tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1747194804755912662024-03-13T04:14:01.851-07:00Smell The Books"Do you know that books smell like nutmeg or some spice from a foreign land?" - Fahrenheit 451Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-23294184814639036012013-01-04T07:21:00.001-08:002013-01-04T07:24:16.737-08:00Yeah! 2013!Happily, I finished <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451525264/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451525264">Les Misérables </a></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0451525264" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
way before Christmas. I absolutely love this book! It's so French! It's so full of wonderful things. Mostly I love the way it covers all different types of love. It's so real life like and so inspiring! I am looking forward to seeing the movie soon!<br />
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Well this blog has been dragging it's butt into the New Year! I will be updating my goodreads goals. I upped myself to 120 books! I think that I won't be able to reach this because I did have a lot of extra time this year to read and it looks like the coming year will be more busy with more projects. But I did read quite a few tomes so we'll see how it works out.<br />
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I'm currently reading, <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061999857/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061999857">Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061999857" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>
which I'm enjoying but sometimes it's a bit depressing. It's a pretty deep book and with the contrast of the author writing about the death of her beloved sister, you get this racing commentary on some of the 365 books she read during a one year period. I can't imagine reading that many books. I couldn't remember anything if I did! In the end you can't really be against a book about books. They are usually good.<br />
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I am also rereading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393976041/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393976041"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pride and Prejudice</span>.</a> Because I can. I love this book even though it's not my favorite Austen. I do love Mr. Darcy.<br />
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I am also working my way through another reread, <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375725970/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375725970">Acts of Faith</a></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0375725970" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>
I'm not sure why I picked this one up again but I wanted to read it again to see if I could get into it more than I could the first time. I didn't dislike it. In fact, it is an amazing book in many ways. The whole picture he paints of NGO's and the issues of helping people in Africa is amazing and I think probably very spot on. I think some of the characters end up a bit boring and some are unbelievable. I keep thinking what an amazing story this would be for Charles Dickens to tackle!<br />
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I hate writing, "I'm not posting, sorry, blah blah blah" blog posts, but that's what this is. I do still love the idea of a book blog but have little time to write these days. Also I would like to contribute differently <span style="color: #0000ee;">than</span> other book blogs but have yet felt that I have a niche to do this. I will keep trying and maybe find my voice.<br />
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I hope you all have a smashingly good 2012!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-497006010589968532012-09-28T06:04:00.003-07:002012-09-28T06:07:50.101-07:00Les MiserablesThe Hunger Games Trilogy did me in and I have decided to try reading something a big more inspiring. What book could possibly be more inspiring than<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451525264/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451525264&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Les Misérables</span> </a>
</span> by Victor Hugo? Have you read it? It's a big, thick book to be sure but don't let that stop you. It's also one of the most amazing books ever written. I read it about twenty years ago and even though it's rough to get through because of it's length, there were parts that kept me from putting down the book.<br />
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Since there is going to be movie coming out on Christmas day based on the musical, (Another amazing work of art that should not be missed.) I decided it was time for another read of this masterpiece.<br />
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My goal is to finish it by Christmas day. I am going to take breaks if I want. Do you think I can finish it by Christmas?<br />
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Here's an amazing trailer from the movie. <br />
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Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-90633038846415356012012-09-27T07:20:00.004-07:002012-09-27T07:34:41.888-07:00Mockingjay By Suzanne Collins (Will Contain Spoilers)<div style="text-align: center;">
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I just finished <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023513/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023513&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Mockingjay</span> </a></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0439023513" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
by Suzanne Collins and so I'm in kind of a whirl of emotions as I write this post. First of all, I honestly don't want to gratuitously pan this trilogy as so many people have been raving about it for eons. (I might be the last person to have finished reading it!) Because people are saying that they identify with it on such a personal level, I just want to make it clear, I am not dissing these people. I believe them and respect their opinion. And I honestly hope that some of them will post a comment explaining why they feel that way because I had a really hard time understanding the point of this series and the emotions that it's bringing up in young people.</div>
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I actually somewhat enjoyed the first book,<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023521/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023521&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Hunger Games</span> </a>.</span> It was different. I love dystopian novels and so I worked my way through it connected heart and soul. I found the world Suzanne created interesting and the whole children as gladiators theme really caught my attention and I felt that it could really make for an interesting series of books. </div>
