Summer Reading

Hello friends.

Are you staying cool?

It is hot here in Pennsylvania. 

I took a picture of the temperature in my car which I will use to remind myself every time I complain its too cold this coming winter.

This heat is made worse by the fact that I am pretty sure I am pre menopausal because I have been having terrible hot flashes.

But thats not what I want to talk about because I do have at least one male loyal reader Andrew and I am certain he has no interest in talking about hot flashes. 

I have been keeping a list of books that I would like to read this summer.

Some of the books are books I meant to read in the winter but never got to.

I am a little disappointed in how short my list is.

Usually by this time I have a whole pile of books that I plan to read but sadly this year I have no pile and only a few titles written on a scrap of paper.

I thought I would maybe share with you my list and hopefully you can give me a few to add.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Barnes and Noble Overview:

 On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand 

(she is my summer reading staple)

Barnes and Noble Overview:

 A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb 

(one of my hold overs from the winter)

Barnes and Noble Overview:

In this extraordinary coming-of-age odyssey, Wally Lamb invites us to hitch a wild ride on a journey of love, pain, and renewal with the most heartbreakingly comical heroine to come along in years. Meet Dolores Price. She's 13, wise-mouthed but wounded, having bid her childhood goodbye. Stranded in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallomars, potato chips, and Pepsi that her anxious mother supplies. When she finally orbits into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder. But this time she's determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before she really goes under.

I also preordered Jennifer Hillier's new book 

Freak

which I am excited to read. It somes out 8/7

Barnes and Noble Overview: 

Sitting alone in a maximum-security prison cell, Abby Maddox is a celebrity. Her claim to fame is the envy of every freak on the outside: she’s the former lover of Ethan Wolfe, the killer who left more than a dozen dead women in his wake and nearly added Puget Sound State professor Sheila Tao to the tally. Now Abby, serving a nine-year sentence for slashing a police officer’s throat in a moment of rage, has little human contact—save for the letters that pour in from demented fans, lunatics, and creeps. But a new wave of murders has given Abby a possible chance for a plea bargain—because this killer has been sending her love letters, and carving a message on the bodies of the victims: Free Abby Maddox.

Odd Apocalypse by Dead Koontz comes out 7/30

I love the Odd Thomas series so I am very excited for this book.

Barnes and Noble Overview:

In advance of the much-buzzed Odd Thomas major motion picture, Odd Apocalypse chronicles Odd Thomas’s most riveting adventure to date, as his mysterious journey of suspense and discovery moves to a dangerous new level. The Odd Thomas series is kicked into overdrive as Odd confronts deadly adversaries in a decaying estate straight out of Sunset Boulevard.

And another preorder but it doesn't come out until 9/27 so its not really a summer read is the much anticipated JK Rowling release

The Casual Vacancy

Barnes and Noble Overview: 

When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

And that is it.

Not much of a long list this summer.

Do you have any you would like to recommend?

I am reading: The Breath of God by Jeffrey Small

Books make the best gift!

This year and every year for Christmas I always have books on my list.

Usually my Godsons get me a Barnes and Noble gift card which is awesome.

On my wish list of books.........

The Taker by Alma Katsu

11/26/63 by Stephen King

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D James

I did get a gift card from my godson Ian so.......Thanks Ian. 

And Amber got me The Taker which I started reading and it is really really good! 

So I plan on making a trip to B&N to purchase the rest.

My sister and I bought my Mom a Nook for Christmas.

She was resistant and first but I do think she will enjoy it and being that she does not drive it will make purchasing books easier for her because she won't have to wait for one of her lousy kids to drive her to the bookstore. 

I kid we aren't all lousy......just my brothers.

Judy and I opted to buy her the latest Nook addition because it seemed the easiest to use.

Not that my Mom couldn't handle the Color or Tablet 

ahem...........its just she isn't very good with technology.

shhhhh cause she's old shhhhhhh 

Anyway.......I think she will enjoy the convenience.

Why didn't we buy a Kindle?

I don't like them.

I have researched....from a techie perspective.....and I just like the guts of the Nook better.

Did you have books on your gift list? 

Did you give a book for the holiday?

