What Happened To The Best Of Me

I was slightly disappointed in The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. I'm not saying that I thought it was a bad book, by any means, but I just found it way too predictable. I love a good twist, and while many people would say that there was one, I found the "twist" way too obvious. Now, I am fully aware that I tend to make judgements about the books I am reading based on many different emotional and personal factors and not on the actual quality of the writing, but I feel like that's how many people base their opinions, anyway. I know that many die-hard Sparks fans would disagree with me here, but I just never felt fully invested in the story line or the characters, which makes me sad considering how incredibly connected I have felt to many of his other characters (especially Noah and Allie). I never really cared about Amanda or Dawson, didn't appreciate the journeys that they had to take, nor did I think either of them tried hard enough at anything. Harsh, I know. But it's my blog.

At any rate, when I finished reading, I decided to go back to Oprah's list. Admittedly, I did take the safe route, choosing a book that I had already read and knew I would like to read

again. I picked She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, which I had read in high school. After reading it again, I have to say, I definitely do not remember it being that depressing and heartbreaking. Maybe it didn't seem that way to me back when all I did was read, write, and watch that kind of material, but all I just wanted this girl's life to get better! And it was just blow after blow, heartbreak after heartbreak, it was just so difficult to see how much one person can endure (although after reading Unbroken, this was really just a ride on a carousel, comparatively). Don't get me wrong, though, it's a great book and I definitely recommend not only the book, but also the author (I've read his other books and they are equally as powerful). But I definitely picked my next book with care...something not as intense...something a little more carefree. Enter Sarah Dessen.

I just picked up What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen, my favorite young adult author

and the only one whose books I still read, last night. And I just finished it about 5 minutes ago. Yes, it was a good book, but the only reason why I was able to read it so quickly was because my boss stuck me down at the engraving machine for the last 2 days at work. All I do is program the machine to print new tags and then I had nothing else to do but sit there and read until it finished printing and I had to reset it. I spent last week and this week training my replacement at work and my boss wanted to see her do everything alone, without my help, so he stuck me on these machines. It really hasn't been to terrible, since I was basically getting paid to read all day, which was fantastic, but I still have one more week left in this soul-sucking environment. I wish I was exaggerating. But that is one of the many reasons why I quit. But I digress.

Ridiculously excited that I have the whole weekend to NOT be at work, I will head to the library tomorrow to choose my next book. Not sure what it will be yet, but I am quite excited at the possibilities.

On Writing

I have always wanted to write a book.

Back in high school, I wanted to actually write a memoir. I knew that I wouldn't have been able to really start doing that until later in life, since nothing had really happened to me yet at the young, naive age of 16. But I started compiling all of my various journal entries in preparation. My life from 6th grade through my freshman year of college fills up 48 pages...almost a little novella! Excluding entries that I dubbed "not memoir material," I combed through my LiveJournal, DeadJournal, MindSay, Xanga, and my two written journals (which I typed) and organized them all so they they would read in chronological order. It is basically the whole history of me, which may seem pretty neat, but I actually try not to look through that document...I wasn't the happiest of teenagers and it's hard to read. My husband has never read any of it, but he hates when I skim through it, which I only tend to do when I'm feeling lost.

I have since changed my mind, I definitely do not want to write a memoir. But I think it would be fun to write a fiction novel, and as many authors do, include parts of my life in it, including the journal entries. Maybe it will be a young adult book, and my diary entries can help another lost teenage soul. I would hope to be someone like Sarah Dessen, who's young adult books I still read because they have an amazing ability to still make sense in my life. (They are all amazing and I highly recommend them!)

I used to write poems in high school and I loved writing them. Most of them rhymed, because I loved the idea of manipulating words to fit that parameter and have it still make sense and flow perfectly. I remember exactly when I stopped, it was before I finished the poem "A Heartbeat." I couldn't seem to figure out how to finish it so I didn't write anything for a while. I believe it was one of my high school boyfriends that inspired me enough to finish it, and so I did. But I never wrote anything after that. It's like I just ran out of ideas.

