It's Monday and.....Well, it's another Monday. That's all I got.

Well - last week was the last week of school.  But I still get to work for another week or so...

At another work site.  One where I DON'T know the kids.  I hate beginnings.  I hate meeting new kids and ...people.  It's always awkward.  Somehow it's different than meeting new students at whatever school I work at - because then it's on my home turf.  So I'm a little nervous about next week and irritated at myself for being nervous...especially at my age.  I should just be relaxed about everything.  haha.  yeah, right.

Well - Monday again.  Now it's time for us to visit each other's blogs, see what we're reading, etc.  Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.

I didn't get a whole lot read last week.

I actually only finished reading one book.

Started two others....but finished just the one.

I finally finished Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.  I was feeling a little frustrated at first because it seemed to be slow going at first...but then I remembered this is The Southern Vampire books.  Sookie lives in Louisiana, where the living is slow and easy (or not easy), and the book writing tends to echo how I imagine the people would talk from there.  I might be totally wrong, but I'm also going by memory of listening to some people we knew who came from areas around there.  So I just relaxed, picked it up and finished.  It was good.

Besides, I totally want to finish this series and see what happens in the end...not reading any  reviews about the last book of the series because I've heard there are many spoilers out there, as well as dramatic reviewers.  So I'll just wait.

Current Reads or rather, the latest two books I've started (as opposed to the other 20 or 50 books I've started and forgotten to finish)

Hexed by Kevin Hearne.  

Enjoyed the first novel enough to dive right into

the second one.  Then last night my son's huge dog was laying on the book, and I didn't feel like making him move so I started....

Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott.

Not sure yet what I think of it.  It's reading well, as in the words flow.  I already have the second book because I bought it by mistake a few weeks ago, thinking it was the first.  

Well - Summer vacation is almost here (for me). I'm hoping to get a lot more reading done.  I have quite a few books that have been languishing that I should get to reading...and I hope they're good.  :)

Monday, Monday (baaa daaaa, daaadadada) So good to me...(daaadaaaadadadada) All I hoped it would be.....yeah, right.

Unless you're a total music aficionado - if you're younger than 40 {and that might be pushing it} you won't know the lyrical references to this song - or the words in the post title;  or the tune...But for those of us born around 1960 or before, maybe a little after, you'll remember the tune, you might remember the lyrics and you will have heard of the Mamas and the Papas. For an oldie, it's a happy little song.  Not my usual sort, but the chorus is catchy.

I'm not really looking forward to a wonderful Monday - after all it's the beginning of another long work week.  However, it's also going to be my first physical therapy appt for my neck - which has been torturing me the last three or four weeks.  Hopefully, it will do some good - I AM looking forward to some neck relief - since the neck stiffness has added another dimension to my chronic pain, along with daily headaches...  So maybe they'll help me, though the pain is caused by bone spurs.  So not sure how p.t. is supposed to work with that.  I'm holding on to some hope anyway.  No Matter What!  So THERE, Monday! {yup - still not a fan of the Monday}

Monday also means time for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey....

The grandson pictured in my button above just turned five.  This picture is from when he was three, I believe.  He has a busy weekend - his dad took him to our town's Rose Parade.  Then his uncle and I took him for a day of shopping.  He had $45 dollars from his B-day to spend, and I had to do a little bit of shopping.  His shopping was way more fun than mine.  LOL.  He bought himself two pairs of b-ball style shorts, and at the third store we stopped at, finally picked out some toys.  He'd been so good about shopping, behaving and being all 'round pleasant during it all, that I chipped in the five bucks he was short. I figured he would have had it if he hadn't been responsible and spent his money on CLOTHES.  What five year old buys CLOTHES?  Good buys all around.  Then we watched a movie together.  Which was precious - he usually likes to spend his time with grandpa, dad or uncle - not gramma.  So the fact that he felt like laying on the couch with me and watching a movie was even more precious.

I didn't get a whole lot of reading done this week.  Between the pain, the headaches, new t.v. shows (So you think you can dance and Family Tools) and season finales, I had a hard time concentrating on reading.

I think I only finished one novel, and that one wasn't even a novel I was reading for myself.  it was a children's novel I was reading to a class and then couldn't stop reading it when library classes were over for the year....

