Finished!

I meant to post this yesterday, but then I got sidetracked and WENT TO BED EARLY!!!

I wish that meant that I was feeling very rested, but with the rain, it's just making me want to go home and curl up with the book I started last night - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

But, I digress - this post is about me finally finishing Why GM Matters! Here's my review that I posted on Facebook and GoodReads...

In usual cases, a book like this would probably bore me. However, having grown up in Michigan, with a father that worked for auto suppliers his whole life, I found this book to be interesting, from the history about GM, to the evolution of the new Camaro and the Chevy Volt, to where does GM go from here?

My feeling is if the media reported the things that GM was doing right, instead of focusing on everything that was wrong, then maybe people would have a little more sympathy for the company. And maybe it's not even a matter of sympathy for the company, but at least realizing how many businesses would start to have trouble if GM went bankrupt. GM is the #1 private company to purchase IT items...what happens to the IT industry if GM goes under? What happens to the cafes, barber shops, stores, and other businesses around GM plants if they disappear?

GM did things their way for a long time, because the market didn't force them to change. At this point, they are being forced to change by outside companies, consumers, and a global marketplace. However, with a culture like theirs, it's not easy to change opinions within the company, and it has taken some time. But, it's happening.

Anyone who wants more of an understanding about the company, and what they are doing to move into the future, should read this book.

The Believers

I just finished reading this book last night. The follow up to Heller's "What Was She Thinking?", "The Believers" had me hooked from the beginning. Following the Litvinoff family through a tragedy, the book introduces us to characters that, like in her previous novel, the reader doesn't necessarily like much.

Each character has their own problems to deal with, and their own personality flaws. Joel, the patriarch, is a famous attorney. Audrey, his wife, is a fiery personality who is very hard to like. Rosa, one daughter, is having a crisis with religion. Karla, the other daughter, is having a crisis with marriage. Lenny, the son is having a crisis with drugs.

The story centers around the way they all deal with their issues after Joel suffers from a stroke. The family is quite dysfunctional, but intriguing.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to others.

Book reviews

I am not good at reviewing books. I can tell you if I liked it, didn't like it, hated a character, liked the story, but when I read other people's book reviews (or reviews about anything!), it seems as if they're so...deep. Mine are just so superficial in comparison.

Does anyone have ideas for how to make my reviews better? I'm not really a great writer, but I love reading and want to share what I think with y'all!

Books to read

So, I made the mistake of reading the email I got yesterday from NPR Book Reviews. It unfortunately helped me add MORE books to my TBR list. Like I needed to add anything new...



First up - Captain Freedom: A Superhero's Quest for Truth Justice and the Celebrity He So Richly Deserves by G. Xavier Robillard. I think being fresh off seeing Watchmen is what attracted me to this book. I've also been watching Smallville quite a bit recently.

Second was Happens Every Day: An All-Too-True Story by Isabel Gillies. I'm not sure why this seems intriguing to me, but I think the story seems like it might be very raw.

And finally, The Believers by Zoe Heller. I enjoyed What Was She Thinking? though I haven't seen the movie, Notes on a Scandal. This sounds like an interesting story, and I just got a copy from the library today...

Which makes me giggle, because when I went to pick up my holds at the library today, I only had three of the four on the shelf. I asked at the desk, and pretty much before the person helping me asked for my card, the guy working at the next desk was handing her my book. Sigh, so much for anonymity! I guess I'm in there so much, they know me! I will miss the South Lansing library when I move to the west side of Lansing in a couple of months!

Watchmen

This past weekend, Eric and I went to see Watchmen at the IMAX with a couple of friends. I have not read the book, but really want to. However, this was one of those times when I didn't quite feel like I had to read the book, and really wanted to see the movie. I even took a nap before we went, since we went to the 9:40 movie and we knew it was 160 minutes.

The movie had me hooked from the beginning. The music used in the opening montage was perfect. The storyline made the moviegoer think. There were so many small details that I noticed, and probably a lot more that I didn't notice. I had a lot of moments where I thought "What if this really had happened?"

I enjoyed this entire movie. I didn't feel like it dragged at any part, and literally wanted to see it again after it finished (at 12:30am no less!). I would highly recommend it to everyone. I have the book requested from the library and am looking forward to reading it!

Lamb

I finished this book on Sunday night, but I'm just getting around to blogging about it.



Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

I have to say, I was quite entertained. I'm not really sure what I expected from this book, but from what my friends had told me about Christopher Moore is that he is funny.

I'm not sure if I would have found it funnier if I knew more about the Bible and the stories (I have hardly any knowledge of it...), but I found myself glad that I wasn't reading it in public most of the time, because I would start giggling.

