On the Nook Shelf

I have been doing some serious reading this summer and plan to continue to do so in to the fall.

Let's talk about what I've been reading so you can download to your Nook (or Kindle) and read as well!

I finished The Fallen Series in a matter of a week. It's definitely in the Young Adult category.

The fourth book is Rapture, which isn't pictured. 

From the Barnes & Noble website:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

These four books were easy reads.When I finished one, I couldn't wait to start the next one. A true battle of good vs. evil. Disney has picked up the rights to all four books so at some point they will be in a theater near you.

I recently read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Sounds like a crazy book and it is. As one review described it, it is one of the most fascinating depictions of american history. Lots of the historical facts were legit, so much so that I found myself asking Ryan if this certain facts were true and I did a good bit of Googling of good ole Honest Abe. Obviously I know that Abe wasn't hunting vamps or was he? but it made for a fascinating read. This book was recently released in the movie form.

Where We Belong  is also in my "recently read" category. I loved this book! Such an easy read and it touched my heart. I read it in a matter of a couple of days. I love a book that it fresh and relevant and this one is. The characters were so easy to relate to and had such a realness about them (if that makes sense).  Download this one today. You won't regret it.

From Good Reads:

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.

This past week/weekend I finished off  the first two books in Janet Evanovich's Lizzy and Diesel Series. The first book in this series is, Wicked Appetitie.

From Goodreads:

Life in Marblehead has had a pleasant predictability, until Diesel arrives. Rumor has it that a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins have made their way to Boston’s North Shore. Partnered with pastry chef Lizzie Tucker, Diesel bullies and charms his way through historic Salem to track them down—and his criminal mastermind cousin Gerewulf Grimorie. The black-haired, black-hearted Wulf is on the hunt for the relic representing gluttony. Caught in a race against time, Diesel and Lizzie soon find out that more isn’t always better, as they battle Wulf and the first of the deadly sins.

The second book is Wicked Business. In the second book Lizzy and Diesel are on the hunt for the relic representing the deadly sin of lust. Both books were a lot of fun.

Up next on my reading list is Gone Girl. I've seen on several blogs where people are reading this thriller and loving it. I'm hoping it's as good as I've heard.

If it all that it's cracked up to be I will let you know!!

I set a goal to read at least 35 book in 2012. To date at I'm at 23. I keep up with what I've read and plan to read on Goodreads. It's fun way to stay up-to-date on what books are popular and most importantly to be able to read reviews.

Now, go download a few books. As the weather is beginning to cool down it's the perfect time to do a little casual reading. 

Also, please feel free to make any suggestions! 

50 Shade of Grey

Last month I wrapped up the ever controversial  Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

I liked the books. I wasn't scared. I mean, yeah, I had to Google a few words just to understand exactly what was being discussed. I won't say what word or what it meant. It was a little too X-rated for my innocent blog. 

But the books were entertaining and that's what I love in a good book. To be entertained. 

This week my pal, Lacey, came over for a nice home cooked dinner (provided by yours truly). After dinner we poured us a bottle glass of  wine and settled in on the couch for lots of very meaningful and deep girl talk.

The topic of discussion was, who we would cast as the main characters in Fifty Shades of Grey. 

When looking for photos for this post I came across this article by Huffington Post (click here), which theoretically casts the all the characters in the book. For the most part I agree with the choices... but not with the main man. 

In my mind I picture billionaire, sex fend, tattered soul, Christian Grey, being played by either Matt Bomer (of White Collar) or Paul Wesley (of Vampire Diaries).

What do you think? In my mind Christian Grey is well put together, a bit rough around the edges, (for some reason I picture him being around 5'9") and quite handsome.

As far as Anastasia Steele, the innocent, virginal, recent college grad I can't quite decide. Lacey said Kristen Stewart but I don't know about that. The Huffington Post article thought Elizabeth Olsen. 

Have you read the books? Who would you cast? 

If you haven't read them. Go for it. Don't be scared. It's starts out crazy, but by the end of book three it all makes sense. 

Random Friday Facts

TGIF.

Here are a few Random Friday Facts for all to know and tell (or not). It's actually more like "a few tidbits that you may not care about."

1. I was discovering on pintrest when I came across this picture:

The caption read; "The dragon from the movie The Never Ending Story." I'm confused. Am I the only one that always thought this was a just a big friendly dog that one could hop on for a flying ride to wherever? Never a dragon. Hmmm, something to think about.

2. Maggs = Awesome. Period.

3. I tried "oven fried okra" as a side item for dinner one night this week. Here's the linky to the recipe. It was okay. Definitely not as good fired okra, but it was decent and at only 70 calories per serving I won't complain!

4.  Finished this book a few weeks ago:

It was pretty good. My favorite "circus" book of all time is Water for Elephants, and this is certainly not even close. However, it's a good read and very descriptive. I loved picturing all of the different circus tents and tricks.

Started this series a last week:

This a naughty romance novel. It's probably the most risque series I've ever read (and I love a good romance novel, so I've read many). These aren't for the faint at heart.

Have an awesome weekend. Word.

CAN. NOT. WAIT

I love me some books. I love me some reading. I love being whisked away by my imagination to another place, another time...

I once did an interview for a college scholarship... when asked about my hobbies I paused and thought:

oh shit I don't really have an avid hobby. Yeah I like to hang out with friends and family, but I'm sure they get that a lot. I don't ride horses (and won't again for quite some time). I don't play a sport. I don't know what I can say in this moment to win this panel over.

Then it hit me.

The panel of people interviewing me consisted of maybe two males and five females. I knew just what to say.