What Came From The Stars
by Gary Schmidt
middle grade level 
Even though this is supposed to be for middle grade - the main character is in 6th grade, with a younger sister.  I was reading it to a group of third graders and they were enjoying it a lot - though some chapters were very difficult to understand, especially since it was peppered with words that seem to be completely MADE UP - it was another planet, after all.  But the chapters featuring Tommy and friends were captivating my audience.  And here we were at the end of a school year, no more library classes, and we hadn't been able to get through the book.  I've had this happen to me before, where we haven't been able to finish reading a book, but this is the first time I've felt compelled to take the book home and finish reading it on my own.  This was a very good book, with some suspenseful moments, some intense.
Book basics - on a planet far, far away, in a galaxy far, far away there is a race of people being over=run and destroyed by another race.  This planet has two sons, and their art is also their magic.  As a last ditch act of defiance, one last council man puts ALL the art of the people into a chain, a special chain and sends it through time, space, galaxies  - far away where it falls through the atmosphere and then the sky of earth into.....  Tommy Pepper's Ace Robotroid Adventure lunch box - a lunch box that is a little too young for him, but that his grandmother sent to him, so his father makes him use it...and thus begins a dangerous adventure where Tommy experiences the memories and talents of a people far away.  Tommy is also now in danger...

Other books I'm currently reading include:

Charlaine Harris' Dead Reckoning 

and a story by J.A. Campbell titled Brown Vs. the Martians featured in Science Fiction Trails.

I just received a copy of Science Fiction Trails, and started Brown's latest adventure.  Almost finished reading, and enjoying very much.  What isn't to love about "Canadians" and their blue blood?  

***None of the animal pics I used today were captioned by me - but they're funny as hell!***

It's Monday, and Mommy's day is now over...

Mommies are everywhere, raising little ones, hopefully to be good elders.  It was a nice day yesterday.  My mom flew in from Panama (the one in Central America; the country, not the city) Was treated to a sandwich from a place called Ike's Place.  Ike's Place has a store in San Francisco, and was infamous long lines - as well as their bomb-ass (my son's term) sandwiches.  The place in my city (where they've expanded to) is a beautiful bright almost cobalt blue, with red trim.  

isn't that beautiful?  I LOVE  bright buildings.  I personally think that more businesses and/or homes should be brightly painted.  Celebrate life, celebrate your home....celebrate with color...but I'm getting away from subject.  Ike's place  - we went in to order.  And the young man at the counter hesitantly asked if I was Lil Larry's mother.  I kind of laughed (wondering if he had offended a few women asking this), smiled and said yes.  He then said that when someone brings their mom in to buy a sandwich, Ike's pays for the sandwich.  And - the not only did this, but the guy applied the free sandwich to the most expensive sandwich - not the cheapest, as most places would do.  How nice is this? They have some expensive sandwiches,  so I was impressed.  And it takes a lot to impress an old broad like me.  ;)

We went home, watched the tail end of Raising Arizona (the ONE movie where Nicolas Cage actually sounded normal during his acting, or rather, actually was a good actor!) while we ate our sandwiches.  One Ike's Place sandwich is enough to feed two people - so we actually both ate half of our sandwiches, while watching one of the few movies where Nicolas Cage sounded like a good actor.  Fun Times.  Then we went to...

My brother's house where my mom was visiting from Panama.  When I walked in, music was already on, Liliana was in the kitchen with my brother and they were dancing.  We had toasts, and then the music was jammin' louder, and we were in the kitchen dancing again!  Which is what we did last weekend.  We had a combo memorial, b-day celebration (my husband is born on Cinco De Mayo) and Coach-winnin-trophy night.  Which translated to Tequila shots, margaritas and lots of dancing!  Great times!  Nothing like a party with hispanic people - the dancing kicks ass!

So we partied a bit - yet made sure this week that we wound it down a bit earlier than last week.  Last monday was a little hard on me.  Tonight I'll make sure I get more sleep, plus we kept to champagne.  :)

I hope everyone had a nice day - My day was pretty awesome.

Okay - back to bookish items...

Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey, it's time for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? I'm pretty sure that most book bloggers already know about this, but in case....  We visit each other's blogs and see what we've been reading, what we've finished reading and in some cases what we're planning to read.  With me, the planning to read never, ever works out, so I usually skip that part.  Hell, even the current read usually end up changing...

