Definitely Dead

I finished reading Definitely Dead the day before yesterday. I thought it was one of the better books in this series. I find the new relationship that Sookie is in to be much more appropriate than those she has engaged in before. I also think that there was more action. There were deaths, of course, but not entirely the hidden deaths that I have come to expect from Harris. I also enjoyed learning a bit about Hadley, Sookie's cousin, who is mentioned throughout the series, but never more than vaguely. I still feel like there are missing pieces, but I have been told that there is a book that contains some short stories that explains more of the missing pieces. All in all, I find that the book was worth reading and I am so intrigued by this new relationship, I will continue reading. My only sadness comes from Sookie being in a relationship with anyone except Alcide.

Dead as a Doornail

I just finished reading Dead as a Doornail. I forgot I had been reading and I tried to figure out when I was watching the show. I read this book quickly as I have been providing myself at least 30 minutes to read each night and I wanted to read this set of books so I could get to the ones that I had borrowed from J. The book was interesting, but it made me think that poor Charlaine has never really had a man love her. It seems that she is constantly bringing men into the picture - men that never really develop a relationship with Sookie. It is sad in a way. Sookie only has this one love, but has a longing for other men, it seems. I think the worst thing in this book is that there is an insinuation that Sookie will owe a male a favor that she will  have to repay with her love. I was involved in the book, did enjoy reading it, even with the themes I didn't quite agree with. I recommend it if you follow the series. It is slightly ridiculous, but what book in this series isn't?

Educating Esme

I finished Educating Esme just a couple days ago. I haven't had time to post until today, but I am getting caught up. I read this book because I thought it had some great ideas that I could incorporate into my therapy sessions, my classes, or some other aspect of my life. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The great thing about the book is that I was interested enough to read the entire book in a couple of hours. The only thing I found off-putting is the attitude that this teacher took. She seems to be a smart-aleck. I don't know how she wasn't fired in her first year.

Don't get me wrong - I had run-ins with my principal and on occasion, I would have liked to punch her in the face, but I held my tongue because I wanted to be professional even if she wasn't. Esme isn't like that. She is hateful and she disengages. I think that is why she is able to teach effectively. I couldn't do that. I was always involved with my students.

The book is full of fun suggestions, though. I would love to have an ounce of the creativity that she employs in her classes. I want to come up with some of those ideas. I was inspired. I highly recommend this book, though I am still suspicious that it was all true. I doubt it is all true, but it is nevertheless entertaining.

I really do recommend this. I am, in fact, planning on mailing the copy I just read to a friend who teaches high school. Read it and enjoy it.

Club Dead

I finished Club Dead  while at a friend's house. I guess I'd forgotten about it because I wasn't able to blog while with her. She let me borrow the book to finish it while she was waiting to see her boyfriend. I liked the book well enough. It was quite interesting and I did learn to love Alcide here. I hate his girlfriend and will continue to hate her. The book was one of my favorites. It has been a while since I read it, though, so I will skip on the details and just suggest that you read it.

Dead to the World

Oh, I can't believe it has been so long since I actually finished a book! How sad this is! Well, Charlaine has been getting on my nerves. Her skills as an author are still lacking. I am glad she can tell a story, because she can't write. There was one line in this book that made me want to close it and just stop reading altogether. I believe it was "Yikes. Yahoo. Yum." I was offended. What adult would use language like that, especially when Sookie has been learning a word a day for the past however long? Oh, well!

I did like the book as a whole, though. I thought it was light and funny and it let me fall in love with Eric a little, even though I have been resisting from the beginning. (Alcide is still my pick.) The book was interesting and I hope it is a bit of a forecast for the season to come on HBO.

I don't want to give away what happens, but there is a mystery, a fight, and a strange resolution. The worst part for me is that as soon as I start to love Eric, I am left without that love. I hate that there is even the possibility that Sookie with return to Bill, who I don't love. I am also slightly concerned with Sookie's apparent loss of shame and ability to sleep with and want to sleep with so many men who are all in the same circle. It seems a bit incestuous. (I wasn't joking for those of you who have read the book... It just popped out.)

