1. Book Snobs -I ONLY read the classics. I ONLY read YA. Chick Lit is horrendous I ONLY read... Yeah, if you have ever uttered any of those statements or anything like that, I don't like you and roll my eyes at you. Do you want a cookie? Should we be impressed that you don't read books of all kinds? Have fun looking down your nose at the rest of us, while we enjoy books by all authors and of all different sorts of genres!
2. Stereotypical Teen Roles in YA - If it sounds like something straight out of an after school special or a movie about teens as opposed to what teens really say? I'm not a fan.
3. Scenes/Typos/things that are impossible - When Character Y is suddenly talking about something that happened where it was established they were not there or were doing something else then, I notice. If you say something that is just not possible and it is a realistic fiction book? I judge. Typos and grammar errors? I notice. These things bug me.
4. Library books that smell like cigarettes - Ughh.. Talk about a sneezy/headachey read!
5. Murder Mysteries that are so implausible I roll my eyes - I mean, I am sure if I was a REAL detective or lawyer or anyone with REAL (non-book, non-tv knowledge) of courtroom/police dramas more things would bother me. But when I, as just a super fan of reading/watching on tv notice situations that are not plausible nor do they make sense like when the nice old lady is really a psycho kid hating lunatic whodunnit, I judge.
6. Books that cost 20 plus dollars - Okay, I'm cheap. I love the written word and I have bought one or more in my time, but I can't justify that price for a book. It sometimes puts me into a position where I don't read author's new stuff for years because I cannot justify the cost. It's ridiculous! Heck, I won't pay more than 10 dollars to see a movie which gives me just about the same amount of time/satisfaction as buying a book does. And I suck at re-reading. I always mean to do it, but there ARE SO MANY books left out there that I haven't read yet!
7. Children/Baby books that don't make sense - I'm sorry but if there is no effin point to the story I am not buying it for my kid. I wouldn't buy an adult book that has no point, why would I do that to a kid? Do you WANT them to be interested in reading? Parents/readers know that if there are too many words on the page we just make up our own for the kids anyway. Please don't skimp on content!
8. When everything is wrapped up neatly and you want to know more - Okay, so we've traveled with the characters through the tumultuous plot line and now everything is neatly made up and BAM nothing. I would like to continue reading about these people. Don't just end because it's wrapped up!!
9. Yawn worthy details - I frankly don't give two shits about how the reflection of the sun is illuminating the sturdy trees that sway gently in the mid afternoon breeze as the red robin tweets around the park while the boy waits for the blond haired blue eyed most beautiful and fantastically popular girl to meet him by the creaking old swingset by the old wooden barn. When this goes on for paragraphs or pages? I skip or put the book down.
10. Book Blogs that only Review the positive - You can't OMG loooove everything you read. There are flaws to books, it's okay to not like things. But then again, when you whore yourself out to receive free things from people I can see where you OMG looooove everything.
11. When People Think Authors Can't Have Opinions - Or that they can ONLY say nice things about other authors/books. No. Please be honest. Just like I don't want to hear gushing OMG I love's it from people who just whore themselves out for free books, I want REAL opinions by people who have experience with books. Does it have to be cruel? No. But honest, I did not care for that would be nice. But then, I wish for a world where ones opinions didn't somehow magically affect their job.
What are some of your book related pet peeves?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
June Group Read is...
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin!
From goodreads: Rachel White is the consummate good girl. A hard-working attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid of honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship. But that suddenly changes the night of her thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy's fiance, and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same way. As the wedding date draws near, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.
We will be once again be having four different discussions on Friday's. Anyone and everyone is invited to participate any time they can, and you can always go back and update the old discussions if you fall behind! ;) Also, this recently came out as a movie, so if you want to talk about the differences between the book and the film go at it! If someone does read the book and see the movie and want to do a special guest post on it, let me know and we will work something out. ;)
Discussions will be:
Discussion 1 - June 3rd over Chapters 1-7
Discussion 2 - June 10th over Chapters 8-13
Discussion 3 - June 17th over Chapters 14-19
Discussion 4 - June 20th over Chapters 20-26
The past couple of months, Kelly and Lisa have been awesome and have led discussions for us, which is always much appreciated by me! If you would like to lead one of the discussions, email me or leave a comment and let me know which day would work best for you! I just need to have the discussion by the Wednesday before you sign up so I can have it ready to go by that Friday! Can't wait to see who is planning on joining us this month.
