Just Wanted to Say...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Everybody!

Dead Until Dark.

In Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, (the first Sookie Stackhouse novel) we meet young waitress Sookie Stackhouse and some of the people of her small southern town - Bon Temps. We learn that Vampires are "out of the coffin" and this is not exactly okay with everyone. Also to find out, is that Sookie herself is not exactly normal. While she isn't one of the undead, she has a sort of disability: She can read minds & she would like nothing better than to be able to never do so again. Sookie's adventure begins when the vampire (Bill) walks into the bar she works at, and she saves his life, out in the parking lot when he is being drained by a couple of rats that want to sell his very valuable vampire blood. And before Sookie knows it, she is the target of a vampire disapproving serial killer targeting fang-bangers - women who've been with vampires.
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy and fast paced and there was just enough between important events to where I didn't get bored with the story. I loved the author's humorous writing style, and there were many interesting characters. I loved Sookie, though I had a lot of mixed feelings towards Bill until I started to understand that he mostly always thought of himself as unhuman and he detached himself from humans and their (his) emotions a long time ago. I hope he'll be a more likeable and understandable character in the other books. I also hope to see more of Eric in future books as well, even though he was not in this first one that much at all. I really liked him.
I didn't really think much or try to guess about who the killer was, which was why I was so surprised at who it was. That person seemed...not completely nice and on the road to goody-goody, but decent. In fact it's still sinking in. I never suspected.
I'm planning on reading this again before I have to take it back to the library. I very much recommend this if you are looking for some fun vampire fiction, even if you're not a fan of the True Blood series as I'm not, you might still find yourself liking this first book of the series.

2009 Challenges.

Reading List.


Reading List.


Reading List.


Reading List.


Reading List.

Read-a-Thon Wrap Up.

Well, I knew I wouldn't read a large number of books for the Read-a-Thon, but that is okay, because I did do the most important thing I wanted to get done: I feel really excited about getting to the next book again. Not to just speed through a story, but to sit and concentrate on one book and just get immersed in it.

I positively loved Dead Until Dark. Once I understood what Bon Temps was like and that in that world Vampires were out in the open so to speak, I enjoyed it. After a while it became like a movie playing in my head because I could picture everything perfectly, and I cannot wait to return to Sookie and her friends in the next book. Especially Eric. Even though he had a small role in this one, I hope he has more of a presence in the next books.

That was the only book I completed since I ended up starting so late on the read-a-thon. :\ I did switch at least once though, to Random Acts of Heroic Love. I read 43 pages before I wanted to get right back to what was going on with Sookie. Finishing Dead Until Dark, I read a total of 335 pages. That's a lot for me actually, lol. So I feel pretty good about that. :)

I just want to thank all the cheerleaders that stopped by my blog, and I hope everyone else who took part had a great Read-a-Thon! :)

A Little Break.

Well, seeing as how the neighbors and their loud children have ventured outdoors into their front yard where I can all too clearly hear them, and dinner being pretty close to done. I'm taking a little break.

I made it to page 96 of Dead Until Dark, and then I felt like I needed to switch books. So I picked up Random Acts of Heroic Love. Going from page 128 to page 171. I'm feeling pretty good about that. :) I don't expect to have read large amounts when the read-a-thon is over, but I rather hope to have fallen back in touch with my better reading habits. Especially since my reading has been so poor this year. :\

I think I'll do a little better with this once everyone has gone off to bed in a few hours and people have decided to stay in for the night. Then I can concentrate better in the quiet of the late night. :)

I might do one more update and a few more Tweets before my brother hijacks the laptop from me, so, see ya later!

First Read-a-Thon Post.

So this is hour...nine I believe. I'm actually about to start (I know, I know...), the day is finally settling down for me so I am hiding in my room now getting ready to ignore everyone in the house. They can fend for themselves. :p

I'm starting off with Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1), by Charlaine Harris. Se ya later!

Check My Cookies!

I usually don't like trying new recipes because I'm scared I'll mess it all up and it'll taste horrifying, but these were actually pretty easy once I realized they're not that different from regular peanut butter cookies. :) And they are SO good! My cook book calls them Peanut Butter Blossoms.

Dewey's Read-a-Thon.

I went ahead and signed up. YAY! I also picked out some books I may want to read:

I chose some shorter books as was recommended on the site, and some poetry books and short stories (Poe & Tennyson, obviously :p) as well. I also might go to the library on Friday, I'm not sure yet. Mostly these are books that have been sitting on my shelf that I really should get to, and there is no better time than during the Read-a-Thon. :) I guess my start time is 5 AM eek! I hope I wake up on time. :p

To learn more about Dewey's Read-a-Thon, click here.

Musing Mondays.

This week's Musing Mondays asks:

Are you planning on participating in the upcoming 24 Hour Read-a-thon (either as a reader or cheerleader)? Have you made any preparations for the event? And, veterans out there, any tips you’d like to share with the newbies?

Well, I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks now. The last time I signed up, our washing machine broke down and I ended up spending the day at the laundromat with my mother (whom gets upset and feels ignored whenever I read around her) & I didn't read anything and I felt bad about that. So you may guess at why I am on the reluctant side to try this again... I think I might do it though, but I don't think I'll actually sign up - because I don't know what might come up this weekend. But as it gets closer (like, Friday) I may go ahead and sign up for it. :)

Finally...

Finally I get it next, I hope it's not a stinky read! I've read some mixed reviews on it though so I'm a little wary about this book...

Friday Finds.

My finds for this week all have something in common: Russia. I'm very interested in Russia right now, & all these stories take place somewhere and sometime in Russia. :)

1. Alice in Exile by Piers Paul Read
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. The House of Kuragin by Constance Heaven
4. The Astrov Legacy by Constance Heaven
5. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostevsky
6. Dreams of My Russian Summers by Andrei Makine
7. The Industry of Souls by Martin Booth

TBR Thursday.

About TBR Thursday:

TBR Thursday is a meme hosted by Drea. TBR Thursday highlights all those books that you physically own but haven’t had the chance to read yet. Or maybe they’ve already been released and you’re dying to grab a copy from the library to read but already have too many books on your table. There can be some old books, some new books, and some that are in between, but they have to be books that you want to read and review!

My pick this week is Catopolis, edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Janet Deaver-Pack.

Synopsis from B&N.com: Seventeen original stories about the "city of cats."

Set in a world that exists on the same plane as humans, yet is hidden from us, Catopolis introduces readers to an assortment of cats, ranging from a feline Seer who must take destiny into her own paws to defeat a dictatorial tomcat thug...to a black cat who can call upon the powers of the "big cats" to wage a war against evil...to a cat who would be king...to the ins and outs of cat politics and the perils of using mice as ballots...to a cat burglar looking for a musical treasure for his "boss."