I will start the next novel soon, simply because I feel that I am already 4 books in and I have to keep going, but I am starting to think that I am not a fan of this type of literature, or maybe just of this author. Ms. Harris writes novels that seem cheap, and I really don't like that.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

I have decided to use the Amazon Associates Program to provide links and pictures to the books that I read and review. If you purchase a book from the link that is provided, I get a small commission. If not, I won't be offended. As I have stated from the beginning, I created this blog to document the books that I read. That is the primary goal. I just wanted to let you know, though, what changes I have made.

I wondered what Twisted was about when I bought it. The inside flap of the dust jacket says simply, " Everybody told me to be a man. Nobody told me how." I thought that sounded interesting enough, though it didn't really apply to my life. I began reading it a couple weeks ago. The book is mostly about a young man who has made some bad decisions and has an emotionally abusive father. It really goes through what it is like to be a teenage boy who is trying to fit in in school, relating with the opposite sex, and dealing with issues at home. It was a clear look at what it is like to be a teenager.

I thought the ending was good, possibly trite, but when I closed the book, I was excited to recommend it. As I have said, I mentor, so I made a note to stick this book back on my shelf and hold on to it until I have a boy or a child who is going through a similar situation. The book is relatable regardless of the specifics, and it would be a great read for anyone with a child, with a friend who is living in an abusive relationship. The book really seems therapeutic. It could easily be used to teach.

The book deals with so many things - thoughts of suicide, emotional abuse, hormones, false accusations, fitting in at school, and so many other things. I highly recommend this book.

Living Dead in Dallas

I was very concerned about how this book would be after reading the first book in the series. My expectations were exceeded in that the book was actually great. I enjoyed reading it and didn't feel bored. I was excited to see who was doing what and it was great that the characters all got a bit more personality, lost that static quality that they all seemed to have when the series started.

I am really excited to start the next book. I have all the books on a shelf by my bed. Today, I was stranded at McDonald's and I wished I had this book with me. I do recommend that you take the time to read these books. You will have to wade through the first one, but the second book will flow much easier. I hope you enjoy the book!

Dead Until Dark

I watched True Blood religiously, but am behind on the second season. Thankfully, my good friend DVR is attempting to get me caught up. I love the show, love the supernatural, especially when there is a bit of a love story mixed in with it.

I had not planned on reading the books that inspired the television series, but my friend J had the entire series, so she loaned all the books to me. I just finished this first book and I was not impressed. I think I enjoyed the television show more, though I was not impressed with the vulgarities they felt that had to include in order to sell the show.

I want to read the second book, simply because I have started the series. I want to know what happens to Sookie and Bill. The funny part is that a lady in a meeting saw me with this book and asked me who my favorite vampire was. I had been introduced only to Bill and Eric at that point, so I didn't know who my favorite might have been. Now that I have finished the book, my favorite is most definitely Bubba.

The book is okay, but I recommend reading it before you watch the first season of True Blood. I hope the next book will be better. I think the author may simply be lacking some maturity. She writes as if she were in a college composition class at times. She lets Sookie describe herself as big breasted with a small waist, without letting someone else talk. Maybe Ms. Harris will get this sorted out as the series progresses. Here's hoping!

Dear Mr. Henshaw

I remember how much I loved Dear Mr. Henshaw when I was little, but I couldn't remember just what the book was about, so a couple weeks ago, I decided I would spend a couple hours rereading it.

When I started reading the book, I was amused by the subtle humor of the letters the main character wrote to Mr. Henshaw, the author of a book he had read. He keeps writing Mr. Henshaw letters as he reads the book year after year. The main character then begins processing the issues that are happening around him - the divorce of his parents, his grief over a dog his dad took and then lost, and the absence of his father.