Leave a comment and let me know if you are planning to join in!
We will be once again be having four different discussions on Friday's. Anyone and everyone is invited to participate any time they can, and you can always go back and update the old discussions if you fall behind! ;) Also, this recently came out as a movie, so if you want to talk about the differences between the book and the film go at it! If someone does read the book and see the movie and want to do a special guest post on it, let me know and we will work something out. ;)
Discussions will be:
Discussion 1 - June 3rd over Chapters 1-7
Discussion 2 - June 10th over Chapters 8-13
Discussion 3 - June 17th over Chapters 14-19
Discussion 4 - June 20th over Chapters 20-26
The past couple of months, Kelly and Lisa have been awesome and have led discussions for us, which is always much appreciated by me! If you would like to lead one of the discussions, email me or leave a comment and let me know which day would work best for you! I just need to have the discussion by the Wednesday before you sign up so I can have it ready to go by that Friday! Can't wait to see who is planning on joining us this month.
Leave a comment and let me know if you are planning to join in!
Date a Girl Who Reads..
This quote has been shared quite a few times on different blogs and every time I read it, I smile. It makes me want to grab a cup of coffee, snuggle in and lose myself in the world of books. So, grab a cup of coffee, snuggle in and find yourself in this quote. [Note: I don't condone lying to your significant other, being a book snob or insulting women's intelligence by assuming they don't know what they are talking about. ]
Buy her another cup of coffee.
Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce's Ulysses she's just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or if she would like to be Alice. (I do have a problem with this paragraph. Nothing like insulting women's intelligence.)
It's easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by God, she's going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.
She has to give it a shot somehow.
Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world. (Also, not a fan of this part...)
Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.
Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.
If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She'll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.
You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she's sick. Over Skype. (Or on a random Thursday while you are getting ready to head out for beer and nachos with friends, as she is dancing half-naked around an apartment... )
You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn't burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.
Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you're better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.
Or better yet, date a girl who writes.
- Rosemary Urquico
Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.
Find a girl who reads. You'll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She's the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That's the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.
She's the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she's kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author's making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.
Find a girl who reads. You'll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She's the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That's the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.
She's the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she's kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author's making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.
[ Source ]
Buy her another cup of coffee.
Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce's Ulysses she's just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or if she would like to be Alice. (I do have a problem with this paragraph. Nothing like insulting women's intelligence.)
It's easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by God, she's going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.
[ Source ]
She has to give it a shot somehow.
Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world. (Also, not a fan of this part...)
Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.
Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.
If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She'll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.
You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she's sick. Over Skype. (Or on a random Thursday while you are getting ready to head out for beer and nachos with friends, as she is dancing half-naked around an apartment... )
You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn't burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.
Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you're better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.
Or better yet, date a girl who writes.
- Rosemary Urquico
Saturday, May 21, 2011
In Big Trouble
So, my library came through for me and through inter-library loans I got to pick up In Big Trouble by Laura Lippman on Thursday night and flew through it, just like the others.
In this book, Tess gets a newspaper clipping with a picture of Crow (her ex boyfriend ) with the words In Big Trouble above his head. With a little push from Kitty, she calls his mom and ends up headed to Austin, Texas to figure out what the heck is up with Crow.
When she gets to Austin, she can't find Crow but does run into a former band member of Poe White Trash. With tips from him she ends up stumbling upon a dead body. This is just the beginning of her new friendship with various Texas police departments and not the only dead body she finds while in Texas.
What Big Trouble is Crow in? Who is this mysterious Yoko Ohno who he is hanging with? You should probably read it and find out!
This one made me giggle a few times with some good one liners. Definitely recommend and with 4 books into the 11 book series, I am still liking it. ;)
Have you ever been to Texas? How's the Mexican food where you live?
Don't forget to vote on June's Group Read... Will be posting the winner tomorrow!
In this book, Tess gets a newspaper clipping with a picture of Crow (her ex boyfriend ) with the words In Big Trouble above his head. With a little push from Kitty, she calls his mom and ends up headed to Austin, Texas to figure out what the heck is up with Crow.
