Good Fail, Me

So, after completing The Last Unicorn, I attempted to read both A Northern Light & Atonement.

I failed.

I just couldn't get into Jennifer's book. I didn't like the way it was written; the switching back and forth was confusing, and the tone -- I just didn't like it. I feel like a failure with that one, because my friend Sarah really recommended it. As for Atonement, I didn't get to finish because it was due back at the library, and I felt incredibly ridiculous asking to check it out for the third time. It's all right, though, because I have it saved on my iPod Touch. I love WattPad. *smile*

Getting slightly off topic -- I really do lust my iPod. I downloaded the Kindle Application, and I just couldn't be anymore excited. It's awesome downloading and reading books from my iPod. Especially considering I'm not allowed to read at work and if I get caught I'll get fired and that's not good. It's a lot easier to hide an iPod.

I downloaded several eReaders like the Kindle and WattPad. More books are going to be added to my list ((I'm also going to coordinate my list a bit more to really highlight my failures, lol)). It's really cool because each eReader application gave me a few free books -- most of the classics, and most of them are doubles, but sometimes I get lucky and receive a free one. I'm stoked to really get into it.

Right, so, after taking by the library books, I went to see The Time Traveler's Wife ((this was my first solo movie adventure, which my BFF has been raving about forever; I love it. Every movie that I just *have* to see, I'm going it alone)). It was pretty amazing. Definitely not better than the book -- not by any means. Actually, a lot of stuff was left out, and a few pivotal scenes were changed but I still think they did a great job with the kind of novel they had to work with. Even now, after I've already seen the movie, I get giddy whenever I see a preview for it. Probably because I loved the book so much.

In the previews they showed a trailer for The Lovely Bones; my friend Alex said to "stop whatever I'm reading and read it now." Since I had recently returned Atonement, I thought it would be a good time to pick up The Lovely Bones, which my mother had and has never read, lol.

So, that's three books -- in one month -- that have defeated me. I got four chapters into Sebold's novel and gave up. I've never come across a book that has given me a headache while reading. I just couldn't stand it any longer. Again, it was the style of the writing, and the tone, and the fact that I had to read a simple sentence several times to understand what was going on. Maybe I'm mildly retarded, but I shelved it. No thanks.

Now, I'm reading Confessions with a Shopaholic. Good ole Ms. Kinsella won't let me down. I need to add the rest of the series to my list....

I think I'll read I'll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin next, and I've added the following to my booklist::

Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight
My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands by Chelsea Handler
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Granger ((if this is anything like P&P&Zombies, then I'll adore it))

The Last Unicorn

I finished this novel two days ago. In all honesty, I wasn't anticipating that I'd enjoy it as much as I did. I've never been into fairies and unicorn, or magicians and evil Kings. Apparently I'm okay with vampires though, haha, which seems a little odd that I don't enjoy the rest.

At any rate, I think The Last Unicorn was a fantastic read; thanks to whoever recommended that for me.

I was a little worried when the back cover said it was "whimsical and sensuous," but it totally worked. The often time rhyme-y and odd speeches only added, in my opinion, to the story. That's probably only because for every whimsy detail there was a more modern flare to balance it out. In the middle of it all someone was called a dude, and I loved it.

I loved Schmendrick, the Magician (who was teased mercilessly; "can't even turn butter into cream"). Molly Grue was probably my favorite. She was completely unrefined and unrepetent, but she had a good heart. Prince Lir broke my heart into a million pieces come the end, and The Unicorn...well, I'm not exactly sure what to say about her. Beautiful. Immortal. Oddly detached. I think she had the most brillant character arch I've come across yet.

The Last Unicorn is a short read -- only 215 pages. Sad story that it took me so long to read it, but I enjoyed every minute of it and would definitely recommend it for your enjoyment as well.


Next I'm reading A Northen Light by Jennifer Donnelly.

*BzzZzzZzz*

Amazing novel. Honestly, I wasn't convinced I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. Hands down, it's my favorite book thus far. Move over Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, while you're hilarious and fun to read, The Secret Life of Bees touched me in ways you failed to. I was sad to turn the last page.

The characters were brilliant and consistent. Nearly all of them were loveable; honestly, I've never thoroughly adored every character in a novel the way I did in this one. Even T. Ray, the asshole father, tugged at my heart strings. That's not an easy feat. I felt sorry for the man, and at the end I saw him a little bit differently.

The main character, Lily Ownes, lied and cheated and she stole, but it was difficult to hold a grudge against her because of it. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that. Rosaleen was hysterical. August was the kind of wise god mother figure every little girl (or boy, I guess) should have. May broke my heart. And I couldn't help but root for Zach and Neil. I cherished each and every one of them.

It was mildly slow in the beginning, but as soon as Lily and Rosaleen begin their journey it becomes impossible to put down. Had it not been for work and other responsibilities, I would have remained in bed to read it from cover to cover. It was that good. Even the ending was satisfying!

I've heard other reviewers and critics mention books that had a "true Southern voice." I never knew what that meant until I began to read this one. The accent -- that smooth, almost lazy talk was so clear in my head, which I think just added to the story. It didn't even bother me that it was written in first person!

Kidd did an amazing job. I just...it's my favorite. My new favorite novel. I borrowed it from the library. Now I have to look on Amazon to buy it. I just can't not own the thing.

*sigh* Really sad to know it's finished though. Now I have to watch the movie.

The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle is next.

Viola!

I finished reading The Host around 12:30 this morning. I practically devoured the last half of the book. Like I've heard mentioned, I'll agree that it is a bit strange. It's mildly slow in the beginning, but soon becomes fast-paced and hard to put down. For anyone who doesn't know what this book is about, and without giving too much away, it's about an alien (they're called Souls; this one's name is Wanderer) who inhabits a body (the host; Melanie). Melanie, however, doesn't disappear like she's supposed to, and Wanderer is stuck with her memories and emotions. Shennighans ensue.

