#45: Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts

Holding the Dream is the second book in Nora Robert's The Dream Trilogy.  It tells the story of Kate Powell as she is faced with a devastating scandal that stands to ruin what she has worked for her entire life: partnership in her accounting firm. 

Kate is career driven and has been goal oriented her entire life.  Her best friends, Margo and Laura, are also her sisters, not by birth but by necessity, as Kate's parents were killed when she was eight.  She was taken in and raised by Laura's parents, The Templetons, who just so happen to own and run a strand of hotels by the same name around the world.  The Templetons have given Kate everything she could have ever wanted, and now she wants to make them proud by showing them that with hard work she can be successful on her own.  When she is suddenly faced with losing her job, her world begins to fall apart and so does she.  Laura and Margo can only do so much for Kate.  It's not until Byron De Wit steps in that the story takes a different turn. 

This story is so much more than a love story.  It is a story about one woman's struggle to prove herself to herself.  It is a story about the importance of family, the importance of believing in yourself, and the importance of enjoying life. 

The first book in this trilogy is about Margo and the last is about Laura.  I took this middle book with me when we traveled to my in laws for Christmas.  I did not, however, bring the last book.  Instead, I chose to bring a new book by Emilie Richards.  Big mistake.  When you have read two books in a trilogy, you should never be without the third.  So, I ended up reading about 50 pages in the Emilie Richards books and then tabling it once I got home and could begin Finding the Dream. I am not too far into it at this point, but I can see it being just as good of a conclusion to a trilogy as the last Inn Boonsboro book.  I hope Nora Roberts has a new trilogy in the works for 2013. If she does, I bet it will be fabulous! 

Happy Reading!
:) Dodie

#44: The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

The Perfect Hope is the final book in The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy by Nora Roberts and it was a perfect ending to this delightful series of stories.

I often find myself pushing my Nora Roberts books to the side to read other books like The Hobbit and Casual Vacancy.  Then, when I finally pick one up, I am reminded that just because Roberts writes Romance books, it doesn't make her writing or her stories any less important, or any less interesting.  In fact, I fnd that I enjoy her books more than some of those books that my english professors from college would do cartwheels over.  Are they easy to read?  Yes.  And I think for that reason alone, many ladies pick them up and read them.  They tell a good story, they leave you feeling good in the end, and they are quick reads.  It took me weeks to read Casual Vacancy.  It took me three days to read The Perfect Hope.  And, not just because it was easy to read, but because I couldn't stop.  I wanted to know what was going to happen next with Hope.  I was laughing out loud at Ryder, and I was intrigued by Lizzie, the ghost. It was an all-around good read.

Now, about Lizzie.  I have to admit that when I read the first book in this series, I was laughing at how ridiculous Lizzie and the idea of a ghost living in the Inn was.  But, Lizzie appears in all three books and her love story is told alongside Clare's, Avery's, and Hope's.  By the end of the last book, I was so glad that Lizzie had been included and I did not find it at all strange or bizarre.  I loved it! 

I was sad to reach the end of this series, but lucky for me, I had another Nora Roberts book (two, actually) on my bedside table.  I happily reached for it and did not worry about it just being a romance novel.  I just readied myself for another good read and Nora Roberts did not disappoint! 

Happy Reading!
:) Dodie

#43: Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

I certainly feel as though I have tackled one tough book after another with #42 and now #43.  As if The Hobbit wasn't hard enough to get through (it wasn't hard to read, just long and descriptive and you had to read every single word carefully in order to keep up and understand), let's try Casual Vacancy.  I get tired just thinking back about what it took to read this book.

Casual Vacancy is written by JK Rowling, who wrote the amazing, life changing Harry Potter series.  (If you have not read the Harry Potter books, stop reading this blog and go tackle those books first.) As a lover of Harry, I was intrigued to read Rowling's newest book, wondering how her writing would be when she's not writing about Hogwarts and Harry.  Well, I can say without hesitation that she's a brilliant writer, but Casual Vacancy is no Harry Potter.

First off, within the first two pages of the book, a main character dies in such a way that you are left with your mouth wide open fearing headaches.  Then, Rowling spends the next 250 or so pages describing a heard of characters like no other characters you've ever read about in your life.  These characters are described in such vivid detail that you can see them in your mind, you can hear them, you know their thoughts, you can see what they are wearing...I still can, even weeks after reading this book (I finished it about two weeks ago, but am just now getting around to blogging about it.).  While the character development is brilliant, it made me crazy that it took her 250 pages to finally finish crafting the 20 some-odd characters that were swimming around the pages of this book, and in my head.  However, I kept reading knowing that eventually something would happen (oh, and it did) but I have to admit that it tested my patience.

So, after those 250 pages, the characters, who when you first read about them are introduced as separate individuals, begin to come together to create an elaborate and intricate, and rather riveting, plot.  The plot of the book, if I can summarize 500 pages in a sentence, is how one English town fills the vacancy on their parish council that was left open when Barry Fairbrother dies (on page 1 of the book).  It seems simple enough, but Casual Vacancy is anything but simple. 

Aside from the masterfully crafted characters, Rowling is skilled like no other in weaving together their lives to create a story that will make you think.  Once the actual story begins, you are forced to confront true politics, and not just politics on a grand scale (as in those we all dealt with during our recent Presidential election), but politics in a small town.    What people will do to get what they want is a bit scary, if you ask me.  What goes on behind the scenes, which as readers we are privy to, is even scarier. 

But, the one part of this story that truly frightened me the most, and I wonder how many other parents of teenagers who read Casual Vacancy feel the same, was how the teenagers in the story ruined the lives of their parents.  All with the click of a mouse.  I am now very much aware of how much more my children know about technology than I do, and how they can use this knowledge for either good or evil.  I am hoping for good, but I certainly do plan to watch my step around my girls.  I knew teenagers could make your life miserable, but the lengths these teenagers go to to retaliate against their parents is quite scary.   Very scary, in fact. 

So, was Casual Vacancy worth my time (and lugging around a huge book)?  Yes. The characters alone are worth the read, and stick with them.  Once you get past the first 250 pages, you are set for a great, although often disturbing, story.   It's not Harry Potter, but really, who expected it to be?  But, it is JK Rowling, one of the world's most fabulous writers.  For that reason alone, you should read Casual Vacancy.

Happy Reading!
:) Dodie

#42: The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

I have two months to read 1o books.  Sadly, it doesn't appear as though I am going to meet my goal his year.  Oh well.  

It did take me the better part of a month to read The Hobbit.  I thought that I had made it through my entire English career without ever having to read that book.  Well,  apparently, unless I wanted to be left at home when the movie came to theatres, my husband expected me to read The Hobbit.  