When she gets to Austin, she can't find Crow but does run into a former band member of Poe White Trash. With tips from him she ends up stumbling upon a dead body. This is just the beginning of her new friendship with various Texas police departments and not the only dead body she finds while in Texas.
What Big Trouble is Crow in? Who is this mysterious Yoko Ohno who he is hanging with? You should probably read it and find out!
This one made me giggle a few times with some good one liners. Definitely recommend and with 4 books into the 11 book series, I am still liking it. ;)
Have you ever been to Texas? How's the Mexican food where you live?
Don't forget to vote on June's Group Read... Will be posting the winner tomorrow!
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Blue Orchard - Discussion # 3
(Hello everyone! This week's discussion is hosted by the wonderful Kelly! This is the third section of The Blue Orchard and I hope you are all enjoying it. By the way, you can always go back and comment on the previous discussions, as I am always checking back and responding. It's nice to talk about things we read. I really like what Kelly has to say about forgiveness and how it relates to the book. Totally, not something I picked up on but reading what she has to say makes me think more about what the book said and different meanings. To catch up here are links to Discussion 1 and Discussion 2. Next week, Lisa will finish us up with The Blue Orchard. Don't forget to vote in the sidebar for June's Group Read!)
Hi, it's Kelly again from She Wears a Red Sox Cap. This time I am leading the discussion of pages 193-290 of The Blue Orchard. I planned to summarize the important events in this section but I'm having trouble keeping everyone and everything straight in this book so it's probably best if I focus mainly on the discussion so as not to confuse anyone! This section got a little political because of the situation with Crampton, and I think it was probably lack of effort/caring that made it hard for me to pay attention here. On a personal level though, Verna decides to stop going out for drinks with Dewey. She also learns from Dora's boyfriend Chet that Dewey has been cheating on her. Dewey also decides to move and become a farmer so they are no longer really living together. Also, Verna's son Sam joins the military after a fight with her and Dewey. On the job front, Verna loses her first patient and is very affected by this. Crampton begins to lose his influence and Verna discovers he has raised his price without telling her or raising what she receives for it. He is also investigated by the IRS for not paying taxes. Finally, at the end of this section Sam sends Verna a long letter about his time in Korea and signs it "Love, Sam." At the end of this section, Verna is arrested.
I feel like I should say that I don't love this book. I love the idea of it, meaning that the author did interviews with his grandmother to tell a true story about her life. I like the historic aspect of it and learning more about that time period and the people who struggled through it. On the other hand I am just not loving Verna as a character. One of the parts of this section that I liked was the overwhelming theme of forgiveness. For example, Sally (Dewey's daughter) actually forgives her father for leaving her at an orphanage after her mother passed away! It seems as though Sam may forgive Verna for leaving him as a child as well, based on his kind letters to his mom. Verna also mentions at one point believing that Crampton forgives white people, even though he still has to eat in his hotel room or stay in different hotels because black and white people are not allowed at the same places.
Verna, on the other hand, doesn't seem like she forgives much at all, or that she's really learned at all from her hardships and experiences. Some quotes that really stuck out to me:
In the second quote it does seem she is at least recognizing how unfair her thoughts are. However, she still holds a lot of anger towards people in her life. I guess even though I feel a lot of sympathy for people who have had many hardships in their lives. In the end, I want a good success story and I want them to overcome these obstacles. Sure, Verna has become "successful" in that she makes a lot of money, but she is really not a very nice person in the end. Well, by the end... I mean the end of this section! I haven't read past it yet :)
Here are some questions for you guys:
Do you feel that Verna has learned from her negative experiences or have they just made her bitter and/or feel like she deserves more? Does she forgive those responsible for her hardships?
Do you feel Verna is successful because she has accomplished more than her mom?
Do you think Mr. Wertzes tears were the result of regret? Was he asking her forgiveness? Do you imagine his change of attitude was because of his change of position in life?
Do you, as a reader, forgive Verna for her questionable choices? Do you forgive Dewey for his choices? Would you forgive either of them if you were one of their children?
Thanks Kelly! Next, Friday we will be over Book Three Chapter 15 - the end. Can't wait to hear all of you!
