Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on February 13, 2014

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. Sorry it has been so long since I have posted (over 2 weeks). I fell victim to a dastardly one-two punch- the evil stomach bug, followed immediately by the FLU. Yuck. I was down for the count almost a whole week, and I am still recovering. I hate being sick.

2. Seriously- ENOUGH DAMN SNOW!! It has snowed in NJ at least twice, sometimes three times a week since the middle of December. My kids are going to be in school until August! And my driveway is literally the width of my car now. My town ran out of salt last week, and we already have over a foot sitting on my deck. Now another 10-12′ is hitting us. Enough I say.

3. My 13 year old daughter is a reader, which I am hugely grateful for. I have read The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter with her and it was wonderful being able to talk to her all about them. So when she started raving about the Divergent series, and The Fault in Our Stars, I had to following along and read them as well. I loved TFIOS, and enjoyed Divergent, but what I really love is the ongoing dialogue these books allow us to have. It’s not always easy getting a teenager to talk to you- I will take any help I can get.

4. I love this-

5. Speaking of Hermione, what is your take on they whole J.K. Rowling interview where she says she thought Harry should have ended up with Hermione, and the big backlash that followed?

Part of me was all “YES”, and the other was all “leave them alone!!”. You?

6. Also on BookRiot was this awesome quiz where they give you the first line of a book, and you have to guess the book. I took it, and was NOT happy with my results.

7. So, Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. After being married 19 years, this doesn’t excite me. Last year we each got the other a bottle of wine we like, so it was pretty much like any other weekend night, no?

This year we are attending the wedding of my oldest friend, so there might be dancing involved, which will be cool. Then again, I am planning on wearing Spanx, so I guess not so cool. Oh well.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all, and I hope your not still digging out like we will be!

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on January 17, 2014

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

I haven’t been able to participate in this meme for almost a month-whew! Here are some thoughts-

1. I feel like I am not getting on the ball here. I thought I would hit the ground running in the new year, with interesting challenges, read alongs, etc., but I am not. I am struggling just to get a few posts out and responding to comments. I promise I will do better. On the other hand, I am reading lots and loving every minute of it, though my old eyes are VERY tired.

2. I saw a post on FB about 16 movies that are coming out, and how you should read the books before they do on Buzzfeed– such as Divergent, The Monuments Men, The Fault in our Stars, and Gone Girl. Part of me was all like, Cool, I can’t wait to read that, and that. Then I realized, that part from The Monuments Men (Clooney and Damon-sigh) and Gone Girl (Affleck-sigh), it is very unlikely I will see ANY of those movies. Why? I’d rather just read the book and be done with it. This is how I usually feel about adaptations.

And what is this I hear about Gillian Flynn rewriting the ending of Gone Girl for the movie????

3. Is anyone out there on Booklikes? I went over there and I like it. I think I might join. Let me know what you think of it.

4. One of my resolutions for 2014 is GET ORGANIZED. Sounds like a good idea, right? But how? Anyone have any good organization tips for book blogging?

5. My sister sent this to me-she said it made her think of me.

6. That is the last though I might have for awhile- coming down with that “flu” thing going around-ugh.

Have a great weekend!!

Hello Again!! Happy New Year

4 Comments

Posted on January 6, 2014

I just wanted to post a quick hello out there to everyone! I have been away from my blog for the better part of two weeks now, since we have been in South Carolina visiting family over the holidays. I prescheduled my posts, but I feel bad that I haven’t been able to respond to any of the awesome comments so many of you left here. I promise to get back to everyone as soon as I can.

We had hoped to be home Thursday morning, but were grounded by the weather in the North (for 3 more days!). Not complaining- it was much warmer where we were.I am very thankful we were able to get home before this next batch of freezing weather that is defending on us tonight! If you are affected by this deep freeze-Please stay warm!!

Looking forward to reading all your posts that I missed and get back into the blogging groove!

All You Could Ask For

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Posted on January 3, 2014

All You Could Ask for

Mike Greenberg

published by Harper Collins

2013

I borrowed a copy of this book from my library.

