Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

Whew what a great end to a very interesting book! I just finished Fifty Shades of Grey and while my mind is still racing with thoughts I shall get this blog going. I have been such a slacker getting on my lap top at all, ever since I got an iphone who really needs a computer?! Well, I do. It would take me too long to type out all this material with my one-two finger touch screen typing and this poor dusty neglected computer is barely strumming to life. I think computers must need exercise too, hmmm. My millions of blog reading fans out there must be so disappointed in me for taking two months off, my apologies. Okay so my 5 fans...Onward, so our April book club choice of reading material was the ever so publicized Fifty Shades of Grey (although at the time it was chosen I had never heard of this book). I was already reading Lucky One by N Sparks, which was very good by the way, so I put off Fifty until I finished. Just as I was finished up with Lucky One, 20/20 airs the interview with Mrs. James and I nearly flush as I hear the porn-like intimate details. In turn, this also means the books were sold out the first 3 stores I planned to purchase from, ugh! In the cold rain (shocker for New England) I am at my final destination, B&N, and in a hurried pace I grab the black book, check out and head home. Turns out Fifty Shades Darker II looks strikingly like it's first in the trilogy so out I go again to B&N to get the right book.

I feel a bit of pressure writing this particular blog for a few reasons. One, I don't want to flush fifty shades of red but two this book deserves a bit more attention than calling it "mommy porn" or other. Believe it or not this book actually has a story line, and a pretty interesting one at that. Yes there is also sex, lots of very descriptive and not so "vanilla" sex (haha inside joke). There is also two very unique characters and a journey that may just open your mind or at least will let you into a personal side of another. Christian Grey is an extremely wealthy, successful, young, absolutely gorgeous man that very privately practices S&M, well more like BDSM (google it if you must). Anastasia Steele is a smart but naive, fun loving, well liked, very ...traditional and inexperienced college student. As a favor to her roommate Kate she is asked to interview Mr. Grey for an article and the two find a chemistry that may or may not be a very bad combination. I love the quirky comedic emails (read the subject lines) between the two and the overall dynamic of the two very different people with high expectations. My absolute favorite part is the shocking end that leaves you stunned. I will be reading the second book very soon and I look forward to whatever awaits!

I rate this book an 8 for originality, shock factor and keeping my interest ;-)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

It's so much fun being 'a reader', the options are nearly endless as are the categories, the length, the characters, setting, endings and all the in between. Is there a cheaper thrill in the world than books, I doubt it? With that said, aah the workings of my scattered brain, I chose to skip blogging about my last read because ...it was just too boring to continue giving it my attention. Queen of the Road was last months book club read, this will be brief and somewhat relevant, and it was okay but it took me all month to read the very averaged size book. It was cute at times and funny too but I had to force myself to open it up and read a chapter at a time until I was done, at which time I think I was proud of myself? This months book, however, I read in less than 3 days. The Fault in Our Stars was actually recommended on facebook by a DJ personality who I just happen to share very similar taste in books with, thanks Pebbles. Go figure, it is also Young Adult. It lived up to its praise and will duly be praised more by me.

Cancer, cancer sucks. This has been uttered one to many times by loved ones and more so by the many fighters out in the world. Hazel is a 16 year with terminal cancer. She is on a drug that has slowed the tumor growths and is on oxygen that supplies what her failing lungs are lacking. She is forced to participate in a Cancer Kid Support Group to help with her "depression" and give her the social life she lacks. It is there she soon meets Augustus, a supporting friend of Isaac who is about to lose his eyesight. In Isaac she finds a great friend that doesn't pity her and Augustus becomes her one and only love. There are twists, turns, laughs and tears. This story has so many layers to unfold and will dig deep into your soul. Not just the usual, live every day as your last.

I give this book an 8.5, which is a must read!

~Also, in memory of Stephanie Holmes, may you forever be in my heart. She died in the 8th grade to Leukemia after one too many fights. I miss your laugh, your humor, our long phone calls, being your "eyes and ears" for school gossip and so much more. Hazel reminded of you, how you would have been if you had the extra years. <3

Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

Engrossing: taking up the attention completely. Okay, that just about sums up my thoughts.....just kidding. Before I Go to Sleep was mentioned in October as a suggestion for the next book club read but it was not chosen until December. The library was out, the local used book store did not have a copy, nook ebook price was $12.99 and the Nashua used book store price was $15.99 so ebook wins. It felt good to get some use out of my nook even though $12.99 is not a bargain. I still can't get over how much ebooks are when you compare 'production' costs to an efile versus printed books! So on December 15th I downloaded this book and I finished yesterday, December 19th. Four days and all but the last 9 pages were read in 3 days, I was up until midnight the 18th! From the start this book grabs your attention and leaves you hanging on for more. It felt great to dive into a book that didn't take it's time getting the readers attention.

Christine suffers from amnesia after 'an accident' and every morning wakes up thinking she is in her twenties, or younger, then has to be reminded of the two decades she has missed. Dr. Nash is trying to help Christine recover some memory function and has her start a journal that he will remind her about every morning as a therapy. Only Christine, or Christine's journal, knows about Dr. Nash and the work he is doing. Every day Christine learns something new about her life or has a new memory to add to the last. Before her journal, all that gain would be lost by morning but now she can start pulling the pieces of her life together and is more confused than ever. The man she wakes up with everyday is keeping secrets, is it for her own good or is there something she needs to know?

I give this book an 8 out of 10 and hope that a movie comes out of this! Read!!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Woohoo! At the beginning of the school year my kids came home with great news, their school started a parents book club. Of course the very first book was The Help and I already read it but I really enjoyed our first meeting. We met at Owen and Ollies, had a drink, socialized, talked about how great the book was and opened up our minds to different views. After, we all gave suggestions for the next book, voted, and this month Water for Elephants was chosen. I can't say I was all that excited about this choice because I picked up this novel before and it didn't appeal to me. I guess this is the bad part of being in a book club, or as I see it now the good part because I ended up enjoying this book very much!

