Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

Thursday will have quite a situation on her hands. Changes must be made or outlanders will no longer read. In the last fourteen years, readership has dropped. Having to hide her what she does, certainly doesn't make things easier than taking up a laying carpet job as a front. Her sixteen year old son would rather sleep than take up his destiny as leader of the Chronoguard. And having to train a new cadet in the book world is only the beginning. She has to face down her worst enemy, herself.

Mr. Fforde has done it again! It has taken me a long time to pick up this book and boy am I glad I have now! There is so much literature stuff involved in this book that it just makes me very happy. The depth of characters and seeing how the world has changed for Thursday has been enjoyable. There were a few times I wasn't sure how Mr. Fforde would wrap things up but old nemeses coming into play shook up this reader's world. The twists and turns in this plot had me flipping pages over and over again. This is one author who certainly knows how to write good fiction!

Thursday has grown up and has more children with Landon. Landon is still trying to write the great novel and not having a whole lot of luck. Thursday does her best to help him but it still seems to fall short. Not to mention that Thursday is battling the book world issues and trying to make her life better at the same time. Her son Friday just wants to play in a band and forget about the chronoguard even though her father was involved in that. Things cannot seem to get any more messy for Thursday.

I won't give away any of my favorite parts but I thank authors who have allowed Mr. Fforde to pop their characters in. It was seriously too much fun for this reader! I cannot wait for the next Thursday Next book and am curious to read the book he has coming out in December. Hopefully this time, it won't take nearly as long to get to it.

Jasper Fforde/ Thursday Next Series/ 384 pages/Literary/ 4 out of 5

Keep an eye open for a fun post in the next couple of days!

My June Stat s and Read

Yes you read that right, it says read. I only read one book but boy it was a big one.

Total Books I Read: 1
New Authors: 1
Fiction:0
Non-fiction: 1
Chunksters: 1
Mystery: 0
Romance: 0
From the Stacks: 1
Books For Review:0
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 736 pages

My hours at work went up and down constantly plus being wiped out from the pregnancy hasn't helped much either. I am hoping this month to do much better and get another chunkster in. We'll see!

The Great Shame by Thomas Keneally

This book is full of situations and people that I've known about most of my life. Yet Mr. Keneally puts a new spin on them and gives them more depth than what I've ever read. He never truly paints things black and white in my opinion. He just puts all the information in front of you. This author certainly did his research and I was so impressed with the details that were on every page.

Mr. Keneally researched every aspect so that the span of the book made sense. The 19th century history book was fascinating from all angles. It started before the Potato Famine talking about the convict ships that went to Australia and went through the Civil War. His telling of history in Australia, Ireland, and America was captivating and there were times I couldn't put the book down. There are even times when the book centers on things that happen in Canada since they did land there as well.

The only part that lacked for me was not more about the author's ancestors. I guess I expected more than what I ended up with. The book featured a lot of people that I knew and it was interesting to read about the lives of people and where they ended up at the end. Being a big book can be daunting to most people, but if you keep with it, you will definitely be rewarded. I was sad to see it go but all loose ends were tied up. I am curious to read Schindler's List now since he wrote the book about it. The one thing Mr. Keneally did was make sure to point out where the mistakes were made by both sides yet never actually pointing fingers. This sweeping book of history encompasses so many things that it's difficult to write a review for this one. I am glad I did finally pick up this book cause it was worth every bit of time. I applaud Mr. Keneally for writing such a fantastic book and taking the effort to compile all the information.


Thomas Keneally/ New Author/ Non-Fiction/ History/736 pages/ 5 out of 5

Next up a quick post of my stats for last month.

May Reads and Stats

My reads:
1.Hold Tight by Harlan Coben 05-01-09 through 05-05-09 A+
2.Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon 05-06-09 through5-19-09 A+
3.Unspoken by Angela Hunt 05-21-09 A+
4.A World I never Made by James LePore 05-22-09 through05-25-09 A+
5.Backspin by Harlan Coben 05-27-09 through 05-28-09 A

My stats:
Total Books I Read: 5
New Authors: 2
Fiction: 5
Non-fiction:0
Chunksters:0
Mystery: 3
Romance: 0
From the Stacks: 5
Books for Review: 1
Books I bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 1, 808

So I am feeling good even though I didn't read any chunksters. :) I am working on one right now. :)

BackSpin by Harlan Coben

Myron Bolitar is over his head. Helping people is what Myron does best. But when the person is a golfer, Myron doesn't understand the game at all. He just knows a golfer's son has been kidnapped but the problem is that he really isn't sure about the kidnapping. The only other problem he has is that Win refuses to help him. This could make the case go horribly wrong.