Hi, it's Kelly again from She Wears a Red Sox Cap. This time I am leading the discussion of pages 193-290 of The Blue Orchard. I planned to summarize the important events in this section but I'm having trouble keeping everyone and everything straight in this book so it's probably best if I focus mainly on the discussion so as not to confuse anyone! This section got a little political because of the situation with Crampton, and I think it was probably lack of effort/caring that made it hard for me to pay attention here. On a personal level though, Verna decides to stop going out for drinks with Dewey. She also learns from Dora's boyfriend Chet that Dewey has been cheating on her. Dewey also decides to move and become a farmer so they are no longer really living together. Also, Verna's son Sam joins the military after a fight with her and Dewey. On the job front, Verna loses her first patient and is very affected by this. Crampton begins to lose his influence and Verna discovers he has raised his price without telling her or raising what she receives for it. He is also investigated by the IRS for not paying taxes. Finally, at the end of this section Sam sends Verna a long letter about his time in Korea and signs it "Love, Sam." At the end of this section, Verna is arrested.
I feel like I should say that I don't love this book. I love the idea of it, meaning that the author did interviews with his grandmother to tell a true story about her life. I like the historic aspect of it and learning more about that time period and the people who struggled through it. On the other hand I am just not loving Verna as a character. One of the parts of this section that I liked was the overwhelming theme of forgiveness. For example, Sally (Dewey's daughter) actually forgives her father for leaving her at an orphanage after her mother passed away! It seems as though Sam may forgive Verna for leaving him as a child as well, based on his kind letters to his mom. Verna also mentions at one point believing that Crampton forgives white people, even though he still has to eat in his hotel room or stay in different hotels because black and white people are not allowed at the same places.
Verna, on the other hand, doesn't seem like she forgives much at all, or that she's really learned at all from her hardships and experiences. Some quotes that really stuck out to me:
"How dare she be angry? Doesn't she know she's lucky to have me as a customer?" (page 267)
"I'm forty-two years old and suddenly aware that despite my life's hardships, I've enjoyed certain privileges not open to all, not the least of which is the opportunity to feel better than someone whose skin is darker than mine. The shame burns, because I now must recognize how much I resent having my advantage over a Negro questioned."
In the second quote it does seem she is at least recognizing how unfair her thoughts are. However, she still holds a lot of anger towards people in her life. I guess even though I feel a lot of sympathy for people who have had many hardships in their lives. In the end, I want a good success story and I want them to overcome these obstacles. Sure, Verna has become "successful" in that she makes a lot of money, but she is really not a very nice person in the end. Well, by the end... I mean the end of this section! I haven't read past it yet :)
Here are some questions for you guys:
Do you feel that Verna has learned from her negative experiences or have they just made her bitter and/or feel like she deserves more? Does she forgive those responsible for her hardships?
Do you feel Verna is successful because she has accomplished more than her mom?
Do you think Mr. Wertzes tears were the result of regret? Was he asking her forgiveness? Do you imagine his change of attitude was because of his change of position in life?
Do you, as a reader, forgive Verna for her questionable choices? Do you forgive Dewey for his choices? Would you forgive either of them if you were one of their children?
Thanks Kelly! Next, Friday we will be over Book Three Chapter 15 - the end. Can't wait to hear all of you!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Butcher's Hill
Butcher's Hill is the beginning of Tess Monaghan's private investigator business all on her own. Well, she has a silent partner and Tyner to help, but she is doing it on her own. Yay, Tess. Her first customer is the Butcher of Butcher's Hill. He was recently let out of prison after 5 years for killing a young boy who was a neighborhood hoodlum. He wants Tess to find the hoodlums friends to see if they need any money and to apologize to them.
Her next client, Mary Browne, wants help finding her lost sister. Or does she?
The suspense heats up when the kids Tess has been hired to find start ending up dead after someone broke into her office, and Mary Browne is not Mary Browne.
I really liked this one and have definitely seen that Lippman's writing has improved from the first book. Looking back the first book was kind of clunky and since they have streamlined into less random details and more focused writing. Can't wait to read the next one!
The book also had an interesting insight into the welfare/adoptive/foster care system and how much people get paid for help. Like for a welfare mom she would get say 200 a month, foster care 500 and to adopt people pay like 10,000. Quite interesting. How much is a kid worth? Sad.
Any book series I should check out now that I am waiting for the next book?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
40 weeks!!