Summary

Three women are about to find their lives intertwined in ways none of them could ever have imagined…

Brooke has been happily married to her college sweetheart for fifteen years. Even after the C-section, the dog poop, the stomach viruses, and the coffee breath, Scott still always winks at her at just the right moments. That is why, for her beloved, romantic, successful husband’s fortieth birthday, she is giving him pictures. Of her. Naked.

Samantha’s newlywed bliss is steamrolled when she finds shocking evidence of infidelity on her husband’s computer. She has been married for two days. She won’t be for much longer.

Katherine works eighteen hours a day for the man who irreparably shattered her heart fifteen years ago. She has a duplex on Park Avenue, a driver, a chef, and a stunning house in Southampton, and she bought it all herself. So what if she has to see Phillip every single workday for the rest of her natural life? Brooke, Samantha, and Katherine don’t know one another, but all three are about to discover the conquering power of friendship—and that they have all they could ask for, as long as they have one another. (from Goodreads)

My Review

It wasn’t until after I finished this book that I found out it was written by one of the co-hosts of ESPN’s Mike & Mike, though I knew the author was male. The story introduces us to three women at different points in their lives. Brooke is the wealthy SAHM living a charmed life in Greenwich, Conn., with her adorable twins and handsome hubby. Samantha, a newlywed on her honeymoon, discovers a terrible secret that jeopardizes her two day old marriage. Katherine is a successful business woman in New York, who realizes on her 40th birthday that her career is the only thing she has, and runs away for a much needed break to Aspen. In the second part of the book, all three have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Each reacts to this in very different ways, though through a breast cancer forum, they become friends and support reach other.

Honestly, I enjoyed this book. It was well written and a fast read. Greenberg decided to write this book in memory of a close friend of his and his wife, who died of the disease. At the funeral, he found that his friend Heidi had “developed these incredibly intense relationships with a group of women from a cancer support website, women she called her ‘breast friends’.” All proceeds from the book go to a fund called “he id’s Angels”, which I think is amazing. Congratulations Mr. Greenberg!

I would recommend this book. Though there were small faults-the women were a bit too perfect, especially Brooke ( really? whenever hubby wants it, you give it to him?)- which made it a bit unrealistic. Also, parts of their diagnosis and treatments weren’t really delved into. The focus was more on the support they could give each other. Other than those small things, it was a great story and you should read it!

My Rating

4 out of 5

Photo by Pamela Einarsen

Mike Greenberg

Mike Greenberg is cohost of ESPN’s Mike & Mike and the author of two previous New York Times bestsellers. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a native of New York City. He lives with his wife, Stacy, and their two children in Connecticut. In conjunction with the release of this book, Mike and Stacy have created a foundation called Heidi’s Angels, through which all of the author’s profits from the sale of this book will be donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research to combat breast cancer.

All You Could Ask For (bookaliciousmama.com)

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

9 Comments

Posted on December 19, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. I did a good amount of shopping at Target over this past month, so when I woke up and saw the news, I was all-WTF!!! Nice way to start the holidays.

2. Over the last week and a half, we have had 4 winter storms. 4! There have been snow days and delayed openings galore. My son’s school actually called a “at home school day”, where from 10-3, the teacher posted work online and the kids did it and submitted it. That wasn’t so bad.

But seriously, the wrapping needed to be done. Remember I told you I am the sole holiday worker in this household?

3. I have been in such an awesome groove reading wise lately! I actually read a book (Reconstructing Amelia) in less than 11 hours yesterday. I simply could not put it down, ignoring all others until I finished. (Please, at 13 and 15, they were thrilled). I can’t wait to review it, but I need to give myself a few days. It made such an impression, that I kept having dreams about it last night!

4. Last week, I was dreading getting back out on the slopes- well, I did it!

This is what I looked like- yeah right.

No broken bones or anything though, but now hubby is trying to convince me I can move onto the next level slopes. I don’t think so.

5. I hate it when you think you are totally done with the shopping for gifts, only to realize after you have wrapped, that you forgot something. Guess I am hitting Marshall’s tomorrow.

6. Getting very excited for the holidays! We have a pretty cool tradition. We stay home on Christmas Eve, decorate our tree, and have a fancy dinner. This year my daughter insisted on lamb chops. Then we exchange one gift, usually a jokey gift, then watch Scrooged in front of the fire. Do you have any fun holiday traditions?

