A to Z Challenge

Again with the Traveling Pants

1 Comment / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Fiction, Young Adult /

The fourth, and what I assume, the final summer of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was good. Better than summer three, certainly. But – it was troubling. Not only have the girls really grown up, they really had issues. How can all four girls have SO MANY ISSUES? I mean, really, couldn’t just one of them have her stuff together? Wouldn’t that have been a nice thing to show to young girls? A girl who goes to college and doesn’t fear pregnancy? Who doesn’t find herself gaining a gazillion pounds and losing her confidence? A girl who isn’t having a fling with an older professor or pining away for a lost love? Just a girl who gets the job done and isn’t in trouble?

Oh well, that’s what happens in young adult novels. Problems, problems and more problems. Even the traveling pants couldn’t save these girls. Other than that, good ending to the series.

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Choke

2 Comments / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Fiction /

I finally finished Choke, by Chuck Palahniuk. Finally. For such a short book, it sure took me a long time to finish. That’s not a reflection of the story or the writing – it’s a reflection of my crazy life!

It was a good book, as expected, but it was uhhh sort of disgusting at times. Sex addicts are a little scary and a lot messy. And the fact that the “hero” makes his money “choking” in restaurants just adds more queasiness to the mix. I loved the entire “Jesus Christ” storyline, that was fabulous.

I’ve decided that I need a Palahniuk break so don’t expect to see anymore of his books appear on the blog for awhile. As genius as he is, a girl can only take so much.

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Garbage Land

1 Comment / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction /

Garbage Land was the most depressing and frustrating book EVER.  I keep looking at my trash and feeling so overwhelmed that I can barely look away.  Today, I pulled a grocery list out of my pocket and was I was about to drop it in the trash, I froze. 

What led me to write a list in the first place, for 15 things that I should be able to remember?  And then to do it on a full, clean piece of paper.  And, I used the WHOLE front side rather than making a tiny neat list that would enable me to use the paper again.  Bah.  I’m a horrible person!  Or maybe not.

Maybe this whole municpal waste guilt is a tool of the patriarchy, or at least big business.  Because municipal waste is about 2% of the trash problem.  The biggest problem is with manufacturing.  So like big pharma who has convinced us we need to buy rubber wristbands and walk in walkathons to CURE this or that (probably breast cancer though) we’ve all been convinced that we can SAVE THE PLANET through recycling.  We can’t.  It simply isn’t possible. 

Anyway, Garbage Land was very good.  But very depressing.  Very sad.  Very frustrating. 

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The Thirteenth Tale

2 Comments / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Mystery /

There are some books that just should not end. The Thirteen Tale is that kind of book.


For some reason I had it in my head that this was a young adult book. When I picked it up to actually read it and saw that it wasn’t, I was surprised. While I think Michelle would like it, this is definitely not a young adult book. Sort of Flowers in the Attic meets Poppy Z Brite meets someone else who escapes me at the moment, lol.


Really terrific book. One I’d be happy to read again someday.

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A to Z Challenge

6 Comments / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed /

I’m thinking about giving the A to Z Challenge a go in the New Year. But before I commit, I want a list of possible reads to start with. So far, the only thing on the list is the letter “V”. Heh. I’m going to start creating the list now and we’ll see what it looks like on January 1. Any letter “X” suggestions? *Updated 2/8/7*

A – A Town Like Alice – completed 1/27/8
B – Breadfruit completed 3/24/7
C – Choke – completed 2/8/7
D – Dark Angels – completed 1/14/07
E – Endymion Spring – completed 12/11/7
F – Forever in Blue completed 2/22/07
G – Garbage Land completed 2/03/07
H – Holy Cow completed 3/8/07
I – I Have a Bed of Buttermilk Pancakes completed 12/8/07
J – Just in Case Completed 11/22/7
K – King Dork (thanks sassymonkey) Completed 1/10/8
L – Lisey’s Story Completed 3/3/7
M – Miss Garnet’s Angel Completed 2/24/7
N – Nature Girl – Completed 12/23/7
O – On Becoming Fearless – completed 12/9/7
P – Pink Ribbons Inc – completed 1/7/7
Q – The Queen of Cool – completed 11/23/7
R – Rejuvenile – Completed 11/27/7
S – Sweet Swan of Avon – completed 12/13/7
T – The Thirteenth Tale – completed 1/19/7
U – Upstate – completed 12/16/7
V – Vilette (Bronte) – completed 12/2/7
W – Water for Elephants – completed 3/17/07
X – X stands for Unknown (Thanks toFramed and Booked!) – completed 12/31/7
Y – The Year the Gypsies Came – completed 10/31/7
Z – Zoia’s Gold -completed 5/2/7

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Dark Angels

2 Comments / 2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Fiction /

Dark Angels is the second book I’ve read from my A to Z list and if they all take as long as this one to read, I may not make it. Dark Angels was longggggg. Also, I’m not sure I read Through a Glass Darkly. I thought I had, but while reading Dark Angels, I began to question that.


As much historical fiction as I’ve read in my life, this didn’t seem like it could be related (aka a prequel) to anything I’ve read before. In some respects, it reads like all historical fiction from that era. In others, it’s completely different.


I liked it. Even if it was really long.

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Pink Ribbons, Inc

2007, A to Z Challenge, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction /

I am not a fan of the Pink Ribbon or any other breast cancer campaign. Pink Ribbons, Inc just reaffirmed everything I feel about these campaigns and the people behind them. And the people who buy into them… do yourselves and the people diagnosed with these illnesses a favor and read the book. Your money is better spent elsewhere. Quit buying Pink Ribbons. Quit buying Live Strong bracelets. Write to these companies and tell them to lay off with these types of marketing campaigns. Tell your politicians you see through them and expect better.

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