Set in the early 1900's, the young Jacob Jankoski was aspiring to be a Veterinarian just like his father. While away at an ivy league college, his parents died in an unfortunate car accident. He soon found out that his parents were broke and everything including the house would belong to the bank. Jacob found himself grieving, homeless and without a plan. In just a matter of months Jacob is learning to be a survivor traveling with a train circus. He falls in love with the lovely Marlena who is also married to the schizophrenic August. Jacob bridges social gaps and earns respect from many after paying his dues. After a fight erupted between Marlena, Jacob and August his life is now on the line. Keep your friends close and enemies closer.

The first half of this book is admittedly slow but steady. If it wasn't for the book club I may have given up but I am so glad I didn't. As the story developed I wanted to read more and more, the end had me not wanting to stop reading. I love the characters and truly loved the history of this era. I look forward to tomorrows book club meeting and more so watching the adaptation to film! I give this book a 7.5 :)

Former Things by Gail Lowe

274 pages

I am happy to announce that Gail Lowe, the author of Former Things, is a local resident of Massachusetts. This book was purchased by a wonderful friend of mine, Matty, at the cutest locally owned book store cafe in Tewksbury, MA. While Matty enjoyed a relaxing cup of coffee  she struck up a friendly conversation with Ms. Lowe who was in the shop doing book signings. Matty purchased a copy and had it personally signed as a gift to her sister in law Jenn after. Jenn enjoyed this quick read and handed it to me for my enjoyment. :)

Emily lost her first born child, a daughter named Becky to SIDS. This life changing tragedy changed Emily and put a great strain on her marriage to John. A couple years later an unexpected pregnancy gave her another child, a daughter they named Nicole. Her grief was so overwhelming she struggled to give Nicole 100% of herself but Emily worked very hard to give Nicole what she could. Twenty years later, the death of John led to a huge fight between mother and daughter leading to a 20 year family estrangement that broke Emily Prestons heart. Emily meets Evan and quickly they form a friendship like the grandchild she never had. With the help of Evan and the new world wide web, they go on an adventure together to find Nicole.

This book touches on so many emotions and makes you question what could have been done for the better. We all make mistakes, is everything forgivable? I hope as a Mother, as imperfect as I admittedly am, my children and I have a bond that never could never be broken.

On my literary liking scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, I give this book a...6.5

The Nook Color by Barnes & Noble

I figured since my blog is about books and my recent purchase of the Nook Color is the latest way to read books, then I can post my Nook review here too. Right? So, I know people with the Kindle, Literati and also the Nook and have been really reluctant to even consider wanting one. See...I love the feeling of book, paperback specifically. They're light, take anywhere, quiet and you can share them with ease with your friends. Actually I like my tradition of writing on the last page after you are done reading to 'post' your opinion and pass it on. Anyway, for my birthday I got several gift cards to BN and together they equalled enough to buy the Nook Color (thanks people). I considered using the money for just books as I go but really BN is overpriced and I like getting my bargain books on the hunt. I decided I was ready to try out e-reading and once I made this decision I was so excited to get it! I bought the Nook on Saturday May 7th.
Now my warnings and praises for those who want to know. When you get home you will have to charge it, maybe 2-3 hours. When charged or while charging you turn it on and you can not do anything until your WiFi is configured, fine for most people but my household WiFi is set up by the IT Nazi I live with so this was a PITA. If you do not already have a BN account, you will need to do so after the WiFi is set up. Now you can use your e-reader. Oh wait, not if you want books, even the free ones from BN.com. In addition to the gift card I loaded on 'my account' BN.com you also need a major credit card to be kept on file. This card will not be charged if you have money available on your gift card but yet you need it there anyway. This pisses me off. The "LendMe" feature that I planned on using absolutely sucks. Not all books you buy and own are able to be lent out to other Nook friends. Nope, only LendMe labeled books can be shared (7 day lending I think) and very few have this link. Aside from my local library and older free books on line the new ebooks for sale are hardly discounted from the hardcover books. My first purchased book, "Dead Reckoning" was $15.01 hardcover and $14.99 ebook?!
On a happy note, you have like 2 free books loaded, 2 kids books, 2 apps and some wallpaper pictures. The kids books have a "Reade Me" feature that is soo cute, it becomes a visual audio book that my kids loved! I did buy for $1.99 the Drawing Pad app and the kids have so much fun (okay I do too). Also, the web is pretty usable and the keyboard ain't so bad either. I do love the bookmarking feature to save your page and also by a click of a little book pic it takes you back to your book. Lastly, I love Free Friday's with BN.com, every Friday I get a facebook post with the book of their choice for you to download for FREE.
Overall if I had to do it again...hmmm...I don't know. I guess since it was like a gift I am glad I own it but I wouldn't have wasted $249.00 of my money at this time to get one. :)

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

213 pgs.

For every few book I read I always seem to throw in a Nicholas Sparks novel, he has such a way with his words and tugs at the heart in every story. This is the first book I read after I watched the movie. It has been a couple years since I watched the well known love story "The Notebook" and I couldn't help myself when I found a copy used for a whopping .50 cents! Like most of Sparks books the story takes place in North Carolina and it's a timeless love story. Good guy meets good girl, falls in love, torn apart and something brings them back together and you hope they get to keep each other. Aside from the traditional Sparks patterns in every book...I still love me some Sparks. Now I have to watch the movie again because I think there were some variations, as there usually is. Of all the N. Sparks books I rate this one...hmm...a 7. That is it for this blog and thanks for reading up!