Please leave a comment- I love hearing from you!

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts…

11 Comments

Posted on December 12, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

I am crazy busy, so I am not sure how many actual thoughts I will be able to string together.

1. With less than 2 weeks till Christmas, I am getting run down. Somehow, I am responsible for buying ALL the gifts- my extended family, his extended family, our children. Poor hubby? He has to wrack his brain to buy for me. Nevermind all the wrapping, baking and cooking. Now add to that a snow day this Tuesday, and going away this weekend and next for some skiing, and I am thinking that I am screwed. If I don’t watch out I am going to be grumpy mess for the holidays.

2. I gave in and borrowed a copy of The Bone Season from my library. I had heard many good things, but wasn’t sure if I wanted to start a new series-this is supposed to be the first of 7. Well, I read it. And loved it. Now I have to wait for the darn author to write the next 6! Hurry up already, I want to know what happens!!!

3. As I mentioned above, it snowed and there was no school for the kids. I actually sat in my chair with a lovely wool blanket as the snow started falling aground 7 am, and read as the snow fell. It was probably the best 2 hours of my week.

4. I started skiing last year, at the age of 40+. I survived. I’m supposed to go back and do it again this weekend. I know I probably won’t die, but the thought has entered my head. Often. I am afraid of breaking something or worse. This is why you should teach these sorts of things while people are really young. I have to start thinking positive. I will not fall. I will not fall. By the way, I tend to stick to the greens- the easiest slopes-with all the little kids and beginners.

5. My blogging and reviewing has slowed down a bit, but at the same time, I am read a lot and loving it. Plus, I have taken a step back from accepting ARCS for a while and I am only reading books that I am choosing. It’s all going pretty nicely. I am hoping to get back into more blogging after the holidays, but for now I am just going with the flow.

6. I am so looking forward to joining Leah at Books Speak Volumes in a few weeks for Jazz Age January! She has invited bloggers to join along in “reading books related to the Jazz Age- novels, written by Jazz Age authors, non fiction about the 20’s and contemporary fiction set during this time period.” I wrote my thesis in History in this time period, and have always loved the literature that came out of it. Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein, and then all the books that have been written about them and the decade.

Stop by if you are interested and sign up!

7. Last January, I signed up for the Goodreads 2013 challenge, and I set out to read 100 books in the year. I am at 94, and I think I am going to make it (fingers crossed).

8. This is all I want for Christmas- Jane Austen’s Persuasion Scarf. Or Pride & Prejudice. I’ll take either. But I will probably get pajamas.

And maybe a sweater.

Bookish ( & Not So Bookish) Thoughts

12 Comments

Posted on December 5, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. Hello! I feel like I have been away from blogging for a while now. We hosted Thanksgiving here and all went well (it’s over!) This is probably the 10th time we have hosted in the past 12 years, and I think I need next year off. Everything went fine, but it is a lot of work. Plus, the 3 year old nephew made it necessary to replace 4- count em,4- tablecloths. Why did it seem like a good idea to a. give the kid glass after glass of cider? and b. to encourage the game of “throw the stuffed animals at people”? Moving forward, I think I would like to be skiing next year-Lake Placid, maybe?

2. I just finished The Dinner by Herman Koch. Have any of you read this? What did you think? I am going to write a review, but I gotta say, I felt awful after I read it. Like I needed to shower. I am actually sorry that I read it, which is very unlike me.

3. This is me every night.

Actually, it used to be. Now that I have a nice little reading chair, the dog comes up and puts his head on my leg. And stares.

4. Do you have little kids? I miss having little ones around this time of year SO much! The wonder and excitement was so much fun! I taped A Charlie Brown Christmas, and we still haven’t watched it because the kids have too much HW at night. My daughter is very excited for Christmas, helping with the lights, etc. But I miss the days when she would scream her head off if she came anywhere near Santa. Yup, she was THAT kid.