Mr. Coben does it again! There are definitely some tense moments in this book but I fought to put it down to get things done. Myron is definitely challenged in this book and Mr. Coben shows it on every page. The situations in this book pull at you and even I began to wonder if Myron could solve this case. There were too many unknowns and too many questions. The twist at the end left me speechless. He surprised me yet again. That is why this author is always at the top of my list.

Myron still fought for his relationship with Jessica. Esperanza put some new demands on him but they were completely understandable. It might just change their relationship but hopefully for the better. Just have to wait and see how it plays out. Esperanza doesn't hold back her thoughts or feelings and that's what makes her such a great character. Win wasn't in the book a whole lot but when he was, you could see how much he was fighting the emotions. He wants to help his best friend but situations held him back. Their friendship was seriously tested but even Myron knew when to back off.

This series keeps getting better and better. I am so glad that I have quite a few books left to read especially the latest one. Mr. Coben keeps you guessing and the twists are ones that even I didn't see. The tension is well placed and Mr. Coben deals it out in the right doses. I hope to read the next book soon cause I cannot wait to see what happens next. Hopefully Myron won't be completely out of his element the next time.

Harlan Coben/ Myron Bolitar Series/ Adult Fiction/ Mystery/368 pages/4 out of 5

Off to non-fiction, but at over 700 pages not sure I'll finish by Sunday. :)

A World I Never Made by James LePore

Patrick Nolan gets a call from Paris, France about his daughter who committed suicide. He shows up to identify the body only to see that it isn't his daughter. Not sure what is going on, he goes along with her story. She must be in trouble and Patrick must find her. Then maybe things will make sense. Megan Nolan has always been carefree about her relationships since being a freelance writer gave her so much freedom. Now she is involved with a man who could threaten her entire world. But he could also give her the big break she needs. But is it worth it?

Mr. LePore has a fantastic thriller on his hands. There is more to this story than I could see just by reading the back of the book. The depth of the feelings of the characters definitely pulls you in and makes you want to read more. The headings with the time frame really moved the story along and helped keep a good handle on which story was being told whether it was Megan's or Patrick's. The minor characters had their place too because without them; the plot would have been very dull.

Patrick sees how he's messed up over the years and wants to help his daughter. But the situation will be more than he can handle. It will test him and put him in way over his head. Yet the main thing he focuses on is his daughter. Megan has always been rather non-chalant about her relationships. The man she meets on the train will show her how much she has to learn.

This was a book that grabbed a hold of me from the beginning. The twists and turns plotted will keep you turning pages. Mr. LePore took a world that is ever present in our minds and showed what it's effects could be on a young woman who is vulnerable but refuses to show it. It sweeps her up and shows her all that she has to learn still. The rules are broken and Patrick Nolan can only hope that it'll be enough.


James LePore/ New Author/ Thriller/272 pages/ Book for Review/ 5 out of 5

This was a great book and I love reading new authors. I don't remember what is next on the pile but I'll sure the review should be up soon! :)

Unspoken by Angela Hunt

Glee Granger had always loved animals especially gorillas. Her life revolved around Sema, who she had taken care of since Sema was just hours old. They are able to “talk” using sign language. Sema isn't Glee's since she technically belongs to the zoo. Now, they want Sema back and though reluctant Glee agrees. It's the only way to keep working with Sema. One event changes it all and Glee begins to question all that she knows.

Ms. Hunt captivates her readers with such great characters. This author has been one of my favorites for a long time. She expresses in words what may be difficult to understand any place else. The situations described in this book inspired by actual events just blew my mind. Ms. Hunt certainly did her research and expounded on it. It is fiction but starting sooner who knows what we can accomplish in the animal world. Ms. Hunt shows again why she is good not only thinking outside the box but putting feeling behind it as well.