There were many parts that got me thinking about how Joshua learned from all the world's religions (Buddhism, Confucious, etc.) and how all of these religions have the same overarching theme. I was also quite entertained at the amount of bacon references that were made throughout the book.

I would highly recommend this to everyone - I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr. Moore's work! 4/5

Reading Habits

For those of you that know me pretty well, I'm usually a fairly avid reader. I read a good amount of books last year, and was pretty confident I would read quite a bit this year.

Well, I honestly have not been doing well. I haven't even finished a book this year yet. I'm hoping that I will finish the one that I am reading today, but wow, this is just so unlike me. Somehow, I have to find the time to read more. Recently, I've only been reading right before bed, whereas I'm usually reading after work, while watching TV, etc.

I'm thinking maybe I need to set a goal of books to read like I did last year - any suggestions?

Blog Giveaway

Head on over to BookWormz' blog for a great blog giveaway!!!

This is your chance to win one of her cool items!

I love mine. :-)

Featured Etsy Seller!!

Ok, so I bought something on Etsy this week, and I'm obsessed.

BookWormz!!!

I bought 2 of these - a medium one and a large and medium one. I've been stalking this shop for months, and with being a big reader, these are perfect - especially since I take a book with me wherever I go.

The service was great, and I LOVE the two that I bought, and I'm still stalking for more...

Here are pictures of the ones that I bought:

Go check out this shop!!! NOW!!!

Just can't shake it...yet.

Last week was rough. Today I feel like I'm recovering - not quite normal yet, but not in the fog that I was in. And, I'm sure that will change over the next few days.

I'm glad that somehow, everything was turned in for Jaycees. I'm happy to be able to focus on 2009 now. I'm also happy to report that I think my cold is finally going away.

I can only predict that the rest of this week will get busy at work. My evenings are pretty much free except for 2 this week, and that's not too bad...maybe I'll actually finish my book club selection this week before we meet!

2008 Book Update...

For those of you who have been loyal readers for a long time, you'll remember that at the beginning of the year, I put together a list of 50 books to read this year. Well, this is the update, and it isn't pretty. I read a total of 12 off the list.

() The Fall (Camus)
() American Creation (Ellis)
(X) Man Gone Down (Thomas)
()World Without End (Follett)
()The Pillars of the Earth - re-read (Follett)
(X)Gentlemen of the Road (Chabon)
(X)The Yiddish Policemen's Union (Chabon)
(X)The Other Boleyn Girl (Gregory)
()Team of Rivals (Kearns)
()The Mascot (Kurzem)
(X)Then We Came to the End (Ferris)
()The Russian Concubine (Furnivall)
(X)Jane Eyre (Bronte)
()Thunderstruck (Larson)
()Schulz and Peanuts (Michaelis)
(X)A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini)
()Tree of Smoke (Johnson)
()On the Road (Kerouac)
()The Savage Detectives (Bolano)
()Midnight's Children (Rushdie)
()The Fortress of Solitude (Lethem)
()A People's History of the United States (Zinn)
()The World is Flat (Friedman)
()Kabul Beauty School (Rodriguez)
()1776 (McCullough)
()My Life (Clinton)
()The Myth of the Rational Voter (Caplan)
()A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
(X)Eat Pray Love (Gilbert)
()The End of Poverty (Sachs)
()The Plot Against America (Roth)
()Ragtime (Doctorow)
()Parting the Waters (Branch)
()From Beirut to Jerusalem (Friedman)
(X)Clapton: The Autobiography (Clapton)
()What is the What (Eggers)
()White Teeth (Smith)
()Breakfast of Champions (Vonnegut)
()The Inheritence of Loss (Desai)
()The Good Earth (Buck)
()Boom! Voices of the Sixties (Brokaw)
(X)Daughter of Fortune (Allende)
(X)The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao (Diaz)
()Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (Swanson)
()The Guns of August (Tuchman)
()Catch-22 (Heller)
()The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway)
()Marie Antoinette (Fraser)
()The Crimson Petal and the White (Faber)
()Emma (Austen)
(X)A Free Life (Jin)

The good news is, I still read 41 books this year:


Daughter of Fortune (Allende)
The Handmaid's Tale (Atwood)
Away (Bloom)
Jane Eyre (Bronte)
Debbie Harry Sings in French (Brothers)
Gentlemen of the Road (Chabon)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union (Chabon)
Clapton: The Autobiography (Clapton)
The Chocolate War (Cromier)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Diaz)
One for the Money (Evanovich)
Two for the Dough (Evanovich)
Then We Came to the End (Ferris)
Mistress of the Art of Death (Franklin)
The Serpent's Tale (Franklin)
Eat Pray Love (Gilbert)
The Constant Princess (Gregory)
The Other Boleyn Girl (Gregory)
The Nick Adams Stories (Hemingway)
A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini)
A Free Life (Jin)
Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Lindsay)
Memories of My Melancholy Whores (Marquez)
No Country for Old Men (McCarthy)
The Book of Lies (Meltzer)
Twilight (Meyer)
New Moon (Meyer)
American Nerd (Nugent)
Snuff (Palahniuk)
The Golden Compass (Pullman)
The Enchantress of Florence (Rushdie)
Persepolis (Satrapi)
Naked (Sedaris)
Child 44 (Smith)
The Art of Racing in the Rain (Stein)
Man Gone Down (Thomas)
Tell Me Where It Hurts (Trout)
Chasing Harry Winston (Weisberger)
This Common Secret (Wicklund)
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (Wroblewski)
The Book Thief (Zusak)

Out of the books I read, I would have to say my favorite was "The Art of Racing in the Rain". I read this book while I was on vacation for a few days in Cleveland, and it was hard for me to put down. I fell in love with the main character Enzo, who happens to be a dog. It made me laugh and cry, and I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I haven't decided yet if I am going to make a 2009 list, or just say that I'm going to try to read 50 books. I noticed during the year that my reading tastes change quite a bit, and I did expand my horizons by reading some books I wouldn't normally read. In the process, I've come across some fun reads (such as Janet Evanovich and the Twilight series).

I will keep y'all posted!

Things I haven't been doing lately...

As the holidays get closer, it's been more evident that my reading piles have gotten larger because I haven't been reading much, my apartment is a mess because I haven't been cleaning much, and I have a bunch of pictures I've already developed (this isn't even counting the ones I haven't) that still need to be scrapbooked.

So, I finally started reading a book I've been meaning to - the 2nd book in the Twilight series, New Moon. However, I also have to read The Daily Show and Philosophy for a book club, and I've also started Merle's Door about an owner and the dog he found on a trip. Of course, I haven't gotten far in any of them yet.

But of course, I've been thinking of taking up knitting or crocheting - neither of which I know how to do. But, do I really need another hobby?

Banned Books Week

This week was Banned Books week. I'm finally getting around to writing, as things have just been really hectic lately.

I picked up The Chocolate War from the library, and I'm hoping to crack it open tonight.

I also wanted to post this list:

The 10 most challenged books of 2007 reflect a range of themes, and are:

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
TTYL, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit
It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Books have always been an important part of my life. Wherever I have lived, I have frequented my local library, and those of you that know me, know my love of bookstores (and bringing home something from there...)

This is also an interesting source - it gives a list of challenged novels in the 20th century, and talks about where they were challenged and why they were challenged. I have to say, I don't necessarily agree with everything that every book has written in it, but I think to challenge any book and not allow it to be accessible to the public is a great travesty. People should be able to read what they want, and make up their minds as to what is appropriate for their own family. Parents should be involved and read along with their children.

Many books were written in different times, and context must be taken into account, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Only by opening our minds to different viewpoints can we truly understand our world.

Oprah's Book Club

I've been reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for about two to three weeks. Then, last Friday, Oprah decided to announce her new Book Club selection. Can you guess what it was? The same book I've been reading.

I don't tend to read Oprah selections because she picked them - a few, like Middlesex and The Pillars of the Earth I read BEFORE they were Oprah selections. Otherwise, I haven't read much in the list.

I am really enjoying this book so far - it's a little slow going, because it's longer and more dense, but it's certainly keeping me interested.

New Classics Challenge Update

I'm actually making progress on this challenge. List is below:

1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (finished)
2. Naked by David Sedaris (finished)
3. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
4. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (reading now)
5. Holes by Louis Sachar
6. Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInery
7. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown (that's right, I'm one of the 3 people who hasn't read this book!)

Animal Challenge Update...

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (finished)
2. Tell Me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout (finished)
3. Eldest by Christopher Paolini
4. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (when it comes out in September!)
5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (finished)
6. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
7. The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
8. Winne the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Not too shabby...

July Book Blowout Wrap-Up

Just a few comments on the July Book Blowout - which was fun!



I read a total of 6 1/2 books during the month.

The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory (only counts for 1/2, since I started in March)

Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

American Nerd by Benjamin Nugent

There were actually two books that I loved - The Art of Racing in the Rain and The Handmaid's Tale (which I also read for the New Classics Challenge). This was a good month for me to do this challenge, because I was just really in the mood to read. Though, I'm sure August won't be much different!

Book Challenge Updates

I'm currently participating in two book challenges. I'll start with the July Book Blowout!

The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory (only counts for 1/2, since I started in March)
Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

So, now we're up to 5 1/2 books for the month of July.