Top Five Awesome Dad's in Books

In honor of Father's Day I thought I would list my top five Dad's in books.

And since this is my blog and pretty much the only place that I have full authority that is exactly what I am going to do.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Father - In this amazing post apocalyptic novel McCarthy tells the story of a father and son travelling in search of food, shelter and survival. In this new world there is little food so some have resorted to cannibalism. The unnamed father's only goal is the safety and survival of his son. In this ash filled burned out world the love for his son adds some light to this dark story.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Atticus Finch - My favorite of all fathers in books. Atticus is a widower raising his children with his sense of morality and justice. His empathy throughout the story is moving. His love for his children can be felt even as he puts his family in danger because of his support for racial equality. What I love best about Atticus is that he treated his children with respect and he never dumbed down the words he used when speaking to them. His fairness when dealing with his children's squabbles and the fact that he listens to them instead of just telling them is wonderful.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Mr. O'Hara - Any father who can handle Scarlett is a great father as far as I am concerned. Mr. O'Hara loves his wife, in fact he almost loses his mind after she dies, and his children completely. Although he can sometimes be selfish......well where do you think Scarlett got it from? He is still a loving father.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Mr. Bennett - Not the greatest father but not the worst. Mr Bennett really just wants to be left alone. He seems to be annoyed by his wife and most of his daughters, Jane and Elizabeth the only two he is able to tolerate. He is a man who just wants to sit in his study with his books......and who can blame him for that?

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Mr. Weasley - I love Mr. Weasley for his silliness and his joy in all things Muggle. He is a devoted husband and father. Adored by his wife and children. He always puts his family first and they are strongest when united together. I read somewhere that Mr Weasley was supposed to die in book 5 after Nagini's attack. I would have been devastated so I am glad she changed her mind.

So there you have it folks.

My list of top Dads in books

If I can take a minute to mention my own Dad

although he is not a Dad in a book he was always a Dad with a book. He loved to read and I am pretty sure that this is where my love of reading comes from. Like Atticus my Dad never dumbed down his words. If he used a word you did not know. He would have you look it up in the dictionary and then come back to him tell him the meaning and use it in a sentence. He did this from the time I was little until I was 24 which is the age I was when he died. I am certain he would be doing it now to my children if he were alive. My Dad loved his eleven children and worshiped my Mom.

This is him with his five daughter...you love the 1980's rainbow wedding attire and you know it.

I'm the little one.

He was not perfect. He tended to be strict with his rules and expectations and loved to say things like......

Do as I say not as I do

or

Yours is not to reason why yours is but to do or die

or

I may not always be right but I am never wrong

and my all time favorite

Well you know what they say in Guatemala? to which when said to you the first time you would reply What? and he would say Tough Shit. After you heard it once he never had to say the Tough Shit part He would just say Well you know what they say in Guatemala......and you would walk away shaking your head.

His grandchildren thought he had magic healing powers and would insist on his treatment for whatever ailment or injury they suffered.

My daughter Amber was especially close to him as he and my Mom helped in raising her for the first five years of her life until I got married. My dad picked Amber and my nephew Kyle up everyday after school and brought them to my parents house. They would fight over who got to see up front with Pop Pop....this of course being before car seats and booster seats and airbags. When he was gone I believe the two of them were hit the hardest. They felt the loss of his love and support too soon.

We were always told that we could be anything we wanted to be and we knew he meant it.

He may be gone but he lives on in his children and grandchildren.

Happy (early) Father's  Day to all of the Dads out there!

Have a Fabulous Friday

I read and read and read some more

So it was a long weekend and I spent it reading.

I finished Graveminder

Hop over to my Book Chat tab to see what I thought

And I read a book by one of my followers Elliot Grace

South of Charm

and it was good!

 I don't say that with surprise I say that because it was good!

I picked it up on Friday and did not put it down until yesterday (Monday) afternoon

The story is about a ten year old boy who is forced, along with his four year old sister, to watch his parents’ marriage disintegrate

His mother starts acting completely out of character....I won't tell you why you will figure it out on your own

Most of the story is told from his perspective and I found it both sad and interesting to look at the violence and abuse parents can sometimes inflict on each other through the eyes of their child. You will want to think some parts of the story seem unrealistic...but pick up any newspaper and you will realize that the sad truth is this is probably happening everyday in your own town.

