry and I was thinking "oh hell, how I am I going to get through this whole thing??" We meet Mikael Blomkvist, he is a financial/political journalist and he has just published an article in his magazine about Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. When Wennerstrom charges Blomkvist with writing a hurtful article that isn't entirely true Blomkvist is sentenced to prison time. To clear his head Blomkvist takes a job on the tiny island of Hedeby to write the family history of the prominent Vanger family. To the public it looks like Blomkvist is writing this families memoirs but in truth he is investigating a murder that happened 40 years earlier on that very island. The cold case murder happened to a 16 year old girl that lived on the island with her uncle Henrik Vanger. Along the way Blomkvist and his unlikely friend Lisbeth Salander (the girl with the dragon tattoo), unravel the mystery of the missing girl, uncover the serial murderer of dozens of other missing women that span over a 50 year time span, and uncover the truth behind the Wennerstrom Corporation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This book really is a whirlwind of plot twists, love connections, and mystery. The characters are extremely well developed and the story telling style is very interesting and flows very nicely. I would recommend this book to almost anyone (unless you have a weak stomach when it comes to violence towards women, I know that hits strong nerves with some people). Book clubs could discuss the heck out of it and it is equally good if you take it on vacation with you or if you are doing some more serious reading. I am really looking forward to reading the other books in the series, however, I don't think the book lives up to the hype, so don't be surprised if you feel a little let down after you read it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 Stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews on <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/2008/12/girl-with-dragon-tattoo-by-stieg.html">All About {n}</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://linktoink.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-girl-with-dragon-tattoo-stieg.html">Advance Booking</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2010/05/29/review-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/">Lovely Little Shelf</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">{Library Audio Book}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN: 0307577580</div><div style="text-align: justify;">16hours 19minutes</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read by Martin Wenner</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo </i>you should also read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/08/vanishing-act-of-esme-lennox.html">The Disappearing Act of Esme Lennox</a> </i>by Maggie O' Farrell</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
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</i></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-5563142685155171092010-09-23T09:53:00.000-07:002010-09-23T09:53:48.737-07:00This is Where I Leave You {Book Club Pick}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGSyTDGfSZJoXBqGoHeyabyZJYDSfSjmMbzHC7U3G-zdg6q9G3l5FaRUwoq91yIPwzbqgfjNk7BF0PCEwD90ymfMmHeZZJ8sBxJj0cYxy4l6DyLw_zFr3VcMrFGVfZ04ur0sPc0AiLPic/s1600/This+is+Where+I+Leave+You.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGSyTDGfSZJoXBqGoHeyabyZJYDSfSjmMbzHC7U3G-zdg6q9G3l5FaRUwoq91yIPwzbqgfjNk7BF0PCEwD90ymfMmHeZZJ8sBxJj0cYxy4l6DyLw_zFr3VcMrFGVfZ04ur0sPc0AiLPic/s320/This+is+Where+I+Leave+You.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I had heard about <i>This is Where I Leave You</i> from quite a few reliable sources and I had heard about <a href="http://jonathantropper.com/">Jonathan Tropper</a> in general from quite a few reliable sources so of course Tropper and this book were on my ever growing TBR list. However, I knew that if I wasn't pushed to read this book I probably never would because even though it was on my TBR list I have so many other books that looked much more appealing to me! So when my book club decided that this would be the September book I was excited!!! Just what I needed, a little push in the direction of Tropper and now I am hooked!!! One of my earlier mentioned "Reliable Sources" is a fellow book blogger Greg from <a href="http://thenewdorkreviewofbooks.blogspot.com/">The New Dork Review</a>. Greg is a big Tropper fan and he said in one of his reviews on Tropper that he is the mans equivalent of Chick Lit. Well, I couldn't agree with you more Greg. This is 100% Dude Lit for sure. Tropper writes an easy to read witty story full of family angst, self image, sex, and betrayal (throw in some Louboutins, and a Dolce and Gabbana handbag and you have full fledged Chick Lit). Now don't think for a moment comparing this book to Chick Lit makes this book fluff. It isn't, it is a touching look in to a dysfunctional family and realizing that it really isn't that dysfunctional. Tropper also builds very 3 dimensional characters, and while the book is easy to read it isn't mindless reading. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <i>This is Where I Leave You</i> you meet Judd Foxman at the lowest point in his life. His dearly loved wife just cheated on him with his Alpha male boss (think Howard Stern). His Dad passed away after a fight with stomach cancer. And to top it all off his Mother has called to tell her children that their fathers dying wish was to have the whole non-religious family sit Shiva. The last thing Judd wants to do is spend 7 days locked in his childhood home with his body image obsessed older sister Wendy (and her Wall Street husband and 3 loud obnoxious kids), his self pitting older brother Paul, who holds Judd accountable for the end of his baseball career (along with his wife Alice who is desperate for a child), his younger brother Phillip who is a play boy with out direction in his life (and his 2 times older girlfriend/therapist), not to mentioned his sexually charged Therapist Mother who may or may not have become a lesbian. On top of this week from hell his soon-to-be ex-wife shows up to tell Judd she is pregnant. I mean come on, this book is jam packed with crazy!!! It is like watching a train wreck in slow motion, and it is worth every page!!! I promise you will LOL at least once if not continuously though this whole story!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't know if I would recommend this to book clubs. It is full of shocking and graphic sexual scenes and where that doesn't ever bother me (or my book club) at all I could see some people getting a little up in arms over the whole thing. However, I would recommend this book to someone that wants to read something different for a change. I would recommend it to just about any guy, because I would bet most would love it and tell you that this book pegs the male point of view.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: So this book has been snatched up for a movie in 2011. I think that the movie will be nothing short of hilarious. I will be purchasing $10 tickets and $50 popcorn to check this one out for sure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 More reviews on this book:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://thenewdorkreviewofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/two-reviews-troppers-family-antics-and.html">The New Dork Review</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://readingmybooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/this-is-where-i-leave-you-by-jonathan.html">Reading My Books</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/this-is-where-i-leave-you-by-jonathan.html">Beattie's Book Blog</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>This is Where I Leave You </i>by Jonathan Tropper</div><div style="text-align: justify;">{Borrowed from a friend}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 0452296366</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages 352</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>This is Where I Leave You</i> then try: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/04/girls-in-trucks.html">Girls in Trucks</a> </i>by Katie Crouch</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-48068381794127510192010-09-20T20:12:00.000-07:002010-09-20T20:12:29.873-07:00Mockingjay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDaIB_zc47hHkDveiKfcLSZfVwNbI3hA5zOw2b3m1BdDDkbMTfR6xY9b3LOoU1CzDdyr7S-ygJ_0Dw-5TgX1PZK-jPWzb49sSjwSQKMBZe5wyLKq3QVSAa44lJ74C7njcRmKuacSaTOPc/s1600/mockingjay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDaIB_zc47hHkDveiKfcLSZfVwNbI3hA5zOw2b3m1BdDDkbMTfR6xY9b3LOoU1CzDdyr7S-ygJ_0Dw-5TgX1PZK-jPWzb49sSjwSQKMBZe5wyLKq3QVSAa44lJ74C7njcRmKuacSaTOPc/s320/mockingjay.jpg" /></a></div>Oh my. This one is a long time coming for sure. After my obsession with <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/10/hunger-games.html">Hunger Games</a></i> and <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/11/catching-fire.html">Catching Fire </a></i>by <a href="http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/">Suzanne Collins</a> last year I just could not wait for <i>Mockingjay</i>. So on the day it came out I rushed out before work and bought it (even though I couldn't read a word of it until after work). And guess what? I was NOT disappointed people!! I may be one of the rare readers that didn't have a problem with this book at all! I thought that every thing that happened needed to happen. Every death, every match made, every battle, every thing. I was shocked in the appropriate places, outraged in the correct spots, and at the edge of my seat during the right parts. Now saying all that; <i>Mockingjay</i> was not my favorite book of the <i>Hunger Games Trilogy. </i>I<i> </i>liked them in the order they were released for sure. I felt like <i>Hunger Games<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> even though it was politically charged it was pure adventure and action. </span>Catching Fire<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> again was full of adventure and action but it dealt with even heavier issues than the first book. Now with </span>Mockingjay<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> it is complete and total political propaganda and the characters seem a little jaded and lost (but that is what makes the book feel so real), if you were going though what these young people were going though you would not be yourself anymore either. Don't get me wrong, there is enough action and adventure in </span>Mockingjay</i> to go around, it is just deeper and a little more mature than the other two books.<br />
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I am going to write this synopsis with out any spoilers to <i>Mockingjay</i> but be warned that there is going to have to be some spoilers from the first two installments (don't say I didn't warn you, and if you haven't read any of the trilogy I would recommend you turn back now and go get the books). Anyway, in <i>Mockingjay</i> you are brought back to Panem after Katniss has been rescued from her second time in the arena by the survivors of district 13. She is kind of an empty shell of the Katniss we know but who can blame her. Peeta has been taken by the Capitol, and her District has been blown to smithereens and she is just totally lost and doesn't know who to trust. The Districts are in full scale rebellion now, and the Capitol is losing it's foot hold of power. District 13 know that the rebellion needs a leader or "mascot" and of course Katniss is the obvious choice. And because Katniss now has a death wish and just doesn't care anymore she decides to become the Mockingjay, the face of the rebellion. Something I thought was interesting was that Collins opted to not tie everything up in a pretty little bow. She left a few strands and she left some messy strands, but in a situation like this one you can't have everything hunky dory on the end.<br />