So I proceed to explain that I'm interested in many different things.(win for me) I love lots of things and have many hobbies (well rounded) but at the end of a long day my favorite thing to do it curl up with a good book (intelligent). I told them nothing was better than reading a good ole romance novel to take your mind off the issues of everyday life.

I won the ladies over with that  statement because who doesn't love a good ole naughty romance novel to enjoy a little escape from their every day life.

Long story short. I got that scholarship and it paid for two years of my college education... books and all. 

I say all of that to say... BOOKS ARE COOL! I love them!!

And when a book is made into a movie I can't help but be sucked in.

If I have read a book and it then comes out as a movie I have to go see it. Have to. 8 times out of 10 the movies can't compare, but I still have to check it out and see. Harry Potter is pretty right on. The Twilight movies do NOT come close to comparing in my opinion.

And now yet another book that is coming out in movie form that I talked about in this post back in June. I loved the book Water for Elephants and I can. not. wait to see the movie.

The trailer looks really good!



Come on April 22, 2011!

Nook Worm

I have been loving, LOVING, loving my NOOK I got for Christmas!!

I have read four books since Christmas and I have four others downloaded and ready to go!

The first book I read was, The Help.

It was so good. I laughed in parts and teared up in others. I would highly recommend reading if you haven't.

The other three books I've knocked out are The Huger Games Series.

Let me tell you... I love a good series. Harry Potter, yes sir. Twilight Saga, been there, done that. The Sookie Stackhouse books, all of them under my belt. There is just something about knowing that the storyline will continue... That I will be able to follow a character I've fallen in love with on yet another adventure!

I had heard that the Hunger Game Series was good,  but I had my reservations. I didn't know if I would be into a series about a girl who gets called up from her district to fight other districts' children in some arena in a futuristic North America. It just seemed a bit out of the realm of what I tend to enjoy. But I didn't think I would ever be engrossed in wizards or vampires either. So I thought to myself... What the hell. It's only $5.99 (to download) for the first book. Why not?

Oh my goodness... I couldn't read them fast enough!! SO GOOD!!! I absolutely loved them. The characters have stayed with me. I find myself thinking about what Katniss (the main female character) would do. Throughout the book I was torn between Gale and Peeta (the male characters). It's a story of survival, sticking it to the man, finding yourself, fighting for what you believe in, and the power of love.

I found myself not wanting the story to end so I would try not to read as fast, but at the same time I HAD to know how what the outcome would be. Please take my advice and read these books!

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Take Me There

Do you ever see a picture and it evokes such feeling that you find yourself literally stopping and staring, then wishing you could be there?

Well, this picture did that for me.

picture cote sud mag via

I don't know why but when I happened upon this photo I longed to be there. I wanted to lay on that bed and look up at the sky. I wanted to read a book there until I dozed off.

Maybe I just need a nap, who knows?


Stay tuned. I've got a post about the holiday weekend coming up! I'm just going to say, I may or may not have gotten seriously punked out by a semi-famous person...

Stay the Course

I picked up the book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at Target a few weeks ago. I (like every other person) had heard good things about the book so I decided it would be worth looking into. Plus, with football season upon us I need good books to read while Ryan watches football games that I could care less about  I enjoy reading so that Ryan can enjoy watching football without interruption.  I digress.

The weekend I purchased the book I saw this post by my friend Lacey. She had nothing but good things to say about the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo... I went into it with high hopes!

Well, I was struggling to get into it. It has a lot of characters and it moves from one storyline to the next (but they all come together, if that makes sense). So I put the book down. However, I then saw this post over on Just Another Day in Paradise regarding the book. She said that if she had a tough time getting through the first 100 pages but after she made it past that it was a great book.

I decided to forge ahead. I picked the book back up and boy am I glad I did. I found myself wide awake and reading well into the night just trying to figure it all out. I couldn't put it down.

I'm now reading the second book in the series, The Girl who Played with Fire, and it's just as good so far!!

Book to Movie

There are two books that are being made into movies which I am excited about. Like I've said before, I love to read! I like anything from a good romance novel, to an edge-of-your-seat Mystery, or even a book about the supernatural (i.e. vamps and whatnot). I love when a book is made into a movie because it can bring to life what you've imagined while reading. Nine times out of ten a movie can't live up to the book, but on occasion it does. For example... the Harry Potter series or The Notebook.

This summer one of the more recent books I've read is being made into a movie-- EAT, PRAY, LOVE.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's broken down in to three parts-- get this, section one is EAT, section two is PRAY, and section three is LOVE.

I love that it is a true story of one woman's journey from divorce and being at what she feels like is the very bottom to finding her way back from the edge. She spends one year traveling to three different countries. She begins in Italy where she eats her way through pasta and wine. She then heads to India to an Ashram where she has a spiritual rebirth, if you will. And finally, she head to Indonesia where she learns she can love once again.

I had a tough time with the "Pray" section of the book. I kept wanting to skip ahead but I stayed the course and I'm glad I did. (I'm not really a yogi so...)

Julia Roberts plays the main character and it looks like it should be a really good book to movie adaptation.



The second book that I absolutely love which is being made into a movie is Water for Elephants.

I could not put this book down. From start to finish I loved it. It is about a young man, Jacob, who has everything one could imagine. He has recently graduated from an ivy league school with a vet degree when he learns both of his parents have been killed in an accident. Unaware of how to handle the tragedy, Jacob simply decides to run away from the problems. Not long after hitting the road he comes across a traveling circus and he is hired as their vet. The plot only thickens from there...

The actor chosen to play Jacob is none other than Robert Pattinson. The person hired to play his love interest is one of my all time favorites, Reese Witherspoon.

Sadly this film just started shooting scenes last month, so we probably have a pretty good wait. But wait I will, my friend, because I am excited to see this movie.