40 weeks due date... now where is she???? ;)
How far along? 40 weeks
Weight gain/loss: up 17 pounds
Stretch marks? yeah, ew.
Sleep? Last night was probably the worst night of sleep I've had. I woke up about every hour and never felt like I slept in between. Now I feel all sleepy and blah today.
Best moment this week? My bff and her family are in town and I was excited that she finally got to see me pregnant and they brought our baby girl some really sweet gifts!
Food cravings: Sweet tea, chicken salad and potato chips ha.
Gender: Girl
Belly button in or out? in.. it's quite cute.
Movement? has definitely slowed down but she gets feisty if you poke her.
What I miss? peeing like a normal person
What I'm looking forward to: meeting my daughter
Milestones: Hit my due date!
Weight gain/loss: up 17 pounds
Stretch marks? yeah, ew.
Sleep? Last night was probably the worst night of sleep I've had. I woke up about every hour and never felt like I slept in between. Now I feel all sleepy and blah today.
Best moment this week? My bff and her family are in town and I was excited that she finally got to see me pregnant and they brought our baby girl some really sweet gifts!
Food cravings: Sweet tea, chicken salad and potato chips ha.
Gender: Girl
Belly button in or out? in.. it's quite cute.
Movement? has definitely slowed down but she gets feisty if you poke her.
What I miss? peeing like a normal person
What I'm looking forward to: meeting my daughter
Milestones: Hit my due date!
Had my appointment today and while I've made a little progress and my cervix is softening it's not looking like her birthday. So on to trying about every natural way of bringing on labor. Kind of disappointed about the lack of progress because I was really hoping to be further along today but that's okay she's just not ready. But she better be ready by next week or she is coming anyhow. Would prefer if she would do it on her own. I don't really want to be induced but I also do not want to be pregnant into Memorial Day Weekend/June so it is what it is and I am okay with that. Just hoping it works out on its own because I would prefer not to have to take pitocin. But I will go into it knowing that it s MY choice, as it should be. Not anyone elses. They may not agree or like it, but whatever, it's my choice and it is not being made lightly.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Charm City
The second book in the Tess Monaghan series by Laura Lippman did not disappoint either! I read this in basically one day. I stayed up til after midnight to finish. ;)
I never realized the first one was kind of clunky with over info until I read this one and realized it was much better written. Practice makes perfect.
In this installment, Tess is hired by the Beacon-Light to try to find out who put the un-authorized story on the front page of the paper. A side drama, also involves her inheriting a greyhound after her Uncle Spike is beaten into a coma during a robbery at his bar.
I really find Tess to be a likable enjoyable character who is real. She makes mistakes, she isn't perfect and she gets her heart broken every now and then. My kind of character.
If you like Stephanie Plum books you will definitely like the Tess Monaghan series!
What are you reading right now?
(The poll for the June Group Read will be put up later today!)
I never realized the first one was kind of clunky with over info until I read this one and realized it was much better written. Practice makes perfect.
In this installment, Tess is hired by the Beacon-Light to try to find out who put the un-authorized story on the front page of the paper. A side drama, also involves her inheriting a greyhound after her Uncle Spike is beaten into a coma during a robbery at his bar.
I really find Tess to be a likable enjoyable character who is real. She makes mistakes, she isn't perfect and she gets her heart broken every now and then. My kind of character.
If you like Stephanie Plum books you will definitely like the Tess Monaghan series!
What are you reading right now?
(The poll for the June Group Read will be put up later today!)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Baltimore Blues
I may have a slight obsession with reading series. I hate when you read a good book and it is over. No more. The character you've cried with, laughed with, felt for is no longer a part of your life. I hate that feeling. With a series, you keep getting more and more of your favorite people!
I first heard of the Tess Monaghan series probably in November/December of last year when I read my first book by Lippman and decided that I must try out this series. Now another pet peeve, when the local library has PARTS of a series but not the whole series. Yeah, they had the second-whatever but not the first book in the series.. Umm what?? So one day I just ordered it off Amazon because dangit, I wanted to start the series!
I finally got around to it, and I must say Baltimore Blues did not disappoint! It was a good mystery, with a bit of humor and introduced likable enjoyable characters.