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I have read a lot of reviews about <i>Mockingjay</i> and most of them have something negative to say about Katniss's character in this book. She isn't the go getter she was in the first two books, but after the beat down she has received in the first two stories you can't really blame her, after all she is only 17 years old, and has already spent 2 years fighting for her life, and the 5 years before keeping her family alive. When I read books like <i>Twilight</i> and <i>Hunger Games</i> I have to remind myself that the characters are teenagers, so their fickleness and their feelings, and their drama, and selfcenteredness come with the hormonal territory. When you think of it like that you start to like the characters a little more. <br />
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I am sad to see this series come to an end but I am glad that Collins didn't drag it out to the point of annoyingness to make a few more dollars. She kept it to the point and a perfect length in my opinion. I am anxious to see what the movie will be like next year and that they cast it correctly. I'm up for the job if Lionsgate wants me!!<br />
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Rating: 5 Stars<br />
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3 More reviews<i>:</i><br />
<i></i><a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/search?q=Mockingjay">Books i Done Read</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2010/08/28/review-mockingjay/">Lovely Little Self</a><br />
<a href="http://www.foreveryalit.com/2010/09/mockingjay-suzanne-collins.html">Forever Young</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.foreveryalit.com/2010/09/mockingjay-suzanne-collins.html"></a><i>Mockingjay </i>by Suzanne Collins<br />
{Purchased at Target}<br />
ISBN 0439023513<br />
Pages 400<br />
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If you liked <i>Mockingjay</i> then you need to read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/01/tomorrow-when-war-began.html">Tomorrow when the War Began</a> </i>by John MarsdenLauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-43538927757022579322010-09-16T11:27:00.000-07:002010-09-16T11:32:00.813-07:00The Plague<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKxUNCk_nzwvQUmBd-fYcUcgqO1v81y9MvBbCKf78Rv49fzqe19_BjZzVVFtuOTxwwd4mh8KfzJyo98L0RXi5N-Jxn2nDpeFpDahkv47xaXen3xaiW_83CU8F4FKeSYPLuCxHinUdC-JF/s1600/Plague.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKxUNCk_nzwvQUmBd-fYcUcgqO1v81y9MvBbCKf78Rv49fzqe19_BjZzVVFtuOTxwwd4mh8KfzJyo98L0RXi5N-Jxn2nDpeFpDahkv47xaXen3xaiW_83CU8F4FKeSYPLuCxHinUdC-JF/s320/Plague.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>Well with a title like <i>The Plague</i> you know that the book is gonna have a lot to do with pain and pestilence, and mortality. But would you think it would have to also do with compassion, community, and survival? Well this book had it all and it was really rather unexpectantly interesting! Now I have to admit that if I had read this book I would have put it down almost immediately so I am glad I picked it up at the library as an audio book otherwise I would have never experienced this little gem. <i>The Plague</i> by Albert Camus was published in 1947 and originally it was written in French but was then later translated to English and I feel there was nothing really lost in translation, because the book was quite wonderful and beautifully written. The novel is believed to be loosely based on a Cholera Outbreak that killed a large percentage of the Algerian city Oran in 1849 following the French colonization (information from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plague">Wikipedia</a>). <br />
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Now that the little history lesson is over I'll clue you in to what the book is about. Wait... I bet you can guess... It's about the bubonic plague (shocking I know). Anyway, the story takes place in the town of Oran in the 1940s. First the rats start surfacing. They are everywhere, in the gutters, in the alleys, in peoples homes, in the restaurants, and they aren't just out and swarming they are out and dying sad little rat deaths. The people of Oran can't make heads nor tails of this little rat infestation but they are concerned as the Health Department keeps tallying up the little rat deaths and publishing how many they picked up in their morning rat scoop. The numbers are climbing up to the tens of thousands and then as quickly as they made their appearance they are gone. Then the first wave of fever, sweats, and buboes start to pop up in the town. People are dying of some strange horrific death and then the Health Department starts tallying up those deaths too and they are reaching almost as high as the rat deaths. Doctors are helpless as they watch the town fall to the Bubonic Plague that soon turns into the Mnemonic Plague. Meanwhile, the town very early on becomes quarantined from the rest of the country so there is the longing for family members that are now separated from their loved ones. This book isn't just about the plague and the death and destruction of Oran but about the relationships built out of this disaster, and how a community comes together to pick up the pieces of this horrible catastrophe.<br />
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I would recommend this book to anyone that really enjoys literature, not just a good read but real honest to goodness literature. The writing in the book is truly a treat. Book clubs might want to give this one a try as well. There would be lots to discuss and I am sure the discussion would get lively. Or if you just are interested in the Bubonic Plague (like I am) this is a good one to add on your TBR pile for sure.<br />
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RATING: 4 stars<br />
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1 more reviews on <i>The Plague </i>(I couldn't find any more than this)<br />
<i><a href="http://anokatony.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/%E2%80%9Cthe-plague%E2%80%9D-by-albert-camus/">Tony's Book World</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>The Plague </i>by Albert Camus<br />
(Library Audio Book)<br />
ISBN 9780679720218<br />
9 Discs {8 Hours 30 Minutes}<br />
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If you liked <i>The Plague</i> then read: <i>The Year of Wonders </i>by Geraldine BrooksLauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-59812676715794291382010-08-28T11:57:00.000-07:002010-08-29T12:37:39.660-07:00The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYOedLzxAzgaip8COqhE-4fF6AG1NzhF53g_jZJWRqc7SjRT9f2Ngqzr18flNT1qU7lUIYUbS-EG-gKY2ag2RQ3mq-4Y4S1fiYDeyjrLVcDaj_ZPL4NW1lYT6f6-43PSMwgb_hhpVh8J/s1600/Esme+Lennox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYOedLzxAzgaip8COqhE-4fF6AG1NzhF53g_jZJWRqc7SjRT9f2Ngqzr18flNT1qU7lUIYUbS-EG-gKY2ag2RQ3mq-4Y4S1fiYDeyjrLVcDaj_ZPL4NW1lYT6f6-43PSMwgb_hhpVh8J/s320/Esme+Lennox.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HELLO MY FRIENDS!!!!! It has been sooooo long and we haven't chatted!!!! I am oh so sorry, I only have one excuse... I am 2 and a half months pregnant and all I want to do is sleep and sleep and sleep! And when I do have time to read, I decide I should tackle my neglected house hold chores because even though my hubby is trying to be super patient and helpful with my non-existent energy he is a HORRIBLE house cleaner (he tries but seriously that man should stick with Firefighting)! But anyway, I digress, I then realized that I haven't told you about 2 audio books I listened to recently so I simply must share them with you! And I am almost finished with <i>Mockingjay </i>by Suzanne Collins so look for that review in a few days! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Soooo.... <i>The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox</i> by Maggie O'Farrell was a very quick story with lots of angles, and lots to like and lots to dislike. The writing was fantastic, and I love stories that jump back and forth through time and give you multiple plot lines. However, the content of this story was a little sad and disturbing in both of the said plot lines. And the ending.... Oh boy if you read this are you in for a surprise!! Holy cow! I was just minding my own business and I started to put things together in my mind and was like "no, the story isn't going there is it? Really....? Oh my goodness!! No she didn't!!! Yes she did!!!" (Literally that is what I said you can ask my husband he was sitting right next to me in the car.)</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">OK so here is the story. Esme Lennox is in an insane asylum in current time. She is a very old lady and has been in this asylum for pretty much her entire life. When the asylum has to close it's doors they notify Esme's great-grandniece Iris, but Iris has never even heard her family so much as mention Esme before. She decides to go and see Esme and help by letting Esme live with her until she can find something to do with her. Iris tries to get answers from her grandmother Kitty but Kitty has Alzheimer's and only gives Iris snippets of who Esme is. Each chapter is told through either Iris's eyes and these chapters tell of her frustration behind the mystery of Esme, Iris's affair with a married man, and the sexual tension between her and her step-brother (kinda weird). Or the chapter is told from Esme's point of view and these chapters send you back in time to the 1930s and to Esme's childhood with her sister Kitty and her family in India and later in England. Or it is told from Kitty's point of view (which in my opinion was the most interesting chapters to read because O'Farrell really caught the mind of an Alzheimer's patient) Kitty's point of view just tells the same story as Esme but from the family's opinion of Esme. Kitty's chapters also kind of fill in the holes to why Esme was sent to the asylum in the first place. Then the ending! You just have to read to find out about the ending.</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I really really enjoyed this book. It wasn't a literary masterpiece but it was very enjoyable and very interesting. I would highly recommend this to a book club because the discussion would be fantastic! I would also recommend this book to anyone that enjoys books written in different points of view or historical fiction buffs. </div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 Stars</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews of <i>The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox</i>:</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://undermindbooks.blogspot.com/2007/05/vanishing-act-of-esme-lennox-by-maggie.html">On The Shelf</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://sarahbbc.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/the-vanishing-act-of-esme-lennox-maggie-ofarrell/">A Rat in the Book Pile</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/2008/04/vanishing-act-of-esme-lennox.html">She Treads Softly</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/2008/04/vanishing-act-of-esme-lennox.html"></a><i>The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox</i> by Maggie O'Farrell</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Library Copy of Audio Book)</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> ISBN 1433209721</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6 Discs {7 hours 30 minutes}</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox</i> then you should read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/09/potato-peel-pie.html">The Guernsey and Potato Peel Pie Society</a> </i>by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Borrows</div></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-69421833387796275112010-07-14T11:21:00.000-07:002010-07-14T11:39:10.849-07:00On Folly Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcOWjl-QOg-oyzXtCPK5SZNK5UCXkjY4UJEfihkqTenbWzeYR2C4zzLoj0qti29sPWQGOSvoLD01ANMmL5Pox9jtGWxu6et4u2CVOV7VUO6rSxQO2wyA3Zoth7KftSRcuGjtDNWVgx6Ru/s1600/On+Folly+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcOWjl-QOg-oyzXtCPK5SZNK5UCXkjY4UJEfihkqTenbWzeYR2C4zzLoj0qti29sPWQGOSvoLD01ANMmL5Pox9jtGWxu6et4u2CVOV7VUO6rSxQO2wyA3Zoth7KftSRcuGjtDNWVgx6Ru/s320/On+Folly+Beach.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well this is an exciting review for me because it is the very first review I have ever done for a publisher! A few months ago a very nice lady from Joan Schulhafer Publishing and Media contacted me, and wanted to see if I would like to read a few of their new releases and blog to all you wonderful readers about them. I eagerly accepted her generous offer and then proceeded to blog about all the horrid books I had been reading lately. I am sure that this wonderful publishing lady was kicking herself in the butt wondering why she gave these books to a snarky blogger that has nothing good to say about anything she had read recently {but what can I say I'm an honest blogger and I'm going to tell it like it is}. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fortunately I only have very fabulous things to say about <i>On Folly Beach </i>by <a href="http://www.karen-white.com/">Karen White</a>. The Characters were all delightful, the story was interesting and you wanted to keep reading "one more chapter" before you had to do something else {and then one more chapter after that}. And like most Southern Literature it made you want to move on down to the deep south and get wrapped up into their easy way of life. Plus {and this is a big ol' bonus for moi} but half of the story was in modern time and the other half was in the 1940s during WWII! I had no idea that it would be jumping back and forth between two stories and two time eras and I was quite pleasantly surprised because I heart historical fiction especially anything having to do with WWII! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So let me give you a little run down so you know what to expect with <i>On Folly Beach</i>. In the very beginning we meet Emmy {in modern time}, she has just learned that her husband Ben has been killed in Afghanistan, and her life simply stops. She can't get over his tragic death and her Mom Paige talks her into leaving their family home in Indiana and move to <a href="http://www.follybeach.com/">Folly Beach South Carolina </a>to purchase a book shop that is for sale there. Emmy is a literature and book lover and she has a degree in Library Science, and she begrudgingly takes her mothers advice and heads to South Carolina to start a new life and run the book shop Folly's Finds. When she arrives she slowly falls in love with the people there, and her new shop, but only through the help of some long lost love letters that she finds between the pages of some of the old books in the shop. The love letters are written by two star crossed lovers and Emmy is determined to find out who these lovers were and what happened to them. As the mystery unravels you learn a lot about Folly, the lovers, and Emmy's pain of letting go. The story jumps between Emmy and her sleuthing and the lovers and their lives on Folly during WWII.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This book is a perfect summer read. Grab it before your next vacation and find a shady place in the sand with a good drink at your fingertips and enjoy every sentence of this beautiful story. I highly recommend this to anyone that love Southern Literature, Historical Fiction, Book Club groups. Enjoy it and review it and let the reading world know that it is a great read!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: No movie but if there were I'd bet it would be a tear jerker!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 More Reviews of <i>On Folly Beach</i>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.cafeofdreamsbookreviews.com/2010/05/34-on-folly-beach-by-karen-white.html">Cafe of Dreams</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://booksandmovies.colvilleblogger.com/2010/05/17/book-review-on-folly-beach-by-karen-white/">Books and Movies</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/review-on-folly-beach/">Bermudaonian's Weblog</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>On Folly Beach</i> by Karen White</div><div style="text-align: justify;">{Publisher Copy}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 9780451229212</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages 416</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>On Folly Beach</i> then please read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/07/mermaid-chair.html">The Mermaid Chair</a> </i>by Sue Monk Kidd</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-59272381599817524512010-07-12T18:49:00.000-07:002010-07-12T18:49:40.220-07:00In The Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyWn-TbQ5WvHemkFxQH-MifLHlBHnzVQYVkuuK2nSdrZWB5zUVK_4pCnnXsMsWjifE6cCIKCpIC8B4Y3mJGPH5w4JRqcww8x5GiUkAjJoq7cfhBMeVSIL1leESwutQLoeh6C-r181g6oi/s1600/In+The+Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyWn-TbQ5WvHemkFxQH-MifLHlBHnzVQYVkuuK2nSdrZWB5zUVK_4pCnnXsMsWjifE6cCIKCpIC8B4Y3mJGPH5w4JRqcww8x5GiUkAjJoq7cfhBMeVSIL1leESwutQLoeh6C-r181g6oi/s320/In+The+Woods.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh <a href="http://www.tanafrench.com/">Tana French</a>, you better put up your dukes because you and I are in a fight, and I have a mean left hook! How can you write such an exquisite book and leave us so unsatisfied? It really is just unfair! I mean we read and read this semi-chunkster of a mystery novel and the "whodoneit" is riveting, and extraordinarily frightening, and then as the mystery unravels you leave us with more questions than answers! Oh. My. Gosh. I just need one more chapter please!!! I am begging you, just give me one more little chapter!!! Maybe an epilogue, another installment, something I beg you! Please!! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I must mention here that I don't really like mystery novels but if Tana French wrote another 429 page sequel, or even added another 429 pages to <i>In The Woods</i> I would have devoured every last word. French is a beautiful writer, this story was heart wrenching, scary has hell, and so real. In fact {even though Tana and I won't be on speaking terms for a bit, while I try and forgive her for not satisfying my reading experience} I understand why Tana didn't tie up all the loose ends, because in reality life isn't perfect, there are always dangley bits and bad decisions, and cold cases. And most of the time you don't expect that from a book. You can start a book and be pretty sure that there will be a "Once upon a time" and a "Happily ever after", but French takes that theory and stomps on it. And I guess I'm coming around as I write this because I guess I kinda want to say "Thank you Tana" maybe I'm not as mad at you as I was before. I understand why you left us with more questions than answers. I LOVED your book dangley bits and all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I guess you are wondering what all that was about so I have to give you a little synopsis here. Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are Murder detectives in Ireland {oh by the way my Irish brogue got really good in my mind}. They are given a case of a murdered 12 year old girl in a little town called Knocknaree in County Dublin. The girl was found murdered and sexually assaulted on an archeological dig site in the town right out side of the forest. However, Detective Ryan secretly has a strange connection to the case, because about 20 years before hand, Ryan and his two best friends went into those very same woods to play and 2 of them disappeared never to be seen again. The only one that knows about Detective Ryan's connection to the case is his partner Cassie, and as the two detectives unravel the modern case, detective Ryan is trying to make sense of the old cold case that he had been involved in years before. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you like mystery novels, if you like Ireland, if you like things that go bump in the night, if you don't like things that go bump in the night, heck if you like to read, you should pick this book up. Like I mentioned before, the story telling is exquisite, reading this book was a treat, and Tana French is a jewel of an author. And even though I am still a little sore with her, I would recommend this book to anyone. I read this for our book club and we had a great time discussing our theories, thoughts, and opinions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did despite the fact you might want to cry with frustration at the end. And Tana, if I ever meet you "in the woods" I'm going to tie you to a tree until you give me some answers!! I'm just joking. Maybe. (: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: I am really surprised that this book hasn't been optioned for a film yet. For a couple of reasons, first, the book would make an amazing movie. The suspense alone would keep people on the edge of their seats. Second, the author is actually an actor. You would think that she would want to have this made into some sort of film. Maybe even play Cassie {I pictured Cassie looking just exactly like French's picture on the book jacket}.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 starts {I just couldn't give it 5 because I wanted so much more}</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews of <i>In The Woods</i> by Tana French:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/2008/10/in-woods-tana-french.html">Books i Done Read</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2010/01/24/review-in-the-woods/">Lovely Little Shelf</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://desireeshoe.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/book-review-in-the-woods/">Des Shoe</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>In The Woods</i> by Tana French</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Library Copy)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 9780670038602</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages 429</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>In The Woods</i> then read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/02/in-cold-blood.html">In Cold Blood</a> </i>by Truman Capote</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-44268474711662922632010-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:002010-07-12T20:58:23.191-07:00Lullaby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZaNsuQO0jbukT_ThvgrQx8UpC6tq7Ga6yIEy9fAFA6TdVXvk9owlKmEgSfgazkZBLI1RqMV25g-9T302GL7QK3Bph9aS6qmUU_fmNnqtV0KDKModtSdiCvV8BMdtQ_tgrS65hh2W-Gl5/s1600/Lullaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZaNsuQO0jbukT_ThvgrQx8UpC6tq7Ga6yIEy9fAFA6TdVXvk9owlKmEgSfgazkZBLI1RqMV25g-9T302GL7QK3Bph9aS6qmUU_fmNnqtV0KDKModtSdiCvV8BMdtQ_tgrS65hh2W-Gl5/s320/Lullaby.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever been a room where someone is watching TV, and someone is playing a computer game, and someone else is talking to someone else, and the phone is ringing, and the dog is barking, and micro-wave is dinging, and a baby is crying, and you just want to stand on a chair and scream at the top of you lungs to just "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP"! Well that is how <i>Lullaby</i> is but in literary form. And the funny thing is... I kinda loved it!! I mean the big kind of love where you can't stop talking about it, you wanna buy it in hardback, you want to sleep with it under your pillow, and you want everyone else to love it just as hard as you do. I just have to say, <a href="http://chuckpalahniuk.net/">Chuck Palahniuk</a>, where have you been all my life?? I think most of us would recognize Chuck Palahniuk's work from <i>Fight Club</i> which is one of my favorite movies of all time (though I haven't read the book yet), and if you can picture the darkness of <i>Fight Club</i> you can understand the darkness of <i>Lullaby</i>. The humor is DARK, and DRY, and the story is DISTURBING, and the prose are GRUESOME, but even so this book is hysterical (even though sometimes you feel like it is inappropriate to laugh, and you might feel the need to take a shower after reading it), and it really gets you thinking about life and death. If you have a weak stomach move on, you won't want to digest this book. But if you are up for some mind Olympics, and some amazing writing dive right in please!