On a happier note

I love that there is a baseball aspect to the story...cause its summer time and baseball is the king of summer

Go Phillies!

Although the little league coach is a complete jackass.

I found myself yelling at the characters which is a good sign....if I care enough to show how crazy I am without caring who is looking at me....well then, that my friend means the book and characters

are well written.

Normally my reading leans towards the Horror, Mystery, Paranormal type novel but South of Charm

was a nice break from that and it really made me think...which sometimes I like to do.
I have a little bit longer review of this book under my Book Chat tab.

******I would like to include a disclaimer******

I am not saying I like this book because Elliott is a follower.

I promise you I will never do that.

If I say I like something well then you can take that as the truth.

If I didn't like his book I just would never have mentioned reading it at all.

I won't hand out fake praise...I hate when people do that.

I'm keeping it real

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Writing Sheds

This might be my favorite picture. I love the colors 

 I love the New England Cape Cod colors 

In a dream world I use this as my writing shed.

There are many famous writers who had little writing sheds

  Roald Dahl's writing hut - this was his private space where he wrote all of his books.

No one else was allowed in his writing hut.

I love the yellow door!

Virginia Wolf's writing cabin

the little path leading to the door makes this cabin very enchanting

Mark Twain's writing hut

The roof is amazing. This looks more like an enclosed Gazebo but whatever it is its where Mark Twain did his writing.

George Bernard Shaw's writing shed.

Not much to look at but it actually was on a swivel thing so that it could be turned for the best light or view. That's pretty cool.

Very inspiring...These are beautiful examples of personal writing spaces. You can actually look these up on line and some of the sites will show you the inside of the shed which to me is very interesting to see what these writers surrounded themselves with.

So what do you surround yourself with when you are being creative?

Charlotte Tries Again

Charlotte made another attempt to make friends with my son..

Here is what happened.

First she thought she would try reading Harry Potter. Charlotte knows he loves Harry Potter and is eagerly anticipating the final movie in July. So she climbed the tall bookshelf and chose the last book in the series. She even put on her glasses....Harry wears glasses so maybe this would make him like her.

It didn't work. She forgot she can't read.

Next she tried learning how to play one of his video games.

 After he left for school she snuck into his room and brought down his handheld game.....

This wouldn't work either because you can't use the controls when your fingers are all molded together.

She decided to ask the smartest person she knows....

Edgar

But he just looked down and her and said

"Please step away from the books Madame"

Disappointed she climbed onto her favorite window seat with her dog.

While sitting there petting him and looking out the window she came up with a brilliant idea

PERRY!!!!

He loves Perry so if she could get Perry to like her

Well than for sure the boy would!

She found Perry sitting in his usual spot waiting for him to come home from school

But Perry, he was a little afraid of Charlotte too.

Feeling this was definitely the way into the boy's heart, Charlotte went into the pantry and took down the box of doggie treats

At first he was nervous but once he realized she wasn't going to hurt him

he took the treat

And now he loves her....dogs are so easy Charlotte thought to herself

Now it is time to show the boy.......

Tune in next time to see if her efforts paid off.

Until then.......

Have a Thoroughly Awesome Thursday!

Top Ten Scary Ass Supernaturals for Friday the 13th

First of all blogger has me really irritated because my Pet Peeve post is gone! So annoying!!!

Anyway....I am doing another co-post over at my BBF (best blog friend) Stacey's blog http://wearnailpolish.blogspot.com/. Its our top ten Scary Evil Supernatural Women in books.

You should check it out....and read Stacey's blog.....and follow her on twitter and follow her blog.....but don't try to steal her as your best blog friend....

cause she is my best blog friend!

Go check it out....


I'll wait here.....


unless of course blogger decides to delete this post too

One last thing I will be reviewing the latest Southern Vampire Series
Dead Reckoning

look for a post about it under my tab Book Chat this weekend!

Until then my Friends

Have a frightfully fabulous Friday the 13th

Chicks That Kick Butt YA Edition

First off since this is a post about YA I used butt instead of ass I thought it was more appropriate.