Last week, or week before - when I didn't post.  I finished Nothing.  At all.  I started a book - decided to read something completely different and was happy to find a book I haven't read in a long, long time.  And I ended up very disappointed.  I loved it the first time I read it.  This time....I think I'm too old, or have been through to much to enjoy it much.  Didn't finish it.  Put it aside.  I want to impress on others, that the writing isn't what got to me.  Rather it was the whole young girl romance thing, and the young hardened but hurting knight who couldn't trust the young bride, because of a traumatic happening...etc.  The writing is good, the narration was good.  The dialogue totally fit the characters.  AND I remember reading one of Kurland's recent novels written a few years ago, and enjoying the hell out of it.  So I think it's just that this particular character was way too young and innocent for my current self to enjoy.  I'm still game for trying one of Kurland's more recent novels.

 Wow - according to my records, I haven't finished anything at all in May.... Until this past week.

Last week I finished a young adult novel written by a woman I never heard of before.  When I finished the book, I looked up the name of the author and found out she's written quite a few books - one of them I had noticed before. One of them is a children's picture book called - ready? - Troll Teacher.  Wow, the name itself makes me want to read it.  I read the excerpt and...Now I want to buy it for my grandchildren.  One who is close to the end of her first ever year of school (kindergarden) and the other who is in preschool and will start kindergarden next year.  

The one novel finished was Deadly Pink by Vivian Vande Velde.  A young girl is called upon to enter a virtual reality game.  Her sister works for the Rassmussen Corp, developer of this game, and her sister has suddenly lost her grip and decided to stay in the reality game. Of course, no one can get her out, she's messed with the protocols, and there's a real possibility of her dying if she stays in the game.  So little sister is called upon to save bigger sister - the sister who's always been there for her, who's the one every one looks up to, the sister who is so smart.

I did read a children's book that I also quickly reviewed.  Part of a series of books, Bella and Harry are a pair of chihuahua puppies who visit cities around the world with their family.  The book I read was Bella and Harry Let's Visit Instanbul by Lisa Manzione.  Cute way to teach a little of culture, food, and geography.  The book was fun.  The website also had lots to offer. 

That's it.  Only one novel, and one picture book was finished this week.  I've started a couple of other novels, but haven't gotten very far, and I keep jumping back and forth.

What I've been working on reading (ugh - reading shouldn't be WORK, let's rephrase this)  What I've been reading:

I started Roil by Trent Jamieson - started to really get into it, and now I can't FIND it.  :(  Was really enjoying it also - very different from what I've been reading...

So I started The Dead of Winter by Lee Collins.  This is the first of a series.  I had recently accidentally picked up the second in the series, and was a bit irritated - but found the first.  Started it...and was feeling a bit...down, so because of the rather dark subject matter, I picked up another book.  But still have my eyes on this one, still pick it up here and there....

Next is Dead Reckoning (Sookie #11) by Charlaine Harris.  I almost gave up on this series, but after reading how everyone enjoyed this novel, I decided to give it a try.  So far so good.  There was a wonderful fight between Pam and Eric.  Good fight - so I have hopes for this novel.  And there's only a couple more books in the series.  The last novel has already been released. (I think) Or soon will be.  Weird to think the series is coming to an end...but it's good to end a series while everyone is still enjoying the series.

Last, but not least, is the first of the Rain Wilds Chronicles, The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb.  I've read her Live Ship Traders trilogy - excellent novels with amazing world building.  These seem to be related, told from the people living up the Rain Wilds river....the people who have special abilities...and from what I was able to read so far, this novel is going to be just as good as the other series I read.  Unfortunately.....I also misplaced this novel. Soooo...I hope I find it soon.  because lately, it's been hard for me to find a book that I'm interested in or can focus on.  

It's possible that I might have to put aside ALL the novels and concentrate on some of the e-books that have been piling up in my Kindle Fire!  That'll be fun, and then...arhive.  

Well, it's now very late.  My neck is bothering me, headache is forming and I have visit the bedroom - try to get some sleep!  And work tomorrow....ugh - shudders!