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I would have to say that while I found The Hunger Games gripping, I also found it pretty intense. Especially the theme of children killing children. Let's be honest, we live in a world where that goes on. Whether you side for or against abortion, you have to admit, if abortion is not killing a child, it's ending the life of something that will someday turn into a child. We do that every day in the United States without blinking an eye. It's legal to do. Child soldiers abound in countries around the world. Not only do armies use them, but those who claim to advocate against using them exploit them. Street children run up and down the avenues in cities the world over. Brazil rounds them up and kills them. Children in the United States are routinely gunned down by their peers. China has a one child policy that is simply Orwellian as goes against it's own culture and tradition of thousands of years which stipulates that parents need a male child to ensure they are cared for in their elderly years. Need I go on? The book obviously resonates with cultures and people around the world. </div>
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So I stuck valiantly with the first book even though it made me feel down and stirred up a lot of negative emotions. Sometimes books need to do that to make points. They stir you up and resolve with the hero's point of view in a way that makes you see the world differently. I can go with that.</div>
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So when I finished The Hunger Games, I was hooked and looked forward to the second and third book which I bought in a kindle set at a low price. I dived into <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023491/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023491&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Catching Fire</span> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0439023491" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
with high expectations knowing that it was going to continue with the violent themes of death and revolution. I was hoping that Katniss and Gale would lead their families and others out of their District and into the forest where they could survive the Capitol's assault on them and eventually lead the whole country to a real revolution with Katniss and Gale leading the way as child soldiers. </div>
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Where did Katniss go in the second book? Back into the arena. More bloodbath, more dead children, this time the plot exploded into such chaos in my mind that I honestly can't tell you what happened. I lived through The Hunger Games with Katniss the first time. She took me through it, we survived. Going back in seemed a very weak writing choice. I wanted badly to find out what happened and so I kept reading, but I started to disconnect. I just could not take the violence.</div>
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But yet there was one more book to go. Certainly there is always a down element in the second installment of any trilogy. It is usually the darker of the three installments of any trilogy. Certainly things would resolve! Certainly Katniss would emerge victorious! This is marketed at a Young Adult series. Certainly there would be some kind of positive ending.</div>
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I just finished Mockingjay this afternoon. I was absolutely dumb founded by the end of the book. They all went to war. This time for real. Things got a bit interesting. Peeta was brainwashed and tried to kill Katniss. Interesting plot twist. But that was the only interesting twist. Other than that, it was violence, violence, violence, bloodshed and so many people, excuse me, CHILDREN were killed, I can't even tell you who because by that time I was skimming to find out the very end and honestly was not connected to the characters to the point that I cared. Katniss whines and moans through the whole book and finally implodes on herself. Should I go into the themes here? Katniss trying to rescue Peeta from his emotionally tortured mindset. Gale finally understanding Katniss won't choose him and just fades away somewhere. Gale, in my humble opinion, is the only MAN in the whole book. Katniss ends up marrying, poor, broken Peeta who somehow, amid the war and bloodshed emotionally heals and this leads me to think this could be some great societal theme that woman have to deal with today. We go for the weak man instead of the real man? We're broken down women, destined to implode on ourselves emotionally and chose the wrong man? No matter the underlying themes that could probably be discussed for ages, the book does actually end: Katniss and Peeta live on in the epilogue, not happy, but survivors bearing babies of their own. </div>
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I won't even mention the grammar mistakes on the book. Doesn't anyone edit books anymore?</div>
Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-79117529813611977002012-08-24T13:17:00.001-07:002012-08-24T13:20:01.074-07:00Summer Epic ReadThere is nothing like a summer epic read.<br />
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You know the kind. Novels that unroll themselves and take you down a pathway of adventure and enclose you in a world so tight that you forget the sun shining outside or the waves licking your toes while you lay on the beach.<br />
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The first adult epic novel I read as a junior higher was, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061990477/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061990477&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: purple;">The Thorn Birds</a>
Not only did it take me on an adventure to Australia and expose me to a continent I did not know anything about yet, but it also swept me into the adult world of complex relationships, forbidden love and the mysteries of the Catholic church. I did not understand everything I that was going on but was still enthralled.<br />
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I decided to reread "The Thorn Birds" this summer after finding the book in a $1 used book store. The book was like the paperback I read so long ago, over and over, until it fell apart. I was immediately swept back to Australia in my mind and it was fun to reread parts that I didn't understand as a child and now could comprehend the characters problems with the clarity of adulthood.<br />
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As summer is winding down I am reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/042521558X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=042521558X&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: purple;">The Russian Concubine</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=042521558X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