Glee questioned, struggled, and truly wanted the best for Sema. I cheered as she worked through everything and was in awe of the turn around. Glee certainly had a long road ahead of her but Sema was optimistic through it all. The director of the zoo bugged me to no end. I understand that his job is not easy but when it comes to zoos, the animals matter the most. The other minor characters all played their part. I don't want to give anything away.

This is one book that will make you wonder and question. It is very emotional so keep tissues nearby. This is one author who has not let me down ever! I'm throughly impressed and hope there are many more books to come.

Angela Hunt/ Christian Fiction/ Animals/336 pages/ 5 out of 5

This is one book that I didn't mean to read in one day. Opps! lol I'll pick up something else tomorrow. Off to bed I go.

Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon

The journey Anna Leonowens takes in this book is best known in the musical The King and I. There is quite a bit in the book that is not in the movie. The struggles are not easy and there are quite a few times that Anna wants to give up. She deals with the whim of a spoiled man, the King of Siam. But then that is how it's always been and she has a long way to go to get him to understand how to work with her.

Ms. Landon certainly did her research. She had the privilege of talking to people who knew Anna and that was so amazing!! I was blown away with the knowledge and how she imparted the stories that Anna wrote and put them into the story. There was a lot of culture in this book that you didn't get from the musical. There is only so much time to do much in the musical.

I liked the story even though at times it dragged. There was a lot of background information not only about the king, but included his harem, the Second King, and Anna's life growing up. Such a well rounded picture of a story that I haven't read such like it in a long time. If while reading the story, it seems to go really slow, keep it up! It is worth and the ending is the best! I was blown away not only by what Anna has been able to accomplish but how her influence helped shape a new King for the country of Siam to some extent. This is one story though partially fiction that I won't forget for a long time!

Margaret Landon/Siam/Anna Leonowens/416 pages/ Historical/5 out of 5

With the heat wave today, I was impressed that I finished this. Tomorrow a new book and hopefully this one won't take me so long.

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

A kid's suicide sets two families on edge. But no one knows it better than the kid's best friend Adam. His parents start noticing a change in him but are at a loss at how to help. They do the only thing that they can think of ... spy on him. Yet what they find leaves more questions than answers.

Mr. Coben spins a tale with twists and turns that will leave you guessing till the end. Or at least that is how it is with me. The connections in the story will leave you scratching your head. How he comes up with this stuff surprises me every time. Being a parent, on the other hand, this book truly made me think. It raised a lot of questions in my mind and I hope that I can do the best possible with my son.

The experiences both Tia and Mike as well as Betsy and Ron went through were heart breaking. They had done their best to raise their sons but one was gone. The struggle they dealt with was one a lot of parents struggle with. Are you raising your kids right?

I really did enjoy this book as much as it scared me at times. It all was affected by how I am a mom too. This book makes you think and Mr. Coben did a fantastic job since he is a parent as well. I definitely cannot wait to see what he comes up with next and I still have to get through the rest of his Myron series.

Harlan Coben/ Fiction/ Thriller/ Families/ 416 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to another fiction book. :)Its called Anna and the King of Siam. :)

Teddi Gallo lives a life full of rules. She isn't always sure of them all but she is starting to feel like she is going crazy. The past is creeping up on her and that certainly isn't helping. She must get a handle on things or she may just become her mother. The last thing that she wants in the world. But can she figure out what is making her lose her mind?

Ms. Mittman takes a world full of problems and somehow finds humor in the little things. There were a lot of ups and downs but the friendships found for Teddi kept her going. The situations were interesting and you could really see how important her friends were to Teddi. Now she never over stepped her bounds but she kept them in mind. Always making sure to check on them.

Her children kept me in stitches. My only one isn't as old as any of them but I guess I better be prepared for whatever is in style. Teddi's mother was an interesting woman. She had tragedy in her life but never really seemed to get over it. Now mind you, it wasn't an easy situation either but I felt that there should have been some progress.