Buenas Noches, Todos

Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris - review

Dead In The Family

Sookie aka Southern Vampire series

****

Charlaine Harris

The cover to Dead In The Family has the same feel to it as the previous covers. I want to call it folksy art, but to be honest I have no idea if it really is folksy art. I know it's different and striking in its own way - but that's as far as my official learned art knowledge goes. :)

Ever since reading the very first Sookie or Southern Vampire series novel, I've enjoyed them very much. In fact, I don't even look at the blurbs anymore I just buy them on the strength of the series alone - until this last book I've been buying them as soon as they come out in hardback. For some reason - although I thoroughly enjoyed the last novel, I ended up buying this one in paperback. I think my budget just didn't allow for any hardbacks this year. I have to admit here....though I really don't want to....I'm glad I waited for the paperback. Now I feel very disloyal as a fan. But the truth is, when there is a series that goes way beyond 5 or 6 books, there's bound to be one or two that just don't grab you as much as the others. And that's how it is for me on this novel. In fact, if I am to be completely honest....I was bored through most of this book. With the exception of the visit with Hunter, some scenes with Pam, and the ending fight the rest of the book bored me almost to the point of not finishing it. It seemed way slower paced than ever before, there were scenes and dialogue that just bored me.

I have a lot of respect for Charlaine Harris as a writer and as the blogger that comes through on her blog. I don't read it every day, but I notice that she always has a kind word for new authors and just comes across as a real lady. I think that's why it bothers me to not enjoy this recent novel of hers. It's not like I know her, or have a vested interest in the series. But it does feel weird, also because I've enjoyed all the previous books - especially the one that came before, Dead and Gone.

Well, it is what it is. The writing is of course her usual fine writing, the dialog as good as ever. It's just the subject matter, and the way the scenes were put together - it just didn't grab my attention for much of the book. And parts of the book were important - after all, Sookie is still recovering from the torture she experienced, and the extreme losses she's experienced in her recent past. Claude, the fairy cousing that never much liked her suddenly appears and wants to be roomies. There is danger on the vampire front. Strange vampires from Eric's past shows up and puts them all in danger. It should have been an exciting book, and in fact there were at least three areas that did keep my attention riveted.

Based on those three sections, I'm willing to get the next book that is currently out in hardback...although I'll probably wait for the paperback - mainly because I have other things to use my cash on - so I'm trying to be a little more frugal for my own book buying. But I want to read the next book - Dead Reckoning - if it's more interesting for me, then fine and dandy. If not, then time for me to concentrate on another series. :(

Review; Dead and Gone

Dead and Gone

*****

Charlaine Harris

Book # 32 for 2009

Charlaine Harris always writes a good story. Her writing style for the Sookie Stackhouse novels reads like you would imagine a southerner talk. Slow and relaxed with some colorful metaphors.

If you have never read any of the books in this series, you might think that you won't know who some of the characters are, or what is going on; although I think anyone might be able to follow along, as there are enough quick explanations (or reminders in my case) of who is who, or what happened previously. In this novel, the weres have decided to come out to the world. As some of Sookies friends are dealing with fall-out from this, one of weres is found murdered. At the same time, Sookie's life is in danger from fairies who believe that humans of mixed blood shouldn't be allowed to live. These same fairies are fighting against her greatgrandfaterh, a fairy prince.

Sookie and Eric, one of the vampires take their relationship a little further, and Sookie finds out a little more about her family.

There are some horrible things that happen to people in Sookie's circle of acquaintances and friends, and not everyone survives. One of my favorite characters dies, I won't mention who. In fact horrible things happen to Sookie.

This book was a little darker than any of the previous Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire books. All of them have a little murder and mayhem, though they are usually light reads for me, but this one was a little darker though just as enjoyable to me as the others. Charlaine Harris is able to write a book with the main narrator sounding like a lady. Even when one of the other characters uses foul language, you don't feel like you've read a book with a lot of swearing and crudity. I'm pretty used to swearing and some crudity, being slightly foul-mouthed myself, so that kind of stuff doesn't usually bother me; I just tend to notice when someone does not use strong language. This is the type of book (regardless of the subject matter) that you wouldn't feel embarrassed loaning to an elderly neighbor or your greatgrandmother. Some of the other books I read and enjoy I would think twice about loaning out.

I'm wondering what is going to happen next for Sookie, since she and her brother have both lost people that are important to them, and some of the characters that I looked forward to reading about are gone now. What does Charlaine Harris have up her sleeve for Sookie now?