Song I'm Digging This Week

"Crazy Ever After" - The Rescues

Kindle Lovin'

My parents got me a Kindle for Christmas, and I'm pretty psyched. I really do love actual books, and I'll still buy and read them, but man - I love knowing that I'm always less than a minute away from being able to download pretty much any book I want to read.

My idea is that if I read a book on my Kindle that I just absolutely love, I will then buy that book in the hard copy form and add it to my bookshelf.

Almost every classic is either free or less than a dollar, which is awesome.

The other plus? It keeps me from skipping to the end of the book to find out what happens. I know. I'm so, so bad about that.

Book #36: The Eyre Affair

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

I love it when I discover a brand new series (well, brand new to me, anyway) that I can get all obsessed with. I think this is going to be one.

Thursday Next, the heroine of the book, is a SpecOps LiteraTech agent in an alternative London in 1985, where time travel is possible and literature is able to literally come to life. Next discovers that her arch-nemesis, Acheron Hades, has kidnapped Jane Eyre, and if he succeeds with his plans, he'll disastrously change the book forever. The only solution, of course, is to enter the book herself and stop the villain.

I can't wait to read the next book, since Miss Havisham from Great Expectations makes an appearance.

Book #35: Full Dark, No Stars

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Another gem from my favorite author - all "short" (not that short - sort of novellas) stories, each one of them pretty bleak and sinister. But oh, so good.

Nobody can suck you into an atmosphere and plot like King can.

Book #34: Mini Shopaholic

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I literally can't believe I'm saying this, but I did not like this book. I have loved every single Shopaholic book, but this one was. So. Tedious.

Nothing new - Becky once again is shopping like crazy (in "secret"), and lying to her friends and family in order to achieve some desired outcome. Blah, blah, blah. I just found myself getting frustrated and annoyed, especially now that they've thrown a kid into the mix (who is spoiled rotten).

There were a few entertaining moments, but on the whole, I was really disappointed. I'm not saying I won't read any more of the series, but I do hope Kinsella does a better job on her next Shopaholic venture.

Book #33: The Fall

The Fall by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan

This is the second book in The Strain trilogy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While the first book dealt with the vampire virus slowly taking over New York City, this book fleshes out the fast spread and takeover of the entire United States.

I won't be surprised when they announce the movie release of these books, since they read like blockbuster films already.

Book #32: The Last Time I Was Me

The Last Time I Was Me by Cathy Lamb

I liked this story - a successful career-woman suffers a humiliating public breakdown of epic proportions and then runs to a small town in Oregon to recover (and attend anger management classes). She then meets and falls in love with the man running for governor of the state. Yep. Very likely. But an entertaining story.

My biggest gripe with this book is the sarcasm and quick-fire wit of the main character. While at first it was entertaining, it quickly became campy and unbelievable. Her sarcastic comebacks make her almost unlikable and you find yourself sympathizing with the enemy. Also, everything works out just too well and cleanly for everyone involved. Real life never works like that.