Right now, I am not sure I'll pick up the rest of the series. I have too many of my own books I'd like to read. Plus the first one hit a little too close to home. Teddi is well-written and she does learn to stand on her own two feet a little more. Yes, spouses are there for support but when you're alone at home all day, you need to figure out how to do some things on your own. Ms. Mittman definitely has a good series too bad it had to be ended so quickly. I wish her much success in whatever she writes next.

Stevi Mittman/ Chick-lit/ 304 pages/ New Author/ 3.5 out of 5

I am almost done with the book I am currently reading but have a movie to watch today! So we'll see, I might have double reviews posted.

April Stats and Reads

Here are the books I read:
1.The Stamp of Glory by Tim Stafford 03-26-09 through04-03-09 C
2.Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde 04-08-09 through04-27-08 A+
3.Love at First Flight by Elizabeth Strohfus and Cheryl J. Young 04-28-09 A+
4.The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger 04-28-09 through 4-29-09 C+
5.Who Makes the Rules Anyways? By Stevi Mittman 04-29-09 through 04-30-09 B

Stats:
Total Books Read: 5
New Authors: 4
Fiction: 4
Non-Fiction: 1
Chunksters: 1
Romance: 0
Mystery: 1
From the Stacks: 4
Books for Review: 0
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 1, 536 pages

Well I'll post my review of Who Makes The Rules Anyway tomorrow. :) Off to get some laundry done.

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Andrea Sachs wants a good job and knows she'll have to work hard to find one. Yet when one drops in her lap, she thinks it's the greatest thing ever. She's going to find out how that is so not true once she meets the most demanding boss ever. It might just take over her life but if she wants to get ahead, she may have to sacrifice a few things.

Ms. Weisberger has a good story on her hands of dedication gone wrong. Now it doesn't help that the boss is a total control freak either. The minor characters really pulled a long this book for me and I am curious to see how things turn out in the movie. Most of the book kind of dragged as I read some of the more outrageous things Andrea was put through.

I truly felt for Andrea when she had to keep sticking up for her job and how after a year things would only get better. Her family, her best friend Lily, and her boyfriend Alex never understood to some extent. They thought she was taking things too far and all Andrea could see was the prize of getting a better job. There were times where she rolled her eyes and didn't want to deal with it but kept reminding herself of the things that could come.

It was a good book for the most part. I have had my horrible bosses in some of my jobs but nothing even close to this. It had funny moments but a lot of it fell flat. The ending is what saved the book in my opinion but well to find out you're going to have to read it yourself. I am definitely curious to see what other books that Ms. Weisberger has written.

Lauren Weisberger/Fashion/ Chick Lit/360 pages/3.5 out of 5

I did have to put the book down yesterday so I didn't finish it in one day. I'm glad I did cause I enjoyed the second half of the book so much better. Off to another chick lit book that I've hung onto way too long.

Love at First Flight: One Woman's Experience as a WASP in World War II by Cheryl J. Young

Elizabeth Strohfus is an amazing woman. She fell in love with flying after her first flight given to her by a local man who hadn't had his pilot's license for very long. After telling him one more time about 10 times, the guy had to land the plane cause he was sick. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was no where near air sick at all. She was a natural. Getting a loan from the bank wasn't easy but Elizabeth managed it so she could take flight lessons. In 1942, she joined the Civil Air Petrol. The rest is history. She sent in her application to join the WASP Organization. There was a lot of hard work ahead of her but it was all worth it in her eyes. She could fly pretty much anything that could go in the air for the most part. Also, she had a lot of training ahead of her whether in class or in the air. She stuck with it through it all!


Ms. Young did a great job painting such a vivid story through songs, pictures, and the words from Mrs. Strohfus' mouth. I am so proud that both women are from Minnesota. I may not have lived here all my life but that is so cool that a local woman had the courage to take on the risks that come along with flying. This is a story that anyone should read whether young or old. You get such a good glimpse into life for women in the military from the beginning. It took forever for them to be recognized but they were! Definitely something worth reading and it won't take a lot of time either. Yet there is so much to learn.

