Fearless Fourteen

Ahhh... That's about all I can say. I just plowed through the latest Janet Evanovich book "Fearless Fourteen". All I can say is bring on "??? Fifteen". It was a great read, as are all the other Stephanie Plum books. I laughed out loud more than once and made Abigail ask "what you doing Mommy?" Lula is up to all sorts of antics with Tank, Ranger is still steamy, Stephanie and Joe are still on, and Grandma tries out something new that brings all sorts of funny visuals to mind. Not to mention the "security" Joe hires to watch his house, that is hilarious all on its own. This book was ***** (five stars). Go get it folks it is great!

"Stolen Innocence"

I finished reading "Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall. I think I might have wrote a little about it but now that I am finished I'll add a bit more. To repeat, probably, she was a fundamentalist LDS who was forced to marry at age 14. She eventually left the group and filed rape charges against the leader, Warren Jeffs, for putting her in this marriage at 14. That is a really over simplified summary. It was a really good book and very detail oriented. This group is the same one that moved to Texas a few years later and became the group in the news a few months ago when they took all the children away. It felt a little "whiny" to me towards the end of her time in this group. She really wasn't very nice to her husband who she repeatedly said was not very nice to her, abusive, mean, etc. She totally proved her case to me as well as the jury that found W.J. guilty, but I guess what it was was that she didn't make me feel was real sorry for her. I read years ago a book called the "Burning Bed" about an abused wife with kids who eventually poured gasoline on her sleeping husband's bed and lit a match. Now she made me cry for her. She was soooo beaten down. But I just didn't have the same feeling for Elissa. anyway..gooooooood book and fast read. I'm almost done with The Other Boleyn Girl and will start the Boleyn Inheritance next. See ya! p.s....I just have to say that I'm so grateful for a mother who read all the time. My 2 sisters and I read all the time and now our daughters (Cari, Marila, and Linda) read all the time! Thanks Mom!

Jennifer Weiner

I really like JW books (for those of you who don't know, she's kind of a "literary" chick lit. Her books that I've read are "Good in Bed" and "Little Earthquakes" and "In Her Shoes.") The book I'm reading now is "Goodnight Nobody" which at first seemed really readable and engaging but now seems kind of whiny and self-righteous. The crux of a story is a bored stay-at-home mom who goes about investigating a local murder. I think I'm tired of the bored housewife routine-- "oh my husband doesn't pay enough attention to me, oh, I can only make fishsticks and tater tots and everyone else serves organic sushi to their children." A lot of chick lit has devolved into this. It's either a housewife who's under appreciated and underwhelmed by their life, or a woman who's just dying to get married, have a boyfriend, lose ten pounds or buy a new Prada bag. Blech. I think I'm getting cranky with it all. That's why I've jumped to memoir and good ol' historical fiction. But I'll finish "Goodnight Nobody".

If you need proof of how much this character feels sorry for herself (and her million dollar home, her husband who's nice but works a lot, her new car and her three bright, and of course, terribly witty children):

"'Goodnight comb and goodnight brush, goodnight nobody, good night mush.'"
"Mama, who is Nobody?" Sophie asked, pointing at the blank page.
Me, I thought.


Oh, BARF. Go cry over your latte!!

I Rememberd!!!

Holy Cows!!!!! This getting old thing is killing me. I forgot how to post on this and I read another book I wanted to tell you about, but I couldn't remember how to do this. OK. Actually, I am currently reading it, but it is very good. It's a mystery but it's humerous too. The Witch's Tongue: A Charlie Moon Mystery by James D. Doss. Charlie Moon is a Native American in CO a former investigator for the Southern Ute Police Department. He's a rancer now but still involved with some investigating and some law enforement pals. Some pretty colorful characters too. I'm really enjoying this book, it's hard to turn the tape off (listening to it). Think you will enjoy it too.

OOOOOPS!

Sorry, I hit the wrong blog when I put in the picture of Elijah. I know this blog is all about reading so sorry! But as Shana is one of the creator's of this sight I'm sure she won't mind.

Elijah Joseph Strassburg

Joe and Shana had their baby, Elijah Joseph Strassburg, at 3a.m. this morning 6/3/08. He weighed in at 9.5 oz, and is 20" long. He has a bunch of dark hair and a really sweet disposition. Shana is doing great and had a relatively easy time. Chloe hasn't quite figured out that she gets to keep Eli or even if she wants to. haha But she is having fun in the hospital room with her folks. We are just very excited to welcome to the world Elijah, our 5th grandbaby and 2nd grandson.

Rave Reviews?

Children's books aren't the only thing I read these days, but the book I'm reading right now is quite long (850 pages to be exact) and it's not as captivating as I had thought it would be. I have found that when I am not totally into a book it takes me quite a while to finish it since I'm not rushing to find a quiet minute or two throughout the day to sneak in reading time. With this book (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon) it's just been a few chapters or so a night before I fall asleep. The problem is that I'm cursed with the need to finish a book once I've started it! I'm not saying that this is a book I wouldn't want to finish, because I do- but at the same time it's taking me a while to get through with it so I can start something else. Does anyone else have this problem, or do you just put the book down and never look back? Sometimes I'm not sure if a book is disappointing because I was expecting so much more... I have heard so many good things about this book and the whole series, so maybe I was expecting too much. That happened when I read Life of Pi. Everyone I had talked to raved about the book, but I didn't think it was all that spectacular. I enjoyed it and there are interesting things about the story and the structure of the book, but it was another book I had to plod my way through! Anyway, I'll let you know what I think about Outlander after I've actually finished the book, which will hopefully be soon!

Children's Books!

Well, I figured I should probably post something to this blog before I go into labor, have another child to take care of, and really have no time for reading... Except for when I'm nursing! I remember reading a lot while I nursed Chloe, but then again I didn't have Chloe around to worry about what she's getting into! Lately most of my reading has been that of children's books. Chloe has started to really enjoy having me read stories to her and her current favorites are the Fancy Nancy books! We read Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly at least three times a day, usually followed by Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy! These are really cute stories with wonderful illustrations! So far I haven't gotten totally tired of reading them even though we read them SO much!