So, I did.  It was slow reading filled with elaborate descriptions that I could not skim or I would be lost (this happened only a few times before I learned my lesson), action packed battle scenes, and some laugh out loud humor from Mr. Bilbo Baggins, himself.  I truly wondered if I was ever going to finish the book, but hurricane Sandy gave me two days at home that I did not expect, so I was able to finish it yesterday.  And, it appears that I will be able to go to see the movie in December when it comes out, with my hubby who admitted after I started reading The Hobbit that he didn't think he had ever actually read it.  So, the book is now on his bedside table just waiting to be opened again.  

Bilbo's tale was a good one.  Very fantastical.  I think Emily would like it, with it's flying dragon, rescue eagles, fairies, dwarves, gobblins,  and magical rings that make you disappear.  I have not read any of The Lord of the Rings books but I loved the movies.  But, you won't see me going back to read them, either.  The fantasy genre is just not for me.  It's tiring work to read these sorts of books.  They are the sorts of books that I have always said that I am not smart enough to read.  Well, I read one.  That's enough for one lifetime.  I am happy to watch the movie version of these sorts of books.

Now, am I glad that I read it, stretched my brain, and read outside of my reading comfort zone?  Yes.  Do I feel a bit more wise and well-read?  Yes.  But I am still stopping here.

My next book is J.K. Rowling's newest book and I am so excited about it.  Hopefully I will be done before Christmas, but since it's over 500 pages, it's hard to tell.

Happy Reading, everyone!
:). Dodie

#41 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I bought The Perks of Being a Wallflower because I never thought I was actually going to be able to see the movie (starring Emma Watson and I love her!) and then I suddenly found myself having a date night on Saturday and going to see the movie.  Oh well.  Some of my favorite books were read after I saw the movie (Charlie St. Cloud, Confessions of a Shopaholic).  But not this one.  While I wouldn't say that I loved the book, I will say that I loved the movie.

The movie version left me in tears.  I was totally engrossed and emotionally invested in the movie.  I ached for Charlie as he searched for that one friend, that one friend who would give him a chance, the one friend who would make him feel as though he belonged.  I left the theatre and prayed for my own daughters, praying that they both would always have just one friend who accepted them for who they are.  Life can truly be painful without a friend. I rejoiced at the end of the movie, as hope took over and made me smile. 

Then, I read the book.  There are a few plot differences, which shouldn't be surprising, as the movie version of a book is rarely the same.  But, the biggest difference for me, and the one that is making me write this blog as I am, is that while the movie made Charlie seem endearing and just shy and wallflowerish, the book made him seem socially backwards and a little annoying. This made me angry, actually, because Charlie's character in the movie is so sweet.  He's so loving and such a good guy, a guy who just wants a friend and who isn't afraid to be alone, but would just prefer to walk through life with a buddy. 

I can't even say if I'm glad that I read the book.  I think, honestly, that I am a bit disappointed in it.  It's hard for me to think of the possiblity of loving a character in a movie, but being irritated by the same character in the original book.  I just think it's strange. 

So, I guess the short version of this story is that I would recommend the movie.  Skip the book. 

Did I just type that? 

Happy viewing.  Eat some popcorn for me.

Off to begin The Hobbit. 
:) Dodie

#40: Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts

Daring to Dream is the first in a trilogy of books by Nora Roberts.  And, even though the books have beautiful new covers and I haven't ever seen them in bookstores before, they are not new books.  Even so, I loved the first one and can't wait to read the others (I have purchased the other two and they are on my bookshelf, but I have promised my husband that I will read The Hobbit first).

Daring to Dream is a book that actually tells a good story and I was so excited to read a lovestory with a new, innovative plot that was unpredictable. The characters were like no others that I had read about (and when you read as much as I do that's saying something!) and I was excited to read their stories.  Margo and Josh are the main characters in Daring to Dream, even though we also meet Margo's mom, Ann, Josh's parents and sister, Laura, and a friend of the family, Kate throughout the course of the booko.  Margo, Laura, and Kate are best friends and grew up together.  The book even begins with a scene when the girls are young, which really helps to set the stage and the tone of the book.  And, even though this is Margo and Josh's story, we get to know a bit about Laura and Kate in the book, too.

Nora Roberts writes loves stories so I knew that ultimately I was going to be reading a love story, but it was not a trashy love story, nor was it a predictable story.  I can't wait to read the next book (Holding the Dream) in the series.  But, alas, The Hobbit is calling my name. 

Happy reading!
:) Dodie

#39: The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Last year in August, I was devastated as I read Debbie Macomber's last ever Cedar Cove book.  I was not alone.  Readers world-wide sent letters and emails because they were so sad that the series was over.  In response, Macomber created a spin-off series, using some of her favorite characters from Cedar Cove but going in a different direction.  The Inn at Rose Harbor is the first book in this new series. 

I excitedly bought the book on release day and then it sat on my night table for weeks, as release day happened to coincide with my girls return home from their grandparents and my return to school.  I just finished the book this past Sunday.  It took me almost a month to read a book that should've taken me two days.  Work is interfering with my reading plans again!  At this rate, I'll never read 52 books this year!  Oh well. 

So, here are my thoughts about this new series.  First, I love the love story between Jo Marie and her husband.  But, love is never easy and simple so while I love the love story, I do not love the result.  Second, I love hearing bits and pieces from the Cedar Cove residents that I have learned to love over the years (but so far it's not enough to make me completely happy).  Third, and most importantly, I am not sure if I can read book after book about Jo Marie and the people who visit her Bed and Breakfast.  They all make me sad.

The premise of the book is that Jo Marie opens the Inn to help her heal (I won't tell you why she's healing) and that the people who come to her inn need to heal, too.  The first two characters, Abby and Josh, and their stories are just so sad that I found myself not anxious to read the book because I knew it was going to make me sad.  Obviously, the stories do not end in a sad way, but after reading the book it occurred to me that each book in the series was going to follow the same pattern (and Jo Marie alludes to this in the last chapter so I am not making this idea up) and that reading the same sort of book over and over again was going to bother and bore me.  I think I will give the series one more chance, but if the next book (to be released next August) follows the same pattern, I might have to call it quits.

My next book is the first in a new Nora Roberts trilogy.  It's been on my night table since Sunday and I havent' read the first page.  Looks like my reading days might be over...

Happy reading!
:) Dodie

Catching Up...Books #33 through #38

For those of you who actually keep up with my blog, it clearly seems as though I haven’t been reading much.  The truth is, I have been reading lots, just not blogging.  It’s been hard for me to find time to actually sit in front of the computer and blog because we have been so busy this summer, which is a good thing.  And, as I said when I started reading this year, reading is not my life, just something I do to enjoy life.  With that being said, I am finally getting around to blogging about the last SIX (yes, SIX) books I have read in July and to this point in August.  Some I liked more than others, but all were worth my time in their own right.  You can decide for yourself. 

*****

 Table for Five by Susan Wiggs

As I read this book, I got the distinct impression that I had read the book before.  I checked my blog and even the journal I kept with the books I had read the year before I started blogging (which would take me back three years) and I could not ever find a record of reading it.   So, I kept reading knowing that if I had actually read it, it had been so long ago that it wouldn’t hurt to read it again. 