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So in this book we meet Carl Streator, investigative journalist extraodinaire. He prides himself on not missing the details when he is on an assignment and that is how he gets himself into the mess in this story. Carl is assigned a 5 part article on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), he heads out to a families house that sadly have just lost their little one to this strange Syndrome. While Carl is looking over the nursery he notes a library book on the bedside table opened to a nursery rhyme (a culling song) on page 27. On the second house call to a victim of SIDS he notices the same library book, and on and on it goes. So he reads the rhyme on the page and recites it to his editor who dies. Now Carl is off on a wild goose chase through the U.S. (with 2 Wiccans {Mona & Oyster}, and an eccentric real estate agent that sells haunted houses{Helen Hoover Boyle}) to find the remaining copies of this book and destroy them. The only thing is, that every time Carl recites the Culling Song (even in his head) someone dies. That is all I'm gonna say. There is SOOOOOOO much more to this book than the little bit I have just mentioned. There is Carl's story, Helen's Story, Mona and Oysters story, the characters fight for power, twists, turns, dead ends, death, carnage, cell phone calls, talking cows, flying Virgins, more twists, more turns, more dead ends, and can you tell why I gave the loud room analogy earlier? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like I mentioned before, don't read this book if you are easily sick or if you are easily offended. There is gore and offensiveness a plenty. But do pick this book up if you want something SUPER different to read. Or if you want to laugh out loud. Or if you want to discuss the heck out of it with me! The only regret I have is that I didn't actually read this book but listened to the Audiobook. Though the reader Richard Poe was FANTASTIC! You won't regret reading this little gem, unless of course you do regret it, and then I warned you about the gore.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: There has been some interest in this book for a movie adaption by the director of <i>Fight Club. </i>There is also a rumor that a Swedish director may pick up the project. All I can say is that if it is done as well as <i>Fight Club</i> (and remember I haven't read that book yet, so don't judge me for a comparison yet), I would be at the theater to see it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 5 Stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews of <i>Lullaby</i>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.imabookworm.com/lullaby-by-chuck-palahniuk/">I'm A Book Worm</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://megalung.wordpress.com/2008/08/">MegaLung</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://cajolinglife.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-lullaby-by-chuck-palahniuk.html">Smitten</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Lullaby</i> by Chuck Palahniuk {Audo Book}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 1402524978</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6 Disc {3 Hours 29 Minutes}</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read by Richard Poe</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>Lullaby</i> then you should read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/02/in-cold-blood.html">In Cold Blood</a></i> by Truman Capote</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-50332202568319430712010-07-05T15:30:00.000-07:002010-07-05T21:35:17.704-07:00The Mermaid Chair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO0nLCc0rObk_Uqq0yhEbBzhPteDKRkShUj9wlOEwCLHArQjZJVT-ZSTcag_jxWWd1gB59rE9yq7vlMQ2JH-tG7ICQdisUUMMC-Eb0dc3GJ-eZrys0gnOFN7CSCV83g_SuBbuHS03F3Ku/s1600/Mermaid+Chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLO0nLCc0rObk_Uqq0yhEbBzhPteDKRkShUj9wlOEwCLHArQjZJVT-ZSTcag_jxWWd1gB59rE9yq7vlMQ2JH-tG7ICQdisUUMMC-Eb0dc3GJ-eZrys0gnOFN7CSCV83g_SuBbuHS03F3Ku/s320/Mermaid+Chair.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello my friends {and I have quite a few new friends it looks like}. First I wanna say thanks for following and welcome! Now that little bit is out of the way let me jump right into my review on The Mermaid Chair by <a href="http://www.suemonkkidd.com/">Sue Monk Kidd</a>. The very first thing I have to say is IT IS ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!!! I have been reading and listening to tons and tons of horrid books lately and I am sure you all are sick and tired of me writing reviews on books I hated! But while <i>The Mermaid Chair</i> isn't going to leap to the top of my favorites list, at least it was extraordinarily well written and the story was captivating. Why I haven't picked up a book by Kidd before is beyond me, but I am so so glad I did! She paints such a pretty picture and develops her characters so well that I felt like I wanted to move to Egret Island, become part of this little community and raise my unborn children there! I was enthralled with this book by the first paragraph because it has a very surprising start and I wanted to find out "what the heck??" Here is the first line...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>"In the middle of my marriage, when I was above all Hugh's wife and Dee's mother, one of those unambiguous women with no desire to disturb the universe, I fell in love with a Benedictine monk."</i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">So I mean come on... How do you not read more and figure out how this woman who is happily married falls in love with a Benedictine monk that is cloistered on a little Island off the cost of South Carolina? I'll give you a little hint but that's it. It has to do with a purposely severed finger. A special needs adult that has a knack for knowing the things you are thinking. A very devout mother. Mermaids, a chair, and a 20 year old family secret that is resurfacing after all the years it has been buried under the sea. On top of this intriguing story is the wit and voice of a charming southern woman named Jessie, and I really really liked her! Most the time, when I read books about unfaithfulness in marriage, I get so mad at the guilty party but I really loved this lady, and felt like I was rooting for her no matter what her decision was. I really liked her husband Hugh and the Benedictine monk so I didn't really know how I wanted it to end. Also, I always always figure out what is going to happen on the end of the book, way before the end of the book, but I was surprised when Kidd tied up all the loose ends and some of those little ends weren't exactly what I had thought they would be! So do you wanna read it? Huh? Huh?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I would recommend this book to just about anyone. It isn't that long and her writing is so beautiful that it is easy to read, so consider this book if you are headed to the beach. Book clubs would love it and discuss the heck out of it because it is chalked full of literary, religious, and mythical symbolism. So all in all I am elated that I finally read a book I liked after so many others I wanted to chuck in the bin! I thought that maybe <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/road.html">The Road</a></i> had ruined it for me and nothing would ever again compare. I remember feeling the same way after I read <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/time-travlers-wife.html">The Time Travelers Wife</a></i> for the first time, it took me a long time to find another good book after that one. But it looks like I am out of my reading rut because I have another fantastic audio book review for you waiting in the wings, and I am reading 2 amazing books right now! So in the next few weeks you will see some glowing recommendations! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: There was a Lifetime movie made on <i>The Mermaid Chair</i> in 2006 staring Kim Basinger. It didn't really get great reviews but I'd give it a try if I ran across it on TV.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 Stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 more reviews on <i>The Mermaid Chair:</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://literatehousewife.com/2007/01/03-the-mermaid-chair/">The Literate Housewife</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://giraffeelizabeth.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/the-mermaid-chair-sue-monk-kidd/">A Book Sanctuary</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://tillabooks.blogspot.com/2007/11/mermaid-chair-by-sue-monk-kidd.html">Tillabooks</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Mermaid Chair</i> by Sue Monk Kidd</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN: 0143057421</div><div style="text-align: justify;">10 Hour and 22 Minutes</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eliza Foss</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>The Mermaid Chair</i> you should also read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/help-book-club-read.html">The Help</a></i> by Kathryn Stockett</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://giraffeelizabeth.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/the-mermaid-chair-sue-monk-kidd/"></a> </div><blockquote></blockquote>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-66306890511831109942010-07-01T18:53:00.000-07:002010-07-05T21:34:29.891-07:00Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ2ZP5BDieePxSZTg-FoSVBvtiThymZWW9whcrm8XGyPcccDGeXltsuSH6oY1Zk-8AJHibZ9FSNAGMSXH4UnDI3So4oWa_9VrZrWlLl2NtvyqNJt_1Y7rYL1co_kf5lxAg6uJVKefRXTY/s1600/Blog+Hop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ2ZP5BDieePxSZTg-FoSVBvtiThymZWW9whcrm8XGyPcccDGeXltsuSH6oY1Zk-8AJHibZ9FSNAGMSXH4UnDI3So4oWa_9VrZrWlLl2NtvyqNJt_1Y7rYL1co_kf5lxAg6uJVKefRXTY/s320/Blog+Hop.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hey Welcome Hoppers! My name is <a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/09/entry-one.html">Lauren</a> {click on my name to read a little more about me} and I started blogging because about 10 months ago I thought it would be a good idea to keep a journal about the books I've read. I had NO IDEA there was this amazing community of readers and writers out there that agreed with me so I was pleasantly surprised to fall into this group of fabulous book bloggers! I have met so many wonderful bibliophiles/bloggers that love reading and love blogging as much as I do. Take a look around. Leave a comment or two. Find some good reads. Become a follower!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Warm Regards,</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lauren </div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-51291919416473239052010-06-30T20:29:00.000-07:002010-07-05T21:33:56.920-07:00A Soft Place to Land<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPpeJwirzXsdTcgoR_FUhd0I4ZuceLb-HeQW38za9S8l-9Z3SMT2ANcJgYcyEmsJBiVNttKyc5a1x6dmCJsfBFKJHCOXO3slveCcKqQudxchniNoMhaX3k2c_r5ePtN8Rxk-ECfTeJ_QH/s1600/Soft-Place-to-Land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPpeJwirzXsdTcgoR_FUhd0I4ZuceLb-HeQW38za9S8l-9Z3SMT2ANcJgYcyEmsJBiVNttKyc5a1x6dmCJsfBFKJHCOXO3slveCcKqQudxchniNoMhaX3k2c_r5ePtN8Rxk-ECfTeJ_QH/s320/Soft-Place-to-Land.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I obediently trudged though <i><a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Soft-Place-to-Land/Susan-Rebecca-White/9781416558699">A Soft Place to Land</a> </i>by <a href="http://pages.simonandschuster.com/a-soft-place-to-land">Susan Rebecca White</a> for my book club a few weeks ago and I decided to have mixed reviews about it. The book takes a little while to get into and a little after the half way point I really <i>did </i>had to find out what happened to our poor protagonist so I continued reading. But had I not been reading this for my book club I probably would have disregarded the book after the first few chapters. <i>{Side note: I promise that I usually do like the books I read it just seams that 2010 is the year of bad books for me, I am not typically a Debbie Downer or a Nagging Nancy like my recent book reviews make me sound, and I currently reading 3 VERY good books so stay tuned}</i>. I had some serious character issues with this book. Ruthie the main character seemed flat, not fleshed out enough to be a main character. Her sister Julia seemed a little more interesting and I enjoyed reading about her but the story was about Ruthie mostly and you would think that White would have made Ruthie the interesting one. She just seemed to float through life, taking the joy and sorrow with the same even tone. In other words she was the Melba Toast of literary Characters. Every one else in the story had some flavor (bland flavor but at least you could taste them), they all had some interesting quirk but poor Ruthie was just kinda blah. I really didn't like anyone of importance in this whole book really. They seemed disconnected with life, not real, not deep.