I was not sure when I started if I would like this book or not but have been pleasantly surprised by it. The story of a group of ex pats trying to survive in China at the turn of the century with the threats of the communists breathing hard on them has some pretty tight plot turns. I have about fifty more pages to go and am rushing through this post because I want to get back to it and finish today.<br />
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What is your favorite epic summer read?Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-90523696133403787572012-08-05T17:42:00.008-07:002012-08-05T17:47:42.707-07:00Beach ReadsSummer is the time to head to the beach where long, sunny, lazy days means plenty of time to read. I never head to the beach without at least one book in my beach bag. (Okay, I rarely even leave home without one or a kindle in my purse!)<br />
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I kind of go back and forth with what I like to read during the summer. I used to commit to a classic tome during the summer months. Books like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143035002/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143035002&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">Anna Karenina</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143035002" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ELAHJA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004ELAHJA&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20"><span style="color: blue;">War and Peace</span></a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451525264/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451525264&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">Les Misérables </a>. I also remember one summer where I tackled a book on physics by an author who claimed that he could prove there is a God and we will live forever as a computer! (Hmmmm, this was way before Facebook!)<br />
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I think that sometimes the perfect beach read is a mindless trashy novel or something from the latest pulp fiction bestseller list.<br />
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In July, I went through a few books, that I just couldn't get into and couldn't finish. Restless, I took some inspiration from the beach reads that I had seen on the beach this summer. I saw noses stuck in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451627297/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451627297&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">11/22/63</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802136346/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802136346&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">Being There</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0802136346" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486420493/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486420493&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">The House of Mirth </a>. But the most popular beach read that I have spotted is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345803493/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345803493&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">Fifty Shades Darker.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345803493" style="border: medium none ! important; color: blue; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
I've seen women of all ages enjoying the sun and fun of the beach while reading this bestseller.<br />
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Since I had already ground through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345803485/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345803485&linkCode=as2&tag=grefrokyi-20" style="color: blue;">Fifty Shades of Grey</a>, I decided to try the second installation in this best selling trilogy. Maybe it would prove to be better as a beach read. Maybe I would finally "get" what everyone else is getting out of these books.<br />
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Yesterday, I took this book to the beach to finish it up. (I admit there was a bit of speed reading going on as there were reams and reams of boring stuff in between the semi interesting parts that long hauled the plot two inches forward.<br />
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I liked this book even less than the first. Honestly, I find it hard to believe on any level. And if it was even a realistic type of story, why is it interesting for us to read about a bunch of people with relationship skills who have borderline if not seriously psychological issues. I mean, Ana is going with a guy who's ex "sub" is stalking her because she looks just like her and she has had a psychotic break. Hint to Ana, maybe it's not just Christian's ex who's a little mental here.<br />
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I could go on, but won't waste my blog on this stuff. They are not well written books and other than the titillation, I'm not sure why people think this is such great material.<br />
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Today I spent my time on the beach with Salman Rushdie. So far, much more interesting.<br />
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What are you reading on the beach? Or what is your favorite summer read if you cannot get to an ocean?<br />
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<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-41785506095910801412012-07-31T21:08:00.002-07:002012-07-31T21:09:39.722-07:00Time To Face The ChangeI've decided to change some things on this blog. When I started this blog, I thought it would be great to comment on every book I read and have this huge book blog project going along with it. I planned to write, write, write about books.<br />
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Because I read a lot, and I mean a lot of books, I did not take into account how much time I would need to actually blog intelligently about them. I've been reading a lot of book blogs and seeing what's out there made me hungry to contribute to the book blog community, but I also wanted to do my own thing and not copy other people's ideas of book blogs.<br />
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Commenting about every book I read got tedious and I found I just didn't have time to keep up. So that's why the blog has been lagging the last couple of months.<br />
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I decided to take some time and think about whether I wanted to keep this blog or not.<br />
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I want to keep this blog going but will be changing it up a bit.<br />
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I am not planning on blogging or listing every book I read. You can go to my <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" style="color: #990000;">GoodReads</a> page and friend me if you want to keep up with that information.<br />
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I am hoping to sit down and blog more in depth about books I particularly like or subjects on reading, books and blogging.<br />
