New Ones for the To-Read List

Just finished reading my EW for the week. I am interested in these two after reading the positive reviews.
Blame: A Novel by Michelle Huneven





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Await Your Reply: A Novel by Dan Chaon





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Great Article from NY Times

My mom sent me this link and this is a very interesting topic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/fashion/27SKIN.html

TGIF

Friday is finally here and I'm itching to be off work. I have a few errands to run, but nothing exciting in the works.

HILARIOUS!

Who knew Ryan Seacrest could act?

Starting This One

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón





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This book is by the author of my favorite book of ALL TIME, The Shadow of the Wind. It is translated from Spanish, just like The Shadow of the Wind. I should have bought this one outright and I was so mad at myself for taking so long to get it in my hands. I was first in line on the library holds list but I was one day late to pick it up and lost my spot in line! I had to wait another two months to get it, but now I can finally start.

Opening line: "A writer never forgets the first time he accepted a few coins or a word of praise in exchange for a story.

Just Finished This One

In the Heart of the Canyon by Elisabeth Hyde


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was really exhilirating and actually had me contemplating a river rafting trip, and I am not an outdoors person. The likelihood of this many mishaps happening to one group on the river is unlikely, but makes for really good fiction. I was a little surprised that the character Evelyn did not turn out to have an illness or some other problem with the foreshadowing that the author used describing her inability to urinate. I figured out that the character Amy was pregnant and didn't know it pretty early on, but I was still surprised by her delivering.

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Don't Text and Drive

I just watched this harrowing British PSA and will definitely not even think about texting and driving.

In the Heart of the Canyon

In the Heart of the Canyon by Elisabeth Hyde





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Opening line: Down in the heart of the canyon, in the bone-baking heat, they put their lives on hold.

Black Hills

Black Hills by Nora Roberts


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was really one of Nora's finest. I loved the progression of seeing the characters' first impressions of each other from when they were children to adulthood. She did a great job keeping up the suspense as well because I never knew when the killer was going to strike again.

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Family Get-Togethers

I didn't forget that I said I would post about my weekend with my extended family in from out of town but I've had a pretty busy week and will post about it soon. I love them and want to do justice to my post about the get-togethers.

Old Friends

I just sent a pretty lengthy e-mail to an old college friend (what am I middle-aged?) and I hope she replies. She was pretty much my best friend in college but we live so far apart now that we aren't in touch as often as I'd like.

If you stick around this blog, you'll find out that this is a pretty consistent theme in my life. I go through periods where I get so sentimental and nostalgic that I start wishing I was still friends with people I knew in kindergarten. OK, maybe not that far back, but still. I have a horrible habit of not keeping in touch which I think may be a generational thing. I don't have time to get into my theory on that one, so maybe some other time.

Anyway, this girlfriend of mine is someone I really regret not keeping in touch with because we were so much alike and shared so much during our time together in college. I love you Tanisha if you're reading this. Which I doubt since you don't know I have a blog.

This Weekend

I'm really looking forward to this weekend. A lot of my family is in town including 3 cousins I don't see often as they live in Washington. I'll post pics after the weekend.

Starting This One

A Cure for Night: A Novel by Justin Peacock





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Had to Put This One Down

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi

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Just seeing if I can post from my phone.

Another One

The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter





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My mom recommended this one, too. I think she is listening to the audiobook right now.

New Book

A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison by R. Dwayne Betts





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">My mom just sent me this article about the author. It looks like a great read.

Here It Is

Jabberwocky

I was watching one of my FAVORITE shows (So You Think You Can Dance) with my husband and the dance group 'Jabbawockeez' performed. I told him about the Lewis Carroll poem that I assume their name comes from. He wasn't familiar with it, but I remember it from high school English.

Better Lighting on This One

This is My Family

The Zahir by Paulo Coelho


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book almost blew my mind. Literally. It was not a particularly good 'summer read' per se. Alameda County library (who recommended this book on their website for 'summer reading') needs to be put on notice. Summer reading is supposed to be easy to read while relaxing on the beach, sipping a fruity cocktail. This book, however, was the opposite. Even though I wasn't loving it I slogged through because I hate not finishing a book.
There were some great parts, but it was all just a little too philosophical for me. And the ending! Don't even get me started! Me no likey.

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Question

Why is Peggy a nickname for Margaret?

Is it sad that I am the only follower of my blog? I think not.

Current Events

I am a regular watcher of the news. I watch local news, snippets of Morning Joe, parts of Rachel Maddow, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and AC 360. I have scaled back quite a bit since the election when I barely got any work done for checking on what was happening out on the campaign trail.

Mondays

It is sooo hard to get up and get ready for work lately. Is it just me? Mondays are especially hard and I find myself wishing I had requested that particular Monday off. Even if I did that, it would still be revealed that Monday night would feel exactly like Sunday night and I would feel like I didn't get enough rest on Tuesday morning.

Ready for a Routine

OK, I will update daily on my lunch. Unless I have plans. Or I don't take a lunch. Or there is some breaking news that I would rather read. Or if I don't feel like it. OK - no routine.