This is a joint post with Stacey from http://wearnailpolish.blogspot.com. Stacey has an awesome blog and if I was doing a post for kick ass chick bloggers she would be top on my list.
So here is the deal I will list my top 5 and Stacey will list her top 5. It's very simple and awesome at the same time. So we hope you enjoy the list.
 I must confess although I love YA Books I don't read them very often so please forgive me if I left out anyone obvious.

1. Max from Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
Max is a genetically engineered self described bird kid. She has awesome wings and is super strong which is needed for when she is kicking Eraser and Whitecoat butt. She is our defender against the Itex
Corporation's "by half" plan which is the plan to kill half of the human race. She does all of this while being the acting mother to her very young "flock" of bird kids. A fighter and a butt kicker she definitely is!

2. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Hermione has been described as the smartest witch of her time by various people throughout the series and it is because she is very smart. One more then one occasion she has saved Harry and Ron from imminent danger with her wits and mad magic skills. Both Harry and Ron recognize that she is a very important part in their fight against the death eaters and Voldemort. Hermione never holds back from voicing her strong opinion even when she is called a know it all. She kicks butt with her wand....oh and she once socked Malfoy in the mouth so I guess she kicks butt with her fists too!

3. Morgan Rowlands  Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan
Morgan discovers she is a witch in her junior year of high school. Her life changes dramatically after this revelation. She battles dark magic while she is also dealing with everyday teen drama and problems. She does both with the success only a kick butt chick can.

4. Davey  Tiger Eyes Judy Blume
I thought I would throw and old school pick in here for those who may have grown up reading YA in the 80's. Davey does not actually kick any butt per say but she is dealing with the loss of her father who is murdered at a 7-11 store and the guilt she feels over his death. Anyone who has lost a father knows how difficult it is especially if you are just a teenager when it happens. Davey's life changes when she meets Wolf who is dealing with his own loss and together they find the strength to live through their pain. She kicks losses butt!

5. Melinda Sordino Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I chose Melinda because she faced some pretty awful things in this book and although she losses everything (well everything to a teenager) she continues to push her way through the torment finally  finding her passion in art which essentially saves her from self destruction. In the end she is goes from total outcast to "hero"(?) I don't really like that word for her but she does end up helping others by telling her story. She kicks depression's, Andy's and people who spread rumers butt!

So those are my picks here are Stacey's........

From the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare:

1.The Queen of the Seelie Court

This may sound an unusual pick, since, though she isn't in any way evil she does seem to me to be a sometimes villanous antihero. However, we all know that the heroes in these stories would not be heroes if antiheroes did not exist, right? So....  I think I love her because of the interesting role of the Fey to me in this book, and with that said, she is a perfect ass kickin' chick to rule the Court. The Fey in this series delight in all things beautiful and sparkly. They create beautiful scenarios that tempt you to do things you normally would not dare. While a very patient people who cannot lie, they have little reguard for mundane humans. If they occassionally intermingle with mere mortals, the mortals are usually abandoned worse for the wear. They will give you that which you most desire as a gift and yet make you wish you never wanted it in the first place. Evil? Not at all. However, this woman could offer me the provervbial poisoned apple and honey I would take a bite! She's smart, witty, and will never ever let anyone get one up on her. She rocks!

From the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer:

(Spoiler alert if you haven't gone beyond the movies!)

2.Rosalie

Ok, also, I kind of like to go with the underdog. Throughout most of the series, Rose seems almost unlikeable because of her seemingly coolish attitude or even meanness to Bella. Except for the fact that she is sincerely opposed to Bella becoming a vampire, since it is a lifestyle that was forced upon her in a very ugly way and not one that she feels should be happily taken up by anyone. However, it is true that her attitude is the direct result of her jealousy toward Bella, who has all of the things she can never have: humanity, marriage, true love, and the possibilty of birthing a baby. In the end, Rose becomes Bella's biggest advocate, does anything to save and protect Bella, her baby, her choices, and her family. And, she's a beautiful strong vampire. Need I say more? Kick ass!