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Change can be excellent! <br />
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<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-83410201976058466312012-07-07T15:47:00.000-07:002012-07-07T15:50:37.594-07:00What I've Read So Far This Summer<div style="text-align: center;">
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: I finally got to read the final in this trilogy. I loved the first two books but this one seemed a bit slower to me. Elisabeth spent most of the book in the hospital and since she's the most interesting character in the series, I have to say it was a bit more boring. But I did enjoy the series very much. I don't read a lot of mystery/thrillers so it was a nice change.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345528603/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345528603" style="color: #cc0000;">The Horse Whisperer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345528603" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: This was a reread for me. I forgot most of the story, so it was nice to revisit.<br />
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</span>: I love Rosamunde Pilcher. This was a reread. I love this book!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005X4B7UU/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005X4B7UU" style="color: #cc0000;">The Royals</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005X4B7UU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: Ah, Kitty Kelly! Ah, the British Royal Family. Will the fascination with this family ever end? Never!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/050552323X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=050552323X" style="color: #cc0000;">Wings of a Dove (Love Spell)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=050552323X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: Ah, simple romance books! A great beach read!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312427735/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312427735"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Middlesex: A Novel</span></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0312427735" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: A pulitzer prize winner. An amazing novel about a hermaphrodite who documents her family's journey from Greece to Detroit and her trials growing up as a girl and finally making the decision to be male. The writing is amazing.<br />
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What are you reading this summer? <br />
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<br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-4521196513886028112012-06-09T16:01:00.001-07:002012-06-09T16:01:24.378-07:00The Post In Which I Explain I Have Not Fallen Off The Face Of The EarthI have not fallen off the face of the earth. I have been busy. But I have also been reading.<br />
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Here's what I worked through during my unanticipated blog hiatus.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/043912042X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=043912042X" style="color: #cc0000;">Esperanza Rising</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=043912042X" style="border: medium none ! important; color: red; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
: A lovely children's book about a little girl who has to deal with the death of her father and loss of her family's plantation. She moves from Mexico to California and learns how to survive in a new country.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553560700/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553560700" style="color: #cc0000;">Acts of Faith</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0553560700" style="border: medium none ! important; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
: I read this many years ago and loved it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451205766/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451205766" style="color: #cc0000;">The Godfather</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0451205766" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: This was also a re-read. I love the book for the details but I still love the movie even more.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812977866/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812977866"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Super Sad True Love Story: A Nove</span>l</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0812977866" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: Gary Shteyngart is simply brilliant. This quirky, dystopian love story made me laugh out loud many times.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027CSNZS/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0027CSNZS" style="color: #cc0000;">Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0027CSNZS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: This is Anderson Cooper's memoir. I really like Anderson Cooper's reporting and think he's an excellent journalist. In this book he tells the story of his father death and brother's suicide. He also tells a lot of sad news stories. The book reveals very little about who Anderson really is and what makes him tick. I am starting to think news journalists are kind of depressed and cynical people. This book confirmed my theory. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316126535/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316126535" style="color: #cc0000;">Bunheads</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316126535" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
; This is going to be a TV show. Watch it. The book was thoroughly enjoyable.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067087907X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=067087907X" style="color: #cc0000;">Songs in Ordinary Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=067087907X" style="border: medium none ! important; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
: I almost passed on this book since it had a big Oprah seal on it. I tend to really love or really hate her book choices so it's always a game of chance. This one was a totally pleasant surprise. The story focuses on a family in a small town dealing with alcoholism. While it's sad, it is told with rich detail and though long, there were times I could not put it down.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0872865193/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0872865193" style="color: #cc0000;">Los Angeles Stories (City Lights Noir)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0872865193" style="border: medium none ! important; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