Maybe I should take a creative writing course. I wanted to in college, but I never did. (If I donated a nickel every time I thought or said the phrase "I wanted to, but never did," I would be dirt poor.) I am so terrified of failing that I never try anything. And I'm here to tell you, it is a sad way to live life. The best thing I ever did was fall in love and believe in my husband's love enough to know that I wanted to spend my life with him. I could have done what I did with every relationship I had previously and run away because I was terrified of having them realize that I wasn't good enough for them. As it turns out, I'm pretty sure I really could do anything I wanted as long as I put my whole heart in it, as I did Dan.

As for writing a book? Maybe someday. I have one page written, and it is actually a scene in a bathroom. I bought this little book that is basically a writer's muse and it has little ideas, stories, pictures, words, to help a writer along. And one of them told me to write a scene that takes place in the bathtub, where the character thinks about his/her life. And I was able to see my scene perfectly and I am pretty happy with it. I just don't know where she goes from there, I don't know what her story is yet, which is why I haven't written anymore. But I think about her a lot, which I guess is a good sign.

I would still love to write a book.

Something Not-So-Completely Different

So as of now officially being a little family of 2, I've decided to take this blog in only a slightly different direction. I still intend to work my way through Oprah's Book list (and as most of you have seen, many other books as well) but because my life seems to always be going in very interesting directions, I thought I might like to spend some time talking about that, as well. I absolutely love reading about the lives of the people that I know, and hopefully people will feel the same about us! I've changed a couple of details about this site: My "About Me" section now reflects the new direction of the blog and I also changed the URL of the blog...because having numbers in it was bothering me and I wanted it to be a little more personal.

So, about the books I've read since we've last met:

Last we spoke, I was in the middle of Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and was just starting The Next Always by Nora Roberts.

I highly recommend both! For very different reasons, as they are v

ery different genres. Sarah's Key was very powerful and brought to light an interesting, albeit devastating chapter of World War II. The Next

Always is a great read also, bringing to light the power of love and family as Nora Roberts always does. And someday I will get down to the bookstore she owns in Boonsboro, MD called "Turn The Page."

After finishing The Next Always (and putting The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks back on my requested list at the library), I downloaded a book to my Kindle that my aunt recommended titled Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. First: I do not recommend reading in on a Kindle. There are a few footnotes in each chapter, but the footnotes take us to the end of the chapter...and on a Kindle, my choice is either to click click click through the pages to the end to see where the asterix leads and then click click click all the way back, or just wait until I reach the end of the chapter and have then mostly forgotten what the note is referring to. And since every sentence of this book is fascinating, I recommend holding the actual book

in your hands. I am only just about halfway through this amazing story and I am overwhelmed at the depth of Louis Zamperini's spirit. I highly HIGHLY recommend reading about his life because of the last half of this book are anything like the first half, then I would have recommended this book after the first couple of pages. If you're looking for a powerful biography to read, I hope you consider reading this one.

Freedom Hunger Sarah

Really need to start keeping track of the books I read...I think I will cover them all, but I've got that nagging feeling like I am forgetting one. I guess if I did forget one, then it must not have been a very memorable book! Anyway...

Since I had veered away from Oprah's list for a while, I decided to venture back in by choosing Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. It had gotten amazing reviews and I love longbooks. Unfortunately, I couldn't have possible found it more boring. I kept on trekking through it because I figured maybe it started a little slow and picked up in the middle. Well, I got close to 300 pages in and still nothing more fascinating than a brief affair. I figured I gave it as much attention as it deserved and dropped it off at the library. I absolutely hate not finishing a book, but I also hate wasting my time. I know it's a bestseller but I personally do not recommend it.

While I was reading Freedom, my husband was reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I had every intention of reading it after I finished Freedom, but then he bought me a Kindle! Now, I had mentioned in an earlier post that I was worried that technology was going to ruin the sanctity of the written word. I did read all three of the Hunger Games books on the Kindle (in less than I week I might add-those books were addicting!) But I find that while the Kindle is pretty cool, I will always love holding a book.