Tess Monaghan is an out of work reporter who has been an out of work reporter for 2 years, when the newspaper she worked for went under. Since then she has worked at a bookstore her aunt owns and does some freelance work for her uncle. Besides that, she rows every morning. A pretty low key life. Oh and she randomly sleeps with an ex boyfriend. ;)
When her best rowing buddy, Rock, comes to her with a proposition (30 dollars an hour!!) she of course jumps at it. Even though, it entails trailing Rock's girlfriend, Ava to see if she is cheating on him. This starts the beginning of the drama, where she follows Ava to a hotel, catches her shoplifting and ultimately leads to a dead body, with Rock to blame.
Tess is thrown into a new 'career' of private investigator and finds that she really likes it.
I really liked that there were lots of pieces thrown around but all neatly connected to the main mystery and not too over done. I would say out of the 2 other Lippman books this was my favorite. I am definitely starting the next in the series, Charm City, after I finish typing this.
Have you ever been to Baltimore? (Another reason I liked this is because of all the details of the Baltimore area.. Lippman worked in Baltimore and it makes me want to visit!)
I first heard of the Tess Monaghan series probably in November/December of last year when I read my first book by Lippman and decided that I must try out this series. Now another pet peeve, when the local library has PARTS of a series but not the whole series. Yeah, they had the second-whatever but not the first book in the series.. Umm what?? So one day I just ordered it off Amazon because dangit, I wanted to start the series!
I finally got around to it, and I must say Baltimore Blues did not disappoint! It was a good mystery, with a bit of humor and introduced likable enjoyable characters.
Tess Monaghan is an out of work reporter who has been an out of work reporter for 2 years, when the newspaper she worked for went under. Since then she has worked at a bookstore her aunt owns and does some freelance work for her uncle. Besides that, she rows every morning. A pretty low key life. Oh and she randomly sleeps with an ex boyfriend. ;)
When her best rowing buddy, Rock, comes to her with a proposition (30 dollars an hour!!) she of course jumps at it. Even though, it entails trailing Rock's girlfriend, Ava to see if she is cheating on him. This starts the beginning of the drama, where she follows Ava to a hotel, catches her shoplifting and ultimately leads to a dead body, with Rock to blame.
Tess is thrown into a new 'career' of private investigator and finds that she really likes it.
I really liked that there were lots of pieces thrown around but all neatly connected to the main mystery and not too over done. I would say out of the 2 other Lippman books this was my favorite. I am definitely starting the next in the series, Charm City, after I finish typing this.
Have you ever been to Baltimore? (Another reason I liked this is because of all the details of the Baltimore area.. Lippman worked in Baltimore and it makes me want to visit!)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Easy Pasta Recipe
I saw this Creamy Artichoke Recipe on Iowa Girl Eats the other day and decided that I wanted to make something similar for dinner. It was super easy and tasty!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
EVOO around the pan
basil
2 celery stalks chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
a quarter of a small onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes of your choice
1/2 cup milk
pasta
2 handfuls mozzarella cheese
First, cook pasta in salted, boiling water. Drain and return to the hot pot.
At the same time, melt butter and EVOO in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, onions, and basil, then saute until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for a minute more. Next time, I would maybe even add carrots or bell peppers if I had them..
Add the tomatoes to the skillet. (Next time I would probably add red pepper flakes for a kick.) I let this cook in the skillet for about 7 minutes. Then add the milk and heat for another minute or 2.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
EVOO around the pan
basil
2 celery stalks chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
a quarter of a small onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes of your choice
1/2 cup milk
pasta
2 handfuls mozzarella cheese
First, cook pasta in salted, boiling water. Drain and return to the hot pot.
At the same time, melt butter and EVOO in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, onions, and basil, then saute until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for a minute more. Next time, I would maybe even add carrots or bell peppers if I had them..
Dump generous handfuls of cheese on the cooked pasta and then pour in the sauce. Mix well and eat!!
I really enjoyed it. It was quick, easy and enjoyable. My husband who HAS to have meat with everything warmed up some leftover brats we had and ate it with it. I would also consider making it with chicken, or Italian sausage. I would have liked more of a kick, so maybe red pepper flakes or use diced tomatoes that have a kick. I just used Italian seasoned diced tomatoes.
What's your favorite easy pasta?
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