: A book of short stories about people living in Los Angeles during the 30's and 40's.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373210345/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0373210345" style="color: #cc0000;">Legacy (Harlequin Teen)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0373210345" style="border: medium none ! important; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
: This Harlequin teen romance was surprisingly very good. Calya Kluver's first book is well written and interesting. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book in this trilogy.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-72416720088161466282012-05-03T17:53:00.001-07:002012-05-03T17:53:27.232-07:00The Light Years By Elizabeth Jane Howard<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671527932/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671527932"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0671527932&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0671527932" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div>
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I really really really wanted to love this book. I started out enjoying it very much. It was British, cozy and made me want to drink copious amounts of Irish tea with milk and sugar in it.</div>
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But somewhere along the way I started to feel like I was reading a British Danielle Steele novel. Not to be snobbish, I do like some of Danielle Steele's books but some of them are written as if she were racing to finish them. Suddenly in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671527932/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671527932" style="color: #351c75;">The Light Years </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0671527932" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
paragraphs seems to explode into detail and I kept waiting for a plot to appear that would give the book some depth. It never arrived.</div>
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<br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-20676662007733198252012-04-27T14:56:00.003-07:002012-04-27T14:58:20.922-07:00All That Is Bitter And Sweet By Ashley Judd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I really enjoyed reading this book. I was not a huge Judd's fan but I did like Wynonna's solo albums a lot. I remember when Ashley Judd was revealed as the second Judd sister and everyone was shocked to learn Naomi had a second child that no one had heard about up to that time. Ashley's book explains all that and much more.<br />
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Ashley had a pretty rough childhood and suffered from emotional and physical abandonment issues the result of which was chronic depression. She is pretty gracious about her mother but she tells it all like it is and as I read through the book, my respect for her grew.<br />
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Not only is she an accomplished actress, but she has moved into humanitarian work and her motive seems genuine. It's not just an "I'm a cool actress and so here's my working with children" act.<br />
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What I appreciated the most in the book was Ashley's honesty and how she shares the emotional process she went through as she began to get involved with raising awareness for people all over the world. She had to work through her childhood issues and she shares how tough you have to be emotionally to do that kind of work.<br />
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Ashley has a brave and courageous heart and her life is nothing short of inspiring. <br />
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<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-66969158282926952242012-04-23T19:49:00.000-07:002012-04-23T19:49:24.556-07:00The Help By Kathryn Stockett<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399157913/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399157913"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0399157913&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0399157913" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div>
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Suddenly it seems as if everyone is reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399157913/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399157913">The Help </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0399157913" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
by Kathryn Stockett. I avoided this book when it was at the top of the best selling lists and when the movie came out. I was not able to see the movie either. While everyone was raving about it, since it was marketed as being a "chick lit" book, I avoided it. I do like chick lit but not a lot of it so I tend to be a bit picky about the books I choose in that genre. </div>
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It's too bad that this book was marketed in that genre, because I truly felt that this book is not a "light and breezy girl story" and is a substantial literary work. I was surprised at the depth of feeling it stirred in me. In short, I absolutely loved this book and at one point I could not put it down. The intensity of life in the south during segregation is so openly and clearly conveyed. The idiocy and hypocrisy of segregation is captured well with a dose of humor and humaneness that gives all the characters dignity.</div>
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I got this copy for 50 cents at my library. I will be giving it away to a friend who wants to read it. </div>
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<br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-1420734830244892912012-04-19T17:16:00.003-07:002012-04-19T17:22:49.892-07:00Orphans by V.C. Andrews<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451657048/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451657048"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1451657048&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451657048" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I wanted to try a book by V.C. Andrews and so I picked up this copy of <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451657048/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451657048">Orphans</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451657048" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> at our library used books sale for 10 cents because it looked interesting. I did some research and found that V.C. Andrews did not actually write this book but it was written by a ghost writer who was appointed by the estate to keep grinding out her "books." Failure.<br /><br />That said, I can't say I didn't enjoy this book a little. It features the stories of four orphans who are adopted by couples with various mental issues and how they didn't fit into their homes and then ended up at the same foster care center. After the first two stories, the next two were not as interesting as the plot was exactly the same for each girl. Mixing up the individual stories and making them different would have made this a really interesting little read. As it was, I cranked through the last two stories at a fast pace, knowing what would happen.