From 'I'm Down: A Memoir' by Mishna Wolff

3.Mishna Wolff

This woman just rocks! Growing up isn't really easy on a lot of levels, and she had it rough. But she came to terms with her reality with an amazing sense of humor always intact, overcame the obstacles life handed her, and came out on top, reviving family relationships that many might not have wanted to or been able to. Instead of getting beaten by the circumstances, she wrote a really funny book about them. 

Also interesting to note: this book was pulled from our local high school's reading list because a few parents complained about the cursing (they probably aren't reading this post). Luckily, there are ass kickin' chicks in my community who formed a committee to get it back ON the list. On the reading list, this book is one of the kids' favorite. Mishna took the time to write to our literary forward friends on the topic, and she kicks ass!

From 'The Name of this Book is Secret' by Dania Al Toma

4.Cass is an 11 year old after my own heart and my 11 year old's as well (ok, she was 11 when we read this together). She is a survivalist and prepared for any event or natural disaster no matter how likely (or not) they may be to occurr. When a mystery presents itself to her, she doesn't let her age or seeming lack of resources get in her way. She takes it upon herself to rescue a boy whom she originally didn't even like and fights adult evildoers who seek to harness the power of eternal youth. Way to go, Cass! You rock!

From the Mortal Instruments Series

(Again, I know, I know, but this is currently my FAVE YA series and I am pretty much living in their world right now, not ours. Series like this remind me that the house could completely catch fire around me and I would LET IT BURN to keep reading! If book-human marriage were legal I WOULD SO GO FOR IT! Hm. I live on the edge. Maybe I will anyway.)

5.Isabelle Lightwood

Izzy can take on even the scariest of demons, fought in the Mortal War though considered too young to fight to avenge her younger brother ( for whose death she blames herself), all in fishnets and wielding weapons in each and every pair of 'unsuitable footwear' ... HEELS of course. Izzy, you kick ass!

Top Ten Kick Ass Chicks in Books

Hello Happy Friday!

I am doing a co-post over at Stacey's http://wearnailpolish.blogspot.com/.

Stop over and check out our top 10 Kick ass chicks in books.

I have updated my Paranormal page take a peek at that while you are here or stop back after dropping by Stacey's blog.

Top 10 Couples in Books

I was thinking about all of my favorite couples from different books 

and 

I would like to share them with you...... because my husband said if I try to talk to him about them one more time he is leaving and 

NOT taking the kids.

These are in order starting with my favorite. So without further adieux  here is my Top 10 Favorite book couples.

1. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice
My most favorite couple. I have an unhealthy love for Mr. Darcy. My regular readers know that I have gone as far as to name my MacBook Mr. Darcy. Whats that you say? How can I love Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as my favorite couple if I love Mr. Darcy so much? Well being that I can not have Mr. Darcy as he is a fictional character or so my husband and therapist say. I could not choose a better match for him then the lovely, intelligent and fiercely defiant Elizabeth.

2. Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester - Jane Eyre
Like Mr. Darcy Mr Rochester is a bit of a grump....and I like it. His treatment of Jane in the beginning is rude and you find yourself not liking him very much but in the end Jane's love and quiet manner heals Mr. Rochester and Thornfield Manor.

3. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley - Harry Potter Series
I loved reading the progression of Hermione and Ron's affection for each other. There was an innocent sweetness in his protectiveness for her as well as her protectiveness of him. When they finally get together in the last book it was the perfect ending to their story of friendship, loyalty and love.

4. Mr and Mrs Weasley - Harry Potter Series
Yes another Harry Potter couple. I love Harry Potter....... sorry. Molly and Arthur Weasley are the cutest married couple on the planet! They are the perfect example of strength in family as they travel the hardships of being poor and looked down upon while raising their brood of children in a home filled with love.

5. Romeo and Juliet
I know an obvious choice and one that I am sure is on every ones list. Never has there been a more recognizable couple in literature. Forced apart by their families their love can not be stopped. Their story ends in the tragedy of their death at their own hands but their love lives on in the many adaptations that have come about over the years.

6. Henry and Clare DeTamble - The Time Traveler's Wife
Henry and Clare share a love that time cannot contain. What I like about this couple the most is the realness of their relationship. They fight, they disagree and they makeup. Henry's time traveling is a strain on their relationship as Clare faces days without knowing where he is or whether he is safe. There are a million relationship metaphors in this book that I am certain you can find one that relates to your own experience.