I think the book can still speak to children and adults alike. There is this quality of innocence and relatability that I think is missing in many current books. I have to recommend this for children and adults. Read it to your children, reread it for yourself, but don't forget this book.

sTORI TELLING by Tori Spelling

Somehow I forgot to list a book I have read, a book I actually really enjoyed. I know what everyone things about Tori - I thought it myself, but I have to say, I have fallen in love with Ms. Spelling. Since the premiere of Tori and Dean: Inn Love, Tori has shown what a fun and normal person she really is. Because of this, I wanted to read a book by her. I lucked up on a copy of Mommywood, signed by Tori at a thrift store, and since then, I have searched for sTORI TELLING.

When I found the book, I read it and loved it. It was fun and quirky, and you found out lots of crazy things about Tori that you might not have known. I was ready to post Tori Trivia on Facebook after reading the book. It is fun and cute and interesting. I might be biased, but I think it is a fun, great read, one that your girlfriends will like, one that you can read really quickly. It is a true guilty pleasure, so enjoy it with some chocolates and really expensive bubble bath.

Should you read it? Absolutely!

Should you pass it on? If you find another copy. You might want to keep yours!

You, Maybe by Rachel Vail

I just finished You, Maybe. I have to tell you, I am sad right now. The book really had an emotional impact on me. It hurt when I finished the book, after battling through the emotional turmoil that was conveyed in this book.

Don't think I am giving away the ending of the book. It ended with a glimmer of hope, but through the book, you are really faced with the experience of a high school student going through that awkward stage - finding herself in her relationship and not in a relationship.

I was immediately taken back to my high school days, the days of being crying over heartbreak, the days of living high on love, and just enjoying that feeling of newness. I admit, I looked up my old boyfriend (and his wife), just to see how he had changed, and to be thankful that I have found a new relationship since that high school flame burned out. I am afraid that a teen might get the wrong idea from the book (that promiscuity is okay if you "love" a high school boyfriend/girlfriend), but I think it is great to revisit the past.

Should you read this book? If you have graduated from high school, yes!

Should you pass it on? Sure, to a high school friend, but not to a teen.

Click here to read a chapter from the book.

Eyeliner of the Gods by Katie Maxwell

I kept Eyeliner of the Gods in my purse. I read it while waiting to go into interviews, while I was in the parking lot, or when I was waiting for anything else. It was a short, quick read, and it was enjoyable throughout. The ending was terrible.

Why do I keep having issues with the endings? I think it may have something to do with the way this ended. Sometimes, I want the main character to get her man, and sometimes I don't. I think I would have liked this ending, but there was one little line that changed how I read the book. There was a line that made it all seem like the girl went from being the hero(ine) to being a '50's dependent on her man kinda girl. That changed the entire way I read the book.

I love Katie Maxwell. I think her other books are great, but none take this particular viewpoint; at least, not the ones that I have been reading.

This particular story is great (until it isn't). It focuses on a group of students who participate in an archeological dig. There is a bit of a mystery, which Jan (short for January) Jones is able to unravel. The mystery is great, because it isn't obvious. I wasn't sure who the perpetrator was until January revealed what was discovered. I wouldn't give this book to any young girl who is still forming her identity, but I think it is enjoyable, especially if you know where you stand regarding your existence outside a relationship.

Read it? Sure. Pass it along? Maybe....

Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught

Big Fat Manifesto is essentially a novelized form of the document Fat Girl Manifesto, which I found while googling the wrong title. The main character writes a column entitled Fat Girl Manifesto in which she chronicles the "injustices" she faces as a size 4X. She also comments on her boyfriend's bariatric surgery, which she is not a fan of. The story is a bit predictable for a teen novel, but worth reading. I rather enjoyed it, although by the end, I was ready for it to be over. It is rather like the book I read earlier, Fat Chance, but aimed more at a younger audience.

The book is filled with facts and research (though none of it cited), that rationalizes being morbidly obese. The character is supposed to be happy with herself and proud of being fat, but she complains because she is never cast as the lead in a play and she can't wear beautiful clothes. I really want to know if the author is fat. Does she understand these struggles or is she framing this in a way that she finds to be fair and balanced? I think it could be interesting to know.

