Inspiration Alley

Changes and books

Spent some time updating the blog.  All of a sudden I looked at it and thought how dark and dreary, so changed it to something a little brighter and cheerful.  Also updated my books.  I track all the books I've read, wow ... 2012 will be my 6th year.  I have to track, or I forget what I've read and buy them again (not a bad thing).

My goal is 50 books over the year and for the last several years I've fell way short of that goal.  So far this year, I'm right on track.  Let's see how I do closer to the end of the year.

Along those lines, I am reading a book by Sibel Hodge called The Fashion Police (An Amber Fox Murder Mystery).  If you like the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, I think you'll like the Amber Fox series as well.   The main charactor is an insurance investigater who gets into all kinds of funny situations while investigating the cases.   A little murder, a little mayhem, a little romance, and enough comedy to keep it light and fun.   The author is British, so sometimes things are referred to by the British description rather than the American description (like Bonnet rather than Hood).  Not a bad thing ... it just fits.

To my reading buddies, many of you like the same type/genre of books that I do, so don't pass this one up.

Nook Names

Back in September I got a Nook for my birthday.  I hadn't really started using it until recently.  I had many, many paperbacks lined up to read and I didn't want to waste them.  The draw to the Nook was too great so after I finished my last book, I started reading one on the Nook.

I found a new crime series called the High Heel Series and the first one is Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday.  I had picked it because it was on the list of books available for less than $5 and I was just messing around picking stuff to try.  When I started reading it however, I loved it.  If you like the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum stores, you will love this series.  It's a kid's shoe designer turned novice investigator and follows all the predicaments she gets into while trying to find her missing boyfriend.

Now I'm trying to come up with a name for my nook.  If anyone has any ideas, just let me know.

Reading Lists

I was just looking at my list and realized I haven't read as much as usual this year.  I think it's because work has been all consuming lately.  I think my Nook will remedy that soon enough.  I've been finishing up some of the books I had on hand but I'm almost ready to order some to the nook.  I can't wait.

Then I visited my friend Linda's blog and saw that she has read 122 books - so I email her a "are you freakin serious" email and she says ... oh no, not 122 books, I just haven't updated the list lately.  Holy cow .. even at 122 books that's more than 2 a week.  I am still in awe.

I try every year to read 50.  I started keeping track several years ago and have come close many times but the last two years not even close.  If nothing else, the lists help when I forget if I've read a book or not.  Sometimes I end up with several copies of the same book because I see it and buy it and then see it again and do the same.  Oh well, the used book store get some pretty fine copies.

Books, Reading, and GoodReads

Books are a big part of my life.  I read daily in every spare moment (that I'm not on FaceBook).  I read to my hubby during the commute from work, and I usually have several books going at the same time.

I finished Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult, finished the Secret Life of Bees which was for a book club I've joined, and am almost finished with L is for Lawless (just a couple of pages left).  The new book I'm going to be reading for the book club is Harlan Coben's Hold Tight.  We're supposed to have read the first two chapters for discussion today.  I started reading it at the car show last weekend and it was difficult to put down.  I think I'm already about a third of the way through it.  I have no willpower.  When you're doing a book club and discussing chapters, part of the fun is hypothesizing on what's going to happen next, so I've got to hold back some.  In order to hold back, I started another Harlan Coben book called The Woods.

I've also been updating what I've read at GoodReads.  It's a site that you can post what you've read, what you're reading, what's on your to be read list, and post reviews.  You can look at your friends bookshelves and see reviews on books you might like to read.

Starting soon, I'll be helping at a challenge blog which is going to us books as the creative inspiration for scrapping and paper arts.  It should be starting soon, so I'll post the link as soon as I have it.

Been Awhile

Haven't had much to say.

I guess I just lead a very ordinary life. 