5. I know this isn’t really in keeping with the spirit of the season, but it’s true.

6. I am writing this when I should be starting baking my eggnog cookies. I am going to a “Cookie Exchange”. Ever heard of it? You all bring cookies, then you get to go home with a little of each kind. I have only two problems with this.

1. I have to bake 6 DOZEN freaking cookies.

2. What if other people’s cookies suck?

There had better be wine.

7. I am so looking forward to it getting cold and snowy soon. When it is cold and snowy I can sit whit a blanket and read and not feel like I should be doing other things.

All right, fine, I have to go and bake damn it!

Leave a comment- I love to hear from you!

We Need to Talk About Kevin- a review

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Posted on December 4, 2013

We Need to Talk About Kevin

by Lionel Shriver

published by Counterpoint

2003

Summary

Eva never really wanted to be a mother – and certainly not the mother of the unlovable boy who murdered seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a much-adored teacher who tried to befriend him, all two days before his sixteenth birthday. Now, two years later, it is time for her to come to terms with marriage, career, family, parenthood, and Kevin’s horrific rampage in a series of startlingly direct correspondences with her estranged husband, Franklin. Uneasy with the sacrifices and social demotion of motherhood from the start, Eva fears that her alarming dislike for her own son may be responsible for driving him so nihilistically off the rails.

My Review

This was one of the books on my Fall TBR list. I had heard many good things about it, and was looking forward to reading it. I must admit, it was one of the more difficult books I have read in quite some time. In the beginning, it was the prose that slowed me down. The author has a very detailed and descriptive style. At times, I had the feeling that it was too verbose. In the middle of the book, I was VERY tempted to stop reading. The characters were very difficult to like or relate to, and the writing was starting to get to me. I kept going though, and was very soon glad I did. The characters round out and the plot moves quickly. As I moved into the last third of the book, I couldn’t put it down.

The story is told in the epistolary form, through letters that Eva Khatchadourian writes to her husband, Franklin Plaskett, who is absent from her life. Eva, we come to know, is the mother of the infamous Kevin who is responsible for the Gladstone High School Massacre. The letter are in two parts- current time in which Eva is the mother shunned by the entire community, facing a civil lawsuit brought by grieving parents, and visiting Kevin in a correctional facility. In the second group of letters, Eva traces her relationship with her husband, and more specifically with Kevin, from conception to that fateful “Thursday”.

Eva is a spirited woman, who runs a successful travel guide for which she travel around the world. She admits to not wanting children, but when Franklin becomes frustrated with her constant leaving, she agrees to try. From almost the very moment they are together after the birth, Kevin and Eva seem to have a serious aversion to each other, which grows slowly. Franklin seems oblivious to any concerns Eva voices about Kevin, and over the years their marriage begins to suffer. As the years go on, we see Kevin become more destructive and watch Eva shrink away from him more and more. The story barrels to an awful climax, yet the ending offers the smallest glimmer of hope for Eva, a woman who lives life everyday with what her son did.

If you have never read this book, I must tell you it is a hard read. Eva, the main character, is a tough woman to like, but easy to understand. Even more difficult is to get to know the title character, Kevin. I swear, there were too many times that my skin literally crawled while reading this book. Here are some of my favorite quotes from this book-

~“…You can only subject people to anguish who have a conscience. You can only punish people who have hopes to frustrate or attachments to sever; who worry what you think of them. You can really only punish people who are already a little bit good.”

~“I thought at the time that I couldn’t be horrified anymore, or wounded. I suppose that’s a common conceit, that you’ve already been so damaged that damage itself, in its totality, makes you safe.”

~“It’s always the mother’s fault, ain’t it?” she said softly, collecting her coat. “That boy turn out bad cause his mama a drunk, or she a junkie. She let him run wild, she don’t teach him right from wrong. She never home when he back from school. Nobody ever say his daddy a drunk, or his daddy not home after school. And nobody ever say they some kids just damned mean. …”

This is a wonderful book- I definitely recommend it.

If you have read this book- what did you think of it? I would love to hear your thoughts!!

rating

4.5 out of 5

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

8 Comments

Posted on November 21, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. I am currently reading The End of The Affair by Graham Greene. I am actually rereading The Hunger Games series to get ready for tomorrow’s premiere, but I did start the other. Very excited about the movie- my daughter and I plan to watch the fist one tonight.