Cheryl J. Young/Elizabeth Strohfus/ Women Pilots/ World War II/ 72 pages/Non-fiction/ 5 out of 5

Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde

Thursday Next is back. This time, she wishes her husband Landon was around but he's been eradicated. So trying to get her life back to normal won't be easy. She has to explain her absence, get her job back, and figure out how to get rid of Yorrick Kane. Not to mention, someone wants her dead. There is a lot on her plate but all she really would like most of all is reliable child care.

Mr. Fforde does it again! I loved this series so far. It is pure genius and full of ideas that I could never come up with. I love how she can jump into books and interact with characters. She has problems to solve and she keeps her head on her shoulders. His characters may be from all sorts of places but they are ones that keep drawing you into the book. Mr. Fforde puts things together that I never would have thought of.

Thursday, being a single mom, deals with life and trying to keep her work at bay. Her family supports her even though her mother is a little bit misguided in her efforts. Joffy is back and being a good brother. She just wishes she could get Landen back for good. She doesn't like being on her own any longer than necessary.

This is one of the best books in the series and I am bummed that there is only one left to read so far. It sounds like there is another one coming in the series which makes me happy since it took me so long to pick up this series. I had heard of this author for his other series but will definitely check that one out in the meantime. Definitely a series for literature nuts and mystery fans a like.

Jasper Fforde/Mystery/Thursday Next series/416 pages/ Chunkster/ 5 out of 5

Never knew how tired I would be with this second pregnancy. I am hoping to read a couple more books yet this month. We'll see.

The Stamp of Glory by Tim Stafford

Set in the 1800's, this book is a glimpse into the Anti-Slavery movement and the impact one family has on it. Using some big names along the way, it shows every side of the issue. Yet change must be taken in order to move forward.

Mr. Stafford was a bit dry at times and the story lagged. I understand that it was a difficult issue then but it seemed like everything kept falling apart. It was a bit of a downer type book and I wasn't sure why I picked it up in the first place.

This is one author who disappointed me. I felt like so much was missing and there was a lot packed in which made the book lag. So all in all, if you like this type of subject, there is a lot of information. It's not graphic in the least, which only made the story get better. I just wish it would have lived up to my expectations. I might have to check out this author's other works.

Tim Stafford/Christian Fiction/ 1800's/Anti-Slavery Movement/ 3 out of 5

It took a long time to read but then I'm pretty tired. Onto the next one!

March Stats and Reads

Here are the books I read:
1.Leap of Faith by Queen Noor 02-26-09 through 03-02-09 A+
2.Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge 03-02-09 through 03-04-09 B
3.Dog on It by Spencer Quinn 03-04-09 through 03-05-09 A
4.Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli 03-05-09 through 03-06-09 A
5.The Last Mermaid by Shana Abe 03-06-09 through DNF
6.Fade Away by Harlan Coben 03-24-09 through 03-25-09 A

Stats:
Total Books I read: 5
New Authors: 4
Fiction: 3
Non-Fiction: 2
Chunksters: 1
Romance: 0
Mystery: 2
From the Stacks: 5
Books for Review: 1
Books I Bought:0
Total Pages Read: 1, 925

Being pregnant has definitely slowed me down in the reading department. lol Oh, well. I liked pretty much everything I read except for the one I didn't finish. I'll try it again another time.

Fade Away by Harlan Coben

Myron gets the chance of a lifetime. He gets to play basketball but there is a catch. He needs to find a famous basketball player before it gets out that he's missing. An alleged injury has taken the ball player out for now. But can Myron figure it out in time? Or is there more to this that even he cannot solve?

Mr. Coben does it again in the third book of the series. He moves the plot in a great way. The friendship between Myron and Win still cracks me up. The mystery at times had more questions than answers. Yet Myron never gave up and kept his obligations to the other players. Mr. Coben knows how to make you really believe in what is going on and keep you guessing till the very end. Or he does with me anyways.

I love Myron. He is a great character who I never get tired of reading about. His best friend Win cracks me up at every turn. He is a man you definitely would not want to cross. The man has knowledge that serves him well in any situation. Esperenza is a woman who speaks her mind and doesn't hold back. While sometimes that is good, it often drives Myron bonkers. Yet they find a way to still work together.

