Christy’s Ramblings

I’m an avid reader, usually reading 3 to 4 books a month. Sadly, the last several months have been uber busy and I’m only a fourth of the way through “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett that I started in…*gasp*…September! The shame! I finally did pick it back up yesterday while waiting on an appointment and got back into it again. Maybe I’ll finish it before spring! If you’re interested in any other good books, see my book list.

I don’t often write of book reviews, but this one truly captured my heart!  “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein is utterly amazing!  Particularly if you are a dog lover, as I am.  It’s a story from a very intelligent dog’s point of view who’s goal is to be reincarnated as a human.  It deals with love and loss, family trials and tribulations, and most importantly…love and acceptance.  It makes you think twice about your life, about what you have and what could be, as well as the faithfulness of our wonderful canine companions.  I urge you to read this book!  And if you have or if you do, please comment and share your theories.  I don’t want to say much more for fear of ruining the book….but I highly, highly recommend it!  This one will definitely be on my re-read list.

About ten minutes ago I finished the fourth book of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.  I really had no intention of reading them.  But the week of Christmas I took Portia and her friend to see the Twilight movie.  I was going to drop them off to see Twilight and then head to see something else on my own, but the girls talked me into seeing it.  I’m usually not into the whole vampire thing, but Portia had already read all of the books and knew I would probably like it.  So due to curiosity and the diminishing occasions where Portia actually wants me to be in her presence, I decided to give it a shot.  And then I was hooked.

After we got home I immediately asked Portia for the books.  I was in the middle of reading one of my book club books, and since I can’t read more than one book at a time (personal affliction I have), it was well into January before I got a chance to start the first book.  Within about 20 days I finished the entire saga - all 2,560 pages.  I’m not a slow reader, but I’m not a particularly fast reader - I just couldn’t put them down (much to Jason’s dismay).  Plus they are in the “young adult” category, so a fairly easy read.  Now I’m reading the beginnings of “Midnight Sun” online, the Twilight book rewritten in Edward’s perspective.  It’s not complete, but it’s interesting to read from a different character’s view point.  If you’re interested, you can download the PDF from Stephenie Meyer’s blog.   (Go to the end of the first section of the page - right before the first horizontal line - and click on the link that says “Midnight Sun Chapter 1″.)  It’s a 246 page draft of what she was going to publish.  Her blog explains the reasoning behind not publishing it, as initially intended.

Now after reading the books, I’m interested to see the movie again.  I believe I read that it comes out on DVD on March 21.  Twilight party, anyone? 

Our first book club meeting was tonight. It was fantastic! I managed to read the entire book in two hours yesterday. (I am the queen of procrastination!) Jennifer cooked a wonderful dinner of grilled swordfish with rice, salad and various dishes the other group members brought. I usually don’t care for any kind of seafood, but YUM was it good!

This is my first book club experience so I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was so much fun! If any of my blog readers are here local and want to join let me know. We meet once a month on Tuesday evenings for dinner and discussion. The next book is “The Moonlit Cage” by Linda Holeman and the next meeting is July 29 (*hint hint to Jenn Lee!*).

I’m also looking for future book recommendations, so if anyone has any good ones let me know! I’m already raiding Pigs’ list for the next meeting deliberations.

Something I have always wanted to do is join a book club…and now I’m a member of one! As we were having dinner with our friend’s Jennifer & Scott last week I found out that she was starting a small local book club. She asked if I was interested and I jumped at the chance to try it out. We’ll be discussing our book over dinner and wine for our first meet-up. The first meeting is next week. The book of choice this month is “Amsterdam” by Ian McEwan. If anyone has read this book I’d love to hear opinions.

I have the book, but I haven’t even read the first page yet, but it’s only 193 pages so I should be fine. I’m already in the middle of a Patricia Cornwell book and I hate to start a new book when I’m in the middle of reading something else, but I guess I’m going to have to due to lack of time to sit and finish the other one first. I tend to stick with authors that I know and like and don’t venture out much unless something is recommended to me, so I’m hoping this club will open me up to trying new authors and different types of writing styles. We’ll see what happens!