<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-82463991821878565142012-04-14T20:15:00.003-07:002012-04-14T20:28:06.010-07:00Fifty Shades Of Grey By E.L. James<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345803485/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345803485"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0345803485&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345803485" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I just finished <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345803485/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345803485">Fifty Shades of Grey</a> and I need a cigarette.<br /><br />In fact, all I can say is that if you plan on reading this phenom bestseller that's ranking up there with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545265355/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545265355"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">The Hunger Games</span> </a>and <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031613290X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=031613290X">The Twilight Saga </a>, go buy a whole pack of them......or maybe a bottle of wine.....or maybe some chocolate. You're gonna need it. Trust me.<br /><br />This book features a psycho, stalking, overly sexed and screwed up "hero" who manipulates a sexually inexperienced and naive girl into a masochistic sex relationship.<br /><br />This book is not a romance and those who think it is need their heads examined. I can't for the life of me figure out why it's on the bestseller list. Can someone please enlighten me?<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-89815745098476994722012-04-11T17:02:00.003-07:002012-04-11T17:10:37.078-07:00Secrets Of The Flesh by Judith Thurman<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345371038/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345371038"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0345371038&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345371038" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have not yet read a book by Colette but have read many quotes from her over the course of my life and was interested in learning more about her. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345371038/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345371038"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette</span> </a>was definitely the biography to read as the book is well researched, detailed and very readable.<br /><br />I have ordered, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486475859/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486475859"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">The Vagabond</span> </a>through Amazon's used books for .01 and am anxiously looking for it in my mailbox every day!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-84809151853114121862012-04-07T18:59:00.002-07:002012-04-07T19:04:40.430-07:00The Game By Brenda Joyce<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380775735/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0380775735"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0380775735&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0380775735" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay so I occasionally read a romance. Sometimes I need a great escape read. This is one of my favorites. It has a pirate, Queen Elizabeth 1 and there are people constantly thrown in and out of the Tower of London. Nothing but fun!<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-25425010494184247672012-03-31T18:52:00.004-07:002012-03-31T19:05:57.715-07:00Diana Her True Story By Andrew Morton<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671024124/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671024124"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0671024124&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0671024124" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I finished <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671024124/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671024124">Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0671024124" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />. This was a reread and it's been years since I picked it up. This book is the version that was published after Princess Diana's death and includes a new ending documenting her death and a section which includes material and biographical information of her life that she gave to Andrew Morton specifically for this book. This is the closest thing we'll ever have of an autobiography from Princess Diana.<br /><br />While the book is a bit of a "tell all" and published with her consent and goal of getting "released" from the Royal family and given a divorce, it still is a fascinating story of Princess Diana's life and troubled marriage and divorce to HRH, The Prince of Wales.<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-27994410422863936552012-03-27T15:58:00.003-07:002012-03-27T16:03:42.458-07:00Save The Library And Save Money!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTrNp9L3JEM/T3JGG32HE3I/AAAAAAAAACQ/m83pib2FrgE/s1600/IMG_6078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTrNp9L3JEM/T3JGG32HE3I/AAAAAAAAACQ/m83pib2FrgE/s400/IMG_6078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724715160225387378" border="0" /></a>I'm traveling in the states and here is the damage from a recent trip to a local library where they sell used books to help support the library. Total cost, $3.20. The books are all in excellent condition.<br /><br />Advantages:<br /><br />Save paper/recycling<br /><br />Supporting the local library<br /><br />SAVE MONEY! (Most of these books are on my "to read" list and now I own them!)<br /><br />I also donated an extra $5.00 to the library. Why not? We need our libraries and they had a great influence on my love of reading!<br /><br />Cheers!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-49434193949768295502012-03-27T15:46:00.004-07:002012-03-27T15:55:29.334-07:00Travel Reading UpdatesI'm still traveling, so I have not had time to blog. Here's a quick update on the books I finished this past weekend:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671021001/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671021001"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">She's Come Undone </span> </a>by Wally Lamb: A wonderful, yet depressing story about a girl growing up and dealing with rape, abandonment and an overeating disorder.<br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312961316/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312961316">Another View</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0312961316" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"> </span>by Rosamund Pilcher: If you can't hop on a plane to England, read one of Rosamund's books. They make you want to sit inside on a rainy day and have a cup of tea while you read. That's what I did as I read this one!