So I did pause my reading of Freedom (I was not sad about it) to read The Hunger Games, Chasing Fire, and Mockingjay. What an amazing journey! It was such an interesting concept and I enjoyed every minute of this trilogy. And while I do think it could have ended a little better, I would still highly recommend this trilogy to EVERYBODY. And make sure to read it before the movie comes out!!

After I finished that series, I went back to Freedom. And after dropping it off at the library a couple days later, I went back to the trunk of my car to see if I still had Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay back there. I did not, and instead found a novel that my aunt (well, she's basically my aunt) gave to me. It seemed like it would be more of a beach book, but I had nothing else to read at that moment, so I started reading it. And I was pretty much right. It was called The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty. It was about this teenage girl who accidentally hits a girl with her car and kills her. It's told from the point of view of her mother and it is all about the mother-daughter relationship. It was a cute read, but I thought it ended rather abruptly. I wish there were another couple of chapters to really tie up all the ends, but I would definitely recommend it for a beach read.

After finishing that book, I searched the bookshelf at home to see if maybe I had brought Sarah's Key into the house, like a normal person. I really didn't want to go searching in my car again. And alas! There it was. So I tucked it in my purse and prepared to read it at lunch the next day. So far, I am really enjoying it! I like the way the chapters alternate from present day to the roundup in France. I am looking forward to seeing how they interconnect, although, I think I may need to put that on hold for a bit...

The worst thing happened. I had put 2 books on hold at the library: The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks and The Next Always by Nora Roberts, two of my favorite authors. As I was on long waiting lists for both, I assumed they would come in at different times. Unfortunately, they did not! When I went to the library to today to pick up The Next Always, I saw, with dismay, that The Best of Me had also come in. What are the odds? So I stood there at the self-checkout counter...one book in my left hand, one book in my right. The worst. I knew I couldn't have both, since they were 2 week books and I would never be able to read them both in that time. So sadly, I returned The Best of Me to the bin and walked out with Nora. Because I just love her more. So back on the waiting list for Nicholas I go. So I will start reading The Next Always and return to Sarah's Key when I finish.

Happy Holidays!

One month of many books

Wow, I havebeen SLACKING on my blogging. Since my last post, I have actually read a handful of books, althoughmost of them were notOprah's Book Club picks. After Tara Road and Gap Creek, I decided I really needed a break from her list and instead, I caught up with some of my favorite authors.

I gobbled up Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult in less than a week. If you want to read a book that centers around all the main social debate topics, then this is your gem. I

thought it was a very interesting read and I had a hard time putting the book down. The book actually comes with an audio cd attached to it that supposedly goes along with the chapters. The lyrics were written by the author and another woman, who also provides the vocals. I never actually listened to the cd myself, but I thought that was a very cool and unique way to bring a story to life.

The next book I read was Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts. As a

lot of you know, I absolutely adore this autho

r, and NOT because she is a romance novelist!! In my 11 years reading her books, I have found that her larger novels actually contain a lot less "romance" writing and more character development and story line. She writes about topics that are so unique and worth learning about, such as fire jumping. Chasing Fire revolves around a base in Montana that houses and trains people to literally jump into forest fires during the dry months in order to put them out and save the surrounding towns and wildlife. I had never really heard about that profession before and found it amazing to learn about. Sure there is romance, but there is a lot of mystery and intrigue as well, so don't count her out so fast! I believe after I finished Chasing Fire (a little past my library due date-yikes!) I read Night Road by Kristin Hannah. I have read almost

all of her books, and I have enjoyed them all (except True Colors--I didn't really care for that one) and I really loved reading Night Road. It is about teenagers, friendship, love, and heartbreak. And maybe a lit

tle more love. It was a great read and I read this one so fast that when I finished it, my fiance was confused because he thought I was still reading Chasing Fire!