2. It is official. I have inherited the infamous “bad back” that runs in my mother’s Napolitano genes. My uncles, one aunt, and lots of cousins all have the same back issues. The lower left back has been “out” for almost a week. I am sure if I actually went to a doctor, they would tell me it is a slipped disc. I am old.

3. I just finished We Need to Talk About Kevin, and all I can say is WOW. It really was a wonderful kind of awful.

4. Every morning, my son leaves the shower curtain open, and every morning my dog goes in there and licks the soap. Not a big deal, but then he spends an hour or so making weird noises trying to lick the flavor off his tongue. Everyday.

5. I have finally given iTunes radio a try, and I am not too sure I like it yet. Does anyone use it? What are your thoughts?

6. My son is going on a class trip to Philadelphia. They are going to visit Gettysburg and the Eastern State Penitentiary- the oldest jail in the country. Think I can slip the teacher some $ to close one of those cells for a minute or two? Just kidding.

7. I have had three books sitting here, that I finished, waiting for me to write reviews. Why am I so lazy lately?

8. Can I do ALL of my Christmas shopping at Target? I think I can.

9. Thanksgiving is just a week away. We always host my husband’s family, except one year we all went to the Bahamas to celebrate the in-laws anniversary. We ate in a Chinese restaurant on Thanksgiving. Best Thanksgiving ever.

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

13 Comments

Posted on November 14, 2013

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thought

is a weekly men hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.

1. I can’t read – or do anything for that matter – if it is quiet. I have music playing almost all the time, except later at night if someone puts on the TV. I usually have on some sort of singer-songwriter station, or my old stand by of DMB. Nothing too loud or annoying. I am actually loving a little playlist of DMB, James Taylor, Springsteen, and Mumford & Sons.

Dot To Dot Fesival Various venues, Bristol 23 May 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. My husband is away- just for one night, but I still can’t sleep well without him here. So now I am tired, have a headache, and he is in FLA. Not fair.

3. I read this great post over at Parajunkee about a perceived slow down in the blogging community. The comments were really interesting. What do you think? I definitely have seen less reviews/more promotional posts out there.

4. It has been a busy week for me. We finally painted the dining room- a great color called “wine glass”- and it is all ready for company. So is it terrible that I love the way it looks so much that I don’t want anyone to go in there? Ever. I yell at the dogs when they go in there.

5. We are settling into the cold weather here- had snow the other day, and I even ran yesterday when the wind chill was 15 degrees. I think I was way more proud of myself for that than I should have been. Shorter Days + colder weather = more hot tea. I think I rather this equation- long days + warm weather = sangria. I love to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea, but I really love the bask in the sun, read a book, and sip a fruity cocktail.

6. I have an addictive personality. I finally gave in and read a King novel (The Shining)- loved it so much that I read the sequel (Doctor Sleep)- then was about to grab another King book. I made myself read something else- and of course I was totally disappointed. Thankfully, the book I just stared is pretty good- and fast reading. Do you get really into one author and just plow through their work?

7. On a similar topic- I hate it when I see a book that I think looks really good, only to find out it’s like the 5th in a series. I have picked up lots of books like this at the library, and of course they never have the first books in the series. I have an awful feeling that I am missing out on some great books.

8. I have two dogs- a chocolate and a yellow labrador. If you know the breed, you know they always want to eat. Always. A vet once told me that a lab would never voluntary stop eating- they are the breed most likely to eat until their stomach bursts. I can attest to this. My yellow eats everything- rocks included, but not fruit or veggies. The chocolate will eat everything- EVERYTHING- except for celery. They eat in the morning and again in the evening. I aim for 5 pm, but Jack (the chocolate) has begun begging incessantly until I feed him. His begging is starting earlier and earlier every day. He is bad. I am a bad owner.

9. I just got a notice from the library that 2 books that I requested have come in!! I put holds on We Need to Talk About Kevin and The End of The Affair– light reading? Anyway, I think I should feel more guilty than I do about not reading the ARCs I have lined up. Shouldn’t I?

Wow- I actually made it to 9!