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">So we meet Ruthie and her half sister Julia when they are young. Ruthie is in 7th grade and is a rule follower; and Julia is in High School and is rule breaker. During Spring Break their parents head off to Los Vegas for a little alone time and while they are there they decide to go on a little trip to the Grand Canyon for a airplane tour. But unfortunately they die in a fiery plane crash. So Ruthie and Julia are split up, Ruthie going to live with her aunt and uncle (the only characters I kinda liked) in San Francisco, and Julia going to live with her Dad and wicked step-mom in Virginia. Over the next few years the once very close sisters have a falling out. Julia's reckless behavior, and Ruthie's pent up resentment for her sister drive a wedge between their relationship. Later when another plane crash occurs the two grow closer only to be ripped apart again. Finally a third plane crash gives the reader hope that these two girls will get their act together and remember they are sisters. How many plane crashes can one family endure you ask? The answer is that 3 plane crashes in one life time bring you full circle I suppose.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I guess the story kind of board me. Nothing much happens and like I said Ruthie was Melba Toasty, but the writing was fantastic so that was a redeeming factor. I would probably recommend this book to book clubs but other than that I don't think I would recommend it to anyone else. However, I would read another one of Whites books. As I said I liked her writing style, so maybe another story would speak to me a little better than <i>A Soft Place to Land</i> did. </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: There isn't a movie but if there were I'd bet it would be one on Lifetime.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">RATING: 3 Stars</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">3 More Reviews on <i>A Soft Place to Land:</i></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i></i><a href="http://alongplumcreek.blogspot.com/2010/04/2010-book-in-review-4-soft-place-to.html">Along Plumb Creek</a></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://blakelynslife.blogspot.com/2010/06/soft-place-to-land-by-susan-rebecca.html?showComment=1277952264541_AIe9_BEsPxqQJiMVSLIscyzIU9_36xI1xeaMY9DG8GITL8QCn0Gdz95ZfjtjgYzVrWveHr75FtrAMqqLRziiOCpDAeQS3AIQtKe99o1V4JDDoJZdzE00e0sfAF-e0Ytd5Z6v2WnqdHBlrSbaIFomjttCRa_NoVwEyZcNsqWikDGjJ7r7CKd_1lgjdRSNmN9YJoJHJzdt-b7n2VyRLclk9X1LDO4xH4T26KlfORltPBVoEUtXcQQzfCb1fEeqejBhQ4eB_T-OcP7B#c621271797488740500">Designed to Live</a></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-soft-place-to-land.html">Booking Mama</a> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>A Soft Place to Land </i>by Susan Rebecca White</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">(Purchased at Target)</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">ISBN 9781439194812</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Pages328</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">If you liked this book you should read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/04/girls-in-trucks.html">Girls in Trucks</a> </i>by Katie Crouch<i> </i></span></span></div></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-43782602121624557392010-06-19T20:56:00.000-07:002010-06-19T22:29:51.248-07:00The Secret History of the Pink Carnation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQiFYMlm2MJzjpQZfwlrbLOdkgkqtfUCuxgEuRKAMeVL8IDIWMp5PGoYd8HpDRMhg-0E5KyEU0EJu6T9EHlUTbQqG73mGAAX5e3RS1ePNw6_wzKlw5PP6YDSgVx7Q2_Dkcnx4xqyL_yiq/s1600/Pink+Carnation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQiFYMlm2MJzjpQZfwlrbLOdkgkqtfUCuxgEuRKAMeVL8IDIWMp5PGoYd8HpDRMhg-0E5KyEU0EJu6T9EHlUTbQqG73mGAAX5e3RS1ePNw6_wzKlw5PP6YDSgVx7Q2_Dkcnx4xqyL_yiq/s320/Pink+Carnation.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Sometimes I start a book, get through a chapter and then toss it to the side because the first chapter sucked, or the main character was whiny, or there was too much back story, or all of the above. Then I feel like a quitter, and feel guilty that I didn't give it a fair chance, and I feel like I hurt the books feelings {I know, right???}. So that is usually when I head to the library and get the audio book. I would say that 99% of the audio books I listen to are books I tried to read and just couldn't get past the first few chapters. And usually I end up hearting the story after all!! This is exactly the scenario I had with <i>The Secret History of the Pink Carnation.</i> The first few chapters weren't so hot, it starts out in modern time and I was expecting historical fiction all the way. I thought the main character was whiny and needy, and there was too much of a back story. I read 20 pages and tossed it to the side. Then the guilt came and I rushed out to pick up the audio book at my library. I really enjoyed it! I mean it isn't great literature, the historical part of the book is utterly and truly fiction, but <a href="http://www.laurenwillig.com/index.php">Lauren Willig</a> wrote a great book that was full of mystery, espionage, and romance and.... onomatopoeias. Yes this story is chalked full of WHACKS, POWS, CRUNCHES, OOMPHS, BANGS, and WHOPS.. At some points I felt like I was in one of those old Batman TV shows. However, besides the assortment of expressive sound words I rather "guilty pleasure" enjoyed <i>The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. </i></span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Let me just say it. This book is kind of a romance novel in a not so Harlequin form. The writing (besides the random POW), is very well done, and the plot is clever and interesting, but on the whole this is a story about a boy and girl falling in love and sometimes getting to second and third base rather descriptively (fortunately for the reader there were no sounds mentioned at these parts). We start out in modern day London where we meet Eloise. Poor Eloise is trying to write her dissertation on the Pink Carnation, the most cunning and successful British spy during the Napoleonic wars. But no one knows the true identity of this fabulous sleuth, the identities of the other great spies of the time (the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian) have been revealed but no where in history has anyone unmasked the Pink Carnation. So Eloise is on a mission, she tracks down an old lady living in London who is a descendant of the Purple Gentian, and the lady gives Eloise diaries, and correspondence that shed some light on who this wonderful Pink Carnation might be. At this point in the story we are flung back through time to the 1830s where we meet Amy and Jane. These two English Victorian young women are getting ready to journey to France to live with Amy's brother Edward, their main goal in France is to find the Purple Gentian and help him restore the French Crown. Amy is the protagonist here and she blunders her way from one thing to another until she accidentally meets and falls in love with the Purple Gentian. Meanwhile she is in deep social drama with a excruciatingly handsome, but irkingly impossible man named Richard Selwick. Espionage ensues and Napoleon's plans are curtailed, identities are revealed, there is much POW BOP BANGING, and there is even a cliff hangerish type ending {because this is a series people}! It is quite a funny ride!</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">If you are in the mood for some light hearted summer reading I would give this one a chance. I was expecting a serious piece of historical fiction so maybe that is why my first impression was blah. But after I got the audio book I really enjoyed it. The characters cracked me up! Read it on the beach, don't expect a challenge, but do expect to be at least a little bit entertained.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">On a side note, I am sorry for all these audio book reviews!! I feel like such a slacker in my reading but I have been doing A LOT of driving to and from work and then A LOT of working and in my free time I sleep {between the hours of 1:30am - 7:00am}, so I am grateful for my longish commute to work so I have time to indulge in books! I can't wait for wedding season to slow down a tad bit so I can pick up a real live book again! </span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: There isn't a Pink Carnation movie but if there were I don't think I'd be camping out in line to be the first to see it. I would however pick it up at Redbox for a buck.</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">RATING: 3.95 stars</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">3 More reviews on <i>The Secret History of the Pink Carnation:</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2009/11/review-of-secret-history-of-pink.html">Good Books and Good Wine</a> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.alifeinbooks.com/?p=544">A Life in Books</a> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://fyreflybooks.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/lauren-willig-the-secret-history-of-the-pink-carnation/">Firefly's Book Blog</a> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>The Secret History of the Pink Carnation</i> by Lauren Willig</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">ISBN 0143057324</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">13 Hours and 36 minutes</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Read by Kate Reading</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">If you liked <i>The Secret History of the Pink Carnation </i>you may also like: <i>Wideacre </i>by Philippa Gregory</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span></i></span></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-3454450907361433792010-06-16T10:41:00.000-07:002010-06-16T11:29:42.823-07:00A Little of This A little of That<div style="text-align: justify;">Alrighty people this isn't a book review. I know I know, don't be mad, but I had a bunch of things I wanted to tell you all about so I decided to stray from my normal routine and write a non-book-review blog for once. So bear with me and I promise it won't be so bad :). Or if you are already getting board reading this blog entry just skip ahead to the bits that interest you (an award, a review of The Road {movie}, a complaint about SPAM in my comments, back-up reminder), I promise it won't hurt my feelings if you don't hang on my every word.. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First things first. I want to thank Elisabeth over at <a href="http://www.babbettesbookblog.com/">Babbette's Book Blog</a> for sending me the Oh My Blog Award!! Elisabeth you made my day!! So here are the rules for the Oh My Blog award...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1... Get really really excited that you just had the best blog award in the world bestowed upon you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2... Choose one of the following options to except the award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> a) Get really really drunk and blog for 15 minutes straight or until you loose focus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> b) Write about your most embarrassing moment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> c) Write a "Soundtrack of Your Childhood" post.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> d) Make your next post a Vlog (Video Blog)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> e) Take a picture of yourself first thing in the morning before you have done your makeup and hair.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3... Pass the award on to at least 3 (but hopefully more) fabulous bloggers and don't forget to tell them!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I decided to except this award I was going to do choice E, but I don't really have a picture on hand so I scoured my Facebook pictures until I came up with one that I don't really want anyone to see. Actually it is one that I untagged myself in, so I think this one will suffice for a picture of me with out my pretties on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">View this picture at your own risk. And then after you look at this picture take a look the picture of me at the top of my blog so you aren't picturing me looking like this all the time (: haha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dOPYtou9CiTA4OnG0v8VrzY5uk4Jlwg7f8S8FVXIHRjDJ1mXagzlHu49xDXwmr6OLdcHfZcZ86uBC0DmHtnmaSAHI_ZkuPkZi6pY-ULjYaU2o7aJUCx00fMeEpZgQiTJYI7Elsvvx7m0/s1600/ugly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dOPYtou9CiTA4OnG0v8VrzY5uk4Jlwg7f8S8FVXIHRjDJ1mXagzlHu49xDXwmr6OLdcHfZcZ86uBC0DmHtnmaSAHI_ZkuPkZi6pY-ULjYaU2o7aJUCx00fMeEpZgQiTJYI7Elsvvx7m0/s320/ugly.