I read The Handmaid's Tale as part of the New Classics Challenge.

Set in the future, The Handmaid's Tale is the story of the republic of Gilead, as told by the handmaid, Offred. Gilead is what used to be the United States, before taken over by people whose idea of utopia is that people dress in different clothes to show who they are, commanders have handmaid's to procreate with, and people are put on the Wall when they are salvaged for their beliefs.

Offred tells her story of the time before Gilead, her time in her commander's house, her unusual relationship with him, and her memories of her loved ones. It was very scary to think this is something that could happen. Not everyone's idea of utopia is the same, and I can't fathom being told to live by someone else's rules.

I recommend this book to everyone - it was a great read, and Atwood is at her best in writing this book.

And another book challenge...

Hm. Hurrah for Entertainment Weekly and their new classics book list!

Joanna at Lost in a Good Story has posted a challenge regarding the 100 new classics list. Bolded titles, I have already read. Italicized titles are ones I will plan to read during the challenge.

Look for reviews, coming soon!

1. The Road , Cormac McCarthy (2006)
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)
3. Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)
4. The Liars' Club, Mary Karr (1995)
5. American Pastoral, Philip Roth (1997)
6. Mystic River, Dennis Lehane (2001)
7. Maus, Art Spiegelman (1986/1991)
8. Selected Stories, Alice Munro (1996)
9. Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier (1997)
10. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (1997)
11. Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer (1997)
12. Blindness, José Saramago (1998)
13. Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-87)
14. Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates (1992)
15. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers (2000)
16. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (1986)
17. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez (1988)
18. Rabbit at Rest, John Updike (1990)
19. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005)
20. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (1998)
21. On Writing, Stephen King (2000)
22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Díaz (2007)
23. The Ghost Road, Pat Barker (1996)
24. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry (1985)
25. The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan (1989)
26. Neuromancer, William Gibson (1984)
27. Possession, A.S. Byatt (1990)
28. Naked, David Sedaris (1997)
29. Bel Canto, Anne Patchett (2001)
30. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson (2004)
31. The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (1990)
32. Parting the Waters, Taylor Branch (1988)
33. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion (2005)
34. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (2002)
35. The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst (2004)
36. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt (1996)
37. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi (2003)
38. Birds of America, Lorrie Moore (1998)
39. Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri (2000)
40. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (1995-2000)
41. The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (1984)
42. LaBrava, Elmore Leonard (1983)
43. Borrowed Time, Paul Monette (1988)
44. Praying for Sheetrock, Melissa Fay Greene (1991)
45. Eva Luna, Isabel Allende (1988)
46. Sandman, Neil Gaiman (1988-1996)
47. World's Fair, E.L. Doctorow (1985)
48. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver (1998)
49. Clockers, Richard Price (1992)
50. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen (2001)
51. The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcom (1990)
52. Waiting to Exhale, Terry McMillan (1992)
53. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon (2000)
54. Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware (2000)
55. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls (2006)
56. The Night Manager, John le Carré (1993)
57. The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe (1987)
58. Drop City, TC Boyle (2003)
59. Krik? Krak! Edwidge Danticat (1995)
60. Nickel & Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich (2001)
61. Money, Martin Amis (1985)
62. Last Train To Memphis, Peter Guralnick (1994)
63. Pastoralia, George Saunders (2000)
64. Underworld, Don DeLillo (1997)
65. The Giver, Lois Lowry (1993)
66. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace (1997)
67. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (2003)
68. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2006)
69. Secret History, Donna Tartt (1992)
70. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell (2004)
71. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Ann Fadiman (1997)
72. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon (2003)
73. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving (1989)
74. Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger (1990)
75. Cathedral, Raymond Carver (1983)
76. A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell (1998)
77. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
78. Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
79. The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (2000)
80. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney (1984)
81. Backlash, Susan Faludi (1991)
82. Atonement, Ian McEwan (2002)
83. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields (1994)
84. Holes, Louis Sachar (1998)
85. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson (2004)
86. And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts (1987)
87. The Ruins, Scott Smith (2006)
88. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby (1995)
89. Close Range, Annie Proulx (1999)
90. Comfort Me With Apples, Ruth Reichl (2001)
91. Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003)
92. Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow (1987)
93. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley (1991)
94. Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser (2001)
95. Kaaterskill Falls, Allegra Goodman (1998)
96. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (2003)
97. Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson (1992)
98. The Predators' Ball, Connie Bruck (1988)
99. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman (1995)
100. America (the Book), Jon Stewart/Daily Show (2004)

This should be easy enough...

Oh boy - a July Book Challenge!!!

The July Book Blowout!

So far, I have read...

The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie - 1
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein -1
Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk -1

For a total of 3.