Recommendation: I don't know... Read it if you identify with being a large person in a skinny world, but not if you don't want a long rant about how horribly fat people are treated.

The Truth About Hillary

I finished The Truth About Hillary:What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President by Edward Klein about a month ago. I haven't written about it because I have been busy hiding it under my sister's pillow, in her purse, and in her car, so that Hillary's face is ever present to scare her. As you can see, the cover image is frightening. Even better, the spine of the book has one large eye that stares out at you from the shelf or underneath the sofa or where ever you choose to store (hide) this book.

Now to the contents: I will first admit that it took me several months to read this book. I started it around May and have been reading it sporadically over these past few months. It is interesting enough, but I can't trust Klein. So many of his "sources" are anonymous, and it is clear that his agenda is to defame the former first lady.

You might be wondering why I bought this book. Am I for Hillary, against her, or was there some other force that led me to pick up my volume? To be perfectly honest, I bought the book because I thought the picture was super scary. I thought it might be some sort of biographical account of her life, and hey, who isn't curious about someone else's life? I thought I could learn something.

What I learned from the book is that Edward Klein hates Hillary and will go to any length to tie her to every bad thing he can think of. He proclaims that she is a lesbian because she had lesbian friends in college, and because she was given a magazine as a gift, she is a poster child for the ideas that are promoted within those pages. He rants about her nefarious deeds and sites sources on every page. I found that I checked every source (which added to my reading time) because I didn't believe what he said. It was outlandish, boring, and unfounded. After reading the book, I really feel like I trust Hillary more than I could ever trust Klein. She is a sympathetic character who is making it, even after he tried so hard to ruin her image. I could relate to her - I have friends who do things I might not agree with, have been cheated on and stayed with my partner, and there are other similarities. She is attacked and now I feel like I have to protect her.

Should you read this book? Probably not. It is not worth it. If you want to learn about Hil, why not choose a more credible author (one not consumed with some grandiose, paranoid theory that Hillary is out to get him)? I am just glad it is over.

Fat Chance by Deborah Blumenthal

I just finished Fat Chance. I really enjoyed it. The praise on the cover should tell you enough about the book - "Spring's Best Chick Lit 2004." It was a quick easy read, one that I read in small "bites" over the past few weeks. Small sections end at the bottom of the page so it is easy to pick up when you have to put it down after sneaking in five minutes of quiet reading time.

This book is fun. It is predictable, but it is a Red Dress Inc. book, so you can't expect more. It is a book to place by the bed or put by the tub. There are some steamy sections, but the book was tasteful overall. There were sections that led me to believe that Blumenthal is actually a great writer, but other sections seemed to highlight the purple prose that is so common in romance novels.

The story focuses on Maggie, a cynical writer from New York City, who becomes involved in a movie deal as a consultant. With the allure of meeting a favorite actor, the former fat champion betrays her readers and attempts a weight loss regimen that just may change her life. I won't tell you more than that, other than this is a great read if you are with someone you love, you are still wishing for the object of your desire, or you are simply ready to learn something about weight loss. Happy reading!

The Dirty Girls Social Club

I have to tell you, I did not love the ending of The Dirty Girls Social Club. It was neat and pretty and everything you would expect. There was nothing that you didn't.

The ending was the worst part of the book. The rest of the book was interesting. There are five main characters who each have a crazy set of problems that they are trying to work through, alone and with the help of each other. Also, there is a Latina for every flavor - Mexican, Spanish, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Columbian, Cuban and I am sure there are others.

There is a sequel that is called Dirty Girls on Top. The description that I read about it makes is look great. The neat ribbon that was tied at the end of The Dirty Girls starts to unravel in the second novel. I am afraid to read the book, though, because I feel that the way the author tied up the first book might be a habit. I can't take that again.

I can't say that I recommend this book. I know I am starting to sound like a broken record, but the books I have been reading start out great, but then take a nose dive right at the end. I do want to pass this book on, though, because I think it is important to support Latina artists. I also think it is important for Latinas to know that there is literature out there that is aimed at us.