7. Sookie Stackhouse and Eric Northman - Southern Vampire Series aka TrueBlood
I am not a Sookie and Bill fan mostly because Eric Northman is so hot he sets fire to the page every time he is on it. I am not going to do that team Bill or team Eric thing because I am 38 years old but for the sake of my younger readers I guess that makes me team Eric.....ugh I hated typing that. So my reason for picking this couple, besides the fact that Eric is incredibly seductive, is that I think Sookie behaves differently with Eric then she did when she was with Bill. She is a little braver, a little more confident and I like her better this way.

8. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler - Gone With the Wind
She is a spoiled brat and he is the man who thinks he can tame her. The battle between these two rips through the pages more then the Civil War happening in the background. He loves her and she is in love with another man. When he finally leaves her it is then that she realizes just how much she loves and needs him. The final line in the novel she says "Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."  This is one of my favorite quotes.

9. Jay Gatsby and Daisy - The Great Gatsby
Another instance where a man is in love with a woman who doesn't love him. Jay loves Daisy when he is stationed in her hometown. After he leaves the army he buys a home near the home she is living in with her husband. He tries to make her love him by throwing extravagant parties, after all she married Tom because he was wealthy. In the end when it looks like they will be together....tragedy strikes and Jay is killed.

10. Jack and Wendy Torrence - The Shining
What did you think I was going to leave a Stephen King book out? Come on you know me better then that.
Yes Jack does try to kill Wendy and their son Danny. Yes Jack is an abusive alcoholic but he just wants to provide for his family while trying to finish his play. ...jeez give him a break. Wendy obviously loves Jack as she excuses away all of his shenanigans until he starts wielding axes and chasing her and Danny through the snow.

So that is my list of top ten couple. How about you? Who are your favorite couples  from books you have read?

Mrs Weasley

My daughter's best friend Michelle paid me the best compliment via text to my daughter.

She texted:

"This morning I was reading Harry Potter quotes and read the one where Mrs. Weasley is fighting Bellatrix, and Bellatrix aims the killing curse at Ginny, so she yells "NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!!"  Your mom is sort of similar to Mrs. Weasley, because this is something she'd totes say if she was fighting a Deatheater." ***totes is teen speak for totally***

I love this compliment for two reasons

1. Michelle apparently sees me as the type of mother who would fiercely protect her child

2. Mrs Weasley is my favorite character in Harry Potter

Who doesn't love Mrs. Weasley? She is the epitome of a caring, loving and protective mother.

Throughout the series she is trying to protect and care for her children and Harry as she sees him as one of her own. 

 Mrs. Weasley, Molly, is sweet but stern with her brood of children.

My own children would probably say that

I lean more towards the stern

then towards the sweet

J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews about Harry Potter that the main themes in her books are children, parents, orphans and the love of a parent for their child.

This very reason could be why I love the books so much.

Molly screams "NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH"  right after Fred is killed

and remember Rowling capitalized this sentence in her book I suspect because she was feeling the ferocious mother in herself when she was writing this part of the Deathly Hallows.

Bellatrix is taunting her about the death of Fred and then turns her sights on Ginny.....

 but Molly will have none of that

so the normally quiet woman whom we had never seen involved in a battle strikes with a warrior cry

and presumably kills Bellatrix although it is merely implied and not clearly stated.

It is this brave and loving act that Harry witnesses that causes him to find the strength to face Voldemort and his destiny.

I will admit I cried when I read this line in the book. And when I later read Deathly Hallows aloud to my son I got so choked up reading that part that my son asked me to stop reading for the night.

The Harry Potter series begins and ends with a mother facing death to protect her child. After all Molly really was no match for the insanely evil Bellatrix but she threw herself between Bellatrix and her youngest child anyway

and in the end a mother's love won against evil.

So..... Thank You Michelle. I am not sure I deserve the comparison but I'm glad you see me that way!