I've joined a book club with a bunch of friends and the first book we're reading is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  Actually, I'm in the middle of several books - just finished Hide by Lisa Gardner, I'm in the middle of Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult, and just started L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton (this is the one I'm reading to hubby during our commute).  For the book clubs next book, I got to choose what to read.  I tried to look at book lists and reading lists and I was going to choose something new but in the end I went with an author I know.  So for the next book we'll be reading Hold Tight by Harlan Coben.

I'm loving hearing everyone's take on each chapter and the pace we're going at is great.

Stephen King coming to Florida

One of my favorite authors is Stephen King and he will be in Sarasota Florida in November - I so wanted to go, but I will be in Oklahoma for work.  I know many of my friends on that side of the state read his work so if you're interested he will be speaking at the VanWezel.  He'll be talking about his new book called "Under the Dome". 

I'm having a wish I could go moment.

OK ... that's enough of that. 

I do have a picture of me and him when he came to Miami for a bookshow.  I think it was in 1998 and he played with the Rock Bottom Remainders.  Ahhh Memories.

Stuart Woods coming to Ft. Lauderdale

One of the authors that I really like is Stuart Woods.  He introduces a book just about every year, and goes on tour usually Sept/Oct.  Last year he was in Tampa, and I was going to do a weekend crop and bug out to the bookstore to meet Stuart Woods -- that never happened.  Prior years, I've looked at where he was going and the sites have always been 3+ hours away.

So guess what ... this year he is coming to Ft. Lauderdale.  It'll be a Tuesday night, so I can go right after work.  Man oh man, I am counting the days until September 29th.  Finally.... and I'm not missing this one.  I wonder if he'll be flying into the airport where I work ... hmmm, I've got to check that out.

The latest book is from the Holly Barker series and is called Hothouse Orchid.  I can't wait for the book signing and the chance to meet Stuart Woods.

Books and Reading

I just realized that I haven't been reading quite as much as I usually do.  I'm usually on a pace of about 4 books a month, but so far this year I've only read 12.  That's way off pace.  I'm a used book store junkie and while in Sebring I visited the used book store there which is Linda's Books.  I love this store.

The owner knows exactly where every book is in her store, and reads enough herself to be able to make recommendations.  I found the next Stuart Woods Stone Barrington book "Hot Mahogany", two books by LIsa Gardner "Hide" and "Say Goodbye", the next book "L" in the Kinsey Milhone series, and a Jodi Piccolt novel .  I walked in the store and asked here where the books were and she walked me right over to the exact spot.  Before I left she even recommended a new author/series I might like to try.  I think this will get me back on track with reading.  I miss it.

After Twilight

So, now that you've read or are reading the twilight series, and of course going to see the movie at midnight, do you plan to read her other Novel The Host: A Novel ?  It's her first adult novel since the Twilight series was actually billed as for young adults.  

It's more of a sci-fi thriller which is not my usually read, but then neither was Teenage Vampire love stories.  I think I'm going to give it a try.  I linked above to the amazon page because it has a video of Stephanie Meyer which describes the book - sounds like I would enjoy it.

Man my to be read pile is ever increasing, but with the Thanksgiving car show later this month I should be able to knock out a quite a bit.  All that's left for me to do now is to pick which ones I want to read.  I think I'll bring 3 or 4 with me and hey ... if I run out I can always stop by a book store for more.

Twilight

I had seen so many references to this book with the facebook flair, and even Amanda mentioned what a good book it was, so I started to read the series.  The first book Twilight got me hooked, and I can't believe I didn't start to read the series sooner.

Then I got the second book - and I loved that one even more than the first.  I started it on Friday for my flight home from Texas, and finished it at the car show Saturday evening.

Then Sunday ... I had to go to Target (the closest store that would probably have book 3), and bought the next book in the series.  It's pathetic, but I am so hooked, that when Target didn't have the paperback, I didn't even flinch at buying the hardback copy.  Yep ... that's right ... me, who always waits for the paperback unless it is a Stephen King novel.

So I've just started Eclipse, the 3rd book in the series.  I don't have much time during the week, but this weekend I will have some heavy reading to do.  I can't wait.