After Night Road, I decided to peruse through the trunk of my car. I still had a bag in there that contained books that I had bought from that book fair a few months back, and I thought I would give Oprah another chance. I chose to read Where

The Heart Is by Billie Letts next, because I knew I couldn't go wrong with that one. I have never seen the movie because I always said I had wanted to read the book first. And after reading the book, I am definitely looking forward to seeing the movie. It was just a very nice story about the kindness of strangers, something that isn't as prevalent in the world as it used to be.

After finishing Where The Heart Is, I went back to my trunk and picked out Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand. While also not an Oprah pick, I have been wanting to read something by this author for a while now, so I don't feel guilty!! I am about halfway through it, and it would definitely be a great beach read. Or, since it IS October, and slightly past beach season, I would recommend reading it curled up on a couch with a cozy blanket and a hot beverage of your choice :)

Since it is October, I can't help but mention that I am getting married this month! Not only this month, but in 12 days! I can almost count the days on 2 hands! I am very excited and I am begging you all to think warm, nice-day thoughts, because I would love to have the ceremony outside by the lake. In kee

ping with the theme, I recommend that everyone read the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. 4 books of all the wedding talk you can possibly handle!
See you all on the married side!

Gap Creek by Robert Morgan

Another snoozer. This was such a one-note book...when I read the dialogue in my head, it was all in monotone. This girl gets married young, leaves home, goes to live with her new husband who got fired from work but somehow, miraculously, they manage to survive a year without spending any money and living off the food that they found around their rented house. She gives birth alone, the baby ends up dying, the creek floods and they have to leave their house and find somewhere new to live. Oh, and he resents her and stifles her because she happens to be a lot smarter than him, in addition to being a harder worker. It's boring, pointless, and not worth reading. These last two picks of Oprah have been real doozies.

On another subject, the book club ended up not working out. I was so excited about it and I was excited about the interest that I had gotten. So I was quite disappointed when no one showed up to the second meeting. It was just me and the lovely woman who had offered to host it. What bothers me isn't that nobody showed up...people lead busy lives and I would never expect everyone to show up at every meeting. What made me sad is that no one said that they weren't coming. The minutes just ticked away and I never got a message, a call, or an email from any of the women letting me know they wouldn't be able to make it, and I just felt kind of duped. I love books and I was so looking forward to reading books that I may not have read otherwise and discussing thoughts and feelings. Oh well.

What I did read after Gap Creek was Sing You Home, by Jodi Picoult. I absolutely love her books and I read through it in less than a week. It was another amazing story, though it did include almost every big ticket controversial issue in the book, which I found kind of funny. It did make for a lot of drama and an interesting story. So I recommend that one, at least!

I hope you all are reading something worthwhile :)

Tara Road by Maeve Binchy

Yes it took me about 3 months to finally finish Tara Road, but I finally did finish it 2 nights ago. I anxiously sped through the last 50 pages, sure that everything that needed to be resolved finally would. Well, when I got to the last page, I didn't even want to read it because I knew that that wasn't going to happen. In fact, I had to keep myself from throwing it out the window becuase it was just so awful! There was not one likeable character in that entire book. None. Most of the characters were weak and spineless and never lived up to the potential that the author should have given them. Friends betrayed other friends and no one ever found out about it, no one ever told anyone off that needed to be put in their place...it's like everyone was just happy in their ignorance and the author let them! I wanted to go into the story and yell at EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER.

In summary, I don't recommend this book to anyone and I may never read another book by this author. I don't think I've ever read a book that has made me so mad. I don't know what Oprah was thinking!!

In the meantime, while trying to get through that book, I did manage to finish Cutting for Stone...which I liked very much, although I was a little upset by the ending. It was a very interesting story, it just ended rather quickly and pointlessly. I am now reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows for the next book club meeting. I am rather enjoing it! It is told from the point of view of letters, and I find that I am always interested in what the next letter has to say. It's very cute so far, and definitely worlds away from Cutting for Stone. At the first book club meeting, only 2 other girls came and we never even got to talking about the book until the very end! Such is the world of a group of women. Our next meeting is in a couple weeks and I hope more girls show up! And if not, I'm looking forward to another small chatting session :)