The story is a good one and very reminiscent of the fairly recent movie, “Life as We Know It.”  Lily and Sean, two people who are as different as night and day, are suddenly thrown into the role of parents as they care for their best friend and brother’s three children.  The evolution of this “family” is a touching and sweet story that left me crying at times and laughing at others.

It also reminded me, once again, that Rob and I have got to make a will.  Leaving the care of your children up to the will of others is not a good idea.  It can get very messy and should not be a decision made by anyone other than the parents.   

*****

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

I loved this book. I. Loved. This. Book.

I actually picked this book up because when I turned it over and read the back cover, Beth Hoffman, author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt (a book that I LOVED!), had been quoted and her comment enticed me into buying the book and reading it.  It was a very good decision. 

Set in Mullaby, North Carolina, we are introduced to Emily (a teenage girl who has recently come to live with her grandfather) her grandfather (a gentle giant), Julia (the cake baker who leaves the window cracked ever so slightly when she bakes and you’ll sob when you discover why she does this), and a long list of other characters who are both memorable and endearing.  The mystery of the Mullaby Lights propels the story forward and links all of the characters together in a very interesting (yet maybe a bit far-fetched) way. 

This story spoke to me as both a daughter and a mother.  The parallel stories of Emily and Julia kept me turning the pages and kept me close to a box of tissues.  I actually read this book last month and I still get teary thinking of the story.  The last chapter truly did me in and I know that it will touch your heart as it touched mine. 

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is right up there with Cee Cee Honeycutt in my opinion.  It’s a great story.  Pick it up and read it.  It will touch your heart.  And make you hungry for cake! 

*****

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

I have waited for this book for a long time.  Emily Giffin doesn’t write a lot of books, but the ones she does craft are done so well that you’ll wait years for her to turn out another one.  Where We Belong has become my favorite of hers (and I seriously loved Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof).

Where We Belong is written in my favorite way: the two main characters (Marian and Kirby) alternate chapters, telling the story in first person.  I love that!  You get to know the characters so deeply this way.  I just love books written like this. 

I can’t give you too many details about Marian and Kirby because it really will spoil the story, but I guarantee you that you will love both of these ladies.  Marian is a 36 year old television producer.  Kirby is an 18 year old who is trying to find her place in the world and is trying to figure out what comes next for her in life.  Marian has spent her entire life hiding a secret that I can’t imagine being able to hide from anyone, much less everyone, but when Kirby appears, her secret becomes a lot more difficult to hide. 

As a mother of two girls, this book was heart wrenching at times.  I read this book in a day and a half on the beach and found myself crying in my beach chair, glad that I don’t wear contacts to the beach because they would’ve been all dried out from the tears.  The book was a quick read and a memorable one.  The characters are hard to forget.  Their lives are hard to forget. 

Before reading the book, I read that Emily Giffin thinks that Kirby might be her favorite of the characters she’s written about.  I might feel the same way.  She’s a really cool 18 year old.  I wish I had only been that mature and intelligent at 18. 

Anyway, if you liked Emily Giffin’s other books, I feel certain you will love Where We Belong. 

*****

The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson

No one recommended this book to me and I’ve never read anything else by Koomson (in fact, I had never even heard of her until I picked up this book). I took a chance on a book one day in Target and I was glad that I did.  This book was fascinating.  Truly.  I was glued to every page and could not turn them fast enough.

The Ice Cream Girls, Poppy and Serena, are telling their separate yet intertwined stories in a series of flashbacks.  The chapters alternate between the two girls, as they tell their present day stories, as well as recount their memories.  Through these memories, we get to meet “Sir” or “Him” depending on which girl is telling the story.  Sir/Him makes me scared to death to send my girls off to high school, but I guess I have to put faith in our local public school system and pray that my girls will never have such a teacher EVER.  We also meet Poppy’s parents and Serena’s family and through these characters we are able to understand both the teenage and adult versions of these two ladies. 

Because this is a murder mystery, I will leave the amazing details in the book and not post them here to spoil the story for any potential reader.  But, I will say this.  I never saw the ending coming.  I never had any idea about what really happened.  It was rather brilliant, actually.  And totally unexpected.  You’ll have to read it for yourself to understand, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 

I will give this one word of caution about this book.  Don’t start reading it if you don’t have much reading time to devote to the book.  You will want to keep reading as the story unfolds and if you can’t, I can only imagine that you might get frustrated.  I started this book after finishing Where We Belong at the beach and finished it on the airplane to Las Vegas.  It was perfect to have long, uninterrupted periods of time, like beach time, or time crossing the country in an airplane, to devote to reading this book.  It was a great read.  Not always easy to read, but truly fascinating. 

*****

Big Sky Country and Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

These two books are the first two of a trilogy written by Miller.  The third is scheduled to be released in January.  I typically save these “cowboy” books, as my husband calls them, for my beach bag because they are simple reads with easy to remember characters and a fairly light plot.  Well, I was right about the books, but this year they were read on the place to and from Las Vegas.  I was grateful for them as the turbulence was a bit bumpy and I could read and distract myself from my fear of dying in flight. 

Anyway, the first book, Big Sky Country, was centered around Slade (totally a cowboy name) and Joslyn.  As the story progresses, along with learning about both Slade and Joslyn, we meet the townspeople of Parable, Montana.  They are generally kind, good-hearted people.  The kind of folks you want to have for neighbors.  It’s these sort of people who have made me want to move to a small town.  If I could only get my family on board! Slade and Joslyn’s story is a good one, although I have to admit, it’s fairly predictable, if you have read other books by Miller, or any other cowboy books at all. 

Big Sky Mountain was my favorite of the two. In this book, we get to know Joslyn’s best friend Kendra and Slade’s brother Hutch.  But, my favorite characters were four year old Madison and Opal, Joslyn’s older friend who is a cook and who we actually met in the first book but get to know better in the second one.  I’d like Opal to come take care of my house.  It would sparkle in no time and I’d have some great family dinners!  Yum! 

I have to say that I am anxiously awaiting January to read the final book in the trilogy as I know it will wrap up the story with Kendra and Hutch as it begins a new story with characters we’ve already met.  I’m going to take a guess and say that the main characters of this last book will be Tara (the New Yorker turned chicken farmer) and Boone (who is a widower with two small boys).  I guess I’ll know in January.

Anyway, if you like cowboy books, or light romances, you can’t go wrong with these first two Big Sky books. 

So, there you have them.  The last six books I read this summer.  I spent today blogging and catching up because tomorrow Debbie Macomber’s newest series debuts with The Inn at Rose Harbor and I can’t wait to read it!  I still have 5 books on my night table, but I am reading Macomber’s new book first.  It might take a while as school has already started for me, but I’m going to savor every word, knowing that I am going to have to wait a full year for the next Rose Harbor book to be unveiled! 