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">AAAAAHHHHH!!!! I hope I didn't blind you!!! Everything in this picture is BAD, bad hair, bad makeup, bad clothes, bad bad bad. YIKES!!! OK now that I have totally shown you the most unflattering picture on the planet of myself I get to honor 3 more fabulous bloggers with this award!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the winner is...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1... <a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/">Books i Done Read</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2... <a href="http://kathmeista.blogspot.com/">{Insert Suitably Snappy Title Here}</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3... <a href="http://bookenddiaries.blogspot.com/">Bookend Diaries</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7iSc_dZzxYeezq8qzBUFz_7aiH2Qc_TXYWX839cHIXSYYp0mRG8GuLWLS9jZtO_EGEYxcFlXtaDKj3qr0rRihUTt2wMGmfrS86QVYXpbtaKgKgo1pto8Dmqj02F_x-FSU-5mRfC8_2mM/s1600/The+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7iSc_dZzxYeezq8qzBUFz_7aiH2Qc_TXYWX839cHIXSYYp0mRG8GuLWLS9jZtO_EGEYxcFlXtaDKj3qr0rRihUTt2wMGmfrS86QVYXpbtaKgKgo1pto8Dmqj02F_x-FSU-5mRfC8_2mM/s320/The+Road.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Next on the agenda is The Road {movie} review. I read and reviewed <a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/road.html">The Road</a> by Cormac McCarthy back in March and I have been in a reading rut ever since. Nothing I have read lately has lived up to The Road so I feel like my measuring stick for good books is so long that everything else falls way short. So when the movie hit Redbox last month I was SOOOOO excited but I also was going into my movie viewing experience skeptical because come on, how many movies surpass the book? Or even live up to the book? I can tell you the answer to those questions... NONE. I have to say though, The Road held it's own as far as move from book goes. The scenes were the correct amount of bleakness, the dialog was short and clipped like the prose in the book, things that happened in the book also happened in the movie. There were somethings that weren't executed as well but that is expected. And there were some things that were left out and I think it was a good thing because to actually see a baby on a spit over a fire would have been a little much for people. Over all though this movie was an A+, and if you had strong enough stomach to read The Road then you can probably watch it too, and I recommend that you do!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next order of business is SPAM y'all!! I have been getting it like whoa on my comment sections!! I have been deleting deleting deleting like crazy! So now unfortunately you all have to type a secret word thing every time you leave a comment, and I hate that! So I apologize for having to make you type more with the crazy secret word but it really is helping. Do any of you know how to stop the SPAM from happening? I mean, people are posting links to Publishing Houses, Book stores, Win a Free Kindle, Etc. They are all book related but they are most defiantly SPAM. Let me know my friends and tell me what I need to do to kick these SPAMMERS to the curb!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last bit of business I want to tell you about is the most important. I follow a blog called <a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/">Books i Done Read</a>, and she always reminds us to back up our blogs. This is SOOOOOOOOO important because sometimes the interweb wants to eat our blogs for lunch and then you are with out all your hard work! So I want to get up on a soapbox and preach to you about backing up your blog. I am very grateful for the lovely lady on Books i Done Read for her soapbox preaching about it and she does it oh-so-much better than I can so I am sending you to her blog to read all about the phenomenon of disappearing blogs and how to back up yours! So check out her post here: <a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/2010/05/warning-and-plea.html">Books i Done Read - Backing Up Your Blog</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">OK I am releasing your from my clutches now and you can go on about your business. I am glad we had this little talk about all things not book review related!! Have a wonderful day my friends!!! </div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-88129475443866361372010-06-06T21:09:00.000-07:002010-06-08T09:26:23.634-07:00The Last Days of Dogtown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16VWSPS-83kvwIbSaatcdgav0DFmXeec15Iw5qz6sseTITc-9OPqlNs4iLnko4DdtJzz5xUGwLQxgGxL9vQhAWyhjwut7eqtLgnbvjhWPfx3QymrEd8c_aWJf7HvUDRgKrwQN1WSPTFzQ/s1600/Last+Days+of+DOgtown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16VWSPS-83kvwIbSaatcdgav0DFmXeec15Iw5qz6sseTITc-9OPqlNs4iLnko4DdtJzz5xUGwLQxgGxL9vQhAWyhjwut7eqtLgnbvjhWPfx3QymrEd8c_aWJf7HvUDRgKrwQN1WSPTFzQ/s400/Last+Days+of+DOgtown.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had tried to read this book a few years back and only got about 2 chapters into it before something else caught my fancy and I wondered that-a-way instead. I had always meant to go back and read it but as I was perusing the audio book shelf at my library the other day I happened upon it and grabbed it. Thus bringing me to the realization that most of the books I listen to are books I didn't get through on paper, but I digress. I very much enjoyed learning about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogtown,_Massachusetts">last days of Dogtown</a>. The entire plot of the book is in the title so there weren't any big surprises there, but the characters were well developed, their stories were interesting, and I was glad to learn some new tidbits to tuck away in the back of my mind for that one day that I might end up on a game show. <i>The Last Days Of Dogtown</i> by <a href="http://www.anitadiamant.com/index.asp?page=home">Anita Diamant</a> (author of The Red Tent {one or my favorites}) is a semi-fictional account of the last years of a small community on the outskirts of Gloucester on Cape Ann in Massachusetts. Dogtown was a very poor cluster of hovels, a few taverns, a church, and a whorehouse that stood a few miles outside of Gloucester and that had a unique collection of residents as well as a pack of stray dogs. The little community was very poor and the people in the neighboring towns looked at these people with disdain and pity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The story starts off when one of the residents is found dead and is brought to Easter Carter's home/boarding house. The whole community of Dogtown turns out to view the dead man and here begins the introduction of all the characters. The rest of the story explores each of the members of this little society and how their days ended or how they eventually left Dogtown for a better life. Each chapter focuses on a particular person and tells a little antidote about their lives in Dogtown. Toward the end of the book the chapters switch gears and revisits these same characters but it depicts them at the end of their time in Dogtown whether that be death or other circumstance. Along the way all their paths cross each other and you realize the alliances, romances, and animosity among them all. It is a very interesting examination of the dynamics of a small town in the early 1800s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I thoroughly enjoyed <i>The Last Days of Dogtown. </i>I love historical fiction and this time period and location of history especially. And like <i>The Red Tent </i>Anita Daimant has done a dang good job of painting a picture with her words. The book is beautifully written; by the time it is over you really feel a connection with a few of the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a soft spot for historical fiction as well as book clubs, I think there could be a lot of discussion on this book. I have been to Gloucester before but now I would like to go back having read this book and visit the remains of Dogtown. I hear there isn't much to see but you can explore the area and see the foundations of some of the homes. Some of the characters in the book were based off of real members of this community and it would be interesting to see where they really lived.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: There isn't a movie (not even one brewing) but if there were I would go and see it. And really there wouldn't be anything to mess up because this is a story that would only be better if the characters were fleshed out a little bit more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 4 stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 More Reviews of <i>The Last Days of Dogtown</i> ( I couldn't find 3 reviews!!)<i>:</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.curledup.com/dogtownd.htm">Curled Up</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://kbrownlee.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/book-review-the-last-days-of-dogtown/">Just Another Day in Paradise</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Last Days of Dogtown</i> by Anita Diamant</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(got at the library)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 0743550986<br />
9 Discs (10hours 30 minutes)<br />
Narrated by Kate Nelligan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>The Last Days of Dogtown</i> then please read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/09/potato-peel-pie.html">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society </a></i>by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows </div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-34928933826228604322010-06-02T14:41:00.000-07:002012-07-24T18:45:18.166-07:00The Memory Keeper's Daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesfDOM-Bl8O7OKZ2QbAEaQGwNLqGKRHP7bQtJe90PBDlLXm7H-1uMH9dIAaBKHvO6cjguZZW4bvssPX36Ayf-yA6b_SIMDjYZ1xOZBLmLxA57mt9VPf4Aq76el5oB9Ig7n4_x-twTNQjl/s1600/Memory_Keepers_Daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesfDOM-Bl8O7OKZ2QbAEaQGwNLqGKRHP7bQtJe90PBDlLXm7H-1uMH9dIAaBKHvO6cjguZZW4bvssPX36Ayf-yA6b_SIMDjYZ1xOZBLmLxA57mt9VPf4Aq76el5oB9Ig7n4_x-twTNQjl/s400/Memory_Keepers_Daughter.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">OK here is a little relationship tip for all you guys and gals out there. Ladies if you are pregnant and you get stuck in a freak snow storm and your husband has to deliver your child, make sure you stay awake through out the whole ordeal. And fella's if your wife is pregnant and you get stuck in a freak snow storm and you have to deliver your own child don't claim the baby died and then send it off to live with the nurse that helped with the delivery. This isn't good for your marriage. It causes problems, and tension, and walls to be built up. And I'm no psychologist people, but I do know that this may lead to divorce some where down the line! You may snicker at this little scenario and tell yourself well that won't ever happen to me, but be warned my friends, because this is just what happened in <i>The Memory Keepers Daughter </i>by</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> <a href="http://www.memorykeepersdaughter.com/">Kim Edwards</a>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So here is a little run down on what happens in this story. David Henry is very much in love with his wife Nora. So in love in fact that he wants to shelter her from heartbreak and a life of struggle, so when he has to deliver his twins on one cold and blustery night he keeps their perfect son (Paul) and sends off his less than perfect (in his opinion) daughter (Pheobe, she has Down Syndrome) off with the nurse (Caroline) while his wife is still passed out from the gas they gave delivering mothers back in the '60s (ummm... What happened to that gas). When Nora wakes up David tells his wife that their daughter was born dead and that he had sent her little body with the nurse to dispose of. This starts a downward spiral in to a life of depression for Nora. She loves Paul with all her heart but she always has a missing part of her soul for her daughter that she never even got to see. Mean while David is living with this horrible secret that his daughter is alive and well and living with Caroline somewhere out there in the world. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The story hops back and forth from one Characters point of view to another and I really enjoyed getting into all the characters heads. Except for Nora's; I was so annoyed with Nora's life, I know I was supposed to feel sorry for her because she was unaware that her daughter was out there somewhere and she was struggling with an unhappy marriage and depression, but I got really tired of her depression, and her "whoa as me" attitude. I enjoyed the chapters about Pheobe and Caroline the best. I have always had a soft place in my heart for people with Down Syndrome and they depicted Pheobe perfectly with a big heart and an sweet and inquisitive personality, I just instantly fell in love with her. Also, I loved that the book took place in Kentucky between Lexington and Louisville. There are so few books that take place here in Kentucky so when one does I LOVE it because I can picture the people and the places they live so vividly! I was listening to the book not reading it and it felt like it took me 27 years (the span on the book) to listen to it. It was LONG in other words. Even though I enjoyed it I was SOOOOOO ready for it to be over by the end. In a nut shell it was well written, and a good book to discuss so if you are in a book club you should probably suggest this as your next read!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: Lifetime made this a TV movie back in 2008 and I am sure it is a tear jerker because most Lifetime movies are. I haven't seen it but I think I might search it out. I would love to see how it compares. I hope it doesn't feel as long as the book felt.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">RATING: 3 stars</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">3 More reviews on <i>The Memory Keepers Daughter</i>:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/06/review-the-memory-keepers-daughter/">Sophisticated Dorkiness</a> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://baltimorebookworm.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/">Adventures in Reading</a> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://shelflove.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/the-memory-keepers-daughter-review/">Shelf Love</a> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The Memory Keeper's Daughter </i>by Kim Edwards</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">ISBN 1428125558</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">14 Discs (16 hours 15 minutes)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Narrated by Martha Plimpton</span></span></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-83742499483008597372010-05-26T20:15:00.000-07:002010-05-26T22:29:54.856-07:00The Forest of Hands and Teeth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaHCh3S2zq2O-0GsS3cQ41yzQrO99nmIX6CLlfQ_RSmrAWqFhvmuyt8H1saABDLBwive4wkc-udNInk5sdR7OGtSs4MaMiGFOLuoPsCmlx7Vidop_1t6FPUmTVn0v6lLr81cxraeTKGAZ/s1600/forestofhandsandteeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaHCh3S2zq2O-0GsS3cQ41yzQrO99nmIX6CLlfQ_RSmrAWqFhvmuyt8H1saABDLBwive4wkc-udNInk5sdR7OGtSs4MaMiGFOLuoPsCmlx7Vidop_1t6FPUmTVn0v6lLr81cxraeTKGAZ/s320/forestofhandsandteeth.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh my! It has been quite a long time since my last post! I am so sorry for the hiatus but I have a good excuse this time. I own a <a href="http://www.coutureclosetboutique.com/">bridal boutique</a> and guess what season it is? (Let me give you a hint... "Here comes the bride...."). It has been completely out of control for a couple weeks now so I have had no time to blog much less read!!! Have no fear though, I have been listening to audio books on my commute to and from work so I have a couple waiting in the wings. However the last book I read was <i>The Forest of Hands and Teeth</i> by <a href="http://www.carrieryan.com/">Carrie Ryan</a>, and even though I am not a YA lover this book was about Zombies!!! I mean come on y'all ZOMBIES!!!! And they snack on people! And it is gruesome and there is unrequited love and then the love is requited, and there is some young adult drama; and did I mention there are Zombies EVERYWHERE??? They are just waiting to take a wee bite out of someones arm and turn them in to the living dead too!! And there are some parts that are uber intense, and made me sleep with my light on when my husband was on shift at the firehouse. Whooo... (*big breath*). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">OK so here it goes ladies and gents... The world has been taken over by the "Unconsecrated" and the survivors are forced to live in these little villages that are fortified by fences. However, it has been so long sense the world has been over run by the living dead that the villages are isolated from each other and none of the villages are sure if the other villages are still around or if they have been taken over by the flesh eaters. This story takes place in one such village and that is where we meet Mary. She is restless and wants more in life than what is between the fortified fence. But she knows that there is no way to get past the Forest of Hands and Teeth (an unfortunate name by the way) and explore what else is out there. Eventually there is a breach in the fence and the village is over run by the zombies, and you guys this isn't a spoiler because there has to be a breach or else this story would suck. Anyway Mary and her friends are on the run through the deadly forest being chased by the cast from Dawn of the Dead. Will they find another village? Will they all make it? Will there be some twists and turns? I am not telling! You will have to find out for your selves. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alright I am not saying that this book is fabulous, the writing is eh, and the story has some dangly bits that don't really get resolved or really have a point to the story; but what do you expect from a Zombie story? I mean you don't really expect a zombie flick to win an Oscar, am I right? It is what it is and just take it as a quick read that would be good for summer vacation. I am waiting for the second book (did I mention this is a series?) to become available at my library so I can see what else is going on with these characters. You all will be the first to know what I think about book 2 (<i>The Dead Tossed Waves)</i> I promise. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: This book has been picked up by <a href="http://sevenstarpictures.com/movies/">Seven Star Pictures</a> for a film adaption. There is even some talk that Twilight star Kristen Stewart may play the lead (the horror! Isn't one teen book series turn movie series enough for one person?) Will I go and see it? Yeah probably. I'm always down for a good zombie movie on the big screen. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 3 stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 More Reviews of <i>The Forest of Hands and Teeth</i>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2009/11/book-review-forest-of-hands-and-teeth.html">The Neverending Shelf</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Forest+of+Hands+and+Teeth">Books i Done Read</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/2009/09/forest-of-hands-and-teeth-by-carrie.html">All About {n}</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Forest of Hands and Teeth </i>by Carrie Ryan</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(purchased at a used book shop)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 9780385736817</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages 308</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>The Forest of Hands and Teeth</i> then read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/10/hunger-games.html">The Hunger Games</a> </i>by Suzanne Collins</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-60432989277366456612010-05-08T20:51:00.000-07:002012-05-23T10:27:32.973-07:00Her Fearful Symmetry (ranting a bit... Sorry)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">**Disclaimer** Whenever I give a book a bad review I write my review and then I don't post it for quite a few days because I want to make sure that I really mean what I am saying and not giving a sort of deserving book a bad wrap. So if I sound terrible and snarky it is because this book made me this way. I chose and rechose my words carefully and this is purely my opinion.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">You know when you were a kid and Christmas or your Birthday rolled around and there was that one great big box dressed all in bright beautiful paper that you were just dying to rip into? The one that you just knew was that most coveted toy or that puppy you asked for? Then when you were given the OK you tore off the wrapping paper and opened the lid only to be confronted with a few pairs of rolled up sock that our Aunt Hilda knitted you. Well that doesn't even slightly compare to the disappointment I was in store for when I set out to read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Her Fearful Symmetry</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">. I was looking forward to this book so much and I wanted to love it really really hard despite the bad reviews it was getting, but alas, the reviews were bad for a reason people! After </span><i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/time-travlers-wife.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Time Travelers Wife</span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (which I consider my all time favorite book, and have read almost 8 times) I was expecting my mind to be blown with her amazing story telling skills and genius mind like I was the first time I read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">TTTW</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, but y'all, it was blown because the book was utter garbage! Audrey can tell a story I will give her that, her writing is BEAUTIFUL with a capital B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L and her mind goes place that no one else's can go but this story was so disjointed and so pointless that I wanted to beat myself with the book rather than read it. I know I sound hateful but my heart is broken with disappointment and like a child I don't want to wear my disappointment with dignity, I want to through a temper tantrum!