Spotlight on a Good Read

One of my dear friends from college (just last year, mind you since I am only 21 again...ahem) has a fascinating and entertaining blog called A Girl and Her Books.  It's about alot of things, almost all sarcastic and to my delight, somewhat mocking...but also mainly wonderful literarly insight.

This week she has written a post about Lewis Caroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.  She awaits the movie with great excitement as many of you are I am sure. 

I left her a comment that I will share with you as well.  Do you plan to see the movie?

Unless my daughter binds and gags me and drags me kicking and screaming, I will not be seeing the movie. The mere commercials give me the heebie geebies. I will have nightmares for months, I can tell. The creepiness lands in the range somehere between that of the Burger King “King” character and and the bizarre, frightful nature of mayonaise. Shudder…..

Does anyone else get chilled to the bone at the commercials?

Then again, does anyone else have nightmares about Birds of Paradise?  Just me?

Bookworm

I love to read. I actually eat books. When I am on a book binge I can read a dozen books a month. I've been to the library 4 times in the last 2 weeks. Once I get started I just can't read enough. It is a nice escape and it is relaxing.

I like romance novels (like Nicholas Sparks) or funny lighthearted novels (Jennifer Weiner) and books that are a little edgier and tackle deeper issues (Jodi Picoult - my current fave).
I have been pretty limited in my knowledge of good authors. Like I said Picoult is my newest obsession and I have read almost all of her books, or have them on hold at the library. She was recommended to me last year when I put out a request for suggested authors. If you haven't read one of her books...run, don't walk to the library and try one out. They are very intricate and moving. Love them.

But now I am running out of books by my usual authors and need some new ideas. I don't like to read mysteries or fantasy. It just can't capture my interest - or scares the bejeezees out of me. I tend to really like books about relationship between people - not necessarily romance, but more about relationships than "issues". If that makes sense.
So how about you? Who is on your MUST read list?

A Good Glimpse

I recently went on a business trip to Vancouver, Canada with my good friend Xandria. As we were waiting for our plane to take off, naturally, I was rummaging around in her carry on bag looking for something to entertain myself. In there I found a book called Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife by Sarah Smiley. It didn't take me long to confiscate the book and devour it.

I don't know if I have ever read a book that hit so close to home with me. Her description of the turmoil that occurs within yourself as you watch your husband prepare to deploy was dead on. I could have been writing this book! Except I am just not that eloquent.

It is a witty and funny novel that will keep military wives as well as civilian giggling through each page.

The second half of the book, I was less in tune with. I don't want to spoil it for you, but if you read it, you'll know what I mean. The only other critique was during the part of the book where the troops are deploying it depicts the wives as completely losing control. They scream and shout things like "Don't leave, I can do this without you! Don't go!" I don't know ANY military spouses that behave like that. Your job is to be there and support your husband and be strong. I don't subscribe to the theory that you can't be sad and shed your tears. I've heard that through the years that it is wrong to let your husband see you cry as he leaves. My husband would be tossed into a panic if he left for 6 months and I just stood there smiling and waving like an idiot.

All in all though, it was a fantastic book. If you have someone close to you who is a military spouse, I highly recommend giving it a read. You just might get a glimpse into the their life that you have never seen before.

My soul mate

I think I have found a kindred spirit in a man named Steve Almond. I am reading his book, Candyfreak, A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America. It is fantastic and I am only on page 16. I thought I would share with you an excerpt that spoke to me deeply. It was as if he was reading my mind:

"Every now and again, I'll run into someone who claims not to like chocolate
or other sweets, and while we live in a country where everyone has the right to
eat what they want, I want to say for the record that I don't trust these
people, that I think something is wrong with them, and that they're probably -
this must be said - total duds in bed."

I love you Steve Almond, and I am thrilled that there is another one out there like me. Obsessed, sugar crazed and jonesing for a Milky Way.