This is one series I don't want to see end. Though I know that time will come eventually. Mr. Coben keeps me turning pages and does little to disappoint me. I cannot wait to pick up the next one and plan on it soon!

Harlan Coben/Mystery/ Myron Bolitar series/ 384 pages/4 out of 5

I finished this one awhile ago. But being wiped out, I haven't had a lot of time on my laptop. I am hoping to finish my current book to add to my month's list. We'll see.

Losing It-And Gaining it Back One Pound At A Time by Valerie Bertinelli

In this non-fiction memoir, Valerie shares her journey from beginning of her career as an actress to when she started on Jenny Craig and how that was successful. It delved into how her mind worked from the beginning and how she was able to change her way of thinking. She always made sure to mention it wasn't easy at first but the results she saw kept her motivated to keep going.

I admire Ms. Bertinelli for sticking things out. There was a lot of stress on her life maybe even more so than I can think of. Being an emotional eater certainly didn't help but she was able to work on it and work through it.

It's an every day thing that she works on. I really enjoyed her honesty. I do my best not to pry into other people's lives. Celebrities need their privacy too. Yet if it is blasted across the papers, it's difficult to ignore it. A lot of the book happened before I realized what was going on and I applaud for Ms. Bertinelli for sharing her journey. It definitely takes some guts. And now she is finally happy and knows that to herself she must be true.

Valerie Bertinelli/ Non-fiction/277 pages/ Memoir/4 out of 5

I finished this book yesterday but with work and everything never got a chance to write my review. This was a great book and I highly recommend it!

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Chet is a loyal dog and his master Bernie runs a private investigator business. Their first case in awhile seems like just a routine missing persons case. Yet Chet can tell his master is bugged by something. There is more to this case than either one of them can imagine. But can they solve it in time so the young lady isn't hurt?

Mr. Quinn tells the story from Chet's point of view and I really liked it. It gave the book a different feel which is rarely found in books today. There is action, adventure, loyalty and a twist that I didn't even see coming. Seeing the characters through Chet's eyes, you can tell who is good and who has ulterior motives. It was a fun book and I couldn't get enough.

Chet is a loyal dog and I really liked him from the beginning. Bernie was a little rough around the edges but after all, he was a man who had been kicked down. He is picking himself off but he may have a long way to go. These two together make a good team even though they don't always understand each other but that's reality.

This is a book that is first in a series that the second one cannot come out soon enough! Mr. Quinn has a fantastic way with words that keeps you turning pages. I was impressed with the book from the beginning. Definitely an author to keep an eye on.

Spencer Quinn/ New Author/Mystery/320 pages/Dogs/4 out of 5

Great new mystery series but a great new author! Off to another non-fiction!

Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge

Three women are portrayed in this book. Lila, who had everything and lost it all due to her husband's bad decisions and needs to start over. Abigail, who was best friends with Lila and whose mother was their house keeper till her mother made some bad decisions and they had to leave. Conception who worked in a factory and could not save her daughter from a fire that happened in the factory. She now wants revenge of the Senora who took her daughter's life. These women might just be the healing balm the other needs.

Ms. Goudge writes stories that grip your heart. Her characters have a lot of things that they need to process. The story grabs your attention from page one and doesn't let you go. The lives of all the characters involved might just change drastically if things are not taken care of. There is heart, humor, love and healing throughout the book. I was impressed with how well each delicate situation was handled and shown such tender care. Nothing was taken lightly and each action was thought out to some extent.

Lila was working on rebuilding her life. Abigail couldn't see what was missing in front of her while having her illustrious career. Conception just wanted to make sure that the Senora knew what her decisions had caused. Each woman had their motives and they just had to find their healing.

This was not an easy book to read at times but I was curious to see how it would all end. And while in my mind, it was a happy ending. I'm not sure if everyone would agree. Things were difficult and change had to happen. It would just have to be seen if the change worked well or not at all. The three women were strong of heart and had more courage than they realized. They just had to find it and embrace what was before them. Ms Goudge is an author I would definitely see what her other books are about and would pick them up in a heart beat.

Eileen Goudge/ New Author/ Relationships/ Friends and Family/ 437 pages/ 4 out of 5

This was a good book but difficult to get through at times. Off to another review book.