Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein


I started off really enjoying this book. I loved Enzo humour and take on life as a dog. His view on evolution and how "the man" is keeping him down is hilarious. I was laughing out loud for the first few chapters. Then the car racing analogies came in and they were a little boring but I could ignore that and still enjoy reading about Enzo's life with Denny, Eve and Zoe. It was still an enjoyable book and still had some funny parts and some sad.

<Spoilers>

Then, about half way through, the drama starts…wife gets sick but refuses to go to a doctor. Then, Denny allows her parents to keep her and their daughter at their house for months after she gets out of the hospital and ignores all the signs that they are trying to keep their daughter longterm.

Oh wait, there is more…Denny stupidly takes a teenage girl home from a ski trip and allows her to finagle a night stay not realizing she has developed a crush on him. His wife then dies, his inlaws sue for custody of Zoe, the girl accuses Denny of rape…

</spoilers>

There was probably a lot more but I gave up. I just couldn't continue. How completely oblivious can one guy be? How much crap could befall one person and have only the dog realize what is going on? I wasn't expecting a Jodi Piccoult type storyline in this book. I don't read her books for this reason.

Lighthearted and fun, this was not. I saw the dog on the cover and immediately thought this would be a book to put a smile on my face. I should have stopped reading around Chapter 11. If you like books full of drama and don't mind it being narrated by a dog you will enjoy it. This just wasn't for me.

2.5/5
Source: purchased ebook for book group
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Book Review: Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Another fun installment but wasn't as good as the previous one. The storyline was all over the place and more focused on the shifters, who I am not all that interested in.

A sniper is roaming Bon Temps and with no apparent link between the victims, the police are stumped. Sookie, however, realizes that all who have been shot are shifters and despite her hope for some non-supe time for herself she is once again in the middle of it all.

Taking a break before starting the next book so I can get my book group book read, but will hopefully get started on Book 6 soon after.

3.5/5
Source: borrowed
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Book Review: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris


Another fun installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Getting my fill since I no longer have HBO and haven't seen the last two seasons of True Blood.

I am really wishing I hadn't missed this last season if it followed this book. Loved this Eric-centric storyline. Nice to have a little less Bill. I definitely prefer the Viking and his little red underwear.

Right, the story... Eric loses his memory and has to stay with Sookie to keep him safe from the witches that cursed him until they can be found and dealt with. Also, Jason goes missing and gets himself more entangled with the Supes.

Ready for the next book. Luckily for me, I have it right here.

4/5

Source: borrowed





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Current Read and Teaser: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

I am finally reading the books that my sister lent me back when the little girl first came home from the hospital. I easily read the previous two books while she nursed since they were paperbacks. The hardcovers were a little harder to hold while nursing. So, now that the little girl is over a year old and napping during the day and sleeping in her own bed at night, I am finally finding time and hands to read my hardcover books. Yay.

Anyway, here is a little snippet from this fun, Eric-centric installment.

"Eric was pulling on his jeans, with his back to me. He hadn't bothered with underwear, not even the itty-bitty red ones." page 88.

Woohoo. Can't wait to get to this part. ;)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (I am usually not so random)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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The Hunger Games Trailer

I can't wait! I think it looks pretty good. How about you? Does it look as you pictured it when you read the books? I am hoping it lives up to them._________________________________________

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Book Review: Tempted by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast

Tempted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast


Well, this may be the end of this series for me. I hate not completing a series, but I am just not liking these characters anymore. And, they killed off my favorite!

Tempted starts off where the previous book ended with Zoey and co. cleaning up the mess that Neferet and Kalona left behind at the House of Night and the Sisters of Mercy. They managed to make them leave Tulsa but to truly end their attempt to reign over all the vamps, they must make a trip to Italy and go before the vamp council and prove that Neferet and Kalona are Nyx and Erebus incarnate.

Zoey is still dealing with too many boyfriends- no real point to this, but it does make her seem a bit slutty and I just don't care about her problems. She was so much more likable at the beginning of the series. Also, the one person that I liked and seemed to have some purpose in the storyline was killed off! I suppose it helps in lessening Zoey's boyfriend problems.

Anyway, I may read the rest of the series eventually but not now. I have other books on my shelf to read. No need to run off and buy the next book. It can wait.

2/5
Source: purchased
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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Mailbox Monday

I broke down and bought a book. The little girl and I went for a walk the other day and came across a used bookstore. I couldn't walk by and not go in. Who could? There were so many books calling to me to take me home, but I managed to resist and left with only one.Patient Zero by Jonathon Mayberry

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at the Mailbox Monday Blog this month. What books did you get this week?

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Book Review: Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't too sure about it, hearing the premise, but it was interesting enough to want to read and I am glad I did. It was an entertaining read.
Cameron Martin is a normal conceited and popular 17 year old high school senior doing typical stupid teenager stuff. He only thinks of himself and getting in the pants of his girlfriend, even in the school library. His selfishness and rudeness ends up costing him his life. A witch puts a curse on him and he begins to age very rapidly.
It was interesting to see the changes in Cameron once the curse goes into effect. Not only does he age physically, but also emotionally and in maturity.
Happy Birthday to Me is available in paperback and as an ebook. The sequel, Happy Birthday to Me Again is now also available. 
3.5/5
Source: author for review_________________________________________

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RIP VI: Challenge Completed

Carl's R.I.P Challenge is a favorite every year. A chance to read all my favorite types of books. 

I was worried that I wouldn't get any books read but I actually did pretty good. I tried for Peril the Second. Here are the books I read and reviewed:

Ada: Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

The Shining by Stephen King

Can't wait for next year's challenge!

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

October Book Group: The Shining by Stephen King

I was so worried that I would be the only one reading this book. Everyone seemed so hesitant to read a horror genre book at our last meeting. Surprisingly all but one read it! Yay!- and on top of that, everyone really enjoyed it. I hosted this week and loved having people here to enjoy my Halloween decor. This months book: The Shining by Stephen King

Thoughts about the book:I was so excited to hear that everyone had a hard time putting this book down since I had the same reaction. I was reading it every chance I had. Most of us really liked the psychological aspect of the book- not knowing if what was happening was real or all in their heads. 
The Overlook definitely had an affect on all of us readers. One had a creepy experience in a building with fire doors closing and alarms going off and getting freaked out by the fire hoses in the hall. Agh! The rest of us were just a little more aware of the dark and noises in our homes.
Popular Question:What was the significance of the wasps/wasp's nest?This was one that we didn't really have an answer for. It came up a few times- different character's experience with wasp nests and then again at then end. It seemed to simple that it was just a reference to the Overlook being its own kind of wasp nest. It seems like something more. Ideas?
We also had fun comparing the book to the movie. We all decided the book was better.
Next Months book: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.