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-66721647852479188302012-03-21T16:36:00.006-07:002012-03-21T16:50:58.748-07:00Catching UpI've had a whirlwind week and I have not been able to post regularly. I have been able to read a lot so here's the highlights:<br /><br />I finished <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061577073/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061577073">The Poisonwood Bible</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">.</span> This is one of my favorite books. A disgruntled Baptist missionary takes his wife and daughters into the Congo. How could anything possibly go right?<br /><br />I greatly enjoyed a second reading of <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159285849X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=159285849X">The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=159285849X" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> by Brene Brown. I absolutely love this "non" self help book.<br /><br />I ran through an airport and grabbed, <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1846058201/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1846058201">The Girl King. by Meg Clothier</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1846058201" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">.</span> This book is a novel based on the famous Georgian Queen Tamara. If you're tired of Tudor novels and need something new and juicy, this book is for you. I really liked it.<br /><br />This morning I cried as I finished <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547735022/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0547735022">Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close </a>by Jonathan Safran Foer. This novel is about a little boy who is coming to terms with his father's death. His father died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and it is a brilliantly written book that should be read by every American.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-86248561965873995092012-03-12T06:29:00.004-07:002012-03-12T06:43:24.370-07:00Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023491/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023491"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0439023491&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0439023491" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, yes, well I'm working my way through the ever popular <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545265355/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545265355"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">The Hunger Games Trilogy</span> </a>Seeing that the books are still topping Amazon's best selling lists, everyone else in the world is reading them too.<br /><br />Honestly, if they were not so popular, I'm not sure I would have picked up these books. I don't read a lot of Young Adult but occasionally dip my foot in the waters. Since these books were so popular, I decided to try them to see what the fuss was about.<br /><br />I love the dystopian world Ms. Collins has created and it's fantastical qualities and the well told storyline is appealing. I did find myself so stressed out reading <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023521/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023521">The Hunger Games</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0439023521" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br />that I just wanted it to be over. It's really horrific when you think about it. Children killing children and this is in a world where it's okay and somehow I felt that as I was "enjoying" the book, I was taking part in it as well. It left me with an eerie, creepy feeling.<br /><br />I was hoping that <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023491/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023491">Catching Fire </a>would be about Katniss mentoring someone and was enjoying the book, even hoping it might really turn into Katniss, Peeta and Gale leading their family and friends into the wilderness outside of District 12 and how they survived. That would have been very interesting to me so I was disappointed when everyone went back into the arena. I had to go with them and found the whole, "quell, back in the arena storyline" repetitious.<br /><br />Of course, now I'm hooked into finding out what happened to District 12 and what kind of rebellion is going on! I have the third book but will take a little break from the intensity and pick it up later.<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-29789087216194957432012-03-10T06:33:00.003-08:002012-03-10T06:52:03.851-08:00Books That Find YouI've been reading all my life and it's interesting to look back and realize that you don't choose some books, some books choose you.<br /><br />Have you ever had that happen to you? A book that just speaks to your personal situation that you are going through, falls into your hands at just the right time.<br /><br />This happened to me for the first time the summer when I was nine years old. I was already reading at a high school level and my grandmother found a box of books in her alley that someone had left when they had moved away. She drug the box into the garage and knowing how I inhaled books, told me to take whatever ones I wanted. They were adult books and I was enthralled by being able to go through the box and pick and choose the ones I wanted.<br /><br />One of the books appealed to me more as it seemed to be a child's book. It was called, "The Diary of Anne Frank" and the cover showed a photo of a twelve year old girl. That was very interesting to me. I opened it up and began to read it.<br /><br />I had already read, "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" so I was somewhat familiar with the story of a man named Hitler who wanted to kill Jews and made many people flee their country to save their lives. The story of Anne hiding in an attic and telling the story of her experience living with her family seemed romantic and exciting.<br /><br />I eagerly read through it not realizing that I was reading a read diary of a real girl and not a work of fiction. I still didn't understand the difference.<br /><br />The end of the book was abrupt and I turned the last page in confusion not understanding why it did not end with Anne and her family leaving the attic and getting on with real life again.<br /><br />Then I found the back page which said that Anne and most of her family were captured and killed in a concentration camp. I was in total shock that this Anne I had been reading about who was so real to me was killed.<br /><br />Suddenly, I understood the difference between a book of fiction and a biography and that real life did not always have happy endings.