Strange, yes, but totally an awesome read.

This novel, and the four books from the Twilight Saga, further confirms my theory that Stephenie Meyer was a Roswell fan. No one can convince me otherwise. That's probably another reason why I enjoyed the book so much.

With that said, I still have a few issues with the way she wrote her book(s).

I just don't do 1st Person very well. It's too limited, and more often than not that author tries to break through the limitations. They fail; only succeeding in irritating me.

Also, and I don't know why she does this, but SM likes to tell stories within her dialogue. She did this in the Twilight Series (I think it was Eclipse? Whichever one that Rosalie told her story), and she did it a bit in The Host, too.

She tries to have a character tell the story of his/her past. She goes into detail, which is great...but when she gets to the dialogue portion, she flubs it up. It's not believable; I don't like it. I...can't explain it very well. While a character -- let me use Rosalie...

While Rosalie is telling her story, she gives great detail. Which is wonderful. Good stories require a lot of detail. When she is telling Bella what the guys said to her, though, that's when it becomes unrealistic. She uses tags: "he said maliciously" within her story, as in, within the dialogue.

No one talks like that. No one tells their best friend what their douchebag ex-boyfriend said to them -- not like that. It's weird. I noticed it right away. I don't like it. It irritates me. (This is probably horribly confusing...)

...But I still really enjoyed the books, lol! People think that when I nitpik about stuff like that, then I don't like what I'm reading. Unfortunately, it's quite the opposite. The more I like the book, the more I pick at it. I think it should be perfect.

Unrealistic, I know. *shrug*

So, I went to the library today and picked up four books. I'll probably end up having to recheck some of them out, haha. But I'm starting, today, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Then, I think, I'll read The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle. The other two books I checked out are A Northen Light by Jennifer Donnelly and Atonement by Ian McEwan. Pretty stoked about it.

I totally forgot how awesome libraries are. They smell nice. And they're quiet. It's pretty much heaven.

Dinner and movie tonight. I wanna read some before then....

Byye!

& It Feels So Good

So, I've been gone for a bit. I've actually just returned a few days ago from the Happiest Place on Earth. I *love* Disney World.

With that said, battling the masses of people and the elderly on scooters, while racing madly through the Magic Kingdom (and the rest of the parks), it left me little time to read.

I have...much to my chagrin...shelved Anna Karenina for now. I do fully intend to pick it up later. Right now, I'm just not into it. I did start reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer before I left for Florida. I'm just about half way finished with it -- it's so wonderful. I do enjoy it immensely, just as I suspected I would. I feel much better, actually being able to sit down and get absorbed in a book again. Yay!

I have no idea what to read next. I bought, recently, East of Eden by Steinbeck; my co-worker was reading it and was just gushing the whole way. She said it was awesome. So, I wanted it to put it on my list.

I also bought a hardback edition of Charlotte's Web, but that's just because it was my favorite childhood book and I lost my old copy. I put it in my bookshelf, and I just like to stare at it. It was such a darling little book!

But this is what I'm thinking about picking up next::

I'll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin -- this is pretty much a biography, which I swore I wouldn't do. But I love her, and made the exception.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan -- this I bought at Target on a whim. It's supposed to be the sequel to Pride and Prejudice. I hope it's good....

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult -- I own several of her books, and I loved them. So I'm sure this is going to be win, as well.

Those are all books that I currently have waiting in my shelf. I could, instead, breakout my library card and pick something else::

The Story of Edward Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Or I can look for that odd series by the author who wrote Crank and Identical. Those are supposed to be wicked.

*shrug* We'll see. It feels good to read again.

I Don't Even Know

I really want to finish Anna Karenina, but I'm dragging. I haven't picked up the book in a week. The writing has been going phenomenally -- I'm so excited about that! But it's at the expense of my reading time.

For a while, I was reading a little bit every night before I went to bed. I tried to squeeze an hour out of it, but sometimes it didn't hold my interest, and I struggled to stay awake. Now, my nights have consisted of staying awake until the wee hours writing continuously. The results are stupendous!

I feel very conflicted about the whole thing. I don't want to be loser and not read the book ((it really does have its moments where it's wonderful...)), but at this rate, I feel like I'll never get to read anything else from my booklist. I feel like maybe I ought to pick a different book, something a bit more appealing -- something that'll be easier for me to read and enjoy. Maybe then the reading/writing will be easier to balance.

I kind of hate myself right now.

I, Epic Fail

I pretty much suck. I've been reading Anna Karenina for, what?, over two weeks now? I'm not far along, at all. In fact, it's so embarrassing how much I have not been reading, that I refuse to release what page number I am.

I fail at life.

Sort of. I say that because, while I'm still struggling to get through the novel ((it's taken over 60 pages to meet the main character: WTF?)), I have reached my main goal. It's not to read 50 books this year; yes, it's important, but I decided to participate in this challenge because reading encourages me to write. By reading, I'm assaulted by my muse, my inspiration, my what-have-you. And when I haven't been reading, I've been writing. And it feels amazing.

Granted, it hasn't been for my NaNoWriMo novel, but it's still something. I'm supposed to write everyday, yeah? Well, these past two weeks, I have been. It's been awesome.

So, while I fail, I still win!!

I love it.

...Hopefully I'll stop being a chump and actually finish Anna Karenina. Honestly, though it's a tad on the boring side, there are portions that just draw me in. But, like Love in the Time of Cholera, they don't last very long.

Anyway, update. Sucky as it is.