Library Haul - June 2015

1. A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

because...

 fairy tale retelling YA is one of my [many] indulgences.

2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

because...

 I haven't yet. AND because Nora Roberts and George RR Martin together would nod approvingly.

3. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

because...

 I keep hearing about it and even though I'm a wimp, can't help liking the occasional horror. In the middle of the day. With the lights on.

4. Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School #3) by Gail Carriger

because...

 I like the last two books and, really, who can stop a trilogy at book two?!

5. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

because...

 the cover caught my eye. And yes, I am that petty.

6. Exile, Texas by Roxanne Longstreet Conrad

because...

 I'm from small town Texas and my very redneck roots made me.

7. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

because...

 it's a bestseller and my brother won't stop begging me to read it.

8. The Spy by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

because...

 my brother also raved about this one and I love action thrillers.

9. Ironskin by Tina Connolly

because...

YA. Fairy tales. I think I've covered this already...

10. Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

because...

 this is one of my favorite series and thought I'd restart it.

My New Love: Gramovox Bluetooth Gramophone

I am completely in love with this!! I have a thing for old fashioned things (and let's be honest, I'd also take an original Magnavox) but the old school/ new school charm of this is irresistible.

You can read more about the Gramovax here.

Resolution Update

Have so far lost 10 lbs by making better food choices, weightlifting and doing the occasional jog. Not bad for a month and a half. Still on track with my DietBet and have just started the slow-carb diet, made famous by Tim Ferriss.

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series #1) by Laurell Hamilton

Details

ISBN-13: 9780425197547
Publication date: 8/3/2004
Series: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series , #1
Pages: 368

Summary

“My name is Anita Blake. Vampires call me “The Executioner”. What I call them isn’t repeatable.
Ever since the Supreme Court granted the undead equal rights, most people think vampires are just ordinary folks with fangs. I know better. I’ve seen their victims. I carry the scars…

But now a serial killer is murdering vampires—and the most powerful bloodsucker in town wants me to find the killer… “

In a world where vampires, zombies and werewolves have been declared legal citizens of the United States, Anita Blake is an “animator” – a profession that involves raising the dead for mourning relatives. But Anita is also known as a fearsome hunter of criminal vampires, and she’s often employed to investigate cases that are far too much for conventional police. But as Anita gains the attention of the vampire masters of her hometown of St Louis, she also risks revealing an intriguing secret about herself – the source of her unusual strength and power.

Review  

I rarely reread books and much less series; this is one of the few exceptions. Anita Blake is one of my favorite paranormal characters of all time (that is, at this point in the series, because I HAVE read the reviews about the last ten or so books...)...right up there with Mercy Thompson. She's spunky, tough, and has a great sarcastic chip on her shoulder. Downed this one in a day, anxious to reintroduce myself with Anita, Jean Claude, the steamy but annoying vamp, and Edward, the soulless assassin who happens to also be Anita's good...friend?

All in all, loved this story as much as I did the first go around. Unfortunately, being privy to the reviews of how this series, uhm, morphes, I'm a bit afraid to invest my heart into it...

4/5

 

Crash (Visions #1) by Lisa McMann

Details

• ISBN-13: 9781442405912
• Publication date: 8/6/2013
• Series: Visions Series , #1
• Pages: 233

Summary

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

Review

Short and sweet. I like the characters - typical girl with a crush on a childhood sweetheart slash Romeo and Juliet family rivalry and pizza. Other than the characters, and the 'I-SWEAR-I'M-NOT-CRAZY, I CAN SEE THE FUTURE!' thing, it was a bit droll. And the ending!!! Not expected, but a definite (and, might I add, lame) serial set-up. Don't know if I want to commit reading more of the series if the pace and style stay the same.

3/5

2014 Resolution: DietBet 10 Challenge

I have more or less made a good start on my intricate resolution plan for 2014, one which focuses on health, diet and reading (I have to have a little pleasure, right?!).

As for the weight loss portion, I have set up a few challenges and workout/eating plans to reach my goal. The main driver is the DietBet 10 Challenge, where you can win mullah if you lose 10% body weight in 6 months! You put money in the pot, which is motivating, but you can win a crap-ton more, which is even more motivating.

Sister 2013 by Jeannie Hsieh

I was about to decide I wouldn't find another CPop song for the year that I could even listen to, but this was worth the wait. Didn't really care for it the first time, but since it was kinda catchy, I took another round with it and it stuck. I like the video too - even though it's a bit out there (and on my own I would NEVER have made all the knock-off connections), I really do like it. Makes you want to dance!!!