<br /><br />I was very sad and the story of Anne in the attic has stayed with me all my life. I am so glad that I met Anne when I was a child and could read her diary with the innocence that she wrote it and did not read the book for the first time as an adult already understanding the reality of what had happened to her.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-53419468800145823422012-03-06T06:55:00.006-08:002012-03-06T07:13:21.273-08:00Diana's Nightmare - The Family<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DQ14TG/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006DQ14TG"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B006DQ14TG&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006DQ14TG" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Does the world need another book about the dysfunctional British Royal Family? Apparently it does. Do I need to read another book about the dysfunctional British Royal Family? No, but I did and I truly don't regret it even though a lot of what is in this book has been tossed around and is basically regurgitated into a coherent thesis for why Princess Diana had such a hard time of it.<br /><br />I can break it down for you:<br /><br />1. She married a man who was in love with another woman and too old for her.<br /><br />2. The woman her husband was in love with was in a marriage of convenience and fed information about her lover's wife to the newspapers<br /><br />3. Her mother in law seems to not be very highly relational with anyone other than her late mother and sister.<br /><br />4. Her father in law is.....well......lives to the beat of his own drum.<br /><br />5. Her father has such a stiff upper lip that he could no way mother his children after his wife left him and denied his ex wife custody/a relationship with her own children.<br /><br />6. Her mother committed adultery and left her children and never seemed to emotionally bond with them ever again.<br /><br />7. Her older sister married the Queen's private secretary so of course could never side with Diana or show her support.<br /><br />8. Her other sister never seemed to be in the picture at all.<br /><br />9. Her brother left his wife when she was pregnant for a woman he loved before he married his wife and eventually left his wife for her.<br /><br />That's just the main family, the book also discusses, friends, Prince Charles brothers and the infamous "Fergie."<br /><br />I honestly don't think that Princess Diana was in the least bit mentally ill if you take a look at what she had to deal with in her life. Her parent's divorce was traumatic for her. She married too young and barely knew her husband. She then had to deal with the stress of being wife to the heir of the throne. If you look at the odd personalities of those close to her and the lack of emotional support she received from her family, anyone would have a difficult time. The fact that her two children have turned out as well as they have is to me a testimony that she was probably the most stable of anyone in her family.<br /><br />This book is chock full of Royal information so if you haven't read a book on the Royal family and are interested in their personal quirks, I highly recommend it. It's very well written.<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-68025183194189800512012-03-05T07:04:00.005-08:002012-03-05T07:08:35.568-08:00The Hunger Games Trailer<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fzht93HMqZw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I found <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545425115/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545425115">The Hunger Games</a> trailer on youtube. Are you ready for this movie? It does look like it will be good!<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-41413027139281984642012-03-03T09:57:00.006-08:002012-03-03T10:12:05.508-08:00Oprah - Kitty Kelley<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307394875/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307394875"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0307394875&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=grefrokyi-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" border="0" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307394875" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />If someone told you that Kitty Kelley was writing your biography would you be happy? Probably not, because even though Kitty's biographies make fun beach reads that we all secretly gobble down, they are always "unauthorized" and fearless when it comes to setting the record straight. While Kitty's books are usually a gossipy romp through a celebrities life, <a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307394875/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grefrokyi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307394875">Oprah: A Biography</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=grefrokyi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307394875" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br />is more like a jet fuel induced rocket rushing to space.<br /><br />Kitty focuses on interviews with Oprah's father and relatives all who have little to do with her current life and while they may be able to talk about her past life, they seem to lack the understanding of the woman she's become. Kitty races through Oprah quotes so fast that they are more like reading a list than having any context to the complicated and intelligent Oprah Winfrey. Oprah is funny. Sometimes her humorous quotes are taken out of context.<br /><br />No matter what you think about Oprah, (and lets face it, she has sort of gone off the New Age, "I'm so rich, I don't know what to do with all this money" heebie jeebie cliff.) the book cannot truly tear her down off her pedestal. For those of us who grew up watching her, there is a sense of understanding that Oprah has always been a "work in progress" and the fact she loves to continue to learn and grow is one of her greatest assets. No one can deny that Oprah has earned her wealth, worked hard to improve her skills and dreamed and set goals for her life that most of us average people cannot or do not know how to do. The woman is extremely generous and her humanitarian works alone could probably be the subject of a book in itself. In the end, Oprah is always inspiring, always transcending stereotypes of race, gender and looks. She is always brilliant. She is always Oprah.<br /><br />I hope that one day Oprah writes her own autobiography or someone writes a fair and balanced definitive tome on her life. She deserves it.<br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174719480475591266.post-36731853332096438062012-03-02T04:12:00.003-08:002012-03-02T04:15:49.740-08:00Quotable Book Quotes<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"What I've learned from my philanthropic giving is that unless you can create sustainability, then it's a waste."</span> - Oprah Winfrey</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >, "Oprah" by Kitty Kelly</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572324637113165353noreply@blogger.com0