Top Ten Scariest Books

I was placing a order into Barnes and Noble for two books which were recommended to me:

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski

And it got me thinking about my love of all things scary....especially books

I know its not October when this would be a more appropriate post but

I love Horror/Scary books anytime of year

Without further adieux
This is my top 10 Favorite most scary of all books in no particular order

***all book synopsis are from barnesandnoble.com****

1.The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

    My opinion: Anything with demons, the devil, possession or religion scares the hell out of me. The book is twice as scary as the movie. You will not sleep during or after reading this book it is so creepy.

Synopsis: The phenomenal bestseller that inspired the classic motion picture--newly re-released in a version you've never seen before! — Chris MacNeil - adored film star, divorced single mother - has come to Washington, D. C. to finish a movie. Swept up by the demands of her busy, flourishing career, Chris is blind to the subtle warnings that a dark, male...  violent presence has invaded her comfortable townhouse. Powerful and cunning, it is taking possession of Regan, her 12-year old daughter. Every avenue of help leads to a dead end. Now hope lies only in a doubt-ridden priest and his fragile elder... in a terrifying battle with an obscene, unspeakable evil that must end in victory ... or madness and death.

2. The Shining by Stephen King

My Opinion: I work in a Hotel that sits high on a hill and whenever I have to come in extra early or get called to come in late at night I can not help but anticipate seeing those creepy twins beckoning me to "come and play with them" at the end of every hallway. That is how scary this book is when you are thinking about its creepiness long after reading it.

Synopsis: Terrible events occur at the isolated Overlook Hotel. It's a place where the guests are deceased but not necessarily departed, high in the wintry Rocky Mountains in the off season. A family checks in so the father can write, and terror lurks behind every door. Their son, who has psychic powers but does not know he has them and does not know how to use them, struggles to hold his own against the forces of evil that are driving his father insane.

3. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

My Opinion: More psychological suspense then horror this book is a classic ghost story.

Synopsis: The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers-and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

4. Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

My Opinion: It was probably scarier because it was "based" on true events. Growing up there was a house up the street that had the same windows and we used to run as fast as we could past it.

Synopsis: In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the house, but the property complete with boathouse and swimming pool and the price were too good to pass up. Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror. Synopsis: "Sometimes dead is better...."

This is the spellbinding, best-selling true story that gripped the nation the story of a house possessed by evil spirits, haunted by psychic phenomena almost too terrible to describe.

5. Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson

My Opinion: Much Scarier then the movie this book will scare you and then when you think you can't be scared it will scare you again.

Synopsis: Tom Wallace lived an ordinary life, until a chance event awakened psychic abilities he never knew he possessed. Now he's hearing the private thoughts of the people around him-and learning shocking secrets he never wanted to know. But as Tom's existence becomes a waking nightmare, even greater jolts are in store as he becomes the unwilling recipient of a compelling message from beyond the grave!

Dun Dun Duh

(sorry that felt like it should have a dun dun dah after)

6. Ghost Story by Peter Straub

My Opinion: A ghost comes back to avenge against the men that killed her. A secret club of old men (creepy). Even the town and neighborhood this story takes place in is weird.

Synopsis: For four aging men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past — and get away with murder.

7. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

My Opinion: I loved the movie but again the book was so much scarier. You can feel the tension with every word and nothing beats your own imagination when envisioning the scene when Rosemary finally sees her baby.

Synopsis: Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling actor husband Guymove into the Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and mostly elderly residents. Neighbors Roman and Minnie Castavet soon come nosing around to welcome the Woodhouses to the building, and despite Rosemary's reservations about their eccentricity and the weird noises that she keeps hearing, her husband takes a special shine to them.Shortly after Guy lands a plum Broadway role, Rosemary becomes pregnant, and the Castavets start taking a special interest in her welfare. As the sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to suspect that the Castavets' circle is not what it seems.

8. Pet Cemetery by Stephen King

My Opinion: Stephen King is King and I could have done this entire post on just his books but I tried to be fair and decided to only allow myself to pick two. This book has everything...absolute horror when Gage Creed gets hit, terror from the creepy sister, fear of the cemetery. You name it its in this book. The tag line alone will give you nightmares.

When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son — and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly cat. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth — more terrifying than death itself...and hideously more powerful.

