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!