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">So I guess I have to tell you what this book is about a little bit. And there might be some spoilers here but I edited out all the twisty bits. Ok so, Elspeth and Edie are twins. They have a big falling out and one moves to the Untied States (Edie) and one stays in London (Elspeth). Elspeth gets the cancer and she dies. Edie has twin girls of her own (Julia and Valentina) and they are lazy, whiney, 20 year olds that just sit around all day watching HGTV (seriously). Anyway, Elspeth dies of the cancer like I said and leaves her nieces (Julia and Valentina) her flat in London with the stipulation that they live in it for a year before they sell it and that their parents are not allowed to come into the flat, ever. Meanwhile, Elspeth's boyfriend Robert is devastated by Elspeths death and can't get over her at all so he does some really naughty things with her shoes (umm yes he did). Julia and Valentina move in to their aunts flat but guess what? Elspeth is a ghost and she lives (errr.. haunts) in the flat too. Then Robert falls in love with Valentina which is creepy and Elspeth gets a little jealous. Elspeth learns how to communicate with the girls and Robert via a Ouija Board (I am dead serious) and she also learns how to take the souls out of living things and then put them back (and she practices on a poor little kitten that Valentina loves). Throughout this whole train wreck of a story Valentina has some pent up resentment for her sister Julia and decided she has to kill herself to get away from her (ummm... because that's what I feel like I have to do when I'm annoyed with my sibling). So Valentine concocts this brilliant plan to have Elspeth rip her soul out of her body, keep it safe, and then replace it once her sister and her parents think she is dead and buried in the cemetery that is next door (and is probably the most important character in this book -um the cemetery not Valentina). (Come on!!! Seriously?? I mean decay?? Gross??) Elspeth is happy to oblige because Valentina is getting a little too cozy with Robert. Now about this time the story starts to take some crazy twists and turns that will leave you scratching your head and muttering WTF under your breath but believe me you are better off not wasting your time. Unless you are like me and want to find out for yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Obviously you can tell that I am in deep hate with this book, so here is where I usually tell you who I would recommend this book to. NO ONE. Don't waste your time. If you feel the itch to read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Her Fearful Symmetry</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> just pick up </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Time Travelers Wife</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> instead. I can't believe that the same person wrote both of these books! I mean </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">TTTW</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> was so ingenious, Niffenegger told that story with so much detail and the whole idea of that story was so thought out and just perfect but </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Her Fearful Symmetry </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">felt like she used up all her creative juices with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">TTTW</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> and just threw </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">HFS </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">together at the last minute because Simon and Schuster gave her a FIVE MILLION DOLLAR advance and she forgot when the deadline was, then all of a sudden she looked at her calendar and was like "crap I have to write a book by next Thrusday! Whatever am I going to do?"</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: I might watch this as if it came out as a movie. Because the book was so terrible that the movie would probably be really good! I mean movies made about great books usually suck so maybe we would get a blockbuster with this bad book.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">RATING: 1 and a half star (the half star is for the fact that the writing was done well just not the story part)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3 More Reviews of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Her Fearful Symmetry:</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://booksidoneread.blogspot.com/search?q=Her+Fearful+Symmetry"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Books I Done Read</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (She LURVED the book so I wanted to give you the flip side)</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://gusgreeper.com/books-t-v-movies/her-fearful-symmetry-bookreview/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Gus Greeper</span></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://wellreadreviews.com/review-49-her-fearful-symmetry"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Well Read Reviews</span></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://wellreadreviews.com/review-49-her-fearful-symmetry"></a>Her Fearful Symmetry </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">by Audrey Niffenegger:</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">9781439165393</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Pages: 401</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">If you liked this book than read: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield</span></span></i></div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-47229117782656812832010-04-29T16:22:00.000-07:002010-04-29T16:26:25.143-07:00Girls In Trucks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqyWd5cxmkkeIGoQ7Ybi3lybhf52nIsaveDJSW8T-hmr-aOH87Ck8XvO9RhQceCd1RGnOhP9paxRAW41IUE2JBdI_BhJFvvh8bRfXpJPtHF3cIe7Ip1VmWU36rTzbJ6ZiMGbCR_JeJ2zB/s1600/girls-in-trucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqyWd5cxmkkeIGoQ7Ybi3lybhf52nIsaveDJSW8T-hmr-aOH87Ck8XvO9RhQceCd1RGnOhP9paxRAW41IUE2JBdI_BhJFvvh8bRfXpJPtHF3cIe7Ip1VmWU36rTzbJ6ZiMGbCR_JeJ2zB/s320/girls-in-trucks.jpg" /></a></div>So last week I went on a cruise and I was in the mood for sitting in the sun drinking a Pina Colada and reading a brainless hunk of chick lit. And that is precisely what I did. The sun was wonderful, the Pina Colada was delicious but the book... Meh... I tend to like my chick lit a little more funny, a lot more steamy, and a little less of a downer. <i>Girls In Trucks</i> just didn't bring that to the table, and I finished it with a sun tan, a fabulous Pina Colada induced buzz, and a real need to fling the book into the ocean (I didn't do that by the way). The writing was beautiful and the cover was swoonable, but the story was inconsistent and it felt like a bunch of episodes of a sitcom that weren't in order. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sarah is a débutante in Charleston and she just doesn't feel like she belongs. Her high society family is all about Southern appearance and Sarah tries to go against the grain whenever humanly possible. After she graduates from high school and has her coming out party she heads to New York where she slaves away at a job she isn't happy with while she searches for Mr. Right the whole time sleeping with a football teams worth of Mr. Wrongs. She falls in love hard with Max and he is alright for a little while until he wants her to have very rough sex with him and at first she thinks it is scary and weird and then she kinda likes it because it makes <i>him</i> happy. Pretty much she needs a good kick in the butt to get her out of that very unhealthy relationship and he needs some meds because he is one twist short of a Slinky. There is a lot of booze and a lot more sex with a lot more men and a lot more self pity and nothing really gets resolved... ever. The one thing Sarah has going for her are her dysfunctional group of friends, they are interesting at least, but they are just as big of a mess as she is.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wasn't expecting the next great american novel here but I was expecting a little laugh like that hilarious Shopaholic gal or at least the Southern charm of the YaYa Sisterhood, but I didn't get any of that. Unfortunately this book just sort of fizzled out for me and I don't think I would recommend it to anyone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: Nope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 2 Star</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 More Reviews on <i>Girls In Trucks</i>: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://gentlyread.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/more-schizophrenic-than-southern-ashly-hood-on-katie-crouchs-novel-girls-in-trucks/">Gently Read Literature</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://anovelmenagerie.com/2009/06/23/book-review-girls-in-trucks-by-katie-crouch/">A Novel Menagerie</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.babbettesbookblog.com/2010_03_01_archive.html">Babbette's Book Blog</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Girls in Trucks</i> by Katie Crouch</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(given to me by my Sister-in-law)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 0316002119</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages: 256</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>Girls in Trucks </i>then read: <i>Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood </i>by Rebecca Wells</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3215068383325969977.post-5694460359941503832010-04-23T08:51:00.000-07:002010-04-23T08:51:37.234-07:00Little Bee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykP-WFydu3w07wJT_2xqd-FgOGLOCZMVr0MtAWDBdP_DXoYomrLdX7KrfS0ULpF4QnYbrB_R-m5y9ui9Dn9o014zrkaFHT7qR_pNUYNmUM_gE6x7EEtyOwh2NXlP3hxQH1EhWQCWeyNll/s1600/Little+Bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykP-WFydu3w07wJT_2xqd-FgOGLOCZMVr0MtAWDBdP_DXoYomrLdX7KrfS0ULpF4QnYbrB_R-m5y9ui9Dn9o014zrkaFHT7qR_pNUYNmUM_gE6x7EEtyOwh2NXlP3hxQH1EhWQCWeyNll/s320/Little+Bee.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think <i>Little Bee</i> by <a href="http://www.chriscleave.com/main/">Chris Cleave</a> was a classic case of over expectations for me. I saw this book in Borders a few months ago and loved the cover. When I turned the book over to read the summery I was very intrigued by what it said and so it went directly on the top of my TBR list. Then my book club decided that it would be the book for April and I was SO excited to sink my teeth into it. I devoured it and after I was finished I was just like "eh". The story is interesting, and the writing is extraordinarily well done but I think I hyped myself up so much and then I felt a little let down in the end. I also really couldn't find a character that I connected with very well. The book is written in 2 voices and I did enjoy the chapters written by Little Bee best but I really couldn't connect with her, and the other characters just annoyed me. Another thing that might have kept me from falling in love with this book is the fact that this one was right on the heels of <a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/road.html"><i>The Road</i></a> and I was kinda obsessed with that book so Little Bee might not even had a snowballs chance in hell with me at that point..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have never given y'all a summery before that wasn't in my very own words but I feel with this book I am going to have to give you the back of the book. So here it goes... </div><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><i>We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this: This a the story of two women. Their lives collide on fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two year later, they meet again - the story starts there... Once you've read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds. </i></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Are you intrigued like I was? How can you not be? It really was a decent read but I just didn't really feel it after it was all said and done. Like <a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/02/story-of-edgar-sawtelle.html"><i>The Story of Edgar Sawtelle</i></a> I <i>would </i>highly recommend the book to a Book Club (even though I didn't love the book) because there is a TON that you can discuss. But if you are looking for a light read DON'T go here as the subject matter is pretty heavy. If you are looking for unique then go for it because it is quite a unique story. I am sorry I couldn't give it a better review because I really really really wanted to love this book when I saw it in the book store. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BOOK vs. MOVIE: There is a movie coming out next year it looks like and it will be staring Nicole Kidman. I will probably see it because I feel it maybe a story that should have been told on film. I think Nicole Kidman was a good choice for the roll of Sarah O'Rourke.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">RATING: 3 Stars</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 More Reviews of <i>Little Bee</i>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2010/03/10/review-little-bee/#more-328">Lovely Little Shelf</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://kissacloud.blogspot.com/2009/05/little-bee-by-chris-cleave.html">Kiss A Cloud</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/review-of-%E2%80%9Clittle-bee%E2%80%9D-by-chris-cleave/">Rhapsody in Books</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Little Bee</i> by Chris Cleave</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN 1416589635</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages: 288</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you liked <i>Little Bee</i> than read: <i><a href="http://geebsbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/shanghai-girls.html">Shanghai Girls</a></i> by Lisa See </div>Lauren {Geeb}http://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.com7