9. The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

My Opinion: Poe is one of my favorite authors and I would have been remiss to exclude him as he is the master of horror. This story is especially scary as it is told from the perspective of an insane person you can almost hear the narrators mind snapping.

Synopsis: An unnamed narrator opens the story by addressing the reader and claiming that he is nervous but not mad. He says that he is going to tell a story in which he will defend his sanity yet confess to having killed an old man. His motivation was neither passion nor desire for money, but rather a fear of the man’s pale blue eye. Again, he insists that he is not crazy because his cool and measured actions, though criminal, are not those of a madman. Every night, he went to the old man’s apartment and secretly observed the man sleeping. In the morning, he would behave as if everything were normal. After a week of this activity, the narrator decides, somewhat randomly, that the time is right actually to kill the old man

10. In a Dark Place: The story of a True Haunting by Ray Garton & Ed and Lorraine Warren

My Opinion: Anything with "true haunting" in the title scares the pants off of me. You can feel the pain and fear of the family as you read this story. And again possession = SCARY

Synopsis: Chronicling the most disturbing case of their career, a demonologist team recounts the haunting of the Snedeker family, whose new home harbored an evil past that resulted in poltergeist activity and the possession of their teenage son.

So that is my top 10 list

How about you? What book has scared the pants off of you?

I know you will wonder with my extreme fear of clowns why I didn't include It by Stephen King and the reason is that I don't even want to think about that creepy clown clutching his bunch of balloons beckoning me with his creepy white gloved hand....damn it! Thank God all of the lights are on ...and now they are staying on!

Childhood Friends

I was thinking about a question I read somewhere

I don't remember the exact wording but it was something like :

What book represents or reminds you of your childhood.

So here is a question I pose to you....

What Book (or movie) most represents your interaction with your childhood friends?

My answer is The Body (aka Stand By Me) for my book choice or Then and Now for my movie choice.

Why The Body?
To me the body was more then about the boys going out in search of the body of a dead neighborhood kid. It was about exceptance and adventure. It was about finding friends you could count on and being able to just be yourself.

Growing up I had two great friends Kathleen and Karen. They are sisters Kathleen my age and Karen one year younger then us. Their grandmother lived two houses away from the house I grew up in. Which is how we met Kathleen and I just toddlers thrown together by our mothers probably so they could have a minute to themselves. We ended up attending the same Catholic elementary school and our friendship grew within those walls during the winter months when we only saw each other during those school hours.

I picked this book because it is set in the summer and when we were growing up....

 the summers belonged to us!

Everything about us changed in the summer. We had no school worries. No thoughts of not fitting in. Our parents barely existed in our summer world. We were the queens of the neighborhood.

Summer Life was an adventure to be had and it seemed to stretch on forever.

Back then all we had was our imagination and we made up games, invented danger, drama and ways to scare ourselves. Behind the house Kathleen and Karen shared with their mother and five brothers and sisters was a tall stone wall. It rose at least ten feet high but back then it was like looking up at a sky scarper. Their house sat low on a hill so the top of that wall on the other side was only waist high. To access the other side of the wall you had to go down an alley between two houses.

We were not supposed to go there.

We were not supposed to sit on the wall.

We definitely were not supposed to slip over the wall and climb down into their backyard.

But we did

And we always got caught...a ratting sibling...a big mouthed neighbor....

Like The Body our adventures involved camping out.

We lived in the city so we slept in sleeping bags on small patches of backyard grass or laid across wooden front porches. Also like The Body my older brother made it his goal to torment us as much as possible without getting caught by my mother.

We were inseparable. We were the keepers of each others deepest secrets and darkest fears.

 I never felt left out by not being their sister.

Our story doesn't involve the discovery of a dead body

Although we did think we killed my little brother once

We blamed Karen

Every summer we found ourselves. We were brave, smart and funny. Slowly we started to carry that confidence into the school year. And when we forgot we had each other to help us remember.

The Body ends with with the friends going their separate ways and sadly all but Gordy die young.

Our story ends happier

We all have families now and although we don't see each other very often we can still count on each other

 They were both there for me when my Dad died 14 years ago.

And I hope they felt my love and support when their Mom died last May.

My children know their names and have heard the stories of our adventures.

We are legends if only in my own mind!

So how about you?