Happy reading everyone!

J Dodie

#32: Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate

Dandelion Summer was another book I picked up during a leisurely shopping trip to Barnes and Noble with my girls and a good friend.  It sounded interesting, was a bargain table book, and the price was too good to pass up for a book that sounded promising.  And, one of my favorite authors (Kristin Hannah) gave a favorable comment on the back cover, so Dandelion Summer came home with me. 

What a great choice!  This story has the most unusual storyline with the most unlikely characters, it's hard not to love it and to remember every detail of the plot.  J. Norm  (a retired space engineer who recently lost his wife and needs a bit of help around his house) and Ephiphany (a high school girl from the wrong side of life) are thrown together in Dandelion Summer when J. Norm's daughter, Deborah, hires Epie to cook for J. Norm a couple times a week.  They not only become friends, but they learn from each other, grow because of each other, and end up helping each other discover their families.  In J. Norm's case, his real family.  There is a bit of a mystery in the plot, as well, which helps to keep the story moving forward, and this mystery is created in such a way that it's hard not to be sucked in and to back J. Norm and Epie as they make bad choices (like Epie driving without a license) in order to find out the truth behind J. Norm's dreams and memories. 

The story is told in my favorite way--the first chapter is told by J. Norm, the second by Epie, and they alternate through the end of the book.  I love this technique as you get the first person perspective from both characters as well as being able to get to know each character more deeply.  It's hard not to love each character, too.  J. Norm is exactly as you'd expect: retired, extremely intelligent, wealthy, set in his ways, and doesn't want anyone to bother him. He is busy trying to figure out the meaning behind some random dreams and memories and can't be bothered to eat, or to remember that he can't walk up and down the stairs.  Epie is a smart, bi-racial high school girl who just wants to still be at her old school where people believed in her and where she actually had some friends.  She finds a friend in J. Norm, and he in her.  It's an unlikely friendship, but it works.  By the end of the book, their friendship has developed into more of a familial relationship and it's so touching, I dare you not to need some tissues!  There are other characters in the book besides these two, and you get to know them through the eyes of Epie and J. Norm, but these two are definitely my favorites!

As I read, I found myself thinking that Rob, my amazing husband, was going to turn out like J. Norm.  I don't know if he will ever have to live without me, but if he should, I imagine that he will take to someone fussing over him about as well as J. Norm.  Rob doesn't like to have to ask for help, he wants to do things his way, and if he ever gets to a point in his life where he can't climb stairs because of a heart condition, he might as well just not be alive at all.  It will devastate him not to be independent.  I can see him hoping to find his own version of Epie, someone who will stand guard and will signal him when one of our girls comes by to check on him, so that he's in his chair with no signs of not following directions anywhere near.  But, I also thought of Rob as J. Norm's chapters progressed and I got to know him and understand him better.  Rob is the father of two girls, and while he is an amazing father, he is also the primary provider for our family.  (I know that I work, but it's hard to support a family of 4 on a teacher's salary) Because of his work, he is away from home often.  He travels, works weekends, and most days isn't home until around 6:00.  As a result, homework is done before he gets home, the stories of the day have been told, and the girls are winding down, or are not even home because of sports and other school commitments.  I think Rob often feels as though he wishes he could be more to the girls than a taxi/ATM.  J. Norm felt the same way and these feelings of his come through in his chapters.  J. Norm ends up writing a letter to his daugther that appears a little past the middle of the story that brought me to tears.  The letter makes it clear that J. Norm is a very sensitive man, who wishes he could've been more to his daughter.  In this letter he gives her advice from the point of view of a father.  I was touched by the wisdom of the letter, but also by how much of it my own husband actually does.  It makes me realize that he is teaching our girls some valuable lessons about their value and place in this world and I am so very grateful for this.  Mothers are necessary, but fathers can teach girls so much that mothers never could.    I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man who has so many great things to teach my girls.   I won't ruin the ending of the book, because it is just a fabulous way to end this moving story, but J. Norm shows more of his kind and giving spirit to Epie at the end of the book.  Again, I thought of Rob, someone who isn't afraid to share his wealth and knowledge with those who need it, and imagined that if given the chance, he would do for someone exactly as J. Norm did for Epie. In fact, I know he would.

I treasure Dandelion Summer and am again reminded that some of the best books can be found not on the main shelf front and center, but at little lower and to the left.  Don't assume that because books are on the bargain table that they are cast offs that are no good and not worth your time. 

My next real book has come again from the sale table at BN.  It's another book about South Carolina.  I enjoyed CeeCee so much that I can't wait to get back to SC in my mind and meet some more interesting characters. 

Happy reading, everyone!
:)  Dodie

#31: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

I went shopping several weeks ago with a good friend and ended up buying 5 books that day.  Two were from the clearance table at Barnes and Noble.  Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was one of them.  The other (Dandelion Summer) I am reading now and am loving as much as I loved CeeCee.  I guess it goes to show that sometimes you can find real treasures for very little money in the bargain bin!  It also proves that some of the best books are NOT the ones that everyone is currently reading and that we should all take a chance on authors whose names we might not recognize immediately.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a glorious book that I hope everyone will read.  It's truly a feel good book that will have you laughing out loud, smiling as you turn the pages, and wanting to be a better person.  The characters are created in such as way that you wish you were their neighbors.  For those of you who loved the characters in The Help, but may not have liked the racial issues that dominated the book because it was often heavy, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is the book for you! 

CeeCee is a twelve year old girl who suddenly finds herself leaving her home and moving to Savannah, Georgia.  The book details one year in her life and is truly an inspirational book in so many ways.  I did notice, it was hard not to, that there are only 2 men in the entire book, and they are not created in a favorable light.  This book is clearly about the complicated relationships that exist amongst women, but these relationships are explored in a such a fun, playful way that it's hard to not admit that, as a woman, you just might be guilty of some of the crazy behavior, too! 

I almost wish that I had saved this book for my trip to the beach in two weeks, because it is the sort of book that you could easily read and completely enjoy while you sunbathed on the beach.  But, I just got an email a couple of days ago that Emily Giffin (who wrote Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Babyproof, just to name three) has a new book coming out just a few days before we leave for the beach.  I can't wait to sit back in my beach chair and read that one, so I am glad CeeCee is done and hopefully Dandelion Summer will be finished by then, too.  Besides, I still have those other 4 books that I bought with my friend to read!  I'm sure they will all end up in my beach bag! 

Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie

P.S. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt will be on my top 10 list this year.  I truly loved it and know that you will, too.  I dare you not to laugh out loud and for those of you who read it...enjoy the flying slugs and the little fight at the end!  Hysterical! 

#30 When They First Met by Debbie Macomber

I have to be honest and admit that this is not an entire book, but a short story meant to entice readers into reading a new series of books by Debbie Macomber.  (But since I only read one book during the entire month of June, I am counting this story as a book!) She's a favorite author of mine and I was deeply saddened to learn last year that her renowned series of Cedar Cove books was ending.  Apparently, I was not the only one upset by this so Macomber has begun a new series of books about Cedar Cove called The Inn at Rose Harbor.  To get her readers excited about this new series, Macomber published in e-format this short story, "When They First Met."  It's only about 25 pages long, but I am hooked.  I have the release date of the first book on my calendar and can't wait for August 14 to get here. 

The story of Paul and Jo Marie Rose touched my heart.  The premise is the saddest thing I have read in a long time and I will not be a spoiler and ruin it for anyone who is interested in this new series.  But, I can tell you that I am overly anxious for August and am thrilled to get to know a new cast of characters in a series that is sure to be as wonderful as the first Cedar Cove series of books.  Jo Marie and Paul are unforgettable. 

This short story is only available in digital format and you can get it for $0.99.  It's well worth the dollar, even though it's only 25 pages.  I bet it will hook you, too! 

Happy Reading!
:)  Dodie

#29 Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton

Yes, it has taken me an entire month to read one 284 page book.  Hard for some to believe, I know, but with the ending of school, some personal things I have been dealing with, and with a vacation to Disney World, there hasn't been a lot of time to read.  I promised myself this year that I would read when I found time and would lead my life as I felt necessary, trying hard to read when it worked and not forcing the pages to be turned when it didn't.  I guess I proved that this month, huh?

Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton is number 7 in a series of knitting mysteries starring Kelly Flynn.  I have loved them all, and this one is no different. I will admit that it was hard to read at times, as this particular mystery deals with sexual assault, which is never easy to have to think about.  Regardless, it was a good story with an ending that made sense and was not predictable, which is always good for a murder mystery. 

Books 8 and 9, borrowed from my mother, are on my shelf, but I am not quite ready to read them yet.  They are easy and light reads (despite the murders that take place in each one) but I am ready for something a bit different.  My next book is called Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and I am excited to read a book by a new author.  I'll be sure to let you know how what I think of it.

Happy reading!
:) Dodie

#28 The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans

It has taken me longer to read this book, a mere 173 pages, than books twice, even three times,  its size.  All I can say, is that quite like the main character of The Road to Grace, recently, I have found myself on a journey and it has taken me some time to get back to where I know I need to be.  But, here I sit once again, in front of my home computer, typing my reaction to a book.  I am now exactly where I need to be. 

In The Road to Grace, Alan Christofferson continues his trek from Seattle, Washington, to Key West Florida.  While the first two volumes in the series kept me enthralled, this third book was a slow start for me and a slow read until the last 50 pages or so.  However, looking back, this one must might be my favorite of the three.  The characters Alan meets as he walks this time through South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri have the most to teach him about forgiveness and the genuine good nature and hearts of people.  There are certainly bends and twists along his path, literally and figuratively, and there's a moment in the last chapter that made me cry tears of fear and pain for Alan, while shaking my head and wondering exactly how much more this man would be subjected to.  As it was last year, it's going to be a very long 365 days before I can find out what happens next and if The Walk will even continue for Alan.

I have always known in my heart that books mean more to a person when they can relate, when the book speaks to their soul, or teaches them a lesson that can't be taught in any other way.  Books often force us to take a long hard look at ourselves, turning the mirror back onto us, forcing us to often see what we really don't want to look at.  Or, as for me this time, books can often make clear what reality makes muddy. 

I said at the beginning of my blog that lately I have been on my own walk.  Not literally, but I have been on a journey that has taught me so much about myself, what I value in life, and how I want to live out the next 50 years.  The truth is, the cause of the journey is irrelevant and what I was walking for matters to no one but myself and my family, but I find the timeliness of reading The Road to Grace rather meaningful.  Was I not supposed to read the book quickly?  What if I had finished it within days of buying it?  Would it have left a mark on my soul as it did now, knowing that the events of the past week, the events that sparked my personal walk, opened my heart and mind to the possibilities of The Road to Grace? I doubt it.  I think I was supposed to carry this book with me on my journey, reading as I found time, pondering when I had a moment or two, and then wrapping it all up tonight, on a night when I had time to reflect and to truly understand the book's meaning and it's meaning to my life in particular.

As I sometimes do when I read, I have highlighted several passages that have particular meaning for me.  The first is, "We chain ourselves to what we do not forgive."  Lately I have been chained and I am ready to be set free.  Holding resentment in your heart is a true burden.  It is debilitating and I am so ready to move on.  Yet, I can't quite bring myself to forgive.  It's like Alan said in my next favorite passage, "Desire.  It is not the ability to walk that pleases God, it is the desire to walk."  I have the desire to forgive, but am not quite ready to make the leap.  But at least I am headed in the right direction.  The reverse of this is also true...I am hoping in my heart that those who I have asked to forgive me will consider letting their burden be released.  Because, for all of us, "He who does not forgive is guilty of the greater sin."  I only wish that was true--that not forgiving was the greatest sin. 

My walk, my journey, brought me home, back to the people who love me most, and I would not have it any other way.  Alan's walk might end, but it might continue on, as he searches for meaning in his life.  He will never return home, but he just might discover what I have learned over the past few weeks.  Home can sometimes be a place, but sometimes "home" is found where ever the ones you love happen to be.  My "home"goes to work and school each day and we meet back at 5225 Chappell Ridge Place almost every evening.  But, if one day those three people, who matter more to me than anything in the world, didn't come home at the end of the day, then my home wouldn't be home any more.   It's no wonder to me, then, that Alan began his walk when his "home" disappeared.  I think I would have done exactly the same thing.

I leave this series for another year and begin my search for a new book to read.  I think I need something lighter.  Between The Road to Grace and the Fifty Shades Trilogy, I have been reading a lot of heavy words lately.  Time to load up the beach bag for a little fluff.  I wonder if I have any cowboy books left?

Happy Reading, everyone!
:)  Dodie

#27 The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts

(This is going to be my shortest blog ever.)

Cute story!  Read the first in the series before reading this one, otherwise you will surely get confused.  Just go ahead and throw both of them in your beach bag!  Light story, great characters, a good read. 

Happy Reading!
:) Dodie

#25 and #26 Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Fifty Shades of Grey presented us with the beginning of a story of a controlling man, both sexually and otherwise, and the girl who falls in love with him.  We get to go inside their bedroom and while some women were shocked (like the lady who was chatting about this book with her hairdresser while I got my hair cut close by, claiming that it was absolute trash and filth), others were gloriously happy, as they were finally able to reach inside and admit that they enjoyed a healthy sex life with their husbands (like the women that were on the Today Show happily admitting that they hadn’t had such great sex with their husbands in a long time) and that they even might want to try some more adventurous activities inside their bedrooms.  

But, once all of those amazing discoveries were made, we close Fifty Shades of Grey and are presented with Fifty Shades Darker and things take a sudden change.  No longer are women talking about Fifty Shades.  The fun and games of the first book takes a much darker turn, yet we keep reading because we can't stop.  We have to know how it all turns out.  I found myself reading Fifty Shades Darker at a fast pace because of this, but not always liking what I read.  The story is a disturbing one, well--Christian's story is a disturbing one, and it isn't always easy to read.  I found myself being amazed with Ana, her strength and her love for Christian was amazing.  Her strength was often challenged and she often questioned her love for him.  I also found myself thinking that I just wouldn't be able to do it.  I could never love a man like Christian.  And then, the next thing I knew, Christian started changing and I started to rethink my views about Christian.  And then I started wondering--can a women really change a man?  Or, better yet...can love really change a person?  

Let us turn now to book three: Fifty Shades Freed.  I wondered from the beginning if this title meant that Ana was freed from Christian or if Christian was freed from his past.  I won't ruin anything by telling you what I think now.  But, what I will say is this.  EL James saved the best for last.  Without a doubt, I liked Fifty Shades Freed the best of the three books.  I was not overwhelmed with sexual details as I was in book 1, and I wasn't scared to death like I was in book 2.  Instead, I was able to finally read a story that was filled with love, packed with action, and that made me smile when the finished the last page.  The book does take you on an emotional roller coaster, but it's so worth it in the end.  And, yes, I think love can change a man. 

When I blogged about Fifty Shades of Grey, I mentioned that EL James led me to believe in her interview on The Today Show that her book was just a story, and pretty much a story about sex.  Well, that was a gross misinterpretation on my part and five seconds into book 2 you will see that sex is just how Christian deals with things (a loosely quoted line from Ana in book 3).  Sex is the cover-up for the real story.  In fact, in book 3, EL James often glosses over the more intimate scenes and instead elaborates on the conversations between Christian and Ana, giving us insight into their emotions and feeling towards each other and their families.  You are going to have to read the series to discover what the sex is covering up--I am not about to ruin that for any reader.  But, it's worth the read, I promise.  It really is a great story about love, romance, and the importance of family.  When you hear people whispering about Fifty Shades, you can just roll your eyes at them because you know better.  This isn't a book about sex at all.  It's a book about how love, real, true, deep love, can soften the hardest heart and can lighten the blackest soul.  Anyone who thinks these books are about sex just doesn't get them. 

Happy Reading!  I am off to begin Nora Roberts' second book in the Inn Boonsboro series.  I can't wait to get re-acquainted with a ghost and a very hunky architect!  

:)  Dodie

#24 Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

During spring break, a neighbor of mine asked if I had read, or had heard about, Fifty Shades of Grey, claiming that it was the newest book that people were raving about.  I had not heard about it, and told her so, but looked it up on my Nook, read the summary, and bookmarked it.  After my neighborly discussion, I knew I was about to read an adult book (and after a quick chat in the orthodontist’s office where the lady next to me was reading the third book in the series and called it “Mommy porn” I was sure of it) but I figured that if I can live through reading Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales for an entire semester in college, I can read anything.  TCT is about the most sexual piece of literature I have ever read (who would’ve thought, right?).  Well…until now. 

 On Tuesday of this past week, EL James (a woman, BTW) was interviewed on The Today Show.  I can’t tell you enough how valuable watching this segment was to my overall experience of reading this book.  The gist of the interview is this: the book details every fantasy she has ever conjured in her head, Christian is a guy that looks good on paper but doesn’t look good in real life, and James herself is shaking her heads at the women everywhere who are reading this book and going crazy over it.  She was laughing at the success of the books and was literally laughing at the interviewer who was asking deep, meaningful questions about Christian—what made him this way, can he really love, etc…  I get the feeling that this trilogy is supposed to be about sex, plain and simple.  And yet, we can’t help but make a huge mountain out of a molehill.  Myself included. 

I guess once you have spent 5 + years reading literature and analyzing it and pulling it apart for themes and characterization, you can’t help but do it with everything else you read, too.  I found myself jotting down notes about Christian and Ana, even Kate, while I was reading.  Rob laughed at me when he caught me doing this, asking if I could ever just read a book for enjoyment, knowing that if ever there was such a book Fifty Shades of Grey was it.  But I couldn’t.  I found myself wanting to know what made Christian tick and what made Ana ever think that she could change him.  Now that I have finished reading the book, I have been feeling an intense sense of loss for Ana.  So much that it makes me wonder if I am getting too connected to this characters that I am reading about.  They are not real, and yet they are so real to me as I am reading about them and living life through them.  Seriously, once an English nerd, always an English nerd. 

Anyway, since I am not into spoiling books for people, I will keep my blog about the big picture of this book for me and not about plot.  So, here goes…

1. I think it’s funny that Christian’s last name is Grey, as that’s exactly what he is.  There are so many layers to him, he’s like an onion.  He’d like for us to think that he’s black and white, that seems to be how he conducts his business, but he’s grey—fifty shades of it in fact. Now, Kate—she’s a black and white kind of girl.  I like her.  She started this entire story, after all.
2. I now want to read Tess of the D’Urbervilles.  Once I finish this trilogy, it will be the next book I read. 
3. Women are emotional creatures full of love and we need to accept that’s who we are and embrace it.  We love with our entire hearts and can’t seem to separate sex from love.  It’s probably the reason men love us so much, but it’s something Ana seems to not have a very good grasp of.  Perhaps it is due to her overall inexperience with men, but it’s something I’ve thought about a lot as I read this book.  As much as we (ie-women) would like to think that we could just have a sexual relationship with a man, I think it would be very hard to execute.  I see this book as being so wildly popular because it allows women to read about something that is completely foreign to them—a relationship that is completely physical and not emotional.  Just as EL James herself said, Christian looks good on paper but is not good in real life.  I’d go a step further—not only is he not good in real life, he’s just not realistic in real life.  Most women want it all—husband, kids, a career—where do you find time to squeeze in all of those things when you are busy in the Play Room?  It’s just not realistic. Fun to think about?  Yes.  Realistic?  No way.
4.  This leads to my next question which is, can sex substitute for love? On page 472 of the text, Ava admits that the sex is a “distraction from the real issue.”  Sadly, we are just never quite sure what that real issue is or why Christian behaves as he does, but it’s quite clear that he behaves as he does for a reason (and I sure hope that the second books clears this all up).  Can this crazy physical relationship that he has with Ana be a substitute for love?  Is it good enough for him?  Will it satiate Ana?  Will it every really be enough? 
5. Christian agrees to try “more” for Ana, but will he ever be capable of “more?”  Can women really change men? Hmm…things to think about.

So, I’d like to finish up with a story (that could very well spoil the ending so read with caution).  When I finished reading Fifty Shades of Grey during lunch today, I walked away from the book with a knot in my stomach.  I ached for Ana because I know her pain.  I know how it feels to walk away from someone you love, someone you care so deeply for, because you know deep down that that person will never be what you really need them to be (not want them to be, but NEED them to be--there is a difference).  That pain never really goes away.  You second-guess your decision every day, even years, decades later.  Your first love is unforgettable, that’s for certain.  I doubt Ana will ever forget hers.  I have never forgotten mine.

On to book two…Fifty Shades Darker.  Oh my...

Happy Reading!
J Dodie

#23 Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

When I was in middle school (I think it was middle school, it may even have been late elementary school) I discovered a set of books where you could choose what happened.  They were so cool...you read a set number of pages and at the end if you wanted A to happen you turned to page such and such, but if you wanted B to happen, you turned to a different set of pages.  I remember reading the books first the way I wanted them to turn out, and then going back and reading it the other way.  (Mathematically speaking, there were clearly more than two potential stories, but you get the idea).  The reason I thought back to these books is because I wish there had been a choose your own ending version of  Forever.  Much like the final book of The Hunger Games, I was disappointed in Forever.  Much like final book of The Hunger Games, I felt compelled to read the last book to see how the trilogy turned out.  So, I read it.  But it wasn't my favorite of the three (just like The Hunger Games)

I don't want to ruin this series for anyone, especially my neighbor who reserved the first two books at the library after reading my posts about the first two, so I am not going to even hit the highlights of the plot of Forever.  I will say this, though...Forever is the most action packed of the three books.  It was truly a page turner.  Just when you thought the conflist was resolved, someone came along and changed everything.  For that reason, I liked the book.  I liked it for other reasons, too.  Sam and Grace and Isabel and Cole...well, they just warm your heart.  I loved seeing Cole's character develop even further--I really liked him by the end of the book.  And, reading Forever truly was necessary.  You can't just stop reading a trilogy after book two.  You are compelled to read to completion.  Or, atleast I was. 

So, here it is...what I didn't like was how abruptly Forever ended. There are so many questions that I have that were left unanswered.  An epilogue would've been nice, just so I knew what had really happened, but I guess maybe even Maggie doesn't know how it all turned out.  Maybe it was intentional so that we could imagine in our own minds how the story ended, or perhaps continued, if you want to look at it in a more positive light.  Regardless, I need to know more and feel a bit deflated by the ending.  The sad part is that I can't even tell you want I think happened because it would ruin the book for my friends who have yet to read it.  UGH!!! 

I guess the bottom line is this: when you begin a trilogy, you need to be in it to finish it.  I read the entire series because the book propels you in that direction.  I would've been more frustrated had I not read it at all.  I would've always wondered how things had turned out.  While I know more now than if I hadn't read Forever, I certainly don't know enough to satisfy my curiosity.  But, I guess that's the beauty of a book that is ambiguous at the end...you can make it what you want.  So for any of you out there who are going to read this series, when you finish Forever, call me.  I want to know what you think happened. 

Happy Reading!
:) Dodie

My reaction to the film version of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

In case you didn't get to read this, this was the blog post I wrote last year, back in October, after reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close...

I have very mixed emotions, although strong in both directions, about this book.

On the one hand, I spent 180 pages being completely and totally confused about what was actually taking place. I couldn't keep up with the characters, I had no idea what any of them, except Oskar, was doing, and felt certain that it was my age and lack of genious level intelligence that was keeping me in the dark. In addition, the stream of continuous dialogue made my head ache as I tried to follow along and figure out who was really saying what. Bottom line, I spend 180 pages feeling like a total idiot who was not smart enough to read this book.

Turn to page 181, everything changed, and the tears started flowing. All of the pieces of the story connected for me (FINALLY) and the story came together. In that moment, as I was calling for one of my girls to find my tissues, I could feel Oskar's pain and it overwhelmed me. I knew going into this book that it was about 9/11 and a boy who lost his father on that terrible day. I knew that it was going to be sad, but I felt like I could distance myself from it. I am a bad judge of my own character.

I might be able to distance myself from some of the events if 9/11. I wasn't in NY that day, I didn't know anyone in NY that day, my family was safe and sound, and I just prayed that we would prevail on September 12. But as I read this book, what I couldn't distance myself from was Oskar's search for his dad. In one quick moment, I was 13 again. The year I discovered how my father really died. A friend connected the dots for me and we were able to piece together the entire story (it was my version of Oskar's key and the Renter) and I have never been the same. I remember spending my teenage years searching for clues--what did he like to eat, what was his favorite color, who were his friends in High School--and praying that there was someone who could tell me something new about him. Just like Oskar, I searched. When the memories of this came back, I couldn't breathe. Sobbing to the point of not being able to talk (and won't my husband feel badly now about laughing at his wife who always cries over books) I plugged on and finished Oskar's story. I knew I had to see where his search took him. I knew where mine had led.

But it wasn't just Oskar's story that I was reading, it was his mother's story, and his grandfather's story, and his grandmother's story. And, it was about all of the people he met along the way while he searched. They were all connected. They were all a piece of each other's story.

Yes, this novel is about 9/11, but it's about so much more. For me, it was a reminder that even though I grew up without a dad, that even though I am still missing pieces of his life puzzle, I am part of him and he is part of me. For one short year, we were a part of each other's lives. I was too young to have memories of what he looked like, I have to rely on pictures. I was too young to know his personality and I rely on others to tell me stories of what he was like. I will never really know what he was like. I will never really know what happened in his mind the day he died. I will never really know anything for certain. But, like Oskar, when the searching was over, I was OK. My mom was OK, my family was OK, and we came to peace with it all and we all moved on. We don't forget, but we aren't crippled by the sadness anymore.
I do know that I can't possibly see this movie when it comes out. I will need to wait until it comes out on DVD and I can watch it in my own home. I know I am going to cry and I know that it's not going to be pretty, so why subject strangers to my drama? For those of you brave enough to venture out, let me know how you like the movie. Personally, I really liked the book (after page 180, that is!).


Yesterday, I watched the movie with my friend, Meghan, who may/may not have read this blog post last year and may not have realized what she was getting into when she headed up to our third floor to watch this movie yesterday.  Thanks for being a good friend, Meghan! 

Luckily, I had some insight into the plot and could follow the movie way better than I was ever able to follow the book.  It still flashed back and forth, which was at times confusing even within the movie.  I was even able to watch until the very end without crying.  But when Oskar took the key back to Abby Black and she took him to her ex-husband, the tears began to flow.  And they are flowing again as I type these words.  I have just never read a book, or watched a movie, that literally brings me to my knees every time when I think about the pain that Oskar or his mom or that Mr. Black felt.  Because when I think about their pain, I remember my own.  I knew I was going to cry and I was right.  I think the only thing that kept me from falling completely apart was that I was sitting in a room with a friend, who happens to be Emily's teacher, and I really didn't want to totally freak her out.  :) 

Yes, this blog post is totally self-indulgent.  But, writing has always helped me sort through things.  I did not talk to Meghan about this yesterday, and I did not talk to Rob about it either.  I saved it all up for today...to sort out and to post.  The thing is, there are people in my life who have heard this same story for YEARS and they are probably tired of it.  But I think that just speaks to the breadth of sadness...you can keep going, but you never forget and there are times when it all comes flooding back and you have to give in, to cry, to think about it, to talk about it (at least I do) and then you can move on again until the next reminder.  That just about sums up the past 27 years of my life. 

The part of the movie that I loved the most, and it's a part that surpasses the same scene in the book, in my opinion, is the end, after Oskar has talked to Mr. Black and has realized that the key was never intended for him.  It was never a clue at all, but was accidentally left inside the vase Oskar's dad bought for his mom.  Oskar goes home and there sits his mother, who tells him that she had known all along about his plan and had gone to talk to each person on his list herself, explaining what Oskar was up to and asking if each person would help him in his search.  She did it to protect him, to keep him safe in an unsafe city.  The flashbacks to the hugger, the girls grooming the horses, and all of the other people along the way who talked with Oskar made me so hopeful and I think that's the real reason why I was crying.  I think people are generally good, especially in times of crisis, and especially in reaction to 9/11.  They seemed to truly want to help, even if they couldn't, and their hearts seemed to break for this little boy who was searching for clues to help him know his dad just a little bit better.  Now, if that goodness and kindness could extend beyond times of crisis, our world would be a better place.

But I was also crying because I remember how kind people have been to me over the years as I searched for clues about my dad, or asked for stories, or for anything that would help me to understand and their kindess and strength overwhelmed me.  Or, how my friends from middle and high school would just let me talk it out, or cry it out, never trying to fix things but just listening, probably because no one really knew what to say.  But, like Oskar, who was trying to hang on to those last 8 minutes, my 8 minutes are beginning to fade, too.  I have an entire scrapbook that I made several years ago that helps, and messages like the one I got from my cousin after I blogging last year help, too.  I'm stretching those 8 minutes as far as I can get them.  Unlike Oskar, I have never written a personal letter to each and every person who told me a story about my dad, or helped me learn to know him.  I like the idea, the personal touch, but wonder where Oskar found the time to write to over 200 people?  I would like to think, though, that all of the people in my life who have listened, held me as I cried, or shared a picture or a really great story, know how much I appreciate their contribution to the picture of my dad that I carry in my head and in my heart every day.  If it weren't for these people, some relatives, some friends, my 8 minutes would've faded long ago. 

For you, and for him, I am forever grateful.

#22 Blue-Eyed Devil

You know how people say that you can't judge a book by it's cover?  Well, I was seriously hoping whoever said that was wrong when I picked up and bought Blue-Eyed Devil.  The front cover is 80% teal blue with the author's name and the book's title covering that space.  Then, in that last 20% at the bottom is a man wearing jeans and no shirt walking down a dirt road that is flanked by dry yellow and brown fields.  When I bought it, I was seriously hoping for a spring break night table book.  That's what it looks like from the cover.  But, that's not at all what I got. 
The back cover lets you know that the man is Hardy Cates (what a name) and he is an oil man from Texas (OK--now I am hooked, if I wasn't already).  He's a self-made millionaire (really hooked) from the wrong side of the tracks.  His co-lead in this story is the beautiful Haven, a woman who knows what she wants, but what she wants is typically the exact opposite of what her family--including her 3 older brothers--wants for her.  She doesn't want Hardy, she wants Nick, who, honestly, I liked at first.  But once they get married, things suddenly turn very wrong. 

The book I thought was going to be a light read, turned into one very heavy story.  It explores Narcissistic Personality Disorder in two different characters (you will have to read to find out who they are) and it turns what I thought was going to be a steamy romance between Hardy and Haven, into something completely different.  With that said, it really was a page turner and an easy read (keep some tissues closeby, though).  I read a little more than 100  pages in the car last night in right around an hour and a half  and then finished the rest this morning (328 total).  Again, I felt compelled to find out how the story resolved itself and the rest of my life stopped until the book was finished.  It ends up being a complicated story that somehow touches upon lots of issues: family dynamics, NPD, rich vs poor, the oil industry and conservation, work place politics, babies, and even a flood.  Phew--I get tired just thinking about how packed this books was.  And silly me thought it was just a romance novel.  Ha!  The joke is on me. 

For those friends who follow this blog to get ideas for spring break and summer books, this is a good one for your beach bag.  It's quick, action packed, and just a good story that ends up turning out exactly as you hoped it would, but with enough twists and turns along the way to keep you wondering if it ever will.  Read it.  You won't be sorry!

Happy Reading!
:) Dodie

#21 Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

We all know that I couldn't resist the sequel and downloaded Linger before I ever even hit "Publish Post" to post my blog about Shiver.  I guess the good news for me is that Richard Paul Evans' book was delayed and will not be out until May.  So, I guess I made a good decision.
I just re-read by post about Shiver and while I still think it was spot-on, the pace of Linger is a bit more action packed, for those of you who don't want to be bored when you read. Honestly, I couldn't put it down and was a little bummed by my decision to buy an iPhone right after downloading this new book.  Until Saturday, I had done ZERO reading.  I have become hooked on Words with Friends and have been playing non-stop.  It's hard to read when you hear a "ping" every five seconds. But, on my way to my inlaws (between rounds of Words with Friends), I read Linger for 4 hours.  Then, I finished it on the way home yesterday.  I am sure that as soon as I finish this blog post and the one after it (yes, I read another book yesterday and this morning), Forever will be downloaded to my Nook. I am dying to know how this story resolves itself. 

I loved Linger every bit as much as I loved Shiver, perhaps even more.  In Linger, the love between Sam and Grace continues, with an interesting twist, but we also get to meet some amazing new characters, who, instead of being bitten, have intentionally chosen the life of a werewolf .  As a result, these characters have introduced some new themes and ideas to the series.  Now, instead of lovers pulled apart by a life they didn't ask for--which clearly tugs on your heartstrings, we meet Victor and Cole, who are so upset by their different realities, that they willingly accept the life of a wolf and are hoping to shift and never return to their human form again (a variation of suicide).  Their stories spill out over the course of the book and are heart wrenching.  If you didn't feel sympathy for Sam and Grace, you will for Victor and Cole.  Isabel and Rachel, who we met in Shiver, are back, but their characters are more heavily developed and I feel like after reading Linger, I know them much better.  In addition to Cole and Victor's stories, the reality of Grace's relationship with her parents is explored in depth and it, too, is a heart wrenching story.  The bottom line, I guess, is that all of the teens in this book are dealing with issues and relationships that most average teenagers deal with (except maybe Cole), but when you throw the werewolf issue in as well, this becomes no ordinary story.  And is it ever a good one.

As with Shiver, Linger left me wondering if I had just read what I had just read.  The story takes an unexpected twist right at the very end and I can't wait to see how